Sunseeker Superyacht: VIP Dining, Premium Drinks & Music

Dubai does luxury at sea. Aboard Encore, a 40-meter, tri-deck Sunseeker, you get an omakase sushi meal, free-flowing LP bubbly, premium drinks, cocktails, music, and views of the city’s most famous waterfront sights. I especially like the combination of freshly prepared Japanese food and the relaxed yacht setting. I also like that the group is capped at 30 people, which helps the boat feel polished rather than crowded.

The main catch is the boarding point at Dubai Harbour, where construction can make the entrance hard to find. The cruise also depends on weather, and you may not get a perfect view of every landmark, especially Atlantis. At $128.39 per person for roughly three hours, this is a celebration splurge rather than a cheap sightseeing cruise, but the food, drinks, yacht, and entertainment give it solid value for the right occasion.

Key things to know before boarding

• A 40-meter Sunseeker yacht: Encore is a full-size tri-deck superyacht, not a basic party boat.
• Omakase sushi throughout the cruise: The menu changes, with dishes such as Saikyo miso-glazed black cod and crispy rice topped with spicy tuna, salmon, or yellowtail.
• Premium drinks included: LP bubbly, top-shelf spirits, cocktails, gourmet bites, and other premium beverages are part of the package.
• Dubai’s best waterfront views: The route takes in Dubai Harbour, Jumeirah Beach Residence, Ain Dubai, Palm Jumeirah, Atlantis, and Burj Al Arab.
• Music shapes the mood: A live DJ is included, and some sailings also feature live saxophone.
• Smart-casual and shoeless: Wear something neat, but leave your footwear off the yacht. Slippers and towels are provided.

Stepping aboard Encore at Dubai Harbour

The experience begins at Dubai Harbour, positioned between Palm Jumeirah and Bluewaters Island. It is close to several major sights, but the approach can be less simple than the glossy yacht photos suggest. Construction near the boarding gate has made it difficult for some people to find the entrance, so I would allow extra time and avoid arriving at the last possible minute.

After boarding, you are welcomed with fresh juice and given slippers for the yacht. Shoes are not allowed on board, a common yacht rule that keeps the interior clean and protects the polished floors. The changeover is easy enough, but wear footwear that you can remove quickly and keep your outfit comfortable for moving between decks.

Encore is the main attraction before the boat even leaves. At 40 meters, it has three decks and enough room for a mix of dining, lounging, music, and sightseeing. The maximum of 30 people matters here. You are still joining a shared cruise, but the smaller capacity should feel more personal than a large dinner boat with dozens or hundreds of people.

The crew receives especially strong praise for being attentive and professional. Individual names mentioned in the feedback include Lauren, also called Lola, and Andrew. You should not expect one named crew member to be assigned to you, but these details suggest that service is a major part of the experience rather than an afterthought.

Omakase sushi with a moving view

The food is the heart of this cruise. Instead of one fixed dinner plate, you receive an omakase-style Japanese menu with a changing selection of sushi and gourmet bites. Omakase means the chef makes the choices, so the meal has more of a tasting-menu feel than a standard buffet.

The advertised dishes give you a sense of the level. Saikyo miso-glazed black cod brings a soft, buttery fish with a sweet-savory glaze. Golden crispy rice is topped with spicy tuna, salmon, or yellowtail, adding crunch beneath the raw fish. These are more carefully considered dishes than the usual basic sushi rolls served at casual events.

Fresh sushi is prepared on deck, which adds a little theater to the meal. You can see the food being made rather than receiving everything from a hidden kitchen. The menu is described as ever-evolving, so the exact selection may change. That is part of the appeal, but it also means you should not book expecting every item shown in promotional material.

Food service continues throughout the cruise, and the package includes gourmet bites as well as the sushi. Several people praised the freshness of the Japanese food, while others singled out the canapés. If you enjoy grazing over a long evening, this setup works well. You can eat at your own pace while moving around the yacht instead of sitting through a formal, fixed-course dinner.

Vegetarian options are available if requested in advance. That detail is important because an omakase menu is usually chef-led and may otherwise focus heavily on fish and seafood. If you have dietary needs, contact the operator before the cruise rather than waiting until you board.

Free-flowing bubbly and premium cocktails

The drinks package is a large part of the price. LP bubbly flows during the cruise, and the package also includes premium beverages and cocktails. This is not simply a soda-and-house-wine arrangement. The drinks are intended to match the yacht’s polished setting and the Japanese food.

The feedback repeatedly highlights cocktails, champagne, and drinks being available throughout the sailing. That can make the $128.39 price easier to justify, particularly if you are planning a birthday, anniversary, or special evening. Ordering premium drinks individually in Dubai can become expensive quickly, so the inclusion has real value for someone who will make use of it.

You should still read the package wording carefully at booking if you have a particular spirit or champagne in mind. The experience promises top-shelf premium beverages, but no full brand list is provided in the supplied details. I would treat the package as generous, not as a guarantee of every label you may see in a luxury hotel bar.

Electric shisha is also included. This will appeal to some people and matter little to others. It adds to the party atmosphere, but it is not the reason to choose the cruise if your main interest is food, scenery, or quiet sightseeing.

The route from Jumeirah Beach to Burj Al Arab

The boat’s route is designed around Dubai’s postcard views. The sights are best understood as a moving backdrop to dinner and drinks, not as formal stops where you leave the yacht and explore on foot.

Dubai Harbour

Dubai Harbour is both the departure point and part of the opening view. Its location between Palm Jumeirah and Bluewaters puts the yacht close to major attractions, beaches, and waterfront developments. It is a practical place to begin a cruise because the route can quickly reach the Palm and the open waters around Dubai’s most recognizable hotels.

The drawback is access. Construction has made the boarding gate confusing, so check the meeting point carefully and give yourself a buffer before departure. The listed meeting location is in Dubai, and the cruise returns there after about three hours. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you arrange your own way to and from the harbour.

Jumeirah Beach Residence

Jumeirah Beach Residence, usually known as JBR, is a long waterfront community along the Persian Gulf. From the water, its coast gives you a different perspective on Dubai’s residential towers, beach frontage, and modern seaside development.

This section is more about atmosphere than a single landmark. You are looking back toward Dubai from the water, with the yacht’s decks giving you changing angles for photographs. Keep in mind that the exact view depends on the route, timing, and weather.

Ain Dubai and Bluewaters Island

Ain Dubai is the enormous Ferris wheel on Bluewaters Island. It is an easy landmark to identify from the sea, even when the surrounding waterfront is busy with modern buildings and attractions.

The view is especially useful for placing Dubai’s newer development in context. You see the newer Bluewaters district alongside the older resort icons farther along the coast. It is a good reminder that this cruise is not only about the Palm. The entire shoreline is part of the show.

Palm Jumeirah and Atlantis, The Palm

Palm Jumeirah is Dubai’s famous artificial island, and the cruise gives you a water-level view of its sweeping shape and resort-lined coast. Atlantis, The Palm is the visual anchor, with its grand hotel frontage and distinctive position at the outer crescent.

This is one of the most anticipated parts of the route, but expectations need managing. Sightlines can change with the boat’s position and conditions, and one person found it difficult to get a good view of Atlantis. If the landmark is your main reason for booking, do not assume you will receive a long, perfectly framed photo opportunity.

The Palm is still a strong setting for a celebration. You have the resort skyline behind you, the water around you, and the yacht itself providing the more unusual vantage point. I would focus on enjoying the full route rather than treating Atlantis as the only payoff.

Burj Al Arab

The Burj Al Arab is perhaps Dubai’s most recognizable hotel, shaped like a billowing sail. The cruise around the Palm toward Burj Al Arab is repeatedly singled out as an enjoyable part of the sailing.

The hotel photographs well from the water because you see the full silhouette rather than only the base and surrounding roadways. If you choose a departure that includes changing daylight, the view may feel different as the sky shifts. The provided information does not guarantee a sunset departure, so check the available time before booking if that is important to you.

DJ, live saxophone, and the evening mood

This is a dining cruise with a party soundtrack, not a quiet restaurant at sea. A live DJ is included, and several descriptions also mention a saxophonist performing alongside the mixes. The music helps keep the experience moving between food service, landmark views, and drinks.

The song selection receives positive attention, but music is personal. If you want a calm meal with soft background sound, this may be too lively. If you want a birthday or anniversary outing with energy, the DJ and saxophone can make the yacht feel like a private event without the cost of chartering the entire boat.

The mood seems to build around the whole vessel rather than one formal dining room. You can take in the views, return for food, order a drink, and listen to the music from different areas. A three-deck layout gives you some choice of setting, though no specific seating plan is provided.

The cruise is also suitable for couples and small celebrations. Birthdays and anniversaries are common reasons to choose this kind of outing, and the attentive crew can help make the occasion feel special. Just remember that you are sharing the yacht with other people, so this is not a fully private charter.

Day cruise or skyline evening

The supplied information describes Dubai’s sparkling night skyline, while the feedback also refers to sunset and afternoon sailings. The exact atmosphere will depend on the departure time you select.

A daytime cruise is the only version that specifically includes swimming. Towels and slippers are included, so a day sailing may suit you if getting into the water is part of the plan. The swimming inclusion does not apply to the night experience.

An afternoon or sunset departure may offer a mix of daylight views and evening lights, but you should confirm the exact schedule when booking. Do not assume every sailing includes the same light, music, or swimming conditions. The weather requirement can also affect the schedule, with poor conditions leading to a rescheduled date or a full refund.

Is $128.39 a fair price?

At $128.39 per person, this is not a budget way to see Dubai from the water. You are paying for the boat, the setting, the three-hour cruise, the omakase menu, free-flowing bubbly, premium cocktails, gourmet bites, service, and entertainment.

The value improves if you would otherwise pay for a high-end dinner and several drinks in Dubai. The yacht itself is also part of the meal. You are not simply buying sushi; you are buying a moving view of the Palm, Ain Dubai, Burj Al Arab, and the city skyline, with live music as the backdrop.

The price is less convincing if you do not drink, dislike sushi, or mainly want a sightseeing trip. A person seeking quiet landmark photography may prefer a simpler cruise. Someone who wants a broad dinner menu may also find the chef-led Japanese format limiting.

For a birthday, anniversary, proposal, or final-night treat, I think the price is easier to defend. The strongest parts of the experience work together: the yacht looks impressive, the crew is attentive, the food is prepared fresh, and the drinks keep the occasion feeling generous.

Who will enjoy Encore most?

I would recommend this cruise to you if you like stylish settings, Japanese food, cocktails, and music in equal measure. It is particularly well suited to couples and small groups marking an occasion.

You will probably enjoy it less if you want a silent luxury cruise, a private yacht, or a detailed tour commentary about Dubai’s landmarks. The route provides views, but the focus is dining and entertainment rather than guided history.

The maximum of 30 people makes it a better choice than a large party vessel, but it does not turn the cruise into an intimate private dinner. The atmosphere remains social and music-led.

Smart-casual clothing is requested. Bring an outfit that looks polished but works without shoes once you board. If you are planning to swim during a day cruise, pack what you need for that, since swimming is not part of the night sailing.

Booking, weather, and practical details

Confirmation is provided when you book, and this experience is often reserved well ahead of time, with an average booking lead of about 38 days. That suggests you should plan early if you want a particular date for a celebration.

Hotel transportation is not included. You need to reach Dubai Harbour independently and return there after the cruise. Since the boarding area can be hard to locate, plan for possible delays caused by construction.

The cruise requires good weather. If poor conditions force a cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes inside that 24-hour window are not refunded or accepted.

Most people can participate, and the activity is limited to 30 people. No separate accessibility details are provided, so if you have mobility or other access needs, ask Xclusive Yachts before paying.

Should you book this Sunseeker yacht cruise?

Book it if you want Dubai luxury with food, drinks, music, and scenery in one package. Encore gives you a memorable setting, an interesting omakase menu, premium beverages, and a route packed with recognizable sights. The crew’s attentive service is another strong reason to choose it.

Skip it if you want low-cost sightseeing, a quiet meal, or a guaranteed close-up view of Atlantis. The boarding point may take patience, the cruise depends on weather, and the experience makes the most sense when you enjoy both sushi and drinks.

For a special occasion, I would consider it a strong Dubai splurge. Choose your departure time with care, request vegetarian dishes in advance if needed, allow extra time to find the harbour gate, and keep your expectations focused on the complete yacht experience rather than one landmark.

FAQ

How long is the Sunseeker yacht cruise?

The cruise lasts approximately three hours and returns to the original meeting point at Dubai Harbour.

What food is included?

The experience includes an omakase sushi menu, Japanese cuisine, and gourmet bites. Menu items may include Saikyo miso-glazed black cod and crispy rice topped with spicy tuna, salmon, or yellowtail.

Are drinks included in the price?

Yes. The package includes free-flowing LP bubbly, premium beverages, and cocktails.

Is swimming included?

Swimming is included only on the day tour. It is not included with the night sailing.

What landmarks can I see?

The route includes Dubai Harbour, Jumeirah Beach Residence, Ain Dubai, Palm Jumeirah, Atlantis, The Palm, and Burj Al Arab. Views can vary with the route and weather.

Is live music included?

Yes. A live DJ is included. Some of the provided experience details also refer to live saxophone performances.

What should I wear?

The dress code is smart casual. Footwear is not allowed on board, and slippers are provided.

Are vegetarian options available?

Yes. Vegetarian options are available when requested in advance.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted or refunded. If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you are offered another date or a full refund.