My Secret Getaways

A dinner cruise starts by being escorted onto a luxury cruise ship or yacht about an hour before the ship is set to leave port. You may take a leisurely walk around the deck, or visit the shops that are on the ship. Or simply laze around and sample the cocktails and exquisite appetizers served throughout the ship.

Different dinner cruise operators may take you on different routes. The one that I went on recently cruised the Hudson and East Rivers, offering a mesmerizing view of some of Manhattans most famous landmarks like the Empire State Building, Chelsea Piers, Brooklyn Bridge and the World Trade Center Site.

The buffet dinner is naturally the highlight of the New York dinner cruise. You will be spoilt for choice, whether you are a seafood lover or a vegetarian. From the tangiest Japanese sushi, freshest lobster salad, roasted lamb rack to the grilled vegetable lasagna, every dish is a culinary creation of master chefs ranked top in their field.

A dinner cruise will not be complete without live performances of Americas best music - Blues, Jazz, Soul, R&B, Boogie and Swing, all can be played at your request. To add to the atmosphere, a vocalist is also usually invited onboard to croon melodies, songs of Broadway and romantic ballads at different points of the cruise.

A dinner cruise usually lasts about three hours. However, if you want to have a private party or prefer a longer cruise, you can rent a yacht for as long as you want and cruise the open waters of the ocean or harbor.

Those who tend to have motion sickness need not worry too much because a cruise travels at a slow and stead speed (otherwise, how would you be able to have your dinner?). Sometimes, you may not even realize you are on water! Nonetheless, if you wish to play it safe, do bring along some travel sickness medication.

All in all, a New York dinner cruise is an experience unparalleled by other activities. The extraordinary views, exquisite dinning and spectacular live entertainment all make the dinner cruise a perfect evening that will stay in your memory for a long time.