The World’s 9 Best Cruises with Live Music

1.Budapest Danube Cruise and Dinner Options, Live Music and Dance

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 7,428 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $54Our pick

Cruise the Danube from central Budapest for about 90 minutes, with illuminated Parliament, Buda Castle, bridges, and the Citadella in view. Choose a Hungarian buffet, wine and food pairing, or a gulyás and lángos option. Two welcome drinks, live folk music, traditional dancing, Wi-Fi, restrooms, and outdoor decks are included according to the selected package.

“Fabulous night, food was amazing & entertainment really good and made everyone feel a part of it. Very well organised & seeing the landmarks of Budapest all lit up on the banks of the Danube a plus. Amazing!”

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2.3-Course-Dinner Cruise on the Seine with live music

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 7,248 reviews · 2h 30m · from $135

Board a glass-roofed Bateaux Parisiens boat at the Eiffel Tower for a 150-minute dinner cruise. You will pass Les Invalides, Musée d’Orsay, Notre Dame, the Louvre, and more while enjoying a three-course meal and live singing. Choose from standard, window, or front-of-boat seating, with vegetarian dishes available.

“The food is amazing, the service is second to none, the views are outstanding. It’s a beautiful thing to do with your partner. Outstanding lovers every second. Well worth the money. Right the end the view of the tower and mini Statue of Liberty is amazing defo worth the trip head to back of boat to get the best pics”

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3.4-Course Dinner Cruise on Seine River with Live Music

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3,827 reviews · 2h 30m · from $153

Spend 150 minutes aboard a Bateaux Mouches restaurant boat with a four-course French dinner, drinks, piano, and violin. From Port de la Conférence, you pass the Louvre, Notre Dame, Pont Alexandre III, and Eiffel Tower. Most tables sit beside windows, while the Excellence option gives you priority seating for the best views.

“The boat was excellent! I very much enjoyed celebrating my birthday with everyone!! The food, ambiance, and music was splendid. Thank you so very much!”

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4.Gourmet Dinner Cruise on Seine River with Live Music

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,531 reviews · 2 - 4 hours · from $69

Board Le Diamant Bleu at 2 Rue du Ranelagh for a Seine cruise with a 3-course seasonal meal, live singer and guitarist, and a DJ-led dance set. You will pass Notre-Dame, the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Pont Alexandre III, and the Eiffel Tower. Vegetarian and vegan meals require 48 hours’ notice.

“Everything was nice from the beginning to the end. Thank you so much❤️❤️”

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5.Candlelit Dinner River Cruise with Live Music

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 2,154 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $129

Spend 2.5 hours aboard a modern Legenda City Cruises boat, with a welcome drink, four-course dinner, and live Hungarian music. You will pass Parliament, Buda Castle, Gellért Hill, Margaret Island, and Budapest’s illuminated bridges. The boat has retractable windows and glass roof sections, but there is no guided commentary.

“The food was very tasty. The wine was average but we were very limited as we only wanted a glass each, there was more option if you bought a bottle. The boat did a double loop up to the Parliament House down to a cool arena. The double loop was good because you could get photos the first time then relax and enjoy for the second loop. Would recommend.”

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6.Budapest Danube River Candlelit Dinner Cruise with Live Music

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,770 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $133

Spend 2.5 hours cruising Budapest’s Danube after dark with a four-course adult dinner, welcome wine, beer, or champagne, and live music. The boat returns to Jane Haining rakpart 7. Expect illuminated bridges and riverside buildings, floor-to-ceiling windows, smart-casual dress, and no tour guide.

“What an experience - the whole evening was excellent, the four course dinner was lovely, very friendly staff - the scenery was amazing - would highly recommend this. Thank you”

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7.Royal Princess River Dinner Cruise with Live Music

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 535 reviews · 2 hours · from $41

Spend two hours aboard the Royal Princess on the Chao Phraya River, with an unlimited Thai, Western, Japanese, and seafood buffet, welcome drink, live music, and views of Wat Arun, the Grand Palace, ICONSIAM, and Rama VIII Bridge. Choose the rooftop for open-air views or an air-conditioned deck.

“It was good. Nothing really exceptional. The meeting point itself is very nice. Lots of shops and food of course. There were a lot of people but it’s Bangkok so everywhere you go there’s a lot of peoples. Entertainment got better as the night went on. It started with dinner music and ended with fun party dance music. The buffet was ok. A lot of fishy foods. Even the curry was fishy. I gave it five stars because my husband and I had a terrible table on the 2nd floor but the server moved us to a nice table on the 3rd floor. If it wasn’t for that I would…”

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8.Royal Princess River Dinner Cruise with Live Music

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 376 reviews · 90 minutes - 2 hours · from $28

Board the Royal Princess at Asiatique for a 90-minute to two-hour Chao Phraya River cruise. The dinner sailing includes an international and seafood buffet, live music, Thai dance, coffee, tea, and views of ICONSIAM, Wat Arun, the Grand Palace, and Rama VIII Bridge. A sunset sailing is also available, but dinner and dance performances are not included.

“Great way how to spend an evening with a good food (just wait till everyone finishes the buffé, they are quite fast in bringing fresh food).”

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9.Mekong Sunset Dinner Cruise with Live Music

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 261 reviews · 2 hours · from $9Best value

Spend two hours on the Mekong with Cambo Cruise, choosing a 5pm sunset sailing or a 7pm city-lights trip. You’ll pass the Royal Palace, floating villages, and Koh Norea Bridge while enjoying live Khmer music, a welcome cocktail, and optional all-you-can-eat dinner. Staff members such as Ten and Sareth are known for warm, attentive service.

“Staff were so friendly and helpful, the food was delicious, drinks were well-priced and the whole trip was lovely and relaxing. Would recommend after a busy day in the city!”

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