Dubai Dhow Cruise Prices: Tickets, Children and Pickup Explained

Our current cruise prices

All amounts below are in UAE dirhams (AED). Cruise tickets are priced per person. The pickup charge applies to each adult and child when you select that option; infant tickets and infant pickup are free.

Quick facts: both cruises begin boarding at 7:45 PM and depart at 8:30 PM. Jack Sparrow lasts approximately two hours. Ocean Express lasts 90 minutes and returns at 10:00 PM. Public bookings require at least one adult.

With pickup selected, a Marina adult costs AED150 and a Marina child AED130. For Ocean Express, the equivalent figures are AED70 and AED50. These combined figures make group calculations easier, but the ticket and pickup remain separate choices in your planning.

Which ticket should you choose for each guest?

Count children aged 3 through 12 in the child category, guests above 12 in the adult category, and children under 3 as infants. A 12-year-old therefore uses the child price; a 13-year-old uses the adult price. Include infants in your guest details even though their fare is zero, so the reservation reflects everyone travelling.

The public booking needs at least one adult. A family with one adult, one child and one infant should enter those three categories, rather than booking only the two paid guests. If an age category or a special arrangement is unclear, resolve it before payment through our contact page.

How much will a couple or family pay?

Use this calculation: adult tickets plus child tickets, then add pickup for every adult and child using that option. Infants add zero to both parts. The examples below use only the confirmed cruise and pickup charges.

For example, the Marina family of two adults and two children pays 2 × AED120 plus 2 × AED100, giving AED440 in tickets. Pickup adds 4 × AED30, or AED120, for AED560 altogether. If that family chooses Self Arrival, the cruise booking is AED440 and their independently arranged journey is a separate expense.

This distinction matters when comparing budgets. A taxi, parking or other transport you arrange yourself is not included in the Self Arrival ticket total. Its cost depends on your own journey, so it should not be treated as a fixed cruise charge.

What are you paying for?

These are shared dinner-cruise experiences. Jack Sparrow includes a buffet with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, starters and salads, main dishes, desserts, unlimited soft drinks and water. Ocean Express includes welcome drinks and starters, a continental dinner buffet, unlimited soft drinks and water. These are food categories, not a fixed item-level menu. A ticket does not reserve a whole boat for your group.

The experience also differs by setting and duration. Jack Sparrow combines approximately two hours on the water with Dubai Marina, JBR, Bluewaters and Ain Dubai views. Ocean Express offers a 90-minute evening on Dubai Creek from Al Seef. Ocean Express has an open upper deck, an air-conditioned lower deck, a toilet and first-come seating.

Choose the location that fits your evening as well as the price. The lower Ocean Express fare can suit a group already spending time in Old Dubai. Marina may be the stronger choice when modern waterfront views are the main reason for booking.

Pickup depends on where you are staying

Marina pickup covers Barsha, Downtown, Tecom, Dubai Marina and Sheikh Zayed Road. Ocean Express pickup covers Deira and Bur Dubai. Pickup starts from 6:00 PM; that is not the exact pickup time for every hotel. Confirm your property’s location and the instructions for your reservation.

Do not choose a pickup option based only on its price if your accommodation is outside that cruise’s listed areas. Ask the team about your location first, or plan Self Arrival using the correct boarding map.

How to compare a cruise offer fairly

Start with the departure area. “Dubai dhow cruise” can describe different waterways, and a Creek price should not be read as a Marina quote. Next, check the duration, the child’s age band, dinner details and whether transfers are included or extra.

Then calculate the same group on both offers. Comparing one adult headline price with another operator’s family total will not tell you which evening costs less. Include the children and transport you need, and read the current booking and cancellation terms before deciding.

Finally, separate price from your priorities. A cheaper ticket is useful only if its boarding location, timing and experience suit the group. Our Marina and Creek comparison explains those practical differences.

Common price questions

Are infants free when we add pickup?

Yes. Infants under 3 have free tickets and free pickup on both cruises. Include them in the booking’s guest count.

Can we pay when we arrive?

The booking options are Pay Online through Stripe or Pay on Arrival by cash or card. A confirmed Pay-on-Arrival reservation remains unpaid until payment is collected; keep your confirmation and follow its arrival instructions.

Does a child pay the same pickup charge as an adult?

Yes. Pickup is AED30 per adult or child for Marina and AED21 per adult or child for Ocean Express. Only the infant pickup charge is zero.

Where should we check the final amount?

Review your selected cruise, date, guest categories and pickup choice in the booking summary before confirming. The total should match the choices you intend to make.

Choose your dinner cruise

Check Marina availability for Jack Sparrow, or check Al Seef availability for Ocean Express.

For the next planning step, read our guide to cruising with children and hotel pickup and Self Arrival guide.