Christmas Day Cruise on Sydney Harbour

Recommended by 100% of travelers

Sydney, Australia

3 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Christmas in July Lunch Cruise on Sydney Harbour

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5.0

(1)

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from $85

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Overview

Finding somewhere special to eat on Christmas Day in Sydney can be difficult, especially once restaurants and waterfront venues book out. This harbour lunch cruise brings sightseeing and dining together in one seamless experience. Cruise across Sydney Harbour while enjoying a buffet-style Christmas lunch with roasted meats, fresh salads, seafood, and traditional puddings. Pass landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and enjoy unobstructed photo ops from a vantage point on the water.

Enjoy a scenic alternative to lunch served in a restaurant
See Sydney's skyline from a crowd-free spot on the water
Prebooking your experience guarantees your place on board
Choose exactly how to spend your time on the water—eating, relaxing, or snapping photos

What's Included

Lunch

Buffet lunch
Beverages included in your package of premium Australian and imported beers, Australian Red and white wines, sparkling wine, soft drink and juice

Hotel pickup and drop-off

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Sydney Princess Cruises
Eastern Pontoon, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Please check in with staff at the Eastern Pontoon, they will help you on board once the boat arrives.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Make your way independently to Wharf 1 at the Eastern Pontoon in Circular Quay for a midday departure. After boarding, the crew welcomes you aboard a vessel decorated for the season, complete with festive touches and table settings. Settle in with a welcome drink as the cruise departs and soft Christmas music plays in the background.

Sail across Sydney Harbour while a buffet lunch is served. Choose from a selection of fresh seafood, roasted meats, salads, and traditional Christmas pudding with custard and cream. Beer, wine, soft drinks, and juice are included. Seating is allocated at shared tables, and you are free to move between the indoor cabin and outdoor decks throughout the cruise.

As you travel, pass major landmarks including the Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and waterfront neighborhoods such as Point Piper and Rose Bay. Take in views of the city skyline while enjoying lunch and conversation.

The cruise returns to the Eastern Pontoon at Circular Quay at approximately 3 pm, marking the end of your Christmas Day experience.

Sydney Opera House (Pass By)

Sydney Harbour Bridge (Pass By)

Sydney Harbour (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Dress code is smart casual
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Not wheelchair accessible
Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
Stroller accessible

Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
Infant seats available
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 68 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.8

based on 12 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Bright & Breezy

David_F, Dec 2025

Try and get a seat upstairs to get a better view. Our view was obstructed by a couple of palm trees pretending to be Xmas trees. Staff were friendly and helpful. Pity about the weather but at least it was not too choppy. The food was quite good with a variety of meats, seafood and vegetables. All in all, a nice days cruise with a great selection of festive songs and tunes.

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Hi David, Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the friendly and helpful service, the variety of food on offer, and the festive atmosphere with the Christmas music on board. It’s also great to know the harbour conditions allowed for a comfortable cruise despite the weather. We really appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back on board again in the future for another enjoyable day on Sydney Harbour!

Christmas luncheon experience

Lynette_S, Dec 2025

There is no seat allocation. get there early to claim your seat. Buffet excellent and staff very efficient and helpful. Wonderful views of the harbour at a relaxed pace.

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Hi Lynette, Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the excellent buffet, the efficient and helpful service, and the relaxed pace of the cruise with beautiful harbour views. Thank you for your feedback, and we hope to welcome you back on board again in the future for another enjoyable cruise!

Great day out

Michael_C, Dec 2025

We had an amazing day on this cruise on Christmas day. The food was excellent 👌 and plenty of it. The crew were very helpful and happy which made our time on the boat very enjoyable. The scenery was beautiful.

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Hi Michael, Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re thrilled to hear you had an amazing Christmas Day on the cruise and enjoyed the excellent food, friendly service, and beautiful harbour scenery. It’s wonderful to know our team helped make your time on board so enjoyable. We truly appreciate you sharing your experience and hope to welcome you back again for another special cruise in the future!

Boat trip lunch

Malcolm_D, Dec 2025

Very well organised, staff where excellent and food good , we where very impressed as was other guests we spoke to , very professional

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Hi Malcolm, Thank you so much for your lovely feedback! We’re delighted to hear you found the cruise very well organised and were impressed with the service and food on board. It’s especially rewarding to know the professionalism stood out not just to you, but to other guests as well. We truly appreciate you sharing your experience and hope to welcome you back on board again in the future!

Christmas day cruise

John_W, Dec 2025

Friendly, helpful staff, open bar, lots of very excellent food. Would go again. The harbour cruise was great, lots of places we visited

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Hi John, Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed the friendly service, open bar, and the wide variety of excellent food on board. It’s great to know you also enjoyed the harbour cruise and the many beautiful spots along the way. We truly appreciate you sharing your experience and would love to welcome you back again for another cruise in the future!

Friendly staff, good...

Wayne_M, Dec 2025

Friendly staff, good lunch and a great day out. I would thoroughly recommend this for a Christmas Day lunch.

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Hi Wayne, Thank you so much for your lovely feedback! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed the friendly service, the Christmas Day lunch, and had a great day out on the harbour. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back on board again for another special cruise in the future!

Wonderful Christmas Activity

Debra_C, Dec 2025

This Christmas lunch cruise was great. The food was lovely. A traditional Christmas lunch was served. Staff were helpful and friendly. The tables were decorated fir Christmas. Very scenic trip around Sydney harbour.

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Hi Debra, Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed the Christmas Day lunch cruise, from the traditional Christmas meal to the festive table decorations and scenic views around Sydney Harbour. It’s wonderful to know our team helped make your Christmas celebration relaxed and enjoyable. Thank you for sharing your experience, and we hope to welcome you back on board again for another special occasion in the future!

Perfect Day

bernette_r, Dec 2024

It was really well organised from the beginning and the food was excellent. The staff were courteous and obliging. Overall I have no complaint at all

Response from Host, Jan 2025

Hi Bernette, So happy to hear you enjoyed the complimentary buffet and overall cruise! Thank you.

An enjoyable treat for Christmas day...

Sharon N, Jan 2018

An enjoyable treat for Christmas day lunch. Members of the crew were pleasant and accommodating, making you feel very welcome on board. Our seating position was less than salubrious, as it was next to the toilet, but I suppose someone has to sit there. The buffet lunch was fresh and plentiful, however a choice of dessert would be appreciated, as three of the four in our party didn't eat the tradional Christmas pudding and custard. Overall, a lovely relaxing way to see Sydney Harbour and minimise the stress of Christmas Day!

Likely to Sell Out