City Cruises DC: Scenic Buffet Lunch Cruise
Washington DC, USA
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Enjoy food, fun, and entertainment—plus unbeatable views of Washington DC—on this two-in-one lunch and sightseeing cruise along the Potomac River. Take advantage of a delicious buffet lunch and spacious dance floors to let loose. Save time as well by sightseeing as you go: Spot highlights including the Washington Monument, Old Town Alexandria, and much more.
- Enjoy a generous buffet lunch/brunch on this Potomac River cruise
- Discover a new perspective on Washington DC from the water's edge
- A DJ is on board to help get the party started
- Enjoy unlimited hot drinks, in addition to your meal
What's Included
- 2-hour lunch (or brunch) cruise
- Buffet menu
- Coffee and tea
- DJ Music
- Tax and fees
- Other drinks (not listed in Inclusions)
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- City Cruises580 Water St SW, Washington, DC 20024, USA
Pier 4 • 580 Water Street SW • Washington, DC 20024 Please arrive at the meeting point early – boarding begins 45 minutes prior to departure.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
Up to 45 minutes before your sightseeing cruise begins, make your way to the waterfront departure point and board your vessel.
When the time comes, set sail along the Potomac River. Travel aboard a modern dining ship, equipped with plenty of comfortable seating, plus large picture windows and an open-air deck that provide great views of Washington DC. There are also spacious dance floors and full-service bars on board.
Before or after eating, grab a drink from one of the on-board bars (own expense) and dance the afternoon away as a professional DJ spins the latest hits.
Throughout the cruise, look out for attractions including the Washington Monument, Reagan National Airport, the United States Naval Research Laboratory, Old Town Alexandria in Virginia, the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge, and much more.
This tour ends at your original departure point.
When the time comes, set sail along the Potomac River. Travel aboard a modern dining ship, equipped with plenty of comfortable seating, plus large picture windows and an open-air deck that provide great views of Washington DC. There are also spacious dance floors and full-service bars on board.
Before or after eating, grab a drink from one of the on-board bars (own expense) and dance the afternoon away as a professional DJ spins the latest hits.
Throughout the cruise, look out for attractions including the Washington Monument, Reagan National Airport, the United States Naval Research Laboratory, Old Town Alexandria in Virginia, the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge, and much more.
This tour ends at your original departure point.
1
City Experiences By Hornblower
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
2
Washington Monument
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Potomac River
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Infants must sit on laps
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- Please Note: Although we offer children 3 years old and under free admission, please enter how many children are attending in the field provided, so that we can accommodate them on the cruise.
- The ships feature cabaret-style seating. The majority of the tables accommodate 4 to 8 people and guests are sometimes seated with other parties. Please understand that we cannot guarantee specific seating on the deck
- Seating is only guaranteed together for the number of tickets confirmed on this voucher. Reservations may not be combined.
- A valid photo ID for all participating guests is required at check-in
- Dress code: we encourage casual attire that is informal and comfortable (khakis, nice jeans, dresses, casual button-up shirts/blouses)
- Boarding begins 45 minutes prior to departure. Guests must arrive early, as late arrivals will likely miss the boat.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 19 travelers
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Frequently Asked Questions (15)
Q:Where is the departure point for the Washington DC Scenic Lunch Cruise?
A:The Washington DC Scenic Lunch Cruise departs from 580 Water St SW, Washington, DC 20024
Apr 2021
The answers provided are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.0
based on 421 reviews
Ashley_C, Mar 2026
Definitely a vibe and the bottomless mimosas were a plus would definitely do this again! Our waiter was the bomb.
Bonita_B, Mar 2026
Very nice! Except no vegetarian meals! A friend and his mother were there with me and they're vegeterian.
Mitra_A, Dec 2025
It wasn’t as I expected it. But it was a nice experience overall, not sure it is something I would want to do again.
ma_r, Dec 2025
Wonderful experience, crew are friendly, food so good. Everything is perfect . Good times, beautiful scenery.
MariaFe_B, Dec 2025
We had a great time! The food was so tasty! 😋 😊🙏 Enjoyed a lot with all the dancing and picture taking at the deck . Amazing experience! 🥳🥳 We will plan to have another get together 🎊🎉
Saeed_P, Dec 2025
A very pleasant ride. Nice music and very talented DG. But the reason I gave three stars to this ride because of food. The variety is so low and quality was not good. I hope they reconsider about food
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for your feedback. We’re happy you enjoyed the ride and music. We’re sorry the food did not meet your expectations, and we’ve shared your comments with our team to help improve the variety and quality.
michelleGiles, Dec 2025
Professional and fun staff, great food, comfortable environment, wonderful music, interactions and dancing. I will definitely go again and recommend this experience to others.
Michelle_K, Oct 2025
It’s so much fun the worker’s on the ship was so very nice, from the time we arrived on that ship til the time we got off we partied
Latisha_F, Oct 2025
The experience was great the atmosphere the laughter .. the staff was wonderful . The d. J was great he made sure he played a variety of music , and I loved that .
BERNICE_K, Oct 2025
There is no tour guide to tell you where or what is around you. All it is is having lunch on a boat for two hours. The description on website was not accurate. There were no anecdotes no knowledge of any of major sites around the Potomac. I could have just gone to a restaurant on the water.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for your feedback. We're sorry to hear the experience didn’t meet your expectations. We understand how disappointing it can be when the tour doesn't align with what's described. Your comments will be shared with our team as we work to improve clarity and guest experience.
Vet, Sep 2025
All the City Cruises staff were professional and friendly!! I appreciate that sooo much!! And, the cruise staff, Audi was my waitress, were all amazing!! Thank you.
Joan_G, Sep 2025
Ride was great . Staff were very nice and attentive. I would have preferred meals not drenched in sauces but my husband liked the meal
Linda_N, Sep 2025
Nice vessel but need to improve on food. Nice staff made us feel welcome . Maybe will be back when food is better
Leah_G, Sep 2025
It was super fun - even going by yourself. The views are beautiful and it is a great way to see the DC area
lexi11234, Sep 2025
Our experience was exciting and great. Our server was fantastic. High energy, very pleasant, helpful and knowledgeable of his duties.
Maroua_E, Sep 2025
It was wonderful , we had yoo much fun : music, food , drinks and view the staff they do great service
Devlon_A, Aug 2025
Overall, my spouse and I had a fantastic time on the lunch cruise. The two-hour trip was just the right length, offering stunning views and a delicious meal. It was the perfect lunch outing for a special occasion. We highly recommend this experience for anyone looking for a romantic and scenic day out.
Janeen_S, Aug 2025
It was amazing! The DJ Rich was the best DJ I have ever experienced. The staff and food were outstanding. The views from the boat were breathtaking. It was a perfect day.
Monica_B, Aug 2025
Don’t hesitate. Trust me. Book it. This cruise is worth it. Whether for a nice romantic date, or a friends outing, b-day or me day just do it. It’s beautiful. It’s fun. It’s healing. The crew takes care of you. The food is delicious.The servers are always so kind and accommodating. Dj Rich knows how to keep us dancing on the dance floor. The views are gorgeous and the vibe super chill. Such a beautiful and sleek vessel. Everyone has a blast. I can’t wait to go again and again.
Robyn_R, Aug 2025
Staff is fun and friendly. They even dance with the guests!!! The cruise was nice and music was on point!
Jill_P, Aug 2025
This was a very fun experience! The DJ and staff were amazing! Loved the food, music, & tour! Thanks
Brian_M, Jul 2025
Our server Candace was amazing and really made the experience something special. Loved the dj and dancing as well
Muriel_J, Jul 2025
This was my 2nd time on the boat. I came with daughter and my 6 yr old grandson. Disappointed as soon as I got on boat because I thought we had window seats so grandson would not have to keep jumping up to look out window. I thought thats what my $250.00 I paid would get me , I asked. after telling me iwe had inside seats. I was told I should have selected window when I bought tickets. Needless to say my grandson hurt himself when he scraped his ankle going outside to see from the door and was BLEEDING. However, one of servers gave him a bandaide. The other thong was the 4 people seated next to us were loud, roudy and were speaking very filthy and even said why can't they make this trip kid option and my grandson heard this. Apparently they didn't like him getting up to go look out the window.
Overall trip was good the food was excellent.
Saima_Q, Jul 2025
We have been attending the Washington DC Signature Scenic Lunch Cruise annually; however, our experiences have become increasingly disappointing. The vessel appears to be aging and in need of upgrades, as cleanliness standards seem to have declined. Additionally, customer service has noticeably deteriorated; our waitress was hurried and inattentive, and I had limited interaction with her. Overall, we left the experience unsatisfied.
Ahmad_L, Jul 2025
It was a great experience! My wife and I came to DC to celebrate her bday and we had a blast! We started with having a nice brunch meal but then the DJ kicked that music into gear and it was a dance party! Plenty of line dancing if you like that. I originally booked this for the sites but my wife and I had such a great time dancing I don’t really know what sites we passed. Anyhow the whole staff was so amazing and accommodating, we just loved them! DJ was really cool as well and did a great job at getting people involved, keeping the energy positive, & shouting out peoples occasions. A very unique experience that my wife and I will cherish!
Tamica_W, Jul 2025
This cruise was a lot of fun.. The DJ played good music options. The staff was entertaining with Delicious buffet food options .
Wilberta_S, Jul 2025
Be sure to check your reservation to confirm your correct cruise and boarding schedule to avoid longer wait time and missed departure.
Judy_H, Jun 2025
Great lunch, really nice cruise on the river. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Customer Service was top notch in answering questions Highly recommend if you have a few hours to spend in the area.
Farique_A, Jun 2025
We loved this short cruise. The staff were very friendly and the food was great. The only negative is the loud music. It was hard to have a conversation with family and friends due to the loudness of the music.
Alan_B, Jun 2025
Depends on expectations. Great for a party or for a family outing or for a romantic cruise. Maybe not for serious tourist, as there was no tour guide pointing out monuments. Come hungry.
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