Dubai Marina yacht cruise, shared sail or private charter
2 h · starts 10:00, 14:00, 17:00 · 5.0 (3)
The yacht is a 50-foot motor cruiser with a shaded rear deck, a sun deck at the front, an air-conditioned saloon and a clean bathroom on board. You meet our crew at the Marina jetty 20 minutes before departure; there is no hotel pickup on this trip because almost every guest prefers to arrive in their own time, and the Marina is easy to reach by taxi, tram or metro. On a shared sailing we take a maximum of 12 guests, usually two or three small groups, so there is space on deck for everyone.
We leave the Marina channel past the towers and turn along the coast by JBR and Ain Dubai, then cruise to the outer crescent of Palm Jumeirah, where the captain stops for a 20-minute swim if the sea is calm. Life jackets, towels and a ladder are provided, and the crew keep watch the whole time. From the crescent you look back at the skyline from the sea, which is the view most people come for. Water, soft drinks and fruit are included; you are welcome to bring snacks or a cake for a celebration. Sea conditions vary: on a breezy afternoon outside the Marina the yacht will roll, so anyone prone to seasickness should take a tablet beforehand.
A private charter gives you the whole boat for two hours for up to 12 people, with the route, music and timing yours to set. We can add catering, a birthday or proposal set-up, or an extra hour, all quoted upfront. Unlike many cheap listings, the price you see includes fuel, the licensed captain, a deckhand and marina fees, with no extra charge for the swim stop. Because the crew and berth are reserved for you, cancellation is free up to 48 hours before sailing.
How the time is spent
- 13:40Meet the crew at the Marina jetty
Arrive 20 minutes early at the jetty named in your confirmation. The deckhand checks names, shows you the boat and explains where life jackets are kept.
- 14:00Cast off through Dubai Marina
We cruise slowly down the Marina channel past the towers and out to sea, a good moment to settle on the sun deck or in the shade at the back.
- 14:20JBR and Ain Dubai
The captain runs along the coast by JBR beach and the giant wheel of Ain Dubai, slowing down so you can take photos from the front deck.
- 14:45Palm Jumeirah outer crescent
We cruise to the crescent of Palm Jumeirah and drop anchor in a sheltered spot, with the Dubai skyline lined up behind the trunk of the Palm.
- 14:55Swim stop
Twenty minutes in the water with life jackets and a ladder, watched by the crew. If the sea is too choppy, we stay on deck and enjoy the view instead.
- 15:30Cruise back past the skyline
On the way back the captain takes a wider line so you see the coast from further out, then we enter the Marina channel for the final stretch.
- 16:00Back at the jetty
We tie up where we started. Taxis wait at the Marina walk and the tram and metro are a short walk away.
Times shown for the first start time; later runs follow the same plan.
Included
- Two-hour cruise on a 50-foot motor yacht
- Licensed captain and deckhand
- Route past JBR, Ain Dubai and Palm Jumeirah
- 20-minute swim stop when the sea allows
- Life jackets, towels and swim ladder
- Water, soft drinks and fresh fruit
- Fuel and marina fees
- Bluetooth sound system on deck
Know before you go
- Bring swimwear, sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat; changing is possible in the bathroom on board.
- Shoes come off on deck, so wear sandals that are easy to slip on and off.
- Anyone prone to seasickness should take a tablet an hour before; outside the Marina the yacht can roll on breezy afternoons.
- Children must wear a life jacket on deck at all times; we carry child sizes.
- Swimming is only allowed at the swim stop, with crew supervision, and only for guests who can swim or wear a life jacket.
- Alcohol is not served by the crew; on private charters you may ask us about the rules before you book.
Questions about this experience
What is the cancellation policy for yachts?
What if the weather is bad?
Can children come on the yacht?
Can you arrange vegetarian food?
Can we bring a photographer or drone?
Guests on this experience
Proposed on the yacht and Chloé helped arrange roses, a hidden photographer and a cake. She said yes. Smooth from start to finish, and the photos are spectacular.
Two-hour charter for my wife's birthday. Out past the Palm and the sail-shaped hotel, a swimming stop and a fruit platter. Chloé and the captain made it feel very personal, even playing her favourite songs.
Group of eight friends on a Saturday afternoon. An hour of fishing, then a swim off the Palm, then sunset by the Marina. Jomar sorted cold drinks and a playlist without us asking. Will definitely book again.
More Dubai experiences
Two hours on a traditional wooden dhow through Dubai Marina at night, with an international buffet, live tanoura show and views of JBR and Ain Dubai.
An hour on the water from a marina near Jumeirah, following an instructor along the coast to a photo stop in front of Burj Al Arab. Licensed and fully insured.
Take off from the water and fly low along the coast over Palm Jumeirah, Burj Al Arab and the Marina towers, a scenic flight of 25 to 40 minutes with a window for everyone.