A couple dining at a white-linen window table as the Ohio River passes outside

Dinner Cruises

The classic Queen City evening: board the Spirit of Cincinnati, sit down to a chef-prepared buffet, and watch the skyline drift by as the sun goes down. It's dinner and a show, and the show is Cincinnati.

Dinner on the river is the oldest tradition in Cincinnati entertaining. Long before rooftop bars and riverfront restaurants, this city celebrated on the water, and a dinner cruise aboard the Spirit of Cincinnati keeps that tradition exactly where it belongs.

Your evening starts at our dock in Dayton, Kentucky, five minutes from downtown. Board with a cocktail, find your table, and settle in as the paddlewheel turns toward the skyline. Dinner is a chef-prepared buffet served fresh on board, with menus that range from comfort classics to carved-to-order feasts.

After dinner, the evening is yours: the dance floor and sound system below, the open-air deck above, and the Roebling Suspension Bridge lit up as you pass beneath it. It's the kind of night guests of every generation remember.

Perfect For

AnniversariesRetirement dinnersVisiting familyDate nightsSmall celebrations

What's Included

Chef-prepared buffet dinner
Full bar packages available
Skyline and sunset views
Dance floor and sound system
Climate-controlled main deck
2-3 hour evening cruises

A Sample Cruise

6:00 PM

Board at the Dayton, KY dock with a welcome cocktail

6:30 PM

Depart as the sun starts to set over the skyline

7:00 PM

Chef-prepared buffet dinner is served

8:00 PM

Dancing below deck or stargazing up top

9:30 PM

Return to the dock

Every charter is custom. We'll build the schedule around your group.

Common Questions

What is served on a Cincinnati dinner cruise?

A chef-prepared buffet from our catering menus, which range from comfort classics to carved-to-order feasts. We can accommodate dietary restrictions with advance notice, and bar packages or a pay-as-you-go bar round out the evening.

How long does a dinner cruise last?

Most dinner cruises run 2 to 3 hours dock to dock: time enough for cocktails, a full dinner, and a slow pass along the skyline before we head home.

Is there a bar on the boat?

Yes, the Spirit of Cincinnati has a full-service bar. Buy a bar package so drinks are covered for your whole group, or run a cash bar and guests buy their own. Cash bar just means drinks are not included in your package, and the bar takes card or cash. We serve guests 21 and over with a valid ID.

Can we celebrate a special occasion during dinner?

That's what dinner on the river is for. Tell us it's an anniversary, a retirement, or a birthday and we'll help you mark the moment, from reserved seating to a toast at sunset.