Philadelphia: Buffet Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner Cruise

The city looks different from the river. Aboard the Spirit of Philadelphia, you get a moving view of Penn’s Landing, the Ben Franklin Bridge, and the Delaware River while eating at a reserved table. I like the private seating and the freedom to move between the dining room, dance floor, and open-air roof deck. I also like the choice of brunch, lunch, or dinner. The main caution is value: at $68 per person, the meal may feel expensive if food quality matters more to you than the cruise setting.

This is a social outing rather than a narrated sightseeing tour. The DJ, onboard games, buffet, and seasonal drinks create a festive evening, while brunch adds bottomless mimosas for passengers age 21 and older. One practical warning: an incorrect map pin sent one passenger to the opposite side of the pier in heavy rain, so allow time to find the correct boarding point at 401 South Columbus Boulevard.

What makes this Delaware River cruise worth considering

• Three ways to fit the cruise into your day: Choose a morning brunch, afternoon lunch, or evening dinner, depending on whether you want mimosas, daylight views, or a night out.
• Reserved table in a climate-controlled room: You have a dependable place to sit and eat, with protection from changing weather.
• The Ben Franklin Bridge is part of the view: The cruise gives you a waterfront angle on one of Philadelphia’s best-known landmarks.
• A full buffet rather than a light snack: Salads, hot vegetables, pasta, several entrees, and desserts are included.
• Bottomless mimosas at brunch: This is available only with the brunch option and only for passengers age 21 and older.
• Open-air roof deck access: You can step outside for 360-degree views, then return indoors for food, music, or a warm drink.

Boarding at Penn’s Landing and finding your way aboard

The cruise departs from Penn’s Landing at 401 South Columbus Boulevard. This is an important detail because the waterfront has several piers and access points, and a wrong map location can put you on the wrong side of the pier.

I would arrive early enough to confirm the boarding area without rushing. One booking experience involved a map directing a passenger to the opposite side in pouring rain. The lesson is simple: check your meeting point before leaving your hotel, and bring warm clothing even if the forecast looks mild.

Once aboard, you are directed to your reserved table in the climate-controlled dining room. The reserved seating is one of the stronger features of this experience. You do not need to hunt for a place to eat while carrying a plate, and your group has a home base for the cruise.

If your party wants to sit together, make one reservation for everyone. Separate bookings may result in separate seating. Infants are free, but you still need to select the free infant ticket option so the cruise can account for them.

The ship is wheelchair accessible. Closed-toe shoes are required, and smoking is not allowed indoors. The host or greeter speaks English.

Two to two and a half hours on the Delaware

The cruise lasts about two to two and a half hours. That is long enough for a meal, time on the dance floor, and a walk around the decks without turning into an all-day commitment.

The sightseeing is self-guided. You can look out from the dining room, step onto the open-air roof deck, or stroll around the ship to find the best angle. The central visual moment is the Philadelphia waterfront and the Ben Franklin Bridge, which takes on a different character when seen from the river rather than from a city street.

I like this format for people who want sightseeing without a formal lecture. You get a broad look at the riverfront while the ship supplies the entertainment. The tradeoff is that you should not expect detailed historical commentary or a guide explaining every landmark.

Daylight affects the mood. Lunch provides the clearest views, while dinner gives you a more social night-out atmosphere. One passenger specifically found an early sailing disappointing because the plan was to see Philadelphia at night. If nighttime scenery is important to you, check the exact departure time before booking the dinner option.

The roof deck offers 360-degree panoramic views, but conditions can change on the water. Bring a warm layer, even if you plan to spend most of the meal indoors. You can move outside for photographs and fresh air, then return to the dining room.

What is actually on the buffet

The included meal is described as a chef-prepared three-course buffet with seasonal ingredients prepared fresh daily. In practical terms, that means you can build a meal from salads, hot vegetables and starches, entrees, and desserts.

The lunch and dinner selection includes:

Salads

• Organic mixed field greens
• Organic spinach and kale salad
• Green bean salad
• Kidney bean, black bean, and chickpea salad
• Red beetroot salad
• Bow tie pasta salad

Vegetables, potatoes, and pasta

• Roasted broccoli florets
• Creamed corn and cheddar cheese casserole
• Baked ziti pasta
• Mashed potatoes

Entrees

• Oven-baked Atlantic flounder filet
• Honey and sesame chicken
• Italian beef meatballs
• Braised beef short ribs, available at dinner only

Desserts

• Seasonal fruit
• Raspberry mousse
• Lemon pound cake with fresh strawberries
• Coconut vanilla cake
• Carrot cake
• Red velvet and chocolate chip brownie, available at dinner only

The menu gives you plenty of choice, especially if your group has mixed tastes. A fish entree, chicken, meatballs, pasta, vegetables, salads, and several sweets cover the basics without forcing everyone into the same style of meal.

Dinner has the most substantial selection because braised beef short ribs and the red velvet and chocolate chip brownie are dinner-only items. Lunch is likely the better fit if you want daylight and a shorter commitment to a full evening. Brunch changes the meal format and includes bottomless mimosas, but the exact brunch dishes are not specified here.

I would keep expectations in check. This is a buffet served in a moving event venue, not a destination restaurant. One passenger felt the food did not justify the price. At $68, the meal needs to be judged together with the river cruise, reserved seating, entertainment, and setting. If you are paying mainly for a memorable meal, you may find the cost hard to defend. If you want food plus a floating social event, the calculation looks better.

Coffee, hot tea, and iced tea are included. Alcoholic beverages, soda, and juice are extra, except for the bottomless mimosas included with the brunch option. Seasonal cocktails, wine pairings, and beer are available for purchase from the fully stocked bar.

Brunch, lunch, or dinner: picking the right sailing

The three formats serve different purposes.

Brunch is the clearest value choice for some adults. Bottomless mimosas are included for passengers age 21 and older, and the daytime schedule lets you combine the cruise with other Philadelphia plans. If you want a relaxed celebration, brunch provides a built-in reason to linger at the table and enjoy the river views.

The caution is that bottomless mimosas do not help everyone. Families with children, people who do not drink, and anyone who wants a late-night city view may prefer another departure.

Lunch is the practical sightseeing option. You get natural light for the waterfront and bridge views, and the cruise can fit between other city activities. The buffet offers a broad range of food, with coffee, tea, and iced tea included.

Dinner feels most like a night out. The DJ, dance floor, lights, drinks for purchase, and open-air roof deck create a more celebratory setting. Dinner also adds braised beef short ribs and a dinner-only brownie to the buffet. Still, confirm the sailing time if you want to see Philadelphia after dark. An early dinner cruise may not deliver the nighttime atmosphere you have in mind.

Music is part of the experience. The onboard DJ plays popular hits and sets the tone for the dance floor. One person wished for more oldies, so music taste can affect your enjoyment. Think of this as a DJ-led party atmosphere, not a quiet dinner with background piano.

The DJ, dance floor, and onboard games

After eating, you can move toward the dance floor or explore the decks. The DJ keeps the cruise from feeling like a simple meal with a view, and onboard games add an easy activity for families and mixed-age groups.

I like that the ship gives you several ways to spend the two hours. You can stay at your table, take photographs outside, listen to music, dance, or look for the games. That variety matters because not everyone in a group wants the same kind of evening.

The entertainment also explains why this cruise suits celebrations and social gatherings better than serious sightseeing. If you want a quiet, focused meal, the music and movement may feel like too much. If you want a meal with built-in energy, they are part of the appeal.

The roof deck is especially useful between buffet visits. It gives you a reason to walk around and see the river from different sides of the ship. You are not locked into one view from your table, though your best outdoor time will depend on temperature and weather.

How the $68 price works out

The price is $68 per person. Included in that amount are the cruise aboard the Spirit of Philadelphia, the buffet meal, coffee, hot tea, iced tea, and the onboard DJ. Brunch also includes bottomless mimosas for passengers age 21 and older.

That is a fairer deal for someone who would otherwise pay separately for a meal, drinks, entertainment, and a waterfront setting. It is less convincing for someone who wants restaurant-level food or a detailed guided tour.

You should also budget for drinks if you choose lunch or dinner and want beer, wine, cocktails, soda, or juice. Souvenir photos are available for purchase, but they are not included. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not provided, so you need to reach Penn’s Landing on your own.

The strongest value comes when you use the entire ship. Sit for the meal, spend time on the roof deck, take in the bridge and waterfront, and enjoy the music. If you simply eat at the table and leave, the price will feel higher.

Who will enjoy this cruise most

I would recommend this experience for:

• Couples wanting a casual Philadelphia date with city views
• Families who like buffet food and onboard games
• Groups celebrating a birthday or special occasion
• Adults who want brunch with bottomless mimosas
• First-time visitors who want a broad waterfront look without a walking tour
• People who enjoy music, dancing, and a social setting

I would be more cautious if you want a quiet meal, a formal guide, or a highly refined dining experience. This is also not the best choice if your main goal is a nighttime view but the available dinner departure runs early.

The cruise is accessible to wheelchair users, which broadens its usefulness for mixed groups. Bring an ID or passport, closed-toe shoes, and warm clothing. The ID requirement is worth handling before you leave for the pier.

Practical tips for a smoother cruise

Make one booking for your whole group if sitting together matters. Separate reservations do not guarantee shared seating.

Check the pier location carefully. Penn’s Landing covers a broad waterfront area, and an incorrect map point can create a wet, stressful start.

Choose your departure based on the view you want. Lunch is best for daylight, brunch adds mimosas, and dinner offers the most evening-oriented mood, but the actual sailing time matters.

Wear layers. The dining room is climate-controlled, while the roof deck is exposed to the weather. Closed-toe shoes are required.

Do not count on complimentary soft drinks or alcohol. Coffee, hot tea, and iced tea are included, while soda, juice, beer, wine, and cocktails cost extra. The brunch mimosas are the exception.

Build in time to enjoy the whole ship. The meal is only one part of the outing. The outdoor decks, dance floor, bridge views, and games help justify the cost.

Should you book the Spirit of Philadelphia cruise?

Book it if you want a relaxed, social way to see Philadelphia from the Delaware River, and if a buffet meal with music sounds more appealing than a formal sightseeing boat. The reserved table, climate-controlled dining room, roof deck, and broad menu make it easy for a group with different interests.

Choose brunch if the bottomless mimosas matter to you. Choose lunch for clear daytime views. Choose dinner for the strongest party mood, but verify the departure time if nighttime scenery is important.

Skip it if you are paying $68 mainly for gourmet food or a detailed history lesson. The meal receives mixed value assessments, and the music may not suit everyone. For the right audience, though, the Spirit of Philadelphia provides a pleasant change of pace: part river sightseeing, part buffet, and part floating dance floor.

FAQ

Where does the cruise depart from?

The cruise departs from Penn’s Landing at 401 South Columbus Boulevard in Philadelphia.

How long does the cruise last?

The cruise lasts approximately two to two and a half hours.

Which meal options are available?

You can choose a brunch, lunch, or dinner cruise.

Are bottomless mimosas included?

Bottomless mimosas are included when you select the brunch option. They are available only to passengers age 21 and older.

Is the meal served as a buffet?

Yes. The experience includes a chef-prepared buffet with salads, hot vegetables and pasta, entrees, and desserts.

What drinks are included?

Unlimited coffee, hot tea, and iced tea are included. Alcoholic drinks, soda, and juice are available for purchase.

Is the cruise wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the cruise is wheelchair accessible.

Can infants join the cruise?

Yes. Infants are free, but you must select the free infant ticket option when booking.

Can my group sit together?

To help ensure that your group sits together, make one reservation for the entire party. Separate reservations do not guarantee shared seating.

What should I bring?

Bring a passport or ID card, warm clothing, and closed-toe shoes. Smoking is not allowed indoors.