Philadelphia: Christmas Eve Gourmet Brunch or Dinner Cruise

Christmas Eve looks better from the water. Aboard the Spirit of Philadelphia, you get a festive meal, a reserved table, live DJ music, and broad views of Philadelphia’s waterfront without having to plan several separate holiday activities. I especially like the private table for your party and the chance to step outside to the open-air rooftop lounge between courses. The main caution is the food: one recorded dining experience found the meats overcooked, and ingredient signs were not always clear.

This cruise works best if you want Christmas Eve to feel like an occasion, not another restaurant reservation. The atmosphere, decorations, music, and skyline views carry much of the appeal. At $109 per person, the value depends on how much you care about the setting and entertainment, since alcoholic drinks, hotel transportation, commemorative photos, and gratuity cost extra.

Key things to know before booking

• Two holiday meal choices: Pick a two-hour brunch cruise or a 2.5-hour dinner cruise, depending on the option available for your date.
• Your table is reserved: Make one booking for your entire party so everyone can sit together.
• Brunch includes unlimited mimosas: Coffee, tea, iced tea, and water are included with both meal options.
• The cruise leaves from Penn’s Landing: You will be dining along Philadelphia’s historic waterfront and passing beneath the Ben Franklin Bridge.
• The food is buffet-style: The meal includes three courses and seasonal favorites, but food quality may vary, especially with meats.
• Entertainment is built in: A live DJ, onboard games, decorated dining rooms, and a rooftop lounge keep this from feeling like an ordinary meal.

Why this Christmas Eve cruise is different

Christmas Eve can be a tricky night for dining. Restaurants may close early, family members may have different tastes, and the city can feel quiet in some areas. This cruise gives you a fixed holiday plan with food, scenery, music, and a place to sit for the evening.

You board the Spirit of Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing, a useful location for anyone already spending time near the waterfront or Old City. Once aboard, the holiday setting begins with seasonal décor throughout the yacht and at your reserved table. You are not simply eating beside a window. The ship itself becomes part of the celebration.

I like that the cruise is designed for groups. Your table is reserved for the size of your party, so you do not need to compete for seats in a general dining room. Just remember to place one reservation for everyone. Separate bookings cannot be counted on for seating together.

The tone is festive rather than formal. Suggested clothing is casual but neat, such as nice pants, a button-up shirt, a blouse, or khakis. You do not need special eveningwear, which makes this easier for families and mixed-age groups.

Brunch or dinner: choosing the right sailing

The brunch option lasts two hours and includes unlimited mimosas. Coffee, tea, iced tea, and water are also included. It is a good fit if you prefer daylight views of the waterfront or want your evening free for another holiday activity.

The dinner option lasts about 2.5 hours. That extra time gives the meal and entertainment a more unhurried holiday feel, and an evening departure usually suits people who want the cruise to be the main event of Christmas Eve. The available schedule is generally in the evening, but the exact timing depends on the option you select.

The choice comes down to the kind of Christmas Eve you want:

• Choose brunch for a lighter daytime celebration, included mimosas, and more flexibility later.
• Choose dinner for a longer sailing, a stronger evening atmosphere, and a complete night out.
• Choose brunch if children or older family members may not enjoy a late evening.
• Choose dinner if music, cocktails, and skyline views after dark are central to your plans.

The package describes the meal as a three-course brunch or dinner buffet. That means you get the freedom to choose from seasonal dishes rather than waiting for each course to arrive at the table. It also makes the meal practical for a group with different preferences.

Boarding at Penn’s Landing

The experience begins at Penn’s Landing, one of the most recognizable points along Philadelphia’s waterfront. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to arrange your own way to the departure point.

Give yourself enough time to arrive without rushing. Christmas Eve can bring unusual schedules and traffic, and the cruise has a fixed departure. Your ticket includes the cruise, meal, reserved table, and listed entertainment, but not transportation to the pier.

Bring a passport or ID card. The activity is wheelchair accessible, which is important for a holiday group that includes someone with limited mobility. The host or greeter speaks English, and the listed language for the activity is English.

After boarding, you can expect a decorated yacht and a climate-controlled dining room. Large picture windows are the main viewing point during the meal. They let you keep watching the city without giving up warmth or comfort, which matters on a December sailing.

The Christmas Eve buffet

The meal is one of the main reasons to book, but it is also where expectations should stay realistic. The menu is described as a seasonal chef-prepared buffet with holiday favorites and all the trimmings. Since dishes are served buffet-style, you can build a plate that suits you and return for more if needed.

That format is especially useful for families. One person may want salads and lighter items, while another reaches for traditional holiday meats and side dishes. You are not locked into a single plated menu.

The dining report available for this experience was mixed. The salads received positive attention, but the meats were found to be overcooked. Food ingredient signage was also described as poor. If you have food allergies or follow a specific diet, ask staff directly about ingredients before filling your plate. The lack of clear signs is a practical weakness, not a small detail.

The staff, however, were described as very nice. That matters on a busy holiday sailing, when friendly service can soften the rough edges of buffet timing or crowded food stations.

I would treat the meal as part of the full package rather than the sole reason to pay $109. The setting, cruise, entertainment, and reserved table are doing a lot of the work. If your top priority is carefully prepared food, you may find the value less convincing. If you want a festive night with many moving parts handled in one place, the buffet is more likely to meet your needs.

Alcohol is not included. You can buy seasonal cocktails, wine pairings, or beer from the fully stocked bar. Brunch is the exception for mimosas, which are included without an additional charge. Gratuity is also separate, so factor that into your final budget.

Philadelphia views from the dining room and deck

The ship’s large windows give you views of Philadelphia’s historic waterfront while keeping you inside a climate-controlled room. That is the most reliable way to enjoy the scenery in winter, especially if the weather is cold or windy.

The route includes views from the water and a passage beneath the Ben Franklin Bridge. The bridge is one of the cruise’s most memorable visual moments, particularly when seen from the open deck. You will also have skyline views and changing angles on the waterfront as the ship moves.

The open-air rooftop lounge gives you another way to see the city. I recommend using it between courses rather than assuming you will want to stay outside for the entire sailing. You can take a short stroll, photograph the skyline, then return to the warmth of the dining room.

The views are more atmospheric than educational. This is not a narrated sightseeing cruise, and no guide-led history presentation is listed. You will see Philadelphia from an unusual angle, but you should pair the cruise with a separate Old City or waterfront walking tour if you want detailed historical context.

A DJ, games, and a holiday atmosphere

The live DJ keeps the mood from becoming too quiet or stiff. Onboard games add another layer of activity, especially for groups who want more than a long meal. You can eat, listen to music, walk the decks, and spend time in the lounge instead of remaining at the table for the full sailing.

The entertainment also helps explain the price. You are paying for a packaged holiday event, not just a seat and a plate of food. The decorated yacht, DJ, games, and views create a setting that would be difficult to reproduce with a regular restaurant reservation.

Still, the music may not suit everyone. If you want a quiet Christmas Eve dinner with long conversations, the DJ and games may feel like too much. Families and social groups are more likely to appreciate the energy. Couples seeking a very intimate meal should consider that the cruise is designed as a shared entertainment event.

Seasonal cocktails, wine pairings, and beer are available for purchase. These extras can raise the final bill quickly, so decide ahead of time how much you want to spend beyond the $109 ticket.

Is $109 a fair price?

At $109 per person, this is not a bargain meal. The value comes from combining several elements:

• A two-hour brunch or 2.5-hour dinner cruise
• A three-course buffet
• A reserved private table
• A decorated holiday setting
• Live DJ entertainment and games
• Waterfront and skyline views
• Access to the rooftop lounge
• Unlimited mimosas with the brunch option

If you paid separately for a holiday meal, entertainment, and a special view, your total could approach the cruise price. The benefit here is convenience. Your group has one reservation, one setting, and one planned activity for the main part of Christmas Eve.

The weak point is that several costs remain outside the ticket. Alcohol, gratuity, photos, and transportation are not included. The food report also suggests that the buffet may not deliver restaurant-level consistency.

I would call the price reasonable for a festive event, but not a clear food bargain. You are buying the occasion. The meal needs to be acceptable, while the décor, music, and waterfront setting create the memorable part of the night.

Who will enjoy the Spirit of Philadelphia most?

I would recommend this cruise to families, groups of friends, and visitors who want a simple Christmas Eve plan with built-in entertainment. It also suits anyone who wants a special meal without dressing formally or arranging several separate stops.

The reserved table is a real advantage for groups. One booking keeps your party together, and the buffet lets each person choose what works for them. The wheelchair-accessible setup may also make the cruise a practical choice for mixed-mobility groups.

You may want to skip it if:

• Your main goal is a quiet, intimate dinner
• You expect gourmet food to be the star
• You need detailed historical commentary
• You dislike buffet dining
• You want all drinks and gratuity included
• You prefer to change plans at the last minute

The activity is non-refundable, so book only when you are comfortable committing to the date and time. Since Christmas Eve plans are often difficult to replace, check your schedule carefully before paying.

How to make the most of the cruise

Make one reservation for the whole group. This is the most important seating tip. If you book in separate transactions, the company cannot promise that your parties will be placed together.

Arrive prepared for both indoor and outdoor time. The dining room is climate-controlled, but the rooftop lounge is open to winter weather. Wear neat, comfortable clothing and bring your ID.

If you choose brunch, take advantage of the included mimosas, but do not forget that other alcoholic drinks are extra. If you choose dinner, set a drink budget before boarding.

Ask about buffet ingredients before serving yourself if allergies or dietary restrictions matter. The food signage may not provide enough detail, so direct questions are the safer approach.

Use the windows for the longest views and step outside around the bridge passage or skyline portions of the cruise. The combination of indoor comfort and brief outdoor walks gives you the best balance.

Should you book this Christmas Eve cruise?

Book it if you want Christmas Eve to feel festive, organized, and social. The Spirit of Philadelphia gives you a reserved table, holiday décor, buffet dining, music, games, and Philadelphia views in one package. The rooftop lounge and passage beneath the Ben Franklin Bridge add moments you cannot get in a standard restaurant.

Think twice if food quality is your highest priority. The available dining feedback points to good salad choices and pleasant staff, but also overcooked meats and weak ingredient signage. At $109, the setting and entertainment need to matter as much as the menu.

For most families and groups, I see this as a practical holiday outing with a memorable backdrop. Choose brunch for flexibility and included mimosas, or dinner for a longer evening celebration. Just budget for drinks, gratuity, and transportation, and make one group reservation so your party stays together.

FAQ

How long is the Christmas Eve cruise?

The brunch cruise lasts two hours. The dinner cruise lasts 2.5 hours, depending on the option selected.

What food is included?

The package includes a three-course brunch or dinner buffet with seasonal dishes and holiday favorites.

Are mimosas included?

Unlimited mimosas are included with the brunch option. Coffee, tea, iced tea, and water are included with both brunch and dinner.

Is alcohol included with dinner?

No. Cocktails, wine, and beer are available for purchase from the onboard bar.

Can my group sit together?

Yes, a reserved private table is included for your party size. Make one reservation for the entire group because separate reservations cannot be guaranteed seats together.

Is the cruise wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.