Marina Del Rey: Christmas Eve Buffet Brunch or Dinner Cruise

Christmas Eve takes on a different rhythm aboard a boat: you dine while Marina del Rey slides past the windows, with the harbor lights and occasional sea life beyond the deck. I like the choice between a festive brunch with free-flowing mimosas and a more traditional holiday dinner, and I like that you can step between a climate-controlled cabin and an open-air rooftop deck.

The main consideration is the $143 per-person price, especially at dinner, where beer, wine and cocktails cost extra. This is a fixed, non-refundable holiday event, so it suits you best if you want the meal and cruise as one planned occasion, not a flexible harbor outing.

Key points to know

• The cruise lasts 2 to 2.5 hours, with starting times shown when you check availability.
• Brunch and dinner have different menus, so choose based on the meal you want, not just the departure time.
• Brunch includes free-flowing champagne, mimosas and sparkling cider. Dinner drinks beyond coffee, tea and water are available for purchase.
• The indoor cabin and rooftop decks offer two ways to take in the harbor, from sheltered comfort to open-air views.
• The buffet includes several substantial choices, from carved tri-tip and salmon to salads, sides and desserts.
• The activity is wheelchair accessible, and you should bring a passport or ID card.

A Christmas Eve table with the harbor outside

This is a meal-centered cruise, not a sightseeing trip with a long list of stops. You spend roughly two to two and a half hours aboard, with a holiday buffet, music and views of Marina del Rey. Burton Chace Park and local sea life are among the sights named for the cruise, though the exact route and what you see on a particular departure are not specified.

That balance is the appeal. You do not have to plan a separate restaurant reservation and harbor activity: the meal, entertainment and water views come together in one event. A short French-language comment on the experience calls out the buffet, the harbor lights and a convivial atmosphere. Those are the elements to keep in mind when deciding if this is the kind of Christmas Eve you want: festive and social, rather than quiet or highly formal.

The boat has a climate-controlled interior as well as open-air rooftop decks. You can stay inside to eat and talk, then head outside for a look at the marina. If you hope to spend time on deck, bringing a layer is sensible; the open-air setting is part of the experience, while the indoor space gives you a sheltered option.

There is an English-speaking live guide, but no guide name or detailed narration schedule is provided. Think of the guide as part of the cruise rather than the main attraction. The focus is the holiday meal and the harbor setting.

Brunch brings the widest drink package

The brunch buffet combines breakfast favorites with lunch-style dishes, so it gives you more than a plate of eggs and pastries. You can start with muffins and danishes, or build a smoked salmon plate with bagels, cream cheese, capers, red onion and tomatoes. Scrambled eggs with American cheddar, bacon, sausage, breakfast potatoes and French toast make the menu feel familiar and hearty.

The brunch also includes Greek salad, Caesar salad, sun-dried tomato pasta salad and baked orecchiette with roasted kale, parsnips, ricotta and sage. For a main dish, options include birria-style chicken, oven-roasted salmon, hand-carved tri-tip and kid-friendly chicken tenders with fries. That range matters if you are dining with a group whose appetites and preferences do not match.

Dessert and seasonal fruit round out the buffet. Coffee, hot tea, iced tea and water are included, along with free-flowing champagne, mimosas and sparkling cider. That drink package makes brunch the clearest value choice for anyone who wants a celebratory toast without adding each glass to the bill.

The menu is not limited to light brunch fare, so you can treat it as a leisurely holiday lunch. On the other hand, a buffet means the experience is built around serving yourself and choosing from what is available, not ordering a course-by-course meal. If that sounds right for your group, brunch offers both variety and a relaxed format.

Dinner leans into familiar holiday dishes

The winter dinner buffet is more recognizably seasonal. It begins with Greek salad and a roasted vegetable and grain salad with quinoa, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, mixed seeds and watercress. Fresh bread and butter accompany the salads.

The main buffet includes three-cheese baked macaroni, oven-roasted Atlantic salmon, hand-carved turkey with cranberry sauce and hand-carved tri-tip with caramelized onions and balsamic demi-glace. The sides include garlic mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, haricots verts, traditional stuffing and turkey gravy. It is a substantial spread, with both classic holiday choices and a fish option.

Potato gnocchi with roasted squash, Parmesan and arugula pistachio pesto is available by ordering from your server. That detail is worth noting if you want to try it: it is not listed as a self-serve buffet item. Dessert is pre-selected, with apple crisp and a seasonal display of cakes, brownies, pastries and fruit.

Dinner includes unlimited coffee, hot tea, iced tea and water. Beer, wine and cocktails are not included, though they are available to purchase. If a glass of wine is important to your holiday meal, factor that extra cost into your comparison with brunch.

The menu offers variety, with a few dietary limits

There are vegetarian dishes at both meals, including salads and pasta or potato sides. The dinner buffet also lists a roasted vegetable and grain salad marked vegan, while brunch includes several vegetarian dishes. Still, this is a shared buffet menu, not a dedicated vegetarian or vegan meal, so check the current menu if your needs are strict.

Some dishes are marked gluten-free, but the kitchen is not gluten-free and cross-contamination is possible. The menu itself makes that caution clear. If you have celiac disease or a serious allergy, do not assume a marked item is safe; contact the provider before booking and explain your needs.

The dinner gnocchi contains pistachio pesto, and the brunch pastries and dinner dessert display may contain nuts. The menu uses dietary labels, but it does not promise an allergen-free environment. That makes this a better fit for diners with flexible preferences than for anyone who needs firm guarantees about ingredients or kitchen separation.

Families have a listed kids’ station at brunch with chicken tenders and fries. The dinner menu does not specify a separate children’s station, though its turkey, macaroni and mashed potatoes are familiar choices. A guaranteed table for your party size is included, which helps keep your group together rather than relying on separate seating.

What the $143 price buys

At $143 per person, this is a special-occasion purchase. You are paying for the two-to-two-and-a-half-hour cruise, a freshly prepared buffet, desserts, music, holiday décor, a guaranteed table for your party size, and the setting of a harbor meal. For brunch, the unlimited champagne, mimosas and sparkling cider add clear value if you plan to enjoy them.

Dinner has a different value calculation. The holiday menu is broad and includes carved turkey and tri-tip, salmon, multiple sides and dessert, but the alcoholic drinks are extra. If you are comparing it with a restaurant meal, remember that the boat ride and harbor views are part of what the price covers; if you mainly want dinner, a shore-side restaurant may give you more control over menu and timing.

The event is also less flexible than a regular meal out. The activity is non-refundable, and starting times vary, so check the available departure before you commit. The listed duration is a range rather than a precise promise, which is useful to keep in mind if you have another Christmas Eve plan afterward.

Who will enjoy this cruise most

I would choose this for a couple, family or group of friends who want a ready-made Christmas Eve celebration. The buffet format takes the pressure off choosing a restaurant and organizing the evening, while the boat gives the meal a sense of occasion. The convivial atmosphere and view of the harbor lights are especially appealing if you want your holiday dinner to feel like an outing rather than another meal at home.

Brunch is the stronger pick if you enjoy a daytime cruise, like a broad buffet and value the included drinks. Dinner is the better fit if turkey, stuffing and traditional holiday sides are what make the occasion for you. If your group is split, compare the menus first: the two meals are not simply the same buffet at different times.

This may be less suitable if you want a quiet, intimate dinner, a highly customized meal or a long sightseeing cruise. The activity is designed as a festive dining event, and the cruise lasts only two to two and a half hours. You can enjoy the harbor, but the meal and holiday atmosphere are central.

A few practical details before you go

The cruise is wheelchair accessible. Bring a passport or ID card, as requested for the activity, and note that hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. The live guide speaks English.

The exact starting times depend on availability, so confirm the time before making other plans. The cruise duration is 2 to 2.5 hours. Because the booking is non-refundable, be sure your group is settled on the meal and date before reserving.

Should you book it?

Book this if you want a Christmas Eve meal with harbor views, music and a festive buffet already built into the plan. I would lean toward brunch for the drink inclusion and broad menu, or dinner if a traditional holiday spread matters more to you. At $143 per person, it is a premium outing, but the boat, meal and celebration are bundled together. If you want a quiet restaurant dinner or need strict dietary assurances, compare other options first.

FAQ

How long is the Christmas Eve cruise?

The cruise lasts 2 to 2.5 hours. Starting times vary, so check availability for the departure that suits you.

Can I choose brunch or dinner?

Yes. The experience offers a holiday-inspired buffet brunch or a winter holiday buffet dinner. The menus differ, so review them before choosing.

Are drinks included?

Coffee, hot tea, iced tea and water are included. Brunch also includes free-flowing champagne, mimosas and sparkling cider. Beer, wine and cocktails are available for purchase.

What food is served at brunch?

Brunch includes pastries, smoked salmon, eggs, breakfast meats, potatoes and French toast, along with salads, pasta dishes, chicken, salmon, tri-tip and desserts.

What food is served at dinner?

Dinner includes salads, three-cheese macaroni, salmon, carved turkey, carved tri-tip, sides such as stuffing and mashed potatoes, and desserts. Potato gnocchi is available by ordering from your server.

Is the cruise wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.

What should I bring, and can I cancel?

Bring a passport or ID card. The activity is non-refundable, so confirm your plans before booking.