Melbourne River Cruises
Melbourne River Cruises, Southbank Promenade, Southbank VIC, Australia
Boat
•Why you'll love Melbourne River Cruises
- Multiple vessels catering from 20 to 150 guests.
- In-house catering with buffet, cocktail & banquet menus.
- Dedicated Function Coordinator from enquiry to event day.
About the venue
With 45 years of experience, Melbourne River Cruises offers a unique collection of floating venues cruising through the heart of Melbourne. Our vessels host everything from corporate functions and team-building events to social celebrations, bucks and hens parties, and venue-to-venue water transfers.
Cruising past Melbourne’s most iconic city sights, our events depart from Southbank, directly opposite Flinders Street Station, making us easy to access via public transport with ample nearby parking.
We offer fully licensed vessels with professional crew, flexible event formats including BYO charter options on selected boats, and reliable phone support during office hours delivering seamless, memorable events with Melbourne as your backdrop.
Melbourne River Cruises Function Rooms
Melbourne River Cruises
Embark on a unique journey along the Yarra River, where modern cuisine is paired with the stunning scenery of the riverbanks and the dazzling lights of Melbourne city. All vessels are equipped with large windows and an outside deck, showcasing stunning panoramic views, sure to create an unforgettable experience for your guests. Melbourne River Cruises offers six vessels for hire with a varying capacity. Whether you are planning a large corporate event, an intimate birthday, a festive Christmas, or a grand wedding celebration, Melbourne River Cruises are well-equipped to host your special occasion.
Reviews for Melbourne River Cruises
Hang Siow
It was a very nice boat ride and quite scenic. However I don’t find the history is as rich as what I expect. Melbourne is very much a cosmopolitan city. Not much narration through the ride. The boat seemed to be quite old where are seats are just mobile chairs placed inside.
Jim Riesterer
We had a nice time on the river exploring down stream with Yarra River Cruises. The 1-hour, 1:45 departure took us past the beautiful architecture and rapidly expanding city waterfront. The brief narration provided some historical perspectives and interesting tidbits. There’s open deck seating for around 40-50 although it felt a bit cozyy. Free water and coffee are available in the Cabot as well as a cash bar. Tip: sit in the back row, on the blue benches to give yourself maximum flexibility for photos of the soaring buildings.
Joybell
Unfortunately, our trip on this cruise was spoilt by rain. A group of us had pre planned & paid deposits, so could only hope the day would be sunny. Definitely not a day for sightseeing or taking photos with window closed and foggy, and reliant on where there were gaps of opening for air circulation…. So, my recommendation is avoid committing to this cruise but go on a sunny day in hope of availability. The commentary was good. Had the weather gone our way, I’m sure with the boat set up as was, it would have been a great relaxing cruise with lots of opportunities for photos. For us, it was having to accept that it was an experience in which we couldn’t enjoy all that was on offer and all of us soaked in getting there so somewhat uncomfortable. Paying another $37 to do again not an option.
jodi tobias
First time doing a river cruise and it was so relaxing and we all really enjoyed it! Shame the weather kept tourists away, we had the boat nearly entirely to ourselves! Great commentary, thank you!
SALWA ALHEMYADI
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Absolutely Wonderful Experience – Highly Recommended! During my visit to Melbourne, I had the pleasure of joining Yarra River Cruise, and it was truly a memorable experience from start to finish. Captain Peter and Captain Tom were exceptional — incredibly kind, friendly, gentle, and professional. They made the cruise feel safe, relaxed, and enjoyable, while sharing their warmth and positive energy throughout the journey. A very special mention goes to Rose, the amazing coordinator. She welcomed us with the most generous and beautiful smile, always cheerful, attentive, and genuinely caring. True to her name, she is lovely like a rose 🌹 — her kindness and constant smile added so much joy to the experience. I spent a truly wonderful and relaxing time on this cruise. Everything was perfectly organized, the atmosphere was warm and friendly, and the entire team made us feel welcome and valued. I absolutely loved it and highly recommend Yarra River Cruise to anyone visiting Melbourne. An amazing experience that I will always remember!
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