DESI LOUNGE CRUISE


The ultimate Desi night out on the Yarra River! Gather your friends and family for an unforgettable night of dancing, socialising, and celebrating. Check below for real-time availability and book now.

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• Booked as individual tickets

• Includes drinks package

• Runs most Friday and Saturday nights

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Book Online

Our desi cruises run most Friday and Saturday nights. Check here for real-time availability and book now for your crew!

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All Aboard

Gather your crew at our dock at least 15 mins before departure. Get set for a lively and intimate atmosphere for everyone!

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You're ON A BOAT!

Immerse yourself in a vibrant desi atmosphere with stunning skyline backdrop and amazing photo opportunities!

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Purchase Online Now

Our vouchers can be purchased as an entire cruise or contribute a value towards any cruise. This means our full range of both skipper yourself and skippered cruise experiences are available to gift.

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Instant Digital Certificate

We'll email you a digital gift certificate as soon as ordered, so all you need to do is print or just forward it on. Perfect even for the last-minute planners amongst us!

Book Now

Don't miss out!

Our Desi cruises run Friday and Saturday nights. Book a night out you and your friends will be talking about for a while.

Any group size

One, two… or twenty people, the whole crew’s invited! Plenty of room for good vibes and your favourite music requests.

Dance, Drink, Desi Style

Drinks are on us! Wine, beer, and soft drinks all included in the 1.5 hour cruise.

You've just found Melbourne's best Desi bar and it's ON A BOAT!

Picture this: it’s the weekend, you and your friends are dressed for a proper night out. You arrive at the dock, step onboard, and your favourite Desi tracks are already setting the mood - you can even request a few of your own. Drinks in hand, Melbourne’s skyline glowing behind you, the city lights reflecting off the water. You’re catching up, dancing, taking photos against an iconic backdrop, and getting the ultimate new profile picture. No packed club floors. No waiting at the bar. Just great music, great company, flowing drinks and the Desi tunes you actually want to hear - all on the water.

Beer, wine and soft drinks included

Punjabi, Bollywood & South Asian music

Modern & spacious vessel with bathroom

Amazing photo opportunities!

NEW YEARS EVE 2025

See in the New Year like a rockstar with a private boat cruise with your crew of up to 8, 16 or 20 people! We have an early and late sitting available on NYE (2 hours each), with the early cruise catering for the full families, which is then followed by a midnight cruise. Book early to avoid disappointment!

FAMILY CRUISE

8pm - 10pm

Includes family fireworks show

MIDNIGHT CRUISE

10.30pm - 12.30am

Includes midnight fireworks show

The ultimate desi night out

Imagine stepping onto a sleek, modern vessel that feels like a floating boutique lounge. Designed with plush seating that invites you to kick back and relax, the layout is perfectly curated to frame the Melbourne skyline as your personal backdrop. Whether you’re catching the sunset reflecting off the Yarra or posing against the city’s glittering night lights, the aesthetic is a total 'cheat code' for perfect photos. Plus, with the convenience of a full bathroom onboard, you can focus entirely on the scenery and the company without any logistical stress.

A premium South Asian experience

The vibe really shifts gears once the music hits, featuring a seamless blend of heavy Punjabi beats, Bollywood anthems, and those South Asian classics that everyone knows by heart. To keep the energy high and the conversation flowing, the experience is fully catered with wine, beer, and soft drinks all included, so you never have to worry about a tab. It’s the ultimate mix of sophisticated comfort and high-energy celebration, offering a premium way to experience the city from a perspective that’s usually reserved for the VIP list.

FAQs

Here's some common questions and answers below. If something else is on your mind, feel free to call us on 1300 915 605

  • Whats the departure schedule?

    Departing from:

    WTC Wharf, 18-38 Siddeley Street

    Boarding 7:15 PM | Cruise 7:30–10:00 PM

  • How many people per boat?

    This boat can carry up to 20 people.

  • Can reservations be rescheduled or cancelled?

    Reservations can be rescheduled or cancelled for credit free of charge up until 24 hours before trip.

  • Can we bring drinks onboard?

    BYO is not permitted. Full bar service available on board.

  • Can we bring food onboard?

    Yes, you’re welcome to bring light snacks and small food items onboard.

  • Is the cruise private or shared?

    This is a public cruise, so you’ll be sharing the experience with other guests - for private cruise enquiries please contact us.

  • Can I dance on the cruise?

    Absolutely! The Desi Lounge Cruise is designed to feel like a vibrant bar on the water, complete with space to dance.

  • Do I need to book in advance?

    Booking in advance is highly recommended to secure your spot, as spaces are limited.

  • What happens if the weather is bad?

    Rain or shine, the party’s on! Our vessel is fully covered, so you can keep cruising no matter the weather.

We're Number One!

With over 3,000 five-star reviews, we're the most trusted crew on the water. A bunch of people think we're awesome and we're certain you will also! Check us out on Google or TripAdvisor for loads of genuine customer testimonials, then experience for yourself why we're the best ranked boating and water activity in Melbourne.

Quotes from our customers...

“The must do thing in Melbourne - on a boat and be the captain yourself especially for those boat lovers. It is indeed a good family outing thing to do.”

C Heng Tan, July 2025

“The crew of On a Boat were friendly, helpful and just overall easy to deal with! The boats were clean, able to accommodate up to 9 people and spacious. Theres a speaker, connect your phone, listen + sing along to your favourite music and pack some food. Great quality time with family or friends!”

A Cresp, July 2025

"Had an amazing time with ON A BOAT Melbourne! Easy to skipper, no license needed, and the Yarra views were stunning. Loved the comfy seating and Bluetooth speakers. Perfect for a relaxed, fun outing with friends. Highly recommend!"

R Bansal, May 2025

“We took a boat out yesterday for the first time for a family birthday and loved it! Super easy to operate, our 18 year old daughter was captain, she loved it! A very relaxing way to experience the city without the hectic hustle of roads and footpaths. Staff were super helpful and easy going. All round super rad experience! Highly recommend!”

C Hill, May 2025

“We booked a 1.5-hour boat ride, and it turned out to be an unforgettable and relaxing experience. I had never realized there were so many bridges along the Yarra River. From the boat, we watched people strolling along the riverbanks—some gathering with friends, others enjoying picnics with family.”

Steph G, April 2025

“⭐️⭐️ This was so much fun!!! ⭐️⭐️ To celebrate my sisters 60th we hired one of the self drive boats for 4 of us. The online booking was easy, and check in with the crew on arrival straight forward. All of the crew were so helpful providing information. I can highly recommend 'On a Boat hire', you will have a blast!!”

M McNeil, June 2025

“Cruising on a boat ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥by yourself is an absolutely wonderful experience that I would highly recommend to anyone! There’s something so special about being out on the water, enjoying the fresh air and breathtaking views, all while having the freedom to explore at your own pace. It’s not just about the boat itself, but about the entire journey and the connection you feel with the surrounding environment.”

J Xie, June 2025

“The must do thing in Melbourne - on a boat and be the captain yourself especially for those boat lovers. It is indeed a good family outing thing to do.”

C Heng Tan, July 2025

“The crew of On a Boat were friendly, helpful and just overall easy to deal with! The boats were clean, able to accommodate up to 9 people and spacious. Theres a speaker, connect your phone, listen + sing along to your favourite music and pack some food. Great quality time with family or friends!”

A Cresp, July 2025