The New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner Cruise is a City Cruises gala dinner on the River Thames on 31 December 2026, aboard The Diamond, the City Cruises flagship, from Tower Millennium Pier (Lower Thames Street, EC3N 4DT). Boarding is at 8:00pm and the cruise runs from 8:30pm to 1:00am, 4 hours 30 minutes on the water. Included are a glass of champagne on arrival and another at midnight, a four-course dinner complemented by canapés and petits fours, a bottle of wine per person, a live band with dancing, and London’s New Year’s Eve fireworks seen from the river. A full bar is available on board. The cruise is for adults only and the dress code is semi-formal.
The flagship’s night of the year
The Diamond is the boat City Cruises sends out when the occasion matters, and there is no bigger occasion on the Thames than New Year’s Eve. This is the most complete way to spend it on the river: canapés to begin, four courses, petits fours to finish, a bottle of wine each, and a live band waiting for the moment the tables are cleared.
While the crowds along the embankments stand in the cold for hours, you arrive, take your seat and let the evening come to you — and when midnight arrives, you raise your glass on the water with the fireworks overhead. It is an evening for grown-ups, and it is dressed for the part.
How the night unfolds
8:00pm — Tower Millennium Pier
At the pier, look for the City Cruises coloured check-in desk: you receive a coloured check-in card and are directed to the queue for your cruise. The nearest stations are Tower Hill, Fenchurch Street, Tower Gateway DLR and London Bridge.
8:30pm — champagne and dinner
A glass of champagne on arrival and canapés, then four courses with a bottle of wine per person as The Diamond sails through London.
Midnight — the fireworks from the river
A second glass of champagne for the countdown, and the New Year’s Eve fireworks seen from the Thames.
Until 1:00am — the band plays on
Petits fours, the live band and the dancing take the night into 2027 until the boat returns to Tower Millennium Pier at 1:00am.
Good to know before you book
The Gala Dinner Cruise is for adults only. The dress code is semi-formal: a cocktail dress or a jacket, and no jeans or trainers. If you have dietary requirements, add them after booking through your confirmation, at least 96 hours before sailing: later requests cannot be guaranteed.
Champagne on arrival and at midnight and a bottle of wine per person are included; other drinks are bought from the full bar on board. Roads across central London close early on 31 December, so check the Transport for London travel information before you set off.
