Celebrate New Year’s Eve in style on the Danube in the heart of Budapest City! Join the outstanding celebration on 31 December for an unforgettable night featuring a delicious, all inclusive buffet dinner, unlimited drinks, midnight celebrations, and a live DJ—all while admiring the illuminated panorama of the UNESCO-listed Budapest riverfront from an excellent and comfortable extra large vessel, the Budapest event boat.
This cruise offers unforgettable Budapest NYE experiences on the river Danube, combining elegance, festive winter atmosphere, high-quality dining and amazing panorama (including the fireworks display popping up around midnight).
Reservation options: 24 h cancellation or Reserve now and Pay later via the following check out link (you will be redirected):
Inclusions of NYE Buffet Dinner and Party Cruise
- 6h NYE Celebration on the Danube
- 8 pm – 2 am programme incl. Boarding & Disembarking
- Dinner Party on the Danube
- Buffet Dinner – all inclusive foods, eat as much as you can
- Unlimited Drink Package (Beer, Wine, Soft Drinks, Hot Drinks but no Spirits/Mixers included)
- Ship Bar – Card payment
- Live DJ
- Heated Decks inside the Boat (the terrace is not heated)
- Boat: Budapest Event Boat, XL vessel
- 24h Free cancellation (per instructions) or Reserve now and Pay Later
- Optional Upgrade to Sightseeing Floor (standard: Music Floor)
- Dock: Vigado 5 Dock – City Central Pier near Vigado Square close to Hotel Marriott
- Departure & Arrival in City Centre at Vigado 5 Dock (‘Vígadó 5. Ponton’)
This cruise will be sold out in a few weeks. If it is, please check the remaining available NYE Cruises here and let us know via email if you wish to get on the reserve list. You can also sign up for our waiting list for the rest of the New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day cruises (not in the comments please, kindly send us an email to info [at] budapestrivercruise.com).
Music
Live DJ performance – Enjoy the rhythms, dance to upbeat tunes, setting the perfect vibe for a magical NYE night ahead.
Taxi
Kindly make sure to pre-arrange your taxi services in advance, subject to availability, as pick up and hotel drop off services are not included in the cruise ticket and may be limited on the Dec 31 and Jan 1.
Schedule – NYE Buffet Dinner and Party Cruise
Mahart New Year’s Eve Cruise – Six-Hour Timeline
20:00–21:00 Dec 31, New Year’s Eve
Boarding at City Central Dock Number 5 Vigado Dock (Vigadó Sq, Ponton 5). Guests take their seats on the Music Floor or Sightseeing Floor.
21:00–23:30
Departure and first part of the evening. Note: late comers are not accommodated, please aim to arrive by 8 pm as the city will be very busy. Buffet Dinner is self-served on board while the ship sails along the Danube. Scenic night-time views accompany the two-and-a-half-hour dining experience.
23:30–00:30 Dec 31 – Jan 1 – Welcome the New Year in style
Hungarian Parliament Building. The cruise slows for an extended sightseeing moment with aperitif, beer or wine. A dedicated one-hour viewing of Parliament illuminated at midnight with the fireworks to clink in the New Year with a glass of sparkling wine!
00:30–02:00
Buda Castle and onward to the historical Chain Bridge. A combined two-hour segment featuring the onboard concert, additional dinner offerings, and panoramic sightseeing. Drinks include aperitifs, beers and wines.
02:00–02:00+
Return to Mahart Cruises. Disembarkation completes the six-hour New Year’s Eve experience.
Menu NYE Buffet Dinner and Party Cruise
Starters
- Selection of Tuscan Cold Cuts: Parma Ham, Coppa, Bresaola
- Tuna Tartar with Mango Salsa, Fresh Cilantro & Sweet Chili
- Mozzarella Caprese with Basil Pesto & Olives (Vegetarian)
- Beetroot Carpaccio with Turkish Yoghurt Salad (Vegetarian)
Salads
- Grilled Eggplant, Greek Yoghurt & Baby Spinach Salad
- Caesar Salad with King Prawns
- Chicken Poke Bowl with Miso Mayo, Mung Bean Sprouts, Cilantro, Spinach, Avocado & Sesame Seeds
- Bulgur Salad with Vegetables, Goat Cheese & Grilled Cherry Tomatoes (Vegetarian)
- Saurkraut – Traditional Hungarian Fermented Cabbage – Vecsés Pickles
Soup
- Pho Soup with Glass Noodles & Pullet
- Pumpkin Cream Soup with Toasted Pumpkin Seeds & Pumpkin Seed Oil (Vegetarian) – festive winter style
Main Courses
- Pullet Breast with Creamy Truffle Polenta & Grilled Winter Vegetables
- Pulled Pork with Cheddar–Jalapeño Mashed Potatoes
- Lamb Chop with Red Wine & Fig Sauce, French Potato Cake
- Catfish Stew with Cottage Cheese Dumplings
- Penne Arrabbiata with Grilled Eggplant, Cherry Tomatoes, Basil & Grana Padano (Vegetarian)
Fresh Baked Bread & Pastries
(Gluten-free variants available)
Homemade Sourdough Bread, Rye Bread, Mini Multigrain Buns, Gluten-free Pastries
Desserts
- New York Cheesecake
- Bourbon Vanilla Mousse with Salted Caramel & Hazelnuts
- Pistachio Crème Brûlée
- Sacher Tartlet
- Caramelised Pear Crumble
- Chocolate Ganache
New Year’s Eve Midnight Buffet
- Cabbage Soup (Hungarian Hangover Soup)
- Lentil Stew with Frankfurter or Grilled Bacon (each lentil is believed to bring luck for the New Year! We wonder how lucky we are to have Budapest and this beautiful riverside)
- Honey–Mustard Glazed Roasted Piglet with Stewed Cabbage & Potatoes
- Hungarian Pork Feast: Black Pudding & Sausage with Mustard, Bread & Cabbage
Wine Selection – Premium Reds, Whites & Roses from Hungary
- Kvassay Sauvignon Blanc, Szekszárd 2021
- Chateau Dereszla Tokaj Dry 2021
- Chateau Dereszla Tokaj Muskotály 2022
- Szeleshát Tekenővölgyi Rosé, Szekszárd 2023
- Szeleshát Merlot, Szekszárd 2019
This is a sample menu for illustrative purposes. Dishes, ingredients, and presentation may be subject to change.
We reserve the right to make adjustments to the dinner cruise menu and drink list based on the availability of fresh produce and the ongoing evaluation of customer feedback.
Price -NYE Buffet Dinner and Party Cruise
Prices to be confirmed closer to the date.
Music Floor Tickets: approx. €360 per person with Dinner & Unlimited Drinks
Panorama Sightseeing Floor Tickets: approx. €400 per person with Dinner & Unlimited Drinks & Enhanced Panorama
This cruise will be sold out in a few weeks. Please check the available NYE Cruises here.
Groups of 10 or more please write us an email or send us a comment below to have a private table arranged. While we cannot offer any group discounts on the New Year cruises (all will be sold out), we can take note of your special dietary needs (please send it to us along with the group booking inquiry) and arrange a private table for your group.
Dress Code -NYE Danube Dinner & Cruise
The dress code is smart casual, please dress accordingly.
NYE Danube Dinner Party Programme Overview
Boarding begins at 8.00 pm on 31 December at the Mahart Cruises dock. Guests are welcomed aboard in a relaxed atmosphere, with time to settle in and enjoy the festive setting before departure. The cruise sets sail at 9.00 pm for a celebratory journey along the Danube, designed as a six-hour experience including boarding and final disembarkation.
The evening opens with a dinner served on board as the ship glides past illuminated riverfront landmarks. This section of the programme lasts approximately two and a half hours and offers uninterrupted views while guests enjoy their meal.
The first sightseeing highlight is the Hungarian Parliament Building, where the cruise slows to allow time for an aperitif, beer or wine. This dedicated viewing and refreshment segment lasts around one hour and is designed to showcase the Parliament at its most striking, lit up against the night sky.
Buda Castle follows as the next major viewpoint. As the ship reaches this part of the river, the onboard concert begins, providing four hours of continuous live music to accompany the celebration and carry guests into the New Year.
As the cruise approaches the Chain Bridge, guests can enjoy a further period of sightseeing paired with aperitifs, beer, cocktails, spirits, wine and an additional dinner service. Scenic views continue throughout this two-hour segment while the celebration reaches its peak.
The ship returns to the Mahart Cruises dock at the end of the programme. Disembarkation brings the total duration of the New Year’s Eve experience to six hours.
Last updated Apr 13, 2026