Candlelit Dinner Cruise Budapest (Personally Tested)

The Ship 🚢

• Legenda City Cruises has two identical dinner cruise ships, both offering a luxurious and elegant atmosphere.
• The upper panorama deck is closed to guests.
• Stroller accessible. Not wheelchair accessible.
• See the boat for yourself (virtual tour).
  

Live Music 🎵

• A pianist-singer and singer duo performs live on the boat, adding to the romantic dinner on the Danube ambiance. They sing a variety of contemporary songs.
• The female singer was exceptional, reminding me of my dinner cruise experience in Paris.

The Views / Itinerary 🔭

• The cruise covers 100% of what's worth seeing in Budapest on the Danube.

• The itinerary covers everything from the southern end of the Palace of Arts/National Museum through the Parliament, Buda Castle, and Gellért Hill to the northern end of Margaret Island.

Staff & Service 🧑

• The staff was extremely courteous, accommodating, and smiley. We felt welcome aboard this ship.
• The service at the table was swift, and we never had to wait too long.
• Don't arrive hungry as a wolf though, as they do leave some time between the courses. 😉

Seating 🪑

• There are mainly two 2-person tables aboard, with 1 large group table.
• Contact Legenda prior to the cruise for special arrangements or larger groups.
• Window seats are not guaranteed—people are seated according to the order of arrival unless special arrangements are made.

Food 🍴 and Drinks 🍷 

Appetizers

• There were six different appetizers. My partner had the cold goose liver (Foie Gras?), while I had a tartar beefsteak. Both were excellent.

Soups

• There are two different soups. We had the pumpkin cream soup. It was 4 out of 5, and the portion was generous.

Main Course

• There are six different main courses. We choose the scallop and the duck. 

Dessert

• There are three different desserts. We choose the cheesecake and the brownie. Both were yummy.

Legenda Dinner Cruise Menu 🍽️

• The menu has vegetarian, gluten and dairy-free options. They don't have any options for vegans, however.

Appetizers

• Great scallop with chili
• Cold goose liver
• Shrimp with garlic in white wine sauce
• Hungarian cold appetizers
• Tartar beefsteak with red onion and garlic cream sauce
• Breast of Chicken, strawberry, rucola, rhubarb, brie

Soup

• Pumpkin cream soup with toasted pine nuts and basil oil with ruccola
• Consommé with pork bone marrow and vegetables
• The online menu is outdated—the above is based on my trip in April 2024.

Main Course

• Roasted trout with lemongrass sauce and pink peppercorns, served with rice pilaf
• Shoulder of pork, kapia pepper purée, red onion, oyster mushroom, baby corn
• Rosemary duck breast with layered sweet potato, quince, and fig
• Beef confit, carrot purée with dijon mustard, parsnip-celery purée, fried brussels, bread dumpling
• Mushroom mix risotto with parmesan cheese
• Roasted red tuna steak served with caper butter, cold red onion purée, and fresh mixed salad

Dessert

• Panna cotta topped with forest fruit rose jam
• Sweet dream” chocolate cake with strawberry ragout
• Brownie with coconut foam and salted caramel  

A Review of My Best Friend (Proposed to Her Girlfriend Aboard Legenda's Dinner Cruise 💍)

"From the moment I contacted the company, their attention to detail was impeccable. They provided attentive and responsive service, making themselves available through both emails and phones well before the actual cruise. The professionalism they displayed left no doubt about their years of experience in handling guests from all over the world. Their approach struck the perfect balance, offering just the right amount of attention without being pushy.

Upon arrival, the crew warmly welcomed us with smiles and displayed professionalism in at least two languages. The food offered on the cruise was above average and perfectly suited for this kind of experience. While some dishes could be improved, certain courses truly stood out and would shine in any restaurant.

However, what I truly cherished was the enchanting atmosphere created by the glass boat, which felt like something out of a fairytale. The mix of international and Hungarian folk music added to the magical ambiance. Not only was the crew friendly, but the fellow guests were also kind and amiable, making the boat's vibe exceptional. The drinks offered were reasonably priced, providing great value for the experience.

During my visit, I was on a special occasion, a proposal, and despite the boat being full, I found discreet spots to enjoy privacy. The romantic vibes were palpable from the very beginning, which undoubtedly contributed to my wonderful experience. You'll likely feel the same way if you're seeking a romantic dinner.

A crucial aspect to note is that seating is based on the booking order, not the arrival time. However, even those with late bookings still get fantastic 360-degree views, and there's ample opportunity to move around the boat and capture some excellent photos.

The waitresses were both stylishly dressed and highly responsive, maintaining flexibility and punctuality throughout the cruise. While the boat isn't a party vessel, the music gradually energized the atmosphere, with guests swaying to the beat while seated, rather than dancing on the floor.

As the cruise reached its peak, the experience was truly at its highest point, making the stop all the more memorable.

In conclusion, the cruise provided a perfect and exceptional experience, one that I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone seeking a magical and romantic journey on the water."