Pattaya, Chonburi, Thailand cruise port
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Pattaya, Chonburi, Thailand

A Thai city that defies expectations — from a towering all-wood temple on the ocean to golden Buddhas carved into cliffs, Pattaya delivers genuine wonder alongside its famous beach-resort energy.

⚓ Pier (Laem Chabang)🕒 Typical call: 8-10 hrs💵 Thai Baht (THB)🗣️ Thai (English widely spoken in tourist areas)🚌 30 km shuttle/taxi to Pattaya
Docking
Pier at Laem Chabang International Terminal, ~30 km from Pattaya; smaller ships occasionally tender to Bali Hai Pier
Walk to center
Not walkable — shuttle, taxi, or ship excursion required from Laem Chabang
Best For
Temple culture, beach day on Koh Larn, botanical gardens, street food
Don't Miss
Sanctuary of Truth — a 105m all-wood hand-carved temple on the sea

Getting Ashore

Most cruise ships dock at Laem Chabang International Terminal, a large industrial port about 30 km north of Pattaya. You cannot walk out — transport is mandatory.

Getting from Ship to Pattaya

  • 1
    Ship shuttleMost lines sell a paid shuttle dropping you at Central Festival Mall on Pattaya Beach Road — the easiest, most reliable option.
  • 2
    Taxi or private driverTaxis wait inside the terminal. Negotiate a round-trip price before you get in (typically 1,500–2,000 THB). Pre-booked private drivers are best value for groups of 3+.
  • 3
    Grab / Bolt ride-hailingWorks in Pattaya but can be blocked by local taxi operators inside the port gates. Download the app in advance.
  • 4
    Tendering (rare)A small number of luxury or expedition ships anchor in Pattaya Bay and tender to Bali Hai Pier — right at the south end of Beach Road, fully walkable to the city.

💡 Pro move: Allow 1.5–2 hours to return to the port in afternoon traffic — the highway to Laem Chabang backs up badly. Never cut it close.

Piers & Tendering by Cruise Line

Almost all cruise ships use the deep-water commercial terminal at Laem Chabang; direct tendering into Pattaya Bay is rare and reserved for smaller vessels.

Cruise LineTypical Berth / ArrivalDock or Tender
Most major cruise lines (Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Holland America, Princess, MSC, Costa)Laem Chabang International Terminal, Si Racha📍Docked
Small luxury / expedition ships (occasional)Bali Hai Pier, South Pattaya Beach📍Tendered

Top Excursions

Pattaya packs iconic temples, a coral island escape, and lush botanical gardens into one shore day — pick one big highlight or mix beach with culture.

Iconic

Sanctuary of Truth

A 105-meter all-wooden temple covered in intricate Buddhist and Hindu carvings — still under construction after 40 years. Hard hats provided. Shoulders and knees must be covered.

⏱ 2-3 hrs💰 ~500 THB (~$14)👗 Dress code enforced📷 Unmissable
Find Sanctuary of Truth tours →
Nature

Koh Larn (Coral Island)

45 minutes by public ferry from Bali Hai Pier (note: ferry departs from Pattaya, not from Laem Chabang). Turquoise water, white sand, and snorkeling — the beach escape Pattaya's main shore can't offer.

⏱ Half day minimum⛴ Ferry 30 THB or speedboat ~400 THB🐠 Good snorkeling⚠️ Allow time to return to port
Find Koh Larn island tours →
Nature

Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden

A 500-acre award-winning park with French garden terraces, dinosaur valley, Stonehenge replica, and daily Thai cultural shows. Great for families.

⏱ 3-4 hrs💰 500–800 THB🌿 Family-friendly📍 South of Pattaya
Find Nong Nooch garden tours →
Culture

Buddha Mountain (Khao Chi Chan)

A 109-meter Buddha image laser-etched in gold leaf onto a massive limestone cliff, surrounded by serene gardens. Free to visit and genuinely impressive.

⏱ 1 hr💰 Free📷 Great photos📍 15 min south of Pattaya
Find Khao Chi Chan tours →
History

Wat Phra Yai — Big Buddha Temple

An 18-meter golden Buddha atop Pratumnak Hill with sweeping views over Pattaya Bay. Peaceful, free, and easy to combine with the nearby Pattaya Viewpoint.

⏱ 45 min💰 Free (donations welcome)👗 Cover shoulders/knees🌅 Great bay views
Find Big Buddha Pattaya tours →
Relax

Jomtien Beach & Seafood Lunch

A quieter, cleaner beach just south of Pattaya city, popular with families. Pair with a seafood lunch at a beachfront restaurant — grilled giant prawns, crab curry, or mango sticky rice.

⏱ 3-4 hrs🏖 Calmer than Pattaya Beach🍤 Excellent seafood🚌 Short songthaew ride
Find Pattaya beach & food tours →

Self-Guided Walks & Hikes

Pattaya isn't a walkable port — you'll need a taxi or songthaew to reach attractions — but once in the city, Beach Road and the hilltop temple area reward an easy stroll.

Pattaya Beach Road to Big Buddha

3 km | Easy | 45 min walk or 5 min songthaew

Stroll south along Beach Road past the crescent beach, then take a blue songthaew up Pratumnak Hill to Wat Phra Yai and the Pattaya Viewpoint for the classic bay panorama.

  1. StartPattaya Beach Road
  2. StopPratumnak Hill
  3. StopWat Phra Yai Pattaya
  4. EndPattaya Viewpoint
🗺️ See full route in Maps →

Sanctuary of Truth Coastal Walk

1.5 km | Easy | 20 min

After visiting the Sanctuary of Truth, walk south along the beach path past fishing boats toward the Naklua fish market for a glimpse of the local working waterfront.

  1. StartSanctuary of Truth
  2. StopNaklua Beach
  3. EndNaklua Fish Market
🗺️ See full route in Maps →

Weather & Best Time to Visit

Climate normals for Pattaya, Chonburi, Thailand (2014–2023 averages). Pack for the month you sail — highs, lows, and how many rainy days to expect.

MonthAvg HighAvg LowRainy DaysSunriseSunset
Jan86°F / 30°C73°F / 23°C86:42 AM6:09 PM
Feb87°F / 31°C75°F / 24°C86:39 AM6:22 PM
Mar89°F / 32°C78°F / 26°C126:24 AM6:26 PM
Apr91°F / 33°C80°F / 27°C136:04 AM6:28 PM
May90°F / 32°C81°F / 27°C205:51 AM6:34 PM
Jun88°F / 31°C81°F / 27°C195:50 AM6:43 PM
Jul87°F / 31°C80°F / 27°C235:58 AM6:46 PM
Aug87°F / 31°C80°F / 27°C226:04 AM6:37 PM
Sep86°F / 30°C78°F / 26°C246:05 AM6:17 PM
Oct86°F / 30°C77°F / 25°C256:06 AM5:57 PM
Nov87°F / 31°C76°F / 24°C146:15 AM5:46 PM
Dec87°F / 31°C74°F / 23°C76:30 AM5:52 PM

Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 (10-yr daily averages)

Insider Tips

  • 🚌
    Leave early for the port. The Laem Chabang highway backs up badly after 3 PM. Return transport takes 45–90 min in traffic — leave at least 2 hours before all-aboard.
  • 💴
    Carry Thai Baht in small bills. Baht buses (songthaews) cost 10 THB per ride; street food and temples are cash-only. ATMs are plentiful in Pattaya; exchange at the port is poor rate.
  • 👗
    Pack a sarong. Temples (Sanctuary of Truth, Big Buddha, any wat) require covered shoulders and knees. Sarongs are sometimes available at the entrance but not always.
  • Koh Larn takes time. The public ferry from Bali Hai Pier runs every hour and takes 45 min each way. You need at least 4 hours in Pattaya to do it comfortably — only attempt if your call is 9+ hrs.
  • 🚕
    Negotiate taxi fares before you get in. Tuk-tuks and taxis at Laem Chabang are not metered. A fair round-trip to Pattaya is 1,500–2,000 THB; walking away usually gets a better offer.

Cruises Calling Here

Upcoming cruises that call at Pattaya, Chonburi, Thailand. Dates, prices, and ports of call change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking.

ms Westerdam
Holland America Cruises
Singapore → Hong Kong
⚓ Calls 03 Feb 06:00 - 04 Feb 16:00 202742 nights20 portsDeparts 2027 Jan 03
View itinerary · 20 ports
42 days, one-way from Singapore to Hong Kong
  1. 03 Jan 16:00Departing from Singapore
  2. 06 Jan 08:00 - 17:00Puerto Princesa, Palawan Island Philippines
  3. 08 Jan 08:00 - 17:00Bitung, Sulawesi Indonesia
  4. 11 Jan 07:00 - 15:00Jayapura, New Guinea Indonesia
  5. 13 Jan 08:00 - 15:00Rabaul, New Britain Island Papua New Guinea
  6. 14 Jan 09:00 - 15:00Trobriand Islands PNG, Kiriwina, Kaileuna, Kitava, Vakuta
  7. 16 Jan 10:00 - 19:00Townsville QLD, Queensland Australia
  8. 17 Jan 08:00 - 18 Jan 18:00Cairns, Queensland Australia
  9. 22 Jan 08:00 - 17:00Darwin, NT Australia
  10. 25 Jan 07:00 - 15:00Pulau Komodo Island, East Nusa Tenggara Indonesia
  11. 26 Jan 08:00 - 27 Jan 18:00Benoa, Bali Indonesia
  12. 31 Jan 07:00 - 17:00Singapore
  13. 02 Feb 07:00 - 15:00Koh Samui Island Thailand, Nathon
  14. 03 Feb 06:00 - 04 Feb 16:00Pattaya, Thailand
  15. 05 Feb 08:00 - 21:00Sihanoukville, Cambodia
  16. 07 Feb 06:00 - 18:00Saigon, Phu My Port-Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
  17. 08 Feb 09:00 - 18:00Nha Trang, Vietnam
  18. 10 Feb 07:00 - 23:59Da Nang, Hue City, Vietnam
  19. 12 Feb 08:00 - 21:00Halong Bay, Vietnam, Ha Long City
  20. 14 Feb 07:00Arriving in Hong Kong, China
Find this cruise to book →
$6654from / pp
ms Westerdam
Holland America Cruises
Singapore → Hong Kong
⚓ Calls 03 Feb 06:00 - 04 Feb 16:00 202714 nights9 portsDeparts 2027 Jan 31
View itinerary · 9 ports
14 days, one-way from Singapore to Hong Kong
  1. 31 Jan 17:00Departing from Singapore
  2. 02 Feb 07:00 - 15:00Koh Samui Island Thailand, Nathon
  3. 03 Feb 06:00 - 04 Feb 16:00Pattaya, Thailand
  4. 05 Feb 08:00 - 21:00Sihanoukville, Cambodia
  5. 07 Feb 06:00 - 18:00Saigon, Phu My Port-Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
  6. 08 Feb 09:00 - 18:00Nha Trang, Vietnam
  7. 10 Feb 07:00 - 23:59Da Nang, Hue City, Vietnam
  8. 12 Feb 08:00 - 21:00Halong Bay, Vietnam, Ha Long City
  9. 14 Feb 07:00Arriving in Hong Kong, China
Find this cruise to book →
$2714from / pp

Itineraries and prices change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking. Some links are affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.