Cheese Fondue and Raclette Cruise on Lake Lucerne

The Cheese Fondue and Raclette Cruise is a Friday evening dinner cruise on Lake Lucerne, operated by the SGV Lake Lucerne Navigation Company (lakelucerne.ch, +41 41 367 67 67), the long-established fleet that runs steamers and motor ships on the lake in central Switzerland. Boarding takes place from Landungssteg 1 (pier 1) at Bahnhofquai, directly beside Luzern railway station, at 6:45 PM. The ship departs at 7:12 PM and returns at 9:47 PM, giving a cruise of about 2 hours 30 minutes in total.

The cruise is seasonal. It runs every Friday from 23 October 2026 to 19 March 2027, with the exceptions of 30 October 2026, 25 December 2026 and 1 January 2027. Because the sailings are limited to the cold months, the menu is built around classic Swiss winter dishes. Diners choose between two main courses: Urnerboden fondue served with bread and sides, or Urnerboden alpine raclette served with potatoes and sides. Both are made with cheese from the Urnerboden alpine dairy in canton Uri, one of the high pastures in the mountains south of the lake. Seasonal buffet sides are included, so the meal is savoury throughout, and drinks are not stated as part of the package.

The package price is CHF 85 (about $106 USD) per adult, and children aged 6 to 15 pay CHF 16 (about $20 USD). Swiss travel passes do not reduce the price: there is no discount with the GA or Half Fare cards. Tickets are sold through the Lake Lucerne navigation company and should be reserved ahead, as dinner cruises on a fixed menu depend on advance catering numbers.

While diners eat, the boat circles the lake, with views of the lit city shoreline and the dark Alpine outline of Mount Pilatus and the Rigi on clear evenings. Winter evenings on deck are cold, but the dining room is heated and the main experience takes place indoors. Guests with dietary restrictions, including dairy allergies or vegetarian preferences beyond the cheese-based menu, should contact the operator before booking, since the two main dishes are both cheese-centred. Transport to the pier is not included, although the station is only steps away.