Five Meals, One Slow Cruise
From the first welcome drink to your morning cup of tea, every meal is part of the journey. Your chef cooks on board through the day, so lunch arrives while the boat is still moving and dinner is served after you moor for the night.
The Deluxe houseboat package includes a welcome drink on boarding, a Kerala lunch of rice, sambar, karimeen fry, thoran, salad, curd, papad and pickles, evening tea or coffee with banana fritters or onion pakoras, a dinner of chappathi, rice, chicken curry, mixed vegetable curries, dal and curd, and breakfast the next morning. Everything is cooked fresh on board and included in the package price. Vegetarian alternatives such as paneer curry and aloo gobi are prepared on request when you tell us before the cruise.
Welcome Drink
On boarding, around 12:00 PM
Step off the jetty and onto the boat, and the first thing that arrives is something cold. It is served on the deck while your luggage goes to the rooms and the crew casts off.
- Vegetarian
Welcome drink
Lunch
Around 1:30 PM, while cruising
The centrepiece of the Deluxe menu, served while the boat moves through the canals. Karimeen, the pearl spot fish the backwaters are known for, is marinated and shallow fried to order.
- Vegetarian
Rice
- Vegetarian
Sambar
- Non-vegetarian
Karimeen fry (pearl spot fish)
- Vegetarian
Thoran (stir-fried vegetables with coconut)
- Vegetarian
Salad
- Vegetarian
Curd
- Vegetarian
Papad
- Vegetarian
Pickles
Evening Snacks
Around 4:00 PM
By late afternoon the boat has usually moored. Tea comes out to the deck with something hot and fried, just as the light starts to go gold over the water.
- Vegetarian
Tea or coffee
- Vegetarian
Banana fritters or onion pakoras
Dinner
Around 8:00 PM, moored for the night
A lighter meal than lunch, served once the boat is moored and the deck lamps are on. Chappathi comes off the tawa in batches so it reaches you soft.
- Vegetarian
Chappathi
- Vegetarian
Rice
- Non-vegetarian
Chicken curry
- Vegetarian
Mixed vegetable curries
- Vegetarian
Dal
- Vegetarian
Curd
BreakfastAny one
Around 8:00 AM, before check-out
Mist sits on the water early. Breakfast is served on the deck before the boat starts back towards the jetty.
- Vegetarian
Tea or coffee
- Vegetarian
Idly
- Vegetarian
Sambar
- Vegetarian
Chutney
- Vegetarian
Traditional Kerala breakfast
Add-On Dishes You Can Pre-Order
Celebrating something, or want the backwaters' best seafood on the table? These are cooked fresh on board alongside your usual menu.
Jumbo prawns roast
Roasted in a thick Kerala masala
Crab masala
Backwater crab, cracked and cooked to order
Duck roast
Kuttanadan style, slow-roasted
Add-ons are charged on top of your package and need to be ordered at least a day before the cruise, so the crew can buy them fresh that morning. Ask our team for current prices and availability.
A note on the menu
Menus may vary slightly depending on the houseboat, seasonal availability, and the selected package. Specific menu items can be confirmed with our team before your trip.
Plan the Rest of Your Trip
All Alleppey Houseboats
Browse the full fleet with live prices and availability.
Deluxe, Premium & Luxury
What actually changes between the three categories.
Alleppey Day Cruise
A few hours on the backwaters with lunch on board.
Overnight Houseboat Stays
Sunset cruise, a night moored, misty morning.
Honeymoon & Couple Houseboats
Private charters for two, with candlelit dinners.
Kerala Houseboat Packages
Multi-day trips built around a backwater cruise.
Deluxe Menu FAQs
What food is included in a Deluxe houseboat package?
A welcome drink on boarding, a Kerala lunch of rice, sambar, karimeen fry, thoran, salad, curd, papad and pickles, evening tea or coffee with banana fritters or onion pakoras, dinner of chappathi, rice, chicken curry, mixed vegetable curries, dal and curd, and breakfast the next morning. All of it is included in the package price - there is no separate food charge.
Can I request vegetarian food on a Deluxe houseboat?
Yes. Tell us when you book and the chef prepares vegetarian alternatives in place of the fish and chicken - typically paneer curry or a coconut-milk vegetable stew at lunch, and paneer masala or aloo gobi at dinner. The rice, sambar, thoran, dal, curd, papad and pickles on the standard menu are already vegetarian.
Is the food cooked on the houseboat?
Yes. Every AGT houseboat has its own kitchen and a chef who travels with you for the whole cruise. Nothing is pre-packed or brought from a restaurant - lunch is cooked while the boat is moving and served straight from the galley.
Can I request a specific dish?
Small requests are usually fine if you ask before the cruise, and the crew will tell you honestly if something is not possible on the day. Premium items such as jumbo prawns, crab or duck can be arranged at extra cost and need to be ordered in advance so they can be bought fresh that morning.
Does the menu change depending on the houseboat?
The Deluxe menu is the standard across our Deluxe boats, but exact items vary a little with the catch of the day, seasonal produce and the boat you book. Premium and Luxury boats serve wider menus. Confirm the specifics with our team before your trip.
Ready to Taste Kerala from the Backwaters?
Choose your houseboat and let us take care of the rest.