yacht club engagement party

How to Host a Yacht Party

Last Updated on September 29, 2023 by Boatsetter Team

A yacht party is a fantastic change of pace from dinner at a restaurant or a backyard cookout. Yachting isn’t a common thing for a lot of people, so there’s a natural excitement built into the event, even if the boat never leaves the dock. All you have to do as the host is play into that vibe, and you’ve got yourself a successful event.

Discover yacht rentals near you— Only at Boatsetter

One of the best things you can do when inviting guests to a yacht party is to inform them in advance about general etiquette aboard a boat. Friends who are landlubbers will not know, for instance, that it’s customary to leave your shoes in a dock box before boarding a boat.

Tell them ahead of time that their feet will be on display so they can get a pedicure, buy a cool pair of socks or invest in a little toe jewelry to feel comfortable throughout the party. They’ll also appreciate the pro tip of wearing shoes that are easy to slide on and off without having to sit down and deal with laces or straps.

And, for yacht parties during the day, encourage your guests to dress for the sun. Have sunscreen on board to use, and offer helpful suggestions like bringing a hat, a light shirt to cover easy-burn spots like shoulders and the back of the neck, and perhaps linen pants or a sarong for legs that don’t see the sun too often. Polarized sunglasses also help stay comfortable throughout the day on board.

Think bigger-picture about how people should dress: if your yacht party is during the day, then your guests might bring a small bag of clothes for later; you’ll need a place on the yacht to put those bags. Your yacht party may extend into the night, which means there could be a big swing in the temperature, so encourage guests to bring clothing that can be layered on and off.

READ MORE: 5 Secrets Boat Clubs Don’t Want You to Know

If the party will include the boat leaving the dock, then advise your guests about the golden rule of remaining upright: one hand for you, one hand for the boat. Yes, you can carry a plate of hors d’oeuvres or a cocktail in one hand, but whenever the boat moves, you always want one hand free to grab a rail, a handhold, or anything else you might need to steady yourself. Helping new boaters stay safe underway should be priority one!

In terms of hosting, think about serving a steady array of finger foods instead of a big, sit-down meal. The little stuff is easier to store and cook quickly, and it’s a better option to offer people a variety of foods if the boat is moving since some people may be a bit more sensitive than others.

Skip the things that come on skewers (those little sticks never end up in the trash, and they can poke bare feet if they end up on deck ). Instead, think about crudites, bruschetta bites, and boneless wings that leave no refuse behind.

Also, have soft drinks such as ginger ale and lemon-lime soda on hand to help soothe any bouts of seasickness . Ginger is another well-regarded remedy and can be served as a chewable or in a cup of iced tea.

Sometimes, yacht parties are themed, with everything from steel-drum players to belly dancers aboard for entertainment. Swim parties are, of course, a go-to favorite, as are “Under the Sea” parties with a seafood spread. You can go with a color, or a lack thereof, such as an all-white party, or encourage people to wear Hawaiian shirts for a Polynesian night .

Music is a must. So don’t forget to create a playlist to go with your theme. It’s hard to go wrong with boating standbys such as Jimmy Buffett, Bob Marley, and the Beach Boys. More than a few great singalongs have started with “Rock the Boat” by the Hues Corporation or “Banana Boat (Day-O)” by Harry Belafonte.

Yes, that last suggestion is about as polar opposite as you can get from “Under the Sea,” but that’s the beauty of a yacht party. It can be anything you want it to be.

Best of all: you don’t need to own a yacht to throw a party on one. You can rent a yacht for a half-day or full-day and host your party on the rental instead! If you happen to be one of the lucky few who own a yacht, you can list it and rent it out to the large market made up of people daydreaming about their day out on a yacht or hosting their own yacht party.

Boatsetter is a unique boat-sharing platform that gives everyone— whether you own a boat or you’re just renting — the chance to experience life on the water. You can list a boat , book a boat , or make money as a captain .

List your yacht & start earning an extra income renting it out

Kim Kavin has been on boats in more than 50 countries and islands, including in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, South Pacific, Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia. She grew up learning to steer a ski boat and Hobie Holder at her grandfather’s lake house in New Jersey, and went on to spend time aboard everything from America’s Cup racing sailboats to submarines. 

Kim is a PADI-certified scuba diver and animal lover who always enjoys a good, long look around a coral reef. Her award-winning writing and editing regularly appears in national marine magazines and on leading websites. In her early years, she was a Dow Jones editing intern and a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism. When she’s not writing, Kim can usually be found hiking northwest New Jersey’s beautiful park trails with her adopted shelter mutt, Ginger.

Browse by experience

Explore articles

Five Best Jet Boats

Hilton Head Island, SC Boating Guide

Sarasota Boating Guide

App Update: Owner App 2.0

How to arrange an engagement party at sea

The main struggle, or might I say challenge, comes with finding the perfect venue for your party. That being said, there couldn’t be a better venue than a luxury yacht charter Dubai Marina. A lot of time and planning goes into arranging your engagement party. These include the following:

• You need to decide on the venue.
• You need to set your budget right.
• You need to prepare your guest list.
• You need to decide on the food.
• You need to plan your invitation style.
• Choose between celebrating instantly or planning the whole party out.
• You have to plan the décor, games and other necessities of an engagement party.

Why Should You Host an Engagement Party?

It is an opportunity to bring your loved ones together.

It aids in breaking the ice between families.

It’s a great opportunity to indulge in food and drinks.

This helps you in planning out for your wedding.

You are able to prepare the right guest list.

It’s a great opportunity to reflect on the wonderful memories and celebrate them.

Tips to Arranging Your Engagement Party on A Yacht

Every newly engaged couple dream of throwing an engagement party and celebrating their wedding on a large scale. There couldn’t be a more ideal venue than a yacht, to celebrate your joyous moment.

Picture yourselves standing amidst the calm and serene waters along with your loved ones. The yacht comes equipped with all the necessary requirements to host an event, along with professional and well experienced crew members.

Yacht cruises in Dubai are known to offer high quality in terms of service. You could also inform your event planner about your requirements for the event, so they could discuss it with the crew and deliver exactly what you asked.

While planning your engagement party in Dubai, you will come across a number of yacht service providers. They would be willing to provide you with an unrivalled experience, leaving your guests bursting with happiness. As you are planning out the event, you may also discuss the type of menu you would want to offer your guests.

Apart from the food, the team can also provide you with entertainment that suit your preferences. They are equipped with state-of-the-art technologies, offering you all types of entertainment. Furthermore, a special presentation of the couple can also be offered by the team.