Planning the Ultimate Gold Coast Christmas Party Boat Cruise
A Christmas party boat cruise brings friends or family together for a private celebration on the Gold Coast waterways. With one group onboard, you can organise your own food, music and festive touches around the people coming.
Use this checklist to plan a cruise aboard Inspiration, our 51ft motor yacht for up to 25 guests. If you are organising an office function, our work Christmas party guide covers team budgets and approvals.
Choose a date your group can commit to
Ask for a small number of date preferences before checking availability. Confirm whether guests prefer daytime sightseeing or an afternoon celebration, and leave room around the cruise for travel and any other plans.
Check the available duration as well as the start time. A three-hour celebration gives a different amount of social time from a two-hour outing; a particular route or stop needs to fit the booking and conditions.
Set the guest list and group budget
The yacht accommodates up to 25 guests, including children. Decide who is contributing to the charter and how food or optional extras will be shared before you collect money.
The standard rate is $690 per hour including GST and the fuel levy, with a two-hour minimum of $1,380 for the whole yacht. A three-hour standard charter is $2,070: divided by 15 contributors, that is $138 each before food, drinks and extras. Check current prices and your chosen date at booking.
A $500 deposit secures a standard advance booking, with the balance due two weeks before departure. Review the amount due and booking terms before paying.
Make food and drinks easy to share
BYO food and drinks are welcome, with no red wine onboard. We provide a large esky, ice, cups, plates, plastic champagne flutes and tumblers. Choose food that is easy to serve, and collect dietary requirements before ordering.
You can arrange optional catering separately. Give one person responsibility for bringing or coordinating the food, and include water and non-alcoholic options for the group.
Add simple festive touches
Create a shared playlist and nominate one phone to connect to the sound system. Bring small, removable decorations if you wish, but no confetti or permanent adhesives. Decorations and styling are not supplied. Confirm larger setups or outside entertainment with us before arranging them.
Keep games and gift exchanges simple enough to enjoy in a moving boat, and ask the crew where you can set things up without obstructing access.
Send one clear arrival message
Boarding is at the public pontoon at 73 Cavill Ave, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217. Ask everyone to arrive 10 minutes before departure. Paid parking is available at Circle on Cavill and on nearby streets; allow extra time to park.
Include the confirmed date, start and finish times, boarding point, footwear guidance and BYO arrangements in your group message. Children need a parent or guardian supervising them throughout the cruise.
Confirm the cruise plan
Tell us whether sightseeing, photos or a possible swim stop matters most. Routes and stops depend on duration, weather and the skipper’s assessment. If conditions affect the cruise, changes are handled under the booking terms.
Explore our Christmas cruises, then check availability and book online or enquire about your celebration.