Why Your Team Wants a Christmas Party Boat Cruise This Year
The short answer: A Christmas party boat cruise works for a team of almost any size. Small teams can book a BYO catamaran from $71 per person and bring their own food to cook on the onboard BBQ. Large teams can book a fully catered function boat with a licensed bar for 200 guests or more. Either way, the whole boat is yours for the length of the charter, with a fixed start and finish time.
By Eastcoast Sailing. Last updated October 2026
A Boat for Every Organisation Size
Whether you’re celebrating with a small team, the whole company or the clients and suppliers who’ve supported you all year, a Christmas party boat cruise suits every kind of end-of-year celebration. For a small team, a BYO catamaran charter keeps the day simple and affordable. Cabaret takes up to 20 guests and Escapade up to 43, and you bring your own food and drinks, cook on the onboard BBQ and use the plates and glassware on board, from $71 per person. For a large team, a catered function boat comes with a Christmas menu and a licensed bar run by the crew, from around $133 per person. Karisma II carries up to 150 guests and Aussie Magic up to 200.
Peak season for work events on the harbour runs from October to December. This guide covers why a cruise works for a team, what the harbour is like in early summer, what it costs per head, how fringe benefits tax applies, and what you still owe your staff as their employer when the party is on a boat.
Already set on the water? See our Christmas party boat cruise packages or call 1300 883 023 to check your date.
Why a Christmas Party Boat Cruise Works for a Team
Most teams spend the year going to the same bars for every farewell and Friday drink. A boat is a different kind of night, and it fixes the problems that make office parties hard work for the person organising them.
It has a clear start and finish
Every Eastcoast Sailing Christmas cruise runs for a pre organised time frame with a set start and finish point. Everyone boards together and steps off together, so nobody has to decide when the night winds up. SafeWork NSW lists a clear start and finish time as one of its own tips for running a safe work function.
It’s more memorable than another pub
A night on Sydney Harbour stands out from the usual round of pubs and bars. With the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and the city skyline as your backdrop, the setting does half the work, and it’s the kind of Christmas party your team will still be talking about well into the new year.
People mix
Boats are built with open decks and a spacious saloon, so guests can move around freely during the cruise. That makes it easy for people to mix, and colleagues who rarely work together often end up chatting on the back deck.
It’s a thank you your clients and suppliers will remember
A Christmas cruise is a memorable way to thank key clients and suppliers for their business over the year. With the whole boat to yourselves, there’s time for relaxed conversation away from the office, and on catered boats the food and bar are taken care of, so you can focus on your guests.
The venue is part of the price
Your group has the whole boat to itself, and the venue is included in the charter price, so there is no separate room hire fee to budget for. The setting is the harbour itself, with the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and the waterfront suburbs in view for the length of the cruise.
What December on Sydney Harbour Is Like
December is warm, long and mostly dry. According to the Bureau of Meteorology’s long-term records for Sydney Observatory Hill, the average December maximum is 25.3°C and the average minimum is 17.6°C. The city averages 7.6 hours of sunshine a day that month, with 1 mm or more of rain only on about eight days.
That makes the harbour a comfortable place to spend an afternoon or evening. On a sunny day, a shaded deck keeps everyone cool, and a covered or enclosed saloon means a passing shower is no reason to pause the party. Sydney weather rarely stops a harbour charter, and if conditions are ever unsafe on your date, we reschedule so you never lose your booking.
Day or Evening: Which Cruise Time Suits Your Team?
The time you choose shapes both the cost and the feel of the party. You can start on the hour or the half hour.
- Daytime (for example 11am to 3pm or 12pm to 4pm). The value option. Daytime slots are easier to secure and generally cost less, and everyone is home by evening.
- Early evening (for example 5pm to 9pm). The sweet spot for most groups. You board in the late afternoon, catch the golden hour and watch the city lights come on throughout the voyage.
- Later evening (for example 7pm to 11pm). The formal option, with the city lit up for the whole cruise. December Friday and Saturday nights carry peak pricing and sell out first.
How Much Does a Christmas Party Boat Cruise Cost Per Head?
Christmas cruises are priced per person on a four-hour charter, the minimum on most boats, and the biggest factor in the price is whether you go BYO or catered. BYO catamarans start from $71 per person on Escapade, which covers the charter, wharf fees, use of the onboard BBQ and the eating and drinking ware on board. Fully catered packages bundle a Christmas menu and a beverage package, and start from around $133 per person, rising with the vessel and the menu you choose.
A few other things move the final figure. Daytime and weekday cruises generally cost less than a December Friday or Saturday night, which carries peak pricing. Some larger function boats set a minimum number of guests or a minimum spend, and a few add a small wharf access fee. Because the per-person rate depends on your group size, your menu and your time slot, the quickest way to get an exact figure is to send us your details for a tailored quote.
Your Duty of Care Comes on Board Too
A work Christmas party is still a work event. SafeWork NSW states that health and safety responsibilities at work functions are the same as in the workplace. Its practical advice for employers comes down to four things.
- Serve plenty of food and non-alcoholic drinks if alcohol is served.
- Set a clear start and finish time.
- Remind staff beforehand about safe and respectful behaviour.
- Arrange ways for everyone to get home safely.
A charter makes several of these easier. The finish time is fixed by the booking. Our larger function boats are fully licensed and run their own bar with drinks packages or a consumption bar, and catering is planned before the day. A qualified skipper and crew run the boat, so nobody on your team is responsible for driving it. Choose a return wharf close to public transport and the trip home is sorted too. For more ideas on the people side of the night, read our guide to planning a work Christmas party that employees look forward to.
When Should You Book?
December is the busiest month of the year on the harbour. Large events are best secured around April or May, and peak December dates around June or July. If you are reading this in late October, you still have options. November dates, December weekdays and December daytime cruises hold on longer, and they often cost less than a December Friday night.
Catering and final guest numbers are confirmed 14 days before the cruise, so you can book now and firm up the headcount later. If your team is bringing its own food, our guide to what food to take on a boat covers what travels well.
Christmas Party Cruise: Frequently Asked Questions
How long is a Christmas party boat cruise?
Most run for four hours, which is the minimum on most of our Christmas boats. You can extend on any boat at its hourly rate, and some take three-hour charters on certain days or with approval.
Where do we board the boat?
There are pick-up points right around the harbour, so you can board close to where your guests are coming from. King Street Wharf in Darling Harbour is a popular choice for work events, close to the CBD and easy for staff and clients to reach after work. Other options include Circular Quay, Pyrmont, Rose Bay and Mosman Bay, depending on the boat. Your event manager will confirm the best wharf for your vessel and take care of the booking. Our Sydney Harbour wharves guide has the full list.
Can we bring our own food and drinks?
Yes, on our BYO catamarans, which come with an onboard BBQ and all the plates and glassware you need. If you’d rather nobody spent the party at the grill, we can arrange catering for you, from canapés and platters through to a full lunch or dinner. We can also have your drinks delivered to the boat in eskies, ice cold and ready when you board. Our larger function boats have their own catering menus and fully licensed bars, so everything is taken care of and your team can simply relax and enjoy the celebration.
What happens if it rains?
Light rain rarely stops a harbour cruise. Every boat has some cover, and many, especially the larger luxury boats, have all-weather protection, so a passing shower is no reason to pause the party. If the forecast is on your mind, your event manager can talk you through the options and help you choose a boat that suits. If conditions are ever unsafe on your date, your booking will be rescheduled or fully credited, so you won’t lose out.
Book Your Team’s Christmas Party on the Water
A Christmas party boat cruise is simple to organise, because the boat, the skipper and crew, the catering and the wharf booking come through one event manager. Send us your preferred dates, your headcount and whether you want BYO or fully catered, and one of our event managers will shortlist the boats that fit, check availability on your dates and come back with an upfront quote.
Eastcoast Sailing has been running harbour charters for small teams and large companies for more than 20 years. If you’re planning speeches or awards on the night, our larger boats tend to have a PA system on board, so just let your event manager know when you book. Browse our full boat hire Sydney fleet, or for a dedicated client event, see our corporate boat charter options.
Get a Christmas party quote online or call 1300 883 023 today.