Boat parties are the preferred way of celebrating special occasions in Dubai. Dubai Boat Parties have a private area where no one can disturb, a beautiful skyline that you don’t have to decorate, and guests who cannot leave the venue early. Boat Parties can create wonderful memories and give people plenty of reason to brag and talk about what they did that night. To help you celebrate important occasions and create memorable experiences with each boat party, we give you our tips.
Don’t forget about the theme
The key difference between an amazing boat party and an average one is having structure. A theme provides guests something to dress up in and a photo opp, and the best part about themes is that they are low cost and high impact.
Good boat party themes:
A white party has a beautiful backdrop of blue waters and everyone in white with gold accents.
A disco theme has sequins and oversized sunglasses with a playlist peaking in 1978.
For a tropical/Miami theme, you can have floral prints and decorative fruit platters.
A Black Tie on Deck theme is overdressed, but can be a lot of fun.
A neon themed night boat party can provide glow sticks and UV paint for an evening departure.
Themes should be sent with invitations to help guests plan. A lot of the fun leading up to the boat party happens in the group chat.
Find The Right Boat For Your Event
A Party Boat Dubai setup is designed for groups ranging from 25 to 60 people. It has an open deck, a dance area, a sitting area, and a quality sound system. An intimately-sized Dubai Private Yacht Rental, on the other hand, is an ideal choice if your group is smaller than 25 people. This option has a lounge interior as well as a sun deck.
When you book with Gugu Boat Dubai, you can ensure that your boat is relevant to the event you are booking it for. Before you make a decision, you must ask 3 questions: how many guests the boat can hold comfortably, if the sound system is able to pair with a phone, and if food can be brought on board and served.
Timing Is Everything
This is more important than most realize.
For swimming, taking pictures, and enjoying clear water, the afternoons from 2 to 5 pm are optimal. Just keep in mind that you will need to bring your own shade.
The 5:30 to 8 pm time slot is the most popular. People love watching the skyline as the city lights turn on. This slot goes the fastest so be sure to book it if you want to time your cruise this way.
From 8 to 11 pm, there is a great party atmosphere with city lights and no heat. There is less sightseeing and more dancing during this time.
A Gugu Boat Dubai Marina departure is perfect for sunset cruises since you get to see the towers, JBR, and Ain Dubai light up as they switch on.
Food and Drink
Keep your catering choices simple and minimal. The best options for a boat are grazing boards, sliders, skewers, mezze, and fruit. Anything that can melt should be avoided.
Hydration is something groups tend to underestimate. Bring twice as much water as you think you’ll need, plus non-alcoholic options such as mocktails, iced tea, or coconut water. The Dubai heat during a Partying on a Boat catches everyone off guard and the guest who fades at hour two has a very different perspective than everyone else.
Other must-have items: reef-safe sunscreen, a waterproof phone pouch, a Bluetooth speaker, portable charger, and a garbage bag. Find out the alcohol policy onboard ahead of time to avoid any surprises.
Add One Thing People Don’t Expect
Small thoughtful additions are what people remember the most:
- A photographer for the first hour or a disposable camera passed around
- Floating inflatable and swimming mats
- A personalized drink in honor of the guest of honor
- A group playlist with a three song limit
- A cake at sunset instead of the end of the night
You don’t need to do all of these, one is a good addition.
Boat Party Etiquette
Make sure your group listens to the crew and no glass is thrown overboard. Someone should be assigned to be the designated organizer to manage the group and head count, and it’s better this is decided instead of discovered.
Final Word
Your success won’t hinge on your party’s budget. It will hinge on how much you plan. One sunset cruise ticket is cheaper than a ticket on any other boat party. But, you also need to plan for water and costumes. Considering all the expenses involved, you’ll find that the sunset cruise parties can be the cheapest and most fun way to go.
