7 tips for planning a successful yacht party!
Tip #1 Be strict about your guests’ attendance.
Clearly state on your invitations that RSVPs are required and that not responding by a certain deadline means they’re not “in.” Once you get the required number of invitees and confirm them, close your invitations. Don’t confirm anyone else. As an organizer, you will receive the usual “Can I still go?” routine and your tendency is to please your guests, but when you throw a party on a yacht, you just can’t.
Unlike hotel accommodation, there is simply “no room”.
Tip #2 Go “yacht hopping” before deciding on one
Just like “would you come to visit us” when you organize an event. Hosting an event on a yacht requires you to do the same thing, except you’ll be doing it on the water! Get to know your guests: are they comfortable with each other? Will they enjoy “squeezing” or do they prefer spaces that are a bit large? What kind of activities will you organize on the yachts? Do you want to go on a cruise? What are your charter rates? All of this will help you decide which yacht to choose eventually.
Tip #3 Know what you’re getting with rental rates
Really scrutinize the yachts for space limitations, what you were or weren’t allowed to do on the yachts, and what about the charter rates, for example some yachts come with a fully equipped galley and some don’t. Some yachts do not include a generator when they sail, so there is no electricity and you may need to bring your own battery-powered equipment when you sail.
Some yachts won’t let you bring your food or may charge you a “loading fee” if you do. Some yachts have a barbecue grill on board and others do not. So learn the details and really know what you’re getting with charter rates so there are no surprises later.
Tip #4 Make sure there is enough food for your guests!
When hosting a yacht party, be sure to order or stock enough food and beverages for your guests. Remember, once you set sail, there is no way to get supplies! Some yachts provide a full dining experience with a chef on board, so you don’t have to worry about a lack of food, you just pay them 🙂
However, if you have your own caterer, make sure you plan your meals well. If you plan to barbecue on board, be sure to marinate all of your meat and seafood ahead of time. It’s nice to hire someone to barbecue for you when your guests are being entertained! Eat light snacks or sandwiches as an appetizer before you set sail and eat staples like rice, pasta, baked potatoes. Believe me, you get hungrier fast when you are browsing 🙂
Tip #5 Have music, you’ll travel!
Not all yachts come equipped with great sound systems or piped music. Therefore, you may need to bring your own boom box or iPod with speakers and a good music collection. It’s nice to have background music when your guests board the yacht. So make sure that the atmosphere on the yacht is well taken care of with good music. Or if you’re on a big budget, hire live jazz musicians to play on the yacht!
Tip #6 Be clear with your itinerary
When you rent a yacht, it lasts a minimum of 4 hours depending on the yacht charter company. Talk to the yacht representative about what you can do within 4 hours. There are many things you can do when hosting a yacht party: there is the dinner cruise, you can watch the Musical Fountain or Songs of the Sea and the Sentosa fireworks from the open sea. Or you can opt for a cruise to the South Seas where you can be taken to a barbecue on one of the islands. Or you can just have fun on the yacht at the berth and not sail. Whichever way you choose, be clear with them about your plans, so they can arrange with the skipper or yacht captain before your event.
Tip #7 Prepare for anything!
When hosting any event, contingency plans are the norm. The same goes for organizing a party on a yacht. For example, some of your guests may be prone to motion sickness, yes! It happens. So make sure you have seasickness pills, or advise your guests to take them before boarding. Be prepared for wet weather – in case of heavy rain the skipper may choose not to sail as the water is choppy so make sure that even if the yacht docked at the pier the yacht is big enough and the guests will still have a good time on the yacht with good food and good music. Make sure you have coolers filled with ice, in case the refrigerator doesn’t work during the cruise and you still need to chill your drinks. Or there might be a power outage when you have a night cruise, so get those flashlights and spare batteries ready! In short, be prepared for anything 🙂
©2011 Maya Kuchit-Desjarlais, Convention Links (S) Pte Ltd