If you want the Christmas party to feel like your company’s own occasion, exclusive boat hire gives you a private setting on the Thames and a programme shaped around your group.
You might want a seated festive dinner with a short thank-you speech, or a buffet party where colleagues can mingle before the music starts. The right boat is the one that suits that experience, your numbers and your budget.
Thames Boat Hire is an independent broker. We help you compare suitable vessels and plan the details with the operating team.
Choose the atmosphere before the boat
A festive dining party
For a meal-led celebration, start with the number of guests who need to sit down together. Then consider the menu, drinks, space for speeches and whether you want dancing afterwards.
The published maximum capacity is not always the right figure for your event. A boat can accommodate different numbers for a seated dinner and a standing reception. We check the layout against your actual programme.
A buffet and dancing party
An informal party gives guests more freedom to move around and meet colleagues. Buffet catering and a DJ can work well when the emphasis is on socialising and dancing.
Tell us how substantial you want the food to be and how much seating is needed. Space for a buffet, bar service and the dance floor all matters when selecting the vessel.
What shapes the private hire quote
The price depends on the vessel, date, duration, guest numbers and the elements you choose. Catering, drinks, entertainment and pier arrangements should be clear in your proposal, along with any minimum spend or minimum numbers.
For a fair comparison, ask what is included and what is additional. If you are working to a total company budget, give us that figure rather than a headline price per guest alone. It helps us assess suitable options from the outset.
We quote each private Christmas party against the brief. A shared cruise ticket price is not a private hire rate, and a published example from an earlier year is not a current quotation.
Match the vessel to your numbers
| Approximate group | Briefing priority |
|---|---|
| 20–49 | Compare the cost of exclusivity with a shared party and check minimum spend |
| 50–99 | Decide between seated dining and a more informal layout |
| 100–149 | Check how dining, speeches and dancing fit together |
| 150–240 | Confirm the layout and practical capacity of a larger vessel |
| 241+ | Start with a bespoke brief for the space and service required |
These are briefing bands, not a guarantee of available boats. Tell us if your group is smaller; we can discuss suitable alternatives.
We can help you turn your brief into a shortlist. Enquire for your group’s Christmas party options.
Plan the welcome and the running order
Think about what guests should do as they arrive, when you want food served, whether anyone is speaking and when the music should start. A welcome drink can be quoted where suitable, including a non-alcoholic choice.
Let us know whether the party is about thanking staff, bringing departments together or entertaining clients. Those priorities help us recommend the food, layout and entertainment.
For more event ideas, explore corporate events on the Thames.
Check the pier and the journey home
Preferred times and piers are subject to available slots, tides, the vessel and operating requirements. Choose the location with guests’ travel in mind, then use the precise boarding instructions in the final confirmation.
London’s riverside landmarks add to the setting, but a particular route or Tower Bridge lift should never be assumed. Ask what is planned for your selected boat and boarding pier.
Include everyone in the brief
Give us dietary and allergy information early. We will confirm what the caterer can provide and the order deadline. Ask about non-alcoholic drinks and let us know whether the party needs quieter areas or seating for particular guests.
Accessibility varies by boat and pier. Tell us about mobility requirements before selecting the vessel so the operator can confirm the practical arrangements. Do not leave that check until after booking.
Make approval straightforward
We can provide a proposal with the date, vessel, timings, inclusions, total cost and booking terms so you can share it with the people approving the event.
Ask us to check your preferred dates and arrange a free provisional hold where available. Confirm your booking with a 25% deposit, subject to the terms of your chosen cruise. The proposal will explain when the hold expires and when the balance is due.
Start with four details
Tell us your preferred dates, approximate guest numbers, total budget and party style. Add any essential requirements, such as speeches, accessibility or a preferred boarding area.
Enquire today for your private Christmas party options on the Thames.
