A company holiday party on a boat in DFW works best as a private three hour charter for the whole team, with a licensed captain and crew, your own catered food and music, and a weekday date for the lowest rate. At Sam’s Dock on Lake Lewisville, one boat carries 30 to 50 guests.
This guide covers how to choose the boat, what the party costs, what to bring, and how to plan for a December evening on the water. For the bigger picture of chartering on the lake, start with the complete guide to boat charters on Lake Lewisville.
Why a boat works for a company holiday party
Most end of year parties happen in the same few places: a restaurant back room, a hotel ballroom or the office break room. A boat changes the feel of the evening. The whole team is together in one private space for three hours, nobody has to leave early to beat the traffic home from a downtown venue, and the view does half the work of the decorations.
It is also simple to organize. The boat, the captain, the crew and the fuel come as one booking, and the rest of the planning is the part you would do for any party: the guest list, the food and the music. If you have planned an offsite on the water before, much of our guide to corporate team building on the water applies here too.
Choosing the boat for your headcount
Start with an honest headcount, because it decides the boat. Every person who boards counts toward the capacity, including a caterer, a DJ or a photographer, so add them to the guest list before you choose.
- A department or a small team. The Miss Selina carries up to 30 guests.
- A mid-sized company. The Miss Teena carries up to 40 guests on a spacious single deck with bench seating and a bar.
- The whole office. The double deck Blue Goose carries up to 50 guests and has a generator, a music system and a grill.
For a team larger than one boat, you can charter more than one boat for the same time slot. With two Blue Goose boats booked for the same start time, a large company sails on the same evening.
What a company holiday party on the water costs
The rate is for the whole boat on a three hour charter, not per person, and it includes the captain, the crew and the fuel. It depends on two things: the boat and the day of the week.
| Boat | Guests | Mon to Thu | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miss Selina Party Boat | 30 | $975 | $975 | $1,175 | $1,050 | $1,325 |
| Miss Teena Party Boat | 40 | $1,175 | $1,175 | $1,385 | $1,250 | $1,575 |
| Blue Goose I Party Boat With Slide | 50 | $1,675 | $1,675 | $1,925 | $1,725 | $2,175 |
| Blue Goose II Party Boat With Slide | 50 | $1,675 | $1,675 | $1,925 | $1,725 | $2,175 |
A weekday party is the lowest rate on every boat, which suits a company event well, since many teams prefer a weeknight to giving up a weekend. With a full boat on a weekday, the Miss Teena works out to about $30 per guest and the Blue Goose to about $34, before tax. A few holiday dates carry their own rate, which replaces the usual rate for that day, and the price for your date is always shown before you pay.
Outside the rate sit sales tax, which is added at checkout, gratuity for the captain, which is not included and is always appreciated, and the food and drinks you bring.
Food, drinks and music
A holiday party is mostly about the food, and on a charter the menu is yours. Homemade, store bought and catered food are all welcome on board.
- Keep it warm. Sternos are allowed, so a catered tray of something hot stays hot through the evening.
- Bring what you need to serve it. Each boat has one or two tables for food and drinks and a limited number of chairs. Bring extra tables, chairs or coolers if your group needs them.
- Plan for ice. The cooler on board comes empty, so bring your own ice.
- Drinks. Beer and wine are allowed on board, and a cup charge applies. Anyone who drinks must be 21 or older.
- Music. Every party boat has a sound system for your own playlist, and you are welcome to hire a DJ or musicians. Remember that they count toward the capacity.
Every party boat has at least one restroom on board, which matters more than most planners expect on a three hour evening.
Planning for December on the lake
Charters run all through December, and a winter party has its own appeal, with early sunsets and an evening that feels nothing like the usual venue. It also takes a little more planning than a summer afternoon.
- Dress for the water. It is cooler on the open lake than on shore, and the temperature drops quickly once the sun goes down. Tell guests to bring a warm layer, and a few blankets never go to waste.
- Pick the time of day on purpose. An afternoon charter makes the most of the daylight. An evening charter turns the party into a night out on the water.
- Know the terms before you book vendors. If a caterer, a DJ or a photographer is coming, read the cancellation policy first, so you know what happens if the weather turns.
- Hold the date early. Holiday party dates are usually set weeks ahead, and the sooner you reserve, the more choice of boat and start time you have.
How to book a company holiday party charter
Booking takes a few minutes. Settle the headcount and two or three possible dates, then compare the boats and check available dates. Choose a start time on the calendar, add your details and pay to hold the date. The person who books must be 18 or older and signs the charter agreement for the group.
After booking, the waiver needs to be signed within 24 hours, and on the day guests should arrive 30 minutes before the start time to check in. Online booking needs about a week of notice. For a sooner date, or to line up more than one boat for a large company, contact the reservations team and we will help.
Sam’s Dock sails from Eagle Point Marina on Lake Lewisville, about 30 minutes from downtown Dallas. The lake is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which looks after recreation and natural resources around the lake.