Looking to book a Christmas party on Sydney Harbour?
Three private catamarans from Rose Bay Wharf. December dates are going now.
Christmas party season on Sydney Harbour fills fast, and the vessel you choose shapes the whole day.
We compared the ten strongest options for December 2026 on capacity, rate, BYO policy and true cost per head.
How the Top 10 Christmas Party Boats Compare
Capacity, 4-hour starting rate and BYO policy for every vessel in this guide.
| # | Boat | Capacity | From (4 hrs) | BYO | Private |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tiger 3 / Tiger 4 — Tiger Catamarans | Up to 43 | $2,200 | Full BYO | Exclusive |
| 2 | Passion — Catamaran | Up to 43 | ~$3,100 | BYO | Private |
| 3 | Tigeress — Tiger Catamarans | Up to 30 | $2,200 | Full BYO | Exclusive |
| 4 | Champagne — Catamaran | Up to 43 | ~$2,800 | BYO | Private |
| 5 | Obsession — Motor Cruiser | Up to 37 | ~$2,400 | BYO | Private |
| 6 | Allure — Catamaran | Up to 30 | ~$3,600 | Enquire | Private |
| 7 | Zeppelin — Catamaran | Up to 30 | ~$1,600 | BYO | Private |
| 8 | Enigma — Motor Cruiser | Up to 40 | ~$3,960 | Enquire | Private |
| 9 | Magistic Cruises — Shared cruise | Ticket-based | ~$120pp | No | Shared |
| 10 | Captain Cook Cruises — Shared cruise | Ticket-based | ~$120pp | No | Shared |
How We Ranked These Christmas Party Boats
Each vessel was scored on six things that decide whether a Christmas party works.
Group Capacity
Takes your whole team without splitting the party across two boats.
BYO Freedom
Bring your own drinks and food with no minimum spend, corkage or bar markup.
True Cost Per Head
What the charter really costs each guest once drinks and food are counted.
Private Hire
Your group only on board, with no strangers and no fixed schedule.
Inclusions
Skipper, crew, sound system, eskies, swim ladders and 2 toilets onboard.
Departure Logistics
Wharf access, Maritime fees and how easily guests can get to the boat.
Tiger Catamarans — Tiger 3, Tiger 4 and Tigeress
Tiger Catamarans is the strongest all-round Christmas party option on the harbour. Three Seawind catamarans operate from Rose Bay Wharf, the only departure point with no Maritime Fee, and every charter is private.
At $550 per hour with a 4-hour minimum, a full-vessel charter starts at $2,200, or about $51 per person across 43 guests.
Why Tiger Catamarans is #1
- Fully BYO food and alcohol with no bar minimums, no corkage and no drinks package
- Up to 43 guests on Tiger 3 and Tiger 4, or up to 30 on Tigeress
- 2 toilets onboard every vessel, plus BBQ, eskies, swim ladders and a Bluetooth sound system
- Licensed skipper and crew included, so nobody is driving or cleaning up
- Three vessels means far more December date availability than single-boat operators
- Rated 4.9 stars across more than 80 Google reviews
- Catering can be added through the catering packages if you would rather not organise food
What works
- Whole-vessel pricing, so the budget is fixed before the day
- No Maritime Fee from Rose Bay Wharf
- 43-guest capacity fits most office Christmas parties
- BYO keeps the bar bill under control
- Three vessels for date flexibility in peak December
What to know
- December Fridays and Saturdays book out 6 to 8 weeks ahead
- Other wharves such as King Street Wharf and Darling Harbour carry a Maritime Fee
- Groups over 43 need to split across two vessels
Our Sydney Harbour Fleet
Tiger 3
Capacity: Up to 43 guests
Our flagship dual-deck power catamaran. Ultra-wide deck, spacious saloon, undercover seating, full sound system, BBQ and large eskies.
Tiger 4
Capacity: Up to 43 guests
Perfect for larger groups. Tiger 4 offers seamless indoor-outdoor flow, BBQ facilities, massive eskies, and modern lounge spaces.
Tigeress
Capacity: Up to 30 guests
An intimate, stylish catamaran with sun-lounging trampolines at the bow and premium finishes throughout. Ideal for groups of up to 30.
Book the #1 Christmas party boat on Sydney Harbour
Private catamaran, fully BYO, from $2,200 for 4 hours. December dates are limited.
Passion Catamaran
Passion is a large catamaran booked through the Boat Hire Sydney platform and one of the few vessels matching Tiger at 43 guests. At around $775 per hour, a 4-hour charter lands near $3,100, about $900 more than Tiger for the same capacity. A reasonable fallback if Tiger’s three vessels are booked.
Tigeress — boutique option for smaller teams
Tigeress is the same Tiger Catamarans standard scaled to 30 guests, and the cheapest private charter here at $2,200, about $73 per person at capacity. Sun-lounging trampolines at the bow, 2 toilets onboard and full BYO.
Champagne — BYO catamaran for groups up to 43
Champagne is another 43-guest catamaran sold through the Boat Hire Sydney platform at around $700 per hour, near $2,800 for four hours. BYO is available, but you pay about $600 more than booking direct with the operator.
Obsession — motor cruiser for staff parties
Obsession is a popular November and December staff party choice for up to 37 guests from around $600 per hour. It is a single-hull motor cruiser, so one deck and more movement underway than a catamaran. Guests prone to seasickness usually do better on twin hulls.
Allure — premium catamaran for 30 guests
Allure is a newer catamaran with a premium fit-out for up to 30 guests, around $900 per hour or $3,600 for four hours, about $120 per person before drinks. Tigeress carries the same 30 guests with full BYO for $1,400 less.
Zeppelin — budget open-plan catamaran
Zeppelin is a casual open-plan catamaran for up to 30 guests at around $400 per hour, roughly $1,600 for four hours. The trade-off is fit-out: no enclosed saloon and a simpler crew standard. Fine for friends, less suited to a corporate event.
Enigma — luxury motor cruiser
Enigma is a high-end motor cruiser for up to 40 guests at about $990 per hour, close to $3,960 for four hours. Polished and formal, but $1,700 to $1,800 more than a Tiger charter with BYO on enquiry rather than standard.
Magistic Cruises — shared Christmas dinner cruise
Magistic runs a 3-hour Christmas dinner cruise with buffet and drinks package from around $120 per person, so $3,600 for 30 guests, more than a private Tigeress charter. Set menu and bar service, but no BYO and no privacy.
Captain Cook Cruises — corporate shared cruises
Captain Cook offers all-inclusive corporate Christmas cruises from around $120 per person on vessels seating 100 or more. Fixed format: set menus, bar packages, set timing. For groups under 43, a private catamaran usually costs less in total.
Private charter or shared cruise: which suits a Christmas party?
For groups of 20 to 43, a private BYO catamaran is almost always cheaper than a shared cruise per head, and it is the only option where you control the food, the drinks and the schedule.
Private BYO charter — Tiger Catamarans
- Whole vessel, your group only
- From $2,200 total, about $51 per person at 43 guests
- BYO beer, wine and spirits with no limits or corkage
- Your own playlist through the onboard sound system
- Depart Rose Bay Wharf with no Maritime Fee
- Standard 4-hour charter, with 3-hour enquiries subject to date availability
Shared cruise — Magistic and Captain Cook
- Shared with other groups and bookings
- From about $120 per person
- Set bar package, no BYO
- House music and a fixed schedule
- Limited ability to personalise the event
- Works for very large groups over 100 guests
When should you book a Christmas party boat in Sydney?
December Fridays and Saturdays typically book six to eight weeks ahead, and corporate dates go first.
A 25% deposit secures the vessel and wharf, with the balance due before the charter. Full terms are in the FAQs; weekday evenings in early December have the most availability.
For office Christmas parties, the corporate boat hire page covers invoicing and team logistics, and Christmas party boat hire Sydney Harbour covers seasonal packages.
Christmas Party Boat Hire Sydney — Frequently Asked Questions
Tiger Catamarans: private catamarans from $2,200 for 4 hours, up to 43 guests on Tiger 3 and Tiger 4 or 30 on Tigeress, fully BYO, departing Rose Bay Wharf with no Maritime Fee. Alternatives are larger catamarans such as Passion and Champagne at $2,800 to $3,100, or shared cruises at about $120 per person.
Private catamaran charters start at $550 per hour with a 4-hour minimum, so $2,200 total: about $51 per person across 43 guests, or $73 per person at capacity on Tigeress. Competitor catamarans run $2,800 to $3,100 and shared cruises about $120 per person.
Tiger 3 and Tiger 4 each carry up to 43 guests and Tigeress up to 30. Passion and Champagne also take 43. Groups over 43 with Tiger Catamarans are best split across two vessels on the same date.
Yes. Every Tiger Catamarans charter is fully BYO for food and alcohol, with no bar minimums, corkage or drinks packages. Bring your own beer, wine, spirits and ice for the onboard eskies. Shared cruises do not allow BYO.
Tiger Catamarans departs Rose Bay Wharf, the only wharf with no Maritime Fee. King Street Wharf, Circular Quay, Darling Harbour, Barangaroo, McMahons Point and Watsons Bay can be arranged but carry a Maritime Fee. See the wharf locations page.
Book December Fridays and Saturdays six to eight weeks ahead, and earlier for corporate dates. A 25% deposit secures the vessel and wharf.
For groups of 20 to 43, a private BYO catamaran is usually cheaper and gives you control of food, drinks and timing. Shared cruises charge about $120 per person, or $3,600 for 30 guests: more than a private Tigeress charter.
It depends where your guests are coming from. Rose Bay Wharf suits eastern suburbs groups, King Street Wharf and Darling Harbour suit CBD teams, and Circular Quay and McMahons Point are easy by ferry. Call 0404 026 678 and we will recommend the wharf that keeps travel short.
Book Your Christmas Party Boat Hire — Sydney Harbour 2026
Private catamarans from $2,200 for 4 hours, fully BYO, up to 43 guests. December dates are filling now.
Request a Christmas Charter Quote
Or call 0404 026 678 to check availability for your date.