Frequently Asked Questions

Easy, Breezy, Boat Hire. We believe planning your event should be fun and above all easy. Don’t spend your precious time browsing the web trying to find the perfect boat for your event. We will do that for you.

Hire your boat with us and pay the same price as booking direct, get our expert advice for free and enjoy a range of quality boats through our partnerships with boat providers!

We offer a whole range of boats, from sailing yachts, motor boats, catamarans, luxury yacht, super yachts and event boats.

– Learn more about catamaran hire here
– Learn more about luxury yacht hire here
– Learn more about event boat hire here

Most boats and yachts are available for an afternoon or evening hire. Afternoon hires typically start at either 12pm or 1pm and evening hires at 5pm or 6pm. Let us know your preference, and we will advise you of the times available. If you’re planning an overnight trip, ask us about your options!

There is a minimum of 3 or 4 hours on most of the boats to ensure you get the most of the day on the Harbour. We will specify minimum cruise time when providing a quote for your experience.

Our website displays the base rates for each experience, and simply send an enquiry to our team to receive quote for party or event.

Our pricing includes the captain and fuel, so you don’t have to worry about any surprise costs. We pride ourselves on providing transparent pricing and will always itemise any additional fees in your quote.

To avoid missing out on your preferred time and date during peak season, we highly recommend booking at least 3 months in advance. However, if you find yourself needing a last-minute booking, don’t worry! We’ll do our utmost to accommodate your request and secure a spot for your event hire.

All we need is for you to let us know the type of event you’re organising, the approximate number of people in your group and the date you have in mind.

Our expert team will send you available boats that suit your event type. As soon as you confirm the option you’d like to go for, we will take care of everything.

You can get in touch via phone or submit an enquiry through our website.

A 50% deposit of the total cost of the charter hire (unless otherwise specified) is required to secure your booking. The remaining payment is then due 30 days prior to the boat charter. This is also when we will require final guest numbers and food & beverage requirements.

Payments can be made via Visa, MasterCard, debit card or EFT.

You sure can! We just ask that you keep an eye on your little ones at all times. Also please note that children all included in the total passenger count – regardless of age and size.

Most boats have large eskies onboard to keep your drinks nice and cold. We will let you know upon booking if your boat has the BYO option available and/or if a BYO fee applies so there will be no surprises.

Most boats have onboard BBQs to cook your food and large eskies to store your food. You can nominate one of your guests to look after the cooking of the food, or the skipper / deckhand can assist. We will let you know upon booking if your boat has the BYO food option available so there will be no surprises.

Our partners have awesome sound systems so you can play your own tunes. Most have AUX or Bluetooth available for you to connect your phone or other devices. If you’re after a bigger sound system, chat to our friendly team and we will make sure we match you with the perfect boat for your music needs.

We only work with friendly professionals to ensure you have a quality experience. 

Soft soled shoes ar advised (no stiletto heels). We advise sensible footwear as boats can get rocky and slippery. Some boats have a no-shoe policy. We will advise you of the boat’s shoe policy upon enquiring.

Most wharfs allocate a 15 min window for pick-up and drop-off so you will have plenty of time to get onboard and get settled before you set sail. We advise you to be ready at your pick up wharf 15 minutes before the start of your cruise. 

We understand that sometimes you may want to add a personal touch to your event by decorating the boat before boarding. We may be able to arrange for early boarding (subject to availability and surcharge) to accommodate your request. Simply inform us of your request when making your booking and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

If you’ve chosen a BYO cruise, most of our boats provide all required utensils. However if you require some special items, please advise us. 

Depending on the vessel, this is possible. If you are on a vessel that has easy water access, your captain will take you to the perfect secluded swimming spots. Please let our team know if swimming is something you’re interested in doing on your day out on the water.

A little bit of rain won’t stop the party! 🙂  However, if boating conditions are deemed unsafe, as determined by the boat operator, we will cancel your cruise. Sydney Harbour Days will offer a 12-month voucher, equal to the value of your booking. This can be used to reschedule your charter, subject to availability.

The boats stay in enclosed Sydney Harbour waters so it’s not likely for you to get seasick. If you are prone to seasickness, we advise you to bring some ginger tablets or over the counter seasickness tablets.

All captains are equipped to handle any emergencies that may arise during your trip. Our boat partners strictly adhere to the safety regulations outlined by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) and their teams are trained in conducting first aid procedures.

For your safety, all boats and yachts are equipped with a first aid kit on board in case of emergencies.

All our boat partners have their own individual cancellation policy, which apply to your booking as soon as you’ve secured your booking with a deposit. Occasionally deposits are non refundable, we will advise you upon booking so there will be no surprises.

However generally speaking:

– cancellations more than 30 days of the date of the booking will incur a cancellation fee equal to 50% of the total cost of the booking.

– cancellations 30 or fewer days prior to the date of the booking will incur a cancellation fee equal to 100% of the total cost of the booking.

– no refunds can be provided for NYE private hire and NYE ticketed cruises cancellations.

Find all terms and conditions here.

If the captain has to cancel a booking for a non-safety related matter, Sydney Harbour Days will seek to find a replacement boat of similar style and capacity to complete the charter. If Sydney Harbour Days is unable to find a replacement charter, guests are entitled to a full refund.

If the captain has to cancel a booking due to weather related unsafe boating conditions, Sydney Harbour Days will offer a 12-month voucher, equal to the value of your booking. This can be used to reschedule your charter, subject to availability.

Some of our boats have power sources allowing DJs to come on board. We will inform upon booking you if having a DJ onboard is possible on your cruise. We can also help you arrange a DJ. Options and pricing available upon request.

If you require an extra pick up or drop off, on top of the two that are included in your booking, a fee might apply. Pricing varies from $50-$100 per stop, depending on the boat and location.

Most boats include (or have available for add-ons) water toys such as a floating lily pads, stand up paddle boards and/or kayaks. Ask us about your options. 

Booking a topless male waiter is a popular option for hens party cruises. Your topless male waiter can serve drinks to guests on arrival, pamper special guests, host party games, serve canapés, mix & serve cocktails and pose for a life drawing class. The minimum time you can hire a topless male waiter is 2 hours. Photos and pricing available upon request.

Booking a stripper is also a popular option. Show length 10-15 minutes. Photos and pricing available upon request.

Booking a topless waitress is a popular option for bucks party cruises. Your topless waitress can serve drinks to guests on arrival, pamper special guests, host party games, serve canapés and serve drinks. The minimum time you can hire a topless waitress is 2 hours. Photos and pricing available upon request.

Booking a stripper is also a popular option. Show length 10-15 minutes. Photos and pricing available upon request.

Laser Clay Pigeon Shooting is a popular option for corporate entertainment. The host provides all equipment including laser converted shotguns, scoreboard, discs, and launcher. You will have a whale of a time firing the shotguns (with completely harmless infrared beams) trying to be the best on the boat. The duration of a laser shoot session is usually 1-1.5 hours. Pricing available upon request.

Sydney Harbour Days works closely with carefully selected charter partners only. We aim to ensure we offer the very best experience to our guests. If you would like to list your boat with us, please reach out to our friendly team.