Yacht weddings can be more affordable than traditional weddings. Charters offer all-in-one packages and the yacht serves as a built-in venue with essential amenities that simplify planning and customization, ultimately bringing expenses lower than those at traditional venues.
Most of our yachts are US Coast Guard certified and inspected on an annual basis for safety. In order to receive a Certificate of Inspection, yacht owners must make a number of safety modifications to their yachts to be in compliance with the US Federal Code of Federal Regulations. One such regulation, of many, is making sure each charter vessel has the appropriate number of life vests in adult and child sizes.
Most of our charters are conducted within San Diego Bay and in close proximity to either Coronado or the city of San Diego. As such, depending on your cell service provider, you should be able to receive a strong enough signal on your cell phone to be able to be contacted if needed.
Some of our yachts and charter partners can accommodate a dock party. These are typically utilized for corporate events or other events where your guests may want or need to come and go on a fluid basis, but you'd like to host your event in a fun and unique event space like a private yacht. Please feel free to contact us directly to choose the best yacht that can accommodate your specific event.
Extensions are subject to yacht availability and your initial booking arrangements. Additional pre-event reservations can be made but we advise you to request extensions as early as possible.
It is possible to extend your event beyond the initial schedule, but it largely depends on the availability of the yachts and how far in advance you notify us. Chances are we can make arrangements if you let us know after your initial booking but a reasonable time in advance of the event. However, if during the event you decide you want to keep the party going, it depends on factors like peak hours, weekends, and other bookings.
Yes, many weddings at San Diego Bay Cruises have been officiated by Captain John! Nothing is as special as having the ceremony led by a captain while honoring the sailor’s tradition of maritime weddings.
Yes. There is no curfew on San Diego Bay and the lights of the city skyline are breathtaking. Sunset cruises into the evening hours are our most popular cruise times. In the winter months, be sure to dress in layers. When the sun goes down, so does the temperature! Fortunately, we're in San Diego! So, even our "low" temperatures are pretty nice.
As each yacht is individually owned and operated, the policies will vary from one to another. Some yachts may have the area capacity to accommodate your DJ or entertainment, some may not. It's best to reach out to us personally via request form or phone to discuss your specific needs.
It is possible to conduct a rehearsal dinner on the boat prior to the wedding day, and we have plenty of venue options available. Your closest friends and family will enjoy a relaxed and cozy atmosphere featuring beautiful views and top service during your intimate gathering.
There are certain suitable spots where we can anchor, and where you and your group can go for a swim, but it must be done under the appropriate rules to make sure everyone stays safe!
Some of the yachts we represent on this site offer "anchor and play" options. This will largely depend on the number of people in your party and the availability of the yachts that offer that activity. Because of the rising costs of insurance for this activity, fewer yachts are offering it. So, if this is something you are interested in, please reach out to us with your request and we will do our best to accommodate. However, if not, please be assured your guests are going to have a fantastic and memorable time while partying ON the boat.
Absolutely, you're welcome to bring your own caterer and DJ as we understand that you may have favorites or specific tastes in mind! Now, if you are not sure or a bit indecisive, you can take a look at our wonderful options where you're sure to find something that suits you.
If you prefer, feel free to bring your own catering, baking, and entertainment providers. Alternatively, you can choose services from our list of trusted partners.
Yes. Although we're most noted for hosting various parties and corporate events, we understand there are families in need of more solemn services. Planning a funeral is a challenging time for a family and there is a lot to consider. There are very few yacht charter operators in San Diego that are licensed to provide these services. San Diego Bay Cruises is connected with the best and most caring captains. You're welcome to complete a yacht charter form like any other charter request, or visit our burials at sea website at FuneralsAtSea.com for more specific information.
No. San Diego Bay Cruises owns three of the charter boats available on the site. The rest of the inventory are charter partners and San Diego Bay Cruises acts as a yacht concierge or charter broker. Since we started our business in 2012, it has always been our objective to take care of anyone who wants to make memories on San Diego Bay, even if it's not on one of our own yachts. We do our very best to find the most suitable yacht charter for your celebration or event.
Your choices are flexible regarding how you’d like to enjoy your time on the yacht. Whether you want to cruise or stay docked during the event, it’s ultimately up to you.
If our boat isn't quite right for your occasion or group size, please feel free to reach out to us for further assistance. We have a network of colleagues and access to approximately 25 different private yachts around San Diego Bay. The most important consideration in choosing a yacht charter for your event is finding a vessel that can safely accommodate the number of guests you intend to invite.
The total price of a yacht birthday party largely depends on the guest number, yacht size, duration, and other services. A 6-hour birthday party, with 6 guests, and catering will amount to roughly $2500, but this price can be adjusted based on custom arrangements.
Costs vary widely depending on how many guests you intend to invite to your private party. Smaller groups can obviously be accommodated on a smaller vessel than larger groups. San Diego Bay Cruises represents a wide variety of private boats and yachts. The expanse of our network allows us to accommodate any party as small as two to as many as 1200 guests.
Commercial yachts are considered event venues. Tipping is customary and appreciated by the captain and crew. Some yacht charter operators will add a mandatory "service fee" to your proposal or invoice. This is much like if you were to bring a large party to a restaurant or event venue where the company will automatically include the gratuity. As a hospitality business, yacht charter gratuities average 15 - 20%.
Because each yacht is owned and operated by different individual charter operators, food and beverage options are going to vary. Generally speaking, food and beverages are offered at an additional cost depending on your budget, number of guests, and preferred cuisine. Most of the yacht charters listed with San Diego Bay Cruises are flexible and will consult with you personally to provide an individual quote for your food and beverage options.
Most private charter yachts do not allow smoking of any kind aboard. This includes all of our charter boats. Because we accommodate so many guests throughout the year, we try to provide the cleanest and allergen-free environment for everyone's enjoyment. Therefore, we ask that you and your guests refrain from smoking of any kind including tobacco, e-cigarettes, marijuana (medical or otherwise), and/or vaping.
Because most of our charters are conducted within San Diego Bay in close proximity to either Coronado or the city of San Diego, we are typically within range of most cell service providers and your cell phones should maintain service. Otherwise, we do not have WIFI service available on board.
We have seen many dress codes, from super formal attire to fun 70s-inspired themes and creative outfits. It’s mostly up to you and your group's vibe, and you always have the opportunity to dress comfortably yet stylishly.
No one wants bad weather on their special day. Before anything, it’s important to be proactive and if very harsh weather can be foreseen, you should consider rescheduling to a more favorable date. However, if bad weather does occur unexpectedly, we have indoor options where the festivities can carry on.
A small and simple wedding at San Diego Bay Cruises doesn’t cost a fortune! For a 4-hour wedding costing $550 per hour, with 28 guests, and minimal décor, you are looking at roughly $4000. This estimate includes $2200 for the yacht booking, $1400 for catering, and $400 for minimalist decor.
Celebrating on the water inspires well-being like no other activity. It brings you and your closest friends together privately, takes you to the best places around the bay, and offers top service, which is exactly what anyone is looking for on their special day.
Only YOU can answer that question as it is purely a matter of preference. There are pros and cons to either. But, more importantly, you're guaranteed to enjoy San Diego Bay on either. If you have a more specific question, please feel free to reach out to us and we'll be happy to answer your specific questions.
Although most of the charter operators in San Diego Bay have a 2-hour minimum (some require more), our experience tells us that three hours is the most popular option and ideal for most parties and events. Unless your budget or itinerary dictates that you can only be on board for two hours, three hours assures that you'll see all of San Diego Bay's best points of interest, photo opps, and allows your guests time to eat and drink without feeling rushed. We've heard many guests return after two hours and say, "Wow! That was a great time. But, I can't believe we're back already."
If you are "renting" a yacht, you are tasked with the responsibility of knowing how to drive the yacht, or hiring a qualified skipper or captain to drive the yacht for you. If you are "chartering" the yacht, you are provided with a qualified and US Coast Guard certified Captain, and in most cases (depending on the size of the vessel), a professional crew. San Diego Bay Cruises wants you to have a safe and worry-free experience. All of the private boats and yachts on our site are available to charter and not available to rent.
As each charter yacht is owned and operated by different companies, you will receive all the necessary information of date, time, and location of your yacht when you confirm your reservation.
Yacht charters are regulated like other commercial spaces like a restaurant or bar. You may notice a placard on the wall of a restaurant dining room that might say, "Room Capacity XX." Yacht charters are regulated by the US Coast Guard and the safety guidelines are set forth by the US Code of Federal Regulations, Title 46. There are different parameters that a yacht is tested for to determine the safe number of guests that a charter yacht can carry. Be assured, that every yacht on the San Diego Bay Cruises website that carries 12 guests or more is certified and inspected.
Charter yacht operators are business owners. Like any business, there are a number of overhead costs and expenses that need to be covered in order to be profitable. These business expenses may include, but not limited to; the initial purchase of the yacht, customizing and modifications to comply with the US Code of Federal Regulations if the yacht is a commercial yacht, marina commissions, docking fees, Port Authority use taxes, fuel, liability insurance, property taxes, crew wages. As you can see, it adds up quickly. Fortunately, San Diego Bay Cruises offers some of the most cost-effective private yacht charters in San Diego.
For your yacht birthday party, you can gather all the venue, entertainment, and catering solutions in one place, and your costs will be significantly lower in the end, compared to hosting the birthday party at a traditional venue. You can take advantage of the complete service bundles instead of overpaying for separate fees and setups for each service associated with traditional venue rentals, and leverage the built-in amenities of the yacht.
Although we can't answer to everyone's specific sensitivities, we can say for the average person, the chances are highly unlikely. One of the many great things about San Diego Bay is that it's almost entirely landlocked. Because of this, our yachts are typically not subject to ocean swells. This makes for a pretty smooth ride for those on a typical casual party cruise. The exception to this would be for whale watching or ash scattering charters. These must be conducted in the ocean. If you consider yourself very sensitive to motion sickness, we recommend you take a remedy at least a 1/2 hour prior to boarding.