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Graduation Boat Hire Sydney — Private Cruise for Uni & School Graduations
From the cap-throw to the harbour. Private boat, your friends, BYO Champagne. From $400/hr, 4-hour minimum.
🎓 Grad-set timing
👥 14–80 guests
⏱ 4-hour minimum
💰 From $400/hr
⭐ Trusted by 970+ Sydney events · 137 vessels in our fleet · No booking fees · Honest pricing
Graduation cruises peak twice a year — late June (mid-year uni grads) and late November (Year 12 + end-of-year uni grads). The combination of golden-hour light, the Bridge backdrop, and your year group’s last shared celebration makes for a photo set that doesn’t compare to a function venue.
From a $400/hr 4-hour BYO catamaran for 24 grads, to a $1,500/hr function vessel with plated catering for 60 — Boatique books the full Sydney Harbour fleet. Quotes back in under an hour.
Find Your Perfect Boat
Graduation cruises split between BYO casual (catamaran, finger food, friend DJ) and plated formal (function vessel, sit-down dinner, AV for short speeches). We shortlist boats based on which format your year group wants.
Send your date and guest count — we’ll come back with 3 boats and reasons.
Why a graduation cruise (instead of a restaurant booking)
🎓 Photo set that prints
Year-group graduation photos on Sydney Harbour at golden hour are the ones that go in the yearbook or the parent’s wall.
🥂 BYO drinks
Most boats allow BYO. Bring the Champagne. Way cheaper than a restaurant wine list, perfect for celebrating with a year group.
🎤 Room for short speeches
Most function boats have AV. Quick speech from the year rep, captain pauses the cruise for the moment. Different feel from a noisy restaurant.
🌅 Sunset window timing
Most grad cruises start late afternoon (4-5pm) for the golden hour photo set, finish 8-9pm. Some roll into evening drinks at a wharf-side bar afterwards.
How graduation cruise pricing works
Pricing depends on guest count, catering style, and which boat. The honest pricing answer: a 4-hour graduation cruise for 30 grads on a function catamaran with finger food and BYO Champagne usually lands around $3,200-4,500 all-in.
Send us your date, guest count and rough budget — we’ll come back with a fixed quote in under an hour.
BYO + crew assistance
From $0 catering · BYO drinks
Bring Champagne, beer, snacks. Crew handles ice, setup, clear-down. Lowest cost — popular for casual uni grad cruises.
Finger food package
From $55pp · Most popular
Hot and cold finger food over 4 hours. Roving service so grads can mingle and photograph.
Plated dinner
From $135pp
Sit-down 3-course in the saloon. Better for formal-style graduation events with parents and family included.
Real graduation cruises we’ve delivered
USYD law grads · 32 guests · function catamaran
4 hours BYO Champagne, canapés, short speech from the year rep mid-cruise, sunset photo set at Shark Island.
UNSW engineering grads · 55 guests · multi-deck function vessel
Plated 3-course, parents and family included, AV for the cohort awards mid-cruise.
Year 12 grad cruise · 28 students · sailing catamaran
Casual finger food + mocktails for under-18s, supervised BYO for 18+, sunset and harbour lights set.
UTS architecture grads · 18 guests · luxury motoryacht
Small intimate cohort, plated dinner, BYO premium wines, slow Middle Harbour loop.
See also uni graduation cruises and school formal cruises — same harbour, different cap and gown.
Frequently asked questions
What time of year do graduation cruises peak?
Late June (mid-year uni grads) and late November (Year 12 + end-of-year uni grads). Book 6-8 weeks ahead — the function vessels go fast in peak grad weeks.
Can we BYO drinks for a graduation cruise?
Yes on almost every boat. Most grad cruises are BYO Champagne. RSA-trained crew handle serving. Standard rules apply (no shots, slow service for anyone too drunk).
Can we include parents and family?
Yes — many grad cruises include parents or partners. Multi-deck function vessels handle 60-100 grads + family combined.
What’s the minimum number of guests?
No minimum. Small cohort grads (15-20 students) on a luxury catamaran or motoryacht are popular for postgrad or specialised programs.
Can we have speeches?
Yes — every function boat has AV setup. Best slot is mid-cruise after finger food has been served. Captain pauses the cruise for 5-10 minutes.
Can we have a photographer?
Yes — many grad cohorts hire a photographer. Open decks, golden-hour light, the Bridge backdrop. We can recommend photographers who specialise in on-water shoots.
What if some students are under 18?
Year 12 graduation cruises typically have under-18 students. RSA-compliant catering with mocktails for under-18s and supervised soft drinks for 18+ — standard practice.
Where do most graduation cruises depart from?
King Street Wharf is the most common — walkable from UTS, USYD, UNSW (via train), and the city. Rose Bay works if the cohort is east-side based.
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Get a graduation cruise quote
Send your date, guest count and rough budget — we’ll come back with a fixed quote in under an hour.
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