How many guests can Bella Vista carry?

Bella Vista is licensed for up to 982 guests. For a cocktail-style event she comfortably takes 650 guests, and for formal seated dining she takes up to 330 guests (270 if a dance floor is added). She suits events from around 80 up to 650 guests.

How much does it cost to hire Bella Vista?

Event packages start from $147pp — a real confirmed price for a 300-guest, 3-hour cruise, including catering, unlimited beer/wine/sparkling, a Cruise Director and crew, plus wharf fees. That figure is a strong reference for events around that size, not a fixed rate for every guest count or duration — contact us and we'll put together an accurate, fully-costed quote for your date and guest count.

Can we bring our own catering or drinks to Bella Vista?

Bella Vista runs as a fully catered vessel with a commercial kitchen on board, so BYO catering and beverages are not expected to be available. Contact us if you have a specific dietary or cultural requirement and we'll check with the operator.

What kind of events suit Bella Vista?

Bella Vista suits weddings, large corporate functions, EOFY parties, milestone birthdays and charity fundraisers — anything that needs real scale (up to 650 guests) without losing the polish of a proper function venue. Past events include a 250-guest corporate EOFY party and charity fundraisers that have raised record amounts on board.

Is Bella Vista suitable for a wedding?

Yes — the panoramic glass views, dedicated dance floor space and all-inclusive catering package make Bella Vista a strong fit for a wedding reception, particularly for larger guest lists that need genuine scale.

Bella Vista

Weekday rates from $1800/hr — great value

Bella Vista Boat Hire Sydney — Glass Ballroom for up to 982 Guests

982 guests

4hr min

from $1,800/hr · 4hr min

Overview

Catering ✓

BYO food & drinks ✗

Sound system ✓

Swim platform ✗

Crew included ✓

Capacity

Max guests982

Seated dining330

Cocktail / standing650

Bella Vista is a signature "floating glass ballroom" on Sydney Harbour, licensed for up to 982 guests and recognised as one of the harbour's premier wedding and event venues. Her three-metre-high glass windows wrap the main deck for uninterrupted panoramic harbour views, with a fully serviced bar on each level, four plasma screens and an expansive upper skydeck. She comfortably runs cocktail events for 650 guests, formal seated dining for 330, or seated dining with a dance floor for 270. Event packages start from $147pp for a confirmed 300-guest, 3-hour cruise — all-inclusive of catering, unlimited beer/wine/sparkling, a Cruise Director and crew — so contact Boatique for a full tailored quote for your guest count and date.

Event Package (confirmed reference rate)

From $147pp — based on a confirmed 300-guest, 3-hour cruise
Includes: choice of the Opera Buffet Menu or a Canapé Selection Menu with Grazing Station
Includes: unlimited beer, wine and sparkling
Includes: Cruise Director and full professional crew
Plus wharf fees: $150 (typically 2 accesses)
Optional AV package (4 screens + cordless microphone): $650

This is a real reference rate for events around this size — it isn't a fixed rate for every guest count or duration. Contact us for a tailored quote for your guest count, date and menu. Bare Vessel Hire

From $1,800–$2,500/hour (4-hour minimum)
Vessel only — catering and beverages arranged separately

Not Yet Priced

Public holiday surcharge — contact us for confirmation
New Year's Eve — contact us for a custom quote

Enquire with us and we'll build a fully-costed quote around your guest count, date and menu choice.

Three-metre-high glass windows for panoramic Sydney Harbour views
Fully serviced bar on each level (two separate licensed bars)
Four HD plasma screens
A/V system incl. cordless microphones (available as an add-on)
Climate-controlled air conditioning throughout
State-of-the-art sound system
Espresso coffee machine
Commercial kitchen on board
Expansive upper skydeck
Wrap-around external decks
Formal seated dining, buffet or cocktail-style capability
Dedicated space for dancing and entertainment

Catering Bella Vista is a fully catered vessel with a commercial kitchen on board. Choose between the Opera Buffet Menu or a Canapé Selection Menu with Grazing Station — both included in the confirmed event package pricing. Beverages Unlimited beer, wine and sparkling included as part of the event package. BYO Bella Vista runs as a fully catered vessel — BYO catering and beverages are not available. Contact us if you have a specific dietary or cultural catering requirement and we'll confirm with the operator. Crew A Cruise Director and full professional staff are included as standard.

Weddings & engagements Corporate functions & EOFY parties Milestone birthdays Charity fundraisers & galas Large-scale celebrations (up to 650 guests cocktail-style, 330 seated) Product launches & corporate presentations

Date

Guests

Duration

We'll email you this quote plus 2 similar boats

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Available Partial Booked On Request

Each cell shows day (top) and evening (bottom) availability

✓ Three-Metre-High Glass Windows

✓ Fully Serviced Bar On Each Level

✓ Four Hd Plasma Screens

✓ A/v System Incl. Cordless Microphones (Add-On)

✓ Climate-Controlled Air Conditioning

✓ Two Separate Licensed Bars

✓ State-Of-The-Art Sound System

✓ Espresso Coffee Machine

✓ Commercial Kitchen

✓ Skydeck

✓ Wrap-Around External Decks

✓ Formal Dining, Buffet Or Cocktail Capability

✗ BYO Not Allowed

✓ Crew Included

We also offer catering packages including canapés, BBQ, and sit-down dining options. Ask us for a tailored menu and pricing for your event.

𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚 is a purpose-built, purpose-designed "floating glass ballroom" on Sydney Harbour recognised as one of the harbour's premier wedding and event venues. Licensed for up to 982 guests, she comfortably runs cocktail events for 650, seated dining for 330, and seated dining with a dance floor for 270, with a genuine sweet spot of 80-650 guests for everything from an intimate seated dinner to a full-scale corporate gala. Her signature feature is three-metre-high glass windows wrapping the main deck, delivering uninterrupted panoramic Sydney Harbour views from every seat — the reason she's built and booked as one of the harbour's true event-first vessels, not a repurposed charter boat.

Bella Vista's open layout runs wrap-around external decks at main-deck level and an expansive upper sun deck above, with a fully serviced bar on each level so guests never queue far from a drink. Four plasma screens and a full audio-visual system (cordless microphones included as an add-on) make her ready for speeches, presentations, slideshows or a DJ set without hiring in extra gear. Climate-controlled air conditioning keeps events comfortable regardless of the Sydney weather, and the commercial kitchen on board supports everything from a formal plated dinner to a full buffet or roaming canapé service across two separate licensed bars. Past events on Bella Vista back this up directly: Jenni Buckley ran a 250-guest harbour cruise with a buffet and said she'd "definitely book again"; Keira Batiste hosted Hays Recruitment's 250-person EOFY party on board; and Amanda Gower's charity fundraising event on Bella Vista raised "record amounts," calling the boat "a class of their own."

Event packages on Bella Vista start from $147pp retail for a 300-guest, 3-hour cruise — genuinely all-inclusive of the cruise, your choice of the Opera Buffet Menu or a Canapé Selection Menu with Grazing Station, unlimited beer/wine/sparkling, and a cruise director plus full professional crew, plus wharf fees. That's a real, operator-quoted reference point (not a website estimate) for events around that size — smaller or shorter events, or different catering shapes, need a fresh quote. Outside a catered event, bare vessel hire runs from $1,800-$2,500/hour (4-hour minimum) plus catering and beverages separately. Bella Vista has a sister vessel, Blue Room, in the same small fleet. Contact Boatique for a tailored quote built around your guest count, menu and date.

982

Max Guests

330

Seated

Decks

Use the pricing calculator above to get an instant estimate, then submit your details. Our team will send you a personalised quote within the hour. A 50% deposit secures your booking.

Bella Vista requires onboard catering. We offer a range of menu packages to suit every budget — from cocktail-style to sit-down dining. Ask us for the full menu.

Sydney Harbour is sheltered, so most cruises go ahead rain or shine. Bella Vista has covered areas for comfort. If conditions are genuinely unsafe (e.g. storm warnings), we'll work with you to reschedule.

Yes! Most boats have Bluetooth speakers. You can connect your phone and play your own playlist. DJs may be possible on larger vessels — ask our team.

A 50% deposit is required to secure your booking. The remaining balance is due 21 days before your cruise date.

Extensions are subject to availability and will be charged at the hourly rate. Let the crew know on the day and they'll check if it's possible.