What to Buy for a Boat Tour

A boat tour needs more than drinks and snacks. You also need a way to keep everything cold, serve food without a full kitchen, and manage rubbish on board. Pack reusable glasses, plates and cutlery, plus serving platters and knives for easy sharing. Check the boat’s storage, power supply and rules before shopping, because coolers, speakers and decorations may need to stay at the departure point or be secured during the trip.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Foldable tablesqty 3
Folding chairsqty 20
Picnic blanketqty 3

Tableware

Reusable drinking glassesqty 30
Reusable wine glassesqty 24
Reusable platesqty 30
Reusable cutleryqty 30
Serving plattersqty 8
Serving utensilsqty 8

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 2
Bread knivesqty 2
Kitchen knivesqty 2
Tongs and spatulasqty 4

Equipment

Coolersqty 4
Ice packsqty 12
Portable speaker
Power banksqty 3
Charging cablesqty 4

Decorations

Buntingqty 6
Balloonsqty 40
Balloon pump
Tableclothsqty 3
Photo props
Name stickersqty 25

Lighting

Battery lampsqty 4
Batteriesqty 12

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 3
Hand sanitizerqty 2
Kitchen towelsqty 6

Catering

Cake knife
Water jugsqty 4
Thermos flasksqty 2
Groceries
- Kaiser rolls - 30 pieces
- Baguettes - 4 pieces
- Butter - 500 grams
- Young cheese - 1,5 kilogram
- Back ham - 1 kilogram
- Chicken breast slices - 750 grams
- Hummus - 500 grams
- Cream cheese - 400 grams
- Herb butter - 3 tubs
- Cucumber - 4 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 1 kilogram
- Grapes - 1.5 kilograms
- Apples - 20 pieces
- Paprika chips - 4 bags
- Plain chips - 4 bags
- Tortilla chips - 4 bags
- Salsa - 3 jars
- Cocktail nuts - 4 bags
- Olives - 3 jars
- Cheese cubes - 1 kilogram
- Grape picks - 2 boxes
- Mini sausages - 3 packages
- Puff pastry snacks - 4 boxes
- Vegetarian puff pastry snacks - 2 boxes
- Mayonnaise - 1 bottle
- Ketchup - 1 bottle
- Mustard - 1 jar
- Cake - 1 cake for 20 people
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 1 box
- Sugar - 500 grams
- Milk - 4 liters
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 4 bottles
- Sparkling mineral water - 6 bottles
- Still mineral water - 8 bottles
- Ice tea - 4 bottles
- Alcohol-free beer - 12 bottles
- Beer - 48 bottles
- White wine - 4 bottles
- Rosé - 3 bottles
- Prosecco - 4 bottles
- Ice cubes - 8 bags
- Lemons - 8 pieces
- Limes - 8 pieces
- Fresh mint - 3 bunches
- Paper napkins - 150 pieces
- Paper towels - 4 rolls
- Toilet paper - 12 rolls
- Garbage bags - 30 pieces
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Cleaning sponges - 6 pieces
- Wet wipes - 4 packs

Tips

Plan around two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then one drink per person for each additional hour. Buy a little extra water, especially if the route has no easy way to restock.
Use one cooler for drinks and a separate cooler for snacks if possible. Freeze ice packs at least 24 hours beforehand and chill drinks overnight so they are cold before loading.
Choose snacks that can be eaten standing or seated with minimal mess, such as sliced bread, fruit and bite-sized food. Bring serving platters, tongs, cutting boards and a bread knife rather than relying on the boat’s galley.
Pack one reusable glass, plate and set of cutlery per guest, plus at least 10% extra. Name stickers and hand sanitizer are easy to forget but useful when glasses are being reused throughout the tour.
Check the forecast and departure instructions two to three days before sailing. Keep battery lamps, power banks, charging cables and weather-sensitive decorations in separate bags so they are easy to protect or leave behind.

Frequently asked questions

How much food and drink do I need for a boat tour?: For a two-hour tour, plan about three drinks per person, including water, and three to five snack portions per person. Add 10% extra for drinks and snacks if guests may arrive hungry or the route has no shop nearby.
What should I buy for drinks on a boat trip?: Buy water, soft drinks and any agreed alcoholic drinks, then chill them at least overnight. Pack two to three drinks per person for the first hour, one per person for each following hour, and bring ice packs in coolers.
How many plates, glasses and cutlery sets do I need?: Take one plate, drinking glass and cutlery set per guest, plus at least 10% spare. For a group of 20, that means 22 of each item so replacements are available if something is dropped or misplaced.
When should I prepare the boat tour shopping?: Buy drinks, packaged snacks and disposable backup supplies two to three days in advance. Chill drinks overnight, freeze ice packs for 24 hours, and pack fresh food on the day of departure.

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