What to buy for a boat trip staff party

A boat trip staff party needs more than food and drinks. You also need serving equipment, coolers, ice, coffee supplies and compact tableware that works onboard. Buy and pack items according to the final guest count, then allow extra time for chilling drinks and loading everything at the boarding point. Dietary meals should be packed separately and clearly marked before departure.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Buffet tablesqty 4
Foldable tablesqty 6
Folding chairsqty 50
Tableclothsqty 10

Tableware

Reusable platesqty 70
Reusable bowlsqty 60
Reusable drinking glassesqty 100
Coffee cupsqty 60
Cutlery setsqty 70
Serving spoonsqty 12
Serving traysqty 8

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef’s knives and bread knivesqty 6
Measuring cupsqty 3
Food containers with lidsqty 12
Coolersqty 6
Ice containersqty 4
Coffee machinesqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Thermos flasksqty 6

Equipment

Battery speaker
Microphone
Extension cordsqty 3
Power stripsqty 3

Lighting

LED light stringsqty 4

Decorations

Balloonsqty 100
Balloon ribbonqty 2
Welcome sign
Name badgesqty 55
Table decorationsqty 10

Safety

Reflective vestsqty 4
Waterproof flashlightsqty 4
First aid kit
Waterproof storage bagsqty 6

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 6
Cleaning clothsqty 20
Dish brushesqty 3
Rubber glovesqty 6
Hand soap dispensersqty 3
Paper towel dispensersqty 3

Catering

Groceries
- Kaiser rolls - 60 pieces
- Wholemeal bread - 6 loaves
- Gluten-free rolls - 6 pieces
- Butter - 500 grams
- Young cheese - 2 kilograms
- Brie - 1 kilogram
- Smoked chicken breast - 1.5 kilograms
- Back ham - 1 kilogram
- Hummus - 1 kilogram
- Egg salad - 1 kilogram
- Herb cream cheese - 750 grams
- Arugula - 500 grams
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 2 kilograms
- Bell peppers - 12 pieces
- Red onions - 6 pieces
- Mixed salad - 2 kilogram
- Pasta salad - 4 kilograms
- Potato salad - 4 kilogram
- Raw vegetable salad - 3 kilograms
- Vegetarian quiche - 4 pieces
- Vegan pasta salad - 2 kilograms
- Gluten-free salad - 1 kilogram
- Herbs - 4 pots
- Olive oil - 1 bottle
- Balsamic vinegar - 1 bottle
- Mayonnaise - 1 liter
- Ketchup - 1 bottle
- Mustard - 1 jar
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Salted Nuts - 2 kilograms
- Salty sticks - 4 bags
- Olives - 2 kilograms
- Grapes - 3 kilograms
- Apples - 40 pieces
- Melons - 4 pieces
- Brownies - 60
- Mini pastries - 60 pieces
- Coffee - 3 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 4 bottles
- Tonic - 4 bottles
- Beer - 120 bottles
- Non-alcoholic beer - 30 bottles
- White wine - 10 bottles
- Red wine - 6 bottles
- Non-alcoholic wine - 3 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 8 bottles
- Spa Rood - 6 bottles
- Fruit juice - 6 liters
- Lemons - 12 pieces
- Ice cubes - 20 kilograms
- Napkins - 300 pieces
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 50 pieces
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Paper towels - 8 rolls

Tips

Plan drinks by sailing time and headcount: allow two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then about one drink per person per hour after that. Buy extra water for the full trip.
Use reusable plates, bowls, glasses and cutlery for the buffet, but pack at least 10% extra to cover dropped or misplaced items. Bring serving spoons and trays separately so guests do not use eating utensils.
Chill drinks at least 4 hours before boarding. Use coolers and ice containers rather than relying only on the boat refrigerator, and keep a separate cooler for dietary meals if needed.
Prepare buffet food in lidded containers and bring cutting boards, chef’s knives and bread knives. Pack allergen-free or special-diet meals separately, with labels attached before they leave the staging area.
Coffee service is easy to overlook on a boat. For a group of 20, plan roughly 25 cups, enough coffee, milk and sugar, plus a coffee machine or kettle and two thermos flasks so service does not depend on one outlet.

Frequently asked questions

What drinks do I need for a boat trip staff party?: Allow two to three drinks per person for the first hour and about one drink per person for each additional hour. Include water throughout the trip, then add extra for warm weather or a longer route.
How much tableware should I buy for a staff boat party?: Prepare one plate, bowl, glass and cutlery set per guest, plus at least 10% extra. For 30 guests, that means 33 of each reusable item where practical.
How early should I chill drinks before the boat trip?: Put drinks in coolers at least 4 hours before boarding. Add ice shortly before departure so it remains effective during loading and the first part of the sailing time.
What should I pack for a buffet on a boat?: Pack food in lidded containers, along with serving spoons, trays, cutting boards and knives. Separate and label dietary meals before loading, and bring tablecloths and compact buffet tables if the boat does not provide them.

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