What to Buy for a Cruise Event

A cruise event needs more than drinks and snacks. You will also need a way to keep food cold, serve guests efficiently, make coffee and tea, and handle limited power and changing light conditions on board. Plan supplies around the number of participants, then add a small buffer for breakage, spills and unexpected guests. Pack dietary meals separately and keep the items needed for arrival, safety instructions and the welcome drinks easy to reach.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Foldable tablesqty 6
Folding chairsqty 30
Buffet tablesqty 2

Tableware

Dinner platesqty 36
Dessert platesqty 36
Drinking glassesqty 48
Wine glassesqty 36
Coffee cupsqty 36
Cutlery setsqty 36
Serving plattersqty 12
Serving tongsqty 6

Kitchen

Coffee makerqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Thermos flasksqty 4
Cutting boardsqty 3
Chef’s knives and bread knivesqty 4
Coolersqty 4
Ice cube traysqty 3
Food containers with lidsqty 12
Aluminum serving traysqty 6

Decorations

Tableclothsqty 8
Napkin holdersqty 6
Table decorationsqty 6

Lighting

LED string lightsqty 4

Equipment

Portable speaker
Microphone
Power banksqty 4
Charging cablesqty 6

Safety

Flashlightsqty 4
Reflective vestsqty 4

Documents

Printed participant listqty 2
Printed route mapsqty 30

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 4
Bucketsqty 2
Spongesqty 6
Dish brushesqty 3
Microfiber clothsqty 12
Hand soap dispensersqty 3

Catering

Groceries
- Baguettes - 8 pieces
- Mini rolls - 60 pcs
- Butter - 500 grams
- Young cheese - 1,5 kilogram
- Brie - 800 grams
- Smoked salmon - 800 grams
- Back ham - 1 kilogram
- Hummus - 1 kilogram
- Cream cheese - 800 gram
- Cucumbers - 6 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 2 kilograms
- Bell peppers - 8 pieces
- Carrots - 2 kilogram
- Grapes - 2 kilogram
- Apples - 30 pieces
- Melons - 3 pieces
- Olives - 1 kilogram
- Pickles - 2 jars
- Paprika chips - 4 bags
- Plain chips - 4 bags
- Tortilla chips - 4 bags
- Salsa - 4 jars
- Nut mix - 1 kilogram
- Mini quiches - 60 pieces
- Wraps - 40 pieces
- Pasta salad - 4 kilograms
- Raw vegetable salad - 3 kilograms
- Herb butter - 4 tubs
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Fruit juice - 8 liters
- Apple juice - 6 liters
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 8 bottles
- Sinas - 6 bottles
- Sparkling mineral water - 12 bottles
- Still mineral water - 18 bottles
- Beer - 72 bottles
- White wine - 8 bottles
- Rosé - 6 bottles
- Alcohol-free wine - 4 bottles
- Coffee - 1 kilogram
- Black tea - 80 bags
- Herbal tea - 40 bags
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Lemons - 12 pieces
- Ice cubes - 15 kilograms
- Coffee filters - 100 pieces
- Paper napkins - 200 pieces
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 40 pieces
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Hand soap - 3 bottles
- Disinfectant wipes - 4 packs

Tips

Plan two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then one drink per person per additional hour. Chill them before loading and bring coolers with enough ice to keep the remaining stock cold.
Allow one dinner plate, one dessert plate, one drinking glass, one wine glass and one cutlery set per guest, plus at least 10% extra. Add serving platters and serving tongs so guests do not use their own plates for shared food.
For coffee and tea, prepare one coffee cup per guest and at least two thermos flasks for a medium-sized group. Bring kettles, a coffee maker and charging access together so the drinks station can be set up quickly.
Use lidded food containers for transport and separate containers for special-diet meals. Cutting boards, chef’s knives, bread knives and aluminum serving trays should be packed before decorative items, because they are harder to replace once the boat has departed.
Do not leave lighting and safety supplies until the last check. Pack LED string lights, flashlights, power banks, charging cables and reflective vests together, and test battery-powered equipment at least 24 hours before departure.

Frequently asked questions

How many drinks should I buy for a cruise?: Plan two to three drinks per person for the first hour and one drink per person for each additional hour. Add around 10% extra, especially when the cruise lasts more than three hours or guests cannot buy drinks on board.
How much tableware do I need for a boat party?: Buy or bring one dinner plate, dessert plate, drinking glass, wine glass and cutlery set per guest, plus 10% extra. For 30 guests, that means at least 33 of each item that every guest will use.
When should I chill drinks for a cruise?: Chill drinks several hours before loading, preferably overnight for larger bottles and cans. Move them into coolers with ice immediately before departure so they stay cold during transport and boarding.
What safety supplies should I bring on a cruise?: Keep flashlights, reflective vests, power banks and charging cables in an accessible bag rather than buried in the catering load. Test all rechargeable equipment at least 24 hours before departure and check the vessel’s own safety instructions on arrival.

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