How to choose a Christmas party cruise for your London team in 2026
Planning the office Christmas party usually starts with three questions: how many people are coming, what will they enjoy, and what can we spend?
A Thames cruise gives your team a festive setting with London passing the windows. You can join a shared Christmas party or book a boat exclusively for your group. The best choice depends on your headcount, the atmosphere you want and how much flexibility you need.
At Thames Cruises London, we help you compare the options and put together a proposal you can share with colleagues before you book.
A Thames setting for your team’s Christmas celebration.
Start with the party style
Rather than choosing a boat first, decide what the party should feel like. A seated dinner and a standing party need different spaces, catering and expectations.
Festive dining
Choose this style if the meal is central to your celebration. Shared Christmas lunch and dinner cruises offer a scheduled experience; private hire lets you explore a dining format tailored to your event.
A daytime lunch may suit a team that prefers to celebrate during the working day. Dinner offers an evening on the river, with the skyline becoming part of the occasion. Check the entertainment for the actual option: a lunch cruise and a dinner party do not necessarily have the same programme.
Buffet and dancing
Choose this style if your team would rather mingle, move around and spend more time on the dance floor. A private party can be planned around buffet catering and your preferred entertainment. A shared clubnight offers a nightclub-style atmosphere on a scheduled cruise.
Check the meal and seating before you book. A light buffet is different from a full dinner, and shared clubnight seating is limited and not guaranteed. If everyone needs a seat, tell us at the enquiry stage.
Compare festive dining options for your group.
Shared Christmas cruise or exclusive private hire
A shared party
Your group joins other guests on a scheduled sailing. You select from the dates, times and packages available. This can be a practical starting point for smaller teams that want a festive outing without hiring the whole boat.
Before deciding, confirm table arrangements, the drinks included, the entertainment and the exact boarding pier. On the published shared lunch and dinner descriptions, tables seat 10 and smaller bookings may share a table. Larger groups should ask how their tables will be arranged; one continuous table is not something to assume.
Explore our shared Christmas options
An exclusive private party
The boat is reserved for your group. We can explore your preferred timings, boarding location, food and entertainment, subject to the vessel, pier slots and operating requirements.
Private hire is worth comparing when privacy matters, you want speeches or your own running order, or you need greater control over the atmosphere. The quote depends on more than guest numbers: the date, boat, duration, food, drinks and entertainment all affect the total.
Explore private Christmas parties
How to plan the budget
Compare the total event cost as well as the headline price per person. A lower ticket price may include less food or fewer drinks. Private hire may involve minimum numbers or a minimum spend, which can change the effective cost per guest.
Ask for the cruise, food, included drinks, additional bar arrangements, entertainment, pier charges and any other costs to be clear in the proposal. Confirm the total amount payable and any VAT treatment shown on the quote before seeking internal approval.
For a shared cruise, calculate the event total using the price for your selected date. For private hire, ask for a quote based on your likely attendance and check what happens if that number changes.
A useful starting point for different group sizes
| Group size | What to compare first | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| 10–19 | Shared lunch, dinner or clubnight | Table sharing, seating and actual inclusions |
| 20–49 | Shared packages alongside suitable private options | Minimum spend and the value of privacy |
| 50–99 | Shared group arrangements and private hire | Seating layout, dining/dancing capacity and drinks |
| 100–149 | A vessel suited to the chosen format | Seated versus standing capacity and programme |
| 150–240 | Larger private vessels or confirmed shared allocation | Usable space and exact capacity for your event |
| 241+ | A bespoke larger-event brief | Suitable vessel, logistics and catering format |
These are planning prompts, not guaranteed capacities or availability. We will recommend a boat and format against your actual requirements.
Make it easy for your team to decide
A useful shortlist explains what each option includes, how much it costs and what approval is needed. It should also make any differences obvious: lunch or evening, shared or private, seated meal or informal party.
Ask us for a proposal you can forward to colleagues. Send one lead date and one alternative if you can, an estimated headcount and the budget. Mention anything important, such as speeches, accessibility needs, non-alcoholic drinks or travel connections.
Practical questions to ask before booking
Where will we board
The pier depends on the selected cruise. Use the exact pier, boarding time and meeting instructions in your confirmation. Our office address is not the boarding point. For private hire, preferred piers are subject to available slots and vessel requirements.
Can you accommodate dietary requirements
Tell us about dietary requirements and allergies when enquiring. Published shared lunch and dinner information requests advance orders at least 72 hours before sailing. Your chosen cruise’s requirements and deadlines must be confirmed; private catering arrangements can differ. Allergen cross-contact cannot be ruled out.
Is the boat accessible
Access varies between boats and piers. Let us know about mobility needs before choosing the vessel so we can check boarding arrangements, stairs, seating and facilities with the operator.
Are drinks included
It depends on the package. Shared dinner, lunch and clubnight have different drinks arrangements. Private events can be quoted with an agreed drinks arrangement. Ask for the exact inclusions, non-alcoholic choices and any additional bar costs.
Can we hold a date while we get approval
Ask us to check your preferred dates and arrange a free provisional hold where available. Confirm your booking with a 25% deposit, subject to the terms of your chosen cruise. We will explain the hold expiry and payment timetable in your proposal.
Tell us about your Christmas party
You do not need a finished event brief to start. Send us your preferred dates, approximate numbers, budget and whether you are thinking of festive dining or a buffet and dancing party. If you have not decided between shared and private, we can help you compare.
Enquire today for your group’s Christmas party options.