ALAMEDA, Calif. – October 19, 2026 – Luxe Cruises & Events, a San Francisco Bay yacht charter company based at Mariner Square in Alameda, is now booking private corporate holiday parties for the 2026 season. Companies can reserve a full yacht with catering, a staffed bar, entertainment and a dedicated event planner under one contract.
December dates are open now on a first-come basis. Early-December weeknights are the easiest evenings to secure; Fridays and Saturdays go first.
What is a Luxe Cruises corporate holiday party?
A Luxe Cruises corporate holiday party is a private yacht charter on San Francisco Bay that packages the venue, food, bar, entertainment and event planning into one booking. Groups from 20 guests to several hundred board at one of 19 ports around the Bay.
Luxe has planned events on the Bay for two decades. Companies on the Peninsula, in the East Bay and in Oakland can board close to the office, which spares employees a cross-bridge commute on party night.
Why companies are moving the holiday party onto the water
A yacht charter replaces three or four vendor contracts with one. Hotels and restaurants often bill the room, catering and bar as separate line items, and someone on staff ends up chasing confirmations the week of the party. On a Luxe charter, one planner manages the caterer, the bar staff and the entertainment.
The setting changes how guests behave, too. Nobody slips out after an hour, departments end up at the same dinner tables, and the Golden Gate Bridge lit up off the rail gives coworkers who rarely talk an easy opening. Many planners now book the cruise as the year’s team-building event and holiday party in a single evening.
The Luxe guide to the best SF holiday party venues compares a private yacht with hotel ballrooms, sports bars and banquet halls, and lists six activities that work well on deck.
Corporate holiday party packages
Luxe Cruises offers two charter formats for the 2026 season, plus a daytime team-building add-on. Every booking comes with a dedicated event planner.
Format
Best for
What’s on board
Weekday lunch cruise
Shorter, lower-cost team gatherings
Lunch service, staffed bar, skyline and bridge views
Evening holiday charter
Full company parties with dinner and dancing
Plated dinner or buffet, staffed bar, DJ or live band, dance floor, holiday decor, photo booth
Angel Island team-building add-on
Teams that want a daytime activity before the evening party
Hosted group session on the island, paired with an evening charter
Guests choose from existing Luxe menus or build a custom menu with the chef. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and nut-free meals are available on request. Popular on-deck activities include company trivia, a vessel-wide scavenger hunt, a sunset watercolor session and a champagne toast under the Golden Gate Bridge.
Companies weighing a lunch cruise against a full evening can read planning a holiday party boat in San Francisco for catering, entertainment and capacity details.
How to plan a corporate holiday party cruise
Book the yacht 8 to 12 weeks before the party. For a mid-December date, that window closes this month.
Pick two or three target dates. Survey the guest list first. Early-December weeknights face the least competition from other company parties.
Set the budget. Luxe planners suggest roughly 30 to 40 percent for the venue, 40 to 50 percent for food and drinks, 10 to 15 percent for entertainment and 5 to 10 percent for decor and gifts. Most companies spend $75 to $200 per employee.
Reserve the charter. Lock in the vessel, departure port and route with a Luxe planner.
Send invitations. Save-the-dates go out 6 to 8 weeks ahead and formal invitations 3 to 4 weeks ahead, with the dock address, parking and dress code.
Confirm the details. Settle the menu, entertainment and final headcount with your planner the week before.
The full checklist, with theme ideas and a venue comparison, is in the Luxe guide on how to plan a corporate holiday party. For ideas on what employees want from the evening itself, read how to throw a holiday party your employees will love.
What Luxe Cruises says about the season
“Most planners who call us in October have the same problem: four vendors, three deposits and no date yet,” said Toby Proescher, Owner at Luxe Cruises & Events. “We take that off their desk. They pick the night, we bring the boat, the food, the bar and the band, and their team gets an evening on the Bay they’ll still bring up in March.”
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should a company book a holiday party cruise? A company should book a holiday party cruise 8 to 12 weeks ahead. Fridays and Saturdays between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve fill first.
How many guests can a Luxe Cruises holiday party hold? A Luxe Cruises holiday party can host groups from about 20 guests to several hundred, depending on which vessel in the fleet is booked.
Where do Luxe holiday party cruises depart? Luxe holiday party cruises depart from 19 ports around San Francisco Bay. Teams in San Francisco, on the Peninsula, in Oakland and across the East Bay can board near the office.
Does Luxe provide food and drinks? Yes. Luxe provides catering from set menus or a custom chef menu, a staffed bar, and meals for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and nut-free guests.
How much does a corporate holiday party cruise cost? The cost of a corporate holiday party cruise varies with guest count, vessel, menu and entertainment. Most companies budget $75 to $200 per employee; Luxe planners provide a quote after a short call.
How to book
Companies can reserve a 2026 holiday date through the Luxe Cruises contact page, by calling 510-263-9790 or by emailing [email protected]. Fleet details are on the corporate events page.
About Luxe Cruises & Events
Luxe Cruises & Events is a San Francisco Bay yacht charter and event planning company headquartered in Alameda, California. For two decades it has hosted corporate parties, weddings, school events and private celebrations on the Bay, with departures from 19 ports. Each charter includes onboard catering, bar service and a dedicated event planner.
Media ContactCompany Name: Luxe Cruises & EventsContact Person: Sanda ProescherEmail: Send EmailPhone: (510) 263-9790Country: United StatesWebsite: https://luxecruises.com/
