The essentials in 30 seconds
The 3 evening yacht formats
Format 1 - Sunset cruise (3h, 7pm-10pm)
The shortest and most accessible format. 7pm departure, navigation along the Esterel coast or Lerins Islands, sunset stop 8pm-9pm, cocktails and tapas on board, return to Cannes 10pm.
- Yacht 12-14 m / 8 guests: 1,800-3,200 EUR
- Yacht 17-20 m / 12 guests: 4,200-7,800 EUR
- Yacht 25-30 m / 18 guests: 9,500-16,000 EUR
Format 2 - Dinner cruise (5h, 7pm-midnight)
Prestige format: 7pm-7.30pm departure, sunset, seated or standing dinner (chef on board), after-cocktail, return 11.30pm-midnight.
- Yacht 17-20 m / 10 guests: 6,800-11,500 EUR
- Yacht 25-30 m / 18 guests: 14,000-22,000 EUR
- Mega-yacht 35+ m / 25 guests: 28,000-45,000 EUR
Format 3 - Full night + breakfast (12h, 7pm-7am next day)
Exclusive experience format: 7pm departure, navigation to Saint-Tropez or Cap Antibes, dinner, anchorage in a sheltered bay for the night (cabins), open-sea breakfast, return to Cannes at 7am. Requires a 25+ m yacht with cabins.
- Yacht 25-30 m / 8 guests + 6 cabins: 18,000-32,000 EUR
- Mega-yacht 40+ m / 12 guests + 10 cabins: 38,000-85,000 EUR
Target ambiences
| Evening profile | Recommended format | Yacht type |
|---|---|---|
| Intimate couple's anniversary | Sunset cruise + champagne | 14-17 m motoryacht |
| Friends evening (10-15) | Dinner cruise + DJ | 20-25 m motoryacht |
| Hen / Stag party (8-12) | Sunset + after-party | 17-22 m sport-yacht |
| 50th birthday (20-30) | Prestige dinner cruise | 28-35 m motoryacht |
| Corporate VIP (12-25) | Dinner + discreet branding | 30-45 m motoryacht |
| Marriage proposal | Private sunset cruise | 15-25 m elegant |
Onboard catering
| Service format | Cost per person | Lead time |
|---|---|---|
| Cold cocktail / tapas tray | 35-65 EUR | 3-5 days |
| Cold + hot buffet (chef on board) | 120-220 EUR | 1 week |
| Seated 3-course dinner (Michelin-starred chef) | 250-450 EUR | 2-3 weeks |
| Premium open bar (champagne, spirits) | 80-180 EUR | 1 week |
| Dedicated sommelier | +450-800 EUR fixed | 2 weeks |
Entertainment and sound
- Built-in sound system - present on nearly all yachts > 17m, quality varies (check)
- Onboard DJ - 800-2,500 EUR for a 4-5h set, equipment brought by the DJ
- Live saxophonist - 600-1,200 EUR for a 2h set, lounge sunset ambience
- Close-up magician - 800-1,800 EUR for 2h, birthday format
- Photographer / videographer - 850-2,200 EUR for 4-5h of capture
- Floral decoration + candles - 400-1,500 EUR depending on ambience
Yacht evening regulations
- Sound level: regulated in port (silence after 10pm), free in the open sea (beyond 300m from the coast)
- Bay anchorage: possible if anchorage is permitted in the bay (check Natura 2000 / Posidonia zones)
- Fireworks from yacht: prohibited without prefectoral authorisation (3 months lead time)
- Maximum passenger capacity: set by the navigation certificate, NOT exceedable (Maritime Affairs checks)
- Alcohol on board: free, but the captain is responsible if passenger condition jeopardises safety
Onboard evening safety
- Check that adult-sized life jackets are present for 100% of guests
- Mandatory safety briefing before departure (captain, 5 min)
- Outdoor lighting: provide LED torches for night-time deck movement
- Flat shoes mandatory (heels prohibited on teak, slippery deck)
- Extra service staff if guests > 12 (1 server / 6-8 guests ratio)
- First aid kit visible and accessible
- Explicit evacuation plan (the captain must know any guests with reduced mobility)
Real case 2025
Mrs's 40th birthday, June 2025, 18 guests - 28 m motoryacht, Cannes Vieux Port departure 7pm, sunset in the Lerins Islands bay, dinner on the aft deck with onboard chef (3 courses), DJ until 11pm, sommelier matching wines across 3 courses, 4h photographer, fresh-cut floral decoration. Total budget: 22,800 EUR (yacht 14,800 + chef + 3 suppliers + crew tip 1,200). Client verdict: 'the evening of my 40s, unforgettable'.
5 common mistakes
- Planning too many guests (exceeds comfort capacity, which is ~70% of the certificate's max capacity)
- Underestimating early-evening seasickness (offer Mercalm tablets on hand)
- Overlooking open-sea evening temperature (-3 to -5 degrees C vs land, bring light jackets)
- Booking too late for a high-season weekend sunset (the good yachts go 2-4 weeks ahead)
- Forgetting the crew tip (5-15% recommended, shared among the team)