What BYO means for your charter
Life’s Good offers BYO food and drinks as well as catering options to discuss. BYO does not mean every storage, serving or cooking item is automatically included. Ask the team to explain the conditions and inclusions in your written quote, including any relevant charges and how your preferred menu will work onboard.
The boat is a private, skippered 40ft powered catamaran for up to 25 guests. Your guest count should guide the food plan, but so should the format of the day. An afternoon with a few snacks is different from a lunch charter where everyone expects a complete meal. Make that distinction clear when asking about facilities and timing.
Build a menu around easy handling
Choose food that people can enjoy without a complicated setup. Grazing items, prepared portions and a simple agreed BBQ menu can reduce the amount of work needed aboard. Think about the containers, serving utensils and waste as well as the food itself. A beautiful menu is less useful if it takes over the available space.
Check allergies and dietary needs before the shopping list is final. Label separate dishes so guests know what they are choosing, and keep any allergen-management requirements in the discussion with the team. Do not assume crew cooking or onboard storage can guarantee a particular dietary separation. If a requirement is critical, have the arrangement explicitly checked.
Discuss chilled storage before packing
Ask what storage is available and what you need to bring to keep your chosen food and drinks suitable for the outing. Do not infer refrigerator or freezer capacity from a photograph of the vessel. Tell the team about your expected quantities and whether a BBQ or another meal needs chilled ingredients.
Pack in manageable containers that can be carried safely to the wharf and stowed as directed. Avoid bringing large amounts of unnecessary packaging. Confirm the meeting instructions before arranging delivery or asking a guest to transport supplies. Keep the essentials together so the organiser is not trying to find different meal components across several cars at boarding time.
Make BBQ arrangements part of the itinerary
Life’s Good has a BBQ and crew cooking arrangements can be discussed. Agree what is being cooked, who provides the food and when the meal should happen. BBQ availability is not a promise that ingredients are supplied or that every menu can be prepared exactly as it would be in a kitchen.
Allow the cruise plan to accommodate cooking and eating, rather than squeezing a meal between a long sequence of scenic passes. Mention the preferred lunch or dinner time when enquiring. The team can explain how it fits with the route, and the skipper may adapt the stopping place for conditions. A little flexibility helps the meal feel like part of the day.
Drinks, serving items and music
Include drinking water in the plan and ask about the conditions for bringing alcohol. Follow the crew’s instructions and do not assume a private charter removes restrictions on onboard behaviour. Check what cups, plates, cutlery and waste arrangements are provided before buying disposable supplies or bringing glassware.
Nominate one person to coordinate food and another to prepare music if that helps divide the work. Life’s Good has a Fusion sound system; check connection arrangements and download the playlist. Keep supplies stowed so decks and steps remain clear. The best BYO plan lets the organiser join the celebration instead of continually managing bags and serving equipment.
When catering may be the better choice
BYO can suit a group that enjoys choosing its own menu and sharing preparation. Catering may be preferable when the organiser is travelling, hosting clients or wants fewer tasks on the day. Ask for the actual available menu and costs rather than comparing assumed packages. Catering availability and dietary requests need to be checked for the booking.
For a useful quote, send your date, guest count, duration and food preference. Explain whether you want snacks, a main meal or BBQ cooking. Ask the written booking details to distinguish vessel hire from food and any extras. Once the arrangements are agreed, share a short packing list with the people responsible for supplies and keep everyone else’s instructions simple.
Charter details: Exclusive Boats: charter arrangements ↗