What capacity should you choose for a corporate evening? Look beyond the guest count

An evening for 80 people can seem simple to plan for on paper. Yet the needs aren't the same if those 80 guests are dining at tables, mingling at a cocktail reception or ending the night on a dance floor.

The right approach is therefore to start from the number of guests, then look at what they'll actually be doing on board.

Capacity depends on the format

At a cocktail reception, guests are mostly standing and moving around. For a dinner, you need to factor in tables, chairs and walkways. For an evening with entertainment, you also need to set aside space for the activity. The same theoretical capacity can therefore correspond to very different uses.

Plan for service areas

The buffet, the bar and the space staff need don't disappear just because guests aren't using them. They must be factored in. In practice, the boat's floor plan matters just as much as its authorised passenger number.

Don't forget the key moments

A speech, an awards presentation or an activity can change how people move around for a few minutes. If the evening includes several stages, ask how they can flow from one to the next in the space available.

Choose with the right margin

There's not necessarily any point in taking a boat much larger than your group. On the other hand, an overly tight layout can make moving around and service less comfortable. What you need to check is the capacity that matches the exact format of your evening.