How Much Does a Private Boat Charter Cost in Dallas?

Private charters with DFW Boat Ride start at $1,946 all-in for a daytime cruise on Lake Ray Hubbard, 25 minutes from downtown Dallas. Evening and weekend slots cost more, and the exact quote depends on which boat, which day and which time. This article explains what moves the number, what "all-in" covers, what is extra, and how the deposit and balance work, so you can walk into the phone call with a budget already in mind.

The short answer

• Starting price: $1,946 all-in for a daytime private charter. The boat is back at the dock two hours before sunset.
• All-in means: the crew, fuel, gratuity and taxes are inside the price.
• Evenings and weekends: more, and it varies by boat. A Friday evening on Harbor Lights is in the high $2,000s. Saturday peak slots are higher again.
• Extra: catering, if you want it, and additional pre-boarding time beyond the 30 minutes included.
• Deposit: 50% to hold the date and time; the balance is due 30 days before the cruise.

Quotes are given by phone at (214) 534-3797, press 0, because the right number depends on the four things below.

What drives the price

1. The boat

Three boats, three capacities, three price points.

• Sapphire Moon: up to 49 guests. 52 feet long, open air on both decks, wrap-around lounge seating and stainless steel bars. The smallest boat and the lowest-priced charter for a group that fits.
• Harbor Lights: up to 90 guests. 57 feet long and 25 feet wide, with a fully enclosed, heated and air-conditioned main deck, an open sky deck above, 8-foot tables seating 72 per deck, three flat screens with HDMI, a PA microphone and a Bluetooth stereo.
• Sapphire Star: up to 140 guests. 67 feet long and 28 feet wide, the largest inland boat in Texas. Heated and air-conditioned main deck seating 96, cocktail tables and shade on the upper deck.

Pick by headcount first. Paying for Sapphire Star when 40 people are coming is the most common way to overspend, and squeezing 95 onto Harbor Lights is not an option, because capacity includes everyone aboard, including caterers and a photographer.

2. The day of the week

Saturday is the most requested day of the year, every week, and it is priced that way. Friday is next. Sunday through Thursday are the open dates, and a weeknight charter is the easiest way to bring the quote down without giving anything up on the boat.

3. The time slot

A daytime charter, back two hours before sunset, is the starting price. Sunset and evening slots are the premium ones because that is the view everyone wants. If the point of the party is dinner and the toast rather than the sunset, an earlier slot on a weeknight in November or December will be the lowest quote you get.

4. The season

Spring and summer evenings are peak. November and December are strong for company holiday parties, and weeknights in those months are open. The boats are winterized in January and February and public cruises stop; private charters in winter are possible when it makes sense, weather permitting, so ask.

What "all-in" actually covers

The reason to ask any venue for the all-in number is that most of them cannot give you one. A hotel quotes the room, then adds food and beverage minimums, AV, service charges and tax. A restaurant quotes a minimum spend. A private charter with DFW Boat Ride quotes one number that includes:

• the whole boat, privately, for your group
• a Coast Guard-licensed captain and crew
• fuel
• gratuity
• taxes
• sodas, water, juice and cups of ice for everyone
• use of the sound system, and on Harbor Lights the screens and the PA mic
• 30 minutes of pre-boarding for your host, caterer and decorations

And BYOB. Beer, wine, seltzers and cocktails come aboard in small to medium coolers (rolling coolers work well, no kegs). There is no bar minimum and no corkage. Everyone drinking must be 21 or over with ID.

What is extra

Food. Bring your own, bring your own caterer, or choose from our recommended caterers list. Catering is priced per person by the caterer, and it is the one line that scales with headcount. Chafing dish warmers are allowed in the serving areas.

More setup time. The 30 minutes of pre-boarding covers most parties. If the decorating plan is elaborate, additional time can be purchased.

Nothing else that we add. No service charge on top, no fuel surcharge, no cleanup fee.

Three scenarios, in words

The figures below are only the ones we publish; the exact quote for your date comes from the phone call.

A 40-person team lunch on a Wednesday in November. Harbor Lights, daytime slot. The starting price of $1,946 all-in, plus whatever you spend on sandwiches and a few coolers. This is the lowest-cost version of a company event on the water.

A 75-person office holiday dinner on a Friday evening in December. Harbor Lights, evening slot, which puts the boat in the high $2,000s. The heated main deck seats 72 at 8-foot tables, the screens run the slideshow, and catering is the main addition. Compare that with a per-head banquet quote for 75 people with a hosted bar.

A 120-person company party on a Saturday in December. Sapphire Star, peak slot, so expect the top of the range. Still one price for the whole boat, still BYOB. Worth asking about a Thursday instead if the budget is tight; the boat is the same.

Deposit, balance and the weather

A 50% deposit secures the date and time. The balance is due 30 days before the cruise. Both are non-refundable, because a private charter takes the boat off the market for everyone else.

There is one exception. If on the day of the cruise the captain decides conditions are unsafe for navigation (severe weather, lightning within 10 miles, excessive wind), you receive a refund of what you paid or a new date. The captain is the sole decision-maker.

Cruises end by 11:30 pm, and guests board 10 minutes before departure after completing the electronic waiver.

What is not in the price, but is free anyway

Self-parking is free in The Harbor Rockwall lots at Summer Lee Drive and Shoreline Trail, a 5 to 11 minute walk to our dock next to the lighthouse. The Hilton Dallas/Rockwall Lakefront is beside the dock for anyone staying over. Neither shows up on your invoice.

How to get a quote

Have three things ready: the headcount, a first and second choice of date, and whether you want daytime or evening. Call (214) 534-3797 and press 0, or send the inquiry form on the company holiday party page. For more on how private charters work, see the private cruises page, the FAQ, and our complete guide to private and corporate events on Lake Ray Hubbard.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest way to charter a boat in Dallas? A daytime charter on a weekday starts at $1,946 all-in with DFW Boat Ride. Pick the smallest boat your headcount fits, bring your own food and drinks, and keep the cruise before sunset.

Does the price go up if more people come? No, as long as you stay under the boat's capacity. The charter is one price for the whole boat. Catering is the only cost that scales per person.

Is gratuity included? Yes. Crew, fuel, gratuity and taxes are all inside the quoted price.

Can we pay in installments? A 50% deposit holds the date and the balance is due 30 days before the cruise. Both are non-refundable.

What happens if it rains? Light rain is fine; the main decks on Harbor Lights and Sapphire Star are enclosed. If the captain judges conditions unsafe on the day, you get a refund of what you paid or a new date.

Packages and pricing at a glance

Charters come in three lengths: 1.5 hours for appetizers and drinks, 2 hours for dinner, and 3 hours for dinner with time for a toast. On Harbor Lights, a 1.5-hour cruise is $1,946 by day and $2,343 on a weeknight evening, with the crew, fuel, gratuity and taxes included. Any caterer is welcome. Our partner, Cater Dallas, runs about $11 a guest for appetizers. See the holiday party packages for the 2-hour and 3-hour rates.

Related reading: boat vs. banquet room for a company holiday party, a company Christmas party on the boat, hour by hour and a family Christmas party on the water.