While themed nights may not appeal to everyone, they are often part of the overall yacht charter life onboard experience.
The success of a theme night hinges on the active participation of both your guests and crew. We briefly explore the concept of theme nights onboard and provide some handy hints.
The Big 6
If you believe the guest list is open to the idea of fancy dress, there are six essential elements that contribute to the success of a theme night:
The Menu
Craft a culinary experience that aligns with the chosen theme, ensuring a delightful feast that complements the overall atmosphere.
The Costume
Encourage guests to embrace the theme with creative and engaging costumes, make every effort to keep it simple.
The Table
Set the stage with a thoughtfully decorated table that reflects the chosen theme.
The Music
Curate a playlist that complements the theme, setting the mood and energizing the atmosphere with tunes that resonate with the chosen concept.
The Drinks
Enhance the theme with specially crafted beverages that align with the overall ambiance, offering an immersive experience for the guests.
The Location
Check that the location aligns. A celebration of Cinco de Mayo may not be the best fit for the Norwegian Fjords in November.
The Big Dates
March
Consider kicking off the charter with a touch of Hollywood glamour by hosting an 'Oscars Night.' Guests likely have a tux and a fancy frock packed, making it an effortless choice. Enhance the experience with details like using The Young20 font for invitations, rolling out a red carpet from the salon to the dining table, creating a playlist of classic movie tunes, setting up a photo shoot against a backdrop of stars and award images, and adorning the dining table with stars, glitter, clapperboards, and movie reels. Treat everyone to Movie Magic Mojitos and Oscar's Old Etonians as delightful appetizers.
March is also the month to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, a holiday that has evolved into a joyous celebration of Irish culture. Festivities include lively parades, enjoying traditional music and dance, raising pints of Guinness, savoring ample amounts of Irish whiskey, and, of course, adorning everything in vibrant shades of green.
Imagine a yacht beautifully decorated in green, with an onboard playlist featuring the best of Irish music, and a table adorned with shamrocks. We are not suggesting that corned beef and cabbage be served on a luxury yacht, but certainly, the menu should contain potatoes.
St. Patrick's Day is not only embraced in Ireland but has gained significant importance within American culture, in fact, records show that the very first St. Patrick’s Day parade was held on March 17, 1601, in a Spanish colony in what is now St. Augustine, Florida.
May
Infuse the charter experience with the lively celebration of Cinco de Mayo, the vibrant spirit of Mexican food, music, and color. To feature a feast from nachos to tacos, fajitas, and enchiladas. Experience a symphony of flavors, from the tangy zest of limes and tomatillos to the sweetness of tomatoes, chocolate, and herbs, complemented by the bold spice of authentic Mexican seasonings like coriander, allspice, cloves, and thyme.
It's an easy fix for the dressing up too: envision the crew adorned in the distinctive Charro style, while guests are invited to casually sport colorful ponchos and sombreros. Cap off the evening with post-dinner piñata games and dancing. Winner.
July
If you find yourself cruising the American coast in early July or have American guests onboard, embrace the spirit of Independence Day with red, white, and blue touches to add festivity to the yacht. Keep the atmosphere relaxed with classic American tunes playing in the background and a dinner table adorned with stars and stripes. Bring out the flavors of America, with a feast from burgers and brisket to chicken and macaroni cheese. Explore the taste of the sea with clam chowder, embrace oysters and lobster, and finish with the quintessential apple pie.
For a unique touch, consider supersafe dining sparklers as a safe alternative to traditional fireworks, bringing a different kind of spark to the table and onboard décor. Alternatively, you can coordinate with a local fireworks company to organize a display on land.
October
October ushers in All Hallows’ Eve, making it the ideal time for a themed party surrounded by loved ones. Enchanting colors of black, gold, and orange will craft a distinct table setting, adorned with festive staples like pumpkins, spider webs, ghosts, and ghouls.
From the eerie beats of "Thriller" by Michael Jackson to the playful rhythm of "The Monster Mash" by The Crypt-Kickers, infuse the party with lively tunes, and don't be afraid to experiment with face painting or masks to embrace the myriad of costumes that suit this haunting time of year—even a simple white sheet can work wonders!
The menu takes on a bewitching transformation as the chef delights, with a simple pea and bacon chowder transformed into Witches Brew for the evening, and a flavorful dish of orzo and black beans playfully named Maggot Mash. Halloween stuffed peppers (complete with carved faces), served alongside a spider's web taco dip and a hubble-bubble pumpkin pot, promise a feast that perfectly captures the spooky spirit of the season.
The Big Easy
Not referring to "The Big Easy" as in New Orleans, though a themed night with Mardi Gras, King Cakes, jazz greats, and feasting on gumbo and jambalaya can be extraordinary. What we mean by "easy" is keeping it simple.
On even the most spacious superyacht, there's limited room for a dressing-up box, so opt for interchangeable props. For instance, a NOLA-themed Mardi Gras can easily transition to Venetian night or Masquerade; a 4th of July celebration can seamlessly shift to a Wild West cowboy theme. Elements from Cinco de Mayo can smoothly blend into Dia de los Muertos celebrations, while the black and orange of Halloween complements the autumnal colors of a Thanksgiving celebration.
When curating a costume box, focus on versatile accessories like cowboy hats, bandanas, swashbuckling belts, swords, eye patches for pirate night, and masks with feathers for Mardi Gras and Venetian themes. Ponchos and sombreros can effortlessly transform the ensemble for Mexican-themed nights.
The Big Decision
To do or not to do, that is the question.
When considering theme ideas, think twice, and if you decide to proceed, exercise moderation. Not all guests enjoy theme nights, so be mindful of varying preferences.
The success of a theme night significantly relies on the engagement of your guests and crew; sometimes the entire crew participates, and other times, it's limited to the service steward/esses.
Have fun.
