The short version
What $495 gets your group
- The whole boat for two hours, private to your group of up to six
- A tub drained and refilled with fresh water before your cruise, heatable to 104°F
- A Bluetooth speaker for your playlist and underwater LED lights for after dark
- BYOB with coolers and ice. No glass
- No boating license needed, with a full orientation and safety briefing before you leave the dock
- USCG-approved life vests for everyone on board
Split six ways, that's $82.50 each. There's also a $300 security deposit, refunded after the rental if nothing is damaged.
A story
Saturday at six: one way the day could go
An illustrative story. Maya, Jess and Priya are made up. The boat, the times and the rules are real.
Three weeks out
Maya is the maid of honor, and the group chat has been going in circles for a week. She books the 6:00pm Saturday slot for six, sends everyone a request for $82.50, and puts the $300 deposit on her own card, since it comes back after the cruise. Priya, who's training for a half marathon and wasn't planning to drink anyway, says she'll drive.
Saturday afternoon
They spend the afternoon on Balboa Island, then stop for ice and cans on the way to the dock. Nothing in glass. Maya has said so in the group chat twice.
Balboa Island, Newport Beach. 5:40pm
They walk down to the dock at 1221 West Coast Hwy. Everyone uses the restroom, two of them change in the changing room, and Priya and the rest of the group get the safety briefing: the life vests, the controls, and how the boat handles.
6:05pm
Priya eases them away from the dock. The whole harbor is 5 mph, so there's not much to it once she has a feel for the wheel. The tub is already hot. Jess, the bride, takes the seat facing forward, and somebody connects the playlist to the speaker.
7:30pm
It's July, so the sun is low over the harbor by now. They make the toast they've been saving, cans raised, and take the group photo with a phone in a waterproof pouch. Priya gets the mocktail Maya packed for her.
8:00pm
Back at the dock as the light goes, with the underwater LEDs just starting to show. Towels, dry clothes, then on to dinner.
Six is the limit, bride included
The boat takes six guests, and the number is firm. If your bachelorette is eight or ten people, you have two honest options. Pick six for the hot tub and plan something else for the whole group, or book a Duffy, which seats more. We compare the two side by side on hot tub boat vs. Duffy.
One of you drives, and stays sober
There's no captain on board. One of your group drives, and no license or boating experience is needed. Everyone gets a full orientation and safety briefing before you leave the dock, and the whole harbor is a 5 mph no-wake zone, so the driving is slow and easy.
Whoever is at the wheel has to be 21 or older and not drinking. Everyone else can bring what they like, as long as it isn't in glass. Pick your driver before the day so nobody has to sort it out at the dock.
Which time slot to book
Charters run Friday through Sunday, with three departures a day. Each one is two hours, dock to dock.
11:00am
Late morning
Daylight the whole way, back at the dock at 1:00. Good if the rest of the day is already planned. Bring sunscreen.
2:30pm
Afternoon
Back at the dock by 4:30, with time to change and get to dinner.
6:00pm
Evening
From spring through early fall this one runs through sunset. In winter it's a night cruise, with the underwater LED lights on and the water at its best against cold air.
The maid of honor's countdown
Whoever is organizing is usually juggling five other things. These are the boat tasks, in the order they come up.
Three weeks out
- Confirm who's in the six
- Book your slot and put the $300 deposit on one card
- Split the $495 six ways: $82.50 each
- Choose your driver, someone 21 or older who won't be drinking
The week of
- Lock the head count before the 3-day mark, when refunds drop to 50%
- Download the playlist so it plays without signal
- Call (949) 257-2765 about any decorations
On the day
- Pack cans, ice, snacks and towels, with nothing in glass
- Get to the dock a little early so everyone can use the restroom and change
- Bring a dry layer for afterward
Ideas for the two hours
- Everyone adds one song to the playlist, and the bride guesses who picked each one.
- On the evening slot, save the toast for when the sun is lowest.
- Run a quiz about the couple. Whoever scores lowest is on towel duty.
- Treat the driver like the captain they are. A captain's hat and a good mocktail are the least you owe them.
- Take the group photo early, while everyone's hair is still dry.
Getting photos that come out
- On the evening slot, the half hour before sunset gives the warmest light.
- A clear waterproof pouch lets you shoot from the tub without risking your phone.
- After dark, turn on night mode for the LED shots and hold still.
How the two hours fit into your day
You meet at the dock at 1221 West Coast Hwy in Newport Beach. There's a restroom and a changing room right there, so you can arrive dressed and change when you get in. After check-in and the safety briefing, the boat is yours for two hours.
There's no restroom on board. Make sure everyone uses the one at the dock before you leave, because two hours is a long time on the water otherwise.
Driving down from LA? Newport Harbor is about 45 to 60 minutes from most of Los Angeles and 20 to 30 minutes from central Orange County, depending on traffic. For the full walkthrough of a charter, from the water to the safety gear, see what to expect.
What to bring
- Swimsuits, worn under your clothes or changed into at the dock
- Towels, plus dry layers for afterward, especially on the 6:00pm slot
- Drinks in cans or plastic, with a cooler and ice
- Snacks
- A playlist downloaded to someone's phone
- Sunscreen for the daytime slots
Planning decorations, a sash-and-veil photo, or something in the tub? Call us first at (949) 257-2765 so we can tell you what works on the boat.
If your plans change
Head counts shift in the weeks before a bachelorette, so it helps to know the cancellation terms up front. You get a full refund if you cancel 3 or more days out, 50% between 3 days and 1 day out, and no refund within 24 hours of your booking.
Bachelorette questions
Can more than six of us come?
No. The boat takes six guests, and that limit is firm. For a bigger group, either pick six for the hot tub and plan something else for everyone, or look at a Duffy, which seats more. Our hot tub boat vs. Duffy page compares the two.
Can the bride drive?
Yes, as long as she's 21 or older and isn't drinking while she's at the wheel. The same rule applies to whoever drives.
Does everyone need to be 21?
Only the driver. There's no minimum age for passengers. Anyone drinking on board needs to be of legal drinking age.
Can we decorate the boat or bring a cake?
Snacks are fine to bring. For decorations, a cake, or anything you want to add to the tub, call us first at (949) 257-2765 so we can tell you what works on the boat.
What happens if the weather is bad?
Charters run rain or shine whenever the weather permits, and weather cancellations are rare. You're already sitting in hot water, so light rain matters less than you'd expect. If conditions don't allow a departure, we'll be in touch about your booking.
Questions about the water, temperature or what's allowed on board are answered on the Newport Hot Tub Boats homepage.
Ready to plan it?
A private 2-hour cruise for up to six, Friday through Sunday. Questions first? Call (949) 257-2765.