A stag or hen party at sea goes well when the group arrives knowing how many fit, what time the boat leaves and what is not allowed on board. This is what to settle before booking.
A stag or hen party on a boat in Fuengirola comes down to four decisions: group size, time of day, any extra activity and the rules on board. For groups of up to twelve there is a one-hour format that leaves from the Puerto Deportivo de Fuengirola. If the group is larger than twelve, the party moves to a catamaran, and the boat’s maximum capacity is never exceeded, not even by one person.
The rules for a boat party are few and all of them apply: no glass on board, the music plays from someone’s phone, no confetti or loose balloons, and no alcohol for whoever is at the helm. If the organiser shares them in the group chat a week before, nobody gets a surprise on the pontoon on the day.
The one-hour format is designed for a maximum of twelve people, including the bride or groom. That number is fixed, so it is worth having the guest list confirmed before you call rather than on the day. If someone signs up at the last minute and the group becomes thirteen, you need another boat, and in July or August that may not be available.
For larger groups the fleet has other options outside Fuengirola. In Puerto Banús there is a 24.1-metre schooner that takes 36 people, and in Málaga a 23.7-metre catamaran for up to 100 passengers, which only goes out as a private event and is booked weeks in advance. Puerto Banús is about 28 kilometres away along the A-7, roughly thirty minutes by car.
On this coast, from midday the sea breeze comes in and, with a westerly, the water gets choppy in the afternoon. A boat copes with it easily, but a group standing up, with music and moving from one side of the deck to the other, feels every wave. If someone in the group gets seasick easily, the morning is the calmest time to go out.
The last hour before sunset has other advantages: the heat eases, the coast is lit from the side and, once you are back on land, the whole evening is still ahead for dinner. In July and August that slot needs booking several days ahead. From October to May, calling the day before and fixing the time by phone is usually enough.
The group activities that combine best with a boat party leave from the beach next to the marina. The banana boat is booked per group and takes four to six people in a row, towed by a speedboat, with life jackets compulsory. A group of twelve goes out in two rounds, one after the other. If someone is nervous, you can ask the driver to go gently.
For anyone who would rather see the coast from above, parasailing is about twelve minutes in the air, at thirty to fifty metres, flying alone, in pairs or in threes depending on weight. Jet skis go out in fifteen-minute slots, and drivers must be 18 or over. All of that goes before the boat: once the toasts start, nobody should be at the controls of anything.
The first is that no glass comes aboard. A broken glass on a wet deck, with people barefoot, ends in a cut and an early return to the marina. Drinks come in cans or plastic bottles, and cups should be hard plastic or reusable. If someone wants to toast with something special, they should pour it into a bottle that will not break before the day.
The second is that nothing goes into the sea: no confetti and no loose balloons, because whatever falls in the water cannot be picked up again. The music plays from someone’s phone, so bring it charged and with the playlist downloaded before boarding. And the boat’s maximum capacity is what it is: nobody squeezes in, even if they are the groom’s or the bride’s best friend.
Whoever is at the helm drinks no alcohol, and that rule has no exceptions. If the whole group wants to raise a glass, the sensible choice is a boat with a skipper. The skipper steers, anchors and is responsible for safety, and the group is free to enjoy the party. Motor boats with a skipper leave from Fuengirola, and the price is given by phone according to the length of the trip.
If the group would rather take the boat out themselves, a licence is needed: the 4-metre boat requires at least the Spanish navigation licence (licencia de navegación) and is handed over after a ten-minute briefing and a deposit that is returned in full. You have to be back in daylight and stay inside the authorised area, so it does not fit a sunset trip. The 6.6 to 6.9 metre motorboats require whoever takes the helm to hold the Spanish PNB licence (Patrón de Navegación Básica).
Swimwear on from home, a towel, a cap, sunglasses with a strap and water-resistant sun cream, renewed every two hours. For the boat, shoes that do not mark the deck. All of that fits in a soft bag, which can be stowed in any corner on board; a hard suitcase gets in the way and ends up sliding round the cockpit at the first wave.
You do not need to bring a life jacket: there is one per person on board, included, and the safety equipment is checked before every trip. What you will be glad of is a waterproof pouch for your phone, especially if the banana boat comes afterwards, and a dry T-shirt for the way home. If there is fancy dress, choose something that comes off quickly, because the swim from the boat usually comes sooner than planned.
Prices are not published: they are given by phone on +34 669 06 27 56, Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 20:00 and at weekends from 10:00 to 18:00. You can also leave your number in the form on the website and wait for a call. To get a price on the same call, have three details ready: the number of people, the preferred time and which activities you want to add to the boat.
If the forecast does not allow a safe trip, the date is changed at no cost. With less than 15 knots of wind almost everything goes out; between 15 and 20 the light kit is called off, and above 20 only the large boats sail. The easterly wind brings a swell, which is what bothers a standing group most. The home page of the website shows wind, waves and water temperature every half hour.
If it is not here, call us: two minutes on the phone and it is sorted.
The one-hour format takes up to twelve people. From thirteen upwards the party moves to a catamaran, and the maximum capacity of each boat is never exceeded.
Yes. The music plays from someone’s phone in the group, so bring it charged and with the playlist downloaded before boarding.
No. No confetti and no loose balloons, because anything that falls into the sea cannot be picked up. No glass comes on board either.
If the forecast does not allow a safe trip, the date is changed at no cost. It is worth having an alternative day in mind when you confirm the booking.
Leave us your number and we will call you. In July and August it is worth booking ahead.
Puerto Deportivo de Fuengirola, local 367. You can drop in and see the boats before you book.
At no charge. Going out to see what happens is never worth it.
Life jackets for everyone on board, included in the price.
