Everything you need to know before booking your private catamaran charter on the Gold Coast Broadwater — pricing, inclusions, BYO policy, departure points, and more.
Cloud 9 Cruise private boat charters are priced per charter (not per person), making them great value for groups:
The entire boat is exclusively yours — no sharing with other groups, ever. The more guests you bring (up to 38), the better the per-person value.
No hidden fees — ever. The charter price you see is all-inclusive. What's covered:
BYO food, drinks and decorations are all free of charge. There is no corkage fee, no cleaning surcharge for responsible groups, and no fuel surcharge.
There is no minimum guest number. Whether it's a romantic proposal cruise for 2, a small birthday dinner for 8, or a full hens night for 38, the boat is all yours. You pay for the charter, not per seat — so even small groups get full private access to the entire catamaran.
The maximum capacity is 38 guests.
Yes! Cloud 9 Cruise gift vouchers make the perfect present for birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, Valentine's Day, or any special occasion. Vouchers can be purchased for a specific package or a set dollar amount, and are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase.
Contact us via phone or email to arrange a gift voucher: cloud9cruises@gmail.com or 0425 642 111.
A deposit is required to secure your booking date. The balance is due prior to the charter date. Full payment details and terms are provided at the time of booking confirmation. For enquiries about deposit amounts and payment options, please contact us directly.
We recommend booking at least 3–4 weeks in advance for weekday charters, and 6–8 weeks ahead for weekend dates and public holidays. Peak periods fill up very quickly:
To check live availability for your preferred date, use our online booking system or call us directly on 0425 642 111.
You can book in three ways:
Once your booking is confirmed, you'll receive a confirmation email with all the details including your exact departure point, meeting instructions, and what to bring.
Last-minute bookings are welcome subject to availability! If you need a charter within a week, the best approach is to call us directly on 0425 642 111 — we can quickly check what slots are open and confirm on the spot. For truly spontaneous groups, weekday mornings often have more availability than weekends.
Charters are available 7 days a week, generally between 7:00am and 9:00pm. Popular time slots include:
The exact sunset time varies by season on the Gold Coast — from around 5:00pm in winter to 7:00pm in summer. We'll advise the best departure time for a golden-hour sunset experience.
Yes — 100% BYO! You're warmly encouraged to bring your own food, alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, and even a birthday cake. There is no corkage fee and no restrictions on what you bring (within reason).
On board you'll find a fully equipped galley with:
Many groups bring a full grazing spread, platters, or even a catered feast. Others keep it casual with drinks and snacks. It's entirely up to you.
Our power catamaran comfortably accommodates up to 38 guests. The boat features:
With 38 guests the boat feels lively and social. Smaller groups of 10–20 enjoy even more space to spread out and relax.
Yes! The catamaran is fitted with a Bluetooth sound system that delivers great audio across the deck. Simply connect your phone or device via Bluetooth and control your playlist for the entire charter. If you want to create the perfect vibe for your hens night, bucks party or sunset cruise, bring your curated playlist ready to go.
Absolutely! The boat has a dedicated swim platform and ladder at the stern, making it easy to get in and out of the water. Swimming is a favourite activity on bucks parties and family charters. The Gold Coast Broadwater has calm, sheltered water ideal for a refreshing dip.
Snorkelling conditions depend on the tide and location on the day — the skipper will advise the best spots. If swimming is important to your group, mention it when booking so we can factor it into the itinerary.
Yes! Decorations are very welcome. Many groups bring balloons, banners, table decorations, sashes, and party props to personalise the experience. A few practical tips:
What to wear:
What to bring:
Cloud 9 Cruise departs from two convenient Gold Coast locations:
Your exact departure point will be confirmed in your booking confirmation email, along with a map link and parking instructions. If you need help with directions, call us on 0425 642 111 on the day.
The Gold Coast Broadwater is a stunning 35km stretch of protected waterway. Our charters explore:
The skipper tailors the route based on your preferences, group type, weather, and tide conditions. Just let us know if there's a particular area you'd love to visit.
Yes — free parking is available near both departure locations. Southport Broadwater Parklands has a large free car park just steps from the pontoon. Main Beach departure point also has nearby parking options. We'll include specific parking details in your booking confirmation email. For large groups, carpooling or ride-sharing (Uber/taxi) is the easiest option.
The Gold Coast Broadwater is a sheltered, calm waterway — very different from open ocean sailing. The water is generally flat and gentle, making it an excellent choice for guests who are sensitive to motion. Our power catamaran also provides a very stable, smooth ride thanks to the twin-hull design.
If you or your guests are prone to motion sickness, we recommend:
Cloud 9 Cruise is one of the Gold Coast's most popular hens party venues — and for good reason. Here's why brides-to-be love it:
The 3-hour Half Day Hens Charter from $1,500 is our most popular hens package. Book 4–6 weeks in advance to secure your preferred weekend date.
Birthday parties on the water are a Cloud 9 Cruise specialty! Whether it's an 18th, 21st, 30th, 40th, 50th — or any birthday worth celebrating — a private boat charter creates memories that last a lifetime.
Birthday groups love the freedom to:
Absolutely — bucks parties are one of our most popular bookings! The Gold Coast Broadwater is the perfect playground for a bucks day or night. The boys love:
Yes — corporate boat hire on the Gold Coast is a fantastic alternative to traditional venues. Companies use Cloud 9 Cruise for:
The private setting means confidential conversations stay confidential. Catering can be arranged or BYO. Tax invoices are available for business bookings.
Cloud 9 Cruise is one of the Gold Coast's most romantic settings for a marriage proposal or anniversary celebration. Imagine popping the question as the sun sets over the Broadwater with the Surfers Paradise skyline in the background — it doesn't get more perfect.
For proposals and romantic cruises, we can help with:
Call us on 0425 642 111 to discuss your plans — we love helping make proposals unforgettable.
We understand plans can change. Our cancellation policy is:
If you need to cancel or reschedule, please contact us as early as possible so we can try to accommodate you.
Safety is our absolute top priority. If the weather is deemed unsafe by the skipper — due to high winds, thunderstorms, or dangerous conditions — we will contact you as early as possible to reschedule at no extra cost or offer a full refund.
The Gold Coast Broadwater is a sheltered waterway, so it operates in conditions that open-ocean vessels cannot. Light rain, overcast skies, or mild breezes do not typically cause cancellations. The Gold Coast averages over 300 days of sunshine per year, making outright weather cancellations quite rare.
The final call on weather safety is always made by the skipper on the day.
Cloud 9 Cruise operates to the highest safety standards required by Maritime Safety Queensland. On board safety equipment includes:
Our skipper holds a current Queensland Marine Licence and is fully certified in first aid and maritime safety. Pre-departure safety briefings are conducted for all guests before leaving the dock.
No licence is required whatsoever. Cloud 9 Cruise provides a fully licensed, experienced skipper and crew with every single booking. All you need to do is arrive, board, and enjoy the experience. The skipper handles all navigation, safety, and vessel operation throughout your charter.
Yes, BYO alcohol is permitted and welcome on Cloud 9 Cruise charters. All guests consuming alcohol must be aged 18 years or over in accordance with Australian law. The skipper reserves the right to refuse boarding or request guests disembark if behaviour becomes unsafe or unruly due to excessive intoxication — for the safety and enjoyment of all aboard.
Responsible drinking is encouraged. If minors are part of your group, they are very welcome — just ensure the adults in the group are mindful of the responsible service standards.
Cloud 9 Cruise is Gold Coast's premier private catamaran charter company, operating exclusively on the stunning Gold Coast Broadwater. Based at Southport and Main Beach, we specialise in fully private group charters for hens parties, bucks parties, birthday celebrations, corporate events, proposals, anniversaries, and sunset cruises.
Our modern, spacious power catamaran accommodates up to 38 guests and comes complete with an experienced licensed skipper and crew, Bluetooth sound system, fully equipped galley, swim platform, and on-board toilet. All charters are 100% private — your group, your boat, your rules. BYO food, drinks, and decorations are always welcome at no extra charge.
We depart from Southport Broadwater Parklands and Main Beach, Gold Coast QLD 4215 — centrally located and easily accessible from Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Hope Island, and the Gold Coast hinterland. Whether you're planning the ultimate Gold Coast hens night, an unforgettable bucks party, a milestone birthday cruise, or a polished corporate event on the water, Cloud 9 Cruise delivers a world-class experience every time.
Rated 5 stars by over 47 guests on Google, Cloud 9 Cruise is trusted by locals and visitors alike for the Gold Coast's most memorable private boating experiences. Our flat-rate transparent pricing starts from just $1,000 for a 2-hour charter — with no hidden fees, no per-person charges, and no compromises on quality.
Our team is happy to help with anything not covered above. Get in touch by phone, email, or use our online booking system to check live availability for your preferred date.