A graduation boat party is the last chance for your whole year to get together in one place before everyone goes their separate ways. In Torun – a city whose rhythm has been set by its university for decades – you can hold that night on a private boat on the Vistula, with a view of the Old Town that has been the backdrop to your student nights for years.
Here’s how to split the jobs within your organising committee, when to plan the cruise and how to work out the budget so the contribution doesn’t scare off half your year.
A graduation boat party in Torun – why on the Vistula
Torun is a university city. Nicolaus Copernicus University (page in Polish) has been running since 1945 and teaches almost 20,000 students, doctoral candidates and postgraduates. Thirteen of its faculties are based in Torun, and three medical faculties at Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz. There are also several private higher education institutions in the city.
For a year group that has spent years meeting in lectures, halls of residence and at parties, a boat has one big advantage: for two hours everyone is together. Nobody drifts off into different rooms or gets lost in the crowd – there’s one deck, one soundtrack and the skyline of the UNESCO-listed Old Town drifting past.
The organising committee – who does what
With a few dozen people, one person can’t handle everything. Splitting the work into three roles works well:
- Coordinator – liaises with the cruise organiser and confirms the date, time and details.
- Treasurer – collects the money, keeps a simple spreadsheet and keeps track of deadlines. Agree up front until when people can drop out and what happens to their payment if they do.
- Programme person – gathers ideas for games, the playlist, the speech and any thank-yous for the lecturers.
Start with a poll in the group chat: who’s interested, what budget is acceptable and which dates are a no-go. Only once you have that information should you send your enquiry – based on the city, date and number of people, we’ll prepare an initial offer.
How to work out the contribution for your year
The simplest approach is to show everyone several options straight away. An example for 40 people, based on package prices in Torun (excluding extras):
| Package | Price per person | Total for 40 people |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | from €22 | from approx. €880 |
| Star | from €29 | from approx. €1,160 |
| VIP | from €38 | from approx. €1,520 |
Add any extras, such as catering or a banner, to the package price. Collect the money in two instalments – a first payment when people sign up gets the undecided to commit, and the second comes in once the list is closed.
Date and time of a graduation cruise in Torun
Cruises run during the season, from spring to autumn, so a graduation party fits nicely into the end of the academic year – after thesis defences, exams or the formal absolutorium (the Polish end-of-studies ceremony). Each university and faculty sets its own ceremony dates, so check yours first and only then book the boat.
- You need to book at least 5 working days before the event, but summer weekends go fast – the earlier, the better.
- We agree the departure time individually: in the afternoon, at sunset or in the evening.
- If some of your year commute from Bydgoszcz (about 45 km away) – for example medical graduates from Collegium Medicum – choose a time that lets everyone get home without rushing.
- Toruń Główny station is on the left bank of the Vistula, about 2 km from the Old Town – anyone arriving by train needs to allow time to get there.
Programme for a graduation night on a boat in Torun
| Moment | Idea |
|---|---|
| Boarding | A red carpet (in the Star and VIP packages) and a photo of the whole year |
| First toast | A short speech from the year rep – a few minutes at most |
| Mid-cruise | A quiz about your time at uni and tongue-in-cheek “diplomas” for selected members of the year |
| Sunset | Group photos against the Old Town and the river |
| Final stretch | Music and dancing – your year’s own playlist or a DJ in the VIP package |
Take the photo of the whole year right at the start, before the group spreads out across the deck. Let one person round everyone up, another arrange people by height and a third make sure nobody slips away. For those who don’t drink alcohol, soft drinks and juices come in handy – they’re included in the Star and VIP packages.
A keepsake that will last for years could be a personalised banner on the boat with the name of your year or course, as well as a photo report and a souvenir HD video. You’ll find more ideas for games in our list of 25 boat party games.
Be sensible with alcohol: make sure there’s water and snacks, and plan your journey home in advance. On board, follow the crew’s instructions and don’t lean over the side. Save the toasts for the boat – drinking alcohol in public places, such as riverside boulevards, is as a rule prohibited in Poland.
How much does a graduation boat party in Torun cost?
We agree the details of special-occasion events individually, but the packages for groups of 30 or more serve as a reference point – in Torun from €22 per person for Basic, from €29 for Star and from €38 for VIP. The cruise lasts 2 hours.
On a student budget it’s worth costing two options. Basic gives you the boat and music, with the option to plug in your own playlist – you organise the rest yourselves. Star is more convenient: it includes a light show, a welcome beer or 3 bottles of vodka, champagne or prosecco, 6 litres of soft drinks and juices, snacks, cups and glasses, and the option to bring your own alcohol. The contribution goes up, but some of the shopping and carrying disappears. If there are fewer than 30 of you, send us an enquiry – we’ll prepare an individual quote.
We explain more about what affects the price in our article how much does a boat party cost, and you’ll find our celebrations offer on the page about special occasions on a boat in Torun. We’ve also gathered the packages and extras available in the city on the BoatParty Torun page. And for what the city skyline looks like from the deck after dark, see our article on the evening cruise on the Vistula in Torun.
Graduation boat party in Torun – FAQ
How many people do you need for a graduation party on a boat?
Package prices apply to groups of 30 or more. If only part of your year is coming, send us an enquiry – we’ll prepare an individual quote.
When should we book a boat for a graduation party?
Ideally as soon as you know the date of your graduation ceremony or thesis defences. The minimum is 5 working days before the event, but summer weekends are worth booking well in advance.
Can we invite our lecturers?
Yes – it’s your private party and the guest list is entirely up to you. Include the number of people in your enquiry so the quote is accurate.
Can we hang our year group’s name on the boat?
Yes. You can order a personalised banner on the boat as an extra, for example with the name of your year, your course or a slogan.
Can we bring our own alcohol?
With the Star package, bringing your own alcohol is included in the price; with the other packages it can be added as an extra.
Graduation boat party – summary
A successful graduation party starts with a small committee, an honestly calculated contribution and a date set after the faculty ceremonies. Everything else – the banner for your year, the playlist and photos with the Torun skyline – you can add along the way. Tell us the date and the number of people, and we’ll prepare an initial offer for your cruise.
Book your private boat party
A celebration on a boat in Torun: a cruise for your people, catering and entertainment tailored to the occasion. Send us an enquiry and we’ll put together an offer.
