A joint stag and hen do is a great solution when the couple have lots of friends in common, the two groups live in different cities, or nobody wants to organise two separate parties and collect two budgets. A boat is perfect for it: you hire it for 2 hours just for your group, both teams party in one place, and the programme is easy to split between friendly rivalry and celebrating together.
Here’s how to bring the two groups together, how to plan the evening’s programme, which team games work well on deck and which package to choose.
A joint stag and hen do – is it a good idea?
Traditionally, the stag do and the hen party are two separate events: the groom celebrates with his mates, the bride with her friends. In old Polish customs, though, the line wasn’t always so strict. One account from the Lublin region in eastern Poland describes how, on the Saturday before the wedding, the groom would turn up at the bride’s hen evening with his companions, bringing a musician along, and the girls and boys would dance together.
A joint party has several practical advantages:
- one date and one set of logistics instead of two,
- it’s easier to reach a group of 30 or more, the size package prices are based on,
- both sets of friends get to know each other before the wedding, so there won’t be “two camps” at the reception,
- the couple spend the evening together – if that’s what they want.
There’s just one condition: both of them must genuinely want it. If one of them is dreaming of a girls-only or lads-only night, it’s better to organise two separate parties – or at least plan separate afternoons and only meet up for a joint cruise.
How to bring two groups together
One organising team
The maid of honour and the best man – or two people chosen by the couple – form a single team: one group chat, one guest list, one payment spreadsheet. It works best when one person handles contact with the cruise organiser and the other looks after the guests and the programme. That way nothing gets duplicated and nobody receives conflicting information.
Guest list and splitting the cost
Decide from the outset whether you’re inviting only close friends or guests’ partners as well. Package prices are per person, so the cost is easy to split. It’s also customary for the guests to chip in for the couple. For example: with 30 people on the Star package in Warsaw (from €27 per person), the couple’s share spread across the other 28 guests comes to roughly €1.90 extra per head. That’s an approximation based on “from” prices, not a quote.
One theme, two teams
The easiest way to tell the teams apart is by colour, e.g. the bride’s team in white and the groom’s team in navy. A personalised banner on the boat with the couple’s names and decorations in both teams’ colours – both available as add-ons – show straight away that this is one party, not two side by side.
The programme for a joint party – a sample plan
A good plan has its own rhythm: a separate start, a shared high point on the water and a finale of your choice. The departure time – afternoon, sunset or evening – is agreed individually, so the plan below is easy to shift.
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Afternoon – separately | The girls: e.g. brunch or a photo shoot. The lads: e.g. bowling or pool. |
| Meeting up before the cruise | Both groups arrive at the boarding point with time to spare, wearing their team colours. |
| Cruise – the first half hour | Welcome, a toast to the couple, short speeches from the maid of honour and best man, a warm-up game. |
| Cruise – the middle part | Team tournament: a quiz about the couple, charades, sightseeing bingo. |
| Cruise – the last half hour | Announcing the results, a group photo, dancing. |
| After the cruise | Dinner or a club together – or the groups split up for separate finales. |
For stag dos we can also help with the rest of the day – a guide or partymaker around the city, accommodation and transport. It’s worth mentioning in your enquiry if some of your guests are travelling from further afield. For a step-by-step example of how to plan the whole evening, see our Warsaw hen party plan with a Vistula cruise.
Team games on deck
A contest between the bride’s team and the groom’s team is the quickest way to get both groups mixing. Choose games you can play “on the spot” – no running around the deck, no leaning over the side and no drinking games.
- Who knows the couple best? Questions about their first date, the proposal and favourite dishes – points go to the team with the most correct answers.
- Him or her? The couple sit back to back holding two cards and answer questions such as “who takes longer to get ready?”.
- Wedding charades – clues linked to the wedding, the first dance and the honeymoon.
- Deck bingo – cards with things to spot from the water: a bridge, a kayak, someone waving from the riverbank.
- Music battle – each team prepares five songs, and the other team guesses the titles after a few seconds. With Basic you can plug in your own music; with VIP the DJ will help.
- Spouse user manual – each team writes a tongue-in-cheek guide to “their” person, and the couple read them out at the end of the cruise.
We’ve gathered more ideas, including for birthdays and corporate events, in our list of 25 boat party games, and you’ll find decoration inspiration in our post on hen party ideas on a boat in Krakow.
Which package for a joint party
With two groups on board, smooth service is what counts. Star gives you a strong start: a red carpet, welcome alcohol, snacks and soft drinks, plus the option to bring your own drinks (except in Gdansk). VIP is the one to go for when the maid of honour and best man want to enjoy themselves too – the DJ runs the music, a bartender or hostess looks after the bar, a Partymaker keeps everything on track and photo coverage is included.
You’ll find our hen party offer for all 9 cities in the hen party packages, and the version for the lads in the stag do packages. In your enquiry, simply say that you’re planning a joint party for both groups. The usual rules apply on board: comfortable shoes, follow the crew’s instructions and no leaning over the side, even for team photos.
FAQ – joint stag and hen do
When is a joint stag and hen do a good idea?
When the couple have lots of mutual friends, each group on its own would be quite small, or you want to organise one party instead of two. What matters is that both the bride and groom genuinely want to celebrate together.
Who should organise a joint party?
Ideally the maid of honour and the best man together, with clearly split roles: one handles contact with the cruise organiser, the other takes care of the guests, payments and programme.
How do we split the cost of a joint boat party?
Package prices are per person, so the total is easy to divide among the guests. If you’re chipping in for the couple, split their share among the other guests.
Can we have a DJ at a joint party on a boat?
Yes, a DJ with equipment is included in the VIP package. With the Basic package you can plug in your own music and put together a playlist with suggestions from both teams.
Can we start the evening separately and finish together?
Yes. Each group can spend the afternoon their own way, then both meet up for a joint cruise – with a team tournament, a toast and dancing.
One crew, one cruise
A joint stag and hen do on a boat brings two groups of friends together before the wedding and saves you organising everything twice. Agree on the roles, pick your team colours and prepare a few games, then send us an enquiry with the city, date and number of people.
Book your private boat party
Private boat parties in 9 Polish cities. Tell us when and where you’re planning your cruise, and we’ll put together an offer for your group.
