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The Newport Beach Boat Parade is all about boats, Newport Harbor, and the holidays so what better way to view the parade then by boat. For those that already have a boat in Newport Harbor and have been in the boat parade before this may not apply but for the other 99.8% of us including me who do not have access to a boat or would rather not deal with all of the requirements when operating a boat during the parade, joining others on one of the general admission cruises is a great way to experience the Newport Beach Boat Parade hassle free. |
General cruises take place throughout the month of December with two cruises nightly. The first cruise departs at 5:45 pm and the second cruise departs at 8:00 pm. Each holiday cruise is roughly 2 hours in length. Are you looking to cruise before, after, or during the parade? |
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The Newport Beach Boat Parade is a five day event and if being in the parade is what you are looking for, then these five days are it. The boat parade begins on a Wednesday and goes through Sunday. The dates vary somewhat each year but the days of the week stay the same. The parade itself is the same each night and so there is no advantage going one night versus another in terms of viewing a specific parade. And when thinking of going on the busiest nights Friday and Saturday, there are a couple reasons why some of you might choose to not go on these nights. Parking is a big reason. And for those of you who have not experienced the challenges of parking on a Friday or Saturday night especially on the second trips (8 pm departure) it is a experience that you could probably do without. Still if you have to go at these times, just get here extra early (1 hour to 1 ½ hours before departure) and be prepared to spend a little time parking. For more information on parking check out our parking page for the Newport Beach Boat Parade. Pricing may be another reason as Friday, Saturday, & Sunday nights of the parade are a little more expensive ($5 more than their weekday counterparts). Dinning options are very limited on these nights for close by establishments. |
So you have family in town the week before the parade, great now what? You can still go. Although the parade itself will not be present most of the décor and many of the ships competing in the parade will be and Newport Harbor in full holiday décor is not to disappoint. Pre parade cruises offer 85% of the parade without the huge numbers of people and parking challenges. I can’t think of a more relaxing evening than under the stars cruising Newport Bay with all of the holiday décor. Weekends are more popular during this pre parade time frame reservations are mandatory. |
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Same also applies for cruises after the Newport Boat Parade as the harbor remains in full décor until early January. The week after the parade is especially busy and unless you had witnessed the parade before you would be hard pressed to notice much of a difference most of the boats that competed tour the harbor nightly to show off their festive decorations. Typically the week after the parade is very popular (week leading up to Christmas) and reservations on the weekend dates are a must. For the kids the earlier departure time of 5:45 pm is more popular while for adults the 8:00 pm option is a great way to experience the holidays after grabbing a bite to eat early in the evening. |
There is no assigned seating on any of the holiday cruises and there are no real prime areas to sit/view from as almost the entire ship gives great vantage points. You have complete freedom to move about the entire ship including upstairs viewing decks, indoor cabins, and throughout the ship. The indoor areas are a good place to place blankets or extra clothing. Even in Southern California it can get chilly at night and we always recommend dressing warmly in layers so that if it is a balmy 70 degrees you are not roasting or doing jumping jacks to keep warm. Average evening temperatures for the Newport Beach Boat Parade are between 58-62 degrees. Blankets and even a thermos of hot apple cider can be a nice touch. Each ship will have a open bar with all sorts of warm and cold beverages alcoholic and non alcoholic. Snacks and desserts are also available and the open bar operates on a cash basis only. Enclosed is a map of last year’s parade route. It is always nice to be able to visualize where you are during your cruise. |
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Company Party Newport
Beach Boat Parade
Everything you need
to know when planning
a holiday party for the parade
Beach Boat Parade
Everything you need
to know when planning
a holiday party for the parade