Partying on a Yacht - Review of Jiggy Boat Party (Gili T)
There’s something about being on a yacht that makes you feel like a million dollars. And if you can combine that with a party? Even better.
Unfortunately, there aren’t many places in Southeast Asia where you can party on a yacht unless you’re willing to charter a private one for yourself, which usually costs more than most backpackers (or budget travelers) are willing to spend.
That’s why places like Gili Trawangan and Bali stand out. They’re some of the few places where you can join an open boat party without hiring the boat yourself. I ended up on one almost by accident.
Back in 2016, a friend and I were stuck on Gili T after our plan to sail to Flores fell apart due to a miscalculation of budget. So, we had a few days to kill, a little bit of money left, and not much else planned. Since neither of us were confident swimmers at the time, diving and other water sports were off the table.
While walking around the island, I noticed flyers at travel agents advertising boat parties — sunset cruises with music, drinks, and stops around the Gili islands. My friend wasn’t feeling well (and wasn’t into partying anyway), so I decided to go alone.
Table of Contents
How boat parties in Gili T and Bali work
Most boat parties in Gili Trawangan and Bali follow a similar format, regardless of the organizer.
⛵ The basic structure
- Duration: Around 4–6 hours
- Time: Usually starts early afternoon and ends around sunset
- Route: Cruising around nearby islands or along the coast
- Vibe: Loud music, drinking games, dancing, socializing
In Gili T, routes often include sailing past Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air, sometimes with a swim stop off Lombok for sunset.
In Bali, boat parties are more common around Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida.
Tickets & prices
Prices vary depending on the operator, season, and how “premium” the party claims to be, but here’s a realistic range:
Standard tickets: USD 30–40
Usually include a few welcome drinks and some shot rounds.VIP tickets: USD 45–60
Often come with reserved seating and shared bottles.
One important thing I learned:
👉 There’s usually a fixed price, no matter where you book.
If one agent offers it significantly cheaper than others, double-check. In my case, I was quoted the wrong price and had to pay the difference at check-in. Not a disaster, but annoying.
Should you book in advance?
This really depends on timing and demand. On peak days (weekends, high season), booking a day or two in advance is safer. On quieter days, walk-ins are often fine.
That said, boat parties are notorious for overbooking. If agents don’t properly confirm availability with the organizer, things can go wrong, people get turned away, or departures get delayed while they wait to fill the boat.
Tips:
- Ask the agent to call the organizer in front of you
- Confirm departure time and meeting point
- Ask for a receipt or physical ticket. Don’t rely solely on screenshots or WhatsApp messages.
What to expect at the boat party
On the day of the party, we had to gather at the meeting point (in my case, a bar) at 1 p.m. for check-in and the distribution of wristbands and drink coupons.
While waiting for everyone to register, we could hang out and order drinks at the bar to get ourselves in the mood.
Just before 2 p.m., we were taken by a small boat out to the catamaran.
Drinks & food on board
Before boarding, our bags were checked for outside food and drinks, as none were allowed on board.
On our boat, there were shot rounds, where everybody got three shots of premixed screwdriver cocktail poured straight from the bottle into their mouths. It tasted more like plain orange juice than screwdriver though.
Aside from the free drinks, the yacht also sold additional drinks and snacks, so make sure you bring some cash if you think you’ll want more. Just be prepared for inflated prices.
What the boats are actually like
This part is important because marketing photos can be… ambitious.
If you’ve been on any island-hopping or scuba-diving trips in Indonesia before, the boats will feel familiar, only louder and drunker.
They’re basically simple wooden boats or catamarans, with an open deck space, a small bar area, and basic seating. Definitely don’t expect glitz or glamor.
The only “fancy” feature they had on my boat was a bunch of bean bags scattered across the middle of the deck.
Going alone? It's less awkward than you think
Most people came in groups. There were a few strays like me, but they had all seamlessly joined the crowd. That left me standing by the sidelines, unable to find an extrovert willing to adopt me.
So, I switched to my oft-used strategy: be extra nice to the crew. I can’t count the number of times I’ve gotten free drinks just by being friendly with the bartenders.
The crew members were eager to chat with me, since I was the only guest who could speak their language. That’s always been an advantage for me whenever I travel in Indonesia. And as expected, the drinks started flowing.
One of them introduced himself as the captain of the boat. (Jackpot!) There were no free drinks from him, but he took me to the upper deck, showed me the steering wheel, and even let me have a go at it.
So if you’re alone, hang near the bar or dance area, talk to the crew, join drinking games, and don’t overthink it — everyone’s tipsy and friendly.
What I enjoyed most was the dancing. However, when dancing, seasickness, and alcohol were combined, after several hours, the toilet was not a pretty sight.
Swimming stop
Close to 5 p.m., we reached the coast of Lombok, where those who wanted to swim could dive right in from the upper deck. I made friends with another girl who, like me, couldn’t swim.
We claimed the bean bags and enjoyed sunset from the boat while the others were busy in the water.
After that, we made our way back to Gili T and reached the shore at around 7. Some people went on to a bar for an after-party, but I had to skip it as I’d promised to bring home dinner for my sick friend.
Is a boat party in Indonesia worth it?
If you’ve done luxury yacht parties elsewhere in the world, Indonesian boat parties might feel a bit underwhelming. Boats are very basic, drinks are diluted, and prices are high by local standards.
But since it was my first time partying on a boat, I actually found it very enjoyable. The crew members were friendly. They did take us around the islands and we got to see sunset from the sea.
In short, they delivered everything they promised. It would have been even better if I had gone with a friend and if I knew how to swim, but I had a great time nonetheless.
Boat party operators in Gili Trawangan and Bali
I joined the Jiggy Boat Party back then, but it’s no longer running. Here are some current alternatives:
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I am quite jealous, this looks like so much fun! I have never partied on a boat so I would probably also be impressed by this experience. Thanks for sharing! 😁
You’re welcome, Shayla! If it makes you feel better, I’m writing this in quarantine. So, I feel pretty jealous too looking at my life pre-Covid. It was a great experience, and if you happen to be in the area someday, you might want to check out this Jiggy Boat Party 🙂
This is definitely not my cup of tea, but if I was in your shoes, I think I would have tried it too. Looks like you had a bunch of fun, which is not a given when you go solo to a party, so all in all seems like a cool experience!
It was, Coni. 🙂 I agree, this may not be for everyone. If I were to go again in the future, I don’t know if I would still enjoy it as much. But I had a lot of fun then, despite going alone. 🙂
Sounds like a fun activity. Thanks for your honest thoughts!
You’re welcome, Daphna! I had lots of fun 😀
This probably would have been way fun when we were in college! Haha. Neat share. “Getting jiggy with it!”
Haha, Ashlee. I wish I had done it in college too. Would have been a lot crazier with my college mates. But it was still fun in my mid-twenties. 😀
This looks like so much fun!
It was, Taylor! 🙂
This party looks so cool! I would love to party in a yacht someday and hopefully sometime in Gili too 😁
I hope you will, MagicandBliss! It was pretty cool. So was the whole of Gili Trawangan.
I am going to Bali next month so could you please tell me how to book this boat party and is it happen every day or some special day only?
Hi! I know I’m replying super late (a lot has changed in the past year 😅), but just wanted to update you in case it still helps anyone planning a trip. The Jiggy Boat Party in Bali is no longer operating, so there’s no way to book it now.
If you’re looking for something similar, you can still find good alternatives like Beat Boat Bali and Gili Boat Party. They offer a similar vibe with music, snorkeling stops, and sunset views. Just search for “Bali sunset cruise” or “Bali boat party” for the latest options. Hope this helps!