A private charter, not a boat you have to drive
Hiring a boat can sound like another job for the organiser. A skippered Life’s Good charter works differently: your group enjoys the vessel while the skipper handles its operation and navigation. You do not need to nominate a guest to drive, work out a route independently or treat the cruise as a boating lesson.
Captain Matt’s page introduces that side of the experience. The focus is on what the captain’s role means for your day: balancing the places you hope to see, the activities you would like to include and the conditions on the harbour. For any particular staffing request, ask the team to confirm the arrangements for your date.
Tell Matt what matters to your group
A useful cruise brief starts with people, not coordinates. Is this a birthday where the group wants music and lunch? Are you showing Sydney to visiting friends? Does the family mainly want an easy afternoon together? Explain the occasion and select one or two priorities, rather than sending a list of every bay and landmark.
Share those preferences with the Exclusive Boats team when enquiring so they can be part of the charter discussion. Your group size, departure wharf, duration and food arrangements all affect the plan. Let the team know about children, boarding needs or other requirements before booking; the day is easier to shape when those details are understood early.
The harbour route is a conversation
Our location guides give you ideas to bring to the captain: a scenic Opera House pass, the Harbour Bridge outlook, the Athol foreshore or an eastern-harbour perspective near Rose Bay. They do not describe a fixed sightseeing timetable. The route needs to work from your confirmed wharf within the time booked.
The skipper may adapt the sequence or stopping places for conditions, traffic or restrictions. That flexibility is part of a skippered charter. Choose the overall experience you want—a landmark-focused cruise, an unhurried meal or a mix of the two—and let the practical route support it. A scenic preference is not a guarantee of a landing or access ashore.
A meal, a possible swim and time to settle in
Life’s Good offers BYO food and drinks or catering to discuss, with an onboard BBQ and crew cooking arrangements to confirm. Tell the team how you imagine the meal fitting into the cruise. Preparing a manageable menu and agreeing the cooking details helps the day flow without turning lunch into a last-minute logistical problem.
If swimming and the mat are on your wish list, say so before the charter. The skipper decides whether the location and conditions are suitable, and guests must follow the crew’s instructions. A swim is optional and conditional. Keep the rest of your plan enjoyable too, with good food, conversation and views that do not rely on a particular stop.
Good preparation makes room for a relaxed day
Confirm the guest count, meeting point and boarding instructions before sending the final invitation. Exclusive Boats asks guests to arrive at least 15 minutes before departure. Bring sun protection and a light layer, check footwear requirements and keep bags manageable. If you hope to swim, include towels after discussing the plan.
Listen to the crew’s briefing and ask if anything is unclear. Let the organiser communicate any agreed requests so guests are not giving conflicting instructions. The captain’s operational decisions remain separate from the group’s social plans: a playlist or photograph should never require guests to move somewhere the crew has said is unsuitable.
Plan your cruise with Captain Matt in mind
Start an enquiry with your date, number of guests, occasion and preferred duration. Add your food preference and the harbour views you would most like to include. If having Captain Matt aboard is important to you, mention it so the team can confirm staffing rather than leaving it as an assumption.
Life’s Good is a 40ft powered catamaran for up to 25 guests, operated by Exclusive Boats. The written booking details confirm availability, wharves, inclusions and terms. Ask questions before paying, then give your group a simple plan. The aim is a private harbour day where you can spend more time with your people and less time managing the details.
Charter details: Exclusive Boats: the charter operation ↗