“How many guests can I host?” is the first question exhibitors ask when considering a yacht charter in Cannes during a trade show. The answer depends on one factor that is widely misunderstood: does the yacht stay alongside the quay, or does it go to sea? Here is the real yacht capacity Cannes figures we offer, format by format — the numbers most yacht capacity Cannes guides leave out.
Yacht capacity Cannes: the figures by format
| Format | Capacity | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Quayside cocktail (standing) | 50 to 150 guests | Networking evening, afterwork, product launch |
| Seated dinner alongside | 10 to 80 guests | Client dinner, VIP table, board dinner |
| Cruising (at sea) | 12 passengers maximum | Confidential meeting, business lunch in the bay |
| Accommodation on board | up to 5 cabins | Housing your executives during the congress |
The benchmark yacht capacity Cannes figure for a quayside cocktail is 150 guests. We have occasionally hosted up to 200 people, but those are exceptional set-ups that depend on the vessel selected and the quay footprint obtained: that number cannot be treated as a standard.
Alongside or cruising: the difference that changes everything
The 12-passenger limit when cruising is not a commercial choice: it comes from international maritime regulation (the SOLAS convention). Beyond 12 passengers, a yacht changes legal category and becomes a “passenger ship”, subject to far heavier certification. This is why almost every charter yacht stops at 12 people as soon as it leaves the quay.
Alongside the quay, the logic is completely different. The yacht becomes a private reception venue, and capacity depends on available surface, not on passenger regulation. That is what allows up to 150 guests at a cocktail, by combining the yacht’s decks with its fitted-out footprint on the quay (carpeting, furniture, branded signage, lighting). For an exhibitor it is the best of both worlds: the impact of a yacht berthed opposite the Palais des Festivals, with the capacity of a real reception venue.
The yachts we offer
- Vessels up to 60 metres, berthed at the Palais des Festivals harbour
- Up to 5 cabins to accommodate your executives on site, without depending on fully booked hotels
- Full fit-out: furniture, décor, branded signage, sound, lighting
- Related services: catering, hostesses, security, DJ or performers
For which congresses?
We mainly operate during MIPIM®, Cannes Lions®, TFWA, ILTM, EthCC®, MIPCOM, MAPIC, MIDEM, the Datacloud Global Congress, IGTM, The Luxe Convergence, the Cannes Yachting Festival, the Festival de Cannes and the Marché du Film. For some of these events, berthing on the relevant quays is reserved for official exhibitors, sponsors or accredited attendees: we check your eligibility beforehand. Depending on the event, the intended use of the yacht and the applicable regulations, authorisations from the Port of Cannes and/or the organiser may be required. We assist you with these procedures without being able to guarantee that authorisations will be granted, which remains the sovereign and exclusive decision of the competent authorities and organisers.
For full details of the offer, see our yacht charter in Cannes page, and our dedicated pages: MIPIM yacht charter, Cannes Lions yacht charter, TFWA yacht charter and ILTM yacht charter.
Which format for which objective?
Choosing the right yacht capacity Cannes is less about the number of guests than about what you want the event to achieve. A standing cocktail alongside the quay is the volume format: it maximises the number of contacts, works well for a product launch or an end-of-day networking session, and lets guests come and go between two appointments at the Palais des Festivals. Plan roughly two hours, and expect a rotation of attendees rather than a fixed audience.
A seated dinner on board serves the opposite purpose. With 10 to 80 guests you trade reach for depth: the format is built for relationship-building with a shortlist of clients, investors or partners. It requires a firm guest list, a table plan and a longer time slot, but it is by far the most effective setting for conversations that need privacy and attention.
Cruising, capped at 12 passengers, is the confidential format. It suits a board meeting, a sensitive negotiation or a small group of decision-makers you want away from the noise of the show. The yacht leaves the harbour, phones stop ringing with badge-holders, and the setting itself signals how much the meeting matters. Many clients combine the three across the week: cruising for the executive committee, a dinner for key accounts, and a quayside cocktail on the busiest evening of the congress.
Frequently asked questions
Can you host more than 12 people on a yacht in Cannes?
Yes, alongside the quay: up to 150 guests for a cocktail. The 12-passenger limit only applies when cruising, for regulatory reasons.
How many guests for a seated dinner on board?
From 10 to 80 guests depending on the vessel and deck configuration. A seated dinner requires more space than a standing cocktail.
Can guests sleep on board during the congress?
Yes, up to 5 cabins depending on the yacht. It is a valued solution when Cannes hotels are fully booked.
How do I get a proposal?
Tell us the congress, the dates, the format you want and the number of guests: we come back to you with available vessels and a detailed quote.
How do I charter a yacht in Cannes during a congress?
A yacht charter in Cannes is booked in advance: tell us the congress, the dates, the format you want (quayside cocktail, seated dinner, private reception) and the number of guests, and we come back with available vessels and a detailed quote. Demand is high during the major trade shows, so it is best to plan ahead.
Can you host a quayside cocktail opposite the Palais des Festivals?
Yes. The quayside cocktail is the highest-capacity format: up to 150 guests on a yacht moored in the Palais des Festivals harbour, steps from the congress. It is the ideal setting for VIP networking during a trade show.
Do you provide catering and entertainment on board?
Yes, the fit-out is turnkey: catering, décor, sound and lighting, DJ, hostesses and full on-site coordination. The yacht becomes a genuine corporate hospitality venue for the duration of your event.
Can I privatise a yacht during MIPIM, Cannes Lions, TFWA, ILTM, EthCC or another major Cannes congress?
Yes, yacht privatisation (maximum yacht capacity Cannes has to offer) is our core business during the major Cannes congresses and trade shows: MIPIM®, Cannes Lions®, TFWA, ILTM, EthCC®, MIPCOM, MAPIC, MIDEM, the Datacloud Global Congress, IGTM, The Luxe Convergence, the Cannes Yachting Festival, the Festival de Cannes and the Marché du Film. For some events, berth eligibility may be reserved for accredited exhibitors or sponsors; we assist with the procedures, without being able to guarantee that authorisations will be granted.
What size of yacht is available for charter?
We offer yachts up to 60 metres, with up to 5 cabins for on-board accommodation. The hosting capacity depends on the vessel, the deck configuration and the available quay footprint.
Dinner on board even when the Port of Cannes is full
During a congress, berths at the Port of Cannes and Quai Albert Édouard — steps from the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes — are often full or unavailable. That does not prevent you from hosting your guests on board: this is exactly where yacht capacity Cannes options expand rather than shrink. We arrange seated dinners for up to around thirty guests (up to 30 guests) on a yacht positioned at anchor, off Cannes, including during MIPIM®, Cannes Lions®, the TFWA World Exhibition & Conference, ILTM Cannes, EthCC®, MIPCOM, MAPIC, MIDEM, the Datacloud Global Congress, IGTM, The Luxe Convergence, the Cannes Yachting Festival, the Festival de Cannes or the Marché du Film.
Note that the 12-passenger limit only applies when the yacht is cruising; at anchor or alongside the quay, yacht capacity Cannes figures are significantly higher. Whatever the congress, real yacht capacity Cannes figures always depend on the vessel and configuration chosen. Depending on the event, the intended use of the yacht and the applicable regulations, authorisations from the Port of Cannes and/or the organiser may be required — without any guarantee that they will be obtained, which remains the sovereign and exclusive decision of the competent authorities and organisers.
Legal notice
Cannes Yachts Booking is an independent agency, neither affiliated with, associated with, sponsored by, accredited by, nor officially connected to the organisers of the events mentioned. Event names and trademarks (MIPIM®, Cannes Lions®, TFWA, ILTM, EthCC®, MIPCOM, MAPIC, MIDEM, Datacloud Global Congress, IGTM, The Luxe Convergence, Cannes Yachting Festival, Festival de Cannes, Marché du Film, etc.) belong to their respective owners and are used for descriptive purposes only. The capacities shown are orders of magnitude: they vary according to the vessel selected, deck configuration, available quay footprint and applicable safety rules. They are confirmed case by case when the quote is issued.
