Challenge (Great Lakes Schooner Company)

Challenge is a 96-foot three-masted schooner and was the company’s first vessel, sailing since 1991.

About the venue

The ship has three lounge rooms, a separate serving room, an outside deck and full awnings for bad weather. Catering uses personalized menus, and barbecue facilities are available on board. The operator offers a private charter price sheet for the ship and lists corporate events and personal parties. The operator’s office is at 249 Queen’s Quay West, Suite 111, and all of its boats are based at Toronto’s downtown harbourfront.

On EventPlans.ca it is listed as a boat in Toronto.

Event spaces

The venue lists these spaces. Capacities are the venue’s own figures and change with the layout you choose.

• Whole ship: up to 72 passengers
• Three lounge rooms, a serving room and an outside deck (no individual capacities published)

Capacity

The venue does not publish a single maximum for every room, so ask for the capacity of the specific space in the layout you want: seated dinner, standing reception, theatre or classroom.

A useful rule: a seated dinner at rounds of ten needs about 1 to 1.2 square metres per guest, a standing reception about 0.7, and theatre seating about 0.6, before you add a stage or dance floor. The venue capacity calculator does the arithmetic for your room.

Events it hosts

According to its own event pages, the venue hosts weddings, corporate events and private social events.

For timelines, budgets and checklists, start with the wedding planning hub, corporate holiday party hub.

Questions to ask on your site visit

Bring these to your walk-through. Get the answers in writing before you sign.

• What is the boarding time and the exact departure and return time?
• What is the capacity in the indoor space if the weather turns?
• Is the boat licensed, and how is the bar charged?
• Are there accessible boarding and washrooms on board?
• Can a performer or DJ set up on deck, and where is power?
• What is the cancellation policy for weather?

Planning entertainment here

On a boat, entertainment must stay safe while the deck moves. Strolling magicians and acoustic musicians work well; avoid anything that needs rigging, open flame or a large stage.

Send every performer’s technical needs to the venue before you book: floor space, ceiling height, power, sound and changing room.

Getting there

Check the venue website for directions, parking rates and accessible entrances, and send the details to guests with the invitation.

Official website: greatlakesschooner.com/toronto-dinner-cruise-ship-challenge.html

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