Best Entertainment Ideas for Cruising Catamarans: Movies, Games & Music Onboard

Written By Bill Regan

From Then to Now: Entertainment at Sea

As sailing has gone from wooden sloops to ketches to modern cruising catamarans, our entertainment options have evolved from carving, scrimshaw, and dice to just about anything you would do for leisure back home.

Cruising isn’t just about the destination—it’s about enjoying every moment along the way. Today’s modern cruising catamarans, offer more entertainment options than ever before. From streaming movies under the stars to hosting game nights in the salon or jamming with friends in the cockpit; staying entertained onboard has never been easier. Whether you’re anchored in a quiet bay or crossing an ocean, here are the best entertainment ideas for cruising catamarans to keep everyone onboard engaged, relaxed, and having fun.

Streaming, Movies & Onboard Theater Setups

Most cruising catamarans today are outfitted with a TV(or even mulitple TVs). And satellite internet has opened the world of streaming onboard. You can keep up with your favorite shows whether anchored in a remote area of the Bahamas or crossing the Pacific.

Beyond streaming, having a collection of movies on a dedicated hard drive—or even DVDs—lets you bring your favorites along.

There are also plenty of compact projectors available now, making it easy to rig up a screen in the cockpit and host a “dinghy drive-in” off the back of your catamaran. I’ve even seen catamarans use their inflatable dock, as the backdrop for movie night. What’s better than sitting outside at night, cozied up on the trampoline with your loved ones enjoying a classic?

Board Games & Card Games for All Ages

Aside from digital entertainment, there are a ton of great board and card games that have come to market in the last decade.When my family was cruising, we had a few favorites for different scenarios:

• Monikers (and its family edition) is a fantastic icebreaker for adults—think charades meets memory.
• Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese, Pizza is a hilarious, fast-paced game that’s great for all ages and easy to learn—perfect for new cruiser friends or keeping kids entertained.ans.

Space-Saving Board Games for Boat Life

Board games and puzzles are always popular onboard—but space is at a premium.

A simple solution? Transfer game pieces into Ziplock bags and leave bulky boxes at home. This makes it much easier to bring along favorites like Forbidden Island, The Game of Life, Carcassonne, and Ticket to Ride without sacrificing valuable storage space.

Books, Magazines & Book Swaps

Books and magazines are always reliable entertainment options. While e-readers are convenient, it’s always still a great idea to keep a stash of paperbacks onboard.

Most marinas offer some kind of book swap in the cruiser lounge, which gives you the chance to pass along a favorite read and discover something new along the way.

Making Music Onboard

Making music is one of the most rewarding ways to pass the time at sea—and a great way to connect with fellow cruisers.

On my boat, I kept two guitars (acoustic and electric), a small amplifier, a couple of ukuleles, and some hand drums. If you’ve ever wanted to learn an instrument, a ukulele is a perfect choice for cruising. It’s portable, easy on the fingers, and you can play a ton of songs with just a few chords.

Apps like Ultimate Guitar make it easy to pull up chords and lyrics for almost any song, which make spontaneous jam sessions and singalongs a regular occurrence.

Be the Life of the Anchorage

Catamarans are incredible platforms for entertaining. With the right mix of digital options, games, books, and music onboard, you’re bound to become the go-to boat in any anchorage.

A Final Note: Take the Fun Ashore Too

Even with everything you can bring onboard, some of the best moments happen off the boat. It might be a low-key beach bar with a guitar player, or a spontaneous gathering of cruisers sharing stories over drinks and cards. You can plan for entertainment, but cruising has a way of adding its own. And it’s often the unplanned nights that end up being the best ones

Bill spent several years cruising with his family and still owns a sailboat, which they actively sail during the summer months in the Chesapeake area. To reach out to Bill Regan directly about his experience cruising with his wife and young daughter, feel free to email him, Bill@CatamaranCentral.com or give him a call, 305.587.1311