EC Un-Plugged:

Who would dream of getting married on a boat at the tail-end of winter? A young woman named Jessica, a school librarian. She and her fiancée, an architect named Stefan, could not imagine anything better. "Choosing the Bateaux was an easy decision for us” Jessica tells us.

“When we first started our search, Stefan and I wanted to get married somewhere in the NYC area that was convenient for our friends and family, and easy for out-of-town friends to fly to. We also wanted something refreshing and different, plus, a place where people could relax and enjoy themselves. We wanted to strike a balance between formal and informal. A lot of weddings we have attended have been gorgeous, but it seemed like there was a lot of hurrying around. The wedding party and wedding planners had to rush from the church or synagogue to the reception hall, organize everyone and set up different rooms with different decorations. We didn’t want something overly complicated. Ideally, we wanted to have the ceremony and reception in the same place, and we wanted this place to be outdoors, but we were worried about rain. We crossed our fingers for a place that offered shelter while still having a sense of being somewhere scenic. The Bateaux turned out to be the best choice!"

"We first looked into having the wedding in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, where they have a Boathouse that overlooks a pond. We love water and thought it was pretty, but weren’t in love with it. We couldn’t figure out why until we learned about the Bateaux. A wedding on a boat was much better than a wedding in a boathouse! A lot of wedding locations have gorgeous scenery, but few of them have scenery that changes from minute to minute, keeping the guests constantly entertained as they chat and eat.”

"Upon visiting the Bateaux, we immediately felt at home and excited. The glass boat is unlike anything we’ve seen. The simple white tablecloths and orchids are an elegant decor. You don’t have to do much decoration beyond this because the changing scenery creates all the visual stimulation that you could need. When we got onboard, we also knew it was perfect because we wanted stress-free wedding planning. Ben, John and Mariel, our wedding planners, made everything so easy for us. They explained that the Bateaux offers an all-in-one package. They provide delicious food, courteous friendly service, free live music, decoration, ambiance, and entertainment. We can add-on whatever extras we want, but the Bateaux provides all of the basics. We don’t have to hire a caterer or musician, or make a million phone calls. Our "To Do" list is very short. My friends say, ‘Are you stressed with all the wedding planning?’ And I say, ‘What wedding planning?’ The Bateaux takes care of everything, and we know we’re in good hands".

"We are inviting around eighty people to the morning ceremony and reception, many of them out-of-towners who we think will feel lucky to get such unique views of the city. Some guests who just fly in for the weekend wouldn’t have time to do sightseeing or tourist-y things if we had our wedding indoors. Stefan and I like the idea that our guests will have an interesting experience besides just participating in our wedding.
As much as people love weddings, it is easy to get "wedding fatigue" when you’re in your 20s and 30s and everyone you know is getting married. A Bateaux wedding is an opportunity to give your guests a refreshingly different experience. There is the beauty of the classic wedding ceremony, but there is also sightseeing and a chance to learn about the architecture and history of NYC. We hope our guests will feel like they’ve really done something. I think of the cruise as our gift to the guests.

"We also love the metaphor of marriage as an adventure like a boat ride. The marriage ceremony will happen while the boat is docked, and after we say ‘I do,’ the boat will set sail, and we will begin our lives together! It seems like such a simple, beautiful idea. We love being on the water. And I think the fact that we’re all traveling together makes us feel closer as well. The guests will feel like they are traveling on the metaphorical journey of marriage. They will be with us to share the joy of this new adventure.”

Jessica was interviewed by Susannah, one of our graphic designers.
A hearty thank you to Susannah and Jessica – what a wonderful story!

Take a look at what happens when two of our all-star Indy Sales Managers interview each other.
(Indy is what we call our individual passengers, parties of 1-19.)

We’ve got Clyve in New York and Cristian in D.C. on the line here…

RECAP:
Cristian: Clyve, how long have you been with Entertainment Cruises and what do you like about being a sales manager?

Clyve: I’ve worked here since 1994 – so forever. I love that my job is so multi-faceted. I deal with marketing, revenue and many other fields on a day-to-day basis. There’s always work to do and it never gets old.

Same to you, Cristian:

Cristian: Been here since 2006 – not nearly as long as you! I love the city/tourism market here in D.C., the fact there are no repetitive days, I never get bored and the days always fly by.

Clyve, What are the most difficult aspects of the job?

Clyve: There are no difficulties. Just challenges. I love challenges. There’s nothing I can’t do.

And you?

Cristian: I agree. The “difficulties” are just challenges. There are no real difficulties.

So Clyve, tell me about the best day you’ve ever had on the job thus far…

Clyve: Everyday.

What about you?

Cristian: There really isn’t just one. I feel good everyday when helping customers.

Clyve: I have to be even more creative – more vigilent and efficient. It hasn’t affected me in a negative way at all. I’m just more on my game and as a sales team, we’re doing things we’ve never done before.

Cristian: We have more specials than ever before and we try even harder to engage as many customers as we can by offering “intangibles.”

Okay Clyve, now what, in your opinion, is the best cruise product offered in your city? Don’t be diplomatic! What do you like the best? And what’s the best thing to do/best place to go in your city after a Saturday Dinner Cruise?

Clyve: I’d have to go with our Spirit product. There is just always so much action going on. My favorite product – our Smooth Jazz Cruises. I love Jazz. Plus, these cruises bring out a different demographic than we’d usually get.

The best thing to do on a Saturday Night after a cruise with us is a walk by Battery Park. It’s beautiful at night. There’s nothing more romantic. There are also lots of clubs around, if you’re looking to party.

Cristian: I love our Dinner Cruise product on Washington Odyssey. Everything about it is perfect.

Downtown D.C. has everything; lounges and bars galore. Around where we are located there are a few cool places open late.

Me (your blog-writing queen): Alright guys, leave us with your favorite quote, or something about you you think all of our readers should know. Not to put you on the spot or anything…

Clyve: I’m a great cook. Italian, Caribbean, you name it. I cook for my special friends all the time.

Cristian: I love my car. I’m an avid tennis enthusiast and I love airplanes and the airline business. That is why I entered the tourism & hospitality industry.