What a great summer this has been! With warm sunny days and beautiful evenings, our yachts have been booked pretty much day and night.
Parties and weddings. Reunions and networking events. You name it. It’s probably been celebrated on the Gypsy Spirit or Free Spirit this summer.
Still, the bulk of our business is corporate charters. And more and more businesses have discovered that yachts are a perfect venue for meetings, entertaining clients, and hosting company outings.
Who’s been cruising with us this summer? More like who hasn’t?
Here are some of the companies that sailed with us in August: Yahoo, Google, Hulu, University of Chicago, the French Pastry School (yum!), Best Buy, Target, JP Morgan, Leo Burnett, and Draft FCB….to name a few.
And we still have two more months before the season ends. So if you’ve been thinking about an office party, you’ve still got time before summer ends.
Google “parade of tall ships” (yes, it’s a verb now) and you can’t help but get excited.
From San Francisco to Baltimore to Duluth to Cleveland…. and on and on. Wherever the Tall Ships sail, a flurry of celebrations, anticipation and eager spectators can be found. Cause it’s not an annual occurrence. Miss it one year and you have to wait at least three more for it to come back. In this case, four…. the Parade hasn’t been in Chicago since 2006.
That’s why Chicago is absolutely buzzing with excitement. The Parade of Tall Ships comes here on August 24th. And everyone is talking about it!
And why not? How often do you get to see twenty magnificent historic ships from around the world sailing over Lake Michigan? If ever there was an awe-inspiring spectacle, this is it.
Take a look at this video of the fleet sailing into Cleveland. It says far more than we can.
We’ve still got one yacht open for a private charter to view the Parade on Tuesday, August 24th. It starts at 3pm with the Opening Ceremony at 5pm.
If you act fast, you can book a 3 – 6pm charter on one of our luxury yachts, and treat your guests (friends, family, staff) to an afternoon they’ll never forget.
Custom food and beverage menu available.
To book your private charter, call 708.361.2220 or email us.
The Parade of Tall Ships is coming to Chicago on August 24th. This is one of those “take your breath away…WOW! how awesome is this!” sights.
Twenty (yes, 20!) historic ships from around the world will parade into Chicago with their huge white sales billowing over Lake Michigan. All framed against our spectacular Chicago skyline.
We’ve got the best viewing spots on the lake to see the Tall Ships Parade as it sails into Navy Pier — the decks of our Free Spirit and Gypsy Spirit luxury yachts.
Now if you’re thinking, “Oh no. I’m busy on the 24th”, fear not. The ships will be in Chicago, docked at Navy Pier, through August 29th. That means you’ll have four other days when you can see them from a lakeside vantage point (and one of Captain Joe’s primo spots).
So if you’ve been talking about booking a private brunch, lunch, after-work or dinner charter, now you’ve got the best reason ever. Cause you can bet that this will be a memory your guests or clients will talk about for years to come!
To book your private charter, call 708.361.2220.
For more info or to watch a video of the Tall Ships as they paraded into Toronto last month, visit our website: freespiritcruises.com
When the city announced that after 52 years, it was cancelling Chicago’s Venetian Night celebration, Joe and I were SO disappointed. It’s always been one of our favorite summer celebrations – one we looked forward to all year.
Then we talked to our friend Theresa Carter, aka The Local Tourist (who’s hosted a chef’s cruise and networking parties on our yachts this summer). She loved Venetian Night too (although she’s a red-haired Irish lass). The upshot? Together we came up with this amazing idea…to host a Bringing Back Venetian Night cruise.
Get ready to party –Italian style. We’re Bringing Back Venetian Night!
Come cruise on our Free Spirit luxury yacht (far more comfy than a gondola). Lake Michigan will be our canal. The magnificent Chicago skyline our Venice (but not sinking into the sea).
You’ll dine on a delectably decadent Italian buffet and enjoy a premium open bar. And there WILL be fireworks…from Navy Pier…..but fireworks nonetheless.
Head Gondolier, Captain Joe Donofrio (yes, we ARE Italian) will make sure you have the best viewing spot on Lake Michigan.
Sound like a dreamy way to spend a summer evening? Yep. That’s what we thought!
Over 50 people enjoyed a scrumptious Middle Eastern buffet from Dawali Mediterranean Kitchen, decadently delish cupcakes from The Goddess & Grocer and icy cold drinks.
There was music and dancing and door prizes from places you’ve always wanted to go. And as the cruise ended, each guest left with an “OMG! Look what’s in here!” goody bag filled with coupons for Cubs tickets and pizza tours and restaurant specials and more.
If you missed it, you missed a great time on Lake Michigan. But we just might have another tweetup cruise before the summer ends. So you’ll get another chance. In the meantime, here’s a video from JenChicago.
You’ll be happy to hear that July 4th just opened up aboard the Free Spirit. And this year, you and your friends can enjoy not 1, not 2, but 3 fireworks shows all at once on Chicago’s world-famous lakefront!
Spread the word. Then sign up now to be front row for these spectacular shows.
Great food. Icy cold beverages. Beautiful weather. And THREE simultaneous fireworks displays. While you relax aboard one of Chicago’s most inviting yachts, cruising Lake Michigan. Sea you there!
Never been to a tweetup? Here’s your chance! We’re having one this Tuesday night, and it might be the most fun you’ll have on Lake Michigan all summer.
The Local Tourist (TLT) is hosting a “tweetup with a twist” Tues June 29th, 6 – 9p, aboard our Free Spirit luxury yacht.
3 hours of meeting interesting new people who share a love of being out and about in our fair city, eating scrumptious food (Middle Eastern buffet, decadently delicious cupcakes), beer/wine/soda bar and basking in the breezes of Lake Michigan on a beautiful, weather-perfect Chicago night (yep, it’s supposed to be in the 70s!)
You can tweet if you want to (sending updates and photos from your cell phone) or turn off your tech gear and just hang out, chill and have a good time.
They’ll be jam-packed goody bags for everyone…filled with all kinds of super swag (coupons to the hottest local restaurants and summer attractions). So not only will you see Chicago’s world famous skyline from the deck of a luxury yacht, but you’ll get all kinds of special offers for lots of other fun things to do in our super city – like Chocolate Tours and Ravinia and festivals and more.
And the whole party…goody bags included….is only $50/person.
So don’t wait till it’s all filled. Here’s where you can get more info or book a reservation online right now!
Don’t forget to share this with your friends. They’ll thank you.
Thanks to the Bui Brothers and Zacuto for creating and sharing this time-lapse video. This video was shot in May on an evening Lake Michigan and Chicago River cruise aboard the Gypsy Spirit.
Very cool shots of going through the Chicago locks, cruising the Chicago river, amazing sunset and our world famous Chicago skyline. Check it out.
Last post, we talked about how much better the weather has been this summer than last year.
This week, we’re happy to report that the number of charters is far better as well (although a little less rain would be fine!).
The economy is still far from strong, but we’re seeing a definite increase in the number of corporate charters. New companies as well as many returning clients are cruising with us, and Joe and I are happy to see old friends and meet new ones.
Our Free Spirit and Gypsy Spirit are also busy with far more private events than last year. Lots of parties are booked on weekends with graduation, birthdays, and wedding-related celebrations.
But we still have room for you and your friends! Including some Wednesday and Saturday nights that are open for Chicago fireworks cruises.
So if you’ve been thinking about how much fun it would be to be out on Lake Michigan watching our spectacular fireworks shows (it is!), now’s your chance. Call us to see what dates are open. And then you can send us a note like this:
“Hi Angela! Thanks again for last night. Everyone had a wonderful time!”
Best Regards,
Still, the bulk of our business is corporate charters. And more and more businesses have discovered that yachts are a perfect venue for meetings, entertaining clients, and hosting company outings.
From San Francisco to Baltimore to Duluth to Cleveland…. and on and on. Wherever the Tall Ships sail, a flurry of celebrations, anticipation and eager spectators can be found. Cause it’s not an annual occurrence. Miss it one year and you have to wait at least three more for it to come back. In this case, four…. the Parade hasn’t been in Chicago since 2006.
Twenty (yes, 20!) historic ships from around the world will parade into Chicago with their huge white sales billowing over Lake Michigan. All framed against our spectacular Chicago skyline.
The Local Tourist (TLT) is hosting a “tweetup with a twist” Tues June 29th, 6 – 9p, aboard our Free Spirit luxury yacht.