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!
Did you hear the crowds at last weekend’s Air & Water Show?
No wonder this is the largest spectator event in the country. It’s awesome!
Saturday was perfect. Sunday…not so much.But even Sunday’s uncooperative weather couldn’t keep fans away from Chicago’s 51st Annual Air & Water Show.
As usual, attendance was huge. Depending on who you talked to or what you read, estimates ranged from 1 – 2 million people. Fans began gathering early, lining up and down the lakefront, to watch this year’s exciting performances.
Headliners included the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, who thrilled the crowd with their amazing precision flying, the U.S. Navy Leap Frogs Parachute Team and the U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights. Another two dozen or so military and civilian performances rounded out the afternoons’ entertainment.
For guests enjoying Saturday’s show on board the Gypsy Spirit, the viewing was exceptional. It’s always exceptional cause our Captains have it down to a science. And we love hearing from happy clients.
Like soon to be Newlyweds that have joined us for 2 years now:
“Gabrielle & I had a great time this year. Here are some pictures of the T-Birds for you.”
Take care!
Chris & Gabrielle
Thank you, Chris Norberte, for sharing these awesome photos and CONGRATULATIONS on your upcoming marriage!
Theresa Carter, The Local Tourist, was the lucky winner of a private charter that we donated in the Concierge Preferred Show drawing. So on Sunday, June 7th, Theresa and 17 friends boarded the Free Spirit for a 3-hour cruise on Lake Michigan.
“One of the best nights I’ve had in Chicago – and my job is helping people have fun in this city – was aboard the Free Spirit.”
Guests dined on a delicious Taste of Chicago buffet from Taste America catering. Greek salad, chicken enchiladas, veggie stir-fry, Vienna hot dogs, Italian beef. Yum!
The cruise was part birthday party/part fundraiser for Theresa. She’s climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro this summer with Endure To Cure to raise money for pediatric cancer research. So she gave some spots on the cruise as a reward for donating on her birthday back in May. What a wonderful cause! And how great to have the Free Spirit cruise be used as part of her fundraising efforts.
“Joe and Angela and everyone aboard made sure it was a success.”
Sailing out of Burnham Harbor, guests had a perfect view of our gorgeous Chicago skyline. Theresa commented on the view as the yacht hugged the shore around Museum Campus and through Monroe Harbor. “You don’t see this view from the Navy Pier tours.”
As the sun was setting, David Kav, one of Theresa’s favorite singer-songwriters, broke out his guitar and serenaded guests in the cabin. And as a thank you to anyone who purchased one of his CDs, he donated the purchase price to Endure To Cure.
“It was truly an amazing, memorable night!”
We’re so glad you and your guests enjoyed the cruise, Theresa. And we wish you much success in your climb up Kilimanjaro and your goal of raising $20,000 for pediatric cancer research.
If anyone would like to help Theresa reach her goal, please click here.
If you’re a Chicagoan, you know how many fabulous things there are to do here in the summer. Especially after a long cold winter! If you’ve never been here, take a look at what you’re missing — Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau.
CCTB is a dynamic organization, and we’re proud to be members. In fact, this year, despite how busy we are during charter season, I’m on the Ambassador task force (that’s me in the middle).
Actually, it’s a perfect fit. A huge part of what the task force does is to showcase our beautiful city and the stunning architecture along the Chicago River and Lake Michigan.
As Ambassadors, we offer hospitality services to convention and trade show attendees, exhibitors and management, making them feel welcome during their visit. Whether we’re hosting exhibitor snack stations or greeting convention attendees, we’re offering a personal touch to each visitor’s Chicago experience.
This is totally aligned with our mission at Free Spirit Yacht Cruises – to provide a fabulous, memorable experience for each of our clients and their guests.
It’s that personal touch that our clients love. They know that when they plan a cruise aboard one of our luxury yachts, we’re there to help each step of the way, taking care of every last detail.
Our goal is to do whatever is necessary so you can relax with your guests and enjoy your Lake Michigan cruise.
Won’t be long now before we’re back at Burnham Harbor. And we can’t wait!
Our first charter is on April 22nd. Hopefully, the weather will be warmer by then.
Given the recession, we’re really thrilled to see that charters aren’t taking a hit (at least ours aren’t).In fact, The Gypsy Spirit is booked every Saturday night in July and August. And there’s only one date open in June. Amazing!
Seems that the smaller yachts book up first. Our Free Spirit, which is larger with a 120-person capacity, is booking nicely, but we have a few more openings than on the Gypsy.
Could be that companies (and private parties) are going smaller this year, but so far we’re not about to make any predictions. We’re just looking forward to getting out on Lake Michigan and doing what we love best — hosting wonderful events for our clients on our private charter yachts.
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn where you’ll find the latest news on Free Spirit.
With the media focused on the economic doldrums, we need to remind ourselves that it’s not all doom and gloom and that there are good things going on in our lives. We still need to relax occasionally. And we still need to have fun.
Easy for us to say cause we’re in Marco Island. But we’re not just playing. Honest! We’re busy planning for the upcoming season on Lake Michigan.
Of course, we’re enjoying being with family and friends…and taking lots of photos so we can savor these memories for years to come.
Speaking of memories, we’re fortunate to have lots of wonderful photos from last season.And we love that our clients share their pictures with us after their parties and events.If you haven’t seen our photo gallery, check it out. It might help get you through these last remaining weeks of winter to see what’s coming up…. sunny days, warm weather and cruising along our spectacular Chicago skyline.
We can’t wait to be back in Burnham Harbor making new memories with clients and friends!
Sea you soon –
Angela and Captain Joe
p.s.
If you need a professional photographer to capture your Free Spirit Yacht Cruises party, we have some resources on our website.
We are awed by all the new ways we can communicate via social networking.
Not only can we share information within seconds, but we can keep you up to date in real time. When booking charter cruises, this is especially helpful, since we can let you know which dates are filling up. As you plan your corporate events and meetings, we hope this will make things easier for your scheduling.
We’re posting info on these sites and you can comment and respond to us there as well. And of course, we always love getting your feedback, so feel free to share it as well as photos of your parties and events.
So here are the tools we want to share with you and a little info on each one:
Facebook
Not for kids sharing photos any longer, Facebook is a super tool for adults who want to share online. Professionals are using it to post information about meetings and events, upload pictures and videos, share resources and links, make new friends and stay in touch with existing contacts.
We have a Facebook business page and also a fan club (we’d love you to join!).
LinkedIn
Originally developed as a business networking resource, LinkedIn is a network of experienced professionals from around the world, representing 170 industries and 200 countries. You can meet potential business contacts, find a job, fill a job, join industry-specific groups to share issues and build relationships with others in your field, and connect with people for possible business collaborations. If you’re looking to grow your business, LinkedIn can help you.
View Angela Motola-Donofrio’s profile on LinkedIn
Twitter
Otherwise known as microblogging (you communicate in 140 characters or less), Twitter
allows you to quickly and easily communicate via the internet. Using your computer or mobile phone, you can get breaking news in real time, follow industry resources and news services, and keep colleagues and friends updated on meetings, events and schedule changes in addition to telling them what you’re up to. Since Twitter uses links to share information, it’s actually more efficient than email.
We would be happy to have you as a member of the Free Spirit Yacht Cruises community – in whichever mode is most convenient for you.
When you sign-up to receive our newsletters, your email address will be recorded in our database so you can receive periodic emails where we share “Cruising on Lake Michigan” events and fun factoids. Be assured that we do not share your email with anyone else or any services.
How far in advance should we book our special event?
Once you know the date and time of day, you should contact us. If you have an alternate date/time, please let us know. Our yachts can be booked many months in advance, so better to book ahead than wait.
To Confirm Your Date
We cannot guarantee a date will be available for either of our charter yachts without a deposit.
Terms
A deposit is required to hold a charter reservation for your event.The deposit is 50% of the Chicago Yacht Charter.
The balance, along with final guest count, is due 10 days prior to your charter date.
What happens if it rains or the weather won’t cooperate?
Your charter will proceed as scheduled. Our yachts are large enough to have your group inside, the food will have been ordered, and your guests invited. We’ve hosted lots of parties and meetings when the weather was less than ideal.
Can I get a refund?
Sorry, there are no refunds due to inclement weather. All bookings are non-refundable.
Food
Do you provide catering or can we bring our own food aboard the Free Spirit or Gypsy Spirit for our event?
We work with the city’s finest caterers to provide an extraordinary variety of customized menus that will excite your taste buds and delight your guests. You may also customize your own menu.
We highly recommended using our existing catering menus since they have been designed specifically for the yachts (and taste tested by thousands of happy guests).
Exceptions
If you really want to have your own special caterer, there is a $300. outside catering fee, and you must show proof of insurance. The outside catering fee will be going up to $500. after February 15th.
Drink
Do you provide beverage service or can we bring our own?
We have several bar packages, which are broken down on our Bar Menu. All numbers must be guaranteed 10 days prior when final payment is made on your cruise. At this time, the number of people attending the cruise may be increased; however, there will be no refunds if the numbers are decreased.
You cannot bring your own beverages because we have our own liquor license. Cruise guests will not be permitted to bring aboard liquor or carry it off of the yachts; all liquor must be consumed while on board the ship.
This is the time of year (especially when the temperatures dip into double digits below zero) when we ask ourselves, “Why do we live in Chicago?”
But we know the answer.
Because summers are awesome in our windy city! Even in January, it warms the soul to think about summer breezes, sunshine and cruising on Lake Michigan.
All of us at Free Spirit Yacht Cruises want to make sure your special events will be fun and memorable this summer. And also to save you some money. So we have good news!
Book a charter now — on either the Free Spirit or the Gypsy Spirit — and receive your early booking savings. Details posted at: “Book Now and Save!”
Trade shows, client entertaining, company outings, rehearsal dinners, weddings….these are just some of the charters we’ve been booking this past week.
So don’t wait. Before you know it, summer will be here. And you can be cruising aboard Lake Michigan’s most inviting yachts.
