Of course you do. But if you’re over the age of ten, odds are you’ve run out of clever gifts for Mother’s Day. How many flower bouquets, boxes of chocolates, framed pictures, and brunches can we give before Mom starts wishing for something different?
That’s why we’ve got something she’s sure to love. An oh-so-relaxing cruise on the Free Spirit luxury yacht. Three hours of “pinch me, this is so fabulous!” pleasure. Cruising Lake Michigan and taking in our spectacular Chicago Skyline.
Mom (and whoever you send with her) will enjoy a scrumptious Buffet Brunch with champagne, mimosas, wine, beer and soda. Every mom gets chocolate. And we’re raffling off a beautiful “We Love You, Mom” bouquet (cause moms DO like flowers!)
What better way to tell your mom (wife, best girl, SigO) how much you love her?
$60 for adults and $25 for children under 12. Don’t wait to sign up.
Usually, when you think of a ship captain, you’re thinking “male”. Guess what? That’s not always the case.
In the 16 years I’ve been working in Chicago’s yacht charter industry, I’ve noticed more and more female sea captains on Lake Michigan. Made me wonder what percentage of sea captains are women.
So I Googled it, and here’s what I found: Molly Kool was the 1st female sea captain in North America, earning her Master Mariner’s Certificate in 1939. Impressive, huh. And pretty kool (sorry, couldn’t resist!)
But our family has its own female sea captain. Joe’s mom, Judy, earned her Master 100 Ton license. In fact, here’s Captain Judy Lee Borrowdale, looking absolutely in control, on a 1986 cover of Charter Industry Trade News. She rocks!
As moms, we may not get the accolades of a sea captain, but we know we’re running the ship at home….and often at work as well.
So kudos to us, and Happy Mother’s Day early to the moms who man their ship day after day.
It’s going to be a fabulous boating season and we’re ready to “Get Your Party Started!”
Our calendar is filling up with company outings, air & water show cruises, fireworks cruises, wedding celebrations, birthday bashes, graduation gatherings, corporate luncheons and more.
Watch to preview just some of the fun events we offer and for a brief introduction to our Free Spirit crew. Sea you soon!
Whether you want to surprise Mom or celebrate being a Mom, we will make your day fun and relaxing. Enjoy a leisurely 3-hour cruise on beautiful Lake Michigan, taking in our gorgeous Chicago Skyline aboard the Free Spirit luxury yacht.
Complete with a delectable buffet and champagne, mimosas, wine, beer or soda. To add to the festivities, we’re having a fun raffle for a beautiful “We Love You, Mom” Bouquet. And every Mom gets chocolate!
This article, which appeared in the Wall Street Journal on Valentine’s Day, certainly got our attention. As a husband-and-wife team, we know the pleasures and perils of running a business together.
Easy? No way. Challenging? Most definitely. Rewarding? Well, we think so.
Of course, Joe and I are both so passionate about Free Spirit Yacht Cruises that it makes our day-to-day business life fun.
Joe’s been a yacht captain for over twenty years, so being on Lake Michigan, at the wheel of one of our own boats, is where he most loves to be. And I ran Angela’s Charter Service for eleven years before “merging” my work and personal life with Joe (you can read our story here if you’re interested).
We share a love for yachting, Chicago, and summers on Lake Michigan. That’s our bond (and the fact that we like each other a whole lot as well). But it’s also our differences that make it work.
Joe makes sure the yachts are pristinely clean and in perfect cruising condition, while I’m focused on sales and marketing. Together, we love hosting parties and events and seeing how much fun people have when they charter one of our boats.
We think we’re very fortunate to be working together in a business we love. This is our belated Valentine’s Day post to one another and to our terrific clients and friends.
And now it’s just a memory. For the most part, streets are plowed. Schools are back in session. Other than some snowed-in, plowed-in cars that may be there for a while, Chicagoans survived the big blizzard.
Have to admit it was a pretty exciting week….unless you were one of the people stuck on Lake Shore Drive.
Since Captain Joe follows Tom Skilling’s weather reports daily, he was prepared for what was to come. Huge blizzard on its way to Chicago. 25-foot waves on Lake Michigan. A good time to stay put and not drive anywhere.
I, on the other hand, was a bit skeptical. The storm wasn’t supposed to hit till 3p. Which is why I wanted to keep an appointment we had downtown at 2p…. snow or no snow. We were meeting with Goose Island about some potential partnering (for some super fun and fabulous cruises later this year –more to come in another post), and I didn’t want to cancel. Plus, we’re driving our Free Spirit Yacht truck. I wasn’t worried about getting stuck.
So we made the meeting, and then headed over to Lake Michigan to see just how bad it was. And this is what we saw at Burnham Harbor…..
Sure glad that’s over. Now we’re thinking Spring. And cruises. Only 42 days….
“Chicago convention leaders landed two new pieces of business – including PCMA’s own annual meeting in January 2015.”
Thank you, Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau (CCTB), for sharing this great news last week!
It’s especially exciting since PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association) has not met in Chicago since 1994. Long time. Recapturing former business bodes well for our fair city. Far too much convention business has been lost to Las Vegas and Orlando in recent years, and it’s time for a turnaround.
So when we read that “CCTB has announced 13 new or renewed trade show contracts since a state law aimed at reviving the city’s convention business took effect in May…”, we are thrilled (Kathy Bergen’s article in the Chicago Tribune on January 10, 2011).
The recent (and much needed) changes at McCormick Place are part of the reversal in Chicago’s convention business. As Bergen writes, “…the overhaul of McCormick Place is beginning to bear fruit and state officials report a rise in tourism tax receipts, indicating an uptick in visitors.”
It’s been a tough few years for Chicago tourism with many businesses just barely hanging on. Now it appears things are turning around. More visitors = more jobs. More jobs = more spending. And that’s what we need right now.
So whether or not that grizzly little groundhog comes out tomorrow, we’re excited about the signs we’re seeing and looking forward to the 2011 charter season on Lake Michigan. Yes, we’re planning on clear sailing. OK, other than the blizzard that’s supposed to hit….
Stay warm and cozy.
And if wintry weather makes you think of cruises, we’re booking charters all winter.
Seems like everyone is trying to come up with something different this year. Yep, we’re reading the ads and getting the emails too. Hard to find something you haven’t done before.
Till now!
We’ve got different….and fun….and something you probably haven’t given before. Plus, it’s affordable and will work for almost all of the significant others in your life.
Who doesn’t love a yacht cruise? Especially one with massages and wine?
Check out our Merlot & Massage Cruise…
2-1/2 hours of bliss aboard one of our private luxury yachts, cruising Lake Michigan.
The perfect Valentine’s Day gift for your girl, guy, mom, daughters, best friend, fiancée, or anyone else you want to pamper (without paying an arm and a leg).
Your choice of two dates. Pick one….or both.
Tuesday, May 24th 5:30pm – 8:00pm
Tuesday, June 21st 5:30pm – 8:00pm
Chair, hand and foot massages provided by Lincoln Park Massage Spa, one of Chicago’s top-rated spas.
February 14th will be here before you know it. Yep, Valentine’s Day again. That special day when you think “Oh no. Now what?”.
Candy. Jewelry. Flowers. Lingerie. Blenders. Darn hard to keep coming up with clever new ideas to let your girl (woman, mom, mate, friend, etc.) know you care. Well we’re here to make it easy.
This year, make it a really memorable Valentine’s Day. Give your special someone (squeeze, mom, etc.) a gift certificate for a Merlot & Massage Cruise. Granted, she won’t be able to use it for a few months…. but that means months of anticipation looking forward to something fun and fabulous.
2-1/2 hours of pure bliss aboard one of our private luxury yachts, cruising Lake Michigan. Scrumptious light buffet. Wonderful wines. Sinfully soothing massages.
We ran two of these cruises last year and people raved about them. So we’re offering two dates again this season. Pick one….or both.
Tuesday, May 24th 5:30pm – 8:00pm
Tuesday, June 21st 5:30pm – 8:00pm
Chair, hand and foot massages provided by Lincoln Park Massage Spa, one of Chicago’s top-rated spas.
Music to our ears when we read Kathy Bergen’s article in yesterday’s Chicago Tribune. Even with the word “slow” in there.
After a number of very bleak years, we’re seeing positive signs that Chicago’s tourism and hospitality business is turning around. Thanks to the new state law, McCormick Place is holding onto trade show business that was once headed to Orlando and Las Vegas. “….13 new or renewed trade show contracts since a state law aimed at reviving the city’s convention business took effect in May.”
Business travel is picking up, and hotels are starting to book more rooms. All great news for our fair city.
Actually, we had a very good 2010, despite the recession. We saw an increase in corporate charters as businesses once again entertained clients and held staff outings. Both the Gypsy Spirit and Free Spirit hosted numerous friend and family celebrations – weddings, birthday, bachelorette and anniversary parties and a few family reunions. It was a good year for Free Spirit Yacht Cruises.
Now we’re looking forward to the 2011 season and eager to get back on Lake Michigan. It may be cold and snowy out, but it’s only a few months until the buds start to bloom again.
So you stay warm and cozy inside. We’re busy booking charters that will be here before you know it.
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