Our Pooch Parade, one of the highlights of Seadog’s entire season, took place about a month ago on the bustling sidewalks of Navy Pier. The Pooch Parade is dedicated to finding a Seadog Mascot for the upcoming year. As you can plainly see, this year was a triumphant success:

Photo courtesy of Sophia Torres

On to more pressing and delicious (less adorable) matters, Thanksgiving is just one week away!

Here is some info on what Entertainment Cruises has to offer in your city:

Spirit of Boston: Day After Thanksgiving Dinner Cruise There’s something to give Thanks for on Friday, too! Join Spirit the Day After Thanksgiving for our unique combination of dining, dancing, entertainment and breathtaking views. Enjoy a complimentary boarding cocktail on this special cruise.

Spirit of New York: Thanksgiving Day Lunch and Dinner Cruises Let the vibrant Spirit Cruises handle the food and the dishes this year! Celebrate the holiday with friends, family and out of town guests aboard these festive Thanksgiving Day cruises.

Bateaux New York: Thanksgiving Dinner and Lunch Cruises Choose the European-inspired Bateaux New York for your Thanksgiving Day celebrations. Bateaux’s elegant glass ceiling and walls reveal a magnificent skyline view at every turn on New York Harbor. You’ll savor a wonderful menu while live piano entertainment fills the air. Make this Thanksgiving holiday extra special with a Bateaux New York cruise!

Spirit of Washington: Thanksgiving Day Lunch Cruise Let the Spirit of Washington cook, clean and entertain you this year. Our bountiful Thanksgiving Day buffet, live solo performances and DJ music for dancing are sure to give you a lot to be thankful for! Plus, get up-close views of Washington’s monumental sites, all for one affordable price.

Spirit of Chicago: Thanksgiving Day Dinner Cruise Spirit of Chicago’s festive Thanksgiving dinner cruise is a unique way to spend the holiday! Enjoy a special holiday menu with an ever-changing view –all for one affordable price.

Day After Thanksgiving Cruises Entertain friends, family and out of town guests on these Day After Thanksgiving cruises. Join us, and let Spirit handle the food and the dishes this year!

Chicago Odyssey: Day After Thanksgiving Champagne Dinner Cruise Come aboard Odyssey’s elegant Day After Thanksgiving Dinner Cruise and extend the wonderful holiday with another delicious meal, outstanding service, dancing to live music and breathtaking views of the stunning skyline from the water.

Begin your evening with a glass of champagne, compliments of Chicago’s Odyssey.

Have a great weekend and happy almost Thanksgiving!

Why not take a moment to relax? Have a romantic evening on the water? Sip a few drinks and catch up with an old friend? Enjoy the calm before the merry madness begins?

We offer plenty of options perfect for just that.

If you live in Baltimore, we have lunch, dinner and sightseeing cruises daily. Take advantage of the historic Inner Harbor and see it like never before – from the water – aboard the warm and cozy decks of Spirit.

If you find yourself in Boston, you can sip some select flavors from the Harpoon Brewery this Saturday aboard Spirit’s Harpoon Autumn Harvest Dinner Cruise. Festive family fun brunch, classic lunch and dinner cruises are also available. The elegant Odyssey cruises daily for brunch, lunch and dinner. If you want to dance to live music and see breathtaking views of the harbor, look no further than these two unique ways to spend an afternoon or evening.

Chi-city folks, try a Spirit lunch, midday, cocktail or dinner cruise, or let loose aboard Mystic Blue for lunch or dinner. If you’re looking for an elegant two or three hour escape, look to Odyssey to show you an exquisite time on the water.

New York is wonderful. Especially when you experience it from the water. Try the upscale Bateaux for lunch, afternoon sightseeing or dinner and be treated to wonderful dining, service and entertainment. The vibrant Spirit Cruises are docked in both New York and New Jersey, so grab a friend, lover, whoever and join us for food, dancing and a rockin’ good time.

Norfolk will dazzle you November 21st as the city lights up during the Grand Illumination Parade. Step aboard Spirit and enjoy the sights and sounds of the holiday season aboard our Grand Illumination Dinner Cruise.

Philly resident? Try a Spirit of Philadelphia lunch, dinner or moonlight event at Penn’s Landing. With bountiful buffets, DJ entertainment, live performances and endless views from every window, it’s the ideal way to forget about the busy times ahead.

I’d never forget DC. Spirit has a Gospel Lunch cruise Saturday, November 21st. If live gospel entertainment sooths your soul, there is no question, this is something you have to try. Lunch, dinner and midnight moonlight cruises are also available now. You can also join Odyssey for brunch, lunch or dinner and unwind on the water with distinctive dining, live entertainment and a great deal more.

So, take the time to take a step back and look at your beautiful surroundings from the most unique perspective in your city. Let us help. It’s what we’re good at.

Have a great weekend and talk to you soon!

Our summer sweepstakes has come to a close, and we’ve selected our four winners. Congratulations to you lucky men and women (you know who you are), who have won 10 free dinner cruise tickets aboard our elegant Odyssey and festive Spirit, and 6 free dinner cruise tickets aboard our hip Mystic Blue and upscale Bateaux.

I am sure you will have an amazing time. Plus, it’s FREE. Plus, it’s a perfect way to kick off the holiday season, right?

Read below for a few words from some of our fortunate winners:

1) Of which vessel did you win free tickets?
A. Spirit
B. Odyssey

2) How did you hear about the sweepstakes contest?
A. I was researching around looking for different dinner cruises in the DC area when I happened across your site. It seemed exciting and professional and you happened to have sweepstakes going on. From Google searching to sweepstakes!
B. Online

3) When did you enter?
A. Sometime during the summer.
B. A while ago – I don’t even remember!

4) Did you ever think you would win?
A. Never! Lucky people in exotic parts of the world win contests! Not a gal from Richmond.
B. Not at all! That didn’t even cross my mind.

5) Now that you have won, how are you going to use your tickets?
A. My husband and I plan on taking a beautiful dinner cruise around the monuments of DC with 8 of our closest friends!
B. Most likely getting all my siblings together and my 2 daughters. It should be a great little family reunion!

6) How did you decide who to take?
A. We have four couples that we hang out with – dinners, parties and such, so the choice was easy!
B. Easy, family always comes first!

7) How happy are you right now?
A. Elated! WE have always wanted to cruise around the Potomac and here is our chance! Thank you so much!
B. EXTREMELY HAPPY!

Thanks for reading, talk to you next week! And thank you to our contest winners, you rock. Smooth sailin’ everyone!

Wondering what these autumn tastings are like? Harpoon Octoberfest is described as “a rich, full-bodied, maltiness whose sweetness is balanced by generous use of hops” and Harpoon Cider is “made from a blend of freshly pressed, locally grown apples without any preservatives, artificial flavors, or sweeteners.”

Both unique Harpoon products are a great compliment to the delicious buffet you’ll enjoy later during your dining cruise experience on Boston Harbor. The extended boarding reception featuring Harpoon Brewery is on select dates through November 14^th including the Halloween Costume Dinner Cruise.

Once the tastings are over, visit Harpoon Brewery at 306 Northern Avenue in Boston for a wide selection of year round, limited edition and seasonal beers.

Looking for a deal sweet like Harpoon Octoberfest? Friends of Harpoon can save 20% off by mentioning “HARPOON” when making reservations or booking online and entering VIP code “HARPOON.” To make your reservation, visit SpiritOfBoston.com or call 866-310-2469.

See you out on the water with a Harpoon in hand!

‘til next week! And Tim, you are already missed.

Thank you for taking the time to share a little bit about you and what you do with us today.

1. How long have you been with Entertainment Cruises?
“13 years” (wow)

2. What is your favorite part about your job?
“Two things:
-Happy guests
-Watching our young professionals grow in their careers (and playing a role in that, of course)”

3. Which vessel/specialty cruise is your favorite Chicago product?
“Our Lake-Breeze Dinner Lounge aboard Mystic Blue. It is very laid back atmosphere (which I really need right now), casual, good food. It’s like a lounge on the water.”

4. Describe your favorite memory about a guest.
“We have dozens, no hundreds of engagements aboard Odyssey every year. It never ceases to amaze me that people choose to go onboard the Odyssey to celebrate one of the biggest moments of their lives (and we get to be a part of it). I am honored and flattered to have that aboard our vessels. It is really special.”

On to more pressing matters…
5. The USC Marching Band made a showing at Navy Pier last week in front of our Chicago cruising vessels; did you happen to catch a glimpse of the action?
“I’ve seen it in years past. They come every other year, always in mid-October. And there are always tons of USC fans. Since they have no NFL team, they follow their USC football all over the country (plus, it’s an excuse to come to Chicago and go to Navy Pier).”

6. What were your thoughts on the USC, Notre Dame game?
“No, but I’ve been to many of them both here and in Los Angeles. I must say those LA supporters are a classy group of fans. I’ve always loved that game. It’s a good, fan friendly game.

Now about the game, I’m happy that Notre Dame made a game of it in the end. If only they had scored the last touchdown. They lost by one touchdown and they were on four yard line – heartbreaking. Although, 5 minutes earlier they were down by 20 points…”

7. You know, I am from Los Angeles, and well, I was going to rub it in, but I guess I’ll just stop right there.

8. In one sentence, describe why EC rocks.
“We rock because we have people uniquely and perfectly suited to do what we do down on Navy Pier.”

Thanks again Dan! And readers, talk to you soon.