EC Un-Plugged:

Summer stickiness is weakening and a cooler breeze is making its entry. But fun out on the water is not wavering. Not a bit. Entertainment Cruises many’ vessels offer Brunch, Lunch, Midday, Dinner, Moonlight and a variety of specialty cruises all week long every day of the year.

So, if you’re thinking that summer’s gone by and you have yet to do something unique, think EC (Entertainment Cruises).

If you’re wondering how long the heat is going to last and you want to enjoy a few hours outside on the open water, think EC.

If you like to plan ahead, and you’re already thinking about something awesome to do this fall, think EC.

Seriously, there’s something for everyone. A cruise that will fit perfectly with your special occasion, the guests you’re entertaining, your business meeting or just a fun night out on the town with family, friends or co-workers. You name the day, the party size and what exactly you’re looking for. We make all your dreams come true. Not to be dramatic or anything.

Take a look at all the cruises sailing on in a town nearest you:

Baltimore:
Lunch
Gospel Lunch
Sightseeing
Dinner

Boston:
Brunch
Fish & Ships Aquarium Brunch Packages
Lunch
Grandparents Day Lunch
Gospel Lunch
Lobster Lunch & Dinner
Sunset Dinner
Dinner Dance
Full Moon Dinner
Midnight Moonlight

Chicago:
Brunch
Lunch
Senior Cabaret Lunch
Gospel Lunch
Chicago Historical Lunch
River & Lake Architectural Tour
Speedboat Lake Tour
Seadog Extreme Speedboat Ride
Mystic Blue’s Summer Concert Series
Labor Day Weekend Fireworks Dinner
Friday Champagne Dinner
Twilight Saturday Dinner
Dinner
Lake-Breeze Dinner Lounge
Fireworks Dinner
Full Moon Dinner
Midday
Cocktail
Midnight Moonlight
Blue After-Dark

New York/ New Jersey:
Smooth Jazz
Lunch
Gospel Lunch
Afternoon Sightseeing
Salsa on the Hudson
Whiskey on the Hudson
Sunset Dinner
Dinner Dance
Hot Latin R&B Moonlight

Norfolk:
Lunch
Silver Series
Red Hat Lunch
Early Dinner
Dinner at DuskDinner
Gospel Dinner
103 Jamz Moonlight Cruise
Club Norfolk Moonlight

Philadelphia:
Lunch
Gospel Lunch
Big Band Lunch
Sunset Dinner
Dinner
Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding
Full Moon Dinner
Moonlight
100.3 The Beat’s official “Charlamagne Welcome to Philly Boat Cruise”

Washington DC and National Harbor, MD:
Brunch
Lunch
Speedboat & Monument Tours
Monument & Sightseeing Tours
Gospel Lunch
First Day of Fall Lunch
Mt. Vernon Cruise
First Day of Fall Dinner
Dinner
Midnight Moonlight

So….stop thinking, and do!

Talk to you next week!

I’m not going to pretend I have any idea what goes into the creation of our menus. I sat down with our General Manager in Chicago, Dan Russell, and got inside his mind for info.

So Dan,

1. Where does the process begin?

♦ In the fall after our main cruise season, we evaluate what went well and not so well with our menu (most of the time there is only the “what went well” part), what was most popular with our guests and what has been on the menu for too long! There are lots of factors leading to a firm plan for what should be changed and how.

2. What are all of the steps in getting a menu item approved?
♦ Step 1: Assign the project to a select task force of restaurant managers and chefs and Food & Beverage directors.

♦ Step 2: Organizing a series of sessions to discuss our needs and check with our vendors to ensure the items and ingredients we want are available.

♦ Step 3: Meetings, meetings and more meetings in the kitchen to design new dishes between all the chefs.

♦ Step 4: Conducting tasting sessions (now comes the fun!) with corresponding discussion, edit and review, final tasting (a little more fun), then a rollout of recipes to all operations for the start of the following season.

3. How long does the process take?
♦ About six months. Doing it perfectly takes time. We have a variety of menu options for our different cruise products and parties.

4. Who has the initial and final say in menu items?
♦ The menu task force finalizes most. If they are unsure about any particular menu item or issue, our Senior V.P. of Operations will make the final decision. But of course, if our customers don’t like it, we make it go bye-bye.

5. What is the hardest/most time consuming aspect of the process?
♦ The creative trial and error of making each dish great requires a lot of thought and consideration from our talented and experienced chefs.

6. Do we have a taste-tester to sample all of the items?

♦ Yes, the menu task force and some lucky in-office shipmates!

7. If we get bad quality survey reports about an item, do we ever change it?

♦ Absolutely. If it is clear that a particular menu item is not working out (not that this has happened, ever), we don’t wait for the annual menu review. We convene immediately and give that dish the boot.

8. What is your favorite part of the process?
♦ Need you ask? Tasting the food.

9. Is there anything else you think our past passengers and future guests should know?
♦ We are very passionate about the food we serve and take great efforts to ensure the highest degree of creativity and quality possible for all of our cruises. It’s a process and a long one at that, but absolutely worth it to see the smiles on our guests faces.