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The following is a copy of an article that appeared in the Boston Globe 4/15/2004...
All aboard the Love Boat
By Kate Lubin, Globe Correspondent
Don't sit at Tia's waiting for your ship to come in.
For as little as $40 each, you and 50 of your closest friends can charter a boat for a three-hour cruise with cocktails and snacks -- about what you spend on apps at landlocked Tia's.
"I've always loved going to the Sail Loft and other bars on the waterfront," said Brian O'Neill, a financial consultant. "Now I realize I was settling. Being on the boat and waving back to those `landers' is much more thrilling."
He was one of 25 who feted the uncharacteristically warm weather and my engagement on a recent chartered cruise on the good ship Integrity.
But you don't need to get engaged to throw down ocean-style. Organize a barbecue, a group wine tasting, or a booze cruise to savor the weather and reunite old friends. Boston Yacht Charters, which specializes in events on Boston Harbor, takes care of the minutia. So with only a bit more planning than it takes to meet up for a few drinks at Harvard Gardens, you can be riding the high seas.
The company has access to a range of dashing motor yachts and sailboats, which can accommodate groups from 12 to 1,100. Boston Yacht Charters offers a free consultation; you decide whether to dress up or go casual, entertain with live music or play your favorite CDs, serve a lavish meal or keep it simple with an open bar.
We began our four-hour harbor ride with champagne, chocolate-covered-strawberries, and Italian treats from Mike's Pastry in the North End. We caught up with friends as they socialized by the food tables and mingled on the bow. Our group lucked out with the weather, but the boats are prepared for the elements: All offer indoor shelter. Seasickness is rare since most boats just cruise the inner harbor.
Our group mostly comprised couples, but as the night progressed, I noticed a trend. The party's singles coupled off, providing friends and crew alike with unexpected shipboard entertainment.
A fellow cruiser who will remain nameless, caught the eye of one of my friends, college admissions counselor Kim Bohlin, who is 25. "Mmm! I haven't seen him in a while," she whispered. "He's looking pretty good; perhaps I'll go work my magic."
Being on the water seemed to add some spice to our normal routine. Or perhaps the bracing sea air was responsible for comments I heard throughout the night that sounded like Bohlin's, some in unfortunate combination with "rocking the boat" jokes.
The friendly crew accommodated our every on- and offshore need, preparing the yacht, picking up the pastries from Mike's, running the bar, and capturing Kodak moments. By the end of our tour, we were all thoroughly stuffed and waddled off the boat happy as little clams.
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