The Crest of Luxury 

The Crest of Luxury
Set sail with Entertainment Cruises and set your wedding apart

By Andrew Lee

For couples seeking a wedding venue that truly stands out, little can compare to the Atlantica by Bateaux New York. Entertainment Cruises proudly unveiled the newest member of its fleet last year. Offering a Commitment Ceremony Package, as does the Bateaux New York excursion, the Atlantica gives couples an exciting and elegant start together.

Imagine combining your favorite restaurant, late-night lounge and live performance venue, then transplanting it onto a sleek yacht for a private ceremony or reception. Majestically set against the spectacular skyline of New York City, this is the kind of unparalleled experience awaiting couples and up to 290 guests on board the Atlantica.   One of the world’s most exclusive wedding settings, couples can even swap I do’s at the Statue of Liberty.

While Entertainment Cruises will gladly suggest vendors, couples are welcome to bring any they select. Working with a Personal Wedding Consultant, couples personalize the yacht’s décor, floral arrangements and theme to create a wholly original experience. As a matter of course, menu items prepared on Atlantica are top-notch and tailored to each couple. All aspects of the cruise are completely customizable, including entertainment.

“In my experience, I have seen everything from live bands and DJs with full light displays, to quartets, jazz singers and auctioneers,” says John Barrall, wedding account manager for Entertainment Cruises. “I would love to show anybody the vessel and talk about entertainment options with them,” says Barrall.

Demonstrating the company’s uncommon versatility, Barrall recounts how one couple brought Chinese acrobats, a Chinese lion dance and an exotic fan dancer to celebrate the bride’s Chinese heritage.

Two other cruise line experiences ferry guests along New York and New Jersey waterways. The Bateaux New York, whose sister ship graces the Seine River in Paris, is one of only four European-inspired, all-glass luxury yachts worldwide.

Billed as a “moving celebration,” a more festive (and less expensive) option is the Spirit line. Designed for a good time, Spirit cruises are dynamic and exciting. Enjoy a candlelit, buffet-style dinner while an extraordinary singing waitstaff entertains you and up to 600 guests. After dinner, it’s all about the dance floor, where DJs start spinning and your private party rocks ’til you dock.

While every cruise offers breathtaking views of America’s favorite harbor cities, each line has a different flavor. Accommodating groups from two to 1,500 and sailing in the waterways of nine great American cities, Entertainment Cruises has an option suited to any wedding occasion. Packages designed for the rehearsal dinner, bridal shower, bridesmaid and groomsmen luncheons, reception and day-after brunch are available for very reasonable prices on many ships.

“The best way to get an idea for a group is to give us a call and tell us your budget, and we’ll find the perfect vessel and package for you!” says Barrall, who recommends booking a cruise nine months to a year in advance, although a cruise can be booked at any point on an available ship.