Chris Rankin
3/5
Reservations were easy, used their web site. The boat is parked / boards directly behind the convention center. Parking is in the garage below the convention center, and easy to park close to the boarding area. It was rainy, so you had to pick your way around the puddles to get to the boarding gate, Bring your own umbrella if it is raining.
We selected the VIP area, which is upstairs.. Due to rain, they had the plastic covers down to keep patrons dry. There is a band on that level in front, with a sign (Private) separating the dance floor and the dining area. Initially, the band was playing pre-recorded music, and once we were underway, they began playing 60s and 70 hits.
One wait staff, she was great. she was working hard to take care of ~20 patrons. Dinner is a Pre-Fix, small dinner salad, chicken, green beans, and a rice ball. Desert was a slice of cake.
Truth in lending, it is a boat.. so dinner wasn't the star of the show. Temperature wise, everything was tepid. (not hot)
Initially, when the band started playing, it was louder than they pre-recorded music was.. after a couple songs, they turned up the volume.. (I think bands feel louder = more fun).. at this point it was getting difficult to have conversation..
There were 3-4 couples dancing.
Then, they switched to more current day music. and turned up the volume again.. a couple folks told the waitstaff that it was too loud, we watched her relay it to the band, and they ignored.
We asked to have it turned down a bit, no luck.
As a result, about half of the patrons decided to leave the area and go outside to the front of the boat.
A small group did a line dance to the current day music, then retuned to their seats. A few folks from the downstairs (enclosed) area, came up to check out the band, stuck their head in, and then left. back downstair or stayed outside.
I gave it 3 stars; good effort, poor execution.
