My husband surprised me with a private cruise for my birthday, and despite a few hiccups, it ended…read moreup being such a special experience that I'll always remember. He gets an A+ for planning this one; the business, on the other hand, gets a B-.
He originally requested the blue boat, and when we arrived, we were told it was already dried off and ready because it had rained earlier that day. It ended up taking quite a bit longer than expected, and we actually watched another couple board the blue boat. That's when my husband saw a text saying they had to switch us to the pink boat.
Honestly, I wasn't even upset about the switch because the pink boat was actually so cute and felt even more fitting for a birthday cruise. The only issue was that the pink boat wasn't ready yet. My husband had paid extra to have it decorated, and since this was a surprise, I could tell he was getting nervous when they pulled the boat around and started decorating it right there at the dock after the other couple had already left. This also wasn't communicated to him ahead of time. I made sure I stood where I couldn't see what they were doing because I knew he was upset, and I absolutely did not want anything to ruin the surprise.
That's probably my biggest piece of feedback for the owners. If a boat needs to be switched, especially for a surprise experience where decorations have been paid for, having everything ready beforehand would make a huge difference. We had arrived about an hour before our scheduled departure, so I think there was plenty of time to have the boat prepared. Unfortunately, I would not suggest getting there too early and going to The Getaway, as that was not a great experience either.
Once we finally got out there, though, it really was beautiful and such a fun way to celebrate. My husband packed a little snack box and brought a bottle of wine, which made it feel really personal and romantic. It was advertised that our package would include water on the boat, and while there was a cooler with ice, there wasn't actually any water. My husband doesn't drink, so having water available would have been nice and is definitely something that would be good to clarify with guests ahead of time.
He booked a sunset cruise that was set to depart at 7, and unfortunately, we didn't actually get on the boat until around 7:20, right around when the sun was setting. Since the boat only goes around 6 mph, if I remember correctly, it's really more about slowly cruising out, putting it in neutral, and relaxing and enjoying whatever you bring with you. Which I actually loved! I just wish we had gotten out on time so we could have enjoyed more of the time we had booked.
The biggest issue for us was the bugs. They were TERRIBLE. We ended up getting eaten alive and couldn't stay outside for as much of the cruise as we wanted to. I don't think I've ever been bitten that badly in only about 35-45 minutes. My biggest suggestion to the owner would be to keep some type of bug spray or bug repellent on the boat, especially for sunset cruises. I think that would make a huge difference.
Overall, we still had such a special night, and I'm really glad my husband chose this experience for my birthday. The pink boat ended up being absolutely perfect for the occasion, and we made some really sweet memories together. With a little more preparation before departure, having water available, and some type of bug protection, I think this could be an even better experience.