Smooth Sailing Celebrations

We had a party for our son on the Festiva and could not have had a better experience.
First, we were late in the planning the stage, only getting it together five months prior to event, and Camille made sure it all came together. She spelled everything out clearly in the contract and there were no surprises on the day. The food and service were actually better than we had expected and between Camille and the staff on the Festiva, answers to questions we did not know we had were handled. For example, we had goody bags for the guests, and while we were enjoying our guests, staff assembled and arranged items by the door and handed out at the end of party. We were on a definite budget and would have been happy with a Costco-​style sheet cake, but Smooth Sailing Celebrations somehow got a great cake from Peekskill or somewhere with cannoli filling, and then staff packed up the remainder of it to give to guests. Camille had told us that there would be an hors d’oeuvres table and had sent us promotional pictures, but who expects this in reality? There were so many pleasant surprises, but mostly I’m grateful that I was able to just enjoy the event and our guests rather than worrying about details once the big day came.
Our event happened to be on 6÷27÷15 during a huge storm. We weren’t even sure we’d be able to leave the dock and we had about 40 of our 75 guests in from far away, but we sailed, even enjoyed the sites along the way and guests commented that it was a great time despite the near-​hurricane.
Thank you for our wonderful memories.

My organization held its 22^nd anniversary Gala on the Desitny last month and we could not be happier with Camille and all her hard work! Thank you!

Smooth Sailing Celebrations,
Todd and I can’t thank you enough for all of your help. We just just want to say that we are so grateful we stumbled onto your website and met you, Camille. You took the time to show us the possibility for Todd and I to not only have the best day of our lives, but definitely the most unique! It was the best wedding I have ever been to (of course my opinion is a wee bit biased).
I was recommending «Smooth Sailing Celebrations», to any wedding guest who asked about finding this gorgeous boat. I began describing in detail how you took us for a tour around several boats, including the Royal Princess (our final choice). You truly listened and catered to the number of guests, and what we had in mind for that day. Smooth Sailing Celebrations’ services didn’t stop with the tours either! You truly cared and kept tabs on us; wether it was drawing up our boat contract, lecturing us about getting a photographer on time, arranging for the food tasting on the boat, as well as referring us to a florist and other vending services. It honestly made the wedding planning process that much easier, knowing you were with us along the way. Camille, you did such an amazing job, because you have a heart, and it shows. Your services are not afraid to take that extra step, and should not go unrecognized.
Again, thank you for not only showing us the Royal Princess, but for your help all along the way. You deserve all the success your business has to offer in the future. We are forever on your debt. :)
Fondly,
Eric and Todd

SAVE YOUR MONEY !!! I have been on dinner cruises before… Spirit, Conucopia to name a few and this cruise (if you want to call it that… more like a tug boat), was very disappointing!!! I see how they can get a 5 star review… only basing it on one review… a wedding! REALLY??? ! It was very tight to sit down and be comfortable… they had three air conditioners that they refused to turn on so it was stuffy to say the least. They had a small area in the front of the boat so it easily got crowded very quickly… we were packed like sardines!!! There was a small area in the back… and I do mean very small. For approx. $ 60 person they served you a small salad, penne pasta with tomato sauce and a piece of chicken… nothing to brag about at all!!! My brother in law asked for more pasta and the woman served him four more noodles… how generous… huh? And the drinks… oh the drinks… my husband especially loved the idea of the beers starting out with $ 5 but then 1 ½ into the night, they jacked it up to $ 7 and asking for a Jack and Coke …$ 10 …which was served in a small Dixie cup!!! The only thing I would say was good about Festiva was the music. The DJ was playing awesome music. Otherwise, to sum it up, it was tight, stuffy, very noisy, so so food and overpriced liquor for small portions!!! Never again… save your money and book with Spirit!!! IF YOU BOOK ON FESTIVA CRUISE… YOU WILL BE SORRY!!! Jennie M. (⁷¹⁹⁄₁₄)

I didn’t think my review was that bad to begin with, but Camille C. felt the need to challenge my experience with her a load of crap and that landed them on my Poop List. Read my initial review and you’ll realize the «poop» part is quite LITERAL. Below is an excerpt of Camille C.‘s response to my initial 3 star review (7÷5÷12):
«Had Helen bothered to ask any one of the professional crew aboard Eastern Star about the sewer smell, they would have shown her the pump-​out station located on the dock directly up the pier from them. As soon as the boat began the Complimentary cruise she enjoyed, that smell was left dockside.
The hors d’oeuvres were a lovely selection, both a treat for the eyes and palate they were beautifully presented on trays decorated with fresh herbs. As well, nestled between a Mediterranean Display and a Charcuterie of dried meats, the Imported Cheese Display was a beautifully presented with an abundance of Gorgonzola, Jarlsberg, Gouda, Brie, Truffled Goat and Feta cheeses. Please click on the pictures above to view the lavish displays that were served that day.»
And now for my response:
Dear Camille C.,
I usually cut and paste the entire message of an owner or customer service response to my reviews, but you had so many fillers and false advertisement, I couldn’t see repeating those parts in my review update. No amount of fancy words extracted, collected and collaborated from your online dictionary and thesaurus could change the REALITY of my experience. (Oh, and let’s also note that 1 star review right next to mine.)
First off, I smelled your shit when approaching your vessel upon arrival. I did NOT use your restroom at that time. I used the restroom much later on, and guess what? That smell you claim that should have only been present while on dock… was PRESENT when the lil’ vessel was NOT docked. Just saying…
AND, as a very proud former Cheesemonger of Cowgirl Creamery (look it up sweetie, it’s a REAL gourmet cheese shop), I can tell the difference between real cheese and real supermarket-​level cheese. Anyone (and I do mean ANYONE) can slap a Gorgonzola or Brie label on their package, it doesn’t make it gourmet, nor does it mean its any good. I am speaking from a Cheesemonger’s perspective though…
I didn’t say your food was poorly displayed. I should have mentioned that the display was not bad at all! FAR from the best I’ve seen for a corporate event, but not bad. The random sea shells and decorative dead marine life you tossed in is questionable though. How often do you reuse those things? And how do you clean them? Should they be touching our food to begin with?
Cheese and fruit trays aside (there were no meats that day, dried or other), the cold, dry, and bland appetizers that your servers were bringing out gave me ZERO desire for seconds. If this sample party was your A Game, you failed miserably. Again, use all the pretty words and pretty pictures you want, it does not change the experience, and in this case, the taste and pleasure factor of the food.
My Event Planner friend, in her position for close to a decade, had an even more critical review… with her event planning and catering expertise and all. I thought you had a friendly sailing crew and a decent-​looking sailing apparatus, so I was trying to be nice, and that’s the thanks I get? Oh Camille C…

Pathetic! Horrendous! Worst ever! Our school booked the Festiva for a retirement dinner. One month earlier we agreed to an open bar. When we arrived the guest were told only beer and wine. We then were forced to pay $ 500 more for the open bar or they wouldn’t sail. We then were not allowed to sail for ½ hour because we booked for 75 people but extras came on. They counted every person and wanted the money on the spot. Problem was there was insufficient food for the initial 75 people and it was of pretty lousy quality. The guy in charge was extremely rude and particularly nasty and
no dessert or coffee was given. As a teacher’s union official in New Jersey I will recommend to other districts never to use this company. –5 STARS