City Cruises - Philadelphia

My groom and I, along with our guests had an AMAZING time aboard the Spirit of Philadelphia! The food, atmosphere, staff and music made for a Perfect wedding venue. Courtney and Jack were our "go to" folks and they took GREAT care of us! So, if your looking to have an all inclusive wedding, where food, music and venue are all wrapped in one, check out the Spirit of Philadelphia!

Everything about using entertainment cruises was fabulous!! Robyn and Amanda walk me through every step of the process. From planning the day, time, guest list, seating arrangements, entertainment, food, desserts and how the day will flow. Using Spirit of Philadelphia cruises took the guesswork out of wedding planning! Everything was all in one place! Even my husband loved to be involved with the planning! The food was absolutely phenomenal, the bakery was fantastic (and included!!) , the wait staff and bartenders were amazing!! Let's not forget the Captain doing our ceremony was one of the most beautiful parts of the entire event! We kept our wedding small at 60 people and let me tell you it was the most fun everyone (including myself) has ever had! Everything went down without a hitch, they were accommodating to food allergies and all!! Our photographer/videographer was Tommy Rosa Productions you did an absolutely outstanding job!!! Our DJ was Absolute Entertainment (Doug and Mark) who kept the entire day flowing flawlessly!! We were nothing but smiles the day of, the day after, the week after and even the month after the wedding! Without a doubt the best investment we could have ever made!

We had our wedding on the Freedom Elite and it was absolutely beautiful. All of our guests continue to rave about how beautiful our wedding was, how unique it was, and how much fun they all had! Planning a wedding is so stressful and the Freedom Elite staff made the whole process stress free. It was such a beautiful wedding and we loved every minute of it. We want to do it again! :)

My husband and I just recently had our wedding on the Spirit of Philadelphia, which I simply can't recommend enough if you're in the midst of deciding on a venue to book. I've had nothing but amazing feedback from our guests, a majority of whom indicated it was one of the best weddings they've had the fortune of attending. Even those who personally either get seasick or don't like boats could not say enough amazing things about the experience. The Spirit offers an inclusive wedding package which assists with limiting the need to manage a multitude of moving parts, while at the same time enabling the ability customize your venue/day as much as you'd like. The staff guides you the entire time and there was at no point an issue reaching the staff assigned to help personally plan my wedding whenever I needed guidance. They offer you the option of utilizing their preferred vendors, or bringing on your own. Although I used my own photographer, the bakery they recommended to handle the wedding cake (included in the package cost) was outstanding, taking care of delivering it to the boat as well. Lastly, the DJ/MC which the Spirit provided (also included in cost) couldn't have been any better. I cant thank the Spirit of Philadelphia Staff and all personnel involved enough for making the wedding even more of an amazing experience than either my wife or I ever could have ever imagined!

Booking The Spirit of Philadelphia was the greatest and easiest decision I made while planning my wedding. If you are looking for an all inclusive wedding experience, look no further. I didn't have to worry about finding a band or DJ, didn't have to worry about a caterer or finding a bakery. The food was amazing and buffet style so there was something for everyone. They partner with the most amazing bakery in Germantown and my cake was included- though I did pay extra for an exquisite dragon that wrapped around the cake. Robyn, our wedding coordinator, was super responsive, helpful and really made the entire day flow seamlessly. I had a traditional American wedding AND a Chinese Tea Ceremony all on the Spirit. Our American wedding ceremony was on top of the boat, and the Tea Ceremony was inside on our deck. I didn't have to do any of the set up and everything looked AMAZING. For a venue that had never hosted a Chinese Tea Ceremony before they were very accommodating to the nuances of set up and the ceremony. All in all, I would only have changed the time of day we had our cruise because it was a HOT July day and I never got to go outside for photos - something I will make sure to do when we return for our Anniversary!

We had an absolutely gorgeous wedding aboard the Spirit of Philadelphia, Nov. 25, 2018. We highly recommend this venue to any couple looking to have a fun wedding in a unique setting with delicious food! Robyn and her entire staff were a dream come true. We didn't have to worry about anything because they took care of everything. November isn't ideal for an outside on deck ceremony so we had ours inside on a deck separate from our reception. The small space made for an intimate ceremony with our family and friends close. Our guests really enjoyed going above and watching the scenery float by after we set sail. Going under the Ben Franklin Bridge while it was all lit up was a particularly liked scene. Lighting on board is tricky. Cell phone photos are hued in red and blue from the fluorescent lights so make sure people bring their real cameras too.

My daughter Abbie's Wedding, on 10/14/17, was on the Freedom Elite Yacht and it was amazing. All our friends and family could not believe how nice it was from the food, the views to the help, it was great. Robyn Schwartz, our Wedding Planner, was just wonderful to work with and she took all the stress off of us from start to finish. I was able to enjoy the Wedding since Robyn had it all under control. Our guests were raving about the mashed potatoes. I would recommend choosing this as a side dish. The chef’s choice appetizers were just wonderful also. If you are looking to host a small intimate Wedding, that is really unique, look no further than the Freedom Elite Yacht. You won’t be disappointed. Mother of the Bride Lisa Bass

What can you say about everyone working with Freedom Elite? In my mind there are not enough words for the amazing job they did on our Wedding day. From the start, Robyn was phenomenal to work with and she was always available for our many questions or giving her suggestions based upon past experiences. From start to finish, everything the crew did for us on our special day was perfect! At the end of the day, guests were raving about the food, the setup and the service that was provided at the bar and during dinner. Not only was Robyn available at all times, she had everything in exactly the right place for when we arrived and was always on top of us to move onto the different parts of the wedding and we could not have had the amazing day we did without her keeping us on track. In the end, we could not be happier with our decision to cruise with Freedom Elite on our Wedding Day and if you are looking for a unique venue not only for weddings but for Corporate Events or any other type of party, I would highly suggest Freedom Elite.

We had our wedding on the Spirit of Philadelphia, and it was absolutely flawless. All of the staff was respectful, friendly, and helpful throughout the entire process. I'd like to point out a few wonderful people who made our day rock! Robyn, our coordinator, was so detail oriented and answered our questions promptly. She assured me more than once that everything would be perfect, as it was, and she made sure from beginning to end that everything was smooth. Every single person that attended our reception said they thoroughly enjoyed the service, food, scenery, and music the Spirit offered. Matthew, our server was phenomenal !!! He made sure that everyone was well fed, comfortable, and kept the drinks coming. He especially made sure that we were taken care of, and boy did he live up to his perfect recommendation. Thank you Matthew from the bottom of our hearts, for taking such special care of us..your kind gestures truly made our night one to remember!! Kurt, our DJ, kept the music going all night long, and the dance floor was never empty. Our first dance was unforgettable, thank you SO much. It was truly the most perfect evening with the Spirit, we can not say enough good things about it. Hands down the best decision!!! THANK YOU.

We just had our wedding there this Saturday October 7th and it couldn't have been more perfect. The staff was very accommodating, friendly, hard working and, all around lovely to work with. We had the most amazing day because of all of them. Our wedding coordinator was Amanda and she was truly wonderful to work with. Made our day perfect with no stress, she was organized and, super helpful and pleasant. Also the DJ was phenomenal he had every one up and dancing all night! The food was delicious and the bartenders/waiters/waitresses had everyone with constant drinks in hand (how we like it). We cant wait to go back it was the best day ever! Thank you all for making our wedding a true fairytale

We had our wedding on the Freedom Elite (the Spirit's private yacht) July 2017, and it was absolute perfection. From our first tour to the end of our wedding their wedding coordinator's Robyn and Amanda were so professional and there every step of the way. They truly made the whole process simple and seamless, and were quick to respond with any questions we had. No small detail was missed! All we had to do on our wedding day was show up and enjoy ourselves. I was honestly so relaxed because Robyn made sure everything went smoothly throughout the ceremony and reception. The venue itself is beautiful, the cruise relaxing and the food was so good. We did a brunch menu and it was REALLY delicious! The DJ kept our party going the entire time and was really attentive to our needs. Our guests cannot stop talking about how unique our wedding was and how much they enjoyed themselves. If you're contemplating choosing Spirit, do yourself a favor and book them! Our wedding day was amazing all thanks to them! - Emily & Anthony

THE BEST EVER! My hubby and I booked a private event for our wedding on the Freedom Elite... and it was simply amazing! Every detail was perfect! The event staff is so great, especially Amanda (and Robin!) who put up with me for a year and didn't miss a single detail. The customizations were outstanding and the venue is amazing! Thank you so much!!! We had the best time of our lives!! *Amy & Jamie*

It was absolutely stunning - the service, accommodations, and view was perfect. It was the best way to kick off our wedding weekend with such a fabulous rehearsal dinner!

Our wedding on board the Freedom Elite was truly an unforgettable experience! From start to finish, the staff was professional, attentive, and exceeded all of our expectations. Our wedding coordinators (Amanda & Robyn) and our DJ (Curt) went above and beyond to ensure our special day was nothing short of a fairytale. When it came to planning and day of, everything went so smoothly. It was so nice not having to worry or stress and instead enjoy every single moment with each other and our guests! To this day, we and our guests still talk about how perfect our wedding day was! Thank you to the Freedom Elite crew for making our dream day come true!

My husband and I celebrated his 47 birthday via a lunch cruise. The boat left late and did not extend the time of the cruise to accommodate the delay. We ate lunch and opted to go outside to see the view. When we returned the dessert station was completely wiped out and the music for a Sunday afternoon was deafening. We thought it could be much nicer if better organized. We would pass on ever returning.

Hi the knot, I am a very happy bride! My wedding and reception was aboard the Spirit of Philadelphia on 7/29/2017 and what a memorable day. Team Spirit was awesome! My day was amazing! When they tell you to just show up and leave the work to them, they meant it. Amanda & Robyn made our wedding the Wedding of the Century as our family members calls it. The Venue, food, drinks and the music was all great. One we will talk about in years to come. I would recommend the Spirit to any one considering getting married. PS, wedding photo's are unbelievable. Thanks again team Spirit of Philadelphia! Bride Constance Valentine/Groom Michael Valentine

When my husband and I got engage we knew we wanted something unique (not the typical country club wedding). We also didn't want our guests paying a lot to travel to an island. We discovered the Spirit of Philadelphia and knew it would be perfect. Wow did we make the best decision. A unique wedding experience without all the traveling. Amanda and Robyn were wonderful with coordinating and organizing everything. They wanted our day to be the best day ever just as we did. We got married in a private ceremony on the top deck then had the top floor inside deck private for our reception. The DJ was great, the cake that was included in our package was beautiful, but most of all it was the perfect setting for a wedding. We continue to talk about how amazing and unique our wedding was. Our guests loved it too. Oh and the food, not only was it amazing but unlike any other venue, the buffet was out all night. And don't miss pictures at sunset with Philly in the background....amazing. As if we didn't feel special enough...the captain let us guide the ship. How cool is that. We wouldn't have changed anything about our venue choice. One year later, and we are about to board the Spirit for our one year anniversary. So cool that you can revisit your venue every year.

We had our late-May wedding on the Freedom Elite, and it was the best decision we made! We wanted a wedding that was intimate and unique, and having our ceremony and reception on the water was perfect! We had 60 guests aboard the yacht, and everyone had so much fun! It's been a few weeks, and we still look back at the pictures reminiscing our perfect day. Both Amanda and Robyn were one of our favorite vendors to work with. They were professional, responsive, and helped provide great advice throughout the planning process. I did not have a wedding planner, so I tried to be as organized as possible for Robyn and her team. As part of our package, we also had our cake and DJ vendor booked. Huge plus! Kurt was our DJ, and he ROCKED it! EVERYONE was dancing, and enjoyed all of the songs he played. The cake vendor is Bredenbeck's, and they were an absolute dream to work with! The staff and bartender kept the party going! Special shoutout to Robyn because she truly is a great person to work with. She helped me with all of the last-minute details, coordinated with vendors, and kept making sure that the bride and groom had everything that they needed!

My husband and I got married in May 2017 aboard the Freedom Elite, and I have to say, it was one of the best decisions we could have made. The staff was super attentive all night, and everything went incredibly smooth. And Robyn, the wedding coordinator for the Freedom Elite, was just fabulous. Without her, I would have been a mess! She took care of absolutely everything. I couldn't have asked for a better, more memorable night. The ship was beautiful, and my night was one all of us will never forget. I loved it so much!!!

The Spirit of Philadelphia helped make my dream wedding come true. The Freedom Elite was the perfect place for me and my husband to say our "I dos," in an intimate way with our closest friends and family. Robyn and Amanda supported us in staying focused on the most important elements of our day. My wedding day was even more than I could have imagined and I will forever be grateful for the Spirit of Philadelphia for making it happen. I would recommend them to anyone. -Mrs. Melanie Frederick

I can sum this review up in one word MAGNIFICENT!!!!!!!! From the day we reserved the boat until the day of the wedding everything was handled for us. If we asked a question the girls answers where more than we could have thought of. We were married by the Captain and he did such a nice job, it was like he knew us all his life and made it very personal . The buffet was delicious and the hot food was hot and the cold food cold. The serving staff was kind and most considerate. And the cake, Lord have mercy !! The boat looked just beautiful and the atmosphere was perfect. The cruise was so special, as we got to see the sun set. Penn's Landing looked beautiful. Our friends are still raving about the friendly service they received. The bartender was fabulous! There was never a line at the bar because as the day went on he knew what you drank, talk about service! The DJ was the absolute best, played everything we requested and more. Now let me tell you about Robyn, Amanda and Michelle, there couldn't be any wedding planner or coordinator better than these women. They were the most polite, caring and considerate women ever. Your wish was their command! There wasn't a thing they wouldn't do to make you happy. It was an absolute pleasure having our wedding on the Elite. It was better than any country club wedding we have ever attended. We wish we had another reason to book the Elite again!!! If you are hesitant, don't be, it was a wonderful experience!!

Absolutely wonderful experience. My guests are still talking about it.

My wedding was unforgettable. The service and quality of the food was amazing. Everyone had a wonderful night. We couldn't have asked for more. Definitely plan to use the Freedom Elite for another venue in the future.

Excellent services for ceremony and wedding receptions!

Our wedding was May 3, 2014 on the Freedom Elite in Penns Landing. One of our first dates was down in Penns Landing so when we found the Freedom Elite - it was perfect; it was elegant, unique and intimate but most of all it would provide us our dream wedding on the water. Not only did we get an amazing wedding with unsurpassed service but we were able to provide our guests with a wonderful experience - a night on the water! People still tell us that we had the most unique and fun wedding. I also have to commend Amanda Greco who was our wedding coordinator. She was the very best in terms of making sure we had everything we needed before and during our event. She thought of everything and was always available when we needed her. So not only is it an impressive venue but the customer service aspect is out of this world! I would highly recommend the Freedom Elite for anyone looking to have a wedding in the Philadelphia area!

The best night of my life. An intimate, beautiful setting with gorgeous views of Philladelphia along the way. The staff is outstanding, the food delicious and our every need was taken care of.

We had the pleasure of getting married on the Spirit of Philadelphia this past May. The whole process from beginning to end went smoothly. Amanda and Kelly were awesome and responded to ALL of my emails very quickly! They made sure to make the day perfect and kept to the time schedule. The food was good and the staff was very friendly. The music was great too, the dance floor was packed. We could not have asked for a better experience for our big day.

A unique twist on the Bachelorette Party, it was different and fun. We ate, drank, danced, and had an overall good time. I would definitely recommend this to persons who are looking to have all the fun of the bar-scene without wanting to go to the bars.

From start to finish it was amazing .. we had the ceremony on the boat having the captain marry us , having the view captured in every picture . All we had to do was show up , everything was taken care of and in place , we even had our own server that took care of just us . Communication between the coordinator was great a simple email with a question and it was answered quickly. We were married in August, and for the last 2 months we have heard from every guest that it was the best wedding they went to , which to me makes it worth every penny ! I love looking at the pictures and remember what a great time we had, we plan to go back every year for a dinner cruise !

We booked our wedding well over a year in advance on The Spirit. Throughout the entire process (beginning well before the standard 2 months prior to the date of our wedding) there was an open line of communication between myself and our event coordinator. Any questions I had, I felt 100% comfortable sending a quick email to ask. As our wedding day approached, there was more constant contact with our coordinator - she even gave me her cell # so I could call/text after hours if needed. The day of, we were able to have everything dropped off to the location and she and the remainder of the staff took care of everything so that we and our bridal party could focus on getting ready and taking photos. The ceremony was beautiful on the observation deck with the Captain as our officiant - talk about original! During our reception; the entire staff went out of their way to make sure that not only my new husband and I were taken care of, but that our guests were as well. The food was amazing. It was prepared well and served hot and there was plenty of it for our guests! The venue included dinner, optional bar packages, optional h'orderves, an optional wedding cake package (with an external vendor), and a DJ who we were able to meet before the wedding and allowed us to provide as much or as little song guidelines as we wanted. So much was included that we had very little to worry about outside of the venue! We enjoyed our reception and the service that we were provided so much that after the ship docked, we invited both our event coordinator and our server for the night to come back and continue to celebrate with us and our family and friends at a local bar now that they were off the clock. I would recommend this venue to anyone who is looking for a more unique venue. You can do as much or as little additional as you would like since there is already a ton of ambiance, class, and natural beauty that comes with the location. Our service was amazing and now more than a month after the wedding, our family and friends still keep telling us what a great time they had and that it was the best wedding that they had ever gone to. I give most of the credit to the staff that worked that night. Without them and the service they provided so much could have been less than I imagined it would be. Instead, it was everything and more! It really was the perfect day and my husband and I thank the team of people that we worked with to make our day special, from the bottom of our hearts!

I just got married this past Oct. on the Spirit of Philadelphia and it was amazing. Danielle Goffredo, Account Manager Weddings was the nicest, most helpful person ever. Whenever I need anything leading up to my wedding as well as the day of it, she was right there. Everyone talked about how different it wsa to be at a wedding on the ship, which made my wedding stick out. No one complained about motion sickness, which we were a little worries about. The weather turned out to be the best day in Oct., 85 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. My wedding photos came out GREAT, with the view of the Ben Franklin Bridge as well as shots of Penns Landing and the City. The food was great we did an upgrade package which included a carving station. Everyone that I i have spoken to really enjoyed it. The DJ was included in our package. Matt was great, we had a meeting with him before, I told him what I wanted and of course what I didn't want and their was never a problem. He had get energy and had the group moving! I truly loved my wedding here, I couldn't have asked for a better group of people to work with. I know that everyone who attened my wedding will never forget it.

My husband and I wanted a destination wedding but never would have been able to afford sending everyone we wanted there. As an alternative we worked with the Spirit of Philadelphia and were able to have everything we wanted and then some! It was our destination wedding that didn't go anywhere (so to speak). All of our guests were able to be on the boat, enjoy a carefree afternoon, and be back in time to tuck their kids in. It was perfect. The crew and planners did everything necessary to customize it exactly how we wanted and on the day of the event they made sure me and my family were catered to. I even heard from my other vendors (flowers, cake etc) that they were a delight to work with for deliveries. If I dared to plan another wedding I would do the Spirit of Philadelphia all over again!!!

We wanted something different for all of our guests to remember, so we chose the Spirit of Philadelphia. Danielle Goffredo, the wedding coordinator, made everything exactly as we wanted, she went above and beyond our expectations. The space was perfect, food was great, music was everything we asked for and all of our guests enjoyed the experience. I would definitely recommend having a wedding on here...it was the perfect venue for our wedding. I would do it all over again without changing a thing.

if you're looking for something different to do I suggest this! We went on the cruise to start the night and went out in the city after.

unique venue, everything done for you, no outside planning.