Everyone remembers the boat wedding!
$15,500 starting price
101 to 150 guests
Wedding Team
MANAGER
AWARD WINNER (2X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
City Cruises - Washington DC will ‘wow’ your wedding guests with their luxurious yachts in Washington, DC, that make an unforgettable event setting. Exchange romantic vows with the water as your something blue and iconic landmarks as your picturesque backdrop. The expert staff will work tirelessly to ensure that your special day is a success.
With multiple spacious vessels to choose from at City Cruises - Washington DC, you will surely be able to find one that suits your needs for your event. There are capacities ranging from 70 to 464 people, so couples can host festivities of all types, whether an intimate gathering or a grand celebration. No matter if you’re dancing the night away on the open-air deck or enjoying a meal in the climate-controlled interior, you see unparalleled views from nearly every direction. A few of the attractions you can see as you sail along the Potomac River include the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial.
The in-office coordinator at City Cruises - Washington DC can work closely with you to provide a seamless experience. A team of professional planners can be there to assist with nearly every
detail of your big day. You can enjoy a delicious menu designed by the talented chefs to suit your tastes. Friendly service staff can serve your dishes plated, buffet style, or at food stations. The knowledgeable bartenders can provide your guests with tasty drinks, including a champagne toast. City Cruises - Washington DC would love to help you make your vision for your celebration a reality.
Pricing details
Starting prices
Reception
$2,600
Reception
$2,600
Ceremony
$1,500
Bar services
$28 per person
Catering
Contact for price
- Couples usually spend $18,150
- Starting prices don't include service fees, taxes, gratuity, and rental fees.
- Guest count and seasonality may also affect prices.
Are you interested?
Reach out and share your wedding details.
Amenities + details
Amenities
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Liability Insurance
On-Site Accommodations
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Ceremony Types
Civil Union
Commitment Ceremony
Elopement
Interfaith Ceremony
Non-Religious Ceremony
Religious Ceremony
Second Wedding
Vow Renewal Ceremony
Settings
Beach
Waterfront
Cruise
Restaurant
Rooftop
Venue Service Offerings
Bar & Drinks
Cakes & Desserts
Destination Weddings
Destination Wedding Packages
Destination Wedding Planning
Food & Catering
Planning
Destination Wedding Planning
Rentals & Equipment
Service Staff
Transportation
Awards and Affiliations
Any questions?
Meet the team
Showing slide number 1 out of 2
- Wedding TeamManagerFrom the initial reservation with your Account Manager to the wedding planning with your coordinating team, we will take the best care to make your day beautiful. We strive to create unforgettable wedding memories for couples in a unique venue that caters to traditional and non-traditional unions.
- Heather MooreAccount ManagerFrom the initial reservation with your Account Manager to the wedding planning with your coordinating team, we will take the best care to make your day beautiful. We strive to create unforgettable wedding memories for couples in a unique venue that caters to traditional and non-traditional union
Reviews
4.7
out of 5.056 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
- Top reviews
- Newest first
- Oldest first
- Highest rated
- Lowest rated
Sort by
Elena R
5.0
12/28/2024
Our wedding was quite improvised, only a month and two weeks to organize the entire event, we really didn't know where to start, the City Cruises - Washington DC team was very professional, they helped us organize a beautiful, romantic wedding, with good music , delicious food and the view of the river was spectacular, our guests really enjoyed the wedding.
Ashley R
4.0
4/24/2024
City Cruises did a great job hosting our wedding ceremony and reception on their Odyssey cruise. They were helpful and accommodating throughout the booking process, the planning process, and on the day of the event. The wedding planner they provided worked closely with us during the 4 months leading up to the event and ensured all of our needs were met. I would recommend City Cruises to anyone looking for a unique, all-inclusive wedding venue.
Any questions?
Crystal M
5.0
3/02/2020
Planned my wedding on the Capital Elite Yacht in exactly one month. Rachel did a wonderful job coordinating the most cost efficient option for us and we were able to personalize so much of our big day. My groom and I were very pleased with how everything looked and ended up. Our food was delicious, we were able to upgrade to a carving beef station since we had seafood allergies on board and our guests were waited on quite well. DJ Fred was in touch with us beforehand and did everything we requested. The only hiccup was parking, which we thought we had figured out using the parking garage under the Safeway until that was full and a family member had to panic for parking fast. The wharf is under construction and to my knowledge, working on adding better parking. We both highly recommend the capital elite for a small wedding, because how many people can say they got married on a private yacht?!
Brian P
5.0
11/19/2019
While we originally got married in a small ceremony a month earlier, we decided to hold a larger reception on the Spirit and it was the perfect venue. We had a mix of families and friends and there was something on board for everyone, from the roof top to the game rooms below. The services on our floor were wonderful, too. Since we were already married, we were able to alter the plan and schedule to fit our needs, and the Management staff easily accommodated us. In fact, they made the entire planning portion of the event a breeze. We had a phone call early on and met once on the boat to confirm the details and we were all set! We could tell everyone had a great time and we would recommend holding similar events on the Spirit.
LaToya D
5.0
4/29/2019
The staff is absolutely amazing and very attentive to me and my guests. Shakia the manager, Anthony, and Emily were all so great. Amazing service! Food was also very delicious. They anticipated all of our needs and was very kind, gracious, and professional. #always&4everholder
April F
5.0
10/31/2018
My wedding was made super easy by Emily and Shadae . We had our ceremony and reception aboard the yacht and from start to finish was smooth and stress free. All of the staff was awesome . Friendly , helpful and the food was fantastic . I really can not say enough of kind words about our experience . I recommend everyone to look into the wedding packages they offer and also just the cruises they offer as well ! We will be visiting the odyssey next for a dinner cruise . Can’t wait !
Drew O
4.0
5/28/2018
My husband and I had an afternoon wedding on a Friday. It was raining, but everything on the National Elite was beautiful. Heather and Emily were fantastic to work with, they made sure everything went smoothly. The food on the National Elite is so good, and the staff/crew are great.
It is the perfect all-inclusive venue with a unique twist. The only down side was that I wish we had extended the cruise an additional hour; and that we had the chance to talk to the DJ before hand.
Jacob B
5.0
4/13/2018
Thank you Emily Morgan and Elite Private Yacht Charters for making our Wedding celebration perfect! Our time aboard the Capital Elite created the perfect memory for us and our guests that we will cherish forever. Chef Matt was AMAZING and the staff aboard could not have been more sweet and accommodating. Even the Captain was heavily involved in making sure our needs were met. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making our day perfect!
Nat K
5.0
2/05/2018
Everyone was so great and attentive! They were able to get everything set and organize within a 2 month window for my wedding!
Sharde' R
5.0
12/12/2017
Loved how helpful the staff was from our initial signing through out our 10 months with them until we said I do. Everyone from Heather, Emily, down to all of the staff made sure all our needs were met and if we had any issues they were prompt at responding and resolving the issues. Food was also delicious and the entertainment was awesome. Thank you Elite Yacht for giving us our perfect dream wedding!!
Debronia C
5.0
8/14/2017
I was really excited about how my wedding turned out! I was really worried but the staff kept calm and assured me that it would be great. The menu was superb the fruit was fresh the Salmon was grilled perfectly. My wedding exceeded my expectations thanks to their diligence and team work!
We will have another event on your cruise lines you all are excellent!
Carlos R
2.0
6/17/2017
I am giving two stars average because Mary (the general manager who I give 3 stars) made a very good job cleaning up the mess made by the other staff members that worked with us initially.
As soon as we signed the contract and made the initial payment, the customer service changed in it’s entirely.
1. My wife and I agreed to meet for the first time with our wedding coordinator (Jennifer Johnston) to review planning-related matters on a Saturday at 12:00pm. Jennifer left the office and didn’t notify us. Another wedding coordinator tried to cover Jennifer’s absence and couldn’t get ahold of Jennifer over the phone (she ended up arriving 1 ½ hours late). We were told it was a personal emergency (which we decided to believe)
2. We had a telephone conversation with Jennifer’s manager (Kimi) during the upcoming week to discuss the incident as it was unacceptable not to be notified and we were worried this would happen again. Kimi asked us to CC her in every email we sent to Jennifer moving forward, but we decided not to do so and move forward and trust Jennifer
3. We sent several questions and made a few requests to Jennifer during the upcoming weeks, that in most cases required a yes or no answer. Same thing, unresponsive and very difficult to reach out to her.
4. Working with Kimi was basically the same thing. She lied about having sent an amended contract to us when we mentioned we didn’t receive anything. She sent it “again” next morning, timestamped with that day’s date. The contract was done obviously last minute; several paragraphs were chopped off and the overall aspect of the document was very unprofessional. This makes the integrity of a person and a company to be questioned.
5. We found out after the wedding that the venue ran out of food during the first serving and that many of our guests couldn’t get a full meal. This is not acceptable! We spend more than half of our budget on the reception for a tiny and intimate reception.
Dr Maggie J
5.0
6/14/2017
If you desire an intimate, classy, and enchanted environment to exchange vows with the love of your life. The National Elite is the place for you! The staff treat you like family, Heather my POC was highly responsive and it felt like a sister was helping me plan my wedding.
Maggie
Andie D
5.0
11/16/2016
My wedding ceremony and reception were in October on the National Elite. My husband and I were not very good planners, but Elena from the National Elite thought of and took care of everything! She thought of all of the details that we missed and followed up with appropriate action. The staff on the ship was so professional and thoughtful on our big day as well. Honestly, I had no stresses because of Elena and the support from the National Elite staff.
Jey G
5.0
11/15/2016
After proposing to my wife, then girlfriend, on board the Spirit dinner cruise, it was the best choice for the reception location. The event planner, Heather, was totally AWESOME! After we sent the paperwork for the reception in, the DJ, Rich, reached out to me to make sure all the songs and genre was appropriate. We boarded, met by the manager Kenneth who helped my new wife to the elevator to get to the third deck, as her dress wouldn't allow her to walk up the stairs. Once on board, the food was absolutely great, the deck had been set up just like Heather had described. I was able to get a couple helpers on board early to set up the personal items. Heather made sure to find out if we had a bakery delivery, where they needed to go and where to drop off the items. The entire crew was very pleasant and made our reception very joyous. I would highly recommend anyone looking for a reception/wedding area to check out this fabulous cruise.
Elvis M
5.0
11/07/2016
Thank you for all everything was wonderful we all enjoy it one of this best time of my life service food and the manager did a great job thank you against
Toinita T
4.0
10/17/2016
My fiancé and I wanted a unique and fun experience for our guests and we chose to go with having our wedding on the Spirit of Washington. Working with Jennifer J on the contract was a breeze. She was easy to work with and quick to provided answers. Working with Elena D. , wedding coordinator, was a blast. She was really friendly and excited to make our day special. I emailed Elena a lot of times (even about little things) and she was always there to help and ensure me that things will go well.
I am glad we had our wedding on the Spirit of Washington. Our guests enjoyed.
Jack L
5.0
10/05/2016
We just had a wedding at the spirit of Washington and it was fantastic! DJ Oscar killed it with the music, the food was fantastic our guest are still talking about it, the boat manager Mike was very responsive with our needs and a very generous manager and Elena the coordinator did a fantastic job working with us and being very responsive leading up to and even the day of our wedding. We thank you guys so much for giving us a wonderful day. Each of you was a pleasure to work with and if we could do it all over again we would absolutely do so with you.
5.0
9/29/2016
I wish I had more than 2 thumbs to put up!!! Elegant, tasteful, fabulous, joyful are a few adjectives among a list of many more positive verbiage I could use to explain my husband and I wedding reception experience on Capital Elite! We wished we had more time to just party the night away... 2 hours was not enough! We had 60 guest, did bouquet and garder toss, used Fred as DJ provided via Capital Elite for additional fee. Food, I wished we took some home! Music, perfect! White linens, plum satin napkins, white chair covers with plum satin sashes, and plum table runners gave "Eye orgasims"! We did simple orange and plum flower centerpieces and with the shiny interior of the boat walls and reflective windows they matched perfectly and brought everything together well!... Everyone keeps telling us how much fun they had and wished we stayed on boat longer!... There was construction on pier which wasn't eye friendly, but did not even matter with a reception thrown like the one we had! Totally could overlook that! Oh one two last comments, our hostess was amazing! She made the night flow the way it was supposed to! Saving best for last. Elena, our coordinator was so helpful, friendly and professional! Wish everyone could be like her! She showed pictures on her iPad for ideas and met us at every point! So would host another celebration here!
Bonnie L
5.0
9/27/2016
Elena and Jennifer were wonderful. The entire experience was fabulous. My wedding ran smoothly and without issue. They anticipated our every need. They had wonderful ideas and suggestions. They listen carefully to what we wanted and surpassed our expectation at every turn. It was a fun, carefree, phenomenal day! All of our guest said it was one of the best weddings they had ever been to. Everyone said how marvelous the food was! The crew on the ship was amazing. I could not have asked for a better day! Thanks to everyone on the National Elite!!
Karen K
5.0
9/27/2016
Our wedding ceremony and reception on the Odyssey in DC was magical. This was my second wedding and never thought that it could ever come close to feeling as if it was the first. Elena Dixon, the wedding coordinator of the Odyssey, surely made me feel like I was a bride for the first time. The food was fabulous and the views magnificent. If you are looking for the perfect place to get married , you must consider having it on the odyssey. You will cherish the moments forever , like I will.!!
Ashley W
5.0
9/27/2016
Our Wedding On The Water aboard The Odyssey was magical! We wanted a smaller wedding but also wanted to keep is classic and romantic! The Odyssey was perfect for this! We initially went to an open house and met Jennifer - obsessed! We gathered tons of information and toured the boat all while enjoying some of their delicious champagne! The decision to get married on The Odyssey was an easy one after the experience we had with Jennifer at the open house! This left us with about 8 months to plan and organize! The Odyssey sent us on an evening dinner cruise aboard the ship and we knew we had made the right decision to get married there. Elena then came into our lives and what a saving grace she was! She was our Wedding Coordinator and was absolutely amazing - she always had the answer to my 2938409382904 questions and was a pleasure to work with! She was calm, cool, and collected through the entire experience and our wedding would not have been the Fairytale it was without her help! Not only did my husband and I have the times of our lives, but our friends and families whom attended did as well! I would relive this day over and over again if I could! Thank you Odyssey!
KERIN M
5.0
9/23/2016
Im tryly thankful to the Spirit of Washington. My wedding was all I expected and more. I enjoyed planning everything with Elena Dixon, if it wasnt for her I dont know what would I do. Everytime I came up with something she had wonderful ideas to share. The most important thing is that she made me enjoy my day without worring about anything. She was on top of every single detail. I love the fact that most thing were added into the package, from the wedding planner to a single chair. My husband and I would never have chosen a better place to have our wedding ceremony and reception. Thank you Spirit Of Washington for making it unforgettable.
Phoebe M
4.0
9/12/2016
We hosted our rehearsal dinner on the Odyssey. It was a wonderful evening and all enjoyed cruising the river and celebrating! We were unable to go to Georgetown due to the tides. The staff was great to work with and were very efficient. The only reason I did not give it 5 stars was due to the price and restrictions. It is pricey and there are more restrictions than other venues but if you want a hassle free evening with great food and entertainment, choose Odyssey!!
Dave J
5.0
8/28/2016
My wife and I loved everything. The boat, staff , and especially Elena (coordinator) was great and everyone who attended had a blast!!
response 08/29/2016
Thank you so much, our staff loves to hear positive feedback and we are glad your guests h...
ad a great time!
Molly Z
5.0
8/15/2016
Elena and the Spirit of Washington Staff was great to work with. Everything was taken care of and there was no stress involved! Our guests loved the venue, it was such a unique experience. I'd recommend having a wedding or any special event here any day!
response 08/29/2016
We love our 'weddings on the water' and agree that it is an absolutely unique experience. ...
Thank you for the wonderful feedback!
Crystal M
5.0
8/10/2016
Married on Odyssey III
April 29, 2016
"We had our amazing wedding on the beautiful Odyssey III at 10 am on Friday, April 29th. It was the perfect weekday morning wedding. Even though we only booked one side of the Carneros Room and there were other guests on the boat during our wedding, it felt so exclusive and intimate. Our guests traveled to our wedding from all over the world, from New York to Missouri, from the US Virgin Islands to Africa, so we wanted to provide them with a unique destination experience and a tour of DC all at the same time. Every single one of our guests loved the venue and raved about the food even to this day. Since it was at the end of April, it happened to be a somewhat rainy and gloomy day, but once you were inside the beautiful ship you would have never known it. Our guests were completely shielded from the elements but still able to have the morning sun shining down on them and look at the amazing views of the river, the monuments, and the DC skyline. Although everything didn’t go off without a hitch (on our end) the staff and team at the Odyssey were absolutely amazing at handling the schedule changes and craziness. All the staff went above and beyond. They made the day as stress free as possible and were completely understanding and patient with us. This made us feel like VIP on our special day. DJ Rich was amazing and a true professional. Working with Elena and Jennifer from the very beginning was awesome. They were knowledgeable, detail-oriented, organized, and made every effort to accommodate any special requests we had. We are so glad and grateful that we choose the Odyssey to have this one and a lifetime day! Tip: I highly recommend getting the boarding photos, they make the perfect wedding favors, our guests loved them, money well spent!!
- Crystal & Bacary
response 08/29/2016
Thank you for the fabulous review! We pride ourselves on creating unforgettable memories a...
nd could not be more thrilled to hear about your special day.
Christina S
5.0
7/25/2016
I had a great time on the Spirit of Washington. Elena Dixon was wonderful!! Anything I needed she made sure to go above and beyond to provide it. My guests had a great time as well!! I had the perfect day and wouldn't change anything about it!! Thank you, Elena!!
response 08/29/2016
We are so happy to have been a part of your special day. Thank you for the wonderful revi...
ew!
Odessa W
5.0
6/29/2016
WOW, what a wonderful 50th Anniversary Celebration we had aboard the Capital Elite on June 4, 2016. My husband and I, along with 50 guests, thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. I know this was largely because of the great services provided to us by the staff at Entertainment Cruises, who diligently helped us plan the event; and the crew aboard the Capital Elite, who graciously saw to our every need during the dinner cruise. We particularly appreciated their assistance in providing a list of reputable florists, bakeries, and event designers to help us create the warm, formal ambience we desired. The special amenities, food and drinks were awesome. The cruise around the Potomac River provided the perfect backdrop. Hat's off to Jennifer Johnson (Wedding Accounts Manager) and Elena Dixon (Wedding & Events Coordinator) for jobs well done! Thanks for helping to make our 50th Anniversary a special memory.
response 08/29/2016
The Capital Elite staff thoroughly enjoyed being a part of your 50th anniversary celebrati...
on! We loved the gold and black theme, it was absolutely gorgeous.
Timothy B
5.0
6/28/2016
We rented the National Elite and we enjoyed a fabulous and carefree wedding despite the fact that we elected to act as our own wedding coordinators. The Elite’s cradle to grave services (probably a bad metaphor for a wedding); their hands’ on start to finish comprehensive assistance made all the difference in the world, and we would give a special thanks to their wedding coordinator Elaine. We were most impressed by the food. Of course, we were expecting good food, but assumed that a “ship” would have its limitations. However, we were pleasantly surprised by the taste and quality of the food. Even the rather unpalatable sounding “Airline Chicken,” was fabulous. Thank you Elaine and The National Elite. Of course since this marriage is going to last forever, I won’t be giving you any repeat business, but I can only offer you a great review
response 06/29/2016
We truly enjoyed being a part of your beautiful day! The colorful centerpieces and chair ...
covers came together perfectly and your table numbers were so fun. We wish you happy days ahead!
Keelan O
5.0
6/28/2016
We held our wedding reception (a 4 hour dinner cruise) with 60 guests on the Capital Elite and could not have been happier with the venue! Most of our guests were from out of town/country, so we felt like a dinner cruise was a fun and unique way to celebrate our wedding and show our guests some of D.C.'s best sites!
We booked our reception site about 1 year in advance, and although we worked with 3 different Elite Charters wedding coordinators during that time, ALL of them were friendly and very helpful as we prepared for our big day. Elena, the current wedding coordinator, was wonderful! She was always quick to respond to e-mails or phone calls, and answered any and all questions we had. She even attended our reception and worked behind the scenes to make sure things ran smoothly. I don't know what we would have done without her!
The cruise itself was perfect and all of our guests had a great time! We chose to have a dinner buffet, and all of the food was delicious! The guests were happy they had the chance to go back for seconds (and thirds...)!
I had been concerned the boat might feel crowded with 60 people, but there was plenty of indoor and outdoor seating and dance floor space for everyone!
We also hired a DJ (Fred) through Elite Yacht Charters. He was very reasonably priced, fun, energetic, professional and did a fantastic job! He wanted to make sure all of our favorite songs were played, and accepted unlimited song requests throughout the night. Amazing!
We were overall EXTREMELY happy we chose Elite Yacht Charters for our reception venue. It was fun, unique, and suited our needs perfectly.
The only drawbacks we experienced were:
1) Heavy construction near the dock made finding the boarding location difficult for some of our guests. There was also very limited parking onsite.
2) There was a leak on the night of our cruise, which caused some of the carpet to be damp near the bar area. I believe that issue has since been resolved.
response 06/29/2016
Thank you so much for the wonderful feedback. We enjoyed being a part of your planning an...
d Elena says the day was absolutely beautiful!
Sultana K
5.0
10/25/2015
It was a great! Good tasting food. Accommodation for dietary restrictions. Great music and view on the deck.
5.0
10/22/2015
I highly recommend Entertainment Cruises! This was our third "wedding" experience. Coming from Los Angles, we chose the Spirit of Washington as our venue after careful consideration and checking out several options available in the DC area. The Boat was sparkling clean;the "Cruise staff" courteous, friendly & incredibly helpful; the food seriously delicious. An outstanding combo! Our son's Rehearsal dinner was a stress free, first class event.
Tara K
5.0
8/27/2015
We got married on the rainiest day of the month but that didn't stop us from having the greatest day. The staff was wonderful and very accommodating. Everyone had a wonderful time and forgot that it was raining. In fact all the guests would like us to do it again on our anniversary. I honestly wouldn't change a thing. We opted for the 3 hour lunch cruise and that worked out perfectly. The food was delicious.
Krystyna H
5.0
4/26/2015
What an awesome wedding experience! The yacht coordinator was very accommodating to ensure our wedding would be exactly as I had dreamed it to be - job well done. The National Elite provided a unique venue that will have our guests talking about our wedding for years to come!
Kremena L
5.0
2/13/2015
We got married on the National Elite Yacht on October 4 2014 and we had an amazing experience. Not only that the staff (Tegan and Jen) worked close with us before the wedding, but the food was amazing, the wedding coordination on the day of the wedding was right on schedule and even Jen was great in improvising a bread being eaten by our dog at home.
Funny story, but our dog sneaked in and ate half of a bread that was supposed to be used as part of the ceremony. We found that out while I was getting ready and had no time to address it. At that point I thought that I should leave it out, but Jen improvised and it all worked out perfectly.
Tegan on the other hand worked with us before the day and made sure we were staying within our budget and was informing us for every change that was coming up. We actually ended up getting married on her birthday!!!
If you want to have an unforgettable and different wedding experience, this is your place.
5.0
12/06/2014
We had an excellent experience on Spirit of Washington. The Wedding Event Coordinator was extremely helpful in suggesting a florist, limo service, and bakery, all of whom were excellent. The wait staff was personable and efficient, making good suggestions as we went through the evening. We had a small Wedding Party of sixteen persons, which as it turns out mingled well with other guests on board.
Dianna G
5.0
10/25/2014
We had our wedding on board the Spirit of Washington, and we couldn't be happier with the decision. From the moment we met the sales team and wedding coordinator, we knew we would be in good hands. We wanted a fun and different evening for our guests, most of whom were from out of town. Everyone had a blast! Best of all, with the help of our wedding coordinator, Jen, it was such an easy event to plan. We only had 3 1/2 months to plan, and everything just fell into place. Given everything that was included in our package, we had fewer vendors to find, and our coordinators took care of contacting the other vendors we chose to coordinate everything. We honestly had so little to do, and on the day we were able to just enjoy everything. The team in DC is just fantastic, you really can't go wrong if you want a fun and memorable event!
response 10/27/2014
Thank you for your gracious review. We treasure each and every wedding and it was truly a ...
privilege and a pleasure having you aboard the Spirit of Washington for your special day!
Zsofia J
5.0
9/25/2014
I had a great experience with The Odyssey Cruises. The people are just amazing, very professional and helpful to make your event just how you want it.
I would recommend to everyone to host an event there. Great atmosphere!
5.0
8/30/2014
We had our ceremony and reception on the Spirit of Washington. We were looking for something a little different, intimate and fun, and we got just that, it was a great experience! The staff was very helpful and organized, everything ran smoothly. The scenery was amazing for photos and all the guests had a great time! It was perfect for what we were looking for!
Donna M
2.0
7/20/2014
Having a wedding on the Elite was a unique and fun experience for us and our guests but the service and value was very disappointing. For $585 my 58 guests were served a single platter of pineapple, melon and cherries, not the cascading fruit tower you see in the brochure, and while my guests thought the reception buffet was delicious, there was not enough, and I even had less guests than the minimum I had to pay (minimum cost is for 70) so I was very upset to learn that many of my guests left hungry and went to a local restaurant after the wedding. The crew was also late in setting up so guests had to wait about 45 minutes on the dock before they could board, this also meant that I had no time pre-ceremony for pictures on the boat since nothing was setup when we arrived. I would recommend it for a sightseeing tour and cocktails but not to replace a wedding reception.
response 08/06/2014
Thank you for your feedback. We do everything we can to accommodate our guests. However, ...
we did face challenges when providing a menu that met the allergy needs of your groom. The severe allergies to pepper caused us to have to limit the number of menu items we could provide. Additionally, there is a tight window between cruises and we apologize that this caused challenges in your ability to set-up for your wedding. We have shared your feedback with our operations team and will use it to continuously improve our product.
Audrey Y
5.0
6/11/2014
The staff, ship, and views were amazing!!!!
We had our ceremony on the upper deck outside and you could not have asked for a nicer space.(late May clear evening)
The space on the lower deck for the dinner/reception was well appointed. The food was very good!! Space was provided for our cake near our party and away from other guests.
The bar and wait staff was friendly and attentive.
The DJ was great and was very responsive to our requests.
All around great venue for a destination wedding!!!
5STAR!!
5.0
5/24/2014
Starting with planning we found the Odyssey staff to be helpful, accomodating, and clearly experienced with executing weddings on board their ship. They provided us with a list of vendors and hotels, some of which we used and were of very high quality, yet reasonably priced. The staff had us complete a questionnaire that helped tremendously with planning. Our wedding was a bit less conventional but there were things we did not think about until we completed the forms. Likewise, the DJ, Vince had us fill out a form that not only ensured we got the right mix of dinner and dance music, but also helped us plan the ceremony and not miss important details, like making sure we had toasting glasses. He called me twice to make sure we were all set with our choices and had not changed our minds about any thing related to the music. The dinning room was beautifully decorated the night of the wedding with simple, yet elegant touches. The food was delicious and there were choices for the vegan and vegetarians in our crowd. The waitstaff were superb, ensuring we both placed our orders amongst all the usual post ceremony chaos. The waitstaff were very personable offering us congratulations, veterans in the group came up to congratulate us as we were in military uniform, and one waiter took the time to exchange a few words of Chinese with my young nieces who are learning to speak the language. Vince made it on to the floor to teach us the Chicken Dance and played the Hora twice so that we both got lifted into the air. We would without reservation recommend the Odyssey as a venue for a wedding. It certainly simplifies certain aspects of planning in that you don't have to find a venue, a caterer, or a DJ. The boat ride makes for a very memorable evening for your guests even if they are not party animals! The team we worked with, Tegan Ellis and Jennifer Johnson made the entire process, start to finish a real pleasure. Oh, and a week later, our guests are still talking about the boat ride!
5.0
5/07/2014
The spirit of washington was an great venue for my recent nuptials. Staff very professional, responsive and attentive to needs. Guests all enjoyed and had a great time and gave me and my wife a wedding of a lifetime!!
Rico
Marta L
4.0
11/05/2013
We had our reception on National Elite. We took a 4 hour cruise from the National harbor. The boat is beautiful, the staff was very nice and the food was delicious (we did plated dinner.) Overall the event went well.
We decided to rent a dance floor because they wanted to charge us around $800 to add a dance floor. It was a nice warm day and the bottom deck got very very hot. The AC wouldn't keep up and it was quite uncomfortable.
Ally B
5.0
8/13/2013
We were married on the 4th of July on the Capital Elite Yacht. Amanda, our wedding coordinator, was spectacular in helping plan the wedding. The service while on the yacht was well above what I expected. All the guests were very impressed with the staff and their efficiency and kindness. The food was amazing too.... Overall - an excellent experience
Catherine T
4.0
6/11/2013
Entertainment Cruises was an excellent venue overall. They provided the catering, bar and bartender and offer a list of vendors they have worked with in the past. There was an issue with timing during the event that I can't really explain, but other than that, the service was excellent and the Event Coordinator on board bent over backward to fix everything.
Cheryl L
5.0
4/15/2013
I planned the bridal shower five months ago. The personal cruise coordinator was absolutely incredible. She made the planning of the event effortless. we had a private party with 40 guests. The staff made sure that all of the guests needs were met. The brunch cruise was buffet so it allowed a variety and an abundance of dishes for everyone to choose. It was just the perfect day, for the perfect event, on the perfect vessel. Even the captain assisted in bringing our favors on board prior to sailing. Now how special is that? Will I have my next major event on the Odyssey? Absolutely I will! Thank you for making my God daughter's shower so memorable event that she will never forget it.
Anita L
5.0
10/28/2012
Best choice ever. Food, music, cake and chair ties was included in the price. My family and friends (150) guest are still talking about the venue. Rachel was wonderful and made sure that i got what i needed.
Candice C
5.0
9/04/2012
I can't think of enough ways to thank the folks at Entertainment Cruises for the wonderful event that they helped me host on our wedding day. Their service was so fantastic that I sent a letter to them and to their corporate offices. One of the things that appealed to me was the idea of one-stop shop, where everything could be done from one venue. From the beginning when we attended the open house, the accounts manager and everyone we contacted worked with us to accommodate us in every way, even when our guest list jumped from 64 to 104! The food was over-the-top fantastic, with variety for every guest. The service staff aboard went out of their way to make sure that people had proper refills and that no plates piled up. Words can't express how special our day was, and everyone had a great time aboard! I have recommended the cruise to everyone I know for their next event. We can't wait to book our next cruise!
jessie h
4.0
12/16/2011
We had a small intimate wedding of 75 guests. Our original reception vendor didn't work out and we ended up booking Spirit of Washing for both ceremony and reception at the last possible minute. I had seen the picture of the ceremony deck an the reception hall once and wan't too thrilled. After reading some of the reviews of the cruise in general, I was worried. Boy was I wrong. They had set up everything exactly the way I, the bride, wanted, heehee. And it was gorgeous. So pretty and so cute. They did forget to put out the candles but it was a brunch reception so I didn't really care - however I was a little upset that they forgot the heatlamps for the outdoor ceremony. They were so very helpful from the start to finish, they would even call us to remind us what needed to be done next. They have the best waitstaff who were attentive 110% to every single guest the entire time.
They have a list of vendors that they work with all the time. I went with the florist and the baker from their vendor list. Stephanie the Baker made the wedding cake just perfect and they were so delicious. Weddingloft Holland Flowers was pain in the you know where to work with and let me just say I will not recommend her even to my worst enemy. The florist was the one and only mistake of our wedding.
Anyways, I must say it was a great experience and the quality of service that the waitstaff offered made is so much more special. My husband and I couldn't be happier. I recommend Spirit of Washington if you are looking for something different, modern and chic. You will be surprised.
Charmain W
4.0
9/12/2011
My husband and I wanted a venue that would combine the ceremony and reception. The Capital Elite Yacht was the best choice, as it offered wonderful views sailing along the potomac, fine dining and a great atmosphere. My guests were not inconvenienced, as we all received 5-star service.
1.0
7/16/2011
Before I started planning, I had my heart set on Odyssey Cruises. However, that all changed once I started actually dealing with them. My fiance did handled most of the initial communication with their event coordinator, Anna. She was extremely difficult to get in touch with and never seems to be at her desk or return calls promptly. We got nothing but the runaround from this company, especially Anna. After seeing prices on their website, we had a good idea of what we wanted and what we could afford. Our first quote was along these lines and matched the advertised rates. When we called 2 days later to book the venue, the price nearly doubled due to ridiculous hidden fees. When I called Anna for explanation, she was very condescending and downright rude. She even stated that I should be grateful she hadn't decided to charge me even more!
The bait-and-switch routine is horrible business practice and I would not advise anyone to do business with these people.
response 08/17/2011
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with Odyssey Cruises. We appreciate...
your feedback and apologize for the unsatisfactory service you experienced with our sales representative. We have passed this onto our Management team and had our Director of Sales call to address your negative experience. Customer satisfaction is key to our organization and we strive to give exemplary customer service from the beginning to the end of the wedding planning process and regret this was not the case for you.
Tanya W
5.0
12/08/2010
Ease of Planning with DJ, catering, entertainment, cake all in one package and fun for the guests. We all had a wonderful time. My guests are still taking about how much fun they had.
Rachel W
5.0
11/02/2010
It was PERFECT!! The staff was amazing, the food was to die for, and it was so beautiful no decoration was needed. Great great great for a really low price. Definitely recommended!!
Chelsea H
5.0
5/10/2010
Free parking garage for guests. The outside area next to the building was perfect for the receiving line and mingling in between the ceremony and reception. Note: Both ceremony and reception were held in the same building. The space was large enough to hold all 400 guests. Glass windows around 3 main walls of the whole building let in a lot of sun light giving the whole space a beautiful bright and romantic look. There is a perfect private side road on one side of the building that the bride and groom can make their exit from.;The surrounding space is a public area however there are security guards walking around to tell unwanted strangers to go away. This never happened for our wedding but it is a possibility.
Contact
Curious to learn more?
Start the convo
*=Required
$15,500 starting price
Wedding Team
MANAGER
- Messaging our verified vendors on The Knot is free, safe and secure.
- Conveniently track vendor messages and planning details all in one place.
- Our mobile apps make it easy to stay in touch with vendors while you're on‑the‑go.
- For personalized pricing and package details, sending the vendor a message is the fastest way to get info.
By clicking 'Request Quote', you agree to The Knot creating an account for you, if you don't have one, and to our Terms of Use. See our Privacy Policy to learn what data we collect and how we use it.
Wedding vendors in Washington
City Cruises - Washington DC
City Cruises - Washington DC's photos
Why use The Knot to message vendors?
- Messaging our verified vendors on The Knot is free, safe and secure.
- Conveniently track vendor messages and planning details all in one place.
- Our mobile apps make it easy to stay in touch with vendors while you're on‑the‑go.
- For personalized pricing and package details, sending the vendor a message is the fastest way to get info.