Cruising with Captain Mel

Posted on May 25, 2011 by Ashley

If you haven’t heard already, we’d like to welcome you to the summer cruise season! We kicked off on May 5th with our Cinco de Mayo event and have five more cruises available in the Summer Cruise Series for you to come and cruise with us.

By now, you’ve met some of our staff, and hopefully a few new friends on board. This week, we’ll give you a look at the operations side of our team.

Captain Mel is one of 5 captains that pilot the Infinity and Ovation. With over 13 years of experience, Mel helped introduce the Infinity’s sister ship, Ovation in 2005.

Like our other staff members at IOYC, Mel is crazy about being on the water. “I was born and raised on the water,” he explains. “But I’m pretty lucky having started out on a 12 foot row boat and now I’m here on the beautiful Ovation!”

Starting on a rowboat is great, but there are a lot of knobs and dials that make the magic of sailing a boat of this stature. Here’s a video of our “backstage,” so to speak, where Mel gives us a tour:

If you want to come out and cruise with us, there are still tickets available for our Summer Cruise Series, or plan a private events for a yacht full of your friends . Fill out a proposal and come cruise with us!

Posted in IOYC News | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Meet the team! IOYC introduces Ryan Angott

Posted on May 2, 2011 by Ashley

We know that one of the best things about this new social media trend is that you get to see the people behind a company, instead of just the exterior. As we’ve started meeting new readers and friends on Facebook and Twitter, we wanted to introduce ourselves to you, too. So if you’ve booked already, you’re thinking about cruising with us, or just perusing for now, we’re continuing our “Meet the Team” series this week.

We’ve been told that meeting the team behind IOYC, and seeing the passion behind the work, you start to wonder if most see themselves in this kind of job from the start.

For Ryan Angott, director of sales and marketing, the answer is a definite yes.

“I love being outdoors and I am always looking to get on the water whenever I can. I actually own a house on Cass Lake,” Ryan explains. So when he isn’t marketing cruises on the Ovation and Infinity, he likes to relax and take his own boat out. In this way, work and play never seem too separated.

“I really did picture myself working with a company like this.” Ryan affirms.

But it wasn’t just about being near the water. He wanted a creative job: one that would draw from his skill set.

“Even though I didn’t have a hospitality background… finding out I had the opportunity to work for IOYC was a huge draw,” Ryan says. It turned out that the position he took, directing sales and marketing, was the perfect fit. His unique set of skills were just right for what Ryan calls “an extremely fun, unique company.”

The fun comes in, Ryan says, in the independence this job gives him: “creating a complete sales and marketing plan and running with it… and then see it come to life throughout the year… it’s a thrill for me.”

Growing up, his dad often told him “if you hate your job, you will work every day of your life. If you love your job, you don’t have to work a day in your life.” Taking the job at IOYC allows him to live out his dad’s advice: “Because I love my job so much, it helps me enjoy my life a tremendous amount more.”

Shouldn’t a job be fun? We tend to think so, especially in our line of work. The equation is pretty simple, actually. When we have fun creating and coordinating the cruises you’d want to take, it makes the whole experience more fun for you. And that’s our bottom line.

So how much fun do you think you can have on one of our cruises? You can come for a taste on one of our Summer Cruise Series events, or if you’d like to jump in head first, you can fill out a proposal for your own private event. We’d love to see you on board.

Posted in IOYC News | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Meet the Team! IOYC introduces Karen Servatius

Posted on April 22, 2011 by Ashley

So far we’ve blogged about our upcoming events, brides who we’ve gotten close to, and event trends, but this week we thought we’d bring you something new.

Businesses never stand by themselves. They’re built out of the people who run them: the people who add personality and character to the place. We know that the events that we host on board the Infinity and Ovation are sometimes the most important days in people’s lives, and that there is a lot that goes into making it the best it can be. As such, IOYC is staffed by a group of people who are passionate about what they do.

So we thought that as we get to know our readers, we’d like to introduce ourselves to you, too!

Karen Servatius is our charter coordinator here at IOYC.

“After reading the description of the job, I knew it was perfect for me,” she starts. Not only does this job draw on talents from her two previous (working as a travel agent and travel events manager), she just plain loves it… “I love water and boats, so having the opportunity to do what I love, where I love to be, was the ultimate job.”

Karen’s job is full of variety, but most importantly she says she’s the point person for vendor confirmations when times draws close to cruising. She also manages the spectacular Summer Cruise Series. This year’s series, which Miss Karen has so enthusiastically worked on, will kick off on Cinco de Mayo.

Before IOYC launched this series, cruises on the Ovation and Infinity were primarily private events. Karen and the rest of the team were interested in opening the boats up to the general public, giving anyone who was curious a taste of what it’s like to cruise on our fleet. If you, dear reader, are wondering what it’s like, we have some good news: there are still tickets available for the Cinco de Mayo cruise and others in our Summer Series.

So far, people have been wild for it, and this includes the staff! “My most memorable event was on the Havana Nights cruise [on the Summer Series] last year. It was my first ‘cruise’ and I was able to share it with my parents on board,” Karen explains. “They’re avid cruisers, so it was great to hear how thrilled they were to find something as fabulous as the Ovation yacht to enjoy a night out in the summer.”

The Ovation

She says it’s the people that she loves most about her job. “I’m fortunate to work with an incredible group of individuals,” she beams. But it’s the patrons of IOYC, too: “it’s great to walk around and talk to people and hear all the great things they have to say about our cruises.”

Stay tuned to hear from more of our staff in our “Meet the Team” blog series, and in the meantime, follow us on Twitter and Facebook for live updates.

Have a happy weekend!

Posted in IOYC News | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Yacht party on Cinco de Mayo? Si, por favor!

Posted on April 15, 2011 by Ashley

It’s safe to say that warm weather is finally here, and we’re kicking off our Summer Cruise series in less than three weeks. Happily, this coincides with Mexico’s equivalent of our 4th of July, and one of the most fun days of the year to throw a party…

Cinco de Mayo!

We’ve made sure everything about this cruise has a Mexican flavor to it: from the music, to the décor to the food– it’s all covered in one fabulous celebration of culture.

We’ve asked a local band to share their lively music on board, and they were happy to come cruise with us in celebration. Their musical style is a fusion of Mariachi music and worldly jazz, backed by dynamic and well-known percussionist Miguel Guitterez. Through this blend, they make it a point to add a hip, current twist to traditional Mexican music.

We have a quatro (4) course meal planned out, with dessert to boot. Expect authentic guacamole, tomatillo and mango pineapple salsa, as well as exotic chorizo or poblano chile queso. The chorizo flavor is a Mexican sausage, while poblano is a mild chile pepper. We like to keep our carnivores AND vegetarians happy, so for the main course, we’re serving ancho chile rock shrimp and a tequila lime mixed vegetable paella.

Rest assured, your ear drums and taste buds will be happy. But what about the view? Here’s look at our cruise map, too. Be sure to wave when we cruise past the Ambassador Bridge and Detroit’s very own Mexicantown! Maybe even grab a margarita and give a long distance toast.

A view of the Ambassador Bridge from the Ovation. Photo by Kenny Corbin

It’s pre-season, so you can still purchase tickets for this cruise at a pretty hefty discount, but be sure to get them before they sell out. Season tickets are also available for the rest of the Summer Cruise Series.

Viva Cinco de Mayo! We can’t wait to see you on board!

Posted in IOYC News | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Banish boring board meetings: Take a sneak peek at our fleet!

Posted on April 6, 2011 by Ashley

It’s pretty much a given: a change of scenery does wonders for a person’s sense of well being and creativity. I think we can all agree that businesses function at their highest potential when their employees feel happy, appreciated, and inventive.

In short, we’ve got a great alternative to conference rooms and cubicles.

The kind of environment the Infinity and Ovation yachts offer is perfectly suited toward relationship building. This is the stuff that business is built on.

Mobile Media Marketing has been one of many groups we’ve hosted. They’re an advertising firm that uses “unconventional mediums” to get their message across: mobile billboards, wild postering, street teams and more. By nature, their work is very creative, so you can see why they would choose to cruise with us. Getting yourself physically out of your usual surroundings jogs your brain in new, productive ways. Judging by their work, it seems to have worked.

We’ve hosted events diverse as board meetings to retirement parties, so we’re here for you in other ways, too: client or employee appreciation, celebrating your business’ anniversary, product promotion, conferences, team building retreats and more. We also host fund raisers for non profits.

We were happy to sail with Cops for Kids. They’re a group started by two deputy sheriffs who say they “saw a need to help children around Christmas time.” It evolved into much more than seasonal service, offering their services throughout the whole year. They serve underprivileged families in a multitude of ways: transportation, temporary shelter, clothing, and more.

We know that in this economy, budget is a concern, particularly for non-profits. No worries. As Emerald City Designs can affirm, the ambiance of both yachts is beautiful in itself. If an award ceremony or employee appreciation reception is what you’re aiming for, there is little need to spend money on more decoration. We can work with you to find an event that fits your budget.

If you want to see these boats in person, you’re in luck: we’re holding our Corporate Open House on the Infinity and Ovation tomorrow afternoon, from 1 to 6:30 pm. If you’d like to attend, please RSVP here. We look forward to seeing you!

Posted in IOYC News | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Bride on a Boat!

Posted on March 31, 2011 by Ashley

It’s hard for Kari Parnell to pick a favorite memory from the night she spent on the Ovation. She pauses for a second and says “I know it’s old news now and totally silly, but we were married the year the ‘I’m on a Boat’ song was really big. It was so fun to see people who had never heard it sing along. Hilarious!”

She spent her wedding reception on the yacht after she married her husband, Scott, at the Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian Church downtown. After saying their “I do’s,” the wedding party headed over to the Renaissance Center, where the yacht was docked, and Scott would get his chance to drive the boat. Needless to say, this was his favorite memory of the evening.

The search for the perfect wedding and reception venue, like most other bride’s experiences, was quite the process. “There were several options, but it came down to three when all was said and done: Ovation, Henry Ford Museum, and Roostertail. But we were looking for a very unique experience.” The Ovation, it turned out, was right in line with what the Parnells were looking for.

“We didn’t want just a wedding reception. We wanted to throw a giant party that our friends and family would be talking about for years,” Kari explains.

Mission accomplished.

“It was perfect for us. It really represented who we are and the ambiance we wanted to exude for the evening,” she gushed.

Matt’s love of Detroit guided their search. “He wanted to show Detroit off in all it’s glory to my family, who is from a very small town on the west side of Michigan,” Kari tells me. What better way to display the city and all its assets than a view from international waters?

“The water was an added bonus,” she laughs “it helped my family feel more at home.”

From time to time, she does get people still talking about how fun the reception was. All in all, Kari calls it the evening perfect: “I wouldn’t change a thing!”

Interested in hosting your own event on one of our yachts? Fill out a proposal or give us a call at 586.778.7030

Posted in IOYC News | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cruising with Emerald City Designs

Posted on March 25, 2011 by Administrator

We’re in our fourth year using Emerald City Designs as our preferred floral and linen vendor. Naturally, we wanted to share the love with our readers, so Emerald City’s Nicole Beaudoin sat down with me to talk about their vision, creative process, and this year’s floral design trends.

Their name references The Wizard of Oz, a movie the owner David McKnight loved in his childhood. “It’s about following the yellow brick road to fulfill your dreams,” Nicole tells me. Walking through poppy fields on the way isn’t so bad a view, either.

So their business name gives it away: the sense of place is very important in their design process. When it comes to arrangements for the Ovation and Infinity yachts, they have a great sense of the space. “We like to work with décor that emphasizes the essence of the yacht, which to us is a really classy location. It has a lot of ambiance going on already,” Nicole explains.

So what are the hottest spring/summer 2011 floral trends?

“Neutral is one trend that we are seeing,” Nicole tells me. There is a “vintage, muted” feel that will be very much in vogue.

One of her favorite Infinity Ovation weddings used this color scheme. “It was from this past year – latte textured tablecloths, silver antique urns, crystal accents on the tables and flowers spilling out of the urns!”

“My favorite designs on the yachts,” Nicole says, “have been when we go neutral – ivory, champagne, white, beige – and let the décor have an understated, romantic tone.”

But what if neutral isn’t your thing? There’s still good news.

“The other trend we’re seeing is a saturation of color but being specific in the tones – for example, hot pink and apple green,” Nicole assures. On the yachts, she says, “it seems all colors go well.”

They couple their knowledge of the latest industry trends with a very classic sensibility. For weddings in particular, Nicole says “Hydrangeas seem to work very well in the white and I love to accent with a blue tablecloth for a classic design. We’re on the water, in Michigan, and I think we should highlight this concept.”

If you’re interested in seeing more of their work, they have a Style Showcase on Saturday, April 2nd. Or, if you’re interested in using them on your own Infinity Ovation Yacht Charter event, whether it’s a birthday, anniversary, wedding, fundraiser, or something else entirely, we’d be happy to oblige.

All photos included are compliments of Emerald City Designs, LCC.

Posted in IOYC News | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Mother of the groom muses on wedding memories

Posted on March 15, 2011 by Administrator

“I’m so lucky,” Nancy Ruark gushed, “my son married my best friend’s daughter.”

Talking to Nancy, you can sense a “meant to be” feeling running through the whole story.

Her son Scott married his high school sweetheart, Heather, last year. The couple wasn’t initially set on a yacht wedding. They thought they would look through a few Detroit wedding venues and take their time deciding.

Instead, Nancy explains, “this was the only place we ever went.”

Their wedding was going to be a smaller, very family-oriented affair, and they wanted a location that would fit these needs.

Of the two yachts available, it was the Ovation that won them over.

“It was a very intimate setting,” Nancy remarked. “There was a modern simplicity while still being very sleek and classy.”

After this love at first sight, and through the whole wedding planning process, the IOYC wedding planners worked with the family to make Scott and Heather’s wedding totally unique. They set up at the riverfront so Scott’s father could perform the ceremony and set the stage for Heather’s dad to sing the song for newly weds’ first dance.

“The whole thing really fit Scott and Heather’s personalities to a tee,” Nancy recalled.

It was fitting for Scott and Heather, to be sure. But Nancy’s duties as mother of the groom were made easier as well. “Everything is done in advance,” Nancy says “during the reception, the cruise director keeps everything moving. It’s much less stress. I know mothers are sometimes working up until the time they put their dresses on.”

It gave her time to relax and enjoy the big day. “Our family loves dancing. I spent a lot of time out on the dance floor,” she laughed. “I couldn’t have imagined a better venue.”

Oh, and the last meant-to-be moment of the day?

“The photographer came in and just whisked them out on the deck,” Nancy beamed. “There was a perfect double rainbow!”

Interested in holding your own wedding on our fleet? Fill out a wedding proposal or call us at 586.778.7030. We’d love to hear from you!

Posted in IOYC News | Leave a comment

Brides: All aboard!

Posted on February 17, 2011 by Administrator

When selecting a venue for a Detroit wedding, the idea “international waters” might not be the first thing that springs to mind. This is, however, exactly what’s offered with Ovation and Infinity Yacht Charters. “I’d recommend it to anyone looking for something unique,” Maria Dieter, one of the fleet’s brides, said, “It made our day so memorable, for us and our guests.”

There is so much for a bride to choose from to make her day unique and memorable. These yachts have a whole host of incredibly unique elements or “wow factors” available for weddings. Some couples, instead of using a priest or minister, request our esteemed captain to perform their ceremony.

Another surprising addition is the Shutterbooth. An actual photo booth can be brought on board for guests, with all of its old-time romance and playfully blithe airs. Nautical props, of course, are included.

Infinity and Ovation also have dance instructors available to teach salsa, tango, pop, country line dancing and more. But really, there is so much more to choose from, it’s difficult not to fit a wedding to the couple’s (and guests!) personalities. The Infinity even has a Wii!

Dawn Pennebaker, another Infinity and Ovation bride, seconds Mrs. Dieter’s recommendation. She had so much fun on her wedding day, she plans to celebrate her anniversary every year on one of the summer cruise series. This kind of uniqueness, I believe, comes from a certain thoroughness on the wedding planners’ parts. “They really paid attention to details, realizing this was the most important day of our lives,” she says.

So, for those engaged couples out there, bear in mind that wedding season is quickly approaching. The end of this week is going to reach a balmy 50 degrees and, along with the weather’s spring preview, Infinity and Ovation Yachts Charter is hosting an open house for brides, their fiancés, and families to come see what a spring wedding on our fleet would look like.

Look forward to passed champagne and petit pastries. If you decide you have a taste for this kind of bubbly and you book before February 28th, you’ll find it again on your wedding day, complimentary, with hors d’oeuvres.

Posted in IOYC News | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment