Anchors Aweigh For Private Charters!
Lifting the Anchors of Our Private Charters!
Sailing season is finally here and we’re kicking off with a fun and exciting group of students! Our first private charter ride of 2018 is scheduled the morning of May 2nd for a school field trip where young explorers will get a chance to cruise the Detroit River and learn about its rich history. We’ll then welcome a group of seniors later that day for a relaxing, breezy afternoon. We have another private charter scheduled on May 4th for a wedding rehearsal dinner.
If you haven’t booked your private charter boat yet for an upcoming special occasion, we still have dates available through October 31st! Private charters departing from our Wyandotte dock sail up the Detroit River to the GM Renaissance Center and back down. Boats departing from the Detroit Rivard Plaza dock stay within Detroit and can go out to Lake St. Clair. Both offer beautiful views of the waterfront giving your friends and family an experience like no other!
Sightseeing Tours on the Way
What better way to start your summer than out on the water? Join us Thursday, June 7th for the launch of our sightseeing tours! Our sightseeing tours will run every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday departing at 1:00 PM and 3:30 PM from both our Detroit and Wyandotte docks. Get a view of Detroit like you’ve never seen before as our boats cruise past the Ambassador Bridge, Belle Isle, waterfront mansions and more! Also keep your ears opens for the mysterious Windsor Hum that’s been haunting our Canadian neighbors for the last few years! No passport required.
Can’t wait to climb aboard? Get ahead of the game! Coupons are now available for June sightseeing tours! Save 25% on all sightseeing tours, Thursday-Sunday at either dock! Visit our coupon page for more details and to grab yours today!
Captain’s Corner: Featuring Jack Frost
We are pleased to present Captain Jack Frost this month, our Diamond Belle captain! Jack’s interest in boating began at the young age of six years old as he grew up around boats on Lake St. Clair. When he got older, he worked different boating jobs including a deckhand, oiler and wheeling on tug boats. A captain on the boat he worked on was the one to encourage Jack to become a captain himself.
“A captain suggested I take classes to obtain my Master’s License. I worked as captain for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers running survey vessels and tug boats,” Jack said.
Today, as the captain of the Diamond Belle boat, Jack has several responsibilities. Aside from navigating the boat on Detroit River cruises, Jack is also responsible for ensuring the safety of all passengers and crew on board. He also makes sure all necessary supplies are on board and that the repairs and cleanliness of the vessel are fully taken care of.
Jack has worked as a captain for Diamond Jack’s River Tours for over 5 years and he’s made many wonderful memories during that time.
“There have been great times…but my greatest joy comes from children coming on a boat for the first time in their lives,” Jack said.
Ask The Captain a Question!
Q: Where do you get gas for your boats?
A: The fuel for our boats come from Warner Petroleum at Mistersky on the Detroit River.
Q: Where do you store the boats in the Winter? Do they come out of the water?
A: We winter the boats on the Rouge River at 13000 Denmark Street in Detroit. No, they do not come out of the water – we are working on them all winter long.
Q: Where do you take the boats for maintenance?
A: We do all of our own maintenance with our Fleet Engineer.
Q: Do you ever have cruises that are longer than the usual 2 hours? For example, would you ever go across Lake St. Clair to the Flats?
A: We used to do them once a month but now they are a thing of the past.
Q: Will you ever have sunset cruises that are not part of a chartered event?
A: Sunset cruises will not be something in the future. We like to keep the evenings available for charters.
Q: What happens if the boat breaks down during a cruise?
A: We hope the boat does not break down …. LOL
Q: How many gallons of paint does it take for the exterior of each boat?
A: Approximately 5-10 gallons of each color except for the red ribbon.
Do you have questions for the Captain? We have answers! Submit your questions to info@diamondjack.com. Whether you’re curious about the inner-workings of a boat or have any other sailing-related inquiries, we’ll provide you with answers straight from one of our captains. Each month, we will pick 5 winners and publish those questions (with the answers) on our next newsletter and on our website! The winners will receive two free tickets for a scenic cruise with Diamond Jack’s River Tours!
Detroit River Days Festival
The weather is finally warming up and we have our sights set on fun in the sun! We are so excited to take part in the Detroit River Days Festival again this year taking place June 22-24, 2018. Enjoy a weekend full of family-friendly activities, music, food and much more! Be sure to visit our Detroit dock at Rivard Plaza for 1-hour tours! $10 for adults and just $5 for children! No reservations needed. Boats will be boarded first come, first served. Coupons can not be applied.
Detroit cruises are SOLD OUT on Thursday, June 21st and Monday, June 25th for fireworks. Wyandotte cruises will run on normal schedule.