Lake Michigan Cruises, Chicago Skyline Cruises

Karen Oldenburger - 45th Class Reunion Dear Mary, I want to let you know how much we enjoyed our 45th class reunion aboard the Valara VI. The committee was unsure what to do to make the occasion special, and from the first time I spoke with you I knew the Valara would be the way to go. We were looking for something where those that attended could move around and converse with one another. We did not want a restaurant experience where people sat at tables and only spoke with the other individuals at their particular table. The Valara certainly met that need! The whole experience was beyond our expectations. The yacht was luxurious as well as spacious, and classmates were able to move around and socialize. The buffet you helped me select was excellent and the service was top notch. Everyone seemed to really enjoy the food and the fantastic cheesecake we chose for dessert. The crew was attentive and friendly. There was nothing the committee would have changed. We had only positive feedback from those that attended. When choosing a committee for the 50th reunion, the person chosen to be chairperson said he didn't know what they could come up with that could top this reunion experience! Thanks again to you, Captain Val, and the staff. Sincerely, Karen Oldenburger Reunion Committee Member

Galina Goldberg - 60th Birthday Party Dear Mary, I wanted to write you a letter and tell you how much all my guests and, especially my whole family enjoyed celebrating my 60th Birthday Party on board the Luxury Yacht Valara VI. From the first call my party planner, Larissa Goldenberg and I made to your office, it was so simple and easy for us to plan. My party planner was right, you are a gem. Now I know why she loves doing parties for her clients on board your ship much more then the yachts at Navy Pier. As for location, your company choose the best location for your yacht. Your staff was very attentive, Captain is a delight ! All my expectations were exceeded by a tenfold and for that I thank you all from the bottom of my heart! I used to own a restaurant that served up to 300 people a few years back and therefore, I was very particular about food and service at my place since I had a lot of famous and well to do patrons. Believe it or not but your staff was as good as my staff or better! Your food was delicious and your staff provided incredible, attentive service and the view from the yacht is to die for! All my guests' wishes were taken care, not in 1 or 2 minutes but in a matter of seconds! How you do it, I cannot imagine but you must be very proud! Your yacht is so beautiful and very well taken care of, lovingly polished and shined. Very impressive. From now on, if anybody asks me where to do a gorgeous private party - the name of the Luxury Yacht - Valara VI and your name will be the first I would ever recommend! Thank you so much again to you, Captain and all your Staff! Sincerely, Galina Goldberg and all my Family.

Lynn and Lester Walters - Wedding Rehearsal Dinner Dear Mary, Our evening cruise on the Valara was perfect!! The weather was ideal, the food was great, service was excellent, crew was very helpful and courteous. Everyone commented on what a good time they had on the dinner cruise. The captain even waited at the dock for a couple who had been delayed on their flight and had a taxi rushing them to the harbor. It was very relaxing to be out on the water and the Chicago skyline was spectacular as usual. Thank you again for all your assistance to set up such a picture perfect rehearsal dinner. The wedding was also great on Saturday. But I actually enjoyed Friday's Rehearsal Cruise evening much more. We should have some great photos to share. I will send you some with the crew and guests. The Valara VI was a definite high point of the wedding weekend. Thanks to everyone who made it such a special evening, Lynn and Les Walters

William Terpstra - 50th High School Reunion Mary: Thank you, the captain and crew for a lovely evening last Saturday. Our group also gathered on Sunday and the comments about the cruise were wonderful. You made our committee look better and more organized than we really were or deserved. I particularly appreciated the pacing of the evening and the way you served the hors d'oeuves in the Pure Elegance Package, it allowed people to mingle and move around. A number of the people had not been together for 25 or 50 years, so the purpose of the evening was accomplished in a fine setting. My views were confirmed yesterday when I met a woman from the next class at Illiana - she said she had heard we had a really nice reunion and asked that I call the committee for their class, which is just getting started, with the information of what we had done. Again, a sincere thank you for all you did in organizing the event for us! Bill

Karen Oldenburger - 45th Class Reunion

Dear Mary,

I want to let you know how much we enjoyed our 45th class reunion aboard the Valara VI. The committee was unsure what to do to make the occasion special, and from the first time I spoke with you I knew the Valara would be the way to go. We were looking for something where those that attended could move around and converse with one another. We did not want a restaurant experience where people sat at tables and only spoke with the other individuals at their particular table.

The Valara certainly met that need! The whole experience was beyond our expectations. The yacht was luxurious as well as spacious, and classmates were able to move around and socialize. The buffet you helped me select was excellent and the service was top notch. Everyone seemed to really enjoy the food and the fantastic cheesecake we chose for dessert.

The crew was attentive and friendly. There was nothing the committee would have changed. We had only positive feedback from those that attended. When choosing a committee for the 50th reunion, the person chosen to be chairperson said he didn't know what they could come up with that could top this reunion experience!

Thanks again to you, Captain Val, and the staff.

Sincerely,
Karen Oldenburger
Reunion Committee Member

Galina Goldberg - 60th Birthday Party

Dear Mary,

I wanted to write you a letter and tell you how much all my guests and, especially my whole family enjoyed celebrating my 60th Birthday Party on board the Luxury Yacht Valara VI.

From the first call my party planner, Larissa Goldenberg and I made to your office, it was so simple and easy for us to plan. My party planner was right, you are a gem. Now I know why she loves doing parties for her clients on board your ship much more then the yachts at Navy Pier. As for location, your company choose the best location for your yacht.

Your staff was very attentive, Captain is a delight ! All my expectations were exceeded by a tenfold and for that I thank you all from the bottom of my heart!

I used to own a restaurant that served up to 300 people a few years back and therefore, I was very particular about food and service at my place since I had a lot of famous and well to do patrons. Believe it or not but your staff was as good as my staff or better! Your food was delicious and your staff provided incredible, attentive service and the view from the yacht is to die for! All my guests' wishes were taken care, not in 1 or 2 minutes but in a matter of seconds! How you do it, I cannot imagine but you must be very proud! Your yacht is so beautiful and very well taken care of, lovingly polished and shined. Very impressive.

From now on, if anybody asks me where to do a gorgeous private party - the name of the Luxury Yacht - Valara VI and your name will be the first I would ever recommend!

Thank you so much again to you, Captain and all your Staff!

Sincerely,
Galina Goldberg and all my Family.

Lynn and Lester Walters - Wedding Rehearsal Dinner
Dear Mary,

Our evening cruise on the Valara was perfect!! The weather was ideal, the food was great, service was excellent, crew was very helpful and courteous. Everyone commented on what a good time they had on the dinner cruise.
The captain even waited at the dock for a couple who had been delayed on their flight and had a taxi rushing them to the harbor. It was very relaxing to be out on the water and the Chicago skyline was spectacular as usual.

Thank you again for all your assistance to set up such a picture perfect rehearsal dinner. The wedding was also great on Saturday. But I actually enjoyed Friday's Rehearsal Cruise evening much more. We should have some great photos to share. I will send you some with the crew and guests. The Valara VI was a definite high point of the wedding weekend.

Thanks to everyone who made it such a special evening,
Lynn and Les Walters

William Terpstra - 50th High School Reunion

Mary:

Thank you, the captain and crew for a lovely evening last Saturday.
Our group also gathered on Sunday and the comments about the cruise were wonderful. You made our committee look better and more organized than we really were or deserved.

I particularly appreciated the pacing of the evening and the way you served the hors d'oeuves in the Pure Elegance Package, it allowed people to mingle and move around. A number of the people had not been together for 25 or 50 years, so the purpose of the evening was accomplished in a fine setting. My views were confirmed yesterday when I met a woman from the next class at Illiana - she said she had heard we had a really nice reunion and asked that I call the committee for their class, which is just getting started, with the information of what we had done.

Again, a sincere thank you for all you did in organizing the event for us!

Bill