Argosy Cruises

Santa Brunch - Sundays - Nov 28 - Dec (?). If you're looking for high excitement, this isn't it. However, it wasn't bad either. For $85 (AAA discount), we took our family of 4 - Parents + 2 kids (4, 2) on this boat. You get a decent all-you-can-eat breakfast/brunch and pictures with Santa (with his own white beard, not the fake kind). Santa was really nice greeting everyone on the boat and even going into the kids area (reindeer making activities, coloring, crafts) so that parents can take pictures of their kids with Santa.

There's a not-so-good magician/comic and Santa reads a story to the kids.

You also get to go by Bill Gate's house and the announcer gives a quick briefing of the "background" about its construction.

Really neat trip. My kids liked it. My husband isn't into boats (we just came back from Alaska on a cruise); so, all in all, cute day trip. Two thumbs up! :)…

Argosy Mystery Dinner Cruise -- Fail-Boat. Expensive, but what the heck? It was our 18th anniversary. The action started as you boarded, with the actors moving about and involving you in the show/mystery. However, as the action moved on, a problem became clear: they were sharing one or two hand-held microphones, and I frequently could not hear what was being said. Seriously? They don't know about portable clip-on mics? How hard would that have been? So now, I begin losing interst in the mystery, as I haven't heard half of what was said. Alas, the food will make up for it. My wife had looked at the site, and beef should be on the menu. Wrong. Salmon, lamb, halibut, 'african spiced' chicken and portabella mushroom something. Great. I picked the chicken and was surprised to learn that 'african spiced' means no discernable flavor other than chicken. It was on par with what you used to get on an airline dinner flight. My wife is a huge sea food fan and got salmon, and was disappointed. The wait service was good, until the end. While I was not the last person to receive the bill, I was definately the last to have it settled. Despite displying it immediately with my card, waiter after waiter passed by, ignoring it. So, if you are the waiter and wondering why you didn't get the 15-20% I usually tip (all you have to do is breathe), that's why. I was literally the last diner off the ship. I was disappointed. For what I payed, I certainly expected better food. And while the actors did well, it matters llittle if we cannot hear you. I wouldn't do it again. The fail-boat has arrived.…

New Year's Eve Cruise 2009. My husband and I took the New Year's Eve Cruise 2009 $360). There was inclement weather, which is not the fault of Argosy, however, they had the passengers standing in a very long line outside without cover for roughly 30 minutes. Not really good on the hair or the clothes. Our seating was on the 3rd deck, the smallest area on the boat. The tables were were so close together that our stomachs were pressed against it, and we were unable to move. My husband and I are tall, and it was not the best of situations. We had to share a table with another couple, which was not a problem, but all the passengers were in such close proximity that it was very uncomfortable. We had the salmon and prime rib. We were not asked how we wanted the prime rib, and therefore, the waitress brought my husband, who is strickly a "well done guy" the rawest meat I've ever seen... He ate it, but he wasn't happy about it. Our table guest didn't eat his food at all. When it came time for the toast, we were given a 1/2 glass of champagne. We didn't get up to dance because getting back into our seats at the table would require the people behind us to pull their chairs out each time. We will not do this cruise again.…

Christmas Ships. We finally did a Christmas Ship Cruise last Dec. It was alittle chilly. so bring the layers. It speeds out of Kirkland. The mother in law was a snow queen/ Princess, and she was all about the Cruise. It's a nice way to check out bonfires on Madison Beach…