Cruises & Boating

 

"Map of the Stars" Cruise - Tours

Various cruise companies and author, David Dykstra, are partnering to offer “Map of the Stars” cruise-tours featuring Dykstra’s Lake Washington 130 Homes and the mansions and information in the book. Dykstra has helped develop the cruise program and information and he occasionally makes special appearances. These cruise-tours include more mansions and related history and news than any other or previous tours. He will continue keeping the program up-to-date and ahead of any other tours. Dykstra also works with private groups for tours on the members’ yachts. These cruise tours are also high ticket items for charity auctions. Please contact David Dykstra (206-232-7758 or lw130homes@yahoo.com) if your group or club would like a unique and memorable event or a profitable charity auction item. We are able to arrange discounts or donations for charity auctions.

3 hour “Mansions of the Rich and Famous” cruises include Lake Union sights (Sleepless in Seattle floating home, Chihuly’s Studio, views of Space Needle and downtown, etc.) and Lake Washington with the premiere mansions (Gates, Schultz, et al.) of Madison Park, The Eastside, and north Mercer Island. The 4 hour cruises add Paul Allen’s 10 acre waterfront estate and circling Mercer Island. This tour views the home of every billionaire in the state of Washington.

Anchor Bay, our first and primary partner, offers of variety of group tours and events aboard its intimate and luxurious yacht, “Seeker,” for organizations, corporations and private parties. 30 is the ideal group size. Standard departures are from Lake Union but other locations can be arranged. The yacht has a wonderful upper level sundeck for the summer. The yacht is also ideal for winter cruises as it features a stately heated interior party or dining room with large picture windows. Reservations can be booked and information is at:  (206) 781-0709 and Anchor Bay Charters.

View some of these cruises on YouTube (3 minutes).

Read an article by a passenger, Judy Brady,
 

Boating

“Pontoons in Lake Washington” are much more than floating bridges. The new generation of luxury pontoon-trimarans are the perfect boats for Lake Washington. It is a luxury deck and party room on the water at the dock, floating or motoring.

On 5/7/11 Susan and I launched our new boat, “Happy Hours,” and, with our wonderful crew, we proceeded to Seattle’s Boating Opening Day celebration and boat parade and received the Alaska Airlines Trophy for 1st place in our class (Decorated Commercial).

Happy Hours is the first boat of its kind in the Seattle/Lake-Washington area. This is an Avalon luxury pontoon boat. It is sometimes called a party barge - but it will go 35+ mph and can pull water skiers. We go happy hours sightseeing in luxury or just float and with kids of all ages relaxing or playing on the water slide. It is also great extension of our dock. We now have a luxury cocktail lounge, sundeck and wet bar with refrigerator and blender at our dock.

I bought the boat from Tom’s Boat Shop at the Seattle Boat Show in February 2011. Tom opened his Seattle area dealership and showroom in Ballard in May 2011.

I Started a blog featuring the boat. Produced video with highlights including water skiing, extreme tubing, viewing homes and parties. The parties include Seafair, UW sail-gating, 4th of July, and Andrews Bay. More pictures are available on Picasa.