Lantern Queen Blog

Beautiful May 1!

2010-05-06T09:09:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure it gets any better than this past weekend! This sunset photo just perfectly portrays the Lantern Queen experience. I'm thinking our tagline out to be "Relax and Enjoy!"

2010 - I promise to blog!

2010-05-06T09:06:00.000-07:00

It's been a wild and crazy winter, with lots and lots of snow even though we're south of the Mason-Dixon line! But in spite of the snow, we cruise throughout the winter. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Valentine's Day, Easter all brought great cruises.

Now, it's spring, 2010 and I need to get blogging! And of course, please visit the Lantern Queen Facebook page too! We Tweet too, so follow us on Twitter. (I've always wanted to say, "I tweet!")

2009-10-30T11:08:00.000-07:00

The Fall Foliage was splendid this past weekend. This is one of my favorite photos from the lovely afternoon cruise.

Nighttime Man Overboard Drill

2009-10-02T18:46:00.000-07:00

Capt. Fred was due to complete a man overboard drill this month. Little did he know it would be a nighttime drill. But once again, Capt. Fred got the Lantern Queen turned around and positioned so that the "victim" (boat cushion) could be brought aboard in the required 2 minutes! Nice work with the spotlight by deckhand "Krazy George" Henderson. Pictured is Carroll bringing the "victim" aboard. (When I said nighttime I really meant it - pitch dark! What a team!

2009-09-24T18:08:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to Carroll on his first docking. NICELY DONE!

Brunch Cruises Rule!

2009-09-10T12:57:00.000-07:00

I have a new favorite Lantern Queen cruise: the Brunch Cruise!
I think a brunch cruise is a way to extend breakfast (my favorite meal) into the day,
and get a cruise too! Plus this menu is just simply fabulous!

Brunch Menu

Baskets of Pastries, Danish and Bagels
served with cream cheese, butter and jam

Strawberry Affair Salad
crisp lettuces, strawberries and candied nuts
tossed with a poppy seed dressing

Smoked Salmon Mousseline
served with pita triangles, capers and red onion

Fresh Fruit Salad
seasonal fruits to include cantaloupe, honeydew melon, pineapple,
garnished with berries and served with a fruit yogurt dipping sauce

Slow – Roasted, Honey Glazed Ham
served warm with mini – buttermilk biscuits and honey mustard

Baked French Egg Casserole
smothered with onion, mushroom, sweet-bell pepper
served warm and sprinkled with shredded cheese

French Toast Sticks
with warm maple syrup

Oven Roasted Red Potatoes
cut baby red bliss potatoes tossed in a hint of roasted garlic
and fresh herbs

Above: Salmon Mousseline
(It tastes even better than it looks! Yum!)

Rescue!

2009-09-10T12:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, during a lovely brunch cruise with a group from St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, we noticed a good sized pleasure boat drifting in the channel just north of I-95. A swimmer was in the water with a raft a fair distance away from the boat. Since the boat was blocking the channel, Captain Steve chose to go around behind it. As we approached a woman stood up in the boat and waved both arms, and the swimmer was also waving. The woman yelled that they needed help! Apparently the swimmer, her husband, had drifted away from the boat and couldn't get back. And the wife didn't know how to start the boat.

The Lantern Queen crew went into "man overboard" mode. As Capt. Steve maneuvered the boat toward the swimmer, we lowered the gangway and "scooped" the swimmer up, along with his raft. As the swimmer came aboard to much cheering from our passengers, Capt. Steve moved the Lantern Queen toward the pleasure boat. Capt. Steve's plan was to allow the swimmer to step from our gangway onto his own boat. However, the swimmer jumped off the gangway into the water between the Lantern Queen and his boat, planning on climbing the swim ladder to his boat.

We're so happy that this story has a happy ending! But there are several lessons for all of us!
1. Life jackets, life jackets, life jackets! Particularly in a river known for it's treacherous currents. (In this case the fellow DID have a nice raft, with lines running through grommets around the edges - good to hang on to.)
2. The more people who know how to operate the boat the better. (And this lady had the good sense to NOT try to start the boat for the first time - it could have been tragic.)
3. The more people who know how to operate the boats' radio the better. (We have no idea if this boat was even equipped with a radio - but there had been no distress call.)
4. Swimming in the channel is a recipe for disaster.
5. Never, ever, for any reason, jump into water between boats or between a boat and a bulkhead, etc. It's a very good way to get squished to death!

Finally, once again, having ongoing training and practice in place pays off. For the crew of the Lantern Queen this was business as usual, because we do "man overboard drills" so often. One of our passengers remarked that we were able to keep to our schedule, even with the unanticipated rescue. As Carroll says at the beginning of every cruise, "Our captain can get this boat turned around and get back to you within 2 minutes." And he did.

DJ Troy

2009-09-10T10:05:00.000-07:00

The Lantern Queen staff only recommends outside services and vendors when they provide extraordinary services and products. One service that we've been thrilled with is D.J. Troy! If you're looking for a D.J. who can "read" your group and figure out how to get them out of their chairs, D.J. Troy is the man! Whenever a bride tells us that she's using D.J. Troy, we know that the wedding is going to be fun.

Going Home

2009-07-08T12:15:00.000-07:00

Carroll & Fred watch as the Travel Lift brings the Lantern Queen back to the basin.
(Note the smooth, freshly coated bottom, and the slick white paint above.)

In she goes!
(from this angle the new paddles dominate the view)

Capt. Fred and Carroll leave about 7:30 am on a sprint back to Havre de Grace.
(The wind & tide were in their favor. They were back in plenty of time for the afternoon charter!)

World's Best Crew!

2009-07-07T12:05:00.000-07:00

There's just no way to say thank you to people who work like this!
They did an amazing amount of work in 3 incredibly hot, dirty, exhausting days!

Spa Week for the Old Girl

2009-07-06T11:45:00.000-07:00

After de-barnacling, the Lantern Queen "rode" the 110 ton Travel Lift around the boatyard to it's temporary home between some of the shops. (This was pretty convenient, since the Georgetown folks were so friendly and sharing with their tools and advice.)

Before the Travel Lift set her down, large timbers were stacked underneath to be used as cribbage.
In addition, a number of jackstands were placed around the perimeter too.

Constructing the cribbage was heavy and serious work.
Lots of people were going to be working in, on, and under the boat for several days.

De-Barnacling

2009-07-06T11:25:00.000-07:00

First a little bit about barnacles - they're not supposed to be able to thrive in fresh water.
But, for more than a year before we purchased it, the Lantern Queen sat in shallow water on the Elk River, so she probably got them there. Barnacles really slow a boat down - we picked up more than 1 knot/hour after the "de-barnacling."

The photo above shows the conditon of a rudder before the barnacles were removed.
(Boats are normally only hauled out every 5 years.)

Up close and personal with some barnacles.

This is how they're removed. The tools these fellows are using resemble putty knives on long handles.

Lots of elbow grease, chipping and hosing later, andthe entire bottom looks like this - only slightly raised circles where the barnacles used to be.

Haulin' Her Out

2009-07-06T10:49:00.000-07:00

(If you're interested in more photos of this adventure, go to lanternqueen.com and click on Photo Gallery.)

6:00 am, Monday July 6, Georgetown Yacht Basin.
Crew is still asleep onboard, after a long nighttime Bay crossing.

7:00 am - 110 ton travel lift approaches the Lantern Queen.
(FYI - Lantern Queen weighs 62 tons)

7:10 am - She's out! This is the first time we've seen the boat's bottom!

7:30 - Moving around the boatyard.
First stop - Barnacle removal.

Off to Georgetown

2009-07-06T10:21:00.000-07:00

As soon as our guests disembarked from the Fireworks Cruise, a skeleton crew (Capt. Steve, Carroll and Scott) sailed the Lantern Queen across the bay to the Georgetown Yacht Basin on the Sassafras River. They sailed all night, arriving about 4:00 am in Georgetown - just long enough to get a nap before the excitment REALLY began.

5th of July

2009-07-06T10:17:00.000-07:00

The Havre de Grace Fireworks Cruise is always a sold-out cruise, and 2009 was no exception. Although this is one of the harder cruises for the crew, it's one of my favorites! Fireworks, patriotic music, and a boat full of people thankful for our freedom - who can resist?
Special kudos to our crew - especially Carroll & Scott for the heavy lifting (literally) on the anchor.

Congratulations!

2009-07-01T13:38:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to all the Lantern Queen Brides and Grooms! There have been so many this summer! We hope you have a long and prosperous life together, full of love and fun.

Lantern Queen Crew Party at the Ironbirds

2009-06-27T14:09:00.000-07:00

A gorgeous night to relax with our crew and their families.

But of course, like every Lantern Queen cruise, we bring our own entertainment!
In this case, Krazy George made the rounds of all the sections, beating his drum and firing up the crowd.

Great fun, Great people!

Oh What A Night!

2009-06-16T19:29:00.000-07:00

It was supposed to be a surprise 50th birthday party cruise for Liz Sharer. As soon as we arrived at the pier the entire Lantern Queen crew new it would be an interesting evening on the Susquehanna. It wasn't windy anywhere else, but on the river the winds were whipping up whitecaps. As we pulled away from the Havre de Grace pier at 6:30 PM, Capt. Dave Gainey noticed a 16' sailboat, capsized mid-channel between Hutchins Park and the Amtrak Bridge. As we approached, I went inside and gave the passengers a VERY quick safety briefing and basically told them to watch as we put some rescue practices to work. Capt. Dave Gainey quickly approached the boat upwind to create a lee so that they would have a better chance of righting the boat. Deckhand George Henderson and Becky positioned themselves on the foredeck to ready the gangway and boathooks if needed. Tom Hopkins kept an eye from the upper deck so that someone would be able to see them regardless how the boats moved.

Becky & George shouted an offer of help, and the sailors asked for the Lantern Queen to stay with them. We had no intention of doing otherwise!

Three people were in the water and their boat completely on its side, with at least one sail detached and floating away. With the Lantern Queen providing shelter from the wind, two sailors managed to get the boat righted and get aboard, and finally managed to help the third man aboard.

The little sailboat was sitting VERY low in the water and continued to take on water with every wave. Two of the sailors got a sail up, and started turning the boat in a large arc to head toward Tidewater Marina. The third sailor frantically bailed water out of the boat as it limped toward home. The Lantern Queen stayed with the little sailboat until it had safely entered the marina.

Our own docking was difficult, with a south-west wind pushing us away from the pier. But due to the skill of Capt. Dave and Deckhands George Henderson and Tom Hopkins made it seem like business as usual! Thanks guys for all you do! You're the best!

Later our birthday party folks thanked us for "dinner and a show!"

And of course, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Liz Sharer! Thank you for celebrating it with us!

Congratulations Anna and Chris!

2009-06-06T19:37:00.000-07:00

Another picture perfect wedding aboard the Lantern Queen!
Congratulations to Chris and Anna! Our best wishes and prayers go with you for a wonderful lifetime together.

Congratulations Trish and Ed!

2009-06-01T19:46:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Trish and Ed!
Our best wishes and prayers go with you for a wonderful life together.

Murder! Mystery!

2009-05-29T19:42:00.000-07:00

Last week the Lantern Queen hosted its first Murder Mystery Cruise.
Act 1 Productions presented "Chameleon" to a sold out crowd.
I'm not sure we've ever laughed so hard!
Great food, good company, and crazy entertainment!
Look for more Murder Mystery Cruises in the near future.

Roll out the Red Carpet

2009-05-29T07:31:00.000-07:00

The new carpet is being installed and looks great.

Thanks to Jim, who's doing a great job of installation.

Hulks!

2009-05-27T09:39:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure why, but I love these old wrecks.

The top one is a tug named the Taurus, and the bottom is a dredge from Jim's Dredging Co.

House Calls!

2009-05-27T09:35:00.000-07:00

Occasionally the Lantern Queen makes house calls!
When the conditions are right, the Lantern Queen sails around the Cecil County side of Garrett Island.
When we do, a loud whistle brings Patricia to her deck. You see, Patricia is deckhand Krazy George's wife.
And the whistling and waving seem to be contagious - all of the Perryville folks honk boat horns and wave as
the Lantern Queen sails by.

West Nottingham Academy Prom 2009

2009-05-27T09:24:00.000-07:00

The Lantern Queen rocked the night away
as the students of West Nottingham Academy celebrated their 2009 prom.
Great kids! Great Fun!

Arriving at The Lantern Queen

The romance of sunset

What energy! The teens danced the whole evening!

Capt. Steve lets the guys blow the whistle.

Jr. Capt. Duties

2009-05-27T09:05:00.000-07:00

What are the duties of a Junior Captain aboard the Lantern Queen?
Well, of course they help greet passengers. And they occasionally drive the boat and oversee the docking procedures.
But most importantly, our Junior Captain is in charge of fun!
Here's Captain Katherine working hard at blowing bubbles to add to the festive atmosphere.

Our Crew!

2009-05-27T08:53:00.000-07:00

We're really proud of the Lantern Queen crew... uh, I mean family! I challenge anyone to find me a better group of people!
Seriously, our crew makes the Lantern Queen a fun experience for everyone...including the other crew members!
Here are some of our folks!

Capt. Steve, Capt. Fred, and Deckhand Krazy George

Deckhand Tom Hopkins, Future Capt. Katherine, and Deckhand Krazy George

Bartender Kristin and Future Capt. Katherine

ROCKFISH!

2009-05-27T08:44:00.000-07:00

On April 9th, while the Lantern Queen was tied up in Port Deposit waiting on passengers to arrive, these fellows fishing nearby pulled out a 41 pound rockfish. It was so big that their little point-and-shoot camera couldn't capture the whole fish in one frame! Since it was during the catch and release season, the fish was quickly released after a few photos to prove the fellows' "fish story."

St. Patrick's Day Cruise

2009-05-27T08:36:00.000-07:00

Wonderfully authentic music by O'Hara's Cup got the toes tapping and the little lasses dancing.

Multi-talented Crew

2009-03-14T19:31:00.000-07:00

Captain Bill Weyant and Deckhand George Henderson

busy at work waterproofing windows and replacing woodwork.

We're extremely blessed to have a multi-talented crew. Captain Bill Weyant (above) is also a boat surveyor, and is one of those guys who can fix most anything. George Henderson (above) is also a very talented carpenter and former woodshop teacher. Uh...he's also Krazy George, the professional cheerleader too. Every one of our captains is equally at home in the engine room and the wheelhouse. It's fun to listen to several of them brainstorming together to solve some maintenance or repair issue. And when Kristin Webb isn't tending bar she's cutting hair and doing makeup.

New, New, New!

2009-03-10T05:53:00.000-07:00

First, let me just say that I hate all these ads for "stimulus specials," even though they're probably doing more than Washington, D.C. to get money flowing again. But there's no getting around it, we're all looking for ways to stretch every dollar.

Carroll & I are working hard to make sure that the Lantern Queen Riverboat continues to provide a great experience for the least amount of money possible. As a part of our self-imposed "annual review" we've looked at all kinds of ways to improve the Lantern Queen Riverboat and its cruises. As a result you can expect to see some physical changes to the Lantern Queen. With any boat there's always ongoing repairs and maintenance. This spring you'll be seeing some new woodwork in the dining room and brand new carpet on all the outdoor spaces. Wait until you see the color we picked! And you'll be seeing some new staff too.

Most important to our customers though are new menus and pricing. The new menus are exciting and yummy. But the best part is that we managed to maintain or LOWER our prices, depending on the cruise and menu! Whoo Hoo! (Go on over to www.lanternqueen.com and check out all the charter and wedding menus. The public cruise menus will be coming shortly too!) We've worked hard to bring even more value to a Lantern Queen Cruise this year, so come on out and sail with us!

Website Updates

2009-03-01T13:20:00.000-08:00

Just in case you haven't poked around on the Lantern Queen website lately, here's what's new:

1. Photo Gallery - you can find all kinds of great Lantern Queen photos here.

2. Facebook - yup, the Lantern Queen has her own Facebook page. The blog posts are cross-referenced here too.

3. The Wedding Story page gives a good description of how a Lantern Queen wedding works.

4. Ads and links to The Knot and The Wedding Channel. They're great sites and we're honored to be part of these organizations!

Valentine Cruise Wedding!

2009-03-01T12:38:00.000-08:00

Congratulations Cindy and Will Trostle!

During Carroll's safety briefing at the beginning of the Valentine's Cruise, he mentioned that dinner would be delayed a little while, "since we're going to marry someone this evening." Polite chuckles. A few minutes later when Capt. Fred came into the dining room and asked, "Who wants to get married tonight?" the chuckles were a little more nervous. As he turned to first one couple and then another, the situation grew funnier and funnier. Then Capt. Fred looked down at Cindy and Will right in front of him and asked, "How about you two?"

Although at first thought a public cruise wedding might seem a little...different...it turned out to be a really neat experience. I've described it to friends as a wedding with 50 brand new friends at the reception. The cruise was a little friendlier and certainly more romantic as a result of Cindy and Will's wedding. And kudos to Capt. Fred - several folks complimented Fred on his officiating. He really does do a great job, and takes it very seriously.

Just more evidence that the Lantern Queen is truly a "Love Boat."

PS - I suggested that just as Naval vessels paint icons for "kills" on their hull, perhaps we should paint a wedding bell or dove on the hull to represent each wedding we do! I'm not sure the guys took me serioiusly. Oh well!

The Eagles are Back!

2009-03-01T12:26:00.000-08:00

These photos were taken on Valentine's Day from the upper deck of the Lantern Queen. Two bald eagles are using the osprey nests on top of the Amtrak Bridge as roosts. It's probably a little early for them to be laying eggs or making a nest, but the amount of time they're spending in this nest it looks like they may be planning to take up residence. I'm not sure how the osprey will feel about it! Could be an interesting spring for bird watching!

Witmer Wedding

2009-02-02T09:17:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to the Happy Family!

Elvis' Birthday Cruise

2009-02-02T09:09:00.000-08:00

On January 9th the Lantern Queen celebrated Elvis' Birthday.

Local Elvis impersonator, Ted Tharp kept the boat rockin' and the gals squealin'!

Ho Ho Ho!

2008-12-23T16:28:00.000-08:00

Santa on the Bay was a wonderful event for the kiddies and adults alike. Mix Santa, crafts that involve glitter, great food, and Christmas music and you've got Santa on the Bay! Here's a link to the photos I took that day. Parents, feel free to download and enjoy these priceless memories!

http://public.fotki.com/BeckyFitz/lantern-queen/santaonthebay200801/

Bald Eagles!

2008-10-12T14:14:00.000-07:00

From the decks of the Lantern Queen we've watched several nests of ospreys hatch and grow this spring and summer. And we regularly watch bald eagles soar from the cliffs on either side of the river, occasionally swooping down to catch a fish, more often just content to look majestic. But recently a very peculiar thing has happened. The ospreys have grown up and left the nest, and of course the osprey parents have no need of the nest until next spring. Guess who moved in? The Bald Eagles! The photo above shows a bald eagle at home in the osprey nest high atop a power pole on the Amtrak railroad bridge. If you've a good set of binoculars check it out - the very top of the northen pole, just to the right of the swing bridge. To the naked eye it looks like a tiny ball stuck on the top of the pole. But there's a steel nesting box there that the ospreys occupied until late in the summer.

Bon Voyage Jen!

2008-09-29T13:50:00.000-07:00

After filling her up with chocolate and good wishes, we said a fond farewell to deckhand, Jen Taylor last night. Jen is relocating to Santa Clara, California to be near another of our favorite people, Jason Powers! It's fitting that they met on the Lantern Queen! (It's becoming quite the Love Boat!)

It's safe to say that Jen is one of those folks we're really glad crossed our path. She brought a lot of skills to the Lantern Queen and left with even more. Whether it was cleaning the paddlewheels, caulking the windows, or dealing with waste tank issues, Jen jumped right in. It was fun to watch Jen's excitement when the old vacuum cleaner died and we purchased a new Dyson.

And of course, only Jen could find a way to upstage Elvis! At the end of an Elvis cruise Jen fell overboard off the gunnells, much to the amusement and enjoyment of the nearby fishermen! (They continue to tease her - hoping for a repeat performance perhaps!)

But the part of Jen that's most precious to me is when she's "Jenny" as granddaughter Katherine dubbed her. (See photo above.) Jen often tells people that she really doesn't like kids much - yet she's great with them, and they all seem to adore her. (I think the truth is that Jen doesn't like brats much - and neither do we!)

We can't wait to hear about the next chapter in Jen's life - with her can-do attitude and wonderful personality you can bet it will be interesting.

MAN OVERBOARD! (Drills)

2008-08-11T18:08:00.000-07:00

Periodically the Lantern Queen crew conducts man overboard drills. Besides the fact that they make a lot of sense, they're also required by the U.S. Coast Guard. But when the Lantern Queen crew is faced with a tedious task, they do their best to turn it into a party! So just in case you need to know how to rescue a man overboard, here goes:

Oh no! Capt. Fred didn't throw the seat cushion overboard as planned - he jumped in with it!!!

It's OK! (From r. to l.) Lantern Queen crew members Kristin, Erin, and little Katherine spot Capt. Fred and yell "MAN OVERBOARD" and continue to keep contact by pointing to him.

The captain starts manuevering the Lantern Queen so that the gangway points toward the victim. (Uh, I didn't want to choose between which captain to use for this photo, and Katherine's cuter anyway!)

While the captain's swinging the boat around, other crew members are lowering the gangway to about 18" above the water. One crew member, armed with a boat hook, takes up a station on the end of the gangway, while another acts as safety behind him.

As the Lantern Queen approaches the victim the gangway is finally lowered into the water in order to drag the victim aboard. Saved! Saved! Capt. Fred is saved- much to the relief of little Katherine, who took this drill VERY seriously!
And so it continued, until every one of the seven captains took his turn rescuing the poor, soggy seat cushion! And at sunset I was able to snap a great photo of bartender, Kristin.

Ospreys & Eagles

2008-08-11T17:46:00.000-07:00

Here's a photo of the baby Osprey nesting under the Rt. 40 bridge.

Throughout the spring and summer, Carroll has pointed out the Osprey nest under the Hatem (U.S. Rt. 40) Bridge to our passengers. We've watched as the little chicks grew and grew. They seem to have left the nest now, but we're already eager to greet next years' babies.

Osprey are also called "Fish Hawk" and are in the same bird of prey family as the eagles. In fact, the slightly smaller Osprey often lose their prey to their larger Bald Eagle cousins.

We also see a number of bald eagles on Lantern Queen cruises too, and make ever effort to point them out to our passengers. Both Osprey and Eagles are truly majestic birds!

Thursday Sailboat Races

2008-08-11T17:36:00.000-07:00

Every Thursday night, the Havre de Grace Yacht Club holds sailboat races. As the Lantern Queen departs for our Thursday night public dinner cruises, we try to "hang out" near the races for a little while so our passengers can watch the races and take advantage of the "Kodak moments." Of course every race and every evening is different, but I love the light of sunset on the sails and water, and the colorful spinnakers create a festival feeling.

Emergency!

2008-08-11T17:23:00.000-07:00

Somehow you know that someday there will be an emergency, and you hope that the training and skills of your crew come through.

On a recent afternoon cruise a passenger began feeling ill. At first she and her family thought it was a little low blood sugar combined with the hot weather. She seemed to perk up and ate dinner, and even told me stories of her childhood. When I stopped by their table later to see how she was feeling I was shocked at how ill she looked. I asked Kathy Eikenberg (of Marquis Downs Catering) to evaluate the guest. (Kathy is also a nurse!) I could read Kathy's concern in her facial expression. She looked up and asked, "How far are we from the pier?" I mouthed "ambulance" to Kathy and received a nod in return.

I went directly to the wheelhouse and told our captains and crew that we had a medical emergency and needed to return to our pier as quickly as possible. Captain Bill was at the wheel and immediately said, "I can be there in 10 minutes." Capt. Tom was reaching for the radio to call the U.S.C.G. but we figured it would be quicker to call 911 since we were only 10 minutes out. I called 911 and everything went smoothly after I convinced the 911 operator that we were on a boat and did not HAVE a house number to give him! Just as we docked the boat at the Hutchins Park pier, we heard and saw the ambulance coming down Congress Ave. right towards the Lantern Queen.

I went back downstairs to the dining room to check on the situation. Nurse Kathy was still working with the patient and her family, keeping the patient alert and the family as calm as possible. But it was caterer Tom Eikenberg (Kathy's husband) who got my attention. Tom was busy entertaining the rest of the passengers in the dining room with stand up comedy - one joke after another. (Everyone's talents came into play that day!)

As we docked, Lantern Queen owner Carroll Fitzgerald made an announcement telling our passengers that an ambulance was meeting the boat due to a medical emergency and we'd appreciate them just waiting until the sick passenger was taken off before they disembarked.

In just a few minutes the EMTs brought the gurney up the gangway and loaded our passenger into the ambulance for the short, 3 block trip to the Harford Memorial Hospital E.R.

Lantern Queen passengers are the BEST! Everyone was patient and considerate! Several passengers quietly told me that they were praying for our ailing guest.

I wish I had a video of the wheelhouse activity during this situation. From the moment I announced that we had a medical emergency there was an air of calm determination. No one really talked except for me - still on the phone with the 911 operator, and Capt. Bill occasionally announcing, "10 minutes, 8 minutes, 5 minutes" to help me communicate our position to the 911 operator (who still didn't quite understand the whole boat thing!)

The next day I happened to be chatting with Susquehanna Hose Co. Capt. Bill Reeder, who assured me that if we'd been farther away from our pier, the hose company's fire & rescue boat would have met us and evacuated the passenger. The same is true for Water Witch and Perryville fire companies too. We are extremely fortunate to have pros like the folks from all our local fire and ambulance corps!

I am proud to share this story with you because it underscores the high level of skill and competency of the Lantern Queen crew.

Zoom...there goes Summer!

2008-08-11T16:50:00.000-07:00

Can it possibly be August? June and July zoomed by in a blur of cruises...weddings, anniveraries, birthdays, family reunions, corporate parties, and just plain party parties! Back in the "good old days" of winter we figured that Summer 2008 would be the trial by fire for our crew. The good news is that our crew is still great and they're all still smiling!

Carroll & I are just absolutely tickled with the group of folks who make up the crew of the Lantern Queen. They are some of the best people we've ever met!

Congratulations Clara & Joe Fairchild!

2008-05-25T04:52:00.000-07:00

Drama! A worried bride, a broken down bus, a fast boat! And that's all BEFORE the wedding! Thanks to a good friend, Joe was able to make his wedding by speed boat. As Joe jumped off the speed boat, the wedding party and their guests boarded the Lantern Queen. Captain Fred Lied led Joe and Clara through their "I Do's" enroute to Northeast where more friends were waiting at the Nautigoose. The four hour cruise to Northeast provided plenty of time for relaxed partying. More drama awaited us in Northeast when we discovered that another boat was docked at the city pier - the only pier that can handle the Lantern Queen. A quick call to the Nauti-goose took care of the problem and the Lantern Queen slid into the berth, and quickly lowered the gangway so that the celebration could move to the Nautigoose!

Joe and Clara, congratulations from the Lantern Queen Crew and Staff! We thoroughly enjoyed your wedding, and wish you many years of happiness.

Memorial Day!

2008-05-25T04:45:00.000-07:00

As you can see, the Lantern Queen is all decked out in her patriotic finery. It's a busy weekend for all of us - and the unofficial start to the summer boating season. As we enjoy this wonderfully sunny and pleasant weekend, please join us in remembering and honoring all those who've given their lives in the service of our country. It is their sacrifice that allows us the freedoms we hold so dear.

Happy Birthday, Kristin!

2008-05-24T06:38:00.000-07:00

What's better than having a great bartender? Having a great bartender who's celebrating! Yesterday was Kristin Webb's birthday! Kristin, having you around makes every day a celebration!

Happy 25th Anniversary Donna & Steve Goetz!

2008-05-24T06:25:00.000-07:00

You know, the Lantern Queen seems to be a magnet for one "endangered" species - successful marriages! Tonight we celebrated the 25th anniversary of Donna & Steve Goetz. We didn't have to ask what their secret was - you can see the love in their eyes, and in the eyes of their family and friends. It was a great party, with great folks. Thank you for spending your 25th anniversary with us!

Great Blue Herons!

2008-05-22T12:53:00.001-07:00

Suddenly there are Great Blue Herons at Hutchins Park. These almost prehistoric looking birds are both beautiful and ugly, graceful and clumsy, all at the same time! Here's what the Chesapeake Bay Journal has to say about our Great Blue Herons:

The dignified image is emblazoned on magazines, television, clothing and even license plates. Surpassed only by the blue crab as a symbol of Chesapeake Bay, the great blue heron is the largest and most widely distributed of American herons and probably the most familiar of wading birds.

In recent years, great blue herons have had to face new threats. The deterioration of water quality and loss of habitat threatens herons and other water birds. Areas of shallow water habitat are destroyed during land development, resulting in the loss of fish and other prey.

Toxic chemicals that enter the Bay from runoff and industrial discharges threaten all Bay inhabitants.

Presently, the Chesapeake Bay watershed is home to relatively stable populations of great blue herons, but we cannot become complacent in our efforts to protect them. The preservation of shallow water habitat, feeding areas and rookeries must remain a priority if we want to enjoy this majestic symbol of the Chesapeake Bay.

Congratulations, Seniors!

2008-05-22T12:37:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday evening, May 22, 2008 we hosted a group of John Carroll graduating seniors. First, I have to say that this was the nicest bunch of teens! This group has been Mr. John Low's homeroom for all four years of high school!

This cruise was more special for us than the young people knew! Carroll & Becky met for the first time in Mr. John Low's Edgewood High School biology class - uh...a long time ago. (First period, 9th grade!) In addition to being a great teacher, John was also Carroll's track and cross-country coach. And John's wife, Mary Ann, was Becky's high school phys ed teacher. Long after high school the Low's and Fitzgerald's continue to cross paths, as Becky coached (and Carroll helped) at Harford Tech High, and as both Scott & Erin ran for Joppatowne High and Harford Tech High, respectively. It seemed that John was always there with a quiet word of encouragement for the kids or Carroll & Becky.

After John retired from Harford County Public Schools, he continued teaching at John Carroll High. It is so nice to see this group of high school seniors hold Mr. Low in the same high regard we do!

Harrington Senior Center - Mystery Tour

2008-05-22T12:31:00.000-07:00

Another fun mystery tour! Two large motor coaches set out early in the morning, headed for ??? Only the leader knew where they were headed. When they reached Havre de Grace one motor coach headed for the Susquehanna Museum with step on tour guide, Bob Magee. The other motor coach headed for Hutchins Park and the Lantern Queen. And then after a two hour cruise or a two hour tour of Havre de Grace, the two groups exchanged places. It was a wonderful trip - a bit windy, but otherwise fun. I hope these Delaware residents will be back soon for even more fun!

Corinthian Lodge

2008-05-22T08:12:00.000-07:00

From the time the folks of the Corinthian Lodge (Masons) stepped on board, we knew it was going to be a wonderful evening. There's only one word to describe this group - NICE! It turned out to be a lovely evening and most of us spent a good amount of time on the upper deck. We're already looking forward to seeing this group again!

Chocolate Cruise!

2008-05-22T07:52:00.000-07:00

Just before our passengers boarded, I snapped photos of the desserts. Wow! Enough chocolate for all of Havre de Grace - pastries and panna cotta, hot fudge and raspberry sundaes, trifle, chocolate mousse filled cups! And to top it off bartender Kristin made fabulous chocolate martinis too! I also want to congratulate the 3 couples who celebrated their anniversary tonight! What a great idea - what's more romantic than chocolate!

Calvary Independent Baptist Church

2008-05-22T07:33:00.000-07:00

The Calvary Independent Baptist Church Senior Adults provided another "first" for the Lantern Queen - our first hymn sing! These folks were good! But, chef Tom Eikenberg and Becky sang right along with the group! In fact, Tom and Becky want to challenge this group to a game of "Name that Hymn!" Seriously, thank you folks for making it a great cruise!

Congratulations to Camie & Rob Otis!

2008-05-12T12:40:00.002-07:00

A raw and windy day gave way to an absolutely beautiful evening - just in time for Camie and Rob's wedding aboard the Lantern Queen. With flowers all the way around the top rail and a bridal arch on the stern, the riverboat nuptials were hard to miss. Captain Dave Gainey performed the ceremony and Camie and Rob's first kiss as husband and wife was marked with a loud blast from the Lantern Queen whistle!

Congratulations Rob & Camie and our wishes for a long and happy marriage!

Congratulations! Elaine Chaney & Matt Webb!

2008-05-12T12:26:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the new Mr. & Mrs. Webb. Elaine and Matt's rehearsal dinner was held on the Lantern Queen on Friday evening, May 9, with their wedding at the Vandiver Inn on Saturday May 10. Our wish is for you to have many, many happy years together!

Groups! Great Groups!

2008-05-12T11:30:00.000-07:00

Anyone who deals with groups can tell you that they can be challenging. On Thursday evening, May 8, we had TWO corporate groups aboard! The Herr's (the potato chip folks) Visitor's Center staff and a team from the W.L. Gore Co. (the people who bring us Gore-Tex and other cool stuff) joined our public dinner cruise.

What fun! It was a gorgeous night and these hard working folks got a chance to relax and talk about something other than potato chips or weatherproof fabric! I did get a bit worried when I noticed one of the W. L. Gore folks was wearing a Weather Channel jacket. You know the kind the weather reporter is wearing as he holds onto a light pole to keep from being swept away by the hurricane? The Weather Channel logo was on the left chest, and when the fellow moved his arm I noticed the Gore-Tex label...duh! Silly me! Of course W.L. Gore makes those high tech coats.

The Hess folks were a lot of fun too. These folks man the Herr's Visitors Center and deal with the public all day, every day. So you can bet that they were among the nicest folks we've ever had on the boat. (I'm thinking their job is like Willy Wonka but with potatoes!) Although we teased them about potato chips, I really do want to take a day and visit their facility. I'll bet our little granddaughter Katherine would like to see how chips are made too!

Thank you to both groups - the Lantern Queen staff thoroughly enjoyed the Thursday night cruise. It's always the people who make the cruise!

Grand Opening - Finally!

2008-05-12T11:09:00.000-07:00

On May 2, 2008 Mayor Wayne Dougherty raised the Havre de Grace flag on the Lantern Queen as the kick off for a great Grand Opening cruise. Also participating were a number of regional dignitaries, city employees, friends and family. An absolutely perfect evening was the backdrop for a relaxing cruise, full of good food, good drink and great company.

A big thanks to Mayor Wayne Dougherty, Carol Mathis and all the Havre de Grace City Employees. Part of the reason Havre de Grace is a great place to live and work is that folks care - especially the City employees!

Happy 60th Anniversary Mom & Dad!

2008-05-12T10:52:00.000-07:00

Any of you who know Lucy & Bob Powers know that I have the best parents in the world! My brother and sister-in-law, Bob & Jenny Powers, teamed up with Carroll & I to host a 60th Anniversary Party & Cruise for Mom and Dad. Bob & Jenny did the cooking, and it was yummy. It was a wonderful cruise with a whole boat full of friends and family.

The most remarkable thing is watching these two lovebirds and seeing the love and devotion they have for each other. What an example they are for the rest of us!

Wine Dinner

2008-05-09T09:23:00.000-07:00

The same pesking Havre de Grace weather conditions that kept us at pier for the Queen's Tea struck again. White caps and a gusty 20+ mph winds made sailing impossible. Our wonderful passengers assured us that the wine dinner would still be fun.

While a wine educator from Boordy Vineyard worked with Chef Tom Eikenberg to pair award winning wines with Tom's amazing Wine Dinner menu and explain them to our passengers, Captain Dave Gainey and the Lantern Queen crew carefully monitored the slowly improving weather. When the boat began to back out of its slip (about 45 minutes later) an excited ovation went up from the dining room. Amazingly, the wind died down, the water calmed, and the evening turned absolutely beautiful. After dinner, most folks made their way to the upper deck. Everyone was having such a good time that we extended the cruise about a half hour.

Once again, its all about the people. Great people make great cruises!

Mystery Tour

2008-05-09T08:56:00.000-07:00

The Neff Motor Coach Tour company advertised a "Mystery Tour" in the Lancaster, PA area. Approximately 45 people purchased tickets, got on the big tour bus, and set out with no more information than to dress comfortably for walking and bring a sweater! Talk about adventurers! After a morning tour of the Susquehanna Museum at the Lock House with Bob Magee, the group reboarded their motor coach for a quick trip to Charlestown for lunch at the Wellwood. After lunch the group was surprised when their motor coach pulled into Hutchins Park for their cruise. What a wonderfully relaxing afternoon seeing the sights from the water. (I heard that they were headed to Bomboy's for ice cream after the cruise.) We're glad you folks enjoyed your Mystery Tour of the Havre de Grace area!

The Queen's Tea

2008-05-09T08:26:00.000-07:00

These intrepid ladies had a great tea - and a great adventure. The high winds and choppy whitecaps kept us at the pier, but the Queen's Tea went on in regal fashion. In spite of the crummy weather, the food was wonderful, the atmosphere grand, and the company entertaining. Thank you to all the ladies (and one gentleman) who helped make this event wonderful.

We were sad to meet the Vaders just in time to say goodbye. This nice young couple is relocating back to their home state of Colorado. I know their families will be so happy to have them back home. Godspeed!

Congratulations Trudy and Michael Sullivan!

2008-05-09T07:33:00.000-07:00

WOW! How do you top off a festival weekend like this one? The Pride of Baltimore berthed on one side and the Skipjack Martha Lewis on the other, and a whole weekend of parties! A wedding!

Trudy and Michael got married up on upper deck, in a ceremony performed by Captain Fred Lied, as we cruised near the Concord Point Lighthouse.

Congratulations, Trudy and Michael! May you have a long marriage of smooth sailing!

Lantern Queen Surprise for Coral Wright!

2008-05-09T07:29:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Coral! Coral's family has a history of surprising her. This year a surprise birthday cruise was sucessfully kept hush hush. What a wonderful family cruise and birthday celebration. Coral, we send you our congratulations and our wish for many more wonderful birthdays!

April 11-13

2008-05-09T07:13:00.001-07:00

The weekend of April 11-13 was a LOT of fun! So much was going on at Hutchin's Park. First, the Lantern Queen had a busy charter weekend with both a birthday party and a wedding. The Chesapeake Heritage Conservancy held their annual Bull Roast in a tent in the parking lot. And they brought the Skipjack Martha Lewis up to Hutchins Park for the festivities. And the Pride of Baltimore II was in Havre de Grace and also shared our pier, tied up right next to the riverboat all weekend. A whole fleet of unique vessels!

Harford Bank Annual Meeting

2008-05-06T13:32:00.000-07:00

A bank's annual meeting aboard a riverboat? Absolutely! At the risk of sounding cheesy, let me tell you that Harford Bank is an amazing institution. When we went looking for financing to purchase the Lantern Queen, Harford Bank had the best advice, rates and common sense! So, we also opened our business accounts with Harford Bank and have been awed by the level of service. Hometown banks are quickly becoming extinct, but when we walk into Harford Bank, we're greeted by name by smiling employees. And I think "Sure, we can do that" is the bank's motto, we've heard it so often. But I digress...

After a quick upgrade to the boat's "technology" with a 100" screen, a 2200 lumen projector and all the necessary cabling, the Lantern Queen had a "board room." And suddenly ALL of the Harford Bank personnel were aboard, enjoying a great dinner, speechifying and financial talk with accompanying PowerPoint slides. (The short version is that Harford Bank had a GREAT year!) Finally, awards were presented to the employees for outstanding performance - and there is a LOT of outstanding performance at Harford Bank!

Congratulations to all of the Harford Bank folks! Thank you for letting us be part of your celebration!

Easter Cruise

2008-05-06T13:08:00.000-07:00

Easter came early this year! (In fact, the last time it was this early was 1913. And the next time it will be this early is Easter 2228.) But, Easter luncheon was right on time in Havre de Grace, aboard the Lantern Queen. Both the ambrosia salad and the Seven Layer Salad were big hits, but I was partial to the orange glazed ham. Once the food was served it was a pretty quiet boat - everyone was concentrating on the yummy food! After the meal most of us wandered up to the upper deck, and marveled at the beautiful day and the scenery.

This Easter cruise was very special to us. In addition to the passengers on this public cruise, our entire family was able to be together for the Easter meal on the boat. We were especially happy to be able to include Mom and Dad. Dad's recent tussle with a curb left him with a broken kneecap, so mobility was an issue. No matter! Capt. Dave Gainey maneuvered Dad's wheelchair aboard and daughter-in-law Sarah helped him navigate the dining room. We were also happy to have Pastor Dave Wilson and wife Jeannie join us for this cruise too. Good friends, wonderful family, great food, amazing scenery - what a great day!

Congratulations to Eleanor and Steven Seiler!

2008-05-06T12:57:00.000-07:00

On March 21, 2008 we hosted Eleanor Holden and Steven Seiler's wedding rehearsal dinner aboard the Lantern Queen. Once again Havre de Grace is the meeting place! Neither the happy couple nor their guests hail from Havre de Grace. But they did find it a great location for a wedding. And this couple sure knows how to pick beautiful spots! A rehearsal dinner cruise aboard the riverboat was followed the next day with a lovely wedding at the Havre de Grace United Methodist Church, truly an amazingly beautiful sanctuary. Then John & Susan Muldoon hosted the reception at the Vandiver Inn, yet another lovely spot. Come to think of it, there's a "lot of lovely" in Havre de Grace!

Congratulations Steven and Eleanor! We truly enjoyed being part of your special weekend!
Carroll & Becky Fitzgerald

St. Patrick's Day Cruise

2008-05-06T12:34:00.000-07:00

You know it's a good cruise when the boat docks, the cruise lowers the gangway and opens the doors to the dining room (in March...brrr) and still the musicians continue and the passengers stay put! The Irish Jasper Greens and O'Hara's Cup provided amazing Irish music that captivated all of us, even our favorite little lass, Katherine. Although the food on the Lantern Queen is always wonderful, it was nice to have an authentic Irish meal that didn't feature corned beef! And thanks to bartender Kristin, the Guinness just kept on flowing.

If you enjoy good Irish music, make sure you check out the performance schedule of the Irish Jasper Greens! (Click on "find us" for a schedule and directions)

Tom's Birthday!

2008-05-06T12:11:00.000-07:00

Kathy Eikenberg pulled off an amazing surprise party for Tom's 60th birthday! The problem: how do you manage to host a surprise party for the fellow who does the catering? It started out with a nom de plume. Maria Berg (Kathy's alias) booked a surprise birthday charter for her elderly father by phone with Carroll. Poor not-so-real-Maria didn't have Internet access, so all of her dealings were with Carroll, who would relay special menu choices, etc. to Tom. Carroll even threw in a few curves along the way. "We hear that the guest of honor is real persnickity." "Maria's father is supposed to be a real character."

Well, the day of Tom's surprise party came and we found him in a tizzy - straightening napkins and place settings that didn't need straightening, fussing over the buffet, etc. The rest of the crew noticed a "mob" coming down the pier, many wearing chef's hats. We alerted Kathy, who actually had to drag Tom away from his fussing. Even as his guests came onto the gangway, Tom stood on the foredeck with a puzzled look. I think the appropriate phrase is "Gotcha!"

Needless to say, the party was a blast, the food was fabulous, and we all hated for the cruise to end!

Best quote of the day from Tom: "If I'd known the party was for me, I wouldn't have gotten such expensive crab meat!"

Tom, Happy Birthday from all of the Lantern Queen staff and crew. You deserve all the best!

Northeast River Yacht Club Cruise

2008-03-01T19:43:00.001-08:00

On Saturday, March 1, 50 members of the Northeast River Yacht Club joined us for a dinner cruise. It's not often we have this many sailors aboard the Lantern Queen! The party began the moment the Yacht Club boarded and continued throughout the cruise! Northeast River Yacht Club - Thanks for being a great group of people! We enjoyed having you aboard. Come back to Havre de Grace soon!

Happy Birthdays!

2008-03-01T19:22:00.001-08:00

We celebrated two birthdays aboard the Lantern Queen on February 23! One of the gentlemen turned 91! I'll let you figure out which one. We were excited to have the gang from Applewood Farms aboard - the two attractions have much in common! (We're both G-rated family experiences, run by families, and dedicated to having fun! Plus, Applewood Farms played a big part in our little granddaughter, Katherine's, Christmas experience. She loved the reindeer and the nighttime train ride at Applewood Farms. While the "big boys" were celebrating their birthdays on the main deck, several of our youngest passengers were taking a turn at the Lantern Queen's helm. Thanks for a delightful cruise!

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions

2008-02-17T11:34:00.000-08:00

During our cruises I often find myself answering the same questions - that tells me that folks are interested in the same information. Here's a few of the most popular requested information:

How many people work on the Lantern Queen?
We carry a crew of 8. Two captains, a deckhand, bartender, hostess, chef, and 3 waiters on our public cruises.

How many life preservers does the Lantern Queen carry?
The good news is that this riverboat carries almost twice as many PFDs (Personal Flotation Devices) as we do people! About half them are stored in the ceiling of the dining salon. (If you look up at the "egg crate" panels in the ceiling, you can see the PFDs.) The other half are stored in a compartment below the wheelhouse. We have PFDs for EVERYONE, from the tiniest baby to the biggest adult.

What's the best part of working on the Lantern Queen?
This one's easy - the people are the best part of working on the Lantern Queen. First, the crew is fabulous! Carroll & I consider ourselves richly blessed by the crew we've assembled. It truly seems as if each one was heaven sent! Then there are the passengers! How much fun it is to be able to show people a good time! We have folks celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, family gatherings, weddings, etc. It's great to be able to help make their celebrations memorable. Even company meetings and outings are fun for us. The old saying goes, "All work on no play makes Jack a dull boy." We get to provide the play!

What's the worst part of working on the Lantern Queen?
Well, there are always behind the scenes tasks that certainly aren't glamorous, but are important none the less. But, handling the lines in winter is miserably cold (and dangerous.) And of course no one loves housecleaning - even if its on a great riverboat!

Romantic Afternoon Cruise

2008-02-17T11:13:00.000-08:00

What a gorgeous day for a cruise! Sky clear, water smooth, gentle breeze. Lots of our passengers took the helm and tried their hand at driving the boat. (Captain Tom and Captain Bob provided some "just in time" training and tips!) While a moonlight cruise is romantic, it's also nice to be able to see the sights along the river too! Thanks to everyone for making Valentine's weekend memorable.

Valentine's Cruise - Friday Night

2008-02-15T21:20:00.000-08:00

In honor of Valentine's Day, Capt. Dave, Little Buddy Carroll, and Capt. Fred presented each lady with a rose as they disembarked tonight.

What a wonderful boat full of folks we hosted tonight! And I believe the food we served tonight was the best yet! Chef Tom Eikenberg created a marvelous "surf & turf" menu of beef tenderloin and crabcakes. I thought I knew where to find the best crabcakes in Havre de Grace before. Now I'm sure I know - aboard the Lantern Queen! While the crabcakes and beef got the most attention, the potatoes au gratin were amazing. I'm not sure what was different - they were just so good! But enough about the food!

We miss Kathy Eikenberg, Tom's lovely wife and partner. (Kathy had a bad fall and is still recovering.) Even though she's hobbling, Kathy was able to whip up her sticky toffee pudding cake for tonight's cruise. I thought the best things in life were chocolate until I tasted this amazing dessert. Carroll & I were lucky enough to receive one of these cakes for Christmas, and we've been looking forward to another one ever since! Kathy, not one crumb was left!

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone! We hope you all have as much love in your lives as we do!

Merry (Late) Christmas, Weber Family!

2008-02-12T19:48:00.001-08:00

On January 26, 2008 the Weber family traveled from New York, Delaware, West Virginia and Havre de Grace to celebrate Christmas aboard the Lantern Queen. It was a memorable celebration for everyone!

Happy Birthday, Mike Barr!

2008-02-12T16:54:00.000-08:00

On January 5th, Havre de Grace resident Mike Barr celebrated a significant birthday aboard the Lantern Queen. Approximately 50 of his closest friends and relatives helped make this surprise cruise memorable. What a great party! Mike, happy birthday from the staff of the Lantern Queen. We hope 29 is your best year yet! :-)

New Year's Eve Cruise

2008-02-12T16:38:00.000-08:00

A sold-out boatful of revelers enjoyed a cruise so smooth that it took some of them 1/2 hour to realize we'd left the pier! This last cruise of 2007 was great fun! Now we're looking forward to a great 2008!

Santa on the Bay

2007-12-15T10:45:00.000-08:00

Yummy breakfast, messy craft, lots of kids, Christmas music and Santa = a GREAT morning!! Santa (well known local volunteer Al Boehley) listened to all the kids' Christmas wishes, distributed candy and gifts, and had about a zillion photos taken. He even offered to let the kids pull his beard! We just hope the kids had as much fun as the Lantern Queen staff!

Photos are available at: http://www.fotki.com/BeckyFitz/santa

Candlelight Tour of Havre de Grace

2007-12-15T10:35:00.001-08:00

Several folks reported that the Lantern Queen was the most welcoming place in town! Owner, Carroll Fitzgerald, along with Marquis Downs Caterers Tom & Kathy Eikenberg, and Captains Fred & Dave, made sure that everyone had a hot beverage and cookies.

Mitch Mitchell brought the "mini-Lantern Queen" down to the pier, dressed to match the "big-Lantern Queen." Christmas music poured from both boats, and candlelit luminaries lit the sidewalk and pier.

It was a wonderful night to meet friends and neighbors, new and old.

Post Thanksgiving Luncheon Cruise

2007-12-15T10:27:00.000-08:00

What a great time we had - a boat full of folks just relaxing while someone else did the holiday cooking as we sailed down the river. It was cold and brisk, but cozy inside. But most folks ventured up on the upper deck to take in the views and watch the paddlewheel.

St. John's Church - Fun & Fellowship

2007-11-11T11:01:00.000-08:00

What a great time we had Saturday night! Among our guests was a group from St. John's Church. Between 3 ordained ministers with this group and a couple of our Captains who are also ordained ministers, we probably set some ecclesiastical record. We certainly enjoyed our guests as much as they enjoyed the cruise.

Whooo Hoo! Liquor License!!!

2007-11-11T10:52:00.000-08:00

We just had a mini-celebration to hang framed Lantern Queen LIQUOR LICENSE! Yippee! Hoorah! We will be featuring local wines, and your favorite beers, etc.

Let me take a moment to say that we have been so pleasantly surprised by how helpful and kind all of the folks at the varioius Harford County and State of Maryland agencies have been. While there was a lot of work needed to get the galley up to Harford County Health Department standards, the inspectors were reasonable and personable. We really enjoyed their visits. Likewise the Maryland State Board of Liquor Control inspectors were generous with their helpful tips and advice.

And it's also high time to thank Mayor Wayne Dougherty and Havre de Grace City Administrator Carol Mathis for their help in bringing the Lantern Queen back home to Havre de Grace. Truly we couldn't have done it without these folks.

Here's Lookin' at Ya

2007-10-31T20:10:00.000-07:00

What an absolutely fabulous gift!

Mitch Mitchell, noted craftsman and all around good guy, helped hang a one-of-a-kind, hand made and hand etched mirror behind the bar of the Lantern Queen today. Yes, I said hand etched...as in free hand! It is truly a most treasured gift from a very generous family. (Thank you Kit, for your patience and support of Mitch's "projects.")

And of course Mitch has a wonderful gift of craftsmanship. At one time I would have said he was a "woodworker" but I would have been wrong. I'm not sure there's any material Mitch can't master.

Thank you Mitch! Words simply cannot express how appreciative we are.

Boo! Cruise

2007-10-29T07:05:00.000-07:00

A great time was had by all! Food was great! People were fun! Stories were spooky! And when the submarine dive klaxon started it's "ah-oog-ah-ing" several folks jumped out of their seats! Thank you, Jeff Miller for a wonderful original tale that kept us feeling creepy for the rest of the cruise. And thank you Tom & Kathy Eikenberg for yet another marvelous meal - I particularly liked the "mummy fingers" (nut encrusted chicken tenderloins)....yum!

W. L. Gore - Logistics Cruise

2007-10-29T06:57:00.000-07:00

Although a gray day with periods of rain and drizzle, the W. L. Gore folks had a great crabfeast and cruise aboard the Lantern Queen last week. We're so glad they had a well-deserved day of fun and relaxation.

Captain Kids

2007-10-29T06:19:00.001-07:00

Not only are there U.S.C.G. licensed captains aboard the Lantern Queen on every cruise, but we often have guest captains. Here are some photos of our most recent "Captain Kids." It looks like Jackson & Eden Lied, children of Captain Fred Lied, may be our next generation of Lantern Queen Captains. Alex & Andrew Fitzgerald, niece and nephew of the Lantern Queen owners take a first try at the helm. Little Katherine Weber, granddaughter of the Lantern Queen owners finds the wheel house counter a favorite perch.

Captains

2007-10-29T05:19:00.000-07:00

As the Lantern Queen paddles churn along the Susquehanna, passengers often wonder who's at the helm. Who are the captains of the Lantern Queen? Currently there are FIVE Lantern Queen captains, and two of them are on duty on every Lantern Queen cruise.

Captain Fred Lied is our "Senior Captain," serving aboard the Lantern Queen for a number of years under her previous owner. You can also find Fred doing fiberglass work at Tidewater Marina when he's not at the Lantern Queen helm.

Captain Tom Donahue's day job is captaining a boat for the Army Corps of Engineers, Captain Dave Gainey also captains the Duck boat in Baltimore, Captain Gary Foster captains the "Chessie," and Captain Bob Morrow teaches at the Annapolis Sailing School.

We're really fortunate to have such a talented group of Captains!

Coming Soon - Full Bar aboard the Lantern Queen

2007-10-29T05:15:00.000-07:00

The State Liquor Board inspected the Lantern Queen last week and approved our application for a liquor license! So, the next step is the State Liquor Board interview on Thursday. Assuming the liquor board interview goes well, we will shortly have our license to begin serving alcohol at a full service bar. We're also looking forward to some great wine tasting cruises.

Lantern Queen & Martha Lewis - First Party!

2007-10-13T20:04:00.000-07:00

An appreciation party for the volunteers of the Martha Lewis was a fitting start to the Lantern Queen's return to Havre de Grace. Forty-two skipjack volunteers took the night off and enjoyed food, friends and fun aboard the Lantern Queen. It was fun for the sailboat crowd to experience the stern-wheeler. And when we announced that the Lantern Queen was approaching the Amtrak (or old Pennsylvania) Railroad Bridge, Skipjack Captain Greg Shinn raced upstairs to the upper deck to see the wonders on the north side of the bridge - since the Martha Lewis' tall mast doesn't fit under the bridge!

Lantern Queen Captain Dave Chaney offered an interesting blend of stand up comedy and safety information. It's sure different for the Skipjack folks to have to look up to find lifejackets! (The Martha Lewis' life jackets are stored below.) Meanwhile Lantern Queen Captain Tom Donahue was at the helm.

We were honored to be able to host this wonderful group of volunteers. We hope our Martha Lewis buddies had a GREAT evening!

First Public Cruises Scheduled

2007-10-10T22:36:00.000-07:00

Come on along! On October 19, we will begin a regular schedule of public dinner cruises, every Friday and Saturday, from 6:30 to 8:30. We're really excited! Our first cruises will be able to take advantage of the beautiful fall foliage and autumn sunsets.

Health Department Visit

2007-10-02T09:11:00.000-07:00

This morning we had our Harford County Health Department inspection, and....wait for it...YES! We passed! We now have our Health Department license to serve food aboard the Lantern Queen. While that's important, even crucial to our operation, the process of getting licensed brings a lot of good stuff with it that will make cruising on the Lantern Queen even nicer. For instance, the restrooms have been upgraded, and both the bar and galley completely renovated. Stand by for the next step...the liquor license!!!

Marquis Downs Caterers

2007-09-22T11:37:00.001-07:00

The Lantern Queen will have amazing meals created by newlyweds Tom & Kathy Eikenberg, owners of Marquis Downs Caterers. Marquis Downs Caterers will be the exclusive caterer for the Lantern Queen!

Although new to the Havre de Grace area, Tom has been in the food industry most of his life. Tom has a lot of experience with maritime catering too. Most of the dinner cruise boats that you remember from Baltimore's Inner Harbor...yup, Tom was cooking!

Tom & Kathy brought 700 chilled, butterflied shrimp, yummy punch, etc. to the bridal show for tasting. It's no wonder the brides spent so much time aboard the Lantern Queen! But the BEST was the luncheon Tom & Kathy prepared for the crew.

The photo of Tom & Kathy (above) was taken just before they created a Bridal Arch...while the boat was sailing down the Bay to Swan Harbor Farm. What an adventure! Kathy swaying on a stepladder on the stern, tying flowers to the arch, while Tom & Becky held the ladder and passed along more flowers.

Bridal Show

2007-09-22T11:23:00.000-07:00

While renovations continue, we're busy spreading the word about the Lantern Queen. A couple of weekends ago, we cleaned up the construction mess, dressed the Lantern Queen in her best wedding finery, and sailed over to Swan Harbor Farms for a Bridal Show. We heard nothing but compliments on the boat, the crew, the crew's uniforms, the food, the decor, even the air conditioning! (It was hot that day.) From the number of brides interested in rehearsal dinners or small weddings on the boat, it looks like the Lantern Queen is the new "Love Boat!"

New Galley!

2007-09-14T18:01:00.001-07:00

Talk about an extreme makeover! The Lantern Queen is getting a brand new galley! Walls, ceiling, plumbing, flooring! What's really cool is calling craftsmen and finding out they're already familiar with the Lantern Queen!

Home Port - Havre de Grace

2007-09-14T17:48:00.000-07:00

On Friday, August 31, 2007, the Lantern Queen sailed back into Havre de Grace. What a parade it was! She was escorted part of the way by the U.S. Coast Guard (buoy tender and patrol boat), and the Skipjack Martha Lewis. And of course dozens of pleasure boaters waved and shouted their encouragement. By 4:00 P.M. the Lantern Queen slid into her regular berth at Hutchin's Park, to cheers from the regular fishermen, and a waiting party of well wishers.

Next Step: Renovations!

Lantern Queen

2007-09-14T17:20:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Lantern Queen Blog! With so much interest in the boat, a blog seems like a good way of keeping everyone informed. Please keep checking back for the latest news about the Lantern Queen and her adventures.