Cruise Control

Cheeseburger In Paradise!

Cruise Control Dinner Cruises & Yacht Charters on Orcas Island — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 02:38:59 +0000

Join us for a lunch cruise on Saturday, July 3rd for a REAL “Cheeseburger In Paradise” on your Orcas Island vacation!

Look for our Billboard in Eastsound!

Cruise Control Dinner Cruises & Yacht Charters on Orcas Island — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 02:18:47 +0000

If you’re planning a trip to Orcas Island this summer season don’t forget to make a reservation with Cruise Control!

Whether you’re planning a romantic get-away with a private sunset dinner for two, or you’d like to spend the day with the family out on the water exploring Sucia Island State Park’s trails and eating a REAL “Cheeseburger In Paradise”, Cruise Control is available to make your Orcas Island vacation one to remember!

Design your personal cruise and call us to make your reservation today!

FAQ’s

Cruise Control Dinner Cruises & Yacht Charters on Orcas Island — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 22:40:54 +0000

Q: Can I use your galley for my own food preparation?

A: Yes, you need to tell us your intentions prior to sailing. You can have full use of the facilities and barbecues only when we are stopped, or anchored up. (A $20 cleanup fee will apply).

Q: Is your boat accessible to physically disabled people, or those with special needs?

A: There are no ladders on board our vessel so everything is very easily accessible. However there are three stairs down to the bathroom facilities. We will help in any way we can to ensure our guests are safe and comfortable.

Q: Can I bring my children on board?

A: Yes, we love to see families enjoying our cruises. Kids steer the boat usually better than adults! If you have infants, you can use our staterooms for changing or napping. We have life jackets of all sizes on board!

Q: When is my deposit at risk if something comes up? How much notice do I need to give to cancel?

A: We require 48 hours notice for cancellations.

Q: Can I bring our dog?

A: Sorry, no pets. This vessel is operated under food establishment rules and therefor no animals are allow on board.

If you have any other questions that are not answered here, please give us a call or shoot us a message!

Kids Welcome! A story from Captain Robin

Cruise Control Dinner Cruises & Yacht Charters on Orcas Island — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 22:26:36 +0000

Sometimes folks just want to cruise around for a while. That’s totally okay with me. We don’t need our on-board chef for these missions. The fridge is always stocked with lots of beverages. I always like to offer the wheel to anybody that wants to steer for a while. There are two steering stations, one on the flight deck and one up top on the sun deck. I like to be sensitive to people’s moods and desires. For instance, some like a tour guide and are content with me or the chef chattering on about this or that as we putt around. Sometimes I will ease myself out of their presence into the other steering station and leave them alone. (They can still drive the boat around, but believe-you-me I’m watching the business from the other steering station!) I love to see a couple of folks up on the sun deck driving around on their own. It’s kind of a “Captain for the afternoon” personal experience. You don’t have to have knowledge or worry about anything. If I need to have an opinion about something, I’ll pipe up.

One day day last summer three people got me out for a ride around out and about, a nice couple and their 11 year old daughter. I love kids on the boat, kids of all ages. This little girl was so cute, I offered the wheel, and that was it! She was on wheel watch for the duration. She was driving for a while and that was that. OK, I thought, I’ll run her through some navigation exercises. We had to make a slight course correction. So rather than bark at her about degrees of a circle, come left to two one five, etc. etc., she’s 11, so I said, “See that hill that’s pointed on top… it’s at 12 o’clock… right?” After 15 seconds of schooling on “relative position”, without any finger pointing out the window from me, I said, “Put that hill at 1 o’clock.” Without hesitation, she made the required left turn and locked that hill into the 1 o’clock position. She understood this concept just like a fish to water. I glanced over at mom and dad and noticed they were glowing with pride.

I sometimes have to issue a correction order to one of my adult guests on wheel watch. Sometimes they just say, “here, you can take the wheel back.” I like to see people enjoying themselves, but if we need to make a course correction, to avoid ruining their fun with higher math, I’ll just say, “turn left a little bit.”

I’ll make sure wheel watch stays fun for everybody. I do like kids on the boat. I’ll have them tying knots, driving the boat, performing some navigation skills, only if they are perceptive to some fun games or exercises. This is not a “swab the deck” operation, whatever we do will be fun. This is a family oriented, back to nature experience. Sometimes I sneak out the video recorder to capture some highlights of the kids. We can even throw these clips on a “disc to go” for you. Lots of fun stuff!

Dinner Cruise on Orcas Island Anyone?

Cruise Control Dinner Cruises & Yacht Charters on Orcas Island — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 19:24:08 +0000

We are a unique yacht charter service located on Orcas Island in the beautiful San Juan Archapelago in Washington State. A typical cruise could take you on a hiking, mountain bike, or kayak tour of Sucia Island State Park, followed by a sunset dinner in comfort aboard our boat Capricorn, in one of the prime wildlife viewing areas in the Northwest. Join us for a private afternoon, or evening sunset cruise and dinner off the North Shore of Orcas Island. Specializing in the scenic beauty of Matia, Sucia, and Patos Islands. Boarding at Sandy Point near Bellingham, or Orcas Island.

On our yacht we present fine home style cooking, typically a four course dinner. The menu is published on our web site under Dinner Menu or you can request almost any personal menu in advance. Keep in mind that this is a very personal cruise. There are typically only 6 of us on board- myself, our chef, and you honeymooners. The flight deck, or up on the sundeck, is the perfect place to watch this all unfold. The flight deck has its own couch and table, stools, etc., it’s not like an aircraft cockpit there’s plenty of elbow room. The sundeck above has comfortable couches for everybody.

Our captain was born right in this area. He has been up and down the coast between the Aleutian chain and San Francisco Bay, and has explored every nook and bay out there. This dates back to childhood when his family fished lobster and mackerel in Nova Scotia. He has fished commercially in Alaska off and on since the early 70s. He is also quite the historian of this local area. He also has a background in aviation, is a long time pilot, aircraft owner, and an FAA licensed civil aircraft inspector for 25 years.

Attention Kayakers! We can stuff at least a half dozen kayaks on board for you paddlers. For example, you could get your group together, starting off at Matia Island, don’t stop until you get to Patos, one way. Or, any combination you can think of. Your Mother Ship will be around, loosely following you at a distance. Half way, you might want to have a nice lunch or dinner on board, or maybe it gets a little choppy for you, or you’re tired. Take a break, have a nap, watch a movie, take a shower. The kayaks slide on and off easily. Use your imagination, we can accommodate.

This is a captain-owned vessel and business. There’s no big corporate pie to divide up.

Give us a call to discuss your adventure!

Capt. Robin 360-927-8216

www.cruisecontrolweb.com

Popping The Question?

Cruise Control Dinner Cruises & Yacht Charters on Orcas Island — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 02:07:51 +0000

Are you planning on “Popping The Question” to your significant other this summer?

Why not do it on our 45′ Pilothouse Yacht, while sipping champaign and watching the sunset in the San Juan Islands?

It doesn’t get more romantic than on the sun deck of our yacht, “Capricorn”, with your choice of music accompanied by the songs of the local birds, and the waves lapping at the side of the boat. Take her/him on a walk at Sucia Island’s State Park, paddle a kayak around the sandstone cliffs… and then at dinner, pop the question!

Cruise Control Dinner Cruise & Yacht Charters offers a truly personalized cruise, no matter what the occasion.

Give Captain Robin a call today to plan your adventure!