Thanks again for your help and advice, SAB. I think that's probably what we're going to do.

CAPH52, if I were trying to impress visitors, I would only either take them out on the Odyssey or charter a private sailboat (especially if you have several in your party) and have dinner elsewhere, or do a moonlight picnic on the sailboat.

Take a look at Odyssey's Full Moon Sunset Dinner Cruise on Sunday, Oct. 4th which is just under $80 pp. They also have a $50 discount dinner discount shown on their website, but you'd have to read the terms to see if it would apply here.

You can charter sailboats out of Belmont Harbor. Remember, you are paying for the entire boat and skipper; and I think that the base rate is usually for up to 6 passengers, which is the legal limit for charters (and there is usually a minimum amount of time you must charter - perhaps 3 hour minimum?). So if the hourly rate is $150 (on a weekend) x 3 hours for 6 passengers, that would be $75/passenger, not including tip. They may or probably have discounts on weekdays (Monday through Thursday, that is) as well.

Usually you only have to make a smaller deposit to reserve a charter sailboat. And I believe that if there is bad weather (where you cannot sail) that the charter company may refund all (or practically all) of the deposit.

Thanks for that info, exhiledprincess. I'm going to look into the Sunday cruise because it sounds very good. But I have a feeling it won't work for us. Part of the reason for this is to entertain them that Saturday night when my daughter has to work. And, while I think she may have to work Sunday evening as well, my husband has very early Monday mornings...

The boat rental sounds very interesting but is a little more than I really want to get into. I suspect we'll wind up sticking with the Fall Cruise and dinner elsewhere. But I do appreciate the info!

You're very welcome. I thought from your above post that there were going to be 6 in your party (you, your husband, your daughter, SIL and in-laws). When there are that many in a party, getting a charter is practically about the same amount dollarwise as purchasing 6 tickets for another boat cruise.

And it's really much nicer than sharing some communal table or confined area with a bunch of strangers.

I've been on practically all of the cruises. That's not to say that I've been on most of them because I personally chose to do so. A few of them were because of work-related functions (but those were *only* on chartered yachts or on the Odyssey) and a couple I got horn-swaggled into going because another person got the tickets.

IMHO, you certainly get what you pay for in this arena.

I thought I'd pull this back up to say that this past Saturday wound up being too cold and wet for a cruise. We opted instead to take them to Garfield Park Conservatory in the afternoon. They're avid gardeners and seemed to really enjoy the Conservatory.

Thanks again for all of your help. Especially those of you who suggested waiting to purchase tickets!

Glad you found an enjoyable excursion for your guests.