Spirit of Ethan Allen
Burlington
(71)
Burlington
(71)
71 customer reviews
Sherry
While planning the wedding, we had some unexpected events that changed our plans and Kristin and her team were great, very supportive. Kristen kept in touch and always responded to texts, emails, and phone calls. At the wedding the staff was friendly, attentive, and helpful. The wedding guests were very impressed with the staff. Some of the guests commented that this was the best wedding that they have attended. I highly recommend the Spirit of Ethan Allan. More...
Reviewed on WeddingWire
Christy Heesacker
My husband and I were married on the SOEA and we could not have dreamed of a more perfect venue, planner, or experience. Cruising along Lake Champlain, we had the beautiful mountains and fall foliage as a backdrop for our wedding ceremony. The venue was ideal as it was all inclusive and we did not have to worry about a thing. Decorations, full stocked bar, accommodating staff, DJ, tables, linens, chairs, food, the list goes on. The venue even included our own remarkable wedding planner! Kristin Bogovich was such a pleasure to work alongside. Her organization skills, quick responsiveness, and coordinating expertise made our planning stress free. She was attentive to what we had envisioned and helped make our wedding day a dream come true. Overall our champagne brunch wedding experience was a huge success. All our family and friends raved about how great it was to enjoy the scenery beautiful Vermont had to offer while dancing, laughing, and indulging in scrumptious goodies provided by the SOEA. To reference a few, we had corned beef hash, scalloped potatoes, Vermont sausage, WAFFLES, and maple syrup you could drink from the ladle! We highly recommend joining the SOEA for any occasion as Kristin and her team were amazing. More...
Reviewed on WeddingWire
Jordan Gibson
We had our wedding on the Spirit of Ethan Allen.The coordinator, Kristin, made everything as easy as possible! Our wedding was perfect with her assistance. The only "hiccup" was that it rained so we could not have our ceremony outdoors as planned. It was extremely easy to move it indoors at the last minute, and it was still gorgeous. We had the Champagne on the Champlain brunch buffet, which was delicious. The decorations that I had brought were perfectly arranged. And to top it off, our waitstaff was extremely friendly and the service was amazing. There are not enough good things I can say about the SOEA! More...
Reviewed on Facebook
Jordan
We had our ceremony and reception at the Spirit of Ethan Allen. We were planning from afar, which can be difficult for anyone. However, the coordinator, Kristin, made everything as easy as possible! She was so willing to work with us via phone and e-mail to figure everything out prior to our arrival in Burlington. Our wedding was perfect with her assistance. The only "hiccup" was that it rained so we could not have our ceremony outdoors as planned. It was extremely easy to move it indoors at the last minute, and it was still gorgeous. We had the Champagne on the Champlain brunch buffet, which was delicious. The decorations that I had brought were perfectly arranged. And to top it off, our waitstaff was extremely friendly and the service was amazing. There are not enough good things I can say about the SOEA! More...
Reviewed on WeddingWire
Joe M.
I see a few mediocre reviews and must say our experience was the opposite. We've been on a few of these lake "cruises" and found the Spirit of Ethan Allen III, the best. When it comes to food we are both critical people. We eat out often and always take these "cruises" with the food option. I have to say the food was great. Everything was fresh, delicious and nicely presented. The "house' was was delicious. I had red and my wife had white. Being a bit obsessed with carpentry, painting, electrical and plumbing - I always give these things a close visual exam. This boat is well maintained for sure and super clean. The entire staff was sharply uniformed and very professional. The wait staff demeanor was top-notch and table service was good. Another review didn't like the seating, Â maybe it's all been upgraded - because we found a nice variety of seating. Tables for 2,3 or more - inside and outside as well as very nice comfortable large chairs outside at the stern. The chairs have lots of room between them, easy to stretch out and room to place your bottle of wine and glasses or food. As a history buff, I found the narration awesome. We loved the level of detail of things that were pointed out along the way. The narration was pre-recorded it was a professional voice and the pace of the information was perfect and interesting. The sound was very clear, high quality and just the right volume. If I HAD to find something wrong with this "cruise" it would be the Mexican-Latin style of music that played for a few minutes before the narration started. In our opinion, some smooth jazz or something like Sirus Watercolors would have been much better. We are looking forward to going back on this boat a dinner sunset cruise. Easy parking and easy boarding. After the cruise grab some ice cream right nearby or have a couple of cold beers on the deck across the street. Lots of places nearby. Don't miss the April Cornell Bohemian store across the street. The basement level in the back has lots of stuff 1/2 price. We parked in a metered space but look around because we missed a lot of free parking. More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Sallie Fusco Sattal
Harvest Moon dinner cruise. such a perfect night on the most beautiful lake. The harvest turkey dinner was wonderful and waitstaff very curtious and friendly. My third time on your ship. Always a good time. We will return next time we visit Burlington VT. More...
Reviewed on Facebook
Mrs.Jeffrey H.
This was a last minute decision. It was a gorgeous day, views were beautiful. There was a recorded "tour" but we sat outdoors in the bow. Could not hear a word. It was not overcrowded, which was fantastic. It would have been terrible if we had not been ae to move around a lot. Some cruises you get your crappy seat and other people have amazing seats and you are shit put of luck.not fair for the $$. The food looked lopooow quality but beer and hot chocolate were perfect. It was a bit expensive. More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Ying Hu
We cannot be happier with our wedding on the Spirit of Ethan Allen! All the staff on SOEA were super friendly, helpful, and professional. The coordinators Josh and Megan were fantastic! We wanted to add as many personal touches as possible to our wedding, so we did a lot of DIY decoration for the ceremony and reception. Josh and Megan went over all of the details with us and made sure it was worry-free for us on our wedding day! The food was beyond our expectation too. Needless to say that the sunset view on the cruise was just gorgeous and romantic! Many guests came to us during and after the wedding, giving compliments on the food, service, and atmosphere of the wedding. It was perfect! More...
Reviewed on WeddingWire
Simone M.
We took the sunset cruise on a Saturday night. While we froze during the first leg of the trip on the Sky Deck, it was our fault for not dressing for the open-air experience. Views of the water and sunset were spectacular. We got the picnic basket, which came with some delicious bread and cheese and a very lackluster charcuterie board. The menu was terrible, with nothing else jumping out at us to order besides the meatball parmigiana, which was just alright. Definitely eat before if you're planning on taking this cruise in the evening. Good beer, wine, and drink selection for a boat, though! More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Susan Tetreault
Our cruise was a senior group, from Chazy, the food and service was excellent. Thank you .
Reviewed on Facebook
April Jones Bushey
we had such a wonderful time on the 80s Murder Mystery Dinner Cruuse
Reviewed on Facebook
Ariana A.
We attended the Fireworks cruise this past weekend and to be honest, I was a little nervous from all the mixed reviews on here. However, I was pleasantly surprised because we had an absolutely amazing time on the cruise! I didn't have high hopes for the food but the buffet dinner was actually really delicious. The steak and salmon were not overcooked which almost always happens with buffet food. The service was spectacular! We moved our party of 6 up a level on the boat which was unplanned and no doubt a little inconvenient for the staff, but everyone was so accommodating and polite. The servers were awesome and many of them were out on the dance floor with us at the end of the night!!! Â Would highly recommend this cruise! More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Dodi S.
We had such a beautiful wedding on  The spirit of Ethan Allen. Everything was great from the food to the staff. Such beautiful views and a day we will never forget. Michelle and her staff did a great job. I definitely recommend any of their cruises. From an event to just taking a day cruise!!! Three Thimbs Up!! More...
Reviewed on Yelp
A C.
Did the lunch and scenic cruise and had a great time. Ran 90 minutes and was a fun and relaxing way to learn about the local history. Lunch was good and the service was top notch. A great way to beat the summer heat. More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Ruthie Nye
We were invited to join the new Provost on the SEA III on Wed. Night. The food was very good, staff excellent, and s beautiful night. .. Just make sure when you are feeding a crowd, there is a doctor on board. Past experience, my husband and dear friend saved a choking victim a few years ago. More...
Reviewed on Facebook
Kristen
We had a small wedding aboard the Spirit of Ethan Allen, and it was the most memorable day. We got married three years ago, and our guests still rave about it. The staff was attentive, helpful, and moved around almost unnoticed. They were amazing. We did a day side ceremony - at 12 noon - so our guests could enjoy the mountains that surround Lake Champlain, and I'm so glad we did. At night, you can't enjoy that beauty. The prices were super affordable compared to many other venues we looked at. And everything was just spectacular. This couldn't have been a more perfect venue for our wedding. More...
Reviewed on WeddingWire
Mary Michael Fusco
Amazing experience, love this cruise
Reviewed on Facebook
Teresa Camden
very friendly staff! accommodating! pleasurable and informative experience!
Reviewed on Facebook
Mark C.
We went on the lunch cruise. The buffet meal was surprisingly good and our waiter, Dimitar, was extremely nice and attentive. Views off the different decks were fantastic, and we spent a good amount of time lounging in the Adirondack chairs in back. There was a taped narration of the various historic and notable features of the lack and land around it, as well as some history about Vermont. Unlike most sound systems you could actually hear and understand it throughout the boat. More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Christie Delphia
The night time Dinner/Sunset Cruise is Incredible !
Reviewed on Facebook
Allison Young Jurentkuff
Great place to host a wedding reception. We had a blast & congrats to Brigham & Michelle Young!!
Reviewed on Facebook
Jane P.
We loved this boat ride! We went on a beautiful day and enjoyed the gorgeous scenery and fascinating narration. We had an appetizer which was good, and our drinks were wonderful. We were expecting small drinks in plastic cups and were pleasantly surprised when two big beautiful drinks came. Two adults tickets, an appetizer, and two drinks came to $85, so it was a bit pricey for a 90 minute ride, but I would recommend if it's a nice day out and you are visiting from out of state. The service was 10/10 too! More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Linda Wood
We were on the boat this past Sat for my nieces wedding and it was VERY VERY NICE..... the boat was clean and the wait staff and bartender were very pleasant and the food was wonderful! Only issue i had was it was chocolate cake I like White cake better. We are planning a trip up to do a dinner cruise.......... I thought the experience was overall very pleasant and nice... Also the DJ was good More...
Reviewed on Facebook
Erin
I got married on the spirit of Ethan Allen last night. It was a magical experience. The staff was wonderful, cheery, and Michelle was amazing. Everything was done exactly the way I hoped it would be. Elegant, sophisticated, fun. The food was divine. The weather didn't completely cooperate but I was reminded that rain during a wedding is good luck. I cannot recommend this place enough. More...
Reviewed on WeddingWire
April R.
My husband and I visited Burlington for our 3rd wedding anniversary, and we wanted something romantic to do for the evening, and I found this sunset cruise. It was about 2 hours, and $25. It was a little confusing because it seemed like there was a private party on board, so certain areas were off limits. We saw people sitting up on the bow at tables being served, and we were down for some wine and snacks. We went down but it wasn't clear if we were allowed out there. After asking, we made our way out and grabbed a table. It took forever for us to get someone to help us, even though another server was helping a table right next to us. He wasn't able to serve us but found the girl who was assigned to our section. Service was super slow considering her area was small and not full (it was a little chilly and windy) and we only got an antipasto platter. Overall we had a good time, but the service part of things and where to go were a little confusing. More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Desiree
I would recommend the SOA to any couple looking for a unique venue! My husband and I enjoyed working with Heather (event planner) and her team. She was so organized and made our special day absolutely beautiful! We couldn't be happier with how our wedding turned out. More...
Reviewed on WeddingWire
Karen
Everything was fabulous, no doubt due to Heather and the rest of her staff's hard work. The deck was decorated beautifully, the food was excellent, drinks were strong and prompt, and the DJ was great at reading the room. Having your reception on a boat is such a unique idea and we were thrilled to provide this experience for our guests. The value we received for our money could not have been found with any other venue. More...
Reviewed on WeddingWire
Jennifer
This was such an incredible experience I hardly know where to start! First of all, the views on the ship are breathtaking, and this was the most important factor in our decision to select this venu. The Adirondacks, Green Mountains, and Burlington cityscape are beautiful during the day and breathtaking at sunset, and even more so when enjoyed from gorgeous Lake Champlain. The ability to be on the water yet still allow our guests the option- and comfort- of indoor AND outdoor movement was just perfect. Not a single worry about the weather! And options- oh, my! There were almost too many options. The website is really just a starting point, believe me. We were able to customize to our heart's content, from the food to the decor, deck set up, music- if you want it, you can probably have it. If inclusiveness is important to you, look no further. While we only utilized the ship for our reception, it was still so wonderful to have so much included in our package. The staff is by far the best group of people you could have around you on such an important day. They are all professional, responsive, attentive, and fun. They treated our guests like family and seemed to genuinely enjoy our reception just as much as we did. They were flawless and upbeat, and we never worried or wanted for anything. Our wedding coordinator was truly a dream come true. Heather was an absolute delight to work with. Professional, knowledgeable, available, flexible. She has experience, impeccable taste, and is everything an event planner should be. She did everything we needed her to do and everything we had no idea we needed her to do. Truly spectacular, and oh so sweet and patient. She is the answer to every overwhelmed bride. The real validation came from our guests: the feedback we received was so overwhelmingly positive. That says it all! More...
Reviewed on WeddingWire
Donna M.
We just did the 4th of July cruise and had a blast. The food was cold before we finished because we are on the upper deck where your in an outdoor environment. Â It didn't matter every one we taked to was fun and was there to have a good time. We danced ..watched the sunset and fireworks...laughed allot.. Â I don't know anyone on my deck that wasn't having fun! Â I recommend 100%. More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Steven B.
Lunch cruise. Food was very good. Ride excellent. Crew and servers friendly and charming. I struggled to hear the canned Narration over the sound of nearby diners conversations. Great views of the lake and the mountains. More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Steven B.
If you are the Burlington Area, this cruise is a Must! Â We took the Italian Buffet Dinner cruise and the food was delicious and plentiful. Â Lake Champlain is beautiful at sunset, and there is a great view of the Adirondack Mountains from the Lake. More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Chip F.
Nice boat ride. We went on the 10 ride. Not more than 50 people. We sat in the bow at tables. Not really comfy seating. Taped speech was informative. We had beautiful weather. They won't let you bring a water bottle on, so you buy their food. We did not buy food. Reasonable bathrooms. Full set of stairs to get to the main deck and another to get to th More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Katie
SOEA was an absolutely perfect choice for our wedding! We were planning a VT wedding from abroad, so wanted a venue that would take care of everything. SOEA did not disappoint! Our wedding coordinator, Sarah, took care of all the details and made sure that we had the perfect day. We received so many compliments on how fun and unique our wedding was. We were surrounded by the beauty of Lake Champlain and all our guests had a tremendous time. This is a great choice for VT destination weddings! More...
Reviewed on WeddingWire
Beth
I can't wait to have my wedding here in October!!!
Reviewed on WeddingWire
tanya
we had the most perfect wedding and reception It was all I dreamed of
Reviewed on WeddingWire
Elaine N.
We went on this cruise last weekend for the Champagne Brunch. It was a nice experience with beautiful views of the lake. The brunch was delicious!
Reviewed on Yelp
Amanda
We couldn't have been happier choosing the Spirit of Ethan Allen for both our ceremony and reception site. Right from the start, we were treated with professionalism and warmth, and felt like we were in good hands.
Our coordinator, Sarah, was wonderful to work with. She took the time to go over all our visions and hopes for the day, and she made sure everything all came together.
One of the selling features for us was the all-inclusive nature of this venue. Our pricing included the set up, tables and chairs, linens, and access to a coordinator. The value is unbeatable, and we really appreciate the way the entire staff handled the affair. As a bride planning my wedding from long distance, this was absolutely the best way to go. Having a coordinator included in the pricing just made this whole process that much less stressful, and we were so pleased with how everything turned out. Not to mention, it's a very unique and beautiful venue! It's not everyday you get to go to a wedding on a boat. I highly recommend it to any bride looking for the perfect Vermont wedding venue!
More...
Reviewed on WeddingWire
Tanya
What a fab venue wish we could of stayed longer it was a wonderful day
Reviewed on WeddingWire
Lin P.
Nice cruise around Lake Champlain. Had a drink only though did see a cheese plate ordered which looked fine. Late afternoon cruise . .very relaxing. Nice source of local lore. More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Niki J.
Excellent experience. We were on the boat for a conference and had low expectations for the food as no cruise ship has good food. We were pleasantly surprised. A must-do experience in Burlington. More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Kassandra
Amazing! The price was in line with our budget. My wedding coordinator was my life saver. The food and staff were beyond amazing. My wedding was spectacular and exactly what I wanted and more! More...
Reviewed on WeddingWire
Laurie Hilliker Reed
Met two hometown schoolmates last week. We went on the Ethan Allen Cruise. Beautiful day and such a good time catching up, taking pictures, and enjoying the lunch and beauty of Lake Champlain.
Reviewed on Facebook
User5269307
The SOEA was everything I hoped for and expected. I am a critical second older bride who cannot suggest any area for improvement. The support, service, staff and wedding planner, Sarah Chasse were fabulous. The food, buffet style, was raved about by our 100 guests including 2 restaurant owners. It was more decadent than a sit down meal. The chef made several special accommodations for extras. The decorating was done by them unseen by me prior to the ceremony and reception both on the boat and was completed exactly to my written specifications. The sunset cruise was breathtaking and a wonderful treat for all the guest. Have your event on the SOEA. You will not be sorry!!! More...
Reviewed on WeddingWire
Rhonda
The whole experience was great treat, Kendra did an awesome job the day of the wedding...and Sarah helped me thru the entire process. The guest were happy, I was relieved of stress..and the day was remarkable. Highly recommended the cruise.. More...
Reviewed on WeddingWire
Morgan L.
I see many people had a mediocre experience on the spirit of Ethan Allen, but I give it 5 stars. It looks like many of these reviews are at least a year old, so I think the ship has improved their service. Â I went on a sunset dinner cruise this past summer, and it was awesome. The food was really good, it was the BBQ menu, the weather was beautiful and of course the views are the main attraction. The staff were very nice and helpful, and even let us change to a table with a better view because it was my birthday. More...
Reviewed on Yelp
User4511058
Sarah was such a pleasure to work with. She was so easy to get ahold of and was so helpful making our most special day easy.
She was also such a delightful person who was excited each and every time I spoke with her on the phone regarding excitement about the event. I would recommend anyone planning a wedding to go about the SOEA and have a wonderful experience working with her.
Thanks again for making our day so completely wonderful!
More...
Reviewed on WeddingWire
User4481251
Sarah was an outstanding help to us during the entire process. The staff on the day of the wedding were very professional. I wish we had more time during the turn around process from our event to the next, but I do understand the reasons why. More...
Reviewed on WeddingWire
Heather
We could not have been happier with our wedding on the spirit of Ethan Allen. My husband and I planned a destination wedding from Virginia, and had the pleasure of working with Sarah throughout the entire process.
Not only was she able to help us plan a wedding in only 3 months, but it was beyond our expectations!
I created a woodland/autumn theme for all of the tables onboard, and when the ship pulled up to dock, I nearly cried. I could see all of my decorations, candles, and lights from afar while we waited to board. Once I made my way down the aisle, and after the ceremony, I was amazed at the attention to detail that the crew had taken while setting up. It truly looked like the enchanted forest I had pictured.
The food was very good. We went with the Lonerock buffet, as well as the antipasto station (which was my favorite) and a cheese fondue station. We also had Ben & Jerry's come aboard and it was AWESOME! I am very thankful that the Ethan Allen allows this.
The dj from super sounds, Jeff, was wonderful. He checked with us frequently and made sure all of the music was exactly as we had instructed. He also gave us time to get ready for certain things, which I loved. He was so great to work with!
Although it rained, I wouldn't have had it any other way. We took pictures in the rain and I would even go to say that I was grateful for the rain, it kept everyone on our deck instead of outside away from the party!
Everyone that works for the spirit of ethan allen was a joy to work with, especially Sarah. She checked in on me often, made sure everything was going smoothly, and made sure I was stress free. She was absolutely amazing throughout this whole process, I am so grateful for her! I would work with her again in a heartbeat!
Thank you so much to everyone that was a part of our special day, it brings me to tears thinking about how beautiful everything looked, it was all perfect. I know we will never forget our day. Thank you SO much!
More...
Reviewed on WeddingWire
Meghan
Sarah and the SOEA staff were incredible! Anything we needed, asked for, or worried about was handled quickly and perfectly. Sarah helped us right from the beginning, working through a million different ideas, all the way up to the last details of favors and decorations. The staff decorated the room beautifully, taking all the stress off of us and our families. We had a truly magical night (helped by a gorgeous sunset) and are incredibly thankful to the entire SOEA staff! More...
Reviewed on WeddingWire
User4356737
Our wedding day on Lake Champlain was perfect! The event planners Sarah and Kendra set up the decor just as we wanted. They kept us on schedule with our timeline. The food was delicious. The boat ride was smooth. Guests and staff were all smiling the whole evening. A wonderfully unique way to celebrate! More...
Reviewed on WeddingWire
