1. In the middle ages birthdays were only celebrated by nobility (so spend your day like royalty)
2. August is the most common Birthday month, over 21 million Americans have birthdays in August
3. May 21^st is the least common birth date, which is good news for Nikki our Cruise Coordinator!!
4. In the United States, 2 Billion Birthday Cards are given each year.
5. The Warner Music Group collects approximately 2 million dollars in royalties for the ‘Happy Birthday Song’ every year. 

• Take the day off of work and treat yourself to a nice relaxing day, who really wants to spend their birthday at work anyways?
• Buy yourself that nice gift that you have always wanted
• Eat Cake! It is the one day of the year that you can have all the cake and ice cream that you want and not feel guilty about it! Check out this great website for some delicious Birthday cake recipe ideas.. http://allrecipes.com/recipes/desserts/cakes/birthday-cake/
• CELEBRATE! No birthday would be complete without a birthday celebration, so grab your friends and family and have a party or go out to eat! 

• Junk food. Actually food in general is the most popular thing to sacrifice for Lent. For Catholics, this means giving up meats on Fridays from now until Easter, or to fast entirely for one day a week. Other people just give up those beloved salty or sweet snacks that are so hard to resist (we’ll miss you, potato chips…).

• Television. It’s amazing the free time that becomes available to people when they turn off the TV after dinner. It can be difficult to part with guilty pleasures like Deadliest Catch and Grey’s Anatomy, though, so we won’t judge if you begin a six-week countdown until McDreamy is back in your life.

• Facebook. Whether you’re a college student or a mom with four kids, Facebook is a magnet for procrastinators around the world. Many people choose to give up social networking completely and separate themselves from the cyber world for the next 40 days. Forewarning: after deactivating your Facebook account, side effects typically include strong withdrawals from incessant status updates and also the common pastime of “Facebook-stalking” (don’t deny it). 
• Alcohol. Stimulants like coffee and alcohol can have a strong presence in the daily lives of many people, so it is not rare to see fewer cars in the Starbucks parking lot and a shorter line at the liquor store for a while. No wonder bars around the world consider Fat Tuesday one of the busiest nights of the year!
• Cussing. Swear words are considered to be a sin in the Bible, and they are also seen as a major faux pas in today’s society. A lot of people see giving up cussing as a challenge and they work on biting their tongue for the next six or seven weeks. Rappers especially struggle with this one.

• Chocolate. It is no secret that chocolate is an all-time favorite treat for people all over the globe, so it comes as no surprise that it is typically given up for Lent. Hopefully everyone got their chocolate fix in last week over Valentine's Day!

• Mend a few bridges. Maybe there’s someone in your life that has done you wrong or vise versa. Many use Lent as a time to reconcile those negative relationships and move past an issue that has taken up too much space in their life.
• Daily exercise. In the religious sense, many perceive their body as a temple, so in an effort to worship and give thanks to God, they focus on working out and taking better care of their bodies. Even if you aren’t religious, it couldn’t hurt to take another stab at that resolution you made to hit the gym at least four times a week.

• Do a good deed every day. As the saying goes, you always feel better about yourself after you make someone else feel better. So go out and make someone’s day! Chances are it’ll bring a smile to your face too.
• Spend more time with family and friends. Work and school tend to bog down people’s lives and can sometimes make them lose sight of what’s important. Whether it’s going out for a nice dinner with their spouse, playing a board game with their kids, cocktail hour with the girls, or even just taking some time to themselves to relax and be alone, many people use these next 40 days as a time to reflect and focus on those who are most important to them. 

Only 13 more days left until Valentine’s Day! What are you going to get for your loved one this year?  If you haven’t thought of the perfect idea yet, we are here to help you out!

1.  It may sound simple but honestly how can you go wrong with Chocolate, Champagne, and Roses?

 

4. Maybe jewelry is not in your budget this year, but do not worry after all it is the thought that counts! So make something homemade. Need an Idea? Here is a fun website to make your own Valentine’s Day coupon book! http://familycrafts.about.com/od/coupons/tp/couponsprint.htm

5. And of course our personal favorite Valentine’s Day gift idea! Surprise your valentine with a romantic cruise aboard the Volunteer Princess!

As the holiday of love quickly approaches, it's hard not to wonder how this popular day filled with chocolates, roses, Hallmark cards and balloons came about in the first place. Single women across the country typically dread the 14^th of February, while happy couples tend to look forward to this day of romance. Regardless of marital status, everyone acknowledges this holiday in one way or another, and flower shops and chocolate producers prepare for their busiest day months in advance.   

V-Day Stats:

• Roughly 180 million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged each year, making V-Day the second-most popular greeting-card- giving occasion.
• 24.3 pounds of candy is consumed per capita in America.
• The average consumer usually spends about $100 on gifts, meals and entertainment.
• 73% of flower-purchasers are men, while only 27% are women.
• 15% of U.S. women send themselves flowers on Valentine’s Day.
• About 3% of pet owners give V-Day gifts to their pets.

So where did it all start? How did the all the fuss about love and romance come about? There are several different theories on the origin of this hyped-up holiday but the most popular story dates back to the Roman Empire. Legend has it that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome under the reign of Emperor Claudius II. The Emperor didn’t want men to marry because he believed single men made better and stronger soldiers. Valentine thought this was unfair and decided to marry young couples secretly. For this, Valentine was thrown into jail and sentenced to death on February 14^th. While he was imprisoned, he supposedly wrote a love letter to the jailor’s daughter and signed it, “Your Valentine.” Sound familiar?

More Fun Facts:

• Young ladies of medieval times ate bizarre foods on St. Valentine’s Day to make them dream of their future spouse.
• In the Middle Ages, men and women drew names out of a bowl to see who would be their Valentine. They wore that name pinned on their sleeve for the next week. Hence the expression, “to wear your heart on your sleeve.”
• Physicians of the 1800’s advised patients to eat chocolate to calm their pining for lost love. Guess chocolate really is the best break-up cure!
• The red rose was the favorite flower of Venus, the goddess of love.
• Teachers receive the most Valentine’s Day cards each year!

Can’t think of anything to get your significant other that day? This website has tons of gift ideas that are sure to help you out: http://www.gifts.com/ideas/valentines-day

Need a great date option? Volunteer Princess Cruises is offering TEN different cruises with several special romantic package options. Check them out here: http://www.volunteerprincess.com/holiday/valentinesday. We couldn’t think of a more memorable way to spend the holiday than cruising down the beautiful Tennessee River with your sweetheart!

So break out your mushy side and get ready for Valentine’s Day 2012! It will be here before we know it!

The buzz is over and so is the party, 2012 is here and we are all back to normal routines. It is time to start working on our new years resolutions. Why did we bother with creating these again? They are difficult to abide by and make us upset when we don’t accomplish them.

New Year’s resolutions give us all opportunities to reflect on what we want to make out of our lives and change those things that bother us. This is a time to think about what you would like to do with your life and don’t get bogged down with what you should do.

This year make resolutions that are achievable and will make you feel good. Don’t make your resolutions into tasks that you have to check off a list but think more of them as positive changes you can make in your life. Don’t be overly ambitious with your resolutions or set unrealistically high expectations that are impossible to achieve. Make a real commitment to seeing them through. To do this you need to spend time thinking about what you hope to achieve and how you plan to do that. Habits die hard so you need to come up with an action plan and attack one thing at a time.

There are so many cool and useful apps out there now that will help you with your resolutions. Take time to find one that is really going to help you without making you do all the work. There are apps that will allow you to put in your New Year’s Resolutions and then they email you suggestions and ideas on how you can change your bad habits or go about achieving your goals.

Here are some helpful websites with a few of the applications that are out there! Enjoy and let’s make this a great year.

 http://www.successmagazine.com/new-years-resolutions/PARAMS/article/1637/channel/22

http://www.wcpo.com/dpp/news/science_tech/apps-to-help-keep-your-new-years-resolution

http://blog.greengiant.com/category/all/3-mobile-apps-to-help-achieve-healthy-new-years-resolutions.aspx

http://markets.financialcontent.com/stocks/news/read/16261521/PeerPressure_App_for_Achieving_Personal_Goals_Available_in_Time_for_2011_New_Year's_Resolutions

I was also curious to see what people are making for their new years resolutions and some of the most popular ones are below. If you haven’t made your resolutions just yet don’t worry there is still time. Take a long hard look at what you want to change and get to it! Don’t worry if you fall short a few times just jump back up and get going again.

•  Lose weight                                                                        
• Organize Finances
• Keep a Clean and Tidy House/Car
• Waste Less Time in the Office
• Stop Smoking
• Watch Less TV
• Spend less time on the Internet
• Get more involved with the community
• Explore all that my city has to offer
• Be on time
• Eat a healthier diet
• Volunteer
• Start Recycling
• Get a better education/job
• Start saving money
• Run a 5k, 10k, ½ Marathon, or Marathon
• Be a nicer person
• Spend more time with Family
• Take more Pictures
• Find out who I am as a person

The holiday season is full of delicious meals, festive treats and decadent desserts. But by New Year’s, most have had their fill of glazed ham and reindeer cookies. This season, experiment with holiday cocktails (adults only)! Though eggnog is a classic winter staple, it’s not the only drink that tastes like Christmas in a cup. Here are 15 holiday cocktail recipes that will make you wish it was December all year long. Cheers!

Beverages perfect for brunch: 

Jingle Juice 

Jingle Juice, a delicious blend of juices and orange liquor, is the perfect way to start your morning. Fix yourself one in the a.m. and you’ll be jingling all day!

Spiced Caramel Apple Martini

Martinis for breakfast or lunch may seem odd, but this recipe is light enough to accompany any morning or afternoon meal. The combination of lemon juice and apple cider will keep you warm all day.

Blushing Mimosas

Mimosas, full of orange juice and pineapple juice, are a traditional morning drink. This spin adds grenadine, which gives it a perfect holiday glow.

Tasty cocktails for appetizers

Cranberry Ginger Fizz

This is a temptingly sweet, juicy drink that adds a punch to any cocktail hour. It’s great for parties, too!

The Grinch

Don’t let the name fool you; this drink is anything but grinchy. Melon flavored Midori makes a rich green drink with a splash of lemon juice for a sour kick. Garnish it with a cherry or candy cane for a sweet touch.

Candy Cane Lane

A minty blend of peppermint schnapps and grenadine is an ideal pre-dinner cocktail. This drink is named perfectly; properly made, it looks just like a candy cane.

Gourmet dinner drinks

Christmas Jones

The Christmas Jones pairs great with any entrée. A lemon-lime soda turns into a tasty evening beverage with just vodka and fruit. Top with a mint garnish and you have a lovely holiday drink.

Eggnog Martini

A clever spin-off of classic eggnog, this martini adds sugar, cornstarch and a splash of pumpkin-pie spice. Warning: after trying, you’ll never want plain eggnog again.

Christmas Champagne

A perfect solution for Christmas toasts, orange-flavored vodka and a sugar cube turn regular champagne into a delicious holiday cocktail.

Delicious treats for dessert

Godiva Chocolate Martini

Nothing could be more suited for a dessert cocktail than a martini made with Godiva chocolate. This cocktail is the ideal balance of chocolate and vodka without being too heavy. Enjoy!

Cake Batter Martini

Skip the cake and head straight for this martini. Made with Pinnacle whipped cream vodka, crème de cacao and heavy cream, this drink tastes just like a slice of cake. Don’t forget to coat the rim of the glass with frosting and sprinkles!

Kringle Kocoa

Mix hot chocolate and Van Gogh Dutch Chocolate Vodka and what do you get? A deliciously rich, chocolate cocktail. Garnish with marshmallows on a skewer and you’ll feel like you’re sitting around a campfire.

Festive shooters for late night fun 

Santa Shooter

A blend of mint and grenadine taste like a candy cane in a shot. Serve your friends these before a night on the town and you’ll be as jolly as Santa Claus himself.

Christmas Tree Jello Shot

Add vodka and bourbon to green Jello and red sugar for a Christmas tree that’s good enough to drink.

Snowball

A winter wonderland in a shot glass! Mint, white chocolate and a splash of brandy will have you ready to make snow angels in no time.

We hope you’ve found some drink recipes that are perfect for meals, parties and after dark. Remember, if you plan to try any of our ideas, arrange to have someone else drive. Here is a link for an awesome taxi service in Knoxville: Knoxville World Class Taxi. Eat, drink and be merry this holiday season!

Date night means different things to everybody. For some, it may mean a night spent in sweatpants, eating popcorn and watching a movie on the couch. For others, they may be cooking their significant other a delicious gourmet meal. To us, date night means going out on the town and having an enjoyable night together. Lucky for all you couples, Knoxville has never ending ways you can spend your night out with your honey. 

Go see a play at one of the many great theatre houses here in Knoxville. From November 23 – December 18, A Christmas Carol will be at the Clarence Brown Theatre located on UT Knoxville’s campus. Visit the theatre web site for dates, times and ticket prices. The WordPlayers will perform Leaving Iowa, a comedy, from November 12-26. Check out http://wordplayers.org/current-season/mainstage-shows/leaving-iowa/ for more information. If you’re looking for powerful music to accompany your show, head to the Tennessee Theater for a night of opera. Their website lists upcoming shows, dates, show times and ticket prices.

All aboard! The Three Rivers Rambler, a steam train here in Knoxville, offers public train rides down the river. Enjoy a 90 minute ride while you and your significant other take in the scenery. Celebrate the season with one of the many Christmas train rides! Visit Three Rivers Rambler for the train schedule and list of ticket prices.

Were you or your partner blessed with two left feet? How about ballroom dancing lessons? Academy Ballroom offers fun, affordable classes for couples. If your idea of fun is something other than a class, try the Friday night dance parties! Anyone is welcome to come in and show off their moves on the dance floor. Check out http://www.dancingknox.com/ for more information.

Join us for a Starlight Cruise on the Volunteer Princess. You and your prince or princess will spend two and a half hours cruising down the Tennessee River under the night sky. Live entertainment, delicious food and gorgeous scenery - what more could you ask for? We have public dining cruises November through December. Visit our website for more information. We are also hosting a Second Harvest of East TN Food Drive. If any cruisers bring in two items Second Harvest needs, the cruise will receive a free soft drink and refills!

Lace up your skates and twirl over to the Ice Chalet off Kingston Pike. The Ice Chalet has group lessons and private lessons for those who need a little extra help. There are over 15 instructors, and each private lesson is only $21. Check out the Chalet's site for a schedule of public skating sessions.

Take a cooking class. It may seem cheesy and a total romantic comedy move, but learning something new with your partner is a great way to bond. The classes at Glass Bazaar are taught by world-class instructors, so you’re guaranteed to add a delicious recipe to your book. Visit Glass Bazaar to learn more and to make reservations. Bon appetite!

Remember that Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are only about a 30 minute drive from Knoxville. If you’re looking for a little adventure, hop in the car and head northeast. You’ll have plenty of date options when you get there!

Nights spent cuddling on the couch with your sweetie are fun, but getting out every now and then never hurt anyone. Enjoy your night out as a couple and remember, as long as you’re together, you’ll be having a great time! 

How often have you ever been a part of an engagement with a stranger? Obviously, this is a rare occurrence.

Until last Friday, November 4, I have never been a part of an engagement surprise, much less with someone I didn’t know! Evan Potter changed this with the purchase of our engagement package.

This package includes the use of our event coordinator, Nikki, and me, her assistant. Nikki collaborated with Evan at the end of October about planning the proposal. Evan and Nikki decided the best way for him to ask was near the beginning of the Sunset Dinner Cruise while the sun was setting and there was a perfect pink glow on the horizon.

On the bow, I took Evan and his girlfriend to “take a picture” (or 20) for their photo package. Right before I took it, Evan mentioned he needed to say something first. His girlfriend looked extremely confused and sought my reaction. I shrugged and made my camera picture-ready to snap away.

Evan got down on one knee and asked for her hand in marriage. His girlfriend could not believe it; utterly surprised, she asked if he was serious. Obviously, he was more than serious and said he loved her and wanted her as his wife.

The rest of the cruise, they were able to enjoy their dinner and call their family about the news. I brought out champagne and let them toast to the night and celebrate their engagement and two year anniversary.

It was perfect and I couldn’t have been more excited. Nikki claimed she was anxious, but with her experience, she appeared calm. After I was satisfied with the number of pictures I took, Nikki chose the best ones and printed them out for the happy couple.

The night was both story-like and beautiful. I am so lucky to have been a part of an engagement and hope to be a part of more in the future!

If you are looking for a possible engagement on our yacht, here is what our package has to offer:

• Coordination with our event planners prior to the big day
  
• Available planner on board for consultation during the cruise
  
• Perfect proposal setting on board
  
• Private area of the ship with window seating for two
  
• Rose petals sprinkled on your table (use her favorite color)
  
• Shipboard photography service to capture the moment
  
• Custom framed picture of the newly engaged couple
  
• Celebratory bottle of champagne or sparkling cider
  
• Chocolate covered strawberries
  
• One long-stemmed red rose 

Fall is here and Halloween is just around the corner. If you’ve grown tired of trick-or-treating and pumpkin carving, here are some more exciting ways to celebrate Halloween in Knoxville.

Haunted Knoxville Ghost Tours: Knoxville is home to several reportedly haunted locations. Take a ghost tour to have a real paranormal investigator (not an actor) guide you through Knoxville to see the haunts for yourself. The walking tour lasts for approximately two hours, spending around 15 minutes at each haunted spot. Reservations are required, so visit Knox Ghost Tour for tour dates and times.

Scare in the Square:  If you’re looking for Halloween fun the whole family can enjoy, head to Market Square on Friday, October 28 for Slamdot’s 3^rd annual Scare in the Square. It lasts from 5:30-9:00 p.m. and admission is free. There will be live music and performances, costume and pumpkin carving contests, face painting and fortune telling. An assortment of creepy critters from the Knoxville Zoo is scheduled to make an appearance, as well.  Food will available from Bread of Heaven BBQ, Scooter Doo’s Hot Dogs and Rita’s Italian Ice, so be sure to come hungry! For anyone with an abnormally large sweet tooth, the candy crawl is going to hit the spot.  For more information, check out
Scare in the Square. 

Boo Cruise on the Volunteer Princess: If you are 21 or older, join us for a Boo Cruise on October 31 from 9-11 p.m. Hosted by Star 102.1, it’s sure to be a fun-filled night with eerie surprises at every turn. Guests should plan to arrive in costume and enjoy two hours of cruising down the Tennessee River while snacking on delicious food from Wild Wing Café. Please see Star 102.1 for a spooky night on the river!

Freaky Friday Fright Nite: Farragut will be hosting its 15^th annual Freaky Friday Fright Nite on Friday, October 28 from 5 – 7 p.m.  Children ages 12 and under are invited to Mayor Bob Leonard Park for trick-or-treating, cookie decorating and games. Proceeds benefit the Ronald McDonald House, so you’ll be having fun for a good cause. Don’t forget your costume! To learn more, visit Town of Farragut.

Dead Man’s Farm: Dead Man’s Farm is home to the only Haunted House in Knoxville that is proven “truly haunted.”  You and a group of 10-12 others will take a self-guided tour through a house of werewolves, gypsies and any other haunts you could imagine. Children 12 and under must have parental supervision. Chicken runs are available for those who can’t handle the fear! Are you brave enough? Find out at Dead Man's Farm.

Oakes Farm: Oakes Farm offers the best of both worlds with a corn maze and a Trail of Doom (the haunted version). Those looking for a scare-free challenge should test their luck in the corn maze. The maze is an intricate design that will test even the most logical minds. The goal is to find each of the 12 hidden posts throughout the maze, and then find the exit. Those who want a little fear with their fun should embark on the Trail of Doom. The Trail of Doom is Knoxville’s largest and longest running haunted attraction and uses special effects, actors and props to frighten its visitors. For days and times of operation, visit Oakes Farm.

Throwing a great party for all of your friends is fun and exciting. Making your party one to remember can take some serious creativity; creativity, which, let’s be honest, doesn’t come naturally to everyone. Here is how you can be sure to wow your friends: put a unique spin on every aspect of the party. 

Venue: Your friends have been to your house plenty of times. Try somewhere new! Knoxville is an amazing city that has many different places perfect for private parties.

• Rent out a section of your favorite restaurant
  
• Host your party at an outdoor location, such as World’s Fair Park
  
• Take your party to the water and host an event on the Volunteer Princess yacht
  
•  Host your part at a traditional Knoxville landmark that doubles as an elegant and exciting party venue, for example, the Sunsphere
  

 Anything that is new to your friends is surely going to be a good time.

Theme: A great way to wow your friends is to host a themed party. Incorporate your theme through entertainment, party activities, decorations, food, music, etc. Here are great party theme:

• Decades
  
• Hollywood or Las Vegas
  
• Luau
  
• Fiesta
  
• Black Tie
  
• Under the Sea
  

You get the idea! If your group of friends has a favorite movie, try hosting a party themed after the film. This is always a good call you can invite your guests to show up in themed costumes!

Entertainment: Having extra entertainment available is always a good idea. Hire a live band or a DJ to get your party rockin’ and rolllin’. Other live acts can be a blast as well; stand up comedians and magicians do private events for great prices. You could also have party activities to keep your guests entertained: games, a scavenger hunt, karaoke and contests are always a hit.

Food: The food is one of the most important aspects of your party. There are many options to offer: snacks, heavy hors d’oeuvres or a full course meal. The food is another great way to incorporate your theme. If your budget allows it, have your party catered. The food will be delicious and it will take a lot of work off your shoulders. Don’t forget about dessert; instead of having a typical cake, try a cupcake stand, fondue station or sundae bar!

Decorations: Theme! Theme! Theme! No theme? Decorations can still liven up a party and make it a really special event. Balloons, signs, pictures, streamers and other décor ensures your guests are in party mode.

Don’t forget the details! Often it’s the little aspects of a party that count. Handing out party favors to your guests as they leave gives them a way to remember your party. Sending home extra food always makes happy guests, too!

Boomsday was a blast this year- literally. People had so much fun that the excitement in the air even caught the railroad bridge on fire. Don’t worry, no rocks or rails were injured in the accident and the Knoxville Fire Department quickly extinguished the flames.

[See WBIR for details.]

The Volunteer Princess swayed to both the waves from the Tennessee River’s ships and the rock and blues rhythm of our onboard band: The Blue Heavy. The band rocked out downstairs and played covers such as Wanted Dead or Alive, Satisfaction, My Generation and Ain't No Sunshine. Every guest loved them, hence the loud clapping and dangerous head banging. 

The numbers onboard were incredible: 90 cruisers! The night was filled with drinking, eating, dancing and, of course, socializing. Our entire fleet of crew members joined us on board to help the LeMasuriers with the celebration.

Maggie Nichols, our newest crew member, was amazed of the numbers and the electrifying atmosphere. “It was fun! It was really stressful, but it was fun!” said Nichols.

The rainy weather did not damper our outing. We passed boats of all shapes and sizes and cruised to Looney Island before our personal chauffeurs, the Coast Guard, asked us to halt our journey.

“Looney Island was the best area to turn around because there are only so many places on the river the Princess can make a complete 180 degree turn,” said Captain Chris, “There were so many people, we cruised at three miles an hour through the crowd, but our guests still enjoyed every minute.”

The Coast Guard led us back through the mass of river spectators and safely back to our dockside-sweet-dockside, where each guest had a great view of the firework and light display. The crew joined the upper deck party while guests danced and sang the night away!

If you or anyone you know wants to be a part of next year’s 2012 Boomsday Cruise, we are taking reservations. Call us at 865.541.4556.

Thanks to all guests and crew for joining us on our 2011 Boomsday Cruise!

After many events in your life, don’t you ever wonder what you could have done differently? Did you wish you had known something before the event took place?

Our public cruise guests leave happy, don’t get us wrong! However, when they become returning cruisers, they always wished they had known something the first time around to make their occasion even more enjoyable.

We want our first-time cruisers to be able to delight in the same experience as our returning guests! Here are some helpful tips about our public dining cruises that you should look into when you reserve your day or night of dining:

• Order the split portions, so you can taste both the bacon wrapped chicken and pork tenderloin. The mushroom gravy is to die for! 

• Buy a picture and frame to remember your night onboard. We snap it on the yacht and give it to you before you even finish your cheesecake dessert. Ask Captain Chris to be in it- he loves taking pictures with our guests!

• Customize your public cruise by:
  • Having a bottle of champagne or wine at your table when your arrive to begin the special occasion.
  • Having chocolate covered strawberries for your significant other to show her how much you love her. Appreciation isn’t just for Valentine’s Day!
  • Include spinach artichoke dip, queso dip or a seafood martini for your private party to enjoy before courses.

• We always have a special drink onboard at our fully-stocked cash bar. Right now, we're shaking up some delicious pomegranate martinis!

• For those who want to sit back and relax in the comfort of air conditioning, we have leather seats upstairs. Of course, nothing beats outside seating in the front of the yacht.

• You can guide our yacht with the help of Captain Chris. Go ahead, sit in the captain’s seat, wear the captain hat and take a joy ride in the pilot house!

And no, you do not need to bring your own lifejacket; unless you just really want to show it off to the other guests.

If you have any other questions, please let us know! 

Summer: a time for watermelon, swimming and parties. What else does summer bring? Weddings, weddings and more weddings!

Here at the Volunteer Princess, we love to help plan and design each wedding we host on our yacht. We have heard, seen and read many trends lately and here are some of our favorites:

Pre-Wedding

• Help is on the way! Lately, brides ask for help in organizing their wedding celebrations, including everything from hair and make up to using a professional events coordinator to fix the little details. A hired group of people who focus on the couple’s needs and wants has lifted the burden of figuring out all the small decisions of the bigger and better picture. The less stressed you are, the more fun you will have on your big day!
• Along with hiring a coordinator for the wedding celebration, themes have had a huge impact surrounding the day. A trend that we see is the Nautical theme- and, of course, the Princess is a perfect venue! Anchors, seashells and seafood have been objects of desire for couples this season. You can incorporate a theme everywhere, including pre- and post-wedding events examples, such as: invitations, party favors, food and décor.
• “Going Green” isn’t just for businesses anymore! Being environmentally friendly has grown in an exceptional way with the wedding season. This doesn’t mean couples are with-holding invitations! They are just sending them in a unique way: personal videos or web invitations. This also is a great instant gratification tool with RSVPs coming through by website or email. And no worries, if you are a traditionalist, you can incorporate 100% recycled stationary to get your save the dates out.

Wedding

• Brides are bringing back hair accessories. Don’t think 80s style, however. Ornate hair combs such as feathers, beading or bands have replaced veils. It easily shows off the bride’s personality. Some brides are going big and do both: veil for the wedding and hair accessory for the reception. Hair has always been a big part of the decision-making process; hair accessories accentuate you and your dress.
• Flowers have always been a part of the wedding. However, just like hair accessories, flowers have brought upon the option of their own accessories. Pearls, rhinestones and other jewelry have been added to a bolder floral arrangement to make it an additional eye-catching wedding piece.
• One of the biggest trends we’ve seen and heard lately is the party dress. This allows a bride to pick out an extravagant wedding dress for her ceremony and not stress about the heat, sweat and mobility at the wedding reception. Once the ceremony ends, a bride breezes into a short and fun cocktail dress.

Post-Wedding

• Cakes have been the catalyst of many arguments throughout the wedding centuries. However, it’s becoming easier to choose a cake (or specific dessert). Creamy butter cream cakes have been the go-to of the bride this season instead of the overused fondant. Brides have also chosen to incorporate their themes, using real flowers and fruit instead of sugar remakes. Also, cupcakes have turned into the main dessert of a celebration. Instead of one giant cake that takes time to cut into, guests can pick and choose from an array of decorative cupcakes!
• Why not continue the celebration? It’s your special day, so celebrate it with everyone you can! Couples this season have enjoyed both a reception and an after party. Why not? Receptions are great, don’t get us wrong, but the bride and groom are constantly talking to each guest and don’t exactly get to live it up on the dance floor as newlyweds. Having an after party gives all the early bed-goers a break, while the couple can celebrate longer with more drinks, entertainment and friends.
• When thinking about the wedding, you always have to think about the honeymoon! Couples these days are going across the world for an exotic experience. Brides and grooms have chosen the exploration route and vacation in places such as Bora Bora, Fiji, Morocco, Africa and Costa Rica. These travel destinations offer more adventure-seeking couples a getaway to scuba dive, horseback ride, kayak or kite surf.

Even if you aren’t planning to get married just yet or have already said the “I do,” it’s still fun to keep a watch on wedding trends! Here are some of the sites we’ve read and been keeping a watch on:

Weddingsjubilee.blogspot.com

Savethedateevent.com

Noteableexpressions.net

Mypersonalartist.com

Stylishweddingsideas.com

Here at the Volunteer Princess, we receive many questions surrounding everything from Knoxville and our crewmembers to party planning tips and event themes. Our daily life is filled with crazy phone calls, hilarious comments and curious river animals. We get to be a part of many different families and meet people from all over the world (last week a family from India came on board)!

The Princess staff wants to share our answers to our daily questions, interesting articles, events on the boat, comments about our cruises and anything else we come up with!

Our journey is not just a cruise down the river. We enjoy exploring everything from downtown Knoxville life and local trends to parties and wedding venues. So become a part of our blog! Comment, ask and share anything you would like; we’d love to continue our journey with you and the world.  

1. In the middle ages birthdays were only celebrated by nobility (so spend your day like royalty)
2. August is the most common Birthday month, over 21 million Americans have birthdays in August
3. May 21^st is the least common birth date, which is good news for Nikki our Cruise Coordinator!!
4. In the United States, 2 Billion Birthday Cards are given each year.
5. The Warner Music Group collects approximately 2 million dollars in royalties for the ‘Happy Birthday Song’ every year. 

• Take the day off of work and treat yourself to a nice relaxing day, who really wants to spend their birthday at work anyways?
• Buy yourself that nice gift that you have always wanted
• Eat Cake! It is the one day of the year that you can have all the cake and ice cream that you want and not feel guilty about it! Check out this great website for some delicious Birthday cake recipe ideas.. http://allrecipes.com/recipes/desserts/cakes/birthday-cake/
• CELEBRATE! No birthday would be complete without a birthday celebration, so grab your friends and family and have a party or go out to eat! 

• Junk food. Actually food in general is the most popular thing to sacrifice for Lent. For Catholics, this means giving up meats on Fridays from now until Easter, or to fast entirely for one day a week. Other people just give up those beloved salty or sweet snacks that are so hard to resist (we’ll miss you, potato chips…).

• Television. It’s amazing the free time that becomes available to people when they turn off the TV after dinner. It can be difficult to part with guilty pleasures like Deadliest Catch and Grey’s Anatomy, though, so we won’t judge if you begin a six-week countdown until McDreamy is back in your life.

• Facebook. Whether you’re a college student or a mom with four kids, Facebook is a magnet for procrastinators around the world. Many people choose to give up social networking completely and separate themselves from the cyber world for the next 40 days. Forewarning: after deactivating your Facebook account, side effects typically include strong withdrawals from incessant status updates and also the common pastime of “Facebook-stalking” (don’t deny it). 
• Alcohol. Stimulants like coffee and alcohol can have a strong presence in the daily lives of many people, so it is not rare to see fewer cars in the Starbucks parking lot and a shorter line at the liquor store for a while. No wonder bars around the world consider Fat Tuesday one of the busiest nights of the year!
• Cussing. Swear words are considered to be a sin in the Bible, and they are also seen as a major faux pas in today’s society. A lot of people see giving up cussing as a challenge and they work on biting their tongue for the next six or seven weeks. Rappers especially struggle with this one.

• Chocolate. It is no secret that chocolate is an all-time favorite treat for people all over the globe, so it comes as no surprise that it is typically given up for Lent. Hopefully everyone got their chocolate fix in last week over Valentine's Day!

• Mend a few bridges. Maybe there’s someone in your life that has done you wrong or vise versa. Many use Lent as a time to reconcile those negative relationships and move past an issue that has taken up too much space in their life.
• Daily exercise. In the religious sense, many perceive their body as a temple, so in an effort to worship and give thanks to God, they focus on working out and taking better care of their bodies. Even if you aren’t religious, it couldn’t hurt to take another stab at that resolution you made to hit the gym at least four times a week.

• Do a good deed every day. As the saying goes, you always feel better about yourself after you make someone else feel better. So go out and make someone’s day! Chances are it’ll bring a smile to your face too.
• Spend more time with family and friends. Work and school tend to bog down people’s lives and can sometimes make them lose sight of what’s important. Whether it’s going out for a nice dinner with their spouse, playing a board game with their kids, cocktail hour with the girls, or even just taking some time to themselves to relax and be alone, many people use these next 40 days as a time to reflect and focus on those who are most important to them. 

Only 13 more days left until Valentine’s Day! What are you going to get for your loved one this year?  If you haven’t thought of the perfect idea yet, we are here to help you out!

1.  It may sound simple but honestly how can you go wrong with Chocolate, Champagne, and Roses?

 

4. Maybe jewelry is not in your budget this year, but do not worry after all it is the thought that counts! So make something homemade. Need an Idea? Here is a fun website to make your own Valentine’s Day coupon book! http://familycrafts.about.com/od/coupons/tp/couponsprint.htm

5. And of course our personal favorite Valentine’s Day gift idea! Surprise your valentine with a romantic cruise aboard the Volunteer Princess!

As the holiday of love quickly approaches, it's hard not to wonder how this popular day filled with chocolates, roses, Hallmark cards and balloons came about in the first place. Single women across the country typically dread the 14^th of February, while happy couples tend to look forward to this day of romance. Regardless of marital status, everyone acknowledges this holiday in one way or another, and flower shops and chocolate producers prepare for their busiest day months in advance.   

V-Day Stats:

• Roughly 180 million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged each year, making V-Day the second-most popular greeting-card- giving occasion.
• 24.3 pounds of candy is consumed per capita in America.
• The average consumer usually spends about $100 on gifts, meals and entertainment.
• 73% of flower-purchasers are men, while only 27% are women.
• 15% of U.S. women send themselves flowers on Valentine’s Day.
• About 3% of pet owners give V-Day gifts to their pets.

So where did it all start? How did the all the fuss about love and romance come about? There are several different theories on the origin of this hyped-up holiday but the most popular story dates back to the Roman Empire. Legend has it that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome under the reign of Emperor Claudius II. The Emperor didn’t want men to marry because he believed single men made better and stronger soldiers. Valentine thought this was unfair and decided to marry young couples secretly. For this, Valentine was thrown into jail and sentenced to death on February 14^th. While he was imprisoned, he supposedly wrote a love letter to the jailor’s daughter and signed it, “Your Valentine.” Sound familiar?

More Fun Facts:

• Young ladies of medieval times ate bizarre foods on St. Valentine’s Day to make them dream of their future spouse.
• In the Middle Ages, men and women drew names out of a bowl to see who would be their Valentine. They wore that name pinned on their sleeve for the next week. Hence the expression, “to wear your heart on your sleeve.”
• Physicians of the 1800’s advised patients to eat chocolate to calm their pining for lost love. Guess chocolate really is the best break-up cure!
• The red rose was the favorite flower of Venus, the goddess of love.
• Teachers receive the most Valentine’s Day cards each year!

Can’t think of anything to get your significant other that day? This website has tons of gift ideas that are sure to help you out: http://www.gifts.com/ideas/valentines-day

Need a great date option? Volunteer Princess Cruises is offering TEN different cruises with several special romantic package options. Check them out here: http://www.volunteerprincess.com/holiday/valentinesday. We couldn’t think of a more memorable way to spend the holiday than cruising down the beautiful Tennessee River with your sweetheart!

So break out your mushy side and get ready for Valentine’s Day 2012! It will be here before we know it!

The buzz is over and so is the party, 2012 is here and we are all back to normal routines. It is time to start working on our new years resolutions. Why did we bother with creating these again? They are difficult to abide by and make us upset when we don’t accomplish them.

New Year’s resolutions give us all opportunities to reflect on what we want to make out of our lives and change those things that bother us. This is a time to think about what you would like to do with your life and don’t get bogged down with what you should do.

This year make resolutions that are achievable and will make you feel good. Don’t make your resolutions into tasks that you have to check off a list but think more of them as positive changes you can make in your life. Don’t be overly ambitious with your resolutions or set unrealistically high expectations that are impossible to achieve. Make a real commitment to seeing them through. To do this you need to spend time thinking about what you hope to achieve and how you plan to do that. Habits die hard so you need to come up with an action plan and attack one thing at a time.

There are so many cool and useful apps out there now that will help you with your resolutions. Take time to find one that is really going to help you without making you do all the work. There are apps that will allow you to put in your New Year’s Resolutions and then they email you suggestions and ideas on how you can change your bad habits or go about achieving your goals.

Here are some helpful websites with a few of the applications that are out there! Enjoy and let’s make this a great year.

 http://www.successmagazine.com/new-years-resolutions/PARAMS/article/1637/channel/22

http://www.wcpo.com/dpp/news/science_tech/apps-to-help-keep-your-new-years-resolution

http://blog.greengiant.com/category/all/3-mobile-apps-to-help-achieve-healthy-new-years-resolutions.aspx

http://markets.financialcontent.com/stocks/news/read/16261521/PeerPressure_App_for_Achieving_Personal_Goals_Available_in_Time_for_2011_New_Year's_Resolutions

I was also curious to see what people are making for their new years resolutions and some of the most popular ones are below. If you haven’t made your resolutions just yet don’t worry there is still time. Take a long hard look at what you want to change and get to it! Don’t worry if you fall short a few times just jump back up and get going again.

•  Lose weight                                                                        
• Organize Finances
• Keep a Clean and Tidy House/Car
• Waste Less Time in the Office
• Stop Smoking
• Watch Less TV
• Spend less time on the Internet
• Get more involved with the community
• Explore all that my city has to offer
• Be on time
• Eat a healthier diet
• Volunteer
• Start Recycling
• Get a better education/job
• Start saving money
• Run a 5k, 10k, ½ Marathon, or Marathon
• Be a nicer person
• Spend more time with Family
• Take more Pictures
• Find out who I am as a person

The holiday season is full of delicious meals, festive treats and decadent desserts. But by New Year’s, most have had their fill of glazed ham and reindeer cookies. This season, experiment with holiday cocktails (adults only)! Though eggnog is a classic winter staple, it’s not the only drink that tastes like Christmas in a cup. Here are 15 holiday cocktail recipes that will make you wish it was December all year long. Cheers!

Beverages perfect for brunch: 

Jingle Juice 

Jingle Juice, a delicious blend of juices and orange liquor, is the perfect way to start your morning. Fix yourself one in the a.m. and you’ll be jingling all day!

Spiced Caramel Apple Martini

Martinis for breakfast or lunch may seem odd, but this recipe is light enough to accompany any morning or afternoon meal. The combination of lemon juice and apple cider will keep you warm all day.

Blushing Mimosas

Mimosas, full of orange juice and pineapple juice, are a traditional morning drink. This spin adds grenadine, which gives it a perfect holiday glow.

Tasty cocktails for appetizers

Cranberry Ginger Fizz

This is a temptingly sweet, juicy drink that adds a punch to any cocktail hour. It’s great for parties, too!

The Grinch

Don’t let the name fool you; this drink is anything but grinchy. Melon flavored Midori makes a rich green drink with a splash of lemon juice for a sour kick. Garnish it with a cherry or candy cane for a sweet touch.

Candy Cane Lane

A minty blend of peppermint schnapps and grenadine is an ideal pre-dinner cocktail. This drink is named perfectly; properly made, it looks just like a candy cane.

Gourmet dinner drinks

Christmas Jones

The Christmas Jones pairs great with any entrée. A lemon-lime soda turns into a tasty evening beverage with just vodka and fruit. Top with a mint garnish and you have a lovely holiday drink.

Eggnog Martini

A clever spin-off of classic eggnog, this martini adds sugar, cornstarch and a splash of pumpkin-pie spice. Warning: after trying, you’ll never want plain eggnog again.

Christmas Champagne

A perfect solution for Christmas toasts, orange-flavored vodka and a sugar cube turn regular champagne into a delicious holiday cocktail.

Delicious treats for dessert

Godiva Chocolate Martini

Nothing could be more suited for a dessert cocktail than a martini made with Godiva chocolate. This cocktail is the ideal balance of chocolate and vodka without being too heavy. Enjoy!

Cake Batter Martini

Skip the cake and head straight for this martini. Made with Pinnacle whipped cream vodka, crème de cacao and heavy cream, this drink tastes just like a slice of cake. Don’t forget to coat the rim of the glass with frosting and sprinkles!

Kringle Kocoa

Mix hot chocolate and Van Gogh Dutch Chocolate Vodka and what do you get? A deliciously rich, chocolate cocktail. Garnish with marshmallows on a skewer and you’ll feel like you’re sitting around a campfire.

Festive shooters for late night fun 

Santa Shooter

A blend of mint and grenadine taste like a candy cane in a shot. Serve your friends these before a night on the town and you’ll be as jolly as Santa Claus himself.

Christmas Tree Jello Shot

Add vodka and bourbon to green Jello and red sugar for a Christmas tree that’s good enough to drink.

Snowball

A winter wonderland in a shot glass! Mint, white chocolate and a splash of brandy will have you ready to make snow angels in no time.

We hope you’ve found some drink recipes that are perfect for meals, parties and after dark. Remember, if you plan to try any of our ideas, arrange to have someone else drive. Here is a link for an awesome taxi service in Knoxville: Knoxville World Class Taxi. Eat, drink and be merry this holiday season!

Date night means different things to everybody. For some, it may mean a night spent in sweatpants, eating popcorn and watching a movie on the couch. For others, they may be cooking their significant other a delicious gourmet meal. To us, date night means going out on the town and having an enjoyable night together. Lucky for all you couples, Knoxville has never ending ways you can spend your night out with your honey. 

Go see a play at one of the many great theatre houses here in Knoxville. From November 23 – December 18, A Christmas Carol will be at the Clarence Brown Theatre located on UT Knoxville’s campus. Visit the theatre web site for dates, times and ticket prices. The WordPlayers will perform Leaving Iowa, a comedy, from November 12-26. Check out http://wordplayers.org/current-season/mainstage-shows/leaving-iowa/ for more information. If you’re looking for powerful music to accompany your show, head to the Tennessee Theater for a night of opera. Their website lists upcoming shows, dates, show times and ticket prices.

All aboard! The Three Rivers Rambler, a steam train here in Knoxville, offers public train rides down the river. Enjoy a 90 minute ride while you and your significant other take in the scenery. Celebrate the season with one of the many Christmas train rides! Visit Three Rivers Rambler for the train schedule and list of ticket prices.

Were you or your partner blessed with two left feet? How about ballroom dancing lessons? Academy Ballroom offers fun, affordable classes for couples. If your idea of fun is something other than a class, try the Friday night dance parties! Anyone is welcome to come in and show off their moves on the dance floor. Check out http://www.dancingknox.com/ for more information.

Join us for a Starlight Cruise on the Volunteer Princess. You and your prince or princess will spend two and a half hours cruising down the Tennessee River under the night sky. Live entertainment, delicious food and gorgeous scenery - what more could you ask for? We have public dining cruises November through December. Visit our website for more information. We are also hosting a Second Harvest of East TN Food Drive. If any cruisers bring in two items Second Harvest needs, the cruise will receive a free soft drink and refills!

Lace up your skates and twirl over to the Ice Chalet off Kingston Pike. The Ice Chalet has group lessons and private lessons for those who need a little extra help. There are over 15 instructors, and each private lesson is only $21. Check out the Chalet's site for a schedule of public skating sessions.

Take a cooking class. It may seem cheesy and a total romantic comedy move, but learning something new with your partner is a great way to bond. The classes at Glass Bazaar are taught by world-class instructors, so you’re guaranteed to add a delicious recipe to your book. Visit Glass Bazaar to learn more and to make reservations. Bon appetite!

Remember that Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are only about a 30 minute drive from Knoxville. If you’re looking for a little adventure, hop in the car and head northeast. You’ll have plenty of date options when you get there!

Nights spent cuddling on the couch with your sweetie are fun, but getting out every now and then never hurt anyone. Enjoy your night out as a couple and remember, as long as you’re together, you’ll be having a great time! 

How often have you ever been a part of an engagement with a stranger? Obviously, this is a rare occurrence.

Until last Friday, November 4, I have never been a part of an engagement surprise, much less with someone I didn’t know! Evan Potter changed this with the purchase of our engagement package.

This package includes the use of our event coordinator, Nikki, and me, her assistant. Nikki collaborated with Evan at the end of October about planning the proposal. Evan and Nikki decided the best way for him to ask was near the beginning of the Sunset Dinner Cruise while the sun was setting and there was a perfect pink glow on the horizon.

On the bow, I took Evan and his girlfriend to “take a picture” (or 20) for their photo package. Right before I took it, Evan mentioned he needed to say something first. His girlfriend looked extremely confused and sought my reaction. I shrugged and made my camera picture-ready to snap away.

Evan got down on one knee and asked for her hand in marriage. His girlfriend could not believe it; utterly surprised, she asked if he was serious. Obviously, he was more than serious and said he loved her and wanted her as his wife.

The rest of the cruise, they were able to enjoy their dinner and call their family about the news. I brought out champagne and let them toast to the night and celebrate their engagement and two year anniversary.

It was perfect and I couldn’t have been more excited. Nikki claimed she was anxious, but with her experience, she appeared calm. After I was satisfied with the number of pictures I took, Nikki chose the best ones and printed them out for the happy couple.

The night was both story-like and beautiful. I am so lucky to have been a part of an engagement and hope to be a part of more in the future!

If you are looking for a possible engagement on our yacht, here is what our package has to offer:

• Coordination with our event planners prior to the big day
  
• Available planner on board for consultation during the cruise
  
• Perfect proposal setting on board
  
• Private area of the ship with window seating for two
  
• Rose petals sprinkled on your table (use her favorite color)
  
• Shipboard photography service to capture the moment
  
• Custom framed picture of the newly engaged couple
  
• Celebratory bottle of champagne or sparkling cider
  
• Chocolate covered strawberries
  
• One long-stemmed red rose 

Fall is here and Halloween is just around the corner. If you’ve grown tired of trick-or-treating and pumpkin carving, here are some more exciting ways to celebrate Halloween in Knoxville.

Haunted Knoxville Ghost Tours: Knoxville is home to several reportedly haunted locations. Take a ghost tour to have a real paranormal investigator (not an actor) guide you through Knoxville to see the haunts for yourself. The walking tour lasts for approximately two hours, spending around 15 minutes at each haunted spot. Reservations are required, so visit Knox Ghost Tour for tour dates and times.

Scare in the Square:  If you’re looking for Halloween fun the whole family can enjoy, head to Market Square on Friday, October 28 for Slamdot’s 3^rd annual Scare in the Square. It lasts from 5:30-9:00 p.m. and admission is free. There will be live music and performances, costume and pumpkin carving contests, face painting and fortune telling. An assortment of creepy critters from the Knoxville Zoo is scheduled to make an appearance, as well.  Food will available from Bread of Heaven BBQ, Scooter Doo’s Hot Dogs and Rita’s Italian Ice, so be sure to come hungry! For anyone with an abnormally large sweet tooth, the candy crawl is going to hit the spot.  For more information, check out
Scare in the Square. 

Boo Cruise on the Volunteer Princess: If you are 21 or older, join us for a Boo Cruise on October 31 from 9-11 p.m. Hosted by Star 102.1, it’s sure to be a fun-filled night with eerie surprises at every turn. Guests should plan to arrive in costume and enjoy two hours of cruising down the Tennessee River while snacking on delicious food from Wild Wing Café. Please see Star 102.1 for a spooky night on the river!

Freaky Friday Fright Nite: Farragut will be hosting its 15^th annual Freaky Friday Fright Nite on Friday, October 28 from 5 – 7 p.m.  Children ages 12 and under are invited to Mayor Bob Leonard Park for trick-or-treating, cookie decorating and games. Proceeds benefit the Ronald McDonald House, so you’ll be having fun for a good cause. Don’t forget your costume! To learn more, visit Town of Farragut.

Dead Man’s Farm: Dead Man’s Farm is home to the only Haunted House in Knoxville that is proven “truly haunted.”  You and a group of 10-12 others will take a self-guided tour through a house of werewolves, gypsies and any other haunts you could imagine. Children 12 and under must have parental supervision. Chicken runs are available for those who can’t handle the fear! Are you brave enough? Find out at Dead Man's Farm.

Oakes Farm: Oakes Farm offers the best of both worlds with a corn maze and a Trail of Doom (the haunted version). Those looking for a scare-free challenge should test their luck in the corn maze. The maze is an intricate design that will test even the most logical minds. The goal is to find each of the 12 hidden posts throughout the maze, and then find the exit. Those who want a little fear with their fun should embark on the Trail of Doom. The Trail of Doom is Knoxville’s largest and longest running haunted attraction and uses special effects, actors and props to frighten its visitors. For days and times of operation, visit Oakes Farm.

Throwing a great party for all of your friends is fun and exciting. Making your party one to remember can take some serious creativity; creativity, which, let’s be honest, doesn’t come naturally to everyone. Here is how you can be sure to wow your friends: put a unique spin on every aspect of the party. 

Venue: Your friends have been to your house plenty of times. Try somewhere new! Knoxville is an amazing city that has many different places perfect for private parties.

• Rent out a section of your favorite restaurant
  
• Host your party at an outdoor location, such as World’s Fair Park
  
• Take your party to the water and host an event on the Volunteer Princess yacht
  
•  Host your part at a traditional Knoxville landmark that doubles as an elegant and exciting party venue, for example, the Sunsphere
  

 Anything that is new to your friends is surely going to be a good time.

Theme: A great way to wow your friends is to host a themed party. Incorporate your theme through entertainment, party activities, decorations, food, music, etc. Here are great party theme:

• Decades
  
• Hollywood or Las Vegas
  
• Luau
  
• Fiesta
  
• Black Tie
  
• Under the Sea
  

You get the idea! If your group of friends has a favorite movie, try hosting a party themed after the film. This is always a good call you can invite your guests to show up in themed costumes!

Entertainment: Having extra entertainment available is always a good idea. Hire a live band or a DJ to get your party rockin’ and rolllin’. Other live acts can be a blast as well; stand up comedians and magicians do private events for great prices. You could also have party activities to keep your guests entertained: games, a scavenger hunt, karaoke and contests are always a hit.

Food: The food is one of the most important aspects of your party. There are many options to offer: snacks, heavy hors d’oeuvres or a full course meal. The food is another great way to incorporate your theme. If your budget allows it, have your party catered. The food will be delicious and it will take a lot of work off your shoulders. Don’t forget about dessert; instead of having a typical cake, try a cupcake stand, fondue station or sundae bar!

Decorations: Theme! Theme! Theme! No theme? Decorations can still liven up a party and make it a really special event. Balloons, signs, pictures, streamers and other décor ensures your guests are in party mode.

Don’t forget the details! Often it’s the little aspects of a party that count. Handing out party favors to your guests as they leave gives them a way to remember your party. Sending home extra food always makes happy guests, too!

Boomsday was a blast this year- literally. People had so much fun that the excitement in the air even caught the railroad bridge on fire. Don’t worry, no rocks or rails were injured in the accident and the Knoxville Fire Department quickly extinguished the flames.

[See WBIR for details.]

The Volunteer Princess swayed to both the waves from the Tennessee River’s ships and the rock and blues rhythm of our onboard band: The Blue Heavy. The band rocked out downstairs and played covers such as Wanted Dead or Alive, Satisfaction, My Generation and Ain't No Sunshine. Every guest loved them, hence the loud clapping and dangerous head banging. 

The numbers onboard were incredible: 90 cruisers! The night was filled with drinking, eating, dancing and, of course, socializing. Our entire fleet of crew members joined us on board to help the LeMasuriers with the celebration.

Maggie Nichols, our newest crew member, was amazed of the numbers and the electrifying atmosphere. “It was fun! It was really stressful, but it was fun!” said Nichols.

The rainy weather did not damper our outing. We passed boats of all shapes and sizes and cruised to Looney Island before our personal chauffeurs, the Coast Guard, asked us to halt our journey.

“Looney Island was the best area to turn around because there are only so many places on the river the Princess can make a complete 180 degree turn,” said Captain Chris, “There were so many people, we cruised at three miles an hour through the crowd, but our guests still enjoyed every minute.”

The Coast Guard led us back through the mass of river spectators and safely back to our dockside-sweet-dockside, where each guest had a great view of the firework and light display. The crew joined the upper deck party while guests danced and sang the night away!

If you or anyone you know wants to be a part of next year’s 2012 Boomsday Cruise, we are taking reservations. Call us at 865.541.4556.

Thanks to all guests and crew for joining us on our 2011 Boomsday Cruise!

After many events in your life, don’t you ever wonder what you could have done differently? Did you wish you had known something before the event took place?

Our public cruise guests leave happy, don’t get us wrong! However, when they become returning cruisers, they always wished they had known something the first time around to make their occasion even more enjoyable.

We want our first-time cruisers to be able to delight in the same experience as our returning guests! Here are some helpful tips about our public dining cruises that you should look into when you reserve your day or night of dining:

• Order the split portions, so you can taste both the bacon wrapped chicken and pork tenderloin. The mushroom gravy is to die for! 

• Buy a picture and frame to remember your night onboard. We snap it on the yacht and give it to you before you even finish your cheesecake dessert. Ask Captain Chris to be in it- he loves taking pictures with our guests!

• Customize your public cruise by:
  • Having a bottle of champagne or wine at your table when your arrive to begin the special occasion.
  • Having chocolate covered strawberries for your significant other to show her how much you love her. Appreciation isn’t just for Valentine’s Day!
  • Include spinach artichoke dip, queso dip or a seafood martini for your private party to enjoy before courses.

• We always have a special drink onboard at our fully-stocked cash bar. Right now, we're shaking up some delicious pomegranate martinis!

• For those who want to sit back and relax in the comfort of air conditioning, we have leather seats upstairs. Of course, nothing beats outside seating in the front of the yacht.

• You can guide our yacht with the help of Captain Chris. Go ahead, sit in the captain’s seat, wear the captain hat and take a joy ride in the pilot house!

And no, you do not need to bring your own lifejacket; unless you just really want to show it off to the other guests.

If you have any other questions, please let us know! 

Summer: a time for watermelon, swimming and parties. What else does summer bring? Weddings, weddings and more weddings!

Here at the Volunteer Princess, we love to help plan and design each wedding we host on our yacht. We have heard, seen and read many trends lately and here are some of our favorites:

Pre-Wedding

• Help is on the way! Lately, brides ask for help in organizing their wedding celebrations, including everything from hair and make up to using a professional events coordinator to fix the little details. A hired group of people who focus on the couple’s needs and wants has lifted the burden of figuring out all the small decisions of the bigger and better picture. The less stressed you are, the more fun you will have on your big day!
• Along with hiring a coordinator for the wedding celebration, themes have had a huge impact surrounding the day. A trend that we see is the Nautical theme- and, of course, the Princess is a perfect venue! Anchors, seashells and seafood have been objects of desire for couples this season. You can incorporate a theme everywhere, including pre- and post-wedding events examples, such as: invitations, party favors, food and décor.
• “Going Green” isn’t just for businesses anymore! Being environmentally friendly has grown in an exceptional way with the wedding season. This doesn’t mean couples are with-holding invitations! They are just sending them in a unique way: personal videos or web invitations. This also is a great instant gratification tool with RSVPs coming through by website or email. And no worries, if you are a traditionalist, you can incorporate 100% recycled stationary to get your save the dates out.

Wedding

• Brides are bringing back hair accessories. Don’t think 80s style, however. Ornate hair combs such as feathers, beading or bands have replaced veils. It easily shows off the bride’s personality. Some brides are going big and do both: veil for the wedding and hair accessory for the reception. Hair has always been a big part of the decision-making process; hair accessories accentuate you and your dress.
• Flowers have always been a part of the wedding. However, just like hair accessories, flowers have brought upon the option of their own accessories. Pearls, rhinestones and other jewelry have been added to a bolder floral arrangement to make it an additional eye-catching wedding piece.
• One of the biggest trends we’ve seen and heard lately is the party dress. This allows a bride to pick out an extravagant wedding dress for her ceremony and not stress about the heat, sweat and mobility at the wedding reception. Once the ceremony ends, a bride breezes into a short and fun cocktail dress.

Post-Wedding

• Cakes have been the catalyst of many arguments throughout the wedding centuries. However, it’s becoming easier to choose a cake (or specific dessert). Creamy butter cream cakes have been the go-to of the bride this season instead of the overused fondant. Brides have also chosen to incorporate their themes, using real flowers and fruit instead of sugar remakes. Also, cupcakes have turned into the main dessert of a celebration. Instead of one giant cake that takes time to cut into, guests can pick and choose from an array of decorative cupcakes!
• Why not continue the celebration? It’s your special day, so celebrate it with everyone you can! Couples this season have enjoyed both a reception and an after party. Why not? Receptions are great, don’t get us wrong, but the bride and groom are constantly talking to each guest and don’t exactly get to live it up on the dance floor as newlyweds. Having an after party gives all the early bed-goers a break, while the couple can celebrate longer with more drinks, entertainment and friends.
• When thinking about the wedding, you always have to think about the honeymoon! Couples these days are going across the world for an exotic experience. Brides and grooms have chosen the exploration route and vacation in places such as Bora Bora, Fiji, Morocco, Africa and Costa Rica. These travel destinations offer more adventure-seeking couples a getaway to scuba dive, horseback ride, kayak or kite surf.

Even if you aren’t planning to get married just yet or have already said the “I do,” it’s still fun to keep a watch on wedding trends! Here are some of the sites we’ve read and been keeping a watch on:

Weddingsjubilee.blogspot.com

Savethedateevent.com

Noteableexpressions.net

Mypersonalartist.com

Stylishweddingsideas.com

Here at the Volunteer Princess, we receive many questions surrounding everything from Knoxville and our crewmembers to party planning tips and event themes. Our daily life is filled with crazy phone calls, hilarious comments and curious river animals. We get to be a part of many different families and meet people from all over the world (last week a family from India came on board)!

The Princess staff wants to share our answers to our daily questions, interesting articles, events on the boat, comments about our cruises and anything else we come up with!

Our journey is not just a cruise down the river. We enjoy exploring everything from downtown Knoxville life and local trends to parties and wedding venues. So become a part of our blog! Comment, ask and share anything you would like; we’d love to continue our journey with you and the world.  

1. In the middle ages birthdays were only celebrated by nobility (so spend your day like royalty)
2. August is the most common Birthday month, over 21 million Americans have birthdays in August
3. May 21^st is the least common birth date, which is good news for Nikki our Cruise Coordinator!!
4. In the United States, 2 Billion Birthday Cards are given each year.
5. The Warner Music Group collects approximately 2 million dollars in royalties for the ‘Happy Birthday Song’ every year. 

• Take the day off of work and treat yourself to a nice relaxing day, who really wants to spend their birthday at work anyways?
• Buy yourself that nice gift that you have always wanted
• Eat Cake! It is the one day of the year that you can have all the cake and ice cream that you want and not feel guilty about it! Check out this great website for some delicious Birthday cake recipe ideas.. http://allrecipes.com/recipes/desserts/cakes/birthday-cake/
• CELEBRATE! No birthday would be complete without a birthday celebration, so grab your friends and family and have a party or go out to eat! 

• Junk food. Actually food in general is the most popular thing to sacrifice for Lent. For Catholics, this means giving up meats on Fridays from now until Easter, or to fast entirely for one day a week. Other people just give up those beloved salty or sweet snacks that are so hard to resist (we’ll miss you, potato chips…).

• Television. It’s amazing the free time that becomes available to people when they turn off the TV after dinner. It can be difficult to part with guilty pleasures like Deadliest Catch and Grey’s Anatomy, though, so we won’t judge if you begin a six-week countdown until McDreamy is back in your life.

• Facebook. Whether you’re a college student or a mom with four kids, Facebook is a magnet for procrastinators around the world. Many people choose to give up social networking completely and separate themselves from the cyber world for the next 40 days. Forewarning: after deactivating your Facebook account, side effects typically include strong withdrawals from incessant status updates and also the common pastime of “Facebook-stalking” (don’t deny it). 
• Alcohol. Stimulants like coffee and alcohol can have a strong presence in the daily lives of many people, so it is not rare to see fewer cars in the Starbucks parking lot and a shorter line at the liquor store for a while. No wonder bars around the world consider Fat Tuesday one of the busiest nights of the year!
• Cussing. Swear words are considered to be a sin in the Bible, and they are also seen as a major faux pas in today’s society. A lot of people see giving up cussing as a challenge and they work on biting their tongue for the next six or seven weeks. Rappers especially struggle with this one.

• Chocolate. It is no secret that chocolate is an all-time favorite treat for people all over the globe, so it comes as no surprise that it is typically given up for Lent. Hopefully everyone got their chocolate fix in last week over Valentine's Day!

• Mend a few bridges. Maybe there’s someone in your life that has done you wrong or vise versa. Many use Lent as a time to reconcile those negative relationships and move past an issue that has taken up too much space in their life.
• Daily exercise. In the religious sense, many perceive their body as a temple, so in an effort to worship and give thanks to God, they focus on working out and taking better care of their bodies. Even if you aren’t religious, it couldn’t hurt to take another stab at that resolution you made to hit the gym at least four times a week.

• Do a good deed every day. As the saying goes, you always feel better about yourself after you make someone else feel better. So go out and make someone’s day! Chances are it’ll bring a smile to your face too.
• Spend more time with family and friends. Work and school tend to bog down people’s lives and can sometimes make them lose sight of what’s important. Whether it’s going out for a nice dinner with their spouse, playing a board game with their kids, cocktail hour with the girls, or even just taking some time to themselves to relax and be alone, many people use these next 40 days as a time to reflect and focus on those who are most important to them. 

Only 13 more days left until Valentine’s Day! What are you going to get for your loved one this year?  If you haven’t thought of the perfect idea yet, we are here to help you out!

1.  It may sound simple but honestly how can you go wrong with Chocolate, Champagne, and Roses?

 

4. Maybe jewelry is not in your budget this year, but do not worry after all it is the thought that counts! So make something homemade. Need an Idea? Here is a fun website to make your own Valentine’s Day coupon book! http://familycrafts.about.com/od/coupons/tp/couponsprint.htm

5. And of course our personal favorite Valentine’s Day gift idea! Surprise your valentine with a romantic cruise aboard the Volunteer Princess!

As the holiday of love quickly approaches, it's hard not to wonder how this popular day filled with chocolates, roses, Hallmark cards and balloons came about in the first place. Single women across the country typically dread the 14^th of February, while happy couples tend to look forward to this day of romance. Regardless of marital status, everyone acknowledges this holiday in one way or another, and flower shops and chocolate producers prepare for their busiest day months in advance.   

V-Day Stats:

• Roughly 180 million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged each year, making V-Day the second-most popular greeting-card- giving occasion.
• 24.3 pounds of candy is consumed per capita in America.
• The average consumer usually spends about $100 on gifts, meals and entertainment.
• 73% of flower-purchasers are men, while only 27% are women.
• 15% of U.S. women send themselves flowers on Valentine’s Day.
• About 3% of pet owners give V-Day gifts to their pets.

So where did it all start? How did the all the fuss about love and romance come about? There are several different theories on the origin of this hyped-up holiday but the most popular story dates back to the Roman Empire. Legend has it that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome under the reign of Emperor Claudius II. The Emperor didn’t want men to marry because he believed single men made better and stronger soldiers. Valentine thought this was unfair and decided to marry young couples secretly. For this, Valentine was thrown into jail and sentenced to death on February 14^th. While he was imprisoned, he supposedly wrote a love letter to the jailor’s daughter and signed it, “Your Valentine.” Sound familiar?

More Fun Facts:

• Young ladies of medieval times ate bizarre foods on St. Valentine’s Day to make them dream of their future spouse.
• In the Middle Ages, men and women drew names out of a bowl to see who would be their Valentine. They wore that name pinned on their sleeve for the next week. Hence the expression, “to wear your heart on your sleeve.”
• Physicians of the 1800’s advised patients to eat chocolate to calm their pining for lost love. Guess chocolate really is the best break-up cure!
• The red rose was the favorite flower of Venus, the goddess of love.
• Teachers receive the most Valentine’s Day cards each year!

Can’t think of anything to get your significant other that day? This website has tons of gift ideas that are sure to help you out: http://www.gifts.com/ideas/valentines-day

Need a great date option? Volunteer Princess Cruises is offering TEN different cruises with several special romantic package options. Check them out here: http://www.volunteerprincess.com/holiday/valentinesday. We couldn’t think of a more memorable way to spend the holiday than cruising down the beautiful Tennessee River with your sweetheart!

So break out your mushy side and get ready for Valentine’s Day 2012! It will be here before we know it!

The buzz is over and so is the party, 2012 is here and we are all back to normal routines. It is time to start working on our new years resolutions. Why did we bother with creating these again? They are difficult to abide by and make us upset when we don’t accomplish them.

New Year’s resolutions give us all opportunities to reflect on what we want to make out of our lives and change those things that bother us. This is a time to think about what you would like to do with your life and don’t get bogged down with what you should do.

This year make resolutions that are achievable and will make you feel good. Don’t make your resolutions into tasks that you have to check off a list but think more of them as positive changes you can make in your life. Don’t be overly ambitious with your resolutions or set unrealistically high expectations that are impossible to achieve. Make a real commitment to seeing them through. To do this you need to spend time thinking about what you hope to achieve and how you plan to do that. Habits die hard so you need to come up with an action plan and attack one thing at a time.

There are so many cool and useful apps out there now that will help you with your resolutions. Take time to find one that is really going to help you without making you do all the work. There are apps that will allow you to put in your New Year’s Resolutions and then they email you suggestions and ideas on how you can change your bad habits or go about achieving your goals.

Here are some helpful websites with a few of the applications that are out there! Enjoy and let’s make this a great year.

 http://www.successmagazine.com/new-years-resolutions/PARAMS/article/1637/channel/22

http://www.wcpo.com/dpp/news/science_tech/apps-to-help-keep-your-new-years-resolution

http://blog.greengiant.com/category/all/3-mobile-apps-to-help-achieve-healthy-new-years-resolutions.aspx

http://markets.financialcontent.com/stocks/news/read/16261521/PeerPressure_App_for_Achieving_Personal_Goals_Available_in_Time_for_2011_New_Year's_Resolutions

I was also curious to see what people are making for their new years resolutions and some of the most popular ones are below. If you haven’t made your resolutions just yet don’t worry there is still time. Take a long hard look at what you want to change and get to it! Don’t worry if you fall short a few times just jump back up and get going again.

•  Lose weight                                                                        
• Organize Finances
• Keep a Clean and Tidy House/Car
• Waste Less Time in the Office
• Stop Smoking
• Watch Less TV
• Spend less time on the Internet
• Get more involved with the community
• Explore all that my city has to offer
• Be on time
• Eat a healthier diet
• Volunteer
• Start Recycling
• Get a better education/job
• Start saving money
• Run a 5k, 10k, ½ Marathon, or Marathon
• Be a nicer person
• Spend more time with Family
• Take more Pictures
• Find out who I am as a person

The holiday season is full of delicious meals, festive treats and decadent desserts. But by New Year’s, most have had their fill of glazed ham and reindeer cookies. This season, experiment with holiday cocktails (adults only)! Though eggnog is a classic winter staple, it’s not the only drink that tastes like Christmas in a cup. Here are 15 holiday cocktail recipes that will make you wish it was December all year long. Cheers!

Beverages perfect for brunch: 

Jingle Juice 

Jingle Juice, a delicious blend of juices and orange liquor, is the perfect way to start your morning. Fix yourself one in the a.m. and you’ll be jingling all day!

Spiced Caramel Apple Martini

Martinis for breakfast or lunch may seem odd, but this recipe is light enough to accompany any morning or afternoon meal. The combination of lemon juice and apple cider will keep you warm all day.

Blushing Mimosas

Mimosas, full of orange juice and pineapple juice, are a traditional morning drink. This spin adds grenadine, which gives it a perfect holiday glow.

Tasty cocktails for appetizers

Cranberry Ginger Fizz

This is a temptingly sweet, juicy drink that adds a punch to any cocktail hour. It’s great for parties, too!

The Grinch

Don’t let the name fool you; this drink is anything but grinchy. Melon flavored Midori makes a rich green drink with a splash of lemon juice for a sour kick. Garnish it with a cherry or candy cane for a sweet touch.

Candy Cane Lane

A minty blend of peppermint schnapps and grenadine is an ideal pre-dinner cocktail. This drink is named perfectly; properly made, it looks just like a candy cane.

Gourmet dinner drinks

Christmas Jones

The Christmas Jones pairs great with any entrée. A lemon-lime soda turns into a tasty evening beverage with just vodka and fruit. Top with a mint garnish and you have a lovely holiday drink.

Eggnog Martini

A clever spin-off of classic eggnog, this martini adds sugar, cornstarch and a splash of pumpkin-pie spice. Warning: after trying, you’ll never want plain eggnog again.

Christmas Champagne

A perfect solution for Christmas toasts, orange-flavored vodka and a sugar cube turn regular champagne into a delicious holiday cocktail.

Delicious treats for dessert

Godiva Chocolate Martini

Nothing could be more suited for a dessert cocktail than a martini made with Godiva chocolate. This cocktail is the ideal balance of chocolate and vodka without being too heavy. Enjoy!

Cake Batter Martini

Skip the cake and head straight for this martini. Made with Pinnacle whipped cream vodka, crème de cacao and heavy cream, this drink tastes just like a slice of cake. Don’t forget to coat the rim of the glass with frosting and sprinkles!

Kringle Kocoa

Mix hot chocolate and Van Gogh Dutch Chocolate Vodka and what do you get? A deliciously rich, chocolate cocktail. Garnish with marshmallows on a skewer and you’ll feel like you’re sitting around a campfire.

Festive shooters for late night fun 

Santa Shooter

A blend of mint and grenadine taste like a candy cane in a shot. Serve your friends these before a night on the town and you’ll be as jolly as Santa Claus himself.

Christmas Tree Jello Shot

Add vodka and bourbon to green Jello and red sugar for a Christmas tree that’s good enough to drink.

Snowball

A winter wonderland in a shot glass! Mint, white chocolate and a splash of brandy will have you ready to make snow angels in no time.

We hope you’ve found some drink recipes that are perfect for meals, parties and after dark. Remember, if you plan to try any of our ideas, arrange to have someone else drive. Here is a link for an awesome taxi service in Knoxville: Knoxville World Class Taxi. Eat, drink and be merry this holiday season!

Date night means different things to everybody. For some, it may mean a night spent in sweatpants, eating popcorn and watching a movie on the couch. For others, they may be cooking their significant other a delicious gourmet meal. To us, date night means going out on the town and having an enjoyable night together. Lucky for all you couples, Knoxville has never ending ways you can spend your night out with your honey. 

Go see a play at one of the many great theatre houses here in Knoxville. From November 23 – December 18, A Christmas Carol will be at the Clarence Brown Theatre located on UT Knoxville’s campus. Visit the theatre web site for dates, times and ticket prices. The WordPlayers will perform Leaving Iowa, a comedy, from November 12-26. Check out http://wordplayers.org/current-season/mainstage-shows/leaving-iowa/ for more information. If you’re looking for powerful music to accompany your show, head to the Tennessee Theater for a night of opera. Their website lists upcoming shows, dates, show times and ticket prices.

All aboard! The Three Rivers Rambler, a steam train here in Knoxville, offers public train rides down the river. Enjoy a 90 minute ride while you and your significant other take in the scenery. Celebrate the season with one of the many Christmas train rides! Visit Three Rivers Rambler for the train schedule and list of ticket prices.

Were you or your partner blessed with two left feet? How about ballroom dancing lessons? Academy Ballroom offers fun, affordable classes for couples. If your idea of fun is something other than a class, try the Friday night dance parties! Anyone is welcome to come in and show off their moves on the dance floor. Check out http://www.dancingknox.com/ for more information.

Join us for a Starlight Cruise on the Volunteer Princess. You and your prince or princess will spend two and a half hours cruising down the Tennessee River under the night sky. Live entertainment, delicious food and gorgeous scenery - what more could you ask for? We have public dining cruises November through December. Visit our website for more information. We are also hosting a Second Harvest of East TN Food Drive. If any cruisers bring in two items Second Harvest needs, the cruise will receive a free soft drink and refills!

Lace up your skates and twirl over to the Ice Chalet off Kingston Pike. The Ice Chalet has group lessons and private lessons for those who need a little extra help. There are over 15 instructors, and each private lesson is only $21. Check out the Chalet's site for a schedule of public skating sessions.

Take a cooking class. It may seem cheesy and a total romantic comedy move, but learning something new with your partner is a great way to bond. The classes at Glass Bazaar are taught by world-class instructors, so you’re guaranteed to add a delicious recipe to your book. Visit Glass Bazaar to learn more and to make reservations. Bon appetite!

Remember that Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are only about a 30 minute drive from Knoxville. If you’re looking for a little adventure, hop in the car and head northeast. You’ll have plenty of date options when you get there!

Nights spent cuddling on the couch with your sweetie are fun, but getting out every now and then never hurt anyone. Enjoy your night out as a couple and remember, as long as you’re together, you’ll be having a great time! 

How often have you ever been a part of an engagement with a stranger? Obviously, this is a rare occurrence.

Until last Friday, November 4, I have never been a part of an engagement surprise, much less with someone I didn’t know! Evan Potter changed this with the purchase of our engagement package.

This package includes the use of our event coordinator, Nikki, and me, her assistant. Nikki collaborated with Evan at the end of October about planning the proposal. Evan and Nikki decided the best way for him to ask was near the beginning of the Sunset Dinner Cruise while the sun was setting and there was a perfect pink glow on the horizon.

On the bow, I took Evan and his girlfriend to “take a picture” (or 20) for their photo package. Right before I took it, Evan mentioned he needed to say something first. His girlfriend looked extremely confused and sought my reaction. I shrugged and made my camera picture-ready to snap away.

Evan got down on one knee and asked for her hand in marriage. His girlfriend could not believe it; utterly surprised, she asked if he was serious. Obviously, he was more than serious and said he loved her and wanted her as his wife.

The rest of the cruise, they were able to enjoy their dinner and call their family about the news. I brought out champagne and let them toast to the night and celebrate their engagement and two year anniversary.

It was perfect and I couldn’t have been more excited. Nikki claimed she was anxious, but with her experience, she appeared calm. After I was satisfied with the number of pictures I took, Nikki chose the best ones and printed them out for the happy couple.

The night was both story-like and beautiful. I am so lucky to have been a part of an engagement and hope to be a part of more in the future!

If you are looking for a possible engagement on our yacht, here is what our package has to offer:

• Coordination with our event planners prior to the big day
  
• Available planner on board for consultation during the cruise
  
• Perfect proposal setting on board
  
• Private area of the ship with window seating for two
  
• Rose petals sprinkled on your table (use her favorite color)
  
• Shipboard photography service to capture the moment
  
• Custom framed picture of the newly engaged couple
  
• Celebratory bottle of champagne or sparkling cider
  
• Chocolate covered strawberries
  
• One long-stemmed red rose 

Fall is here and Halloween is just around the corner. If you’ve grown tired of trick-or-treating and pumpkin carving, here are some more exciting ways to celebrate Halloween in Knoxville.

Haunted Knoxville Ghost Tours: Knoxville is home to several reportedly haunted locations. Take a ghost tour to have a real paranormal investigator (not an actor) guide you through Knoxville to see the haunts for yourself. The walking tour lasts for approximately two hours, spending around 15 minutes at each haunted spot. Reservations are required, so visit Knox Ghost Tour for tour dates and times.

Scare in the Square:  If you’re looking for Halloween fun the whole family can enjoy, head to Market Square on Friday, October 28 for Slamdot’s 3^rd annual Scare in the Square. It lasts from 5:30-9:00 p.m. and admission is free. There will be live music and performances, costume and pumpkin carving contests, face painting and fortune telling. An assortment of creepy critters from the Knoxville Zoo is scheduled to make an appearance, as well.  Food will available from Bread of Heaven BBQ, Scooter Doo’s Hot Dogs and Rita’s Italian Ice, so be sure to come hungry! For anyone with an abnormally large sweet tooth, the candy crawl is going to hit the spot.  For more information, check out
Scare in the Square. 

Boo Cruise on the Volunteer Princess: If you are 21 or older, join us for a Boo Cruise on October 31 from 9-11 p.m. Hosted by Star 102.1, it’s sure to be a fun-filled night with eerie surprises at every turn. Guests should plan to arrive in costume and enjoy two hours of cruising down the Tennessee River while snacking on delicious food from Wild Wing Café. Please see Star 102.1 for a spooky night on the river!

Freaky Friday Fright Nite: Farragut will be hosting its 15^th annual Freaky Friday Fright Nite on Friday, October 28 from 5 – 7 p.m.  Children ages 12 and under are invited to Mayor Bob Leonard Park for trick-or-treating, cookie decorating and games. Proceeds benefit the Ronald McDonald House, so you’ll be having fun for a good cause. Don’t forget your costume! To learn more, visit Town of Farragut.

Dead Man’s Farm: Dead Man’s Farm is home to the only Haunted House in Knoxville that is proven “truly haunted.”  You and a group of 10-12 others will take a self-guided tour through a house of werewolves, gypsies and any other haunts you could imagine. Children 12 and under must have parental supervision. Chicken runs are available for those who can’t handle the fear! Are you brave enough? Find out at Dead Man's Farm.

Oakes Farm: Oakes Farm offers the best of both worlds with a corn maze and a Trail of Doom (the haunted version). Those looking for a scare-free challenge should test their luck in the corn maze. The maze is an intricate design that will test even the most logical minds. The goal is to find each of the 12 hidden posts throughout the maze, and then find the exit. Those who want a little fear with their fun should embark on the Trail of Doom. The Trail of Doom is Knoxville’s largest and longest running haunted attraction and uses special effects, actors and props to frighten its visitors. For days and times of operation, visit Oakes Farm.

Throwing a great party for all of your friends is fun and exciting. Making your party one to remember can take some serious creativity; creativity, which, let’s be honest, doesn’t come naturally to everyone. Here is how you can be sure to wow your friends: put a unique spin on every aspect of the party. 

Venue: Your friends have been to your house plenty of times. Try somewhere new! Knoxville is an amazing city that has many different places perfect for private parties.

• Rent out a section of your favorite restaurant
  
• Host your party at an outdoor location, such as World’s Fair Park
  
• Take your party to the water and host an event on the Volunteer Princess yacht
  
•  Host your part at a traditional Knoxville landmark that doubles as an elegant and exciting party venue, for example, the Sunsphere
  

 Anything that is new to your friends is surely going to be a good time.

Theme: A great way to wow your friends is to host a themed party. Incorporate your theme through entertainment, party activities, decorations, food, music, etc. Here are great party theme:

• Decades
  
• Hollywood or Las Vegas
  
• Luau
  
• Fiesta
  
• Black Tie
  
• Under the Sea
  

You get the idea! If your group of friends has a favorite movie, try hosting a party themed after the film. This is always a good call you can invite your guests to show up in themed costumes!

Entertainment: Having extra entertainment available is always a good idea. Hire a live band or a DJ to get your party rockin’ and rolllin’. Other live acts can be a blast as well; stand up comedians and magicians do private events for great prices. You could also have party activities to keep your guests entertained: games, a scavenger hunt, karaoke and contests are always a hit.

Food: The food is one of the most important aspects of your party. There are many options to offer: snacks, heavy hors d’oeuvres or a full course meal. The food is another great way to incorporate your theme. If your budget allows it, have your party catered. The food will be delicious and it will take a lot of work off your shoulders. Don’t forget about dessert; instead of having a typical cake, try a cupcake stand, fondue station or sundae bar!

Decorations: Theme! Theme! Theme! No theme? Decorations can still liven up a party and make it a really special event. Balloons, signs, pictures, streamers and other décor ensures your guests are in party mode.

Don’t forget the details! Often it’s the little aspects of a party that count. Handing out party favors to your guests as they leave gives them a way to remember your party. Sending home extra food always makes happy guests, too!