The Helmsman

We are pleased to announce that Star Fleet Yachts has now partnered with All That Blooms, located in Kemah TX as our preferred floral vendor.  I believe that this will provide our brides with an increased value in the products we offer.  All That Blooms is located very close to our facility and they have 8 years of experience providing flowers for local events.  They are already partnered with several other venues in the area, and I believe we will be an excellent match.  With the added value to our brides, our floral packages will also decrease in price.

We are also changing our photographer offerings to fit the needs of all of our brides.  EVOKE has changed their package to include more time with the photographer and focus on creating digital aspects of the bride’s experience with them.  Instead of offering a package with an album, their one package choice includes a high resolution CD and an in-studio engagement and bridal session.

In addition, we are also expanding the photographers we work with to include a local photographer –  Jessica Pledger. She is offering the same package as EVOKE, but at a lower cost point.  We think her quality is fantastic, and she is a great value!  Hard to believe she’s only been doing this for about a year!

We hope you enjoy checking these new vendors out!

2011 is flying by as we head into July! But the summer heat and recent drought can’t keep us down here at Star Fleet because July means that there are only two more months until the annual Redfish Raft-Up. Founded back in 2005 by our own President, Tom Lober, and the Galveston Bay Foundation, the Raft-Up continues to grow as we approach the 7th year of this event, and it serves as a memorial to Tom’s commitment to the area.

For many years Redfish Island was a popular spot in Galveston Bay for boaters because it provided a natural barrier from the deeper waters and the traffic and waves of larger ships in the bay. Unfortunately, years of erosion and rough weather tore at it bit by bit until it vanished below the tide. In 2002, the Port of Houston Authority (PHA) and the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) teamed up and began rebuilding Redfish so it could be used by boaters once again for safe anchorage. Several months later Redfish Island resurfaced, built up in the shape of a hook and newly hosting an oyster bar (a colony of oysters in the same fashion as a coral reef), and a bird habitat at the north end of the island, making it a great spot for bird watchers to view coastal species. These attributes also make it the perfect spot for the annual Redfish Raft-up featuring local artist Kelly McGuire.

Living in the Clear Lake area, Kelly McGuire’s music is heavily influenced by the Gulf and other local aspects including Redfish Island itself. On September 4, 2011, Kelly will set up on our own Star Gazer and head out to Redfish Island for a 4 hour event including live music from Kelly himself and other great bands. Hundreds of boats will come from all over the bay to enjoy the concert and to relax on the water. If you don’t have a boat, Tickets will be available for the Star Gazer with front row seats to the concert and a gourmet BBQ lunch buffet, all during a four and a half hour cruise. Tickets for the Star Fleet Redfish Raft-up are $89 per person. In addition, this event is used as a benefit for the Galveston Bay Foundation. For more information on the raft-up from the Galveston Bay Foundation go to http://wiredin.cc/talk_of_the_bay/2011/7/redfish-raftup-2011.shtml.

You will not want to miss this special Houston Labor Day Redfish Raft-Up Party Event!

We were so excited to set sail on our first ever Wine Dinner cruise last Sunday. It was a beautiful evening out on the lake with an almost sold out cruise including a local Houston blogger, Christy Orellana. It was a pleasure having Christy with us, and if you would like to read what she had to say about our cruise, head over to her blog at http://www.bloggingextralite.com/2011/06/star-fleet-entertainment-yachts-review.html .

Guests were treated to a gourmet three course meal consisting of a fresh mixed field green salad, an entrée choice of either Tilapia Ponchartrain or Bayou Cajun Chicken accompanied by red potatoes and mixed vegetables, and finished off with a sweet treat of cheesecake and brownies. As for the wine, we went to the experts. The folks over at Mainly Drinks in La Porte, Tx have been wonderfully helpful in pairing the perfect wine with each dish, and the lovely Deb Gallington was onboard to provide information on, and oversee the serving of each wine. The wine list included a 2009 Chateau St. Jean Fumé Blanc, a 2007 Gloria Ferrer Pinot Noir, and a 2010 Umberto Fiore Moscato. These wines are available for purchase at the end of each cruise and will accompany our Summer menu. To sample these wines and get more information on them, we suggest you purchase a ticket on board one of our Wine Dinners!

The cruise was a huge success, and we look forward to our next Wine Dinner on Sunday, June 26 at 5:00pm. Tickets are $79 and are on sale for June and July cruises. To see our full schedule of cruises, go to http://www.starfleetyachts.com/public-cruises/houston-dinner-cruise-events-calendar/ . We hope to see you all on board!

Starting this coming weekend, we are offering a Lake Limo Pub Crawl cruise.  The cruise is three hours long, and includes bottled water for you and your guests.  On the cruise, you can party hop along Clear Lake by stoping at all the best watering holes – Outriggers, Lance’s Turtle Club, or the Kemah Boardwalk to name a few.  The cruise is $290 for up to 12 guests.

Starting June 1st we are offering two new cruise options:  Sightseeing & Wine Dinners!

The Sightseeing Cruises will be on the weekends in the afternoon, and will include the 2 hour cruise plus a narration and slideshow on the history of the Clear Lake area.  Tickets are $29 per person, and you can get more information on our website, click here.

The Wine Dinner cruises are a collaboration between Star Fleet and Mainly Drinks, and includes a two hour cruise with a three course gourmet meal, each meal is served with a wine pairing to compliment the food.  Our Executive Chef Denise will create the menu and Mainly Drinks will offer the wine pairing.  You will also be able to order for delivery any of the wines that are showcased.  For more information, click here to go to our website.  Tickets are $79 per person, 21 and up only.

Enjoy!

We recently upgraded the wine offerings we have onboard.  Here’s some information about each of our new wines:

Willamette Riesling (2009)

Tasting Notes

A semi-sweet medium bodied Germanic-style wine. Delicate peach and lychee aromas lead into flavors featuring dried apricot and a steely acidity. Notes of pineapple contribute. The tart rhubarb finish lingers into spicy red pepper flakes in the mid-palate, refreshing and mouth watering.

Firesteed Pinot Gris (2008)

The Firesteed 2008 Pinot Gris offers aromas of tropical fruit, citrus and green apple. Mouthwatering, its flavors of ripe white peach and Crenshaw melon are balanced by the wine’s lively acidity.

Frei Brothers Chardonnay (2009)

This wine showcases citrus, pear and green apple characters balanced by a lively acidity throughout the finish.

L de Lyeth Merlot (2008)

This medium-bodied Merlot fills the front to mid palate with fresh summer strawberries, blackberries, and plums. The fine tannins are nicely integrated into the wine making it approachable upon release.

Trapiche Malbec (2008)

A Malbec, with beautiful, deep red color with violet hues. Sweet aromas of blackberries and plums with an elegant touch of smoke and vanilla. Velvety texture and a sweet, long aftertaste.

La Marca Prosecco

Grown in Italy, the Prosecco grape is cherished for its expressiveness.  La Marca Prosecco is a fresh sparkling wine with a vibrant bouquet of apple, white peach and honeysuckle. The soft, harmonious fruity notes Sparkling highlighted by pleasant acidity make this wine ideal for any occasion.