Sun, Sep 10 | The Atlantica
The Reception
Time & Location
The Reception
And no surprise. It was revealed to us by the ship’s Steward that the grand staircase was modelled after the Titanic’s.
“Considering it's a ship, is referencing the Titanic smart?” I asked.
“Fear not: only the Titanic’s splendor was copied, not its superstructure. Besides,” he jested, “there are no icebergs floating on the Hudson.”
And the splendor doesn’t end there. The ships windows are huge, spanning nearly ceiling-to-floor. And the bow behind our wedding table is spanned by 16 contiguous windows.
Any why not? For the view will be an ever-changing panorama of New York City in lights.
Itinerary
We leave at sunset from (1) Pier 61 promptly at 6 PM cruising down the Hudson and around Battery Park, heading up the East River passing under the (2) Brooklyn Bridge, the (3) Manhattan Bridge, and the (4) Williamsburg Bridge. We turn back from there and head passed (5) Governor’s Island to the (6) Statue of Liberty. We will cut the Wedding Cake under the purview of Lady Liberty, herself, an acknowledgement of our heritage as Immigrants. We return to (1) Pier 61 around 10 PM.
The Emcee for the evening will be our favorite Drag Queen Witti Repartee. Witti has performed on many a NYC stage and has been a personal friend to Kenny and I for nearly a decade. Witti, as it turns out, was there when Kenny proposed to Kevin on stage, so here she is returning for Act 2!
The reception will feature a DJ, Buffet, open bar and a large dance floor. In fact, in addition to the more traditional dancing we are featuring a segment of square dancing by a nationally recognized Caller, Betsy Gotta, who also happens to be a close friend. If you’ve never tried square dancing, there will be a quick introduction for anyone willing to try a Do-si-do! Of course, there will be a number of other surprises. We request you dress for the Reception in a Dapper theme. Please click on Suggested Dress for more information.
As Bilbo Baggins said to his nephew Frodo on his 111th Birthday Party, “[My boy,] this will be a night to Remember!”
Sep 10, 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM
The Atlantica Yacht, Chelsea Piers Pier 61, New York, NY 10011
We wanted the wedding reception to celebrate the place we and our families have called home for decades: New York, so we decided on a venue that took the city in its entirety. We commissioned a yacht to sail around Manhattan Island. And not just any yacht. We chose the Atlantica. It was the first ship that felt more like a ballroom than a ship. When we walked down the grand staircase into the main ballroom we felt like His Majesty’s entrance.
Ship Rules
Children are welcome on the ship, but parents are responsible for their children, especially making sure they do not disturb others. The ship does NOT provide any highchairs or accommodations specifically for children. When deciding to include or not include your children, please take your overall enjoyment of the reception into consideration.
Smoking and vaping is not allowed inside the ship. You can smoke on the outside upper deck. If you do smoke, please be considerate of others. The cruise line is strict about this policy. We have been told by the crew that if any crew member sees someone smoking inside, the Captain will turn the ship around and head back to port.
Drugs, including marijuana, are not allowed anywhere on the ship.
Getting to the Ship
Directions
The Atlantica is docked at Pier 61. Please be sure to arrive at 5:30PM when they will board. Best is by Uber/Lyft to Pier 61. By subway take the A, C, E to 23rd Street and walk West all the way to the waterfront to the Pier 61. You can drive but parking there it is very expensive, something like $60 an hour, and the cruise is 4 hours.