Argosy Cruises is a Seattle staple just like the iconic image of the Space Needle, the historic Pike Place Market and drinking copious amount of coffee. Being new to the city, I was excited to experience everything Seattle had to offer and an Argosy dinner cruise was high on my list of things to do.Argosy has a large fleet of ships and for my dinner cruise I boarded the largest ship in the Argosy fleet, the Royal Argosy. The name "royal" was fitting because I experienced a sense of grandeur when I first stepped on board. I was impressed with the inside of the ship. I particularly enjoyed the crescent shaped banquet booth that I was seated at for dinner. The lighting could have been a bit more intimate to match the setting, but this was a room built for style and grace.
Looking around, I was happy to see couples of varying ages and demographics. While I didn't spot a same-sex couples, I was told that Argosy is very popular with the LGBT community. Argosy actually provides a boat for an annual fundraising event that supports Seattle Pride and hosts the GSBA new member cruise each April.
My dinner guests for the night were Peter Robinson and Michele Hanson of Argosy Cruises. "If you're going to see Seattle Joshua you need to see it from the sea," Michele expressed as she gestured towards the glowing skyline of downtown Seattle. "Here at Argosy we are selling a first class dining experience but what we are really selling is Seattle," said Peter. There is something remarkable about the Seattle skyline from the water.
The dining room was alive with music provided by Argosy's house band Mary & The Rave. To start the evening, I ordered a glass of champagne. It seemed fitting since I was dressed to impress and I wanted to have something a bit classier then a rum and coke. As I sipped my champagne and listened to the music, I almost felt I was in some swanky jazz club. The Royal's main dining room has a full bar and a fantastic wine list to meet the needs of even the most discerning spirit lover.
The first course of the evening was a three-tiered appetizer platter. I wasn't sure what was more pleasing to the eye, the appetizer or Zak, our server. The appetizer covered each of the "fabulous" food groups, seafood, cheese and fruit, everything a classy champagne drinking gay man could need. On the first tier of the platter were pretzel crusted crab cakes which were a true delight and were possibly the best I've ever had. The lower tiers consisted of an assortment of different fruits and cheeses which paired wonderfully together.Following an amazing bowl of Dungeness crab and corn chowder, the main course arrived. I was happy to see favorite server Zak bringing my dinner. My eyes grew wide as the plate of halibut was dropped off -- the smell of the cooked fish was stunning. I couldn't believe how tender the halibut was! I was more then happy to clean the entire plate and was almost tempted to lick up the last remaining bits.
After dinner I was faced with the hardest decision of the evening: to dessert or not to dessert? The New York cheesecake with raspberry sauce proved to be too tempting and ultimately was my choice. The raspberry sauce tasted as if it had just been made prior to the cheesecake being brought out and it was the right balance of sweet and tart. It was a fabulous garnish for the cheesecake and it all blended wonderfully with the champagne. Once again I posed the question, what doesn't taste good with champagne?After watching the Seattle skyline from inside the dining room, I thought the best way to finish the evening would be a stroll across the deck. The bow was full of people admiring the glowing Seattle skyline, people taking photos to mark their dinner cruise experience and couples embracing. There was a slight breeze that evening blowing across Elliot Bay and aside from the low hum of the boat engine, there was silence. It was interesting to be able to see, but not hear the busy streets of downtown. It was a beautifully quiet moment and definitely one that I would like to share with a special someone.
Seattle is a city that demands to be seen from the water and Argosy provides the perfect excursion and opportunity. I would even go as far to say that that you haven't truly seen the city until you have seen it from Elliot Bay. As I stood on the bow of the Royal Argosy ship I couldn't help but think back to what Peter had said earlier, "We sell the city, we sell Seattle." Watching the glowing skyline grow larger as the boat started its trek back to port I couldn't help but feel completely sold on this beautiful city. Discover the silent beautiful magic of Seattle aboard an Argosy dinner cruise.
JOSHUA MICHAEL RUMLEY
TRAVEL GAY SEATTLE
