A few weeks ago, my husband and I spent an evening on the Philadelphia Belle. It had been months since we’d had a date night, and it was our first time together as a couple (7 years!) on a fancy dinner cruise.
Years prior, I went on another dinner cruise along the Hudson river. While it was a great evening thanks to the New York skyline and fireworks that evening, the food and entertainment was awful. Ever since, I had low expectations as far as riverboat cruises went.
I was surprised by the Philadelphia Belle, in a good way. First, just look at her. She is a Belle indeed, was my first impression. This boat originally sailed along the Mississippi, and it shows. Her southern charm is breathtaking.
The boat has been completely renovated on the inside and it was just gorgeous. I got a decent shot before the ship filled up. The chandeliers really make the space. There’s also a huge dance floor, which was taken over by a gaggle of teenagers there celebrating a sweet sixteen party. Other than the amazing band, that was the entertainment. Apparently, 6-inch heels and short short skirts are all the rage right now. Yikes.
Dinner cruises serve pre-cooked food, but I didn’t think that it tasted that way. Most everything was delicious. It was a four-course menu with an appetizer plate, a soup or salad, main dish and a dessert plate. For dinner, I ordered the beef and Kevin had the salmon.
There were a few other local bloggers on board too, so it was also a mini social media event. For some odd reason, I didn’t think to take photos with any of them. Gasp! But I did enjoy the conversations with Linda, Cecily, Sarah, Sierra, and a few others.
If you’re in the Philadelphia area, or plan on visiting, you must check out the Philadelphia Belle. They offer lunch and brunch in addition to dinner and an option to select the cruise only. The nighttime views were gorgeous, but I’d love to board this riverboat during the day next time.
No compensation was provided for this post. I received two complimentary dinner cruise tickets and drinks while on board the Belle. All opinions are my own.
I would love something like that. It sounds kinda romantic actually!
It sounds like it was a blast!