FantaSea Yachts

New Kids on the Block

2009-09-04T17:06:00.000-07:00

As the newest two members of the FantaSea Family, one of the things that impressed us the most about FantaSea Yachts during our multiple interviews was the longevity of the staff. It was clear to both of us that we were lucky to be interviewing for a position at all because positions at FantaSea rarely became available. In addition, our interviews took place during the height of the economic downturn and we both think that we were one of the few people in the U.S. that were actually offered a position when so many were loosing their jobs– But we are getting ahead of ourselves. Needless to say, we were a little more than nervous about our prospects of actually getting the job – but here we are blogging about our illustrious careers, now at FantaSea!

FantaSea is family through and through – from the Ginzburg family to the deck hands and dishwashers! In fact, there are three generations here working together. During school holidays, you will often see father and son working together out on the yachts so that the young men appreciate the hard work that goes into their upbringing.

The Captain, crew and staff have all been working together for ten to twenty years. As part of our interview process, we had to work a yacht party. We were both super impressed with the team – they worked like a well-oiled machine! The entire crew is very versatile and shares responsibilities to ensure a seamless cruise. We were personally amazed as we watched the party deck where a ceremony was held be transformed into the most elegant dinning room in a flash – it was actually less than 8 minutes. We were later informed that this is standard operating procedure for this group!

The impact of a group of this caliber and their knowledge and experience can’t be measured when it comes to your party and makes us proud and confident to plan parties here at FantaSea Yachts.

-Amy Chong and John Williams-Jacob

Back in the Kitchen Again

2009-08-28T15:22:00.000-07:00

Well last Friday, Stephanie and I put on our aprons and went upstairs to our main kitchen and joined Executive Chef Edward Valles, Ruben and Wilson in action and made a 5 course Thai meal for our office staff. Stephanie and I had just returned earlier in the week from a trip to Thailand and we were eager to show off our new skills. We were talking boldly as we headed upstairs, but, truth be told, I was a little nervous as this was my first time back in the kitchen in some years since cooking an Indian meal for a 150 guest engagement party. I was becoming more talk than action and I needed to put my reputation back in order.

With visions of Iron Chef and Kitchen Stadium in my mind and a 1 hour clock ticking beside us, we quickly stepped into a busy Friday morning kitchen. Let me say at the outset, our kitchen team rocks and I have extra respect for the flow, dexterity and physicality of working in a hot and busy kitchen. Our guys were moving in unisom as they busily prepped for that weekend’s 9 parties. When Stephanie and I took our places on the line, I felt a little like Moses with a parting Red Sea as our guys cleared space and gathered round with perhaps a raised eyebrow.

Our Menu:

Larb Gai (Minced chicken salad)
Tom Yam Koong (Spicy prawn soup with lemongrass)
Gai Phad med Mamuang (Fried chicken with cashew nuts and chili)
Phad Thai (Thai style fried noodles)
Kluay Baud Chee (Bananas in coconut milk with sticky rice.) (We added the sticky rice as how could you go wrong with some sweet rice to dip into the coconut milk.)

Thai food focuses on real freshness and a robust balancing of some basically quite strong spices and flavorings. Chili and lemongrass are certainly dynamic duos. The wonderful thing about Thai cooking is that it focuses on freshness and requires relatively simple prep and cooking and also the chance to customize the flavor balance on the fly which is a style of cooking I enjoy. Our target was to be able to make a full lunch in one hour.

Our first action was to survey our ingredients and double check our recipes. A couple minutes into working together, Stephanie and I decided, as much as we may love collaboration, in the kitchen, it was about control and efficiency. So we quickly divided up the menu. Stephanie made the Phad Thai and dessert and I made the soup and chicken dishes. Lunch was set to be served at noon and we entered the kitchen at 11am, so we were very time focused calling out the passing minutes to add a little pressure and drama as well as keeping us moving along. Stephanie and I are very goal oriented, so there was no way we were going to be late.

Looking back now a week later, we sure had fun. It was great to be back in the kitchen again and certainly we were proud and impressed to be next to our kitchen team. We even managed to turn it into a little cultural episode with our 3 year old daughter who joined us the night before dashing to Bangkok Market in Hollywood to pick up the last ingredients and some fresh lemongrass. Finally, like any artist, it was the compliments of our office staff, during lunch, which made our day.

FantaSea Named a Perfect California Wedding Spot

2009-05-28T11:32:00.000-07:00

Just want to say thanks to California Weddings for listing FantaSea as a perfect wedding destination in Marina Del Rey!

One thing that is included that they didn't mention is that you get me or any of our other expert planners to make sure you have your dream wedding. We are all planners at FantaSea, not sales people, so you get a wedding planner to take care of everything for you - at no extra charge! Come by for a tour and let's start planning your perfect day aboard one of our gorgeous yachts or in our ocean view yacht club.

A Fanciful Fruit Display

2009-05-27T12:08:00.000-07:00

One of our guests, Alla, served up a fruit buffet that was fresh, fun and fantastically sweet for her birthday at FantaSea. After all, at 50 she is still all of those things! Check out the beautiful work and bon appetît...

A Silver Anniversary with Style

2009-05-26T14:54:00.000-07:00

A 25th Wedding Anniversary is a momentous occasion for every couple. After a quarter of a century together there is much to reflect on and celebrate. Some couples choose to have a quiet celebration with just the two of them and a bottle of wine to get the memories flowing and others, like David and Judy Light, can't resist a big party!

It was so nice to have David, Judy and 120 of their closest friends and family aboard the RegentSea for an evening of dinner, drinks, dancing, roasts and toasts. Especially because David and Judy are our neighbors - they live in a condo right in the Marina!

The RegentSea looked elegant that night; all decked out in silver and black. David and Judy rented custom linens in the traditional 25th Anniversary color, silver. They chose black as the accent color and used it for the chair coverings and napkins, which made for a classic color palette. For their centerpieces they worked with our in-house florist, Bill, to create an arrangement of bright, orange gerbera daisies and hot pink roses that injected color into the room and showcased their vibrant personalities - 25 years and counting!

Throughout the night friends and family, who had flown in from all over for the celebration, shared stories about the couple and enjoyed a slideshow that played continuously with pictures of David and Judy over the past 25 years. Tip: To make your anniversary party more meaningful incorporate your wedding photos into the décor, or make a slideshow. You could also relive your 1st dance, play your wedding song, or order a cake that is a replica of your original wedding cake.

David, Judy and their friends and family love to dance and they rocked the boat all night long. The couple opened up the dance floor with a lively, swing song, "In the Mood" by the Glen Miller Band. Their romantic dance got all of the guests in the mood too - to dance the night away that is. You can check out some videos of guests dancing to classics from the big band era here .

Jazzy's Sweet 16th Birthday

2009-05-19T14:45:00.000-07:00

Last month we had Jasmine (Jazzy's) birthday aboard the RegentSea and it was one of the sweetest sweet 16's that we have ever seen! With everything that Jasmine had going on, it would have been impossible to not have a happening party - 110 of her closest friends and family, a fun theme, candy station, music and an over-the-top surprise!

We all know that diamonds are a girl's best friend and her favorite jeans are a close second, so when we found out that Jazzy's theme was "Jeans N' Bling" we knew that she was on to something. Jazzy's mom, Jannie McKinney, handmade all the linens for the cocktail tables with denim material and stick on diamonds. The RegentSea always shines, but on this particular night she sparkled, as she was literally dripping in diamonds.

Pink and black made the perfect complimentary colors to the demin and were used throughout the party; arches of pink and black balloons, pink diamond centerpieces, pink confections and pink flowers. (Tip: If you're thinking about having your own "Jeans N' Bling", or "Diamonds and Denim", affair we suggest you pick up some edible diamonds from Beryl's Cake Decorating and Pastry Supplies.)

Nobody could resist the cupcakes, cake, jellybeans and other pink sweets at the candy station. It looked great, tasted better and kept the partygoers dancing for hours!

There was tons of great music at this party, but nothing could beat the surprise performance of New Boyz who serenaded Jazzy with 'Happy Birthday' and performed their hit song 'You're a Jerk' to a crowd of very happy teenagers.

We didn't think Jazzy's "Jeans N' Bling" party on a beautiful yacht could get any better until she got her big gift - a shiny, brand new, white Lexus. From the friends and family, to the New Boyz performance, to the new car, we have a feeling that this was a birthday that Jazzy will cherish forever.

Chef Eddy on The Recipe Box Radio Show

2009-05-07T13:44:00.000-07:00

Chef Edward was this week's guest on The Recipe Box radio show. He discusses the challenges of cooking for multiple yacht events, great family recipes and his love of cooking.

Bat Mitzvah of Blue

2009-05-05T13:47:00.000-07:00

Last week the lovely, Francisca celebrated her Bat Mitzvah with us aboard the RegentSea. The beautiful event was thrown by Francisca's Aunt Ceclia and Uncle Don. I worked with Francisca and Cecilia planning the event and I was on board for the special occasion. They spared no expense. Francisca’s best friend had a Bat Mitzvah a few months ago and she dressed her event in all Pink, so Francisca decided to compliment that party by doing her party all in shades of Blue.

We rented custom linens in an ice blue crushed organza overlay with white chair covers and an ice blue chair sash; placing a fresh, single white rose in the back of each chair. The ceiling was draped with sheer white and blue fabric and the chandelier was decorated with white lilies and painted blue roses. They used Mr. Bill for the décor and he went all out, spray painting all the flowers blue and even dying the water in the vases blue to match. I arranged thru another vendor to have a stage brought in for Francisca's dance floor and to had her name carved out of foam board; it was 8’ long and 3’ high sprinkled with glitter fading from light to dark.

All the young guests were transported on busses to the affair. The adults had a formal seated meal of filet mignon, and the teens were treated to chicken fingers and pasta (a huge hit!) Francisca had a chocolate fountain and a great DJ that really kept the party going. It was a fun event for all the guests and one I'm sure Francisca will never forget.

What a FantaSea Prom!

2009-05-04T13:02:00.000-07:00

What could be more fun than dressing up and boarding a yacht with your classmates for a night of food, fun and dancing under the stars! The Senior Class at Advantage Preparatory School in Santa Clarita did just that and had a blast. This is the 7th year in a row FantaSea's had the honor of hosting the seniors at APS - and as usual, we had a great time too. Enjoy some photos from their amazing prom aboard RegentSea:

Jeff and David Put Their Love On The Map

2009-04-30T13:10:00.000-07:00

Every time I plan an event, especially weddings, I love to get very involved and go above and beyond expectations for my clients. I want to make sure our guests have a memorable and meaningful event with no concerns except having fun. Some of the most memorable weddings involve a theme, or décor, that reflects their personality and lifestyle.

That's why when Jeff Hudson and David Garcia, two serious globe-trotters, came to me with their own "around the world" theme for their April 11th nuptials, I knew that their ceremony and reception would be unforgettable; transporting their guests to different worldwide locales without ever leaving Marina Del Rey! We worked closely with Peggy Kelly of Timeless celebrations, as well as, Jeff and David to make their vision come alive.

The ceremony was held aboard the RegentSea where they were re-married (the couple had been married legally back in October) and the reception was held in our Yacht Club. Throughout both sites the couple incorporated photos and trinkets of their travels, which the guests loved! Their ceremony and reception became like a living, breathing scrapbook and we noticed that the photos and trinkets initiated an exchange of great stories and conversations between guests.

This is a great tip for anyone planning their wedding right now – try to incorporate elements that will get your guests interacting.

Jeff and David, who created many of the decorations themselves, turned the gazebo area of the Yacht Club into a Bistros of the world tribute. No element was forgotten and any European would have been proud of the colorful bistro lights that were strung, the hand-made shutters and window boxes that framed the view and the working water fountain that provided a mixed soundtrack of world music.

The centerpieces were beautiful floral adorned with mini-antiqued globes and Eiffel Tower and Chef statuettes. Their tables were the perfect compliment to the food. Being world travelers and having come to love so many cuisines, Jeff and David could not just settle on one. They wanted to have Mexican, Greek and Italian food, so we set up three stations in the Bistro in lieu of having the traditional seated dinner, or single buffet. The cake was nothing short of amazing! Cake and Art created it to look like stacked suitcases and the top layer featured each of their passports as toppers. So creative and memorable for all the guests.

Jeff and David have been all over the world, but we take pleasure in knowing that one of their favorite memories took place right here at FantaSea!

Take a trip around the world with our slide show:

A Special 1st Birthday

2009-04-23T09:53:00.000-07:00

When planning an event for a guest you often become personally connected, but there are some guests and events that become very special because they trigger personal memories.

On Sunday, April 12th, we hosted a traditional, Korean 1st Birthday Party for Jason and Kate Yi's daughter, Chloe. The Korean 1st Birthday is called the Dol Jabi Party and in Korea is celebrated 100 days after your birth because they calculate the nine months of pregnancy into your age. Here in America, however, it is typically celebrated on the one year anniversary of your birth.

Chloe's party took place on the Dandeana and everything from the pastel, pink balloons shaped like daisies to the tiara accents transformed the space into any little girl's FantaSea. Chloe looked adorable in her Korean ceremonial garment, the Hanbok. During the party she partook in an important Dol Jabi Tradition where several items are placed in front of the baby and which ever item he/she chooses is supposed to predict the child's personality and future. Chloe's items included: a string (long life), a book (intelligence), a pencil (artistic), money (rich), food (never wanting) and a tiara (beautiful and cared for). Chloe picked the pencil, meaning she will be very artistic.

Seeing Chloe at her Dol Jabi, made me recall stories of me at my 1st Birthday. I had the choice of money, food, a book, or a mirror and according to my parents I grabbed for all of them at once. My parents joke and say that it meant I was greedy, but I think it predicted that I would be a great General Manager. At age one I wanted it all for myself and now I still want it all, only now I want it all for you - our guests!

Me at my Dol Jabi

A White Wedding and a Colorful Reception

2009-04-20T14:11:00.000-07:00

Irene Laura and Daniel Gutierrez recently had their wedding with us and they did a wonderful job using their ceremony to define one part of them and their reception to define another part of them. In order to accomplish this they used different color schemes and different locations (taking advantage of both our land and sea facilities).

Both Irene and Daniel believe that the exchange of wedding vows is the most important part of a wedding and that the ceremony should take center stage. Their wedding on the Dandeana featured a traditional, white and ivory color palette that did not compete with, but perfectly complimented, their belief in the sanctity of the ceremony. Our in-house florist did a beautiful job with the different white florals and crystal accents. Their color choice did not distract from the natural scenery, after all they did get married on a yacht with the Pacific Ocean as their backdrop!

For the reception they moved the party inside to our Yacht Club, which has plenty of room for music and dancing. During the planning process they knew that with the change in venue, they also wanted a dramatic change in ambiance. Irene and Daniel are a fun, vibrant and sexy couple that loves to dance and wanted to convey that side of them through their reception décor, since their ceremony was going to be very traditional. They were unsure how to create the right look and I decided to focus on choosing dramatic table linens because linens are a high impact item. We spent hours pouring over colorful linens and finally found a dramatic, red, satin linen with an eye-popping print. The moment I saw their reaction I knew it was the perfect fabric! From that point on everything from the flowers to the cake table fell perfectly into place.

So, what did Irene and Daniel's wedding décor say about them? They are a traditional couple, with good taste, that is not afraid to let loose and have some fun!

How about a tour of Dandeana?

2009-04-13T15:50:00.000-07:00

Looking for an elegant (yet affordable) destination for your next event? May I introduce...Dandeana!

Host up to 150 guests aboard our beautiful Dandeana yacht.

Strictly Weddings Blog has Great Ideas

2009-04-13T15:32:00.001-07:00

Just found this blog and am really enjoying their posts. I just love finding great sites with new ideas I can share with my brides. I wanted to pass it along...

Strictly Weddings Blog

"The Hills" Premieres on the Dandeana

2009-04-09T15:26:00.000-07:00

MTV's "The Hills" premiere episode features a surprise birthday party for Lauren on our own Dandeana Yacht! Check it out and call us if you want to party like "The Hills."

The Hills - MTV Shows

Farewell at Sea

2009-04-08T15:47:00.000-07:00

Here's a really nice article that ran in the American Chronicle featuring our lovely and talented special event producer, Linda Wright. Thanks to Pam Vetter for covering the subject of saying goodbye to a loved one.

Farewell at Sea: FantaSea Yachts & Yacht Club Fulfills Vision of Saying Goodbye with Ocean Scatterings
Pam Vetter
March 03, 2009

"The Sea is often considered eternal and completes the circle of life. It can be considered a cleansing to those left behind as well," said Linda Wright, Special Events Producer of FantaSea Yachts & Yacht Club in Marina del Rey, California. Traveling out to sea with family and friends for a loved one's final journey creates an amazing farewell. As the waves are constantly moving, the sea transforms into a new journey for a loved one's spirit and yet a place of eternal rest. A scattering at sea is an incredible way to say goodbye as it is moving, memorable, emotionally uplifting and overwhelming personal.

FantaSea One

2009-04-06T15:20:00.000-07:00

Get to know our largest yacht and imagine your next event here. Welcome aboard the FantaSea One.

Of Course We Know Parties. In fact, There's a Disco Ball above my Desk!

2009-04-01T13:41:00.000-07:00

When our clients visit our Yacht Club in Marina Del Rey, many of them chuckle when they walk through our offices and see a giant Disco ball above our work space.

We all laugh and then explain that our Yacht Club was once a popular night spot and our office space is directly where the dance floor used to be. Then they ask why we kept the Disco ball and dance floor lighting in, which is easy to answer...we are party planners! These little touches remind us how fortunate we are to do what we do for a living and we just love having them up there. We never thought twice about leaving it.

If you're thinking of planning a party soon, stop on by for a tour of our beautiful yachts and yacht club and let us spin you around our dance floor too!

Welcome Aboard the RegentSea

2009-03-31T17:04:00.000-07:00

Join us for a little tour of one of our beautiful yachts, The RegentSea.

Great Irish Parties

2009-03-13T09:26:00.000-07:00

St. Patrick’s day is upon us and this holiday always makes me reflect on some of the great elements that some of our Irish guests have incorporated into their events.

Being in Los Angeles our guests come from different cultural backgrounds and we are fortunate to learn about a variety of traditions throughout the planning process. People love to personalize their parties with family recipes, décor, and music that celebrates their unique culture. Over the years, we have had the pleasure to try great food and enjoy great new music, but I always get excited when I find out a guest is Irish and wants to have an Irish band, or bagpipes, at their party. In fact, it makes me want to do a little jig!

Irish music is so rich, lively and easy to sing along and march to. Daniel and I both have fond memories of Irish music at FantaSea. The Fenians are an Irish band out of Southern California whose music is traditionally Irish, but also incorporates elements of rock, folk, bluegrass and jazz. A couple of years ago, they played a wedding reception in the Yacht Club and brought the house down with incredible energy. I, of course, bought the CD and can often be found dancing around the house singing “Drunken Sailor.” Doesn’t every mom?

I also remember a great party we put on with a six-piece bagpipe band. Daniel led them onto the yacht while they were playing marching music. To this day, he still says he would have marched with them anywhere and I believe him!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all from the FantaSea family and I leave you with an Irish toast:

There are good ships
And there are wood ships,
The ships that sail the sea.
But the best ships, are friendships,
And may they always be.

Can a Mac make you more attractive? Absolutely!

2009-03-11T17:19:00.000-07:00

FantaSea has been an all Macintosh office since day one and I completely believe that when clients come to our office, the Mac lovers are immediately impressed. It’s like our computers give us instant “coolness.” One such couple is Ellie and Nate. I love them and cannot wait for their wedding this September. Ellie is a wedding cake baker and Nate has his own CompuTech store, they are both Mac enthusiasts and so sweet. I think they may have decided to book their wedding with us before they even saw the yachts!

Ellie and Nate have created a very cool website to chronicle their wedding and their life. I highly recommend reading about their engagement. It’s truly magical.

They are getting married on the RegentSea in the fall and I am already hard at work to make it as magical and as perfect as their love for each other. I can’t wait!

The wedding industry is very competitive - we realize you are going to spend a great deal of money and time planning and you want to know it’s going to be perfect. If having a Mac on my desk gives me a little leg up on the competition…I am fine with that. You might say comparing us to other yacht charters is like comparing Apples to Oranges. Smile.

You Don't Have to Blow Your Budget to Have The Perfect Event

2009-03-09T11:53:00.000-07:00

I have been in the party business for a long time and am fortunate to work in one of the most beautiful venues in Los Angeles, but it takes more than a great view to be successful in this business, clients demand value. Price is the most important factor in party planning and today those of us in the event business are working harder than ever to provide value for our guests.

At my company I work with people from all walks of life and rich or not, they all have a budget. Fortunately, I have learned a lot over the years and I consider myself an expert at creating something special for all of my clients…it really comes down to listening, being resourceful and exceeding expectations.

Here are some tips for planning your next event – beautifully and affordably:

Get referrals. Ask friends and family about venue and vendor recommendations. Chances are someone you know has a great lead for you. Next, check them all out (online and in person) and don’t be shy about asking for client recommendations. And please don’t judge a venue by the outside of the building. You never know when you will come across a hidden gem. The majority of our business is word-of-mouth which is great because our new clients already have a sense of trust when they first walk in the door.
Share your vision. Be very vocal about what you want and how it looks in your mind. Choose a planner who understands your vision and never stop communicating. A real pro (like me :)) will not only “get” your vision, she will take it to new levels!
Shop and compare. Did you know that an event on our luxury yachts is comparable in price to a hotel ballroom? Don’t dismiss any idea because you assume it will cost more money.
Be open to change. Things happen, so be open to compromise. If you’re in good hands and have communicated well with your planner, she will always have great ideas when it’s time to make adjustments.
Work with experienced professionals! I can’t stress this enough. I have nearly 30 years of resources at my finger tips, which allows me to provide value and expertise to all my clients. If your party is in the hands of experts, you can be sure that every detail will be tended too from start to finish. You should always be able to expect this level of service from your event team.
Think about your guests. What will their experience be like? Do you have a variety of menu items for all tastes? Will they be comfortable? What will they remember about your event? Again, your professional event planner can provide tons of ideas to “wow” your guests based on years of experience.

Value can be demonstrated in many ways, from cost and level of service to uniqueness and overall experience. No matter what your budget, there are ways to skimp here, save their and make it look like you spent twice the price. My job has always been to make you look great and feel even better throughout the process!

So, now that you are armed with all of this knowledge, aren't you ready to plan your next event with FantaSea?

DIY Tips From A Crafty Wedding Planner

2009-02-17T16:46:00.000-08:00

FantaSea Yachts & Yacht Club's resident crafter

Calling all crafters! Ladies and Gents, listen up! I spent the better part of my Saturday rubbing elbows with nearly 5,000 of the craftiest people in Los Angeles….well, technically Orange County Fair Grounds, at the 2009 Scrapbooking Expo that took place over the weekend. The most amazing items for everyday, for special occasions and for the habit forming art of scrapbooking. I know, half of you are thinking you just don’t have the time and the other half are thinking “I’m just not that crafty”. WRONG!

Scrapping is the original DIY – Do it Yourself – for many reasons. Scrapbooking is not just for books – it’s for everything and anything you can think of. From a simple paper border added to your votive candles, to an amazing personalized guest book or adding a delicate shade of pink ink to the edge of your white cardstock – let your inner crafter out!

Top three reasons to scrap your Wedding Day;

You did it - Add a personal touch to items that will pass along to others over the years - truly yours, truly unique and truly artistic.
Cost savings – Need I say anything else? Why buy a silly guest book that is made by someone else when you can create a masterpiece of your own?
Inclusive Activities - with Bridesmaids, with mothers in law, family and friends – You can do it together or include items to guests that they will participate in prior to your day. Plus, you can show family and friends how much they mean to you by adding a touch of them to your items.

I have found great pleasure in recent years, looking not only back at the times I shared with others, but looking at the pictures and invitations and small items that have found a permanent place on the wall instead of a box tucked away for the next generation.

For me, I’ll spend the next couple of days digging out from under the bags of purchased items – and I’ll get some of the shots in the blog for next week – Happy Scrapping!

Nick and Jamie's FantaSea Wedding

2009-02-05T15:56:00.000-08:00

Here's another great couple I was fortunate to get to know while planning their gorgeous reception in our Yacht Club overlooking the Marina.

Nick and Jamie were great to work with – they started their planning in April for the November wedding. Jamie’s a producer so she had pretty specific ideas of what she wanted...we followed every one to the T and she was super happy!

They were great to work with and made their vision possible with the communication of her needs and wishes. This is my absolute best advice to couples out there - if you communicate well with your planner you will have everything you want, exactly how you want it!

Their reception was so much fun and I could tell that Nick and Jamie were happy and having a great time with their friends and family!

Thank you for letting me help you bring your beautiful vision to life...I hope you'll come back and celebrate all your special occasions with us!

"Love Katz" Evan and Bridget - November 1, 2008

2009-02-02T18:03:00.000-08:00

Evan and Bridget – the most uncommon introduction to a bride I’ve ever had...well, that’s because my very busy bride worked in a demanding travel planning position and I had the pleasure of starting our planning process with Evan the groom.

Evan, a published author and official “dating coach,” was doing all the research and throwing in the towel for the girl of his dreams. I knew without meeting Bridget that she must be an amazing girl to have snagged such a charming, funny guy. Right on and right on target from the first hello, I could tell they were full of laughter, full of fun and that this wedding would be an amazing experience for all.

Not having the same religion nor the same upbringing - they instantly reminded me of my own life and I felt a personal connection throughout the entire process. They enjoyed very much the intimate details of planning and the process of the “wedding weekend” - kicked off with a rehearsal aboard the RegentSea with a wedding coordinator that donned a Cheerleading costume pulled from moth balls from my ninth grade year and completed the rehearsal dinner at a friends house in costume! Yes, it was Halloween and they had a great party that included passing out candy to the neighborhood kids; a tequila bar (not for the kids); a fruit cart guy commonly seen on the streets of Los Angeles in full costume.

Their Wedding Ceremony took place aboard the RegentSea with the Reception following in the FantaSea Yacht Club. Their first dance after the bride changed into a sweet little white dress was a super hot salsa dance set to the music of The Cure – "Love Cats" (Evan's last name is Katz!)

They have a great photo montage here that you must check out!

Michael and Angie - A FantaSea Love Story

2009-01-30T16:22:00.000-08:00

Last year I had the pleasure of working with Michael and Angie to bring their dream wedding to life. They were the sweetest, nicest and most loving couple. I will always remember them for their big hearts and amazing love for each other, their family and friends.

They were full of love and smiles especially on their wedding day and you can actually see it for yourself because Michael and Angie created a beautiful website. Their site is a great example of how you can share your journey with loved ones before, during and after your special day. Be sure to check out their sweet photo galleries and links to their wedding pics!

If you like what you see, contact me because I'd love to help you create your special day aboard one of our beautiful yachts.

From "The Hills" to The Sea, Audrina Patridge Shines

2009-01-20T16:13:00.000-08:00

During the holidays I had the pleasure of planning a special event with Audrina Patridge of MTV's "The Hills" and let me assure you, it was as fun for me as it was for her guests.

I truly enjoyed working with Audrina and her family to plan their special night aboard FantaSea One. It is easy to see that her family is very proud of her, especially her parents and grandparents. I am so grateful to have been able to meet them all, the guests were so gracious and kind. Audrina’s guests seem to be having a great time throughout the evening. All her friends were fun, easygoing and nice, everyone was having a great time hanging out, enjoying the beautiful evening and talking with each other. They were having such a nice time that Audrina even extended the party an extra hour.

I love my job because I get to meet great people like Audrina and her family and friends. Thanks for allowing me to play a part in your memorable evening.

Audrina blogged about the party and posted some great photos too.

Passion, Pride and People - That's What Drives Me

2009-01-06T17:03:00.000-08:00

My name is Daniel Ginzburg and I am the co-owner of FantaSea Yachts & Yacht Club, where I have the distinct pleasure to work side by side with my wife, Stephanie, and my father, Uri, who founded the company in 1980 with one small yacht, Chelsea (named for the town where my parents lived in London when they were first married.) Years later, my father bought a shipyard where he built himself our first large yacht, Dandeana which he kindly named after my sister and me. Our fleet has since grown to include Regentsea and FantaSea One. They are all as beautiful and unique as the memories they’ve created. We even built our own beautiful ballroom overlooking the marina (and our yachts) which we named FantaSea Yacht Club.

It’s passion and pride that drive me to be the best I can be each day and it’s the people I work with, from guests to staff, that validate my hard work. I truly love working here and sharing in the creation and celebration of special events. I believe our staff is what makes our company so special – we truly are a family – and we love what we do. I have watched many of our team grow up here. I have seen busboys become bartenders, interns became event planners, dishwashers become chefs and crew becoming Captains. As the years have progressed, our children even work here now. We are three generations working together.

I invite you to visit our blog often so you can get to know us and let us share our stories and experiences with you. We appreciate your feedback and comments because we know as good as we think we are, we can always be better. Welcome aboard!