Frequently Asked Questions

The most important step of making your reservation is getting your name in the charter book. Contact Rachel to find out what dates are available!

A $1,000 deposit is required to hold your reservation, fully refundable 90 days prior to event. All private charter payments must be made with check or cash. Final payment can be paid in advance or on the day of the event.

Rachel Pohl will be there on the day of the wedding to make sure all the little details fall into place.

Several of our Captains have been appointed marriage officers by the Town of Long Lake and are authorized to marry couples. Or you may bring your own officiant. You may use the vows written for us by a minister who vacations on the lake, Rev. Stephanie Sauve, or you may write your own or use a combination of the two.

You may bring your own playlist. We have a file of musicians who have played on the boat if you’re considering live music. Because space is so precious on the Durant, the musical group must be small – no more than three or four players. If the weather is nice, the musicians can set up on the upper deck where dancing before and after dinner can take place. If the weather is inclement, there is space for a small ensemble (one to two musicians) to set up in the dining room (even with a full count of 64) but there is no space for dancing. Dancing in the dining room is possible only when the count is 40 people or fewer.

You can make arrangements with a local florist who will deliver. Rachel has a list of preferred vendors on file. Or you may provide your own table arrangements.

There is some flexibility here in terms of timing. Talk to Rachel for more information.

We do offer a space, with a bathroom, for you to change into your dress and store your travel clothes during the event.

We suggest all wedding gifts be securely stored in a vehicle parked adjacent to the Durant. There is space on the boat for a guest book and a basket to receive cards.

There is space for about 12 cars in our parking lot, plus plenty of parking behind the Chapel, adjacent to the Durant’s dock.

The dining room accommodates wheelchairs; the two heads or bathrooms do not. Advance notice is appreciated so we can put our ramps in place.

We suggest you block rooms as soon as possible. There are no hotel accommodations in Raquette Lake. Your guests will have to book lodging anywhere in a 15-mile radius (Inlet or Blue Mountain Lake) or a 25-mile radius (Old Forge, Indian Lake, or Long Lake).

We can recommend housekeeping cottages in Raquette Lake if a family is looking for accommodations.

We do not provide a shuttle service, but we can make recommendations for shuttle service.

The two numbers to keep in mind are 56 & 64. 64 is how many guests can be seated with a plated/served format in our dining room which has eight tables of eight. 56 is how many guests can be accommodated on a buffet style cruise, with seven tables of eight. (The buffet line takes up one table of eight.) The maximum number of guests that can be accommodated for a “grazing” format is 64, where most people are standing, cocktail party-style, with food stations set up in the enclosed dining room. Weather permitting, food stations can also be set up on the open upper deck.

High Season is defined as the last week in June through Labor Day, plus all Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in September through Columbus Day weekend. If you charter the boat any day the first three weeks in June, or Monday- Wednesday after Labor Day through our last day in October, we can give you a break on the costs. Give us a call to discuss your options.

Dinner cruise time slot 4:30-8:30, any night in high season & Thursday- Sunday after Labor Day

• minimum charge of $6200 ++ (8 % sales tax, 20% service charge)
• 4 hours of private and exclusive use of the Durant
• 4 course plated/served meal for up to 64 people (apps available for an additional charge)

OR

• Buffet-style meal with prime rib at the carving station for up to 56 people plus a cheese board & peel-n-eat shrimp appetizer included

Luncheon cruise time slot 10:30-1:00

• minimum charge of $3300 ++
• 2.5 hours of private and exclusive use of the Durant
• Buffet-style meal for up to 56 people plus a cheese board appetizer

Sunday Brunch time slot 11:30-2:30

• Minimum charge is $3900 ++
• 3 hours of private and exclusive use of the Durant
• Buffet-style meal for up to 56 people, up to 4 chafers, unlimited champagne, bellini & mimosa bar, exotic juice bar

 Cocktail Party/Grazing Format 4:30-8:30 dinner time slot

• Minimum charge is $6200 ++
• 4 hours of private and exclusive use of the Durant
• 12 appetizers for up to 75 people (9 from A&B, 3 from C)

Cocktail Party/Grazing Format 11:30-2:30 brunch time slot

• Minimum charge is $3900 ++
• 3 hours of private and exclusive use of the Durant
• 9 appetizers for up to 75 people (7 from A&B, 2 from C)

Cocktail Party/Grazing Format 10:30-1:00 lunch time slot

• Minimum charge is $3300++
• 2.5 hours of private and exclusive use of the Durant
• 8 appetizers for up to 75 people (7 from A&B, 1 from C)

Excursion time slot 1:30-3:30

• Minimum charge is $2100++ if no food is requested
• Optional appetizers available for an extra charge + $250 surcharge for additional food service staff
• Maximum capacity 64-90, depending on weather

• $680 ++ per each additional hour (beyond what is included in the charter rate)
• $340 ++ per each additional ½ hour

• If you desire a time frame that spans two different cruises or more, you will be charged the charter rate for the cruise that we are canceling, less the 20% service charge and 8% sales tax.

Our weddings are so customized, it’s hard to give you a final, guaranteed price until we talk with you and ascertain your vision for the celebration, time frame, service format, number of guests, etc.  The above pricing gives you a ball park price for various time slots.

A    Cold Hors d’oeuvres

• Cold display to include sliced seasonal fruits with assorted cheeses and crackers
• Vegetable crudité with herbal dip
• Smoked salmon w/ dill horseradish sauce
• Nova salmon on puff pastry with red onion, tomato and cream cheese
• Sliced salami with pecorino cheese
• Tortilla chips with black bean dip or house salsa
• Bruschetta, an Italian salsa served with crostini and Romano cheese
• Marinated mushroom caps
• Peel-n-eat shrimp with sauce
• Guacamole with pita triangles
• Hummus with pita triangles
• Spinach & artichoke dip
• Caprese Bites (Mozzarella, tomato, fresh basil, reduced balsamic)

B    Hot Hors d’oeuvres

• Beef satay with Oriental dipping sauce
• Swedish meatballs in a rich brown sauce
• Mushroom caps with your choice stuffing (seafood, sausage, vegetarian)
• Baked brie soaked in Kahlua with crackers
• Beef burger or pulled pork sliders
• Marinated grilled veggies

C     Premium Hors d’oeuvres

• Peeled and deveined  U-12 shrimp with sauce
• Beef tenderloin at a carving station with rolls & horseradish sauce
• Lollipop Lamb Chops
• Sesame  seared Ahi tuna served w/ a marinated cucumber salad & a spicy dipping sauce
• Glazed bacon
• Bacon-wrapped sea scallops
• Crab cakes with remoulade

Besides private and exclusive use of the Durant, boarding and de-boarding time, cruise time, staff, food, tax and service charge, all private charters include table linens, china, cutlery and glass wine and water goblets. Table clothes are white with forest green napkins. If you desire a different color napkin we can rent them.

More than any other factor- your dress, your band, your food- your reception venue sets the tone for your wedding. It’s the first thing your guests see when they arrive and it’s what they’re going to be immersed in for the three or four hours they’re celebrating with you.  Let Rachel and her staff make your wedding on the WW Durant seamless and an unforgettable celebration event that your guests will remember as one of the best receptions ever attended.