You really don’t want to miss this boat!

Captain Chris at the helm

This has been a stressful week at Moxley Carmichael. We had an important vote at County Commission on Monday (which we won, thankfully). We had the big Pilot announcement on Wednesday. (Glad that’s over.) Plus a million other things, including some new business presentations, which tend to get me keyed up.

That’s why I was glad that Alan and I had a little pizza cruise scheduled on the Volunteer Princess last night. I was thinking it would be a good way to relax in the middle of the week.

I was so disappointed, therefore, when Beverly LeMasurier, one of the boat’s owners, e-mailed me on Tuesday to say they were going to cancel the outing because they only had six people signed up — Alan and me, our friends the Fords, and one other couple. I decided to see what I could do to get enough other people to come along to salvage the trip.

I sent an e-mail to a couple dozen folks telling them what a great deal this pizza cruise was and asking them to sign up. And lo-and-behold, several of them did — and the cruise was saved! Yay!

Wednesday was a perfect night for it, too. It was actually fun having a small group — it felt like we had the boat to ourselves. When we cast off, there were only two couples we didn’t know — and they turned out to be really nice.

Attorney Pam Reeves started with a cosmopolitan, which matched her dress perfectly!

I’ll post some photos here from our fun little jaunt on the Tennessee River. But let me just tell you what a good deal this can be. The pizza cruise only costs $25.95 per person. You get pizza, beer and cookies for that amount. There also is a fully stocked cash bar. The best part, of course is the cruise itself. Although we go on them quite frequently, we never get tired of being on the river in the middle of downtown. Knoxville truly is beautiful from there.

The Volunteer Princess has been in Knoxville for four years. The 96-foot luxury yacht is owned by Beverly and Walter LeMasurier. Their son, Chris, is the captain and his wife, Nikki, is the terrific bartender.

There are many ways to enjoy the Volunteer Princess. Their website clearly outlines the options. You can rent the entire yacht, as many people do for weddings, receptions and corporate functions. It can accommodate 149 passengers. (We have had staff parties on it in the past and loved the experience.) If you don’t need the whole boat, you can reserve a deck or a special section. Or  you can go on a public cruise, which is what the pizza cruise was. And here’s another tip: the Volunteer Princess often is on Half Off Depot, so click here to go to that website and see if you can cut the cost of your public cruise in half!

The Volunteer Princess is not a client of ours and they didn’t give us anything free to write this — so put that thought out of your suspicious little mind! But let me encourage you to grab some friends or loved ones and hop on board this under-appreciated Knoxville treasure.

There’s only one table left for this weekend’s Fourth of July cruise. And the Boomsday cruise on Sept. 5 already is about half-sold. It is a terrific way to enjoy the fireworks, which is what we did last year. The Old City Buskers will perform on the Boomsday cruise this year, so go to this website and get your table reserved before it is too late!

Pam Reeves and Charles Swanson, on the right, made it a family affair by bringing their daughter, Amanda, second from left, and her friend, Carrie Cox.

We met Karen Tucker and Jason Garner on the boat. He was celebrating his 33rd birthday Wednesday on the Volunteer Princess.

This cute couple, Jessica Brown and Gaylon Moore, cracked open a bottle of champagne to celebrate three years of being together.

Awwwww!

The guys, from left, Richard Ford, Alan Carmichael and Dr. Doug Leahy, talked sports and politics while enjoying the view. Doug is searching his smart phone for some hiking photos to share.

Scott Bird, left, is with Moxley Carmichael. He and his friend Kevin Wright were able to join us at the last minute, helping make the cruise possible. Thanks, guys.

Ellen Adcock and Jim Warchol munching on some pizza.

I think it was on a dare from his daughter, but Charles Swanson kept ringing the boat's bell!

Doug and Carolyn Leahy take in the sights.

Construction seems to be progressing nicely at Mark and Joanne Hazelwood's house.

This is the home of Jim Hart, former general manager of WBIR-TV and now president of Friends of the Smokies. Often you'll see Hart, who is in his 70s, zipping along the river in his speedboat.

On 90-minute cruises, the Volunteer Princess turns around just before Looney Island.

On the return trip, we passed the Star of Knoxville, which was pretty in the evening dusk.

River Towne condominiums on South Knoxville waterfront seem fully occupied.

Cityview at Riverwalk condos just got their first resident a few weeks ago.

This house on the south side of the river always cracks me up. Someone told a visitor the other day it was the UT president's house!

Rowers. Looking good, ladies!

The return view is beautiful in the evening light.

I think Scott looks very debonair in this shot!

Almost back to the dock are Calhoun's and the City-County Building.

Beverly, left, and Nikki LeMasurier bid us adieu.

Walter LeMasurier displays the Pauly Award the Volunteer Princess won from the Knoxville Tourism Alliance for being the "best museum/attraction of the year."

The Leahys back on the dock.

Farewell, pretty boat, until the next time!