Fathom a cruise? Lake Nipissing excursion ship caters to the corporate crowd.

AuthorRoss, Ian
PositionBUSINESS TRAVEL

Sightseeing boat cruises have been a staple for generations of residents and cottagers living along the shore of Lake Nipissing stretching back to the 1800s.

A memorable cruise in modern comfort on the northeastern Ontario waterway can be the perfect refresher for any corporate event.

The Chief Commanda II wrapped up its 40th season of sailing on Lake Nipissing in 2015.

The boat's sailing season runs from the Victoria Day long weekend in May until late September or early October, whenever the falls colours are at their peak.

Docked at the foot of King's Landing wharf on North Bay's waterfront and operated by Georgian Bay Cruises of Parry Sound, the boat operators run a regular twice-daily summer schedule with a variety of private, customized and specialty sightseeing and dinner charter cruises.

With guided commentary and food service available, trips vary from two to four hours and can take guests out to view the uninhabited Manitou Islands at midlake, observe the fall colours along the lake's north shore, cruise near the granite bluffs of the historic French River waterway, or entertain with dinner and drinks for an evening sunset cruise.

The 100-by-36-foot aluminum, twin-hulled boat can be booked for exclusive social and corporate entertaining for groups of all sizes, the crew having hosted weddings, family reunions, parties, and business-oriented events.

Rich Stivrins, the ship's captain since 2004, said group charters for corporate and social functions comprise about a third of the company's cruise business.

Prefabricated by the Marlin Yacht Company of Gananoque and assembled in Callander, the boat's winter layup home on the lake's southeast shore, the 320-passenger, three-decked vessel entered service in 1975.

Built as a catamaran, the boat was designed with the characteristics of Lake Nipissing in mind.

Stivrins said the long and shallow lake can sometimes kick up some "pretty sizeable waves and that extra stability makes the ride a lot more comfortable.

"Stability-wise, it's not an issue to get up to the maximum amount (of passengers). We did a heeling test seven years ago and the naval architects came back to us and said we're more stable than the Queen Mary."

The boat is outfitted with two licensed bars, a galley, a snack bar, open-air barbecue, and accessible washrooms.

The first two decks are enclosed with in-floor heating to ward off the chill of the shoulder seasons.

The top sun deck is open air with seating and standing room...

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