-Captain & Crew

We are always available to answer any questions you have about hosting your party on the boat. If you have any questions, please contact us at 515-883-BOAT.

One of our crew members will be happy to sail your way through the reservation and get you on the boat as soon as possible.

You may also send us an email.

Welcome aboard! Just a few details before we leave the dock!  Please read, complete where blank and return to our offices.

A function aboard the Jon Anderson White means great memories for you and your guests. Our Riverboat was sturdily built in 1967 by the venerable Dubuque Boat & Boiler Company in coincidentally, Dubuque Iowa! The boat’s history is well chronicled in the Upper Mississippi River Museums archives and on our vessel’s cabin walls.

Our J.A. White is no less unique on its interior, featuring gilded pressed tin ceiling from a 150 year old Missouri factory, 52 – 2” solid oak rope columns, period varnished wainscoting topped with solid oak trim and drink railing. From the rope pattern carpet on the deck, upwards to the custom glass chandeliers from Murano, Italy hanging in the vessels clerestory, all décor features employ the vessel’s warm blue and gold theme.

The J.A. White was returned to service during the flood of 2008 with a new Coast Guard stability letter and Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection for a total capacity with crew of 81. The J.A. White has two restrooms, its Bow (front) loading ramp and door is 36” wide with two side exits amidships. The 6 tons of ductless Air Conditioning insure everyone keeping cool while your meal is served from our on board Galley.

First Class Food and Beverage service for your group is our specialty. We pride ourselves on the overall quality and ability to customize our menu offerings. We believe it will be evident while dining with us that we are professional food and wine people who just happen to really love boats!

Included with your meal cruise are tablecloths, linen napkins, cutlery and china, handheld microphone, music system which you are welcome to plug your selections into, budvases, candles and of course a full service staff ready for several possible table and seating configurations based on your number of guests.

We can arrange for live music, special table decor or floral centerpieces.  Theme cruises are a specialty. We have had everything from real Camels (on shore for Nile cruise), to being boarded by Pirates, so suffice to say within reason, if you can dream it up we can make it happen for you!

DEPOSIT

Once your date has been chosen and confirmed a $600 deposit will hold your booking and be applied to the final bill. Please make checks out to Stem To Stern LLC, 1701 South Union St., Des Moines, Iowa 50315. 515-883-BOAT. www.port-of-desmoines.com 

CANCELLATION POLICY

When it is necessary to cancel more than 8 weeks prior to your event all but a $75 fee will be returned. When it is necessary to cancel within 8 weeks of your departure date 50% of the deposit will be applied to a future booking.

ALCOHOL SERVICE

We pride ourselves on providing the best in beverage service with a true sense of hospitality. Our rules are: 1) All alcohol must be provided by our staff and none other can be brought aboard. 2) Our crew will not serve an underage person. Any guest doing so will cause the bar to be closed immediately for everyone. 3) Iowa’s DWUI law calls for arrest with blood levels of .08 or more. If you or someone on your cruise suspects they might exceed this limit, we are happy to call a taxi.  4) Bar service can be halted at any time for any reason solely at the discretion of the Captain and crew. 5) A service charge of 15% and sales tax are added to the bar bill unless otherwise stated.

PlAN B IN CASE Of INCLEMENT WEATHER

The Port of Des Moines Company has many options to explore for you in the unlikely case we can not be on the river for your event.

You might be aware that the Des Moines River drains a large area of Iowa and South Minnesota with the help of several large reservoirs. This can create quite a torrent running thru our city. In the last 15 years Des Moines has suffered through two 500 yr. Floods with varying degrees of damage. Simply put we can not be out playing with the Riverboat when the river has these occasional fits.
What we can do though is the following:

Have the party at the dock! Same great food, ambience and service, plus we deduct half of the Charter fee to reflect no Fuel burned or Captain needed. We will even make the Paddlewheel spin!

Move the event to another location in the downtown area. We have many great back up locations with plenty of free parking. All with the same great menu and pricing you would have enjoyed on the Riverboat.

If you prefer we will cheerfully work to find a date to rebook your event later in the season.

The odds are in our favor to have none of the above options result but its always good to have a Plan “B”.

For additional detailed information about chartering the boat, call us at 515-883-2628 or email us at captainmike@port-of-desmoines.com

Our crew is here to serve you and make your event a fun and memorable occasion.  Our Riverboat is resplendent in the style of the Golden Era of river travel, with a décor of gold Chiavari chairs under a gilded pressed tin ceiling, custom carpet, solid oak rope columns and Royal Blue walls.  The Riverboat also has modern amenities, such as air conditioning, handicap access and two restrooms.  We can arrange for gourmet meals and special table settings. We provide bud vases, dinner china, linens, glassware and silverware for all food service except as noted.  We have many live entertainment choices from a visit with Mark Twain and a Banjo Maestro to the unstumpable Stan’s Piano with Hannah on vocals and sometimes even a circus act. Our Bose sound system also offers you the ability to bring your own CDs or iPod.

1.5 Hour Boat Ride: Charter fee of $600+ Departure time is before 10:00 a.m. or between 1:00-4:00 p.m.. With 50 guests, this is a lot of fun at a cost of only $12 per person.

Enjoy our leisurely scenic cruise of the Des Moines River to the 2^nd Ave. Bridge and back. The changing Des Moines skyline looks great from the river and Captain Rex will delight you with tales of the river and interesting facts along the way. Complimentary iced tea, lemonade and soft drinks are available during the cruise.

Our potential lunch and dinner menus are very extensive. The following are only samples. We are happy to assist finding just the right menu for your group. Of course vegetarian and other dietary options are available with advance notice appreciated.

We are happy to offer our wine list for bottle purchase with your meal.

Lunch or Brunch Cruise – 1.5 hours: Charter fee of $500

…plus a minimum meal purchase for 25 people

Bateaux Mouche French Picnic Basket: $18 per person

Brimming with premium Iowa sliced meats and cheeses on baguette bread, pasta salad, fresh fruit, house made chips, gigantic cookie, coffee or iced tea.  Add a soft drink for $2.00, or a glass of wine or beer for $5 per person.

Brunch on the River: $28

You’ll be welcomed aboard with complimentary Mimosas.  Then enjoy our brunch buffet consisting of assorted quiches, Iowa Applewood Smoked Bacon, Potatoes O’Brien, breakfast pastries, butter, jams & jellies, fresh melons and berries, & hot coffee.

Cocktail Cruise – 1.5 hours: Charter fee of $600+

…plus a minimum meal purchase for 25 people

Hors d ‘Oeuvres Buffet: $20

Our most popular Wine & Cheese Cruise includes live music.  Feast with bar snacks, domestic & imported cheese mirror with wafers, summer vegetable platter, margarita pizza, chips and salsa, complimentary lemonade and iced tea. Enjoy a cash bar (set up fee $75) or purchase one of the beverage packages below.

Dinner Cruise Options:

Sunday -Thursday Night Dinner Cruise: Charter Fee of $500+
…plus a minimum meal purchase for 25 people

6:00-8:00 or Sunset 8:30-10:30pm (times may be flexible)

Friday or Saturday Night Dinner Cruise: Charter fee of $600+
…plus a minimum meal purchase for 25 people

6:00-8:00 or Sunset 8:30-10:30pm (times may be flexible)

Buffet Picnic Dinner: $22++

Fresh tossed greens with dressings and toppings; cheese tray; grilled burgers and brats; South Union Bakery breads, Riverboat Cole Slaw, chips; lemon bars & brownies; coffee, iced tea & lemonade.

(Premier Picnic Dinner includes the two meats above plus chicken for an additional $3.00 per person.)

Three-Course Dinner Deluxe: $35.00++
Two passed appetizers, Caesar salad, South Union Bakery bread, dual entrée main course off our charcoal grille of shrimp skewer and either pork or beef tenderloin medallion, (for two tenderloin medallions add $3), Potatoes Dauphinois, summer vegetable. Choose a dessert option of: apple pie with cinnamon crème; dark chocolate Gran Marnier mousse with cookie; or Kahlua crème caramel. Coffee, iced tea & lemonade.

Cape Cod Seafood Feast: Market price, please ask
Two passed appetizers, bucket of mussels and clams, whole boiled 1.5-pound Maine lobsters with lemons and drawn butter, apple and jicama cole slaw, saffron rice and South Union Bakery sourdough bread, coffee, iced tea & lemonade.  Dessert- lemon tarte, and coffee, iced tea & lemonade.

Surf and Turf off our charcoal grill: $39.95++
Two passed appetizers, Caesar Salad topped with smoked salmon, South Union Bakery bread, 6 oz grilled choice beef tenderloin filet or 8 oz Berkshire pork chop with pesto grilled shrimp, Dauphinois potatoes and fresh summer vegetables. Dessert options: Crème Caramel, fresh fruit cobbler, or Mississippi Mud Cake, and coffee, iced tea & lemonade.

Bar Options
Cash Bar: Bar set up fee for cash bar is $75+. Bar includes 6-oz. LaValle Brand red & white wines for $7, 16-oz. Anchor Steam & Boulevard Wheat Beers on tap for $5, premium cocktails for $8 and 12-oz. soft drinks for $2.50.

Hosted Wine & Beer Bar: $15++ per adult for the first hour, $7 per person each additional half-hour.
Bar includes Lavalle Brand red & white wines, Anchor Steam & Boulevard Wheat beers on tap, soft drinks & sparkling waters.

Hosted Full Liquor Bar: $20++ per adult for the first hour, $9 per person each additional half-hour
Premium liquors and mixers along with Lavalle Brand Red & White Wines, Anchor Steam & Boulevard Wheat beers on tap, soft drinks & sparkling waters.

Special Requests: If you have special brand liquor that you would like stocked for your party, let us know and for a minimum stocking fee we will add it to our inventory for your cruise.

+ denotes 6% sales tax added onto all non-food and beverage purchases.                                                ++ denotes a 18% service charge and 6% sales tax charge on food and beverage purchases.