So everybody tells me boat travel’s too expensive? Tried it myself just last week. Buckle up.
The Disaster That Started It All
Last Tuesday, my team needed to hit three client meetings across the river. Boss hands me the travel budget. $600 for six people. Laughed right in his face. Flights? Train tickets? Hotel shuttles? Forget it. Burning cash just to sit in traffic.
Grabbed my laptop. Searched “cheap group travel options near me” till 2AM. Coffee cold. Eyes red. Then boom – saw some dude’s comment about shared business boats. Thought it was nonsense. Clicked anyway.
Making It Happen
Called five boat rental places next morning. First four sounded like luxury cruises – champagne prices for tap water service. Last guy, Mike, actually listened. Told him straight: “Need to move six grumpy employees Tuesday morning without bankrupting us.”
He paused. I held my breath. Then:
- “Got an old transport vessel” – not pretty but floats
- “$150 flat for 5 hours” – cheaper than UberXing separately
- “Pick any dock” – skipped $40 parking fees downtown
Put down deposit instantly. Felt like I robbed them.
Execution Day Madness
Morning of, poured rain. Team whining about “sinking to death”. Ignored them. Met Mike at industrial dock – rusty metal boat, plastic chairs bolted to deck. Perfect.
Key moves we pulled:
- Chugged straight across river while cars gridlocked on bridge
- Docked behind Client A’s building – walked through service entrance
- Made meeting #1 with coffee still hot
- Reused same boat like water taxi between sites
- Finished all three meetings before noon
Total travel time? 53 minutes. Crew high-fiving like idiots on that ugly boat.
What Actually Saved Cash
- Avoided surge pricing hell – ferries wanted $25/person/ride
- Zero parking drama – downtown garages charge $8/hour
- Bypassed toll bridges – saved another $28 round trip
- Team stayed productive – planned next pitch during transit
Final damage? $150 total. Boss thought I cooked the books. Nope – just refused to pay stupid tax.
Reality Check Though
Not all sunshine. Had to:
- Carry sick bags – Linda puked twice
- Endure Mike’s terrible engine jokes
- Stand when wind blew rain sideways
- Look like drowned sewer rats in Client C’s lobby
Still worth it? Hell yes. Traditional travel companies are robbers wearing suits. That boat? An ugly metal piggy bank.
