We were quite looking forward to our dinner cruise experience, especially given the premium pricing and the advertised route. Unfortunately, our expectations were not met. Despite the boat being well below its full capacity, the air conditioning was nonfunctional on a warm 80°F evening, making the interior uncomfortably warm.
Concerns about cleanliness were raised when we noticed that one of the water glasses still had lipstick marks from a previous customer. It might be beneficial for the establishment to receive a visit from a health inspector to address this.
We also noticed that the staff seemed stretched thin, which resulted in delays in service and visibly uncomfortable working conditions for them. The waiters appeared to be sweating and were apologetic about the service delays, which made the experience less than enjoyable for us as well.
Furthermore, the presentation left something to be desired; our bread was unceremoniously placed on the table rather than on the bread plate, and the waiter responsible for this seemed less than courteous.
To add to the disappointment, the cruise did not follow the advertised route. Despite clear weather conditions, we found ourselves circling past the DCA airport twice, without the promised sights of bridges or the Lincoln Memorial, as indicated in the promotional video from Viator.
Overall, considering the price point and the promises made in advertising, we were left feeling that the experience was neither value for money nor as advertised.