No sooner was Fleischmann’s Pier at Charles Point Park newly opened for business than a two-year-old company called R.M.S. Cruises was making good use of the dock to do just what its name proclaims – cruise, northward on the Hudson River to West Point and back again.
Owned by husband-and-wife “Captain Frank” and Laura Adam, who until recently lived in Verplanck before moving to New Jersey, their 90-foot vessel Emerald Princess since October has been ferrying passengers, who embark at the Pier, in a tourism package R.M.S. calls Fall Foliage Brunch Cruise that is scheduled to run through Nov. 10 (rmscruises.com).
The 2-1/2-hour fall foliage trip (11 am-1:30 pm) has run for a limited number of weekends this season to get its feet wet on the new route. Frank, who’s been a captain on the river for 38 years, has driven just about every kind of commercial boat and does marine construction and salvage. He worked on the rebuilt pier, running all the pilings. He couldn’t make the pier’s grand opening, he said, only because R.M.S. had a prior engagement for a client – Victoria’s Secret.
In addition to public tours, the Adams deploy the Emerald Princess for corporate events, private charters and weddings. As an added convenience, Frank is an officiant who can marry the couple.
R.M.S. also operates out of Pier 36, on Manhattan’s west side, for such mega-events as 4th of July (already booked for 2025) and New Year’s Eve (sold out for 2025 and 2026). It has capacity for up to 140 passengers, with 100 on board considered an optimal number in terms of spacious comfort. In between excursions, the boat is moored in Jersey City.
The Fall Foliage Brunch Cruise includes a well-appointed buffet and omelets made-to-order by a two-star chef. Pop music beloved by Baby Boomers (Elton, Billy, Neil, et al) is piped in for the duration of the trip. The top deck viewing area is climate-controlled. Laura Adam noted they are talking to a local historian about providing live narration during the ride to identify points of interest along both shorelines of the Hudson.
Frank and Laura have ambitions to launch out of Peekskill year-round and add other packages, such as a Thanksgiving dinner cruise, “if we can find the market,” says Laura, adding, “It’s also good for the local economy.” They have nothing but praise for Peekskill Mayor Vivian McKenzie and other officials for their cooperation in fully supporting the couple’s efforts.
Besides, says Frank, “I love being out on the water. We took our retirement money and put it in the boat.” As they say, whatever floats your … you know the rest.
Bruce Apar is Editorial Director of River Journal.
