Aerial of the Bluewater 2024 Summer Cruise

The Bluewater Summer Cruise Provides a Welcome Escape For All

Jun 3, 2025 | Magazine | 0 comments

The Chesapeake Bay has no shortage of wonderful cruising destinations, with small communities, maritime towns, and even populous cities scattered throughout the 200-mile span of the bay. There are so many options that it is a challenge each year to find the perfect spot to host the annual Bluewater Summer Cruise. Past years have brought us as far south as Hampton Roads and all the way up the Patapsco river to the Baltimore Inner Harbor. We have spent time in cruising staples like Solomons and have also ventured to less-traveled towns like Crisfield and Deale. Despite our efforts to keep the weekend cruising event new and exciting, there is a common request almost every year: St. Michaels.

Guests dancing and enjoying live saxophone music during the Bluewater Summer Cruise evening event

It is no wonder why St. Michaels, Maryland is the perennial Summer Cruise favorite. Known as “the town that fooled the British” from its storied history in the War of 1812, the Eastern Shore town is ripe with maritime history dating back into the mid-seventeenth century. It is a charming bay town with shops and dining all along bustling Talbot Street, as well as multiple marinas, inns, and hotels. Not to mention that one of the best parts of visiting St. Michaels is getting there. The trip down the Miles River is one of the most serene, picturesque cruises that you can take on the Chesapeake Bay.

See this article in our Summer 2025 issue of OnBoard Magazine

2024 marked the second straight year that the Summer Cruise visited St. Michaels, with both events hosted at St. Michaels Marina. Despite having a waitlist for much of the summer, the friendly staff at St. Michaels Marina has always gone above and beyond to accommodate our customers, and their well-kept facilities and close proximity to the town make it the perfect venue for the long weekend. The July event kicked off on a Friday evening with a welcome party under the Bluewater tent where nearly one-hundred of our customers, sponsors and staff joined together to start the festivities.

The first full day of the cruise began on Saturday morning with a full breakfast spread, followed by the signature christening celebration. While the majority of the Summer Cruise participants are repeat visitors who make a point to attend each year, new customers are welcomed to christen their new boats with a bottle of champagne and a toast with the crowd. Four boats were christened in St. Michaels last year, including a pair of Sabre Yachts, a Galeon and a Fairline.

“The christening ceremony was really nice. Our broker, Scott James, coached us through the ceremony,” recounts Eugene Thompson, owner of a Sabre 38. “Diana broke the champagne bottle on the first attempt! Bluewater did an excellent job hosting this event, the food was first rate, the drinks plentiful and the entertainment was outstanding. This is a must-do when you buy a boat through Bluewater!”

No trip to Maryland is complete without crabs, and attendees were not disappointed to hear that the neighboring Blu Miles Seafood Grill was rented to host an Eastern Shore crab feast. The groups spent hours picking crabs, soaking up the air conditioning and sharing memories, as well as some friendly arguments over which tables were getting more of the prized jumbos. Following the long lunch, attendees dispersed either throughout the town or back to their boats to get some much-needed rest before dinner and dancing at nearby Harrison Harbor Lights.

Aerial view of Blu Miles Seafood Grill and docked boats during the 2024 Bluewater Summer Cruise

Smiling couple holding drinks at the Bluewater Summer Cruise welcome party in St. Michaels, Maryland

Finding a space to host a large group in a tiny town is no small feat, but the team at Harrison’s was up to the task with their beautiful ballroom and balcony overlooking the river. Guests were taken on a short water-taxi cruise from the marina to the restaurant, where they were greeted with a cocktail reception, a spread of hors d’oeuvres, and some photobooth-fun to start the night. The night continued with a seated dinner with a view and dancing with live music from the local Wheelhouse Rock Band.

Water taxi arriving at the dock near Harrison’s Harbor Lights restaurant in downtown St. Michaels, Maryland

Bluewater customers enjoying the Eastern Shore crab feast in St. Michaels

Although nobody wanted the weekend to end, Sunday began with a closing breakfast and a send-off to everyone who made the trip. Of course, there was one question that came up with nearly every group: where will we be going next year?
After multiple requests over the years to bring the cruise to the Southern Bay, we are excited to bring the 2025 cruise to The Oyster Farm Resort in Cape Charles, Virginia. Like St. Michaels, Cape Charles features a bustling small town with multitudes of dining and shopping options, as well as a modern marina and resort and countless amenities for our guests. This cruise will also mark the return of the four-day cruise format, running Thursday, July 10 through Sunday, July 13, 2025. Until then, the Bluewater team will be excitedly awaiting our chance to bring customers back for the next edition of the Summer Cruise.

2025 Summer Cruise

July 10 – 13, 2025
Cape Charles, Virginia

Join the fun at the Bluewater Summer Cruise to enjoy: