A pair of Arlington entrepreneurs have partnered with a local taqueria to debut a new cantina-themed booze cruise on the Potomac River.
Sea Suite Cruises’ new “Cantina Cruises” party boat, which debuted on the Fourth of July, comes with a full-service bar plus chips and salsa courtesy of District Taco. Private parties can also get catering from the regional taco chain.
Equipped with a surround sound system, ample seating and “vibrant seaside cantina-inspired decor,” the boat is advertised as a venue for birthdays, parties and corporate events. Individual tickets are also available for around $50 per person, and come with one complimentary drink.
It’s the latest venture by Arlington natives Jack Maher and Jack Walten, who founded Sea Suite Cruises in 2021 — a couple years after they started the Potomac Paddle Club, another local booze cruise.
“Whether it’s a special celebration for a birthday, a bachelorette party, whatever the milestone is, we’re here to help people celebrate, and that’s a privilege we don’t take lightly,” Maher told ARLnow.
Maher and Walten met while in pre-school at Westover Baptist and grew up as best friends.
“We were both just pretty fired up that we had the same name, and when you’re two years old that’s kind of enough to become best friends,” Maher said.
Both founders attended Nottingham Elementary and Williamsburg Middle School before going to Yorktown High School. The company’s COO, Luke McCartin, was a grade behind them at Washington-Liberty.
“We live in the community we grew up in, and we love the community we grew up in. So, that’s always been important to us–giving something back to it, and this was something that the area was missing and we wanted to provide,” Maher said.
The cruises started as a “side hustle,” but grew to a point where Maher and Walten decided to quit their corporate jobs and pursue it full-time. They say they’re “in the business of making memories.”
In addition to Cantina Cruises, Sea Suite offers smaller cruise options like paddle boats and “retro” boats from the 1950s and ’60s. Its fleet includes a total of 17 boats, with other locations in Annapolis and Richmond.
The company also runs larger experiences like tiki boats and a “Whitlows on Water” cruise, sponsored by the former Arlington bar.
Locally, Sea Suite has launch points at Navy Yard, Georgetown and The Wharf. The company’s website has further details for booking.
Photos via Sea Suite Cruises/Instagram
