Drinking in Boston: With Booze Cruises, No One Loses.

We've come to that time in late summer when the heat gets heavy, the cicadas sing late into the evening, and you get that nauseating feeling that the season is going to end before you’re done with it. You start running around like a 13-year-old trying to cram in every last bit of fun into the days preceding the horrors of eighth grade. Well, stop freaking out and start taking action. There is precious little time left to take advantage of a summer phenomena that combines two of summer’s best things, water and drinking while on the water: a booze cruise!

It is essential that Bostonians, at some point during their tenure dwelling in this infamous port city, charge up the gangplank of a harbor cruise boat and demand three hours of nonstop watery entertainment. It can be a tough decision, we’ll give you that. There are party cruises, music cruises… frankly, pretty much any harbor cruise can be turned boozey if you so desire. Booze be especially handy if you are, say, shuttling first-time visitors (or, god forbid, your family) around the city. Who doesn't need a drink after a day of tourism in your own city?

For those of you who have yet to experience the booze cruise, we realize the appeal may be hard to grasp. What magic is there in drinking weak gin and tonics from plastic cups in the dark on a boat? It's hard enough to get downstairs to take a leak without waves ! Well, for starters, there's the sunset. After that, there's the brilliant lighted skyline of Boston. And there's being outside. On a boat. With a gin and tonic. 'Nuff said.

Google "Boston Booze Cruise" for a number of options. If you're the spontaneous type, you can jump right in tonight with the Summer Party Cruise. If you're in need of cash, you can shake your booty for the chance to become Miss Boatonian (groan) and get $200 cash. That'll pay for plenty of gin and tonics.

Photo by Eric Weigle on Flickr, used with Creative Commons license.