JMS is Designing a River Dinner Cruise Boat for the Charles River
JMS Naval Architects is designing a 60-foot river dinner cruise boat for tours and dining on the Charles River in Waltham, MA. JMS is designing the boat for Michael Colomba, the founder or Brelundi Restaurants, and his soon-to-be-built hotel, also on the Charles River. The boat is intended to expand on his company’s amenities by offering the first river dinner cruise experience in the area.
The Rose Aria, named after Colomba’s mother, will be based at the new hotel location that Colomba is currently building on Moody Street in downtown Waltham. Rose Ariawill be able to seat up to 32 guests in an intimate setting while taking in the beautiful scenery of the upper Charles River. Guests onboard will also enjoy Brelundi restaurant’s authentic Sicilian food, wine, and atmosphere. The boat is also designed to pass under the Prospect Street Bridge and proceed upriver to the historic Newton Public Boathouse and historic Watch Factory.
Rose Aria is in the preliminary design phase, but the intent is to have the vessel open to the environment during temperate weather with a transparent canopy above the passengers. The canopy is capable of being encapsulated to incorporate heating and air conditioning for passenger comfort in an extended river tour season or rainy weather. Atop the canopy are wheels that can be used as a guide to safely navigate the Prospect Street Bridge. Propulsion will be provided by duel outboard motors or by electric motors run off of a bank of batteries. The pilot station is located at the bow with added maneuverability provided by an electric bow thruster.
The passenger area consists of 8 booths capable of seating 4 people per booth. There is a passenger restroom and an entertainment stage. Allowances have been made for an elevator integrated into the entertainment stage for handicapped individuals.
Meals will be prepared by Brelundi’s restaurants prior to the cruises and served hot onboard. A small prep galley is located aft of the passenger accommodations capable of keeping the food warm and for allowing cold food preparations.
Colomba is not only building a new hotel along the Charles River, but also plans to open two restaurants in the building to go along with his two current restaurant locations in Waltham.
Sicily is the heart and soul of his restaurants, the first of which he opened four years ago.
“I’m from a little town called Castellammare del Golfo, a real mecca for Mediterranean cuisine,” said Colomba. “A lot of unique pastries, a lot of unique dishes come out of that part of Sicily.”
He has brought many of those dishes, and the people who make them, to Brelundi.
“The food has to be fresh. The food has to be made in house. In fact we make our own pastas. We make our own breads, cheeses, pastries. We make our own gelatos.”
“I actually brought here pastry chefs to assist me in creating a Mediterranean-themed restaurant in Waltham. This is as authentic as we can get. The best compliment is when someone from Italy comes to me and says, ‘this is better than what I have in Italy.’”
