HISTORY OF ARGOSY CRUISES
1949 1949 1951 1962 1963 1990 1990 1991 1992 1992 1993 1993 1994 1996 1996 1997 1998 1999 1999 Captain Lynn Campbell founds the Spring Street Water Taxi Company, providing ferry service from Seattle to the Kitsap Peninsula Captain Campbell starts offering cruises along the Seattle waterfront and harbor Spring Street Water Taxi Company is renamed Seattle Harbor Tours Cruises to Tillicum Village on Blake Island for authentic American Indian salmon dinner and dance performances begin Cruises through the Hiram Chittenden Locks begin Captain Campbell retires from Seattle Harbor Tours John Blackman and Tom Tougas purchase the company and acquire Seattle Gray Line Water Franchise The company launches Special Events Cruises to celebrate 4th of July, New Year’s and other holidays The Queen’s Launch is purchased Cruises of Lake Washington and Lake Union, departing from Kirkland, begin John and Mary Blackman purchase a majority interest in the company D’Elegant Cruises is purchased, adding two vessels to the company’s fleet The company’s name changes to Argosy Cruises; “Argosy” means fleet of ships in Greek Cruises of Lake Washington and Lake Union, departing from Seattle, begin Argosy adds the M.V. Kirkland – a remodeled 1924 wooden-hulled ferryboat – to its fleet and the vessel is named a historic place on the National and Washington state Register Argosy Cruises acquires Pier 54 Adventures, adding the Rocket, a speedboat, and the Naknek, a fishing boat, to its fleet Argosy Cruises adds a twelfth ship, the Lady Mary, to its fleet Argosy Cruises celebrates its 50th birthday Argosy Cruises partners with locally-owned premier restaurant company to develop and launch the Royal Argosy, a lunch and dinner ship that offers incredible views and spectacular food. Argosy Cruises celebrates the christening and inaugural voyage of its newest vessel, the Royal Argosy, a fine dining ship, in partnership with Consolidated Restaurants, Inc. Argosy Cruises receives Mayor’s Small Business Award. Argosy Cruises’ John Blackman is a finalist for the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
2000 2003 2003
2003
Argosy Cruises’ partners with Clipper Navigation, Four Seasons Marine Services and Nichols Brothers Boat Builders to form Aqua Express whose mission is to provide passenger-only ferry service. Argosy Cruises’ John Blackman is a finalist for the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Argosy Cruises’ John Blackman steps down as General Partner of Argosy Cruises but remains a Limited Partner. Kevin Clark, Argosy Limited Partner, becomes General Partner. Argosy Cruises’ Kevin Clark becomes Argosy’s General Partner and CEO.
2004 2005 2006