Annual Christmas Dinner at Madonna Inn

Traditions are pretty cool. They offer nostalgia, security, reliability, and predictability in the face of uncertain times. We enjoyed a great tradition this weekend. Every year Mrs. Ferini hires us to takes her grandchildren to enjoy a holiday feast at Madonna Inn. We have grown very fond of this family and each year we celebrate their growth and maturity. The photos we have taken year after year stand testament to her love for her family. It has been fun and fulfilling to be a part of this tradition. This year the younger children ran out and hugged us before we even got inside.


We always start the evening out with a family photo. Mrs. Ferini's house is decorated to the hilt, and finding the right backdrop is not difficult. Then we board the limobus and pour a round of sparkling cider while we watch a slide show of the pictures from years of previous trips. When we've watched all the pictures we put on a Christmas movie for the ride to the Inn.

Ken and I have formed our own tradition while working for the Ferini's. While they are dining we enjoy our own Holiday Feast. Stepping into Madonna Inn at Christmas is beyond the imaginations of a child. Forests of snow-laden trees, Carolers poised to sing, glittering globes and sparkling lights provide the perfect props for a "White Christmas". We enjoyed a great meal served with the utmost attention from our servers, browsed the gift shop (one Santa is sure to shop!)and watched the dancer's glide through the West Coast Swing to DJ Nancy's tunes. When younger we could coax the grandchildren out on the dance floor, but alas, with age comes self-consciousness, and none would dance this night. But once they were back on the limobus, they lost all timidity and could not get enough of the karaoke! Kyle even sang in Spanish!

Ken took us on a fabulous tour of Christmas lights from San Luis Obispo, through Oceano, Arroyo Grande, Nipomo, and Santa Maria. But the best lit neighborhood was won by Mrs. Ferini's street, ablaze with lights, inflatables, and snowmen. The children were safely delivered to their homes, and we contentedly said farewell to this tradition for another year. The eldest are seniors this year and are planning to leave for college. We hope they will be able to return next year to enjoy this tradition again. Until then, thank you Ferini's, for allowing us to share this wonderful family tradition. Merry Christmas!

More Parade Pictures

Check out our Club President and his wife, our enthusiastic passengers, and other Model A'ers!

Orcutt Christmas Parade

Did you miss out on the great Orcutt Christmas Parade? I certainly hope not. With Announcer Jay Turner from Sunny Country , fabulous entries, and a huge community turnout, this was a hometown event sure to usher in the Christmas spirit. As members of the Santa Maria A's, our local Model A club, we joined other Model A'ers in sashaying down Clark Ave in Old Towne Orcutt. Susie Martin dressed in her Flapper garb chauffeured the antique car with sister Jan Brinkerhoff, sister-in-law Kathy Evans, mother Katherine Evans, and little friend Cheyanne aboard(pictured). The passengers donned red gloves while they waved and blew kisses to the crowd as children and adults clapped in glee and cried out "Merry Christmas!" The Red Star dressed for the event also, with a big Christmas bow on the grill.


Susie enjoyed her position in the parade, immediately behind a 1930 Model A sporting a rumble seat holding 2 gorgeous Marines! The Santa Maria A's collect toys each Chrstmas for the Marines' Toys 4 Tots Program. The President of our club and his beautiful wife, Ron and Trudy Stevens, led the club in fun little parade and carried the Grinch and his dog. Other notable entries were the band from Righetti, the little German Firefighter, the American Legion, as well as many local businesses.


The weather cleared up for the event, though it was just cold enough to give the cheerleaders rosy cheeks. Weren't they awesome? Bundled observers were enthusiastic, and saw many taking photographs of our red limousine, while others yelled "Awesome limo!" and "I like your limo!". We had sooooo much fun, Grandma Katherine did't want the parade to end and continued to wave and blow kisses long after the parade had ended! Go Grandma!

Mark your calendar right now to either join or watch the greatest little parade in the whole world. You'll forget the economy, your bills and ills, and revell in the hometown spirit of Orcutt. Thank you everyone!

• Wedding Limousines : Wedding Limo Package

Voted Operator of the Year, Stardust Cruises Limousine Service provides the ultimate in quality, luxury, dependability, and service.

From our 1930 Model A limo (the only one of its kind), to the long, sleek White Star Stretch Hummer, to our large, roomy limo coaches, our variety of vehicles can meet the many and varied needs of the modern wedding.

Our wedding package includes complimentary beverages on board, (sodas, juices, water, sparkling cider, and champagne), digital photographs in and around your event, complimentary photo CD and photo magnet of your wedding party, on board slide show of digital photos, red carpet service, and an on-board hostess aboard our larger limo coaches.

And our event planners will assist you in planning for all your transportation needs. From shuttling guests to your ceremony site, to escorting the newlyweds to their hotel, our experienced planners will see to every detail.

Make certain your guests arrive safely to their destination by providing shuttle service aboard our luxurious coaches. Leave the driving to us and we will deliver you to hairstylist, church, reception, hotel, airport or cruise line.

Treat your bridal party with a fun and relaxing wine tour the day before the wedding. Or send your out-of-town family on a sightseeing tour of the Central Coast while you are on your honeymoon.

Let our experienced chauffeurs provide the transportation for your bachelor/bachelorette parties, bridal showers, rehearsal dinners, reception and even bar hopping after the reception when no one wants the party to end.

Stardust Cruises Limousine Service will take care of all your wedding transportation needs.

Our vehicles are equipped with a variety of amenities, depending on the vehicle you choose. Some of the many features are fiber optic fantasy twinkle lights, large flat screen monitors, DVD/CD players, satellite radio, Play Station II, karaoke, lit bar areas, leopard carpeting and accent pillows, hardwood dance floor and dance pole, over 6 foot ceilings, nightclub sound systems, large tinted windows equipped with privacy blinds, and lit hand rails.

Our limo coaches offer the comfort and ease of walking into a limousine for the finely attired and those that have difficulty getting into a smaller vehicle. And the bride may stand for the short ride to the service if she prefers not to wrinkle her gown!

Our Model A vintage limousine is truly one-of-a-kind, and provides the ultimate get-away-car. Choose one or all of our unique vehicles. Visit our website to view our fleet, read our testimonials, see some of the photos we have taken on previous trips, and learn how to select a limousine service.

Advanced booking is recommended, particularly for our specialty cars.

Relax in the knowledge that we are licensed and regulated by the Public Utilities Commission, annually inspected by the CHP, regularly maintain our vehicles, daily inspect each vehicle, our drivers are licensed and enrolled in a Drug Screening Program, we belong to the Greater California Livery Association, the National Livery Association, the Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce, as well as seven other local Chambers and have an excellent safety record. We are the only limousine company on the Central Coast to have been chosen as Operator of the Year, and have appeared on the cover of the Limousine & Chauffeured Transportation Magazine.

Stardust Cruises Central Coast's Premiere Limousine ServiceCall today and Experience the Stardust Difference! Please contact Ken or Susie Martin at 805 938-0018. Or, you can email us at ken@stardustcruises.com

VIEW OUR FLEET at StardustCruises.com

• About Our Limousine Service

Stardust Cruises Limousine Service, founded in 2002 by Ken and Susie Martin, provides the ultimate in service combined with the most diverse fleet of unique vehicles to the Central Coast. They were the first to introduce the Central Coast to the roomy walk-in limo coach.

Stardust's fleet consists of a 22-passenger limo coach (the Galaxy), an 18-passenger limo coach (the Supernova), a 16-passenger Hummer stretch (the White Star is the newest and longest Hummer on the Central Coast), a 10-passenger Lincoln stretch 5th door (the Aurora is the newest limousine and the only 5th door on the Central Coast), an 8-passenger walk-in coach (the Starlet), and the only 1930 Model A limo in the world, (the Red Star).

Each of Stardust’s limo coaches comes staffed with a driver and an onboard hostess. Digital pictures are taken throughout the trip and a group photo is put on a magnet and sent to each guest.

A slide show of the event is shown on the big screen TV and all the photos are burned on a CD for the booking party.

Each limousine is stocked with a complimentary champagne bar (includes champagne, Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Orange Juice, Cranberry Juice, water, and ice), and the limo coaches also have mini bars with Vodka, Jack Daniels, and Gin.

Stardust Cruises Limousine Service has set the standard for conducting wine tours throughout the Central Coast.

Their wine tour policy, called the Stardust Difference, is applauded by the wineries and tasting room staff. Their personal service is unparalled in the industry.

They were recently asked by the national limousine trade magazine, Limousine and Chauffeured Transportation, to apply for Operator of the Year Award and Achievements in Advertising Award.

Their drivers have exemplary records and Stardust has a perfect safety record. They carry Worker’s Compensation Insurance on their employees, and their drivers have Class B licenses with passenger endorsement, pass physical exams and are enrolled in Drug Testing Programs. Stardust is licensed by the Public Utilities Commission with a B permit, allowing operation of vehicles in excess of 15 passengers. They are licensed by the DOT for interstate transportation, allowing them to transport passengers to Las Vegas and other out of state destinations. Their vehicles undergo regular maintenance, 45-day inspections, annual CHP inspections and DOT inspections.

They are fully insured, and are members of 9 local Chambers of Commerce and Convention Bureaus and are well-known in the community for their participation in charitable events. Stardust will soon be installing the only nationally known brand of limousine software in the Central Coast to manage their reservations, and customer base.

Stardust Cruises Limousine Service accepts all major credit cards, checks, cash and money orders.



Stardust Cruises Central Coast's Premiere Limousine Service
Please contact Ken or Susie Martin at 805 938-0018 for more information!
Or, you can email us at ken@stardustcruises.com

Visit our website at StardustCruises.com

• Operator Of The Year Award : Stardust Cruises

After working for other limousine operators, Ken and Susie Martin thought they could run a limousine business better than others in their town. By providing a product not offered in the area (a limo bus) and coupling it with exceptional and unheard of service (including a hostess on board), they launched Stardust Cruises Limousine Service. In nearly 4 years the Stardust fleet has grown to 2 limo buses, a 200” Hummer, a Van Terra, a 120” Lincoln 5th door, and a 1930 Model A stretch. Initially running the business themselves, they now have 3 full time employees, and 10 part time employees.

Ken and Susie live in Santa Maria, California, which is a small rural town with a big heart. They participate in numerous charitable fundraisers, including the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, the Pacific Repertory Opera, the Alzheimer’s Association, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Shoes for Students, Rotary Club, YMCA, at least 7 local elementary and high schools, Hats for Hope, Tri Counties Blood Bank, Discovery Museum, the Elks, Easter Seals, IFOP, Marian Foundation, EOC, Santa Maria Mural Society, Orcutt Children’s Art Foundation, Make A Wish Foundation, CASA, Friends of Hearst Castle, Greenspace, SLO Symphony, Hospice Partners, Oncology Nurses Society, VTC, Ethel Pope Auditorium Foundation, Central Coast Natural History Association, Girsh Park Foundation, and the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts Foundation, among others. Establishing themselves as a local business that cares for the communities it serves has made Stardust Cruises Limousine Service a community leader. The Martins hold membership in the Elks Lodge #1538, the Santa Maria Breakfast Rotary Club, the Santa Maria Model A’s, the Model A Ford Club of America, they belong to 7 Chambers of Commerce, the San Luis Obispo Vintner’s Association, GCLA and the NLA.

Recognizing the potential danger of alcohol and teenagers, Ken and Susie organized a Sober Prom and Graduation Extravaganza to show kids how to have a good time without drugs and alcohol. They invited the local limousine operators to bring their vehicles for display. The show included 2 local radio stations, the DARE Program, the Santa Maria Fire Department, the California Highway Patrol, the Santa Maria Police Department, and local vendors, such as photographers, tux shops, and a Mary Kay representative. The show was free to the public and encouraged parents and students to choose legitimate limousine services that would not allow alcohol on board.

In an effort to better the limousine industry and secure its ties to the wine industry, the Martins have launched what they call the Stardust Difference. Each winery in the area receives a copy of their wine policy as well as a sample letter that is sent to each wine tour customer explaining the policy and appropriate behavior at the wineries. “We have to protect the wineries from our own clients” says Ken.

“If we are denied access to the tasting rooms, limousine businesses will greatly suffer. A wine tour is not a drunk run, and shouldn’t be conducted as such. We are hoping to “raise the bar” so that all the limousine operators in the area will improve their level of service to the wineries. It can only help us all.” That is one of the reasons they have joined the local Vintner’s Association. “It only makes sense to partner with the businesses that support your business.” says Ken. Wine tours make up about 70% of Stardust’s business.

Committed to improving their business, Stardust has attended the LCT Show each year, and continually strives to learn from other operators and businesses as well. “We learn from others’ successes and failures. Competition is healthy. It makes everyone try harder.” says Susie.


Chauffeur Training Program

S
tardust Cruises Limousine Service employs drivers with both Class B licenses with a Passenger Endorsement and Class C licenses. Those with Class B are enrolled in the DMV Pull Program and have periodic and random drug testing. All drivers do 2 or 3 “ride along” trips in the limo buses. They read the Safety Manual, Orientation Manual, and Wine Tour Policy. They are required to view the Driver’s Training Videos.

They are oriented on each vehicle, know all the electronics, and learn to use the digital camera. Each driver spends time with our Driver’s Trainer until they prove proficiency.

Since our large vehicles are staffed with a hostess as well as a driver, the hostess also acts as support for the new driver. If a hostess reports a “rough ride”, or other training issues, the driver is required to repeat the training and drive test until improvement is noted.

Safety meetings are held at monthly and safety issues are discussed and policy reviewed. Current events extracted from the news, industry journals, and newsletters are shared. We have instituted a “Non-Punitive Performance Improvement Program” which has improved safety and awareness. Drivers and hostesses are required to review the material discussed in the meetings before their next assignment.

Stardust Cruises Central Coast's Premiere Limousine Service
Please contact Ken or Susie Martin at 805 938-0018 for more information!
Or, you can email us at ken@stardustcruises.com

Visit our website at StardustCruises.com

• The Stardust Difference!

At Stardust Cruises Limousine we feature:

• Room to comfortably seat 18-20 people, and all can stand up and dance at the same time!

• We have a 42-inch big screen TV, a 13-inch TV, a DVD player, an 8-disc CD changer, VHS player, radio, satellite TV with over 150 channels, and karaoke.

• We provide over 120 DVD’s, CDs, and VHS movies.

• We have fiber optic lit bar areas with complimentary sparkling apple cider, sodas, juices, water, ice, and snacks.

• We have an exotic leopard interior.

• Our hostess runs all the electronics and will pour your drinks.

• Photographs will be taken throughout your event.

• Your photos will be sent to you on a CD.

• Each person aboard will receive a group photo-magnet.

• Our drivers have excellent DMV records and we can prove it!

• We are members of the

The Goleta Chamber of Commerce,
The Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitor and Convention Bureau,
The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce,
The San Luis Visitors and Convention Bureau,
The Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce

• We carry $5,000,000 liability insurance.

• We are registered with the PUC, the DOT, and the MCA.


Our Prom Standards:

• Your teens will be accompanied by a driver and a hostess, to ensure their safety and enjoyment.

• We remove all alcohol, and provide sodas, juices and sparkling cider.

• We require an alcohol waiver be signed by all minors.

• We search all carry-on bags.

• If any alcohol or drugs are carried aboard the vehicle the trip will end immediately.

• Our hostess will escort your teens into and out of establishments.

• We do not vary from the itinerary provided to us by parents.

• Only pre-registered guests will be allowed on board.

• All guests will be delivered to pre-designated destinations provided by parents.



Stardust Cruises Central Coast's Premiere Limousine Service
Please contact Ken or Susie Martin at 805 938-0018 for more information!
Or, you can email us at ken@stardustcruises.com

Visit our website at StardustCruises.com