Review is written by Staff @ The Ring and is based on • Interviews with this vendor • Interviews with past brides
When the staff at The Ring visited with A Universal Limousine Service on their expansive grounds at 109 Gaylord Avenue in St. Thomas, we were blown away by what we thought, originally, might have just been another limousine company. We knew that A Universal has been among the 'who's who' in luxury transportation for over a decade, but now we know why. By focusing on providing tons of options, customizable packages, quality service, and excellence in both their vehicles and their chauffeurs, it's no wonder that business managers, brides and prom queens alike, repeatedly choose this company to get them to their destinations in style. A Universal knows their business inside and out and only gets bigger every year, because of it.
Luxurious wheels can come in many forms
A Universal offers a large fleet of vehicles that can seat six to forty-four passengers, including limousines seating six to sixteen people, stretch SUV's, and limousine buses - the latter of which recently got all new interiors. With these sleek limousines, trucks and buses, there is no shortage of extra luxury options such as DVD players, CD players and stereo systems, mood lighting, moon roofs, leather seats, bars with stemware, champagne, and more. A Universal only uses brand new limousines including Lincolns, Expeditions Chryslers, Hummers, and Mercedes Benz and they're continually in the process of updating their fleet, which now includes 19 cars, SUVs and buses to serve you.
In fact, in a recent interview we found out that A Universal has added a F450 black Hummer, the longest SUV available. With room for 22 passengers, 3 - 9' bars and all of the bells and whistles. This car is sure to impress!
They told us they are "constantly investing and reinvesting in their product to provide the best for you." Which is why they also recently re-did all of the interiors of their buses.
Theresa Franchini Cabral got the lavish, thirty passenger limo bus for her August 2010 wedding and says that it was amazing. "It was clean, very comfortable with spotless leather seating; very well kept. It was incredibly stocked with all anyone could need, from water to a needle and thread."
Your personal assistant for the day
Apart from all of the vehicles' bells and whistles, it's apparent that there's more to the story of why clients keep returning to A Universal. This company takes a refreshing, in-depth approach to servicing their clients. When you hire them to transport you, you'll basically have your own personal assistant to help you and cater to you, in and out of the limousine, every kilometer of the way. Not only is your chauffeur nicely presentable, but he or she is dressed in a full black and white pressed tuxedo.
Professional service was one of the main reasons that Theresa hired A Universal. "My response from Wayne in terms of service and selection was so quick, so detailed, and so polite," she told us. "I was immediately sold when I was treated as a valued customer from day one." She adds that the whole A Universal team went beyond anything they could have asked for. "They made my wedding so memorable - not just for me and my husband, but for my amazing wedding party."
When a chauffeur is added to the A Universal team, he or she is put on an immediate training program, run by A Universal management. They train them to provide Maître'd service, not just as a driver. Forget to pick up a bow tie, get a run in the last pair of bridal nylons... it doesn't matter. Your chauffeur will assist in any way he or she can, by taking you to the store, or running out to pick up whatever it is you need. They carry a 'kit' that covers many of the regular emergencies of a wedding day, similar to the Bridal Emergency Kit. Once the client has been serviced, the management at A Universal contact them to make sure they were happy with their limousine, their chauffeur and their service. They make a point to ask for suggestions and comments, so that they can continue to improve on every detail of the services they provide.
Theresa remembers coming out of the church after her ceremony, hot, parched, exhausted, excited and overwhelmed and the limo bus driver came to her and her husband with two water bottles in hand. "He was so attentive, and at that moment I was just so appreciative that he was so kind -enough to think about our needs, beyond what was required or expected. He was amazing."
Size really does matter...
A Universal has their own fleet of vehicles, housed and maintained in their massive warehouse and maintenance shop. With their own vehicles, they can do approximately 1000 weddings and events each year. Now that's a lot of service!
Customizable packages
A Universal have designed several packages around their vehicles; however, they invite brides to customize to their heart's content. Brides can chose their limousine, their services, and even their chauffeur if they wish. "It's all about catering to our clients." A Universal's goal is to give their clients exactly what they need and want. "If we cannot provide a service, we'll put the client in touch with someone who can."
To give you an idea of what to expect to spend, for $799 you will get a 6 hour package with their 8 to 10 Passenger Stretch Lincoln in white. And for $1499 there is a great 12 hour package for their 16 Passenger SUV. With A Universal, you just choose the vehicle you want (for 6 passengers all the way up to 30 in the Wedding Coach) and the amount of time you need, up to all day and evening until 2 am... consider having the ability to shuttle the old, young and the slightly intoxicated to and from the reception, having your mountain of gifts delivered in trust to your home, and being whisked away with no worries to your honeymoon suite with champagne for the ride! All prices include taxes and tips.
"By the end of the night, we knew that the bus was probably one of the best decisions we made and well worth every penny," says Theresa. "I am truly confident in saying that the service and quality Wayne and his driver provided would be hard to match elsewhere."
Playing by the rules
You can rest easy knowing that you've hired a company that has covered all its bases when you choose A Universal Limousine Service. They have their Public Vehicle Transportation Certificate, which allows limo companies to go from county to county. Before you go any distance in any limo, verify that your limo company has one, especially if you are traveling from one town to another throughout the day. If your limousine driver gets stopped without a Public Vehicle Transportation Certificate, all passengers will have to get out of the vehicle, even if they are in the middle of nowhere.
The motto
Their company motto, "Going to great lengths to serve you" isn't just on the A Universal business cards. They say that it's in every aspect of the way they do business.
What's new?
We get asked all the time if area limo companies offer airport transportation for destination weddings. Well, we were excited to hear during a recent conversation with A Universal that they offer DW pick-up and drop off from the London area to Detroit and Toronto airports. For $1995, the package includes a limo coach or SUV, a trailer for luggage, transportation to and from the airport, ice, water and mix, and the convenience of not having to worry about parking your car.
A Universal says that they are booking more and more winter weddings and are more than willing to do so.
In other words...
"Just wanted to say a huge thank you from Stahr Events for helping to create a beautiful and unforgettable wedding day for Amanda & Adam. Though January is usually a cold and wintery month, Jan. 12th turned into a spring day. Thanks for great service and looking forward to working again in the near future!" - Shawna Stahr
"I would like to take the time to thank your company for the professional services rendered at the Iman/Harburght wedding this past Saturday. Gerry was very pleasant, prompt, courteous and well-mannered. He took much pride in his position and there were many positive compliments. Good job!" - Lisa Best, Wedding Coordinator, Weddings by Me
"I used your limousine service on the evening of August 25th to go out with the girls. We had a wonderful time. Your limos are very clean and beautiful! I was more than pleased. The chauffeur was very polite and kind - a true gentleman. Your rates are very reasonable and I am definitely looking forward to using your service again in the future. Thank you for helping make the evening an unforgettable experience!" - Brandi Hess
"I would like to take the time to sincerely thank Mark from A Universal Limousine Service. Mark was our driver for our wedding. We had the Platinum SUV package booked for our wedding and we were so pleased with the service we received. Mark went above and beyond what we expected on our special day. He had every little detail covered without even having to be asked. Some of the ways that demonstrated Mark's outstanding service were by the little details that you forget on your wedding day: sprayed the bridal party's flowers and boutonnières to keep them fresh all day!, brought snacks for the entire wedding party!, helped fix the bride's and groom's hair!, helped carry the bride's dress all day long, carried around an umbrella all day so the wedding party stayed dry, helped with decoration emergencies at the reception hall. It was a very long day for Mark, and he had a smile on his face all day. Always going above and beyond what we expected and staying extremely professional." - Margaret & Dominik
"I would like to commend Jake, the chauffeur at our daughter's wedding on October 21st. From the beginning of the day, when Jake presented bouquets of roses to both the mother of the groom and myself, served the female bridal party a champagne breakfast during hair and make-up appointments, and chauffeured the newlyweds and their gifts at the end of the wedding day, Jake showed outstanding professionalism in all of his duties. Polite and unobtrusive, Jake graciously offered his assistance, which was greatly appreciated, whether holding photographic equipment for the photographer, or offering the bride her cloak when she appeared chilled. Jake definitely played a vital role in making the wedding day a resounding success, as did the replica Rolls Royce limousine, which provided a memorable experience, especially for the mother of the groom, my 88 year old mother and myself, all first-time limo guests." - Carol
"Thank you so much for making our wedding day just a little more special. Having you there with us helped make our day run smoothly and helped make it the most wonderful day of our lives." - Bill & Sherri
"We had Ron and Cindy as our drivers. They were incredible. I couldn't believe that people do smile as early as 4:30 am! Our family and friends want to extend their thank you as well. You both treated them like royalty... We will be seeing you in the near future." - John & Landra
"I just wanted to send you a message to praise Basil! He was just FANTASTIC we absolutely loved him. He was so helpful and just everything and anything for us to make our day run smoothly! He was so wonderful that one of my bridesmaids who is getting married this coming August 2011 wants to use him. I passed along your info for her... I told her to mention us and Basil. Thanks again Wayne and please let Basil know that we were very happy with him and that he is just AWESOME! Thank you." - Julie & Paulo
"I wanted to put something in writing and thank your company and our driver Billy for the wonderful service. Our wedding was on July 14 and we had a 12 hour package. Our driver was so wonderful and he went above and beyond to provide us with excellent service. He called me a day before the wedding to introduce himself as our driver. He was always on time and he was attentive to the needs of myself, my groom and the whole bridal party. He walked me and my father to the ceremony space, brought me water, or anything else I might have needed. My husband and I, as well as my bridal party were very impressed with him. The day of the wedding is so crazy that I didn't get a chance to personally thank him at the end of the day, but I wanted to put something in writing and I hope this will be forwarded to him.
Thank you so much for the wonderful service." - Irma and Attila Farkas
When the staff at The Ring visited with A Universal Limousine Service on their expansive grounds at 109 Gaylord Avenue in St. Thomas, we were blown away by what we thought, originally, might have just been another limousine company. We knew that A Universal has been among the 'who's who' in luxury transportation for over a decade, but now we know why. By focusing on providing tons of options, customizable packages, quality service, and excellence in both their vehicles and their chauffeurs, it's no wonder that business managers, brides and prom queens alike, repeatedly choose this company to get them to their destinations in style. A Universal knows their business inside and out and only gets bigger every year, because of it.
Luxurious wheels can come in many forms
A Universal offers a large fleet of vehicles that can seat six to forty-four passengers, including limousines seating six to sixteen people, stretch SUV's, and limousine buses - the latter of which recently got all new interiors. With these sleek limousines, trucks and buses, there is no shortage of extra luxury options such as DVD players, CD players and stereo systems, mood lighting, moon roofs, leather seats, bars with stemware, champagne, and more. A Universal only uses brand new limousines including Lincolns, Expeditions Chryslers, Hummers, and Mercedes Benz and they're continually in the process of updating their fleet, which now includes 19 cars, SUVs and buses to serve you.
In fact, in a recent interview we found out that A Universal has added a F450 black Hummer, the longest SUV available. With room for 22 passengers, 3 - 9' bars and all of the bells and whistles. This car is sure to impress!
They told us they are "constantly investing and reinvesting in their product to provide the best for you." Which is why they also recently re-did all of the interiors of their buses.
Theresa Franchini Cabral got the lavish, thirty passenger limo bus for her August 2010 wedding and says that it was amazing. "It was clean, very comfortable with spotless leather seating; very well kept. It was incredibly stocked with all anyone could need, from water to a needle and thread."
Your personal assistant for the day
Apart from all of the vehicles' bells and whistles, it's apparent that there's more to the story of why clients keep returning to A Universal. This company takes a refreshing, in-depth approach to servicing their clients. When you hire them to transport you, you'll basically have your own personal assistant to help you and cater to you, in and out of the limousine, every kilometer of the way. Not only is your chauffeur nicely presentable, but he or she is dressed in a full black and white pressed tuxedo.
Professional service was one of the main reasons that Theresa hired A Universal. "My response from Wayne in terms of service and selection was so quick, so detailed, and so polite," she told us. "I was immediately sold when I was treated as a valued customer from day one." She adds that the whole A Universal team went beyond anything they could have asked for. "They made my wedding so memorable - not just for me and my husband, but for my amazing wedding party."
When a chauffeur is added to the A Universal team, he or she is put on an immediate training program, run by A Universal management. They train them to provide Maître'd service, not just as a driver. Forget to pick up a bow tie, get a run in the last pair of bridal nylons... it doesn't matter. Your chauffeur will assist in any way he or she can, by taking you to the store, or running out to pick up whatever it is you need. They carry a 'kit' that covers many of the regular emergencies of a wedding day, similar to the Bridal Emergency Kit. Once the client has been serviced, the management at A Universal contact them to make sure they were happy with their limousine, their chauffeur and their service. They make a point to ask for suggestions and comments, so that they can continue to improve on every detail of the services they provide.
Theresa remembers coming out of the church after her ceremony, hot, parched, exhausted, excited and overwhelmed and the limo bus driver came to her and her husband with two water bottles in hand. "He was so attentive, and at that moment I was just so appreciative that he was so kind -enough to think about our needs, beyond what was required or expected. He was amazing."
Size really does matter...
A Universal has their own fleet of vehicles, housed and maintained in their massive warehouse and maintenance shop. With their own vehicles, they can do approximately 1000 weddings and events each year. Now that's a lot of service!
Customizable packages
A Universal have designed several packages around their vehicles; however, they invite brides to customize to their heart's content. Brides can chose their limousine, their services, and even their chauffeur if they wish. "It's all about catering to our clients." A Universal's goal is to give their clients exactly what they need and want. "If we cannot provide a service, we'll put the client in touch with someone who can."
To give you an idea of what to expect to spend, for $799 you will get a 6 hour package with their 8 to 10 Passenger Stretch Lincoln in white. And for $1499 there is a great 12 hour package for their 16 Passenger SUV. With A Universal, you just choose the vehicle you want (for 6 passengers all the way up to 30 in the Wedding Coach) and the amount of time you need, up to all day and evening until 2 am... consider having the ability to shuttle the old, young and the slightly intoxicated to and from the reception, having your mountain of gifts delivered in trust to your home, and being whisked away with no worries to your honeymoon suite with champagne for the ride! All prices include taxes and tips.
"By the end of the night, we knew that the bus was probably one of the best decisions we made and well worth every penny," says Theresa. "I am truly confident in saying that the service and quality Wayne and his driver provided would be hard to match elsewhere."
Playing by the rules
You can rest easy knowing that you've hired a company that has covered all its bases when you choose A Universal Limousine Service. They have their Public Vehicle Transportation Certificate, which allows limo companies to go from county to county. Before you go any distance in any limo, verify that your limo company has one, especially if you are traveling from one town to another throughout the day. If your limousine driver gets stopped without a Public Vehicle Transportation Certificate, all passengers will have to get out of the vehicle, even if they are in the middle of nowhere.
The motto
Their company motto, "Going to great lengths to serve you" isn't just on the A Universal business cards. They say that it's in every aspect of the way they do business.
What's new?
We get asked all the time if area limo companies offer airport transportation for destination weddings. Well, we were excited to hear during a recent conversation with A Universal that they offer DW pick-up and drop off from the London area to Detroit and Toronto airports. For $1995, the package includes a limo coach or SUV, a trailer for luggage, transportation to and from the airport, ice, water and mix, and the convenience of not having to worry about parking your car.
A Universal says that they are booking more and more winter weddings and are more than willing to do so.
In other words...
"Just wanted to say a huge thank you from Stahr Events for helping to create a beautiful and unforgettable wedding day for Amanda & Adam. Though January is usually a cold and wintery month, Jan. 12th turned into a spring day. Thanks for great service and looking forward to working again in the near future!" - Shawna Stahr
"I would like to take the time to thank your company for the professional services rendered at the Iman/Harburght wedding this past Saturday. Gerry was very pleasant, prompt, courteous and well-mannered. He took much pride in his position and there were many positive compliments. Good job!" - Lisa Best, Wedding Coordinator, Weddings by Me
"I used your limousine service on the evening of August 25th to go out with the girls. We had a wonderful time. Your limos are very clean and beautiful! I was more than pleased. The chauffeur was very polite and kind - a true gentleman. Your rates are very reasonable and I am definitely looking forward to using your service again in the future. Thank you for helping make the evening an unforgettable experience!" - Brandi Hess
"I would like to take the time to sincerely thank Mark from A Universal Limousine Service. Mark was our driver for our wedding. We had the Platinum SUV package booked for our wedding and we were so pleased with the service we received. Mark went above and beyond what we expected on our special day. He had every little detail covered without even having to be asked. Some of the ways that demonstrated Mark's outstanding service were by the little details that you forget on your wedding day: sprayed the bridal party's flowers and boutonnières to keep them fresh all day!, brought snacks for the entire wedding party!, helped fix the bride's and groom's hair!, helped carry the bride's dress all day long, carried around an umbrella all day so the wedding party stayed dry, helped with decoration emergencies at the reception hall. It was a very long day for Mark, and he had a smile on his face all day. Always going above and beyond what we expected and staying extremely professional." - Margaret & Dominik
"I would like to commend Jake, the chauffeur at our daughter's wedding on October 21st. From the beginning of the day, when Jake presented bouquets of roses to both the mother of the groom and myself, served the female bridal party a champagne breakfast during hair and make-up appointments, and chauffeured the newlyweds and their gifts at the end of the wedding day, Jake showed outstanding professionalism in all of his duties. Polite and unobtrusive, Jake graciously offered his assistance, which was greatly appreciated, whether holding photographic equipment for the photographer, or offering the bride her cloak when she appeared chilled. Jake definitely played a vital role in making the wedding day a resounding success, as did the replica Rolls Royce limousine, which provided a memorable experience, especially for the mother of the groom, my 88 year old mother and myself, all first-time limo guests." - Carol
"Thank you so much for making our wedding day just a little more special. Having you there with us helped make our day run smoothly and helped make it the most wonderful day of our lives." - Bill & Sherri
"We had Ron and Cindy as our drivers. They were incredible. I couldn't believe that people do smile as early as 4:30 am! Our family and friends want to extend their thank you as well. You both treated them like royalty... We will be seeing you in the near future." - John & Landra
"I just wanted to send you a message to praise Basil! He was just FANTASTIC we absolutely loved him. He was so helpful and just everything and anything for us to make our day run smoothly! He was so wonderful that one of my bridesmaids who is getting married this coming August 2011 wants to use him. I passed along your info for her... I told her to mention us and Basil. Thanks again Wayne and please let Basil know that we were very happy with him and that he is just AWESOME! Thank you." - Julie & Paulo
"I wanted to put something in writing and thank your company and our driver Billy for the wonderful service. Our wedding was on July 14 and we had a 12 hour package. Our driver was so wonderful and he went above and beyond to provide us with excellent service. He called me a day before the wedding to introduce himself as our driver. He was always on time and he was attentive to the needs of myself, my groom and the whole bridal party. He walked me and my father to the ceremony space, brought me water, or anything else I might have needed. My husband and I, as well as my bridal party were very impressed with him. The day of the wedding is so crazy that I didn't get a chance to personally thank him at the end of the day, but I wanted to put something in writing and I hope this will be forwarded to him.
Thank you so much for the wonderful service." - Irma and Attila Farkas
