The christmas palm seeds are very easy to germinate. Just clean the fruit off, soak in water then stick in germination media. I personally germinated them in paper towels then planted in pot.

the palm is most likely Phoenix reclinata.

I think you made a good choice with the bottle palm. Alex"tropicalzone7" has one. Im sure he will chime in soon.

Yeah, Christmas palm are very easy. I just put them is a small pot in potting soil and keep moist. I usually cover with plastic bag to keep moisture and humidity up. Lucky you to have your own palm driver!

I agree, that palm is definitely a P. Reclinata.

The Christmas palm is really easy to germinate and care for, you shouldnt have any problems!

Bottle palms do okay indoors. They will survive, but they won't thrive (unlike their indoor and outdoor loving relatives, spindle palms). I had a bottle palm for many years indoors that was neglected and would get some tip burn (and then burn again when it went outside in the spring), but it would grow healthy fronds by the time summer came. Your bottle palm is about the size mine was.

-Alex

Christmas Palm, Adonidia merrillii, is easy to grow from seeds. The only thing I've found can go wrong with them is if they've been laying on the ground in the sun a lot. Of seed I've planted, some came up almost immediately whilst others sat for months.

Also, I'd agree that the other palm is Phoenix reclinata.