From the Pilot House

Celebrate a Father’s Day designed just for Dad

Let’s be honest, it’s hard to pick out a gift for Dad. He’s always providing and asks for nothing in return. It seems that he has everything he’ll ever need and is most satisfied when he's spending quality time with family. Dad works hard and does it all to make everyone else happy.  

This Father’s Day, there’s nothing he would appreciate more than a relaxing day with his closest loved ones. Show how much you love Dad by treating him on the water; either for a Beer Brunch Cruise with unlimited beer, a hearty buffet with carving station, and breathtaking views, or a Dinner Dance Cruise with a delectable four-course dinner, scenic views, and entertainment.

Don’t settle for another typical “Dad” gift this year and surprise him with the joy of timeless memories.

For more information about Father's Day Cruises in San Francisco, Berkeley, New York, San Diego, Marina del Rey, or Newport Beach, visit hornblower.com.

Planning the Perfect July 4 Party

Summer has arrived, and the July 4 holiday is just weeks away. Here at Hornblower, our event planners have been busy creating incredible experiences for our upcoming Independence Day Cruises. Now, we’re excited to share a few of our favorite ideas! If you’re putting together your own backyard barbecue or fun afternoon with the family, try a few of these terrific recipes, pretty up your table with these creative decorations, or scroll through a host of other patriotic projects for inspiration!

Students Spin Trash into Treasure

The average American produces 4.5 pounds of trash per day – and a new student art exhibit in San Diego takes a creative look at that throwaway culture. Twelve artists are exhibiting in TRASH, now open at The New Children’s Museum. As part of the City of San Diego's Environmental Services Department's Dare to Reuse Art Contest, students crafted imaginative installations using recycled materials. In the process, they explored how consumers decide what trash is, how trash impacts lives, and what new possibilities exist for recycling and reuse.

Learn more about the project at the TRASH website, or visit the installations at The New Children's Museum in downtown San Diego between now and August 26.

Bay Area Dogs and Owners Board the Belle for Dog Day on the Bay

Dogs and owners from all over the San Francisco Bay Area came on board “Dog Day on the Bay” for a fundraising event on the water. It was a celebration for the 9^th consecutive year, and it couldn’t have been a better day to set sail.

Pups of all sizes and breeds explored both decks of the San Francisco Belle like they had never seen anything like it before! We treated them to water bars and a royal feast with a luscious doggy buffet full of mouth-watering treats - and they weren’t the only ones allowed to indulge! Dog lovers helped themselves to a lavish buffet of human foods, free-flowing champagne, and scenic San Francisco views to admire and pose for photos.

Leading up to the event, there was a great deal of excitement from the “Dog Day on the Bay” photo contest. With over 70 entries and 4,600 votes, it came down to the last day when “Rocket” was crowned winner of the contest’s cutest pup! Both Rocket and owner Lizzie were on board to claim their prize.

Thank you to everyone who came this year! We had a great turnout and it was a huge success because of your generosity. For another year, we are proud to benefit the San Francisco SPCA and their Puppy Dog Tails reading program to help promote literacy in at-risk youth. Be on the lookout for Dog Day on the Bay next year! We’ll be cruising!

You can check out photos from the event on our Hornblower San Francisco facebook page.

Interested in preparing treats from the Dog Day buffet for your pup at home? Check out our recipe cards below.

Download SFDog Day Menu 2013

First Thursdays at the Exploratorium

San Francisco’s fabulous Exploratorium moved to its new Embarcadero location in April, bringing science, art, education and fun to the waterfront. The hands-on exhibits are popular with children, of course, but adults also enjoy the playful offerings housed at Pier 15.

The Exploratorium’s new After Dark series opens the museum to adults ages 18 and older on the first Thursday of each month, with themed film screenings, performances and presentations taking place from 6 to 10 p.m. For just $15 (or $10 for Exploratorium members), guests get in on all the entertainment, conversation and cash bar cocktails, plus opportunities to check out the museum’s regular exhibits.

Cellist Zoe Keating headlines this month’s After Dark event on Thursday, June 6. Head over to the Exploratorium website for tickets and information. And while you’re visiting, don’t forget to check out terrific views of The Bay Lights exhibit.

Editor of SanDiego.com Goes Full Steam Ahead with Hornblower Cruises & Events

Looking for some summer fun in San Diego? If you’ve ever wondered about the magnificent yachts sailing on the San Diego Harbor, maybe it’s time to consider a summer outing a little more glamorous than the sandy, overcrowded beaches for a change. We had the pleasure of hosting Carli Leavitt, Editor of SanDiego.com, for a Sunday Brunch Cruise and she came away very impressed with everything Hornblower has to offer:

“For the past few years, I’ve been intrigued by the yachts on the San Diego Bay. I’ve taken countless drives down Harbor Drive and watched as the majestic white and black Hornblower Cruise yachts glide along the water in the glistening lights of Downtown San Diego. I would see hordes of smiling guests turning a normal evening into something special with a Dinner Dance Cruise and always thought, why haven’t I done that? As a San Diego native, I get my fair share of water and sunshine without ever having been on a yacht, but I finally decided to take my first voyage on a Sunday Brunch Cruise with Hornblower Cruises & Events.

It was a warm, sunny, typical Sunday in San Diego and I had a good girlfriend in town to see what all the Hornblower Cruise hype was about. As we arrived at 1800 N. Harbor Drive in San Diego and caught a glimpse of the stunning Hornblower Inspiration luxury yacht floating atop the glassy bay, I began to realize what I’ve been missing. Being lucky enough to live in San Diego, we often take for granted all this city has to offer, but I’ve started exploring my city once again and a cruise with Hornblower Cruises & Events was at the top of my list.

Checking in for our cruise was easy and stress free. We were greeted with a smile and immediate photo op in front of the elegant Inspiration Hornblower yacht. As we walked up the ramp to the ship, we met our captains, both courteous and professional in full uniform. Once inside, we were surrounded by elegant décor including crisp white and red tablecloths and lots of other excited guests enjoying the experience, champagne in hand. The morning was off to a great start.

After being escorted to our VIP window-front table, we quickly set down our jackets and hit the buffet. It had everything from rich eggs Benedict and French toast to fresh fruit, pastries and savory choices like roasted turkey, pasta salad and a sort of bruschetta salad with mozzarella balls, tomatoes and basil. As we enjoyed our delectable brunch, the service was impeccable. Our champagne glass never had a chance to empty as our server checked in on us often, even going as far as to find us on the deck to top off our bubbly.

Since it was such a gorgeous day on the water, we went upstairs to enjoy the sunshine and views of the bay. The yacht cruised north toward the mouth of the harbor, alongside the Naval Air Station North Island, known as the “Birthplace of Naval Aviation”, where we had an up close and personal view of massive military ships and helicopters.

The cruise continued along the side of Coronado Island and underneath the Coronado Bridge boasting remarkable views of the Downtown city skyline with snow-covered mountains in the background, the popular local attraction Seaport Village and the gorgeous San Diego hotel, the Manchester Grand Hyatt, as we headed back to port. All the while, my guest and I were basking in the sun, sipping champagne and enjoying a narrated tour of the San Diego Bay.

Our two-hour tour seemed to come to an end too soon, as we were delightfully stuffed from a scrumptious buffet, decadent desserts and three chocolate covered strawberries to cap off our cruise. It was beautiful, relaxing and the perfect way to enjoy a great weekend in San Diego.

For the ultimate experience in San Diego luxury, I definitely recommend booking a tour with Hornblower Cruises and Events. Their staff is professional, friendly and extremely helpful. The luxury yacht is elegant, clean and very comfortable – and the views of San Diego from the upper deck of the Hornblower Inspiration are awe-inspiring. For visitors and locals alike, I highly recommend going full steam ahead with Hornblower Cruises and Events!"

Thank you Carli! We appreciate your contributions to our industry and SanDiego.com as a rich source for highlighting everything great about the city of San Diego.

This article was written by Carli Leavitt, the editor of SanDiego.com. Carli is a San Diego native with a wealth of knowledge about local attractions, hotels, beaches and nightlife venues in Southern California.

Afternoon Tea on the Hudson

New York is known for its nightlife, but Hornblower also offers a more mellow way to enjoy the city. Each Sunday afternoon, the Classic Afternoon Tea Cruise sets off from Pier 40, following a scenic 1 1/2-hour route along the Hudson River. Guests enjoy tea and coffee, pastries, sandwiches and scones, plus live jazz performed right on board.

For an extra special treat, the Premier Afternoon Tea Cruise departs earlier in the day for a two-hour outing that includes tea, coffee and a brunch and dessert buffet menu, along with prosecco and mimosas poured throughout the cruise. There’s live jazz, and each outing features beautiful views of the Manhattan skyline, as well.
 
Book a one-of-a-kind tea cruise today, or visit the Hornblower website to learn about other dining and special event cruises.

San Diego Dogs and Owners Enjoy a Pet Day on the Bay

Nearly 500 dog lovers and 300 dogs from all over San Diego came out to support "Pet Day on the Bay" for the 13th straight year! These pups had a fun opportunity unlike any other to "shake paws" and make new friends while Petco offered great hands-on expertise to owners from their dog training department. CBS8 TV also provided amazing coverage of our tail-wagging event! We'd like to thank everyone who attended and made generous contributions to the Helen Woodward Animal Center (HWAC) with ticket proceeds and donations. We collected hundreds of blankets and towels for the HWAC to benefit orphaned dogs and cats with bathes and cage bedding! Your feedback is welcome to help this event grow and make it more dog-friendly every year. Here's a testimonial from Nancy Miller (a Corgi owner), complimenting our staffmembers who made her pet day more enjoyable:

"A crewmember was extremely friendly, welcoming and helpful. I was with the San Diego Corgi Meetup Group and he spent time welcoming us, played with dogs, and made us all feel very special. Another crewmember handing out dog treats inside the second deck was extremely kind in filling up my dog's little water bowl with water and even offered an ice cube. These individuals stand out in my mind and helped make my cruise experience much more pleasant. Also, I compliment your staff on how orderly all the dogs behaved. Didn't see any dog problems at all." -- Thank you Nancy!

We appreciate everyone who sent letters with your overwhelming thanks. You can check out more pictures from "Pet Day on the Bay" on our Facebook photo albums. We hope to see you next year!

All Dogs Aboard for Dog Day on the Bay

Bring your pup on board for the 9^th annual Dog Day on the Bay – the only dog friendly brunch cruise in the Bay Area! We’ll be hosting owners to a full champagne brunch while their canine companions help themselves to a water bar and doggy buffet full of tasty treats. And it’s all for a great cause! Proceeds from this event will benefit the San Francisco SPCA’s Puppy Dog Tales Reading Program to promote literacy in at-risk children. Tickets are available at dogdayonthebay.com.

Our two-hour cruise will feature free-flowing champagne with your brunch, scenic San Francisco views, raffle prizes, a souvenir photo, and live DJ to teach your dog some new dances moves. They’ll never experience anything like Dog Day; it’s the perfect outing and social mixer for them to make new friends!

Can’t wait for Dog Day? Check out our Dog Day on the Bay photo contest for a fun voting competition to see who's got their dog looking its best! All photo submissions will be entered for a chance to win 2 tickets on a future Hornblower Cruise. Winners will be announced on board Dog Day on June 2^nd, so make sure you're there to see which dog gets drowned cutest pup.

We’re welcoming all dog lovers to join us for this wonderful event. Find more about cruise guidelines, Dog Day on the Bay, the San Francisco SPCA, and how to book your tickets at dogdayonthebay.com.

 

Newport Beach opens new community center

Newport Beach celebrated the grand opening of its new civic center this month, and the creative project serves as much more than just a hub for city business.

The new facility sits on a 16-acre park that is the city’s fifth largest, and it includes 1.23 miles of walking trails, a dog-friendly play area and restored wetlands. There’s an outdoor event venue, and a new community room available for presentations, arts programs and gatherings seats up to 150 guests. The project, which cost upwards of $130 million, also features a 17,000-square-foot library expansion and additional parking and office space for city operations.

Start Your Summer with a Memorial Day Cruise

Looking for some fun in the sun this Memorial Day? Enjoy your relaxing weekend without the smokey BBQ and glistening sun burn. We'll be hosting brunch and dinner cruises as usual with specialty cruises in San Diego and San Francisco for a wonderful holiday on the water!  

San Francisco Memorial Day Beer Lunch Cruise

Everything you could ask for on your day off without the effort! Enjoy a two hour cruise, lavish lunch buffet, free flowing champagne and Premium & select craft beers while cruising under the Golden Gate Bridge, around Alcatraz and under the Bay Bridge with live entertainment.

San Diego Memorial Day Harbor Cruise

This is an educational experience with photo and video opportunities like no other! Enjoy a one- or two-hour narrated cruise with an up-close look at marine animals, historical information about over 50 San Diego landmarks, comfortable indoor and outdoor areas, snacks with bar and beverages, plus much more!

San Diego Memorial Day Lunch Cruise

Everchanging views under the San Diego sun! Enjoy a two-hour yacht cruise with free-flowing champange and selection of beers, full brunch buffet with seasonal dishes, a decadent dessert buffet, a narrated tour from the Captain himself, and a DJ for requests and entertainment.

Start your summer off right. Visit www.hornblower.com for more about Memorial Day Weekend Cruises in your area.