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.

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.

A Salute to Travel: National Travel & Tourism Week 2013

Did you know that each U.S. household would pay $1,060 more in taxes without the tax revenue generated by travel and tourism? This week, we’re recognizing National Travel and Tourism Week and the importance of our industry to the economy as well as our part to help create lasting memories. Courtesy of the U.S. Travel Association and Travel Effect, check out these fact sheets about the widespread impact our industry is having on jobs, families and relationships.

Download Fact Sheet - Creating Lasting Memories

• 84% of respondents 55 or older still reminisce with their family about vacations they took years ago.

Download Fact Sheet - Travel Brings Families Closer Together

• More than half (55%) reported that “I have fond memories of vacations that I took as a child, and I want to create similar experiences for my family.”

Download Fact Sheet - Travel Strengthens Relationships

• Couples that travel together are significantly more likely to report that their relationship is more romantic, intimate and balanced.

Download US Travel - A Leading American Industry

• 1 out of every 8 U.S. jobs depends on travel and tourism.

Hornblower has been a leader in creating amazing experiences for over 32 years. During that time, we’ve attracted thousands of travellers in the 8 cities we cruise and held ourselves to the highest standard by providing excellence service and accommodations. Within the last decade we’ve expanded our role to enhance the experience at Alcatraz, Statue of Liberty, and most recently, Niagara Falls, where we will be opening in 2014.

You can follow and participate with us this week on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and From the Pilot House as we emphasize the significance of travel and tourism with fun facts and important tips. We'd love to hear some of your best memories cruising with Hornblower!

Surprise Mom this Mother's Day with a Cruise!

Celebrate your mom this Mother’s Day by surprising her with the perfect gift she’ll never forget! We’re giving away 4 complimentary tickets per port for our “Surprise Mom with a Cruise” sweepstakes. What a great way for mom to relax on a worry-free afternoon with her family or 3 of her closest friends. Show your mom some love and enter today!

San Diego

~Table for 4 on one of our Sunday Champagne Brunch Cruises. Enjoy beautiful views of San Diego, complete with a bountiful Brunch Buffet, free-flowing champagne and/or bottomless mimosas, and a chance to meet up with the Captain of the Ship! Enter for a chance to win: Enter for a chance to win.

Greater Los Angeles County

~Table for 4 on one of our Sunday Champagne Brunch Cruises. Enjoy beautiful views of Marina del Rey or Newport Beach, complete with a bountiful brunch buffet, free-flowing champagne and/or bottomless mimosas and a chance to meet up with the Captain of the Ship! Enter for a chance to win.

Bay Area

~Table for 4 on one of our Champagne Brunch Cruises. Enjoy views from the San Francisco Bay, complete with a bountiful brunch buffet, free-flowing champagne and/or bottomless mimosas! Enter for a chance to win.

Old Sacramento

~ 4 Tickets on our one-hour Sacramento Historic River Cruise. Enjoy a narrated history of the Sacramento River and views of Tower Bridge! Enter for a chance to win.

New York

~Table for 4 on one of our Premier Sunday Brunch Jazz Cruises. Enjoy beautiful views of New York, complete with a bountiful brunch buffet, free-flowing champagne and/or bottomless mimosas, and live jazz music! Enter for a chance to win.

 

All entries will receive a participatory discount code. Contest runs through May 6, 2013. Visit www.Hornblower.com for more information about Mother's Day Cruises in your area.

Kirstie Kelly Celebration Giveaway

Attention all future brides! We’ve joined together with one of the most talented wedding gown designers in the world for a very special giveaway. The winner will receive $250 towards a Kirstie Kelly wedding gown AND $1,000 towards a Hornblower wedding! That includes ceremonies, receptions, bachelorette parties, rehearsal dinners, after-wedding brunches, and engagement parties.

Don’t miss out on this great opportunity and enter today for a chance to win! http://info.hornblower.com/kirstie-kelly-wedding/. Contest ends April 19th! For more about Kirstie Kelly Collections, visit http://kirstiekelly.com/. 

Thank you for cruising!

By upholding a commitment to service, our goal is to satisfy 100% of our guests 100% of the time. We genuinely appreciate those who come aboard and your feedback is encouraged. Not only do we try our best to meet your expectations, we wish to exceed them. With more sunny days ahead, celebrate everything spring has to offer and dine with us on the water! Here are a few recent reviews from customers we had the pleasure of serving.

Ron C., San Francisco

“Your dining cruise experience is one of the best in the Bay Area. On numerous occasions, we've taken family, friends, and visitors on dinner/dance cruises. We had a great time and everyone was satisfied. The service was great, the staff was great and went beyond expectations.” 

Christian, Greater Los Angeles, Vibe With Me

 

“I went on this Champagne Brunch Cruise in Marina Del Rey about a year ago and this is the epitome of what ‘Sunday Funday’ should be. Since the weather is slowly getting warmer, I would highly suggest to go between now and May, although, you always have the marine layer in the marina so I’m sure it would be just as beautiful during the summer months.”

 

We look forward to having you! Looking for a closer location? Feel free to visit www.hornblower.com for more information about the ports nearest you. Also, make sure to check back in later this week about changes to our San Diego Dinner Cruise Menu.

Happy Good Friday!

We’re excited to be featured in a recent post by Carli Leavitt on Sandiego.com! Make sure to check out her “Top 5 Things to Know About Hornblower Cruises & Events”. Still looking to plan your Easter Sunday? Carli’s article includes a $10 off discount code for any Easter Brunch or Dinner Cruise with Hornblower San Diego. We’re also located in Marina Del Rey, Newport Beach, New York, Sacramento and San Francisco.
For more details on Easter Cruises in your area, visit www.hornblower.com.

Great New Bag Designs

Crewmembers at Hornblower are constantly on the go! We work from boats and Islands, in California, New York and Canada and we need to be able to work from all these places. We also like to look to good! That's why we love HP's new partnership with Project Runway to create the perfect work bag.

For a few more days voting is open to the public! Our favorite is the 2 (Ways) 2 (Wear) Ultrabag! We think the flexibility is perfect when you spend your days hopping from shore to boat and we know and love the designer, Camille!

Vote for your favorite!

A Taste of the Far East

Today, we see sushi as a delicacy, something accessible, but also a treat. Sushi requires boldness, with its variety of intense flavors and raw fish, making it hard to believe that it was essentially a sandwich when originally created in South East Asia.

Luckily for you, we’re big fans, and in the spirit of diversity and adventurousness, we’ve crafted a snazzy new cruise…

Introducing our sushi and karaoke cruise! What better way to get to know your coworkers or get closer with your friends than rolling delicious sushi, sipping on sake, and belting your heart out as the beautiful San Diego scenery floats by. Our experienced sushi chef will help hone your craft while you enjoy every bite, sip, and sight!

The Olympics

Unless you live under a rock, you are well aware that the Olympics are in full swing. It seems every television is tuned to the same channel, with every fan out to support their nations finest in their pursuit of Olympic gold. These are the fields, the arenas, the pools, where dreams either come true or are crushed, where a single defining moment has the power to make years of training worth it.

Historically speaking, the first Olympic games began in Olympia (surprise, surprise…), Greece, in the year 776 BC. The games were closely linked to religion, and served to celebrate athletic prowess and perpetuate peaceful relations between the city-states.

Today we use the games for a similar mission. Sure, we’re not focused on glorifying Zeus, but we do seek to provide athletes with the stage and audience to be celebrated. Additionally, the games are a diplomatic feat, bringing nations together under five rings. So, show your support and national pride during this Olympic season! Even just watching is enough.

Photo Credit: http://www.olympic.org/photos/olympic-flame-burns-bright