From the Pilot House

A Culinary Adventure in Berkeley

North Berkeley’s “Gourmet Ghetto” houses some of the most storied restaurants in the Bay Area, including the original Peet’s Coffee & Tea, the Cheese Board Collective and Chez Panisse (the legendary restaurant is currently closed for repairs after a fire). On May 7, the fourth annual A Taste of North Berkeley: Gourmet Ghetto Restaurant Walk takes participants to 20 local cafes, shops and galleries. Tickets are just $25 and include tastings, treats and all kinds of fun.

Event proceeds benefit the Berkeley Lions Community Fund charities. Tickets and additional information are available from the Berkeley Lions Club.

Alcatraz Cruises Celebrates Earth Day

Join Alcatraz Cruises and our local, non-profit partners as we celebrate Earth Day at Alcatraz Landing! This event will focus on sustainability, environmental stewardship and hands-on activity stations. This is a fun, family-friendly event at no cost. Bring the kids; we'll provide activities for all ages where you can draw, paint, and let your imagination run wild!

• Pedal Power – visitors can see how much power their feet will generate with a specially designed bike attached to a small generator and computer.

• Green Home Choices – a station of Legos® will be available for visitors to learn about changes they can make in their home to make it more sustainable.

• Survivor Plants – in partnership with the Gardens Conservancy, visitors will discover the life and history of the colorful plants currently on Alcatraz Island.

• Arts & Crafts – a station with art supplies will allow children to express their creativity through art.

• Discover the Bay – in partnership with the Aquarium of the Bay, a microscope with large display will explore the microorganisms in San Francisco Bay that play a critical role in our local environment.

Event Information:

• Date: Saturday, April 20, 2013

• Time: 9:00am-4:00pm

• Location: Pier 33, Alcatraz Landing, San Francisco, CA 94133

• Contact phone number: 415-438-8320.

 

Find more about Alcatraz Cruises commitment to the Respect Our Planet initiative and learn how we can reduce our impact on the environment and protect the beautiful San Francisco Bay. Call to reserve tickets today! 415-981-7625

Alcatraz Exhibit Debuts in San Francisco

Memorabilia from one of the world’s most famous islands will be displayed for five months when "Alcatraz: Life on the Rock" opens at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco on May 1. The museum-quality exhibit spotlights the stories of Alcatraz, complete with authentic possessions from Alcatraz alumni.

Visitors walk through four sections exploring the island’s history as a military fortress, federal penitentiary, site of Native American significance and national park. In addition to audio clips, photos and life-sized models, the immersive exhibit includes walk-through cell doors plus letters, keys and other goods from former residents and guards.

“Alcatraz: Life on the Rock” is a joint collaboration between the National Park Service and Alcatraz Cruises, the National Park Service concessioner providing ferry service to Alcatraz Island and a member of the Hornblower family of companies. Alcatraz Cruises partnered with the Hyatt Regency San Francisco to bring the exhibit to the Bay Area for the first time, and it remains open through October 25, 2013.

Entrance is free. Visit the hotel website for directions, and the exhibit site for additional information.

Welcoming the 'Exploratorium' to Pier 15

Wednesday night, the Exploratorium held a private preview party hosted by the San Francisco Travel Association. Crew members from our Corporate, Alcatraz Cruises and Bay Area office made their way down from Hornblower Landing to check out the new $300 million facility at Pier 15. With over 330,000 square-feet, the new museum has three times more space than the old location at Palace of the Fine Arts. Hundreds of guests were here to check out the re-designs, exhibits and attractions, but this was much more of an interactive experience than viewing spectacle.

Guests flowed from the Forum through the West, Central, and East galleries to the Outdoor Terrace and Observatory, while enjoying live music and delicious concessions from some of the best caterers in San Francisco. Many eye-catching exhibits were on display, sparking the curiosity and excitement to participate.

Hornblower couldn’t be happier as we continue to see the piers flourish. After a 10+ year relocation process, the Exploratorium will finally celebrate their grand opening next week on April 17. Congratulations and welcome to the neighborhood!

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/. 

Touring Brooklyn’s Cherry Blossoms

Cherry blossoms are among the surest signs of spring, and this month the pretty pink petals take center stage at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG). The Hanami Guided Tour, named for the Japanese tradition of cherry blossom viewing, takes place on Wednesdays (1 p.m.) and Saturdays (11 a.m.) through April 24. Guests will explore BBG’s flowering cherry collection, the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden and, as a bonus, the C.V. Starr Bonsai Museum.  

Later this month, the BBG celebrates on an even bigger scale with the Sakura Matsuri festival. On Saturday and Sunday, April 27 and 28, the event commemorates traditional and contemporary Japanese culture with samurai sword fighting, Taiko drummers, J-pop music, ikebana flower arrangements, kids’ workshops and much, much more.

For tickets and directions to Brooklyn Botanic Garden, plus additional event information, visit www.bbg.org.

Fling Before the Ring Giveaway

Hornblower has partnered with Loverly for a special giveaway! Enter for a chance to win a bachelorette party for you and up to 19 of your closest friends aboard the finest yacht in New York, the Hornblower Infinity. This Manhattan Cruise features gourmet food, free-flowing wine, a DJ, and your very own personal party coordinator. Don't miss out on the party you've always dreamed of! Contest runs to April 15, 2013 at 12PM EST. Enter today: http://lover.ly/win

Gearing Up for Graduation Season

As we get closer to graduation season, the event planners at Hornblower have been exploring this year's trends. We've found a lot of inspiration on Pinterest, including playful table settings, distinctive invitations and cute decorations. There are also whole blogs dedicated to cake ideas, party themes and potential menus.

Of course, Hornblower can also help you put together the perfect party -- and we'll handle all of the food, decor and entertainment. Whatever your group size, whatever your interest and whatever your budget, we have affordable packages and customizable cruise options that address all the details. Head over to our website and click on the port city near you for all the contacts and information you’ll need!

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.