Went to a wedding on a Hornblower yacht last night. It was a fun fun night! The whole event was seamless. What's impressive about the staff is how invisible they are. They appear when and where they are needed, but never too intrusive to spoil the fun. Food was good - nothing spectacular but the no one is there for the taste of the food any way. Bathroom was clean, and the whole yacht was very well maintained. read more

I had my wedding from one of their yachts leaving out of the Berkeley Marina. All my guests loved it, except for those who got sea sick. I loved the fact that with your wedding package, which cost us about $6k for about 60 people, you get cake(nothing too fancy), good food (we had the individual meal selection rather than buffet),drinks, a marriage ceremony, and a nice 3 hour cruise around the bay. The servers were pretty good, and very professional. Our captain Bryan was the best! He really knew where to take the boat to get the best views including by the Giant's baseball park. He was also very calm and assuring when I was frantically worrying that we would end up leaving behind some of our guests who couldn't find the place. There were a few things I would complain about. One, is that we only got 1 hour to set up the boat with our decorations, and 30mins to clean up because another party would be boarding once we got back to the docks. My planner seemed like she was too busy to give me information to plan my wedding. I had to ask her for the menu, the cake selection, etc. She was available by e-mail though, so it made it easy. Another thing, you can't bring outside food either onto the boat, so we ended up having an after party at a friend's house so that we could celebrate with those who couldn't make it to the cruise. Also 3 hours passes by so quickly, unless you were sea sick, in which case 3 hours couldn't go by any quicker. =) My husband and I also went on a Valentines day cruise, but it wasn't as good. The buffet food wasn't all that great and we ended up going home hungry. So for the individual cruises I would give them a 2 star. read more

Sorry, wasn't really what we expected for a New Year Cruise. The SEATED VIP GOURMET TOUR, from Berkeley , disappointed us. Food was average, the room was cold for the girls in their nice NYE-dresses, so they all had to wear a coat .... and who want that for NYE? Serving was slowly, we didn't get our glasses filled up in time. And it wasn't cheap ! read more

I wanted to give Ellie Adams 10 stars from Prestige Cruises.com my friends from Russia just came back from Mexico on a 7 day cruise via Princess Cruises & I have always wanted to visit St. Petersburg so I made a plan to visit there this July for 10 days with the jewels of the Baltic from Denmark in Copenhagen & really hope to meet new friends & enjoy new places I have never seen nor been to! It will be the trip of a lifetime for us both!! read more

Very disappointed in Hornblower yachts. Relatives coming to town. Booked a party of 4 for 3 months out at Chardonnay Sailboat in Santa Cruz, Segways in San Francisco, and Hornblower Yachts for lunch on the Bay. One of our party had to cancel due to a family emergency. Chardonnay and Segways were accommodating and gave a credit. Hornblower could not have cared less. Spoke with Armando and Stephanie and they told me to "pound sand" in a very nice way. If you are using Hornblower, make sure no one dies or gets sick. That will be your tough luck. read more

My boyfriend and I recently had brunch New Year's Day. This was both our first cruise with this company. I've been wanting to do this for quite some time since I stumbled across some folks going on a cruise while I was leaving the double tree hotel some years back. Any who I must say that the staff was very nice and courteous they kept our mimosas flowing! And very attentive. We were seated on the second level which was perfect. It was elegant/classy and very romantic overall. I rate the company and experience overall 5 stars but the food however a 3 out of five it was just ok. But I would definitely recommend it and I plan on going again for another occasion. read more

So if you want to read my rant story here it is but not just read pros cons. Pros *Fireworks are always so crowded to watch but here it wasn't crowded and I got it last minute! *Free drinks plus alcoholic beverages *Warmer place to be on fourth if July *clean bathrooms *clean set up and over all cleanliness *servers are nice but they always seem far away Cons Main course of food was very bad it just didn't taste like meat and the salmon was overt season and taste horrible! So eat a big big dinner or pack your own meal I will next time! Customer service wasn't good they made all of us people wait in cold icy winds, it was clearly we where all here!!! Intercom hard to hear the captain and the speakers are crappy so it pops glitches few times. All assign seating it's not first come! Next time pack a dinner and a big parka jacket plus a blanket no I'm not kidding there where people us using the table cloth for warmth! Your own music with some head phones! You should be great! On to my rant! Ok I just recently went here for 4th of July, so this is how my experience went. We booked this last minute night before because we had nothing to do for 4th of July yet. So we get there in our some what fancy clothes ( I wore caprese with high heel with sweater) and he wore pants with a polo with a wind breaker) So getting back to my story, so we got there 15 mins early which felt more like 15years! It was so deadly cold and windy out that we both might catch some sickness! We hid in the hotel which was overly crowded with holiday tourist of some sort but we found a small cafe. Then we went outside around 10 mins thinking that they might let us in. Nope!What a joke, outside was so cold I shook so much shivering. It felt like 15 years everyone counting clocks. We had a whole line of freezing people made to wait til exactly 7 pm or what every time it said on the ticket. I felt more bad for the not VIP they had to wait a extra 30 mins before the ship! After that it was pretty smooth sailing but one food entry was bad which was the filet mignon and salmon so gross it was hard to stomach it just didn't taste like meat!!! Everyone around the ship had some kind of big piece of mystery meat gross! Speaker to hear music where up in the main floor techy screechy or plane buggy. No need to be first in line either it's all been assigned any way you get top or bottom. My experience was 2 ticket forVIP for berkley !I saw the the firework where beautiful, food was a C+ and it was lovely. read more

My boyfriend and I went on the Hornblower Dinner and Dancing cruise this past weekend. It was pretty cliche, but still entertaining. The live music was nice and the food was decent. But after about 2 hours, we were ready to get off the boat (the cruise lasts 3 hours). I'd recommend going on a daytime cruise as you can't really see too much scenery at night. By the end of the night before we even got to our starting dock, we were lined up at the exit, along with a handful of other couples. As a note of warning, gratuity is not included in the ticket price. And the suggested gratuity will be based off not just the price of your meal, but the entire ticket price for the cruise. So be prepared for that line item. read more

Took my mother to the Brunch Cruise for her 50th Birthday! She loved it. It's nice in the inside the arrange assigned seats and overall very welcoming. Carlos our server was on point with the mimosas!! read more

We were contemplating having an event. I'm giving them 2 stars because they tried to accommodate my family for a free trial. Although we had only talked about Berkeley the cruise left out of San Francisco. The person we were dealing with should have told us but we gave her the benefit of the doubt. We talked two days later. What bothered me the most is that she never apologized for her mistake or her part in it. It made me not trust them. read more

ZERO STARS!!!!!! Well Folks, it has happened - Hornblower has officially ruined my wedding day, not once, BUT TWICE!!! Whomever is working in their PR Dept and responding to these comments is doing so for one reason, and one reason only - to get you back "on board" and suck more money out of you!! After ensuring us that they were going to "make it right", all they really tried to do was offer a "discount" and make us pay for it all over again - HORRIBLE!!!! Picture this: It's your wedding day, you're getting ready to walk down to the boat, when one of your GUESTS comes and tells you that the cake is not on the boat as it should have been an hour earlier; the red carpet that you were charged out the nose for was nowhere to be found; your so called "coordinator" shows up, introduces herself to your grandparents, then LEAVES and does not return; everyone standing around for 10 minutes, looking at eachother because no one knows what to do [because the coordinator is not there - there goes that "element of awe" as I walk down the aisle]; the boat motor is running during the ceremony, so no one can hear anything; and then it happens....the WORST POSSIBLE thing that could ever happen at ANY wedding - the Captain announces the WRONG NAME!!!!!.....and not something simple and forgivable as maybe my maiden name - NO....He announces the name of my ABUSIVE EX-HUSBAND!!! Yeah...go ahead....twist that knife a little further, I don't think you've reached my unborn child's soul yet!!! When I received the response to my earlier comment, I was skeptical, but had hope. I was led to believe that Hornblower would hold true to their word and give us the opportunity to do it all over BUT, not without charging us ANOTHER $3,000 because the vessel that we used originally is no longer part of their fleet.....Not mmy problem!!! Oh, but their "really sorry". PLEASE....You people are a DISGRACE!!!! read more

Beautiful cruise. Have been on here couple of times with my boyfriend and it is very romantic. Especially for Valentine's Day and our anniversary. We had a blast each time we have been on this cruise. The food is always delicious. read more

I recently spoke with Samantha at Hornblower. Maybe I'm just a dupe, but I have to say I am impressed. She seemed genuinely concerned without being smarmy. Even so, I really doubt they'll stop using the Pacific Hornblower for airshows. So on that count you have been warned. That ship isn't the best ship to be on for an airshow. But of course airshow cruises are a tiny fraction of their offerings. Speaking of which, we'll be taking a Thanksgiving cruise soon. For the record, we paid full price for our reservation. My reviews aren't for sale! If I bump the rating up after Thanksgiving, it'll be because we had a good time. read more

Great trip around the bay. The wait staff a bit in the slow mode. Food very average at best. Great tourist event!.

I went on a Hornblower cruise for Valentines Day and it was incredible. The service was great and everyone was very nice. We were happy to find out that the cruise included unlimited wine, beer, and champagne. We also received two complimentary photos that were taken before we boarded. The boat was very clean and well decorated. We ate dinner at the beginning (our boat had a buffet but all do) and then we went outside for the rest of the night to look at the amazing views! I would definitely recommend this for anyone..it was very romantic. I think it's good for a couple or a big group. I hope I can go on a Hornblower cruise again soon! read more

The main reason I did not give this cruise four or even five stars was that the overall experience was not worth 160+ dollars. The food was mediocre, if we weren't hungry we probably wouldn't even touch it. The boat ride was good, but I still felt the price was way to high. It would be much better to take the 30 daytime cruise from red and white and then just have dinner at any of the numerous excellent restaurants in SF. read more

This review is just for customer service. I reached out THREE TIMES to inquire about hosting an event for October 2015, and no one got back to me. I'm sorry, but even if you're booked, you call or email to let the person know. I'm truly disappointed, because I would have loved to give them our business. read more

Went on the VIP seated dinner for the Fourth of July cruise. We purchased a window seat as an upgrade only to discover that all but 3 tables on the boat were window seats. The seating is arranged around the outside of the interior walls which are lined with large windows so even the tables on the inside have a good view. The band they had on board was fantastic! This really made my night. The servers were a bit amateurish and one lady spilled an incoming drink onto the other drinks she had just put on the table. I think she wasn't used to serving on a boat. My biggest pet peeve with this cruise was that the full bar only served Gordans brand alcohol so don't expect any Kettle One or any other premium drinks. This just screamed "Cheap!" to me and my guests. The food, while presented well, was not as good as I had hoped. The menu selections were right up my alley but some of the items on my plate were not cooked the way I prefer. I didn't want to say anything to the waitress about my food because I didn't think they cooked it on-board. Everyone else in my party enjoyed their food which was more important to me. In my humble opinion, the cruise was overpriced for what we got but everyone had a good time. But the way Hornblower presented this cruise package, I was expecting a lot more for what I bought. read more

Went on the New Years cruise on Hornblower in SF. Boarded the yacht at 8 pm and the we never left the Marina for dinner. The boat finally left the port at 10:30. I spent alot of money to sit in the Marina on New Years. The food was OK, not hot enough. The service was terrible. I will say after contacting the horn blower they were nice enough to send me and my husband another cruise on them. We will give it another go. read more

The crew of the San Francisco Spirit did a really great job catering our event this past week. They were attentive and really went out of their way to accommodate each and every guest. If you have considered a cruise but are concerned about the motion, these boats don't move very much...especially on a calm evening. read more

Kimberly was amazing. Understood exactly how we felt about being motion sickened and kept bringing us water. First time in the boat and she made our experience the best. Thank you so much for going above and beyond for us and our party! You are amazing! read more

Overall: Okay, but check to make sure your date doesn't get seasick. Pros: Friendly staff Smaller boats are better Food is ok, dessert is better Cons: This is NOT a fun date when there is rough seas. Price read more

For New Year's 2008 I took my wife and my parents on the New Year's Eve Cruise aboard the Empress Hornblower. I was a little put off by the $150 price tag, but I gotta say, at the end of the cruise I was convinced it was worth every penny. The cruise itself lasted 4 hours and included a buffet dinner, open bar, and a DJ. Upon boarding you are assigned a table and they had all kinds of nice New Year's decorations there on the table, little party favors like a Happy New Year hat, some noisemakers and kazoos and stuff, all for you to use and keep. We left Berkley at 9:00 and for the first couple hours just toured the bay and ate dinner and had drinks. We passed very close to Alcatraz and then under the Golden Gate Bridge and back again. Then the route takes you right by the entire northern San Francisco shorline, I swear we couldn't have been more than a couple hundred yards from the shoreline, sometimes even closer, when we passed by Pier 39 I bet I could have hit it with a rock we were so close. Then on to the Bay Bridge where the captain settled us under the span to watch the city's spectacular fireworks display. I can't tell you how amazing it is to be sitting directly under the Bay Bridge watching New Year's fireworks. Then you hit the dance floor with the DJ and share a couple slow dances with your loved one. We arrived back in Berkeley at about 1:00 am. The dinner was really good, they have lovely salads and some nice meats, there was chicken as well as a braised tri-tip or something. And the open bar is always a favorite for me, it includes champagne for the new year's toast. Our server, I can't remember his name, was also fantastic, he took great care of us. The boat rides smoothly through rough winds and seas, even if it can be a little noisy. All-in-all I can't really think of anything negative to say about the experience. I loved it. read more

Super romantic for couples!!!! Great buffet food, no really, it is delicious even though it is buffet style. Servers come around and provide drinks and the live music was just spectacular! A must try at least once in your life type of activity. It is rather pricey but well worth it for a 3 hour trip around the bay in a lovely environment with food and champagne!! read more

I had the most fantastic dinner while enjoying the beautiful bay. Danced almost the entire time, too. Quality experience.

Signed up for the advertised New Year Dinner cruise. Price $200. Promises of a bountiful buffet, entertainment and open bar translated into a $30 value meal of mediocre quality; with food running out and the desserts equal to grocery store bought chocolate cake, square cake,and a sloppy dish of bread pudding. Bar not easily accessible. Not enough wait staff. The advertised "entertainment" amounted to entertaining yourself with a radio station playing music over the boats sound system. Promised pictures of the cruise event were not available at the cruise end,no explaination or apologies. Would NOT reccommend. Could have seen the fireworks without this cruise. read more

My boyfriend planned a surprise valentines dinner cruise with Hornblower. I had a lovely night despite the very bland and cold food.

Whatever you do, DO NOT BOOK THE 4TH OF JULY CRUISE! It was a huge disappointment. Not only was it absolutely freezing that night, but the boat doesn't get anywhere close to the fireworks so the view is only so-so. The food was sub-par, the too-loud music that blared through the whole boat ranged from Britney Spears to Michael Jackson to Kool & The Gang and the interior was poorly decorated. It was all very, very cheesy. The staff was really nice though. I'm sure there are classier dinner cruises out there, but this isn't one of them. My advice is to research the boats and make sure it's one that's nicely and recently decorated inside. read more

hornblower events is not for having a wedding that is on a budget. I considered using their smaller boat, the commodore, for a small wedding of 20 in june and I was told by Jessica ,the wedding planner, that it would cost me around 5,000 dollars. I chose the basic food and bar package, basic flower package, and by the time that I got the bill sheet it racked up to over 8,000 dollars with fees and other hidden charges. This did not include dj, or cake. I still wanted to get centerpieces and upgrade linen. I quickly decided to look for another venue for a better price and I found commodore events which gave me the same quote of 5,000 dollars but when I received the tentative bill they were true to their price. Not only did the 5,000 dollars include the ceremony, the food, open bar, the basic flower package, and the cruise service and all the fees....but it also included cupcakes or a cake and the DJ (all for a much lower price than hornblower). I was able to upgrade to better linen choices and food which included lobster at commodore events for even less money than 8,000. Also the boats at commodore events are truly luxurious and do not need that much decorations because the offer flower decorations. The Commodore at hornblowers event is very old looking and needs a lot of decorations that would have made me spend a lot of money on flowers to make it decent enough for a nice wedding because they offer no decorations. So it was an easy choice not to go with hornblower. So to sum it up, if you plan to have a small wedding and want a truly all inclusive on a budget wedding this is not the place to go. The larger yachts at hornblower are much nicer and i think that going on a cruise on them is definitely worth looking into. read more

you can get more for your money elsewhere.. Food taste like microwave dinner , looks fancy. The cruise sucks it's too dark to see anything. If you do go have a friend with a boat ready to pick you up. Or be ready to swim. read more