We had our company holiday party this year on the Empress of Sausalito and we all had a blast. We took a three hour dinner cruise around the bay and enjoyed every minute of it. Working with Deborah was great, she was able to help us coordinate our activities (casino tables), our photo booth and helped us come up with a great menu that people would enjoy. The rates were great and allowed us to get more for our money, which made for a fun night for all. I highly recommend Empress Events for your next party. read more

I rarely leave negative reviews, but my experience with Empress Events was extremely disappointing. Throughout the planning process, communication was inconsistent and often frustrating. Important details were overlooked, which created unnecessary stress. One major issue involved a lost cashier's check that was not handled with the level of urgency or accountability you would expect. Unfortunately, the event itself fell far below expectations. The dinner quality was poor, especially for the price, and many of our guests noticed. The yacht had no air conditioning, making the ride very uncomfortable. Guests were visibly hot and sweating, and we had to request that the upstairs plastic windows be opened just to get some airflow. The bar service was also disappointing. The cash bar was not fully stocked, and several items listed on the menu were unavailable because they had run out. Additionally, per our contract, we were supposed to use an iPhone for music, but that wasn't possible because they could not locate the connectors they said they would provide. Most frustrating of all, our cruise was cut short due to errors in the contract--errors that were never corrected or brought to our attention beforehand, so we were never given the opportunity to review or re-sign. This directly impacted the experience we paid for. After the event, I reached out to Deborah to address these issues, and I never received a response. That lack of follow-up only added to the disappointment. Overall, I feel like we were cheated out of an event that should have been epic and enjoyable. I cannot confidently recommend Empress Events based on my experience. RESPONDING TO GERRY: Gerry, thank you for responding. I appreciate your apology; however, I want to clarify that my concerns were not based on a misunderstanding or simply being upset after the event. The issue with the cruise time was not that we expected an additional hour. We understood and paid for a 3-hour cruise from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. The signed contract clearly stated: Boarding at 5:45 PM, Start at 6:00 PM, End at 9:00 PM, and Disembark at 9:45 PM. We were told during the event that we had to get off the boat at 8:45 PM, which shortened the experience we paid for. I brought this concern to the Host during the event, and she went to speak with you. When she returned, she informed me that unfortunately it could not be accommodated and that we would have to get off the boat. If there was a typo or error in the contract, that should have been brought to our attention before the event and corrected with an updated contract for us to review and sign. We were never notified of any correction or given the opportunity to acknowledge and agree to a revised agreement. A signed contract should accurately reflect the services being provided. While I understand you felt everyone was having a great time, there were many issues happening behind the scenes that impacted our guests' experience. The yacht did not have air conditioning, and guests became extremely uncomfortable from the heat. People were sweating, and we had to request that the upstairs plastic windows be opened just to allow airflow. The cash bar was also disappointing. It was not fully stocked, and several items listed on the menu were unavailable because they had run out. The music arrangement included in our contract also could not be used because the connectors that were supposed to be provided could not be located. We had to use a worker's personal device, which required me to sign into Spotify to access our playlist. If that employee had not been available with his device, we would not have had music for the event. After the event, I reached out directly to address these concerns and never received a response. That lack of communication was disappointing, especially after investing so much time, money, and effort into planning what was supposed to be a once-in-a-lifetime celebration. I truly wanted this event to be an amazing and memorable experience for our classmates and guests. Unfortunately, the combination of planning issues, communication problems, contract concerns, and the conditions during the event left us feeling disappointed and that we did not receive the experience we paid for. read more

I reached out to Empress Events regarding a corporate event. Deborah Birmingham mentioned she would send a proposal once she got back to the office, but six days later, nothing had been received. I then let her know we had decided to move forward with another company to stay on schedule. Her response was: "What do you mean delay? We were totally responsive to you the whole way and worked totally with your low budget. I am not sure what boat you found at the price you wanted, but I do hope it all works out for you." This response was extremely unprofessional and inappropriate. Even if a client's budget is lower, no one should ever be made to feel dismissed or "less than." There's always a professional way to communicate if a budget doesn't align with your services -- but to never receive a proposal and then respond this way is unacceptable. As a result, I will not be working with this company moving forward. Professionalism and respect should be the foundation of any client interaction, especially for corporate events. read more

We had our engagement party on board and everyone had an absolutely wonderful time! Deborah is amazing and on top of everything, she has done this so many times, everything went smoothly. Deborah is very accommodating and she listened to all of our needs, and she answered all of our questions. The food was incredible and everyone is still raving about it. The captain was so kind, Brett, Lisa, Lupita, the chefs and Mauricio and Dennis were so great! We will absolutely come back to empress for another one of our events! Krystal&Michael read more

We cannot thank Deborah and her team enough for making our wedding absolutely flawless. From start to finish, everything was seamless, even though we knew there was so much happening behind the scenes. Deborah's professionalism, calm presence, and attention to detail made all the difference. She kept everything on track, handled every little hiccup with grace, and made the entire process feel effortless for us. The yacht was beautifully organized, the timeline flowed perfectly, and all of our guests felt warmly welcomed and cared for. Special thanks also to Captain John for his fantastic hospitality and smooth sailing! Deborah is a true pro, and we are so grateful for all her hard work in making our day unforgettable. If you're considering working with her and her team, do it--you will not regret it. read more

Empress Events - The yacht when we were leaving - Boat Charters Near Me - Richmond, California

Empress Events was our choice to host our mother's Celebration of Life Memorial and Ash Spreading. They delivered a seamless service from inception through completion. My thanks and gratitude in mere words, can not do justice to the event they facilitated. The office team helped enormously in all arrangements and numerous special requests. We decided to add an additional hour to our voyage as we wanted to spread our mother's remains beneath the Golden Gate Bridge and were met with ideas, suggestions and a change order worth every penny. The catered hors d'oeuvres were perfect, fresh and delicious. The service team was exemplary and helpful with every request. The captain was present and engaging and the epitome of professionalism. Our guests were bowled over by how well every step was orchestrated. I was repeatedly told this was the most beautiful event and tribute any of them had ever attended. All I can say to sum up our experience is, my hat is off to your entire team! You were all wonderful, professional, sensitive to our needs and we appreciate your company, immeasurably. Best regards, Penelope Smith read more

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Attended Proactive Network Consulting 25th anniversary party on the Empress Yacht and I was impressed with the event staff and the yacht. I enjoyed my experience. Great to see the views of San Francisco from the water. read more

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My experience with this company and "Captain Gerry" is the absolute worst. They double booked my cruise which I was throwing for a 40th birthday party. Disorganized and caused me severe stress!! Canceled at last minute and I had to find another boat at the 11th hour after many many confirmations. I posted a review reflecting my experience on social media, and somehow they got a hold of where I worked. They contacted my then-boss to threaten that if I didn't take my review down of my experience with them, that they would impact my employment, since they knew someone who knew someone. Not only did they create stress for my party planning but also tried to muscle their way around. Scum. Don't do business with these bullies. (Disorganized bullies at that!) read more

Was super excited to be using this organization they had a great price a great boat and a seemingly great staff we booked back in February for an event that was taking place in May 2021. We paid a deposit everything went really smoothly until the week of our event. To give you guys an idea you have a seven day prior to the event cancellation policy to reschedule or get 50% back on your cash deposit. This company and most importantly Deborah Birmingham who was my event helper waited until it was within six days of the event to tell me let the yacht was changing the terms of our agreement within our written contract by both parties signed. All in all they will change the contract on you and threaten to either cancel your event unless you pay more and eat the cost even though they are breaking the contract or that they will keep your money. Absolute scam of a business and absolute terrible communication. If you want to feel stressed and Enter feel cheated then by all means book this company if not stay far away from this terrible business. read more

We booked with Empress Events for a corporate summer-ending event (70 people). The whole process went extremely smoothly from beginning to end -- my initial inquiry was followed up with by Deborah almost immediately after it was submitted, and Deborah and Sophia were extremely prompt and clear with their communication at every step of the way. The prices were extremely fair, and the payment process was seamless. The food options were pretty good, and though I was skeptical of the quality of the food since it would be served on that Yacht (not sure if it was prepared on board too); I will say I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the food. The hor d'oeuvres were delightful and the entrees were also delicious. There was an open bar that we didn't utilize, but we had mocktails, juices, and sodas which was more than enough for our group. The boat itself is spacious and clean and the actual ride around the bay was smooth. Not a single person in our group got sea sickness and everywhere you looked, there were smiles :) We also got to utilize the TV + Speakers + Mic for some karaoke, and it was a hit with our group. Our total trip was 3 hours long from 11-2pm, so it was more of a brunch situation, and there was not a single dull moment. The staff were all extremely helpful and friendly, with Sophia being on board and making sure everything went smoothly the entire time. Highly recommend going on a Sunday -- even though it'll be back to work the next day the traffic to and from SF is light and it just tends to be less chaotic in the general area! read more

We hired Empress Events for a corporate outing as the iconic sign-off to a week of workshops and networking. The Sausalito was a great boat for our group (50 people), and the Captain did an amazing job of steering us towards some epic sights, while staying out of the choppy waters on a day. We got up close and personal to Alcatraz Island, and many of our out-of-town/out-of-country attendees cited this as the top highlight of the week. The boat itself was a great setup - good selection of snacks, beer, wine and cocktails, and plenty of different spaces/vibes for folks to hang out on. Lastly, Deborah and Sophia were excellent to work with and provided the most cost competitive quote compared to other options we were exploring in the area. Highly recommend Empress Events if you're looking to get out in the Bay! read more

Empress Events - Boat Charters Near Me - Richmond, California

I would like to share my experience working with the Empress Events team, specifically Deborah B., who has been extremely patient and kind with me throughout the process of putting together a proposal. It was my first time request a yacht rental and I was a bit nervous at first, but she made the entire process very easy and simple. Highly recommended and they will be able to find ways to accommodate you in different ways which was very important to me. Thank you! Yohannes read more

This yacht event service is the best out there! I've organized one yacht formal as well as attended another. Incredibly friendly staff, a funny captain, and amazing views. The DJ is also awesome at getting the crowd to dance and have fun. Would definitely book an event again with them, especially considering how attentive and responsive Deborah is. read more

I went on the Empress Yacht boat for NYE 2023 in San Francisco for the first time. I was not impressed at all! First of all for what I got was not worth the $189 I paid. I think for that cruise it should more like $100. This was not Classey at all which is what I expected. No carpet so with drinks the floor was wet and walking with heels was an accident waiting to happen. The upstairs bar only had beer & wine. The downstairs bar had cocktails which the line was always long especially with One bartender! The coat check in was a joke! they hung your coat on a coat rack not in a room so anyone can grab it. There were no tickets given out! So if you had a nice coat it was pretty much up for grabs! So disappointed ! read more

I was supposed to have my 35th birthday party on the 29th of this month and I had a reservation with this company but due to this last-minute cancellation, I am unable to celebrate it as planned. I spoke to Ms. Deborah Birmingham on March 26, 2021, to book my birthday private yacht cruise that was to be May 29, 2021, and I informed her that the planned number of guests would be 40 but not more than 65 and she advised that I would put the actual number of guests when we get closer to the day of the event when I will sign the contract. We had an agreement that I would have the late cruise from 10.00 p.m to 1.00 a.m because they had a couple of cruises before that time, to which I agreed. I signed the contract and sent it on May 19, 2021, but Ms. Deborah was out of work but I informed her that the actual number of guests would be 60 to 65 and will not go over the 75 guests maximum capacity as mentioned. She responded acknowledging my message with thumbs up. We had further proposals and agreements on finger foods, birthday cake with party plates and forks, and two (2) glasses of champagne for all my guests. I was informed about the event cancellation by your staff (Ms. Deborah Birmingham) on May 22, 2021, just about seven (7) days before the event. This is very unprofessional and has caused a tremendous amount of stress, financial burden on me and my guest. The last message indicates that Gerry (owner) no longer wanted to do night events. Why would you offer me this time? if that was the case why not offer a different cruise date and time VS canceling? Instead you started asking my guest ages and demographic information. Please be careful doing business with this company. read more

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We had the pleasure of Empress Events hosting my brother's birthday party and was amazed by the professionalism, and the customer experience. They really 'wowed' us. The crew, Captain Arlan, and Deborah B. provided a memorable experience that we will not forget. Our guests especially were so impressed with Empress, the yacht was clean and spacious. The food was delicious and I can't say enough about the great time that was had by all. Sophia was wonderful as well in her assistance with all of the details prior to our arrival for the event. Thank you so much! Also, my nephew forgot his sweater on the yacht and Sophia brought it to my home the same night. They just went above and beyond and I would highly recommend them. read more

I am so glad we chose Empress Events for my father in laws Ash Memorial in January. After numerous hours researching several others they were our choice for many reasons. With the weather being so stormy in January we were unsure if we could pull this off. I was given two weeks time from family to put this together. With the help of Christian and Deborah it came together beautifully. Their communication was ever so helpful being available by phone and email. Believe me, I had numerous questions being I had never had to arrange a Ash Memorial. My father in law last wish was to have his ashes spread over the Golden Gate Bridge. Being that was not ideal nor entirely legal this was our next best solution. We had approximately 30 guests and each guest were pleased with the quality of service provided. We departed Sausalito on a beautiful Saturday directly under the Golden Gate. They provided the minister who spoke comforting words and walked us thru step by step. His ashes were spread as he wished. They recommended scattering flower petals which was a beautiful touch. Not once did they rush us while a few shared memories. We were able to play a movie of memories and music on their TV. Unfortunately it was only able to play on one of their 4 TV's. We were able to bring on our own pastries and beverages as well. However they do provide a full service upon request. We had brunch reservations nearby so we opted out. Being the coordinator and only daughter in law the time on the yacht went by so quickly. I can honestly say the yacht was beautiful with two bars, bathroom, front deck and back deck with windows all the way around and plenty of seating area. No need to worry about sea sickness while on this yacht. Thanks again to our awesome captain for such a smooth cruise and their crews empathy. read more

Empress Events - Boat Charters Near Me - Richmond, California

We had our wedding ceremony and sit down lunch reception on the Empress on October 16th. I couldn't have been more pleased and neither could our guests. Some details about our event: - 65 people - Sit down lunch - ceremony on board officiated by Captain Gerry dockside - hired our own photographer, cake maker/chocolatier, florist - we chartered the boat for four hours from noon to 4 pm FIrst I have to say that the food was plentiful and delicious, from passed and plated appetizers to entrees. Our guests were very impressed. If you want to see our menu go to aminandpatty dot com. Jared the executive chef brought in special ingredients for us and went to the Farmer's market Friday and Saturday morning to have freshest ingredients for a restaurant quality meal. All the food is prepared in his professional kitchen on the yacht. The attention to detail on the plates showed. Deborah the event planner and the servers and bartenders provided excellent service for us and our guests on the day of the event. Gerry, the Captain was professional and personable and you can tell that he takes great pride in his work and in his yacht. The boat is immaculate. Clean. Tasteful high quality decor. It's not a "boat" but really is a yacht. I'm super organized and did a lot of the planning, vendor and event coordination myself, so I'd recommend for brides who want to have everything handled for them, they hire a wedding planner. Deborah is great, but don't assume she's going to handle details like seating charts, timetables and working directly with your vendors. You have to do that yourself or hire someone to work with Deborah who will handle all the boat details. Deborah was wonderful with answering any questions I had and going over all the details with me, but don't think she's going to "plan" your wedding. The Empress pricing was very reasonable, especially considering all that was provided and the quality of the food and facilities. They were very accommodating with me when we wanted to bring our own champagne and had a special request for beers. Some other places (including two other boats) I talked to were very inflexible with their "wedding packages". Deborah works with you on an individual quote for your special unique event. And they recommended two of the key vendors for our big day (Annabella with Mill Valley Flowers & Kay with Beaux Gateaux Cakes and Chocolates), both who have worked with the Empress many times before, were top-notch. The only thing we would have changed would have been to add another hour on to our cruising time. People were having so much fun, eating, dancing, celebrating and the views of the Bay were a spectacular backdrop to the event, no one wanted it to end. One of our guests, a man in his 50s, said it was "the best wedding he'd ever been to." I have to agree...and one of the reasons was our choice of the Empress and their crew. We hope to have future anniversary parties on the Empress. read more

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It may seem like a great idea to have a wedding on a boat, but be warned, many people get seasick pretty easily. I attended a 3-4 hour event put together by Empress Events on one of their chartered boats, but many people got sick at the end of our short trip...and most of them were not even drinking! It was not a windy day. When the boat is in motion in the middle of the water, ill guests could not leave either, so that made things worse. I'm sure Empress Events are great from an administrative perspective, but I just did not have a great time on one of their boats. 1 star off: Waaaaaaaaayyyy 1 star off: toooooo... 1 star off: ...whoa... 1 star off: ...whoozy! read more

These people are scammers, stay away! They cancel last minute and fail to return deposits, sad.

We are return customers! Captain Gerry and Deborah took care of our wedding in 2011, and this time it was my wife's 40th Birthday. "Fantastic Voyage" got underway on July 26th 2019 and it was the best party evah!. The ship was spotless, crew and event staff attentive, music rockin, food yummy! That's the short review. Deborah is the most patient and understanding event coordinator ever. I have substantial fraud protection on all my accounts and my bank kept sayin, "huh? nice try putting in for $8K for a yacht!!!" Hey Bank! really, its me, not some scammer in Indonesia I swear! Anyway, she was so easy going - she knew it would eventually go through. DJ Mauricio and Rob were the bomb. As I told them before the party, I blew it in 2011 with the DJ who sucked. It was Mauricio's job to break the spell that I had heard about for the last 8 years. Chef Chris: Amazing! Feeding 60+ people is never easy, much less in the cramped quarters of a yacht galley. Everyone loved the food. I'm hungry just thinking about it! So, in closing, do not pass up the opportunity to have a wedding or party that will blow your guests minds and you will be talking about it for days. Sincerely, The Admiral. read more

Dear God....Well, we finally did it! After almost 6 month of planning... Stressing... And all that crazy emotions Deborah, the event planner, was very helpful answering every and each email, text, call...unexpected show up....you name it... Everything! Always prompt and efficient! Our day went flawless! The crew (Deborah, captain, Norma, Andrew, DJ Rob, Chris the chef and one more lady and one more gentlemen (Eduardo?) ....this bride unfortunately does not remember their names :() were absolutely amazing. I was stressing out, but everyone assured the fun and extremely happy night! ---Ok the view was absolutely stunning! Golden Gate Bridge, the yacht.... I mean everything was incredible! --- The food....ahhhh the food was delicious! Could not stop eating.... The drinks... Well the drinks could not stop pouring (probably the reason I don't remember some names) Everything... and I mean EVERYTHING was well organized and assured to be perfect. Look no further! This is it! --Love, J! read more

Empress Events - Boat Charters Near Me - Richmond, California

What an amazing night! After all the back and forth challenges of planning a micro wedding under COVID, we booked our event with Empress, and could not be happier. (It rained the night before, and the day after, but we were blessed with a window of cool, but beautiful December weather). From the very beginning to the time we disembarked the ship, we felt we were in good hands withe Deborah and crew. EVERYONE - from Captain Arlin to Deborah and crew, chef Christian, and DJ Rob - performed as a cohesive team! The ship was clean and professional all the way - including the additional COVID precautions in place for the safety of crew and guests. Response time: Outstanding. Deborah and crew all responded quickly to all our inquiries (email, text, phone). Food: Delicious. From opening appetizers to entrees (we went with beef and chicken, with a fresh salad and asparagus all were so good) Service staff: All super sweet and attentive. DJ: DJ Rob was pro all the way. He read this crowd from the very first song, through dining, and wrapped it all up with "Sweet Caroline" and "Don't Stop Believin'" which if you're human, will compel you to dance and sing! The nighttime bay area skyline lit up the evening, and was an incredible backdrop for the ceremony and several of the photos and videos we have. I will recommend Empress to anyone looking for a unique way to celebrate their event in the SF Bay area. Thank you all at Empress Events! read more

FYI... I had such a bad experience, I made a yelp account just to help others not fall into the same lie I did. Thank me later. The Reggae cruise is a complete scam! Where do I start? The ticket includes two drinks, food and 2 1/2 hour cruise . When I asked the bartender for my two drinks he said they don't do that and told me to talk to the promoter. Either way, I didn't get my drinks that were suppose to be included. After waiting in line to get on the boat I had to wait in another line to get food, which was nothing compared to what you see on the pictures. I was very disappointed. The cruise was a little over 2 hrs, not 2 1/2 as advertised. A ferry ride has better views than the ones offered on this "cruise". PS: DON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE I DID! PSA: Give me my money back and I will delete this yelp! read more

Empress events what can i say! They did a great job over the weekend for my brothers 21st birthday party. To the food to the drinks everyone enjoyed every single bit. Deborah worked with us from last year til the very minute the party was over. I wish I can plan something else in the future with them! Totally great party enjoyed every minute! Thanks Empress for having us! read more

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Deborah is great, communication with her is on point, would've booked here, but several people in my guest list for my wedding like both mothers are afraid of water. read more

We couldn't have been happier with our choice to host our wedding and reception on The Empress. However, what we received was far more. The yacht is simply beautiful and is extremely well maintained. The décor was elegant and comfortably accommodated our 80 guests. Moreover, the staff, the service and the food was stellar! Our dream was to get married in the middle of the bay at sunset and then to continue to celebrate as the yacht sailed around the bay at night. Our vision was based off of our favorite picture of the bay area skyline at night and the Empress Events staff made it happen! Our wedding went off smoothly, with no hitches. Captain Gerry, Deborah the Sales/ Event Coordinator & Chef Chris each took the time to really listen to what we wanted and they delivered it all... and then some. Captain Gerry was so personable and routed us perfectly enabling our photographer to get the exact photos we wanted. Deborah was attentive, knowledgeable, organized & efficient which allowed us to be completely stress free on our wedding day. And what can I say about Chef Chris & Sous Chef Enrique? Two words - absolutely delicious! The rest of the staff servers and bartenders were also awesome! They worked to make all of our guests feel like VIP's. And they did so with professionalism, style and an abundance of personality & smiles. You can tell this crew loves what they do! If you are looking for a unique, high quality venue that can give you the personal touch, you simply will not find anyone better than Empress Events. read more

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I used Empress for a sunset yacht cruise reception for my wedding. I wish I could say the process was seamless but we were constantly having to push Deborah to provide us with details we needed. It was unclear up to the last minute if everything was actually secured for our big day. I would have been happy to let this go because the event itself went well, but the three star review is for the treatment we received on the week of our wedding with aggressive emails from both Deborah and Gerry demanding we resign the contract, even though we had asked them for months to provide us with one once we understood the docking location needed to be moved (which was not our fault but per a mandate by the city of SF). A snippet from one of the emails says it all: "PLEASE ..... WE need our contract signed along with the credit card authorization form signed and filled out today please to keep this charter on the calendar. We are looking forward to your event but We Can Simply NOT proceed without the payment in full and our contract signed." Note that we had previously completed the credit card authorization, signed the original contract and had asked for an updated contract several times. This type of unprofessional (not to mention stressful) behavior would prevent me from recommending them to others. Sending this type of demanding email to a bride the week of the wedding is inexcusable. read more

Great customer service and will work with you and your budget. Deborah is very personal and aim at pleasing the customer. Our trip is in July, but wanted to write review because of the ease at planning and not feeling like I'm getting ripped off. I did see another yatch in Alameda and she was all about the money and meeting a quota charging for everything. I highly recommend Empress events. read more

We had our wedding ceremony on board the Empress on 11/21 and I couldn't be happier with the way it turned out. Though I was a little nervous about everything coming off on time and perfectly, everything ran smoothly. Captain Gerry was relaxed and competent, and the bar staff downstairs was polite and evidently very capable. We chartered the boat for only about an hour and a half, enough time we though to come within reach of the Golden Gate Bridge before returning to Sausalito's harbor. In fact, Capt. Gerry took the boat all the way underneath the bridge, providing a view I think very few of our guests had ever seen, and while the seas got choppy for a short bit there, the whole ride was just completely amazing. The only tiny complaint I would have is that I think there's perhaps not quite enough communication between different bodies in the office, and we almost had a snafu very close to the wedding with the office manager not realizing we had paid not only deposit, but also the remaining balance. That being said, communication between myself and the boat staff was fast, efficient, and extremely friendly, so it was just a small hiccup. I would love to do this again sometime! Well, not the wedding ceremony, but the rest of it. read more

We chartered the Empress yacht to take us out under the Golden Gate Bridge to scatter my mother-in-laws ashes in a final memorial to her. When we arrived at the boat we were created by Carlos who assisted me with the reservations. He was also one of two crew members on this short voyage who assisted us during the 1.5 hour excursion. Once on board we were greeted by Capt. Gary who is also the owner of the company. He briefed us on Coast Guard safety and we where then under way. Needless to say the memorial was wonderful and the service by the crew was the best me and the family have ever experienced. Wether your looking for boat to host a weeding, event for your business or friends, I defiantly recommend this company. I will charter from them again. read more

Had a private event on the Empress and it was a blast! The boat was so impressive and spacious with two bars, two tv screens, a dance floor, and enough room to seat ~60 people for dinner. I enjoyed the course we took (sausalito to under the golden gate and back again). It was unbelievably picturesque! The food provided by the cooks on the boat was surprisingly delicious as well. There is this dip they had that was oil based with a bit of sweet in it. The mashed potatoes were also noteworthy! The cooks were really friendly and they let us try their vegetarian ravioli (omg, so good) along with getting the chicken masala =) Needless to say everyone in our party had a BLAST, and I would highly recommend it! read more

My bf's family rented out a boat for $950 through Empress Events to spread his aunt's ashes in the ocean. We were out on the water for about an hour and a half. The boat leaves from Sausalito and goes out to the Golden Gate Bridge and back. The boat had two levels, tables and chairs downstairs, a dance floor upstairs, TVs, and a lounge area upstairs with comfy couches. The staff was very professional and accommodating to all of our needs. I would recommend Empress Events to people who are looking for a boat rental. read more

We had our evening wedding reception on The Empress and we had a FABULOUS time!! Deborah and Gerry (the event coordinator and the captain) were very welcoming and accommodating to all of our needs. We came to check out the boat several times, as a couple, and also with my parents. Deciding on the menu, the drinks deal, and the event details was an easy and smooth process, and Deborah was always available on the phone to double check details. The Chef (I forget his name now, so sorry Chef!) was *fantastic.* We were a little late in getting our guests dietary requests to him - but he was so adaptable and accommodating. The food was beautiful - many of our guests commented on the mouth watering tilapia in particular :) We had a sit down meal for 74 people - and it was the perfect space for that. It was big enough to hold everybody together on the same level, and yet small enough to make it feel like a close, family occasion. To have a sit down meal with all your family and friends with you on a beautiful boat while going under the Golden Gate Bridge was....well, a dream come true. We would *highly* recommend Empress Events - the boat is beautiful, the team is friendly, and the experience is one that will stay with us for a lifetime :) :) read more

My wife and I hired Empress Events yacht rental for our wedding that was scheduled for July 4th,2020. We booked our reservation through Deborah Birmingham in 2019 via email and a signed contract to secure our date. I signed a deposit form along with the contract for the event. The deposit amount was for $4000. Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 pandemic we were forced to cancel our wedding. We informed Empress Events of our decision on March 20,2020 to cancel the wedding and to please return our deposit. We decided at this point was the best time to do so because if we waited until 90 days within our wedding then the full amount of the wedding was due to Empress Events. In our contract it states that if given proper notice than the full refund of the deposit is in order. With the unknown forecasted in the future we had no choice but to cancel. We requested our deposit be returned as soon as possible. After a week went by of no deposit returned and no answer to when we would get it, i emailed the company again and said we would be ok with them giving it to us in another week. That didnt happen. After about a month of requesting and not so pleasant emails back n forth with Deborah, she finally said in an email that they dont have the money because they used our deposit as operating costs to run the business. We about lost our minds. That is not what a deposit is for and a deposit isnt supposed to be used until the event is fulfilled or the contract isnt upheld. We were well within our right to collect our deposit back however this company refuses to do so. I have informed Empress Events that we will plan to take legal action if necessary. I have already drafted a "demand letter" and sent them a copy via email and first class mail. No response from the company. We finally sent them a final email saying we are willing to drop all court process if they just send us our deposit back. Still no deposit returned and interest is racking up! We shouldnt have to deal with this especially when we should be getting married next weekend. This is Fraud. Months later and a week before we should be getting married during this horrible year, STILL NO DEPOSIT RETURNED! We have already contacted the state attorney office and filed complaint, Better Business Bureau filed complaint , google review, and yelp review. Court is next. Unfortunate but super necessary at this point. Terrible company! read more

I can't recommend Empress Events enough! From my initial contact with Deborah, to our group trip aboard the Golden Gate Empress, everything went incredibly smoothly! Extremely friendly staff (Christian & Laura), accommodating & knowledgeable Captain (Steve), and beautiful boat! My family had a very memorable experience, and we will not hesitate to use Empress Events again soon! read more

Empress Events - 4th of July fireworks! - Boat Charters Near Me - Richmond, California

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a poorly run trip, that started from a dirty port aboard an adequately sized ship. While planning an anniversary party for my parents, I searched Yelp and found the reviews for Empress Events. I saw the positive ratings and called them. I should have known from that initial interaction there would be trouble. My calls, voicemails, and emails all went unanswered. I finally submitted the electronic form and heard back a few days later. My parents wanted a live band on the boat. Deborah said it would be fine, but I needed to speak with Gerry to go over the finer points. I called and left him numerous voicemails and he didn't return my call. Finally, days later, I called him again and he said the band was fine. Six months before the event, we signed a contract. A month went by and I reached out to Deborah. Again, after a delay in responding to my questions about technical equipment aboard the ship, she told me to talk to Gerry. Yet another round of phone tag commenced and after a few weeks, I finally got in touch with him. He told me we needed to provide our own speakers for the band and that he wanted to speak to the company providing the equipment. I provided him with the company's contact information. He informed me that he would call them soon to let them know his requirements and the logistics of loading everything onto the boat. This was 5 months before the event. What happened over the next 5 months? I don't know, but Gerry never contacted the audio equipment company. Every few weeks they would call him, he would never respond, and so they called me asking that Gerry get in touch. I would then reach out to him and Deborah and ask that they call the company. But they didn't. It wasn't until the DAY BEFORE THE EVENT that Gerry finally reached out to the audio equipment company. He did so that day, only after contacting me to say he'd never heard that there was going to be a band aboard his ship, which was completely untrue. Also the day before the event, Deborah informed me that we had to provide our own microphone system as the one on the boat was broken. She'd known about our speeches for months and only told us about the need for the mic a day before the event. No big deal, right? You can just run down to the store and purchase a mic system. Oh, right, you can't do that. And trying to rent one the day before the event, in the Bay Area during the peak of wedding season? Good luck. Fortunately, through our own planning and through no help of Empress, we'd already secured mics as a backup. On the day of the event, the band arrived to set up. As we waited at the dirty dock, with equipment in hand and wearing formal attire, Deborah asked who we were and what we were doing there. I introduced myself, but she had no idea who I was. I'd only been communicating with her for nearly 6 months about the event. If you want someone to instill confidence that the event you're paying way too much money for is going to go smoothly, don't use Empress. Deborah's lack of clarity and preparedness are how she operates. Once the band got set up, despite the contradictory instructions from Deborah and Gerry, the party began. Months ago, I had asked Deborah for a breakdown of when events would happen, and she gave me some times. Despite those previous discussions, she kept changing times without explanation. She tried to rush through speeches and told me that my parents didn't want anyone speaking. She even tried to cut off my parents' own speech. I also found it incredibly unprofessional that Deborah, while trying to rush events along, didn't have her own watch. She had to ask me multiple times to find out the time. When we finished the event, the band returned to the dock to unload. Even though we had a lot of equipment to move, Deborah rushed us off the boat. The staff attempted to move our musical instruments, as if they were pieces of garbage, by placing the instruments in a cart that was literally filled with garbage and random liquids. Fortunately, we stopped them at the last minute. At this point, they'd already been paid and didn't care about customer service. After we were hurried off the boat with equipment strewn about the dark dock, because Gerry refused to leave the lights on for 10 minutes, Deborah, Gerry and the staff simply left us there. My experience with Empress Events was among the worst I've ever had with any company. I've coordinated events across the country and have never received such unhelpful and disrespectful service. There are better boats to rent. It won't surprise me if I see Gerry respond to this review, trying to assure everyone that my account is false and that they did nothing wrong. Despite his feeble attempt to contradict this review, don't be fooled into using them. Empress Events is unreliable, unresponsive, and treats their customers poorly while providing inferior service. Learn from my mistake and don't hire them. read more

Empress Events saved the day when we were searching for a way to transport our wedding guests from Tiburon to San Francisco for our wedding reception. The week before our wedding, the ferry decided to stop running the evening ferry and we had to find a quick solution for transportation. I researched a lot of private yacht companies but for a simple charter, they were completely out of our price range. The only company that wanted to work with us and make our budget work, was Empress. And they did an amazing job figuring out a solution that saved our transportation needs all within our budget. My only recommendation to them would be to not honk at the bride as she is making her way to the boat. I know there is a schedule to keep but it's not easy walking on a dock in heals, a full length gown and veil! Overall, we were so happy with the experience and the scenic ride to SF was such a treat for us and our guests. read more

Our group did a private dinner boat cruise on the Empress. Everyone was so impressed by the boat and had a blast. I looked around at other companies, which Captain Gerry had recommended I do, and he was right, there is no comparison. The boat is awesome with two bars, two tv screens, a dance floor, etc. While other boats may be cheaper, you get what you pay for, and I felt like you get a lot for what you pay for on the Empress. Leading up to the event, Gerry and Deborah were great at communicating and working with me to plan. Setting up the event, the staff were so friendly and helpful, it made it so stress free. The whole staff is wonderful, Jules, Robert, the servers. The food, was surprisingly really really good from the appetizers to the main course. I don't think the event could have been any better and most of that is due to the great customer service that Empress offers, I'm sure we'll do many more events with them. The only thing I wish I had known prior is that you can't board the boat until 15 minutes before departure, which makes sense, but I didn't know that and so all the guests were waiting outside. We went to the restaurant next door called Fish to pass the time. read more

We had a beautiful wedding reception on the Empress Yacht in April. All of our guest s had a wonderful time, especially all our guests visiting San Francisco for the first time. Deborah is super easy to work with and will do almost anything to make sure everything goes off without a hitch. Just make sure that you over communicate with her a bit as she does get very busy. Chef Jerrod is amazing and you will be amazed at the amount of extraordinary food that comes out of that tiny kitchen on the yacht. The food was super delicious and all our guests absolutely love the food. I must admit there was some miscommunication and attention to detail problems that I thought we had addressed prior to the reception, but it wasn't really a big deal and they were able to adjust quickly. Like most of the other reviewers, we also wished we would have had more time on the yacht. read more