My husband's sea memorial burial by Marin Memorial was reverent and well managed in August 2026…read more We provided a biodegradable urn which the crew explained how it will disappear under the waves and what we should expect. They also explained how to disperse the rose pedals into the ocean. We had an opportunity to speak our thoughts with family and did not feel rushed at all. The thoughtful surprise at the end of this celebration of life voyage was when the captain presented me with a large card with the date, as well as the Latitude & Longitude where my husband was placed in the sea. A caring and compassion experience.

Professional. Highly qualified Boat Captain (Coast Guard Certified). Clean boat. Great experience…read morein the water and with the ceremony. They explained how to release the ashes, and allowed us to have our family time on our own.

We hosted a celebration of life for my FIL for about 100 and everything was just as I had…read moreenvisioned. Lupita was patient, compassionate, thorough, and handled my many details and requests from start to finish with the utmost professionalism and sensitivity one could hope for. Captain Gerry couldn't have been more accommodating with our schedule and the entire crew worked together to deliver a pitch perfect day. I was beyond thrilled with how everything came together and deeply appreciate their help in one fitting and unforgettable sendoff. Thank you x's a gabillion!

I rarely leave negative reviews, but my experience with Empress Events was extremely disappointing…read more 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.

We wanted a yacht charter for scattering ashes in the San Francisco Bay, specifically departing…read morefrom the Berkeley Marina. It was very easy to communicate with the owner, Eliot of Compass Rose Yacht Charter. He was willing to adjust the time of departure to our needs and it turned out perfect! Instructions were clear on where to park and our meeting place. We were greeted at the gate by a crew member and directed to the Voyager. The yacht is comfortable and clean and the cabin is spacious enough for our group of about twenty people. Captain Richard was very professional and the crew was friendly and helpful. There is a bar with coffee, tea, water and soft drinks. When we arrived at the designated scattering spot, the crew passed out flower petals to mark the site. Cheryl directed us where and how to scatter the ashes. We also brought a flower reef (created with paper tape), that was also tossed at the spot. The boat slowly circled the site several times, allowing us time for our final thoughts. Total time of our journey was about 1.5 hours, enough time for any speakers or formalities. The price was very reasonable, compared to other, more organized options. My friends and family all agreed and we highly recommend Compass Rose Yacht Charters.

Breathtaking scenic views! Second charter, wonderful and memorable worth the ride! Our adventures…read morebegan at the Berkeley Marina towards Angel Island. The captain and crew members very helpful and knowledgeable. Highly recommend the journey. Take a ride and create your own memories. Thank you, Compass Rose Yacht Charter.

Had an absolutely amazing time with Captain Timothy and Shannon on their boat! They were so…read morewelcoming and patient with me as I worked with them when I proposed to my fiancée. I gave them my idea of what I wanted to do and they helped out so much and were very transparent about what they had to offer. I can't thank you both enough for all the help and kindness you gave us!

Fantastic experience! Captain Timothy is an excellent host. My friends and I had a wonderful…read moreexperience. The boat is perfect for the Bay Area and we enjoyed the lounge areas at the front, back, and top. Highly recommend!

Our Captian Efe & his mate Luke were warm & welcoming, we were there to scatter my husbands ashes &…read morethey were very respectful. They explained the best way for the scattering & suggested where the best spot would be to release them & how to do it so we didn't get them back in our faces. They made the trip enjoyable, pointing out things of interest while also not intruding. I highly recommend them.

Such a delightful day on the Bay! My Mister and I went…read moresailing with Captain Kirk's last Saturday, and we had such an incredible experience! We sailed out of Sausalito floating across the Bay. We went under the Golden Gate Bridge and around Alcatraz and Angel Island. The weather couldn't have been more perfect, and the views were absolutely beautiful!! One of my favorite parts was seeing SF from the water. The city, the Golden Gate, and the Bay Bridge all looked so tiny and beautiful in the distance. It was so fun waving to people on the shore and having people on the other boats wave back to us. It was just such a happy, fun, and delightful experience!! The crew was incredibly kind, welcoming, and accommodating, which made the whole trip even better! We were lucky enough to join Wendy from Somatic Ecotherapy, and I'm so glad we got the opportunity to experience SF this way. By the end of the trip, my cheeks literally hurt from smiling so much!! It was just a genuinely delightful few hours, and I would absolutely recommend Captain Kirk's to anyone looking for a fun and memorable way to experience the Bay. I will happily do this again!

We had an amazing experience booking the Schooner Freda B Jazz Night last week. The weather was…read moreperfect, and the crew was friendly, even wishing my sister and me happy birthday since we booked it for our special day. I highly recommend it. It was my first time on a sailboat, and the views were absolutely gorgeous. It was worth the price. Thanks to the great crew for a memorable night--our birthday celebration was truly special.

We enjoyed our second sail on The Schooner Freda B out of Sausalito tonight. It was a perfectly…read morewonderful sunset sail on SF Bay. Previously, we took the Freda B on the Wildlife Morning Sail in 2024, which was also fantastic. What makes the Freda B special is the crew. The vessel itself is gorgeous--even the "head" is great! From the moment you board and are greeted by the crew, you know you're in good hands. The safety instructions are thorough, and the crew immediately puts you at ease before setting off. Whether you have a clear night or a little fog (like tonight), the skies are beautiful, the Golden Gate Bridge is magical, and San Francisco twinkles in the distance. The crew meets your every need with kindness, excellent service, and genuine interest in you as a passenger. They're also an interesting bunch--just ask them about themselves! Hot (chocolate!) and cold beverages are available for purchase, including adult beverages. For out of towners...Wear and bring layers. Jacket + sweater/fleece, long pants, beanie hat, gloves if you have them. Blankets available onboard. This is SF Bay 12 months a year - always chilly and the sail is worth every layer of clothing. We celebrated my birthday tonight, and it was perfect. Thank you!

My husband and I recently married aboard the California Spirit at YCI. Early on we decided to go…read morefor a yacht wedding so we set out exploring our options here in the Bay Area. We first looked at Commodore, Empress, and Hornblower before we found Yacht Connections International. We were a little hesitant to check out YCI simply because their yachts looked so luxurious; we assumed they would be expensive to charter. Well... we were both right and wrong! We toured the California Spirit, their bigger yacht, and it was by far the best looking yacht we toured; very elegant, very contemporary and really no comparison to the competition. So yes, we correctly assumed YCI had the best looking yachts but we were wrong on the price to charter it! We felt YCI's quote for our wedding was quite reasonable. That being said it is still going to cost more to charter the California Spirit than comparable boats at the competition but if you ask us, it was well worth it! The real reason why you should go with YCI is their employees. Yes their yacht was the best looking, but the people who helped make our wedding so special are worth the higher price. My husband and I have received nothing but the highest praise from our guest about the captain, the stewards, the bartender, and the chef - the food was delicious. All our guests raved about the food but we were too busy to really enjoy all the offerings, we completely missed the artisanal cheese and fruit, but we did enjoy the mushroom ravioli - you should definitely work that into your menu! There are lots of options for the menu including gluten free and vegetarian and loads of drink options - my husband's Irish family members had no complaints about the offerings at the bar, nor the bartender! YCI also has excellent vendors. We had Janelle from Green Petal Designs for flowers, Rob from Rob Martel Photography, and Mary Michler from Creative Pastries for the cake. All did a fantastic job with their respective craft and each was very friendly and helpful during the planning process. This review isn't about them but it exemplifies YCI's commitment to providing a high level of service even from their vendors. Lastly we need to make special note of Captain Bill who married us, great officiant and expert at guiding our yacht through the SF Bay, and Stephanie our event coordinator. Stephanie is simply the best! Listen to all her suggestions and definitely ask her to serve as your coordinator the day of. She kept us on schedule, pointed out photo ops, had great suggestions about decor, things to avoid, and everything behind the scenes. She helped me get down the aisle, took care of any special meal requests, had a plate of food ready for us, helped with guests, and I could go on and on with how much assistance Stephanie provided both me and my husband. Thank you very much Stephanie! In short: the yacht was the most luxurious, the crew phenomenal, food amazing, vendors top notch, and a super event coordinator. This adds up to a five star company that made our wedding day oh so special! (And my husband would like to add, all for a competitive and reasonable price!!!)

They made my wedding day a true experience. The food was delicious, the views breath taking and the…read morecrew was delightful. Everything I wanted and more. Dinah was an absolute delight! She was alway available when I needed her. Even giving me her private number if I needed to contact her after business hours. She was god sent and I'm forever grateful to have her on my team during this special time in my life.. Thank You from the bottom if my heart Yacht Connection Crew and Staff! The Bride

Hosted a great event last Friday with Toby and Luxe Cruises. Lots of attendees came up to me after…read moreand told me I "did a great job" and I kept thinking... I really didn't have to do anything because Toby and his team truly took care of all the details. He handled all the details including having last minute solutions for DJs, AV, and food, and was super available for anything else that came up. Toby and his team are pros and I'm not surprised they've been keeping the whole Bay Area partying for so many years. Highly recommend hosting your event with them and I'm sure I'll work with them again in the future!

I had my wedding on Luxe cruises June 5th, 2026. It was relatively last minute; I started planning…read moremid/ end of March. Jules was my Sales point of contact and walked me through the pricing, what was offered, and gave me some great suggestions (1hr dockside, the rest of the time on the Bay). We got lucky with "Karl" and had the most perfect clear weather ever! I worked with Brenda as my point of contact Coordinator. She was calm, collected, responsive and very flexible. I very much enjoyed partnering with her during the planning process. And by flexible, I mean her and her team changed the party at the literal last minute with additional people. Most events have a 10 - 20% no show or drop rate. So I assumed about 42 would show, when the full 50 arrived; including a few that didn't RSVP. Brenda had suggested that I stick with a 50 final headcount, I declined, and...she was right. The team really rallied and made it work. I primarily interacted on the ship with Christian and Annika. They were *delightful*. We arrived at 4pm, informed the staff of additional people and they responded immediately with additional meals, drinks, and let the kitchen know. No hesitation, just understanding and problem solving. I absolutely added an additional tip to the event. Food and Beverage: Important to us so we picked the Lux Package: seafood tower appetizer, Prime Rib, pasta trio, salad, mixed desserts, while allowing us to bring a cake. Solid food, better than expected, pretty decent for a buffet. Open Bar, top shelf. They also let us bring several bottles of wine for dinner, with no corkage fee. Annika was our bartender and was a delight to work with! Boat: two levels- dining level one, and dancing level two. We had a disco themed wedding so the dining area was pretty perfect for the theme (dark reflective ceiling, mini lights) Upper level had great views, clean and easy to decorate to match our team. Overall boat was clean, well maintained and the staff, again, was fantastic all around. Christian was our main point of contact on the boat, and a delight! Overall, Luxe worked really well with our vendors and we didn't hear of any issues with the set up or strike down. Brenda coordinated well with them all, again flexible with last minute updates and changes. As an example, we added two vendors (dance instructors) last minute (literally three days before the reception). No problem to add them to the vendor list, added vendor meals and again. Just really worked with us.