We just went on the 4th of July dinner, dance watch fire works cruise on the bay. It was great. We…read morehave seen the Cabernet Sauvignon yacht docked in Alameda when we go walking along the shore but never really thought about looking into cruises. We boarded around 6:30 after getting checked in. The bars opened at 6:30 (2nd and 3rd deck) so it seemed like a good first stop upon boarding. Buffet dinner of chicken, hand cut prime rib, sauteed vegetables, salad, lemon rice, and cheese cake started just after 7. I had 2 helpings and cleared my plate both times. Delicious. Back to the bars. Both had beer, wine and spirits. The upstairs bar had the good tequila as well as more premium spirits. Around 9:30 we were in position off the San Francisco waterfront to watch the fireworks. The open top deck was perfect for viewing. It was somewhat clear earlier I the evening but of course the fog rolled in just in time for the festivities. It was still a good show. The DJ was playing tunes all night on the 3rd deck but the dancing really started after the fireworks. The crowd was mixed but everyone was pleasant. The over zealous clean up crew decided to grab our drinks while dancing. The bar crew replaced them even when the bar was technically closed. Huge props to them. Will definitely do this again. Maybe for fleet week when the planes are flying.

Had our high school prom on the Commodore and it was okay. The boat itself had 4 levels with the…read moreupper deck being an open space as well as the 3rd level having a bit of an outdoor portion. The other levels were mainly designated to food and photobooths. The boat drove all the way past the golden gate bridge from Alameda and back. The views were spectacular but the cruise itself was just okay. Pros: - Amazing views from the deck as well as all areas inside the boat. Really loved the route it was on. - Lemon bars which were slightly too sweet but still delicious. - Friendly waiters who were always asking us if we wanted any drinks and clearing the plates. Cons: - No elevator so it was hard to climb up and down the stairs in a long ball gown. - The bathrooms were tiny, not poofy dress friendly. - The food is actually terrible. Think grapes with saucy chicken, I don't know who thought of this option. - The dance floor was on the 3rd floor and while people jumped, it seemed like the ceiling tiles were about to break on the 2nd floor. Overall okay experience. Should have spent more time looking at the views instead of eating the food.

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 hired, Toby of Luxe Cruises to help me plan my husband's 66th birthday party . I can write a…read morebook on our experience from the planning to end of our journey, however I do not know how much space I have ( lol) I was blown away by the entire experience, our family and friends was deeply impressed and stunned at entire event. The food, the bartender , definitely the bartender had us on cloud 9. The staff top tier they went beyond what I had expected, nothing can prepare you for such an experience . I booked the Pinot Noir and we had the time of our lives. It was once in a lifetime experience it was exceptional, unforgettable and will always be s one of the most memorable events of our life

We had our company holiday party this year on the Empress of Sausalito and we all had a blast. We…read moretook 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.

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.

Absolutely fantastic time; these guys know what they're doing and really enjoy it. As a sailor…read moremyself, it's rare that I have the opportunity to be a passenger, but what a pleasure it is to relax and enjoy someone else at the helm, while taking in the wonder that is The Bay... Don't be shy about telling them what you'd like: head under the bridge, hit the city front, spin by Alcatraz then drop anchor behind Angel Island for a picnic. Bring sunscreen and layers! And a little vino to accompany the "comida" ... Highly recommended.

Captain Josh Waldman creates a wonderful vacation at sea! For one week his gorgeous catamaran was…read morehome to my husband and me with our 11 month old baby girl, as we toured St Vincent and the Grenadines. He picked us up from the airport and showed us an unforgettable and extremely hospitable time. Josh knows all the great spots! He sailed us to one breath taking island after the next - some secluded and serene, others bustling with kite surfer pros flying by. He provided us with snorkeling gear and guided us to amazing locations to see the underwater wonders. He took us to great restaurants where the locals eat, and hidden island BBQs with delicious freshly caught fish on the grill! Our living quarters were comfortable and having our baby with us was no problem (we brought our own mini tent, which proved to be very helpful). His trusty canine first mate Cody was awesome and super cute! There was always plenty of food on board. Breakfast and coffee were a great start to each morning. And when you need to relax on deck, there is no better place than the catamaran trampoline with a cold beer. Captain Josh is extremely knowledgeable about the sea and his vessel. He sails masterfully and we always felt safe with him at the helm. He is friendly, respectful and accommodating, and an overall pleasure to be around. We can't wait to do it again next year! Thanks Captain Josh!

Been on the brew boat in Sacramento and that was a fun time, so naturally we had to check this one…read moreout too. It didn't disappoint. Great views, staff, and a great time with some of my best friends listening to our favorite music. Bring some good brews, a warm jacket just in case, some snacks, and you're set!

I had a lot of fun chartering out a yacht with onboat. I boarded the boat near AT&T park. The…read morebooking process was quite easy. Once I booked the boat I got a confirmation shortly. Kevin and Marc were pretty helpful on the phone explaining to me the different boats. I ended up getting the 45 lagoon catamaran. That's such a nice boat I wish I can own one some day! I chartered the boat for my birthday party. I really had a blast.

We went out on a 45' Catamaran yesterday with Captain Barry and could not have had a better time…read more The team at OnBoat were communicative and professional, and the rental process was easy. Our journey was a celebration of my father's 80th Birthday. We had saved up for it for over a year. He told me this morning that it was by far one of the best days of his whole life. Thanks OnBoat!

Carlos and Sophie were incredible hosts on their catamaran the BluReverie. Our group had an amazing…read moreweekend trip and we're pleasantly surprised by the quality of food, drink, and hospitality! Highly recommend taking your next weekend getaway on the BluReverie for an unforgettable experience!!