Hornblower Cruises & Events

 

26

118

marianne w.

San Francisco, CA

came aboard the Hornblower with my boyfriend a few months ago and let me tell ya...this may not be a place for you if you're super hungry! Their food took forever and the portions were tiny (it wasn't dine about town either)
the weather was super windy that night, so we didnt stay outside for too long..but luckily the top deck was empty so we got to go upstairs and watch the views from inside instead
luckily this wasnt an experience we paid for since someone gave it to us as a gift, but maybe when i'm my mother's age i would consider coming aboard again.

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Elite '08

69

115

LeSLiE W.

San Francisco, CA

After the helicopter ride, the evening was topped off by dinner and dancing on the Hornblower.  Seeing the city by sky then by sea was a very cool way to spend the evening.  

The BF enjoyed his filet and was was even able to call ahead and make sure they had a vegan dinner option for me, which was very good considering it's not in their every day repertoire.  

The band was a little cheesy, but then again, this is a pretty over the top kind of evening... very romantic but I didn't even mind (romance makes me squirm).  

The views of the city and surrounding areas were gorgeous and we even pulled up next to the ballpark to catch the end of the baseball game.  (I think the captain must be a fan.)

Definitely worth doing at least once!

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11

185

sugar b.

San Francisco, CA

We went on the supper club cruise.

Buffet-style dining: "Italian, Spanish, and Mexican," per our waiter.

Plus there is a carving station on the side with with beef and mashed potatoes. And a basket of sliced sour dough.

I thought that sodas and juice would be included, but they're not.

There was a DJ in the supper club dining room and a "live" band in the main dining room.

So the food is okay. So is the service. There are the ones who look like they want to jump overboard and then there are the others who look like they're having a good time on the kitschy boat.

The "live" band was cute. I like how they called out the birthdays like this, "Well, looks like we have a few birthdays tonight! Table 11! Hello there! Table 19! Happy Birthday to you! And Table 22!" No joke.

And then, there was the engagement. I cannot believe that someone thought to get engaged on the Hornblower dinner cruise.

We are in SAN FRANCISCO. Like only the culinary capital of the universe. And he did it with the $20 upgrade option for the fillet mignon.

Nice.

2 stars for the views and the Gnarls Barkley cover.

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12

99

Lorraine Y.

Millbrae, CA

I think the Hornblower cruise was fun.  I wouldn't say that the food was anything great, but the reason for the five stars is because it was a special night.  My boyfriend took me on the Hornblower for our three year anniversary last year, and it was a good time.  We were supposed to come on the day of our actual anniversary, but it got cancelled because there weren't enough people signed up.  It wasn't the most romantic because we were crammed right between two other couples whose tables were about 9 inches away from us.  I think it's a little tight when you're knockin' utensils with the person next to you.  It was pretty cramped.  My chicken was slightly raw (gag), but it wasn't a big deal because I got a new plate.  It was a pretty cold night since it was March.  Good thing for my heavy coat.  The upper deck was pretty deserted because it was SO windy, so we were able to sit up there undisturbed.  The dance floor was empty except for the few brave couples.  There was a live band who played one of our favorite songs, so that got us shaking our groove thang next to our "table mates."  I think spending a night on the bay with a special someone is a great idea!

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Elite '08

39

185

Petra S.

San Francisco, CA

So for our 4 year anniversary my hubby surprised me by taking me on an evening cruise on New Years Day. We decided to catch a cab there since we weren't sure about parking, though when we got there there was no waiting area and I was getting pretty cold waiting around. As soon as the captain let us on board, we waited in the check in line to be seated and gave them our reservation, but for some reason they said they couldn't find us (even though we provided the confirmation number and my husband said it was a special night for our anniversary, and not to mention he got us one of the most expensive packages they offered. I was already starting to feel disappointed, especially seeing how they seemed so unorganized and felt the night was already going terribly wrong. The host then says they had actually booked us for the 3rd and I was at the point where I was going to flip out because HELLO how is it that our confirmation had both the date and the time and stating that this was for a NEW YEARS anniversary, with the proof of payment as well???!! Beyond me, anyway we found out nothing was set up the way my husband asked it to be (might I mentioned he paid EXTRA to make sure it would be kept a surprise and to have us upgraded to a window seat?) So I felt really bad for him. Our host did manage to get the staff to set it up quickly, though we waste about 20min waiting around while everyone else was already seated and ordering food. So we got the window seat, got our menus and I was sitting there nearly in tears because we just wanted a stress free night and he paid more than what he could afford for it to be just that. They didn't do much to compensate us though until I demanded to speak to a manager in which they told me I had to call their 1800 number later on for. The only thing they were willing to do was give him an upgrade to a steak and gave me an extra dessert for free. The band was apparently asked to give us a shout out on our anniversary and selected a song for us to dance to "Lady in Red" and I felt it was inappropriate because this was an anniversary and the other girl who was just having her b-day there got to dance to "always and forever" which I felt was more of an anniversary song, rather than my lady in red which was more of a hooker song to me or a one night stand song. I mean I was dressed in a plum purple dress, I hate the color red and this was an ANNIVERSARY!! BTW, they also messed up and announced that this was a 10 YEAR anniversary (when we he clearly wrote down 4 years and we obviously are not in our 30-40s. So aside from all the mistakes, delays, lack of genuine and sincere service (except for our waitress which did seem to sincerely feel bad and was the one who gave us the upgrades) not to mention the embarrassing dance we where it was the worst possible song you could pick for such an occasion, it wasn't horrible but it also wasn't what we had paid so much for and the quality or level of service they should be giving for the high cost (this was New Years of course.) Oh and the food was very mediocre with a set menu and very little choices, but we already read about that before hand. I was considering this place to finally have our wedding at before, but after how terribly they messed up that very special evening and didn't even refund us a portion for it, I don't think I'll be returning again, certainly not to spend 10 or more grand for them to act carelessly and unprofessionally and ruin my special day. I'm sure not everyone has had such a bad experience like we did, but this sort of thing shouldn't happen at all, especially when you're paying EXTRA and reserving months in advance to make sure things will run smoothly. Or at least have the decency to write an apology letter as a manager and offer some sort of compensation for a ruined evening. Overall, it was one of the worst anniversaries we've had and it was a good thing we didn't book our actual wedding anniversary here since for that one I had booked a surprise and took him to Gary Danko which was where he took me for our first anniversary. But this one was equally as special to us since it was the day we had our first first date.

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2

20

kim l.

San Francisco, CA

There are pretty much only 3 types of people on this cruise, people celebrating birthdays, people celebrating anniversaries, and tourists. maybe you might fall into multiple categories, but the bf and I went last night to the dinner to celebrate our anniversary. It was pretty romantic. more fun because it was pretty cheesy and i always have fun with my bf.

The foods pretty good, the dinner music was ok, and we can always use a reminder of how beautiful SF is, especially at night.

The best and most expensive souvenir was the picture they take of you before you board the ship. I thought it was super cliche but how could you not buy one?

The Hornblower should be done at least once in your long term relationship.

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Elite '08

55

258

Denise M.

San Francisco, CA

I've been on several Hornblower Cruises over the years - mostly for company events.  My review is for the last one I took just last November.  We went for a lunch cruise around Alcatraz Island.  I didn't expect much from the food, because from past memory, it wasn't that good.  What a surprise, our whole table actually went back for seconds.  I would assume they have a basic menu for the buffet that everyone gets, so simply put, the salmon, chicken, and ravioli - so good!  Everything was very fresh and nicely presented.  Most of us piled on the ravioli.  That was the highlight.  

Skip the dessert though.  I was all over the carrot cake as soon as I saw it, but ended up only taking one bite before pushing it away.  I was quite sad.  It was very dry.

The staff onboard was wonderful.  Very helpful and funny.  Good stories about Alcatraz as we floated by it.  A good time was had by all.

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Elite '08

84

188

Chris T.

San Francisco, CA

3 girlfriends and I tried to be all Sex and the City-ish for brunch on the Hornblower for their Dine About Town deal.  It was turning out to be a rather clear, but super windy day out in the bay.  We got a chance to check out the panoramic view of the bridges, East Bay, North Bay, and all the small little islands within our cute, cozy ocean.  This was a perspective of the Bay Area I have never seen before, so it was a nice to mark that off my to-do list.

The most delightful staff in the entire boat turned out to be the piano player.  He worked the crowd and periodically stopped his tunes to point out that we were now passing the north side of Angel Island.  Big whoop by the way... that place is so ugly.  Filled with run down industrial buildings and rocks.  He was entertaining in a somewhat cheesy way.  But him playing recognizable song made us think... "Oh, I think this is Piano Man..."

The boat seemed understaffed... maybe they thought it was a DAT crowd so they cut corners.  I couldn't find our waiter most of the time so we had to wave down a random staff member.  I wanted tea and he was about to pour it in my old coffee cup.  I said I needed a new cup.  He grabbed an empty cup from a neighboring table and took my used coffee cup and replaced it in the same nearby table!  I really hope someone catches that before they sip out of my used cup.

The buffet brunch was not stocked in time, nor was it that great to begin with.  Powdered scrambled eggs, overcooked salmon, dense waffles, and what looked to be leftover cheese ravioli from last night's dinner menu.  The only thing that was good was bacon, but you only truly screw up bacon when it has turned to charcoal.  Anything before it is downright edible!  The crowd waited for a bit too long for certain items to be restocked.

The trip around the bay was nice though.  I had never seen Alcatraz so close up and oddly never have seen any part of the construction work of the new Bay Bridge.  So it was nice to pass under it and see the progress.  

You definitely do not pay for the food or service here.  We mainly went for the experience and to do something kinda touristy in our own city.  I would not pay the outrageous price for the regular days and nights, but it was a fair deal if you sign up via DAT.

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Elite '08

264

335

ericka L.

Pasadena, CA

When I heard we were having a dinner cruise as our official holiday party, I groaned inwardly. Dinner on a boat with co-workers meant only two things to me: no chance I could escape early (especially since I'm a terrible swimmer), and the very real possibility of getting seasick.

I am pleased to report that I needn't have worried - this was actually fun. We arrived at the boat, which seemed awfully huge for the 30 of us, and were greeted by smiling Hornblower employees who took a few group photographs of us before we boarded. We went up to the dining room, which was quite prettily decorated with twinkling white lights and enlivened by a small but talented band playing holiday tunes.

My only real complaint is that while our group took up no more than 1/6th of the entire dining room, our tables were close enough together that we had to shimmy out to use the facilities or take in the view from the deck. Couldn't they have given us a little breathing room between the tables?

I'll admit that at least one of the stars here is due to the fact that while our first round of drinks was "compliments of our host" (i.e., my boss), our second round, quite unexpectedly, was too! Woohoo, free booze! I ordered the Nuts and Berries, an incredibly delicious concoction of Frangelico, amaretto, Chambord, and cream. It was sort of like a berrilicious White Russian.

The appetizer was a marinated grilled prawn on a bed of zucchini fettucine with lemon caper dressing. I was pretty sure I didn't like shrimp, but to be a good sport, I took a taste. Nope, I still don't like shrimp, but the zucchini with lemon caper dressing was delish.

I chose the chicken breast with a ragout of porcini and crimini mushrooms over grilled polenta. The chicken was actually moist and flavorful and the polenta - of which I am normally not a fan - was incredible, with a crispy little crust around it.

Dessert was cheesecake with a mixed berry compote, eh, not bad, but not great. My real dessert was a glass of champagne.

In between courses, my colleague Christy, her date Scott, and I took a walk up on deck to look at the lights of Sausalito. I wanted to go up and see the control room (is that what it's called?) so Scott took a peek and the captain invited us in! Captain Ed was super-nice and showed us his cool NOAA maps and told us about knots. (Did you know that one knot is equivalent to a little more than one mile per hour? 60 knots is about 72 miles an hour. Yes, I have been waiting to use that knowledge ever since Captain Ed told it to us.)

So to sum up: no seasickness. Good (free) drinks. Decent food. Captain Ed. And a vaguely dirty name (Hornblower, kekeke). I'm a fan!

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20

34

Jake T.

Oakland, CA

i took this cruise for my anniversary, and boy was the foood sooo disgusting.. the menu only provide 2 item to choose from. the music was relaxing, oldies music. nice view, very romantic. but damn the food was soo nasty.. the price is pretty crazy though, i had a voucher and the bill was $180 for 2 people, originally it would of been $250+ for 2 person. i would never ever go on this cruise ever again. the name should be changed to IT BLOWS Cruises & events. i give it 1 star for being romantic thats it.

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31

109

Corey C.

San Francisco, CA

A great date spot.  Online reservations allow you to guarantee a window seat, get balloons, champagne, etc.

Avoid the fillet mignon, though.

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Elite '08

41

270

mindy s.

Oakland, CA

When i found out my boyfriend's office holiday party would be held aboard the Hornblower, I admit I cringed a bit in anticipation of a tourist-laden, subpar evening.

But the Hornblower turned to be a lovely venue for the event  - the rain cleared up just in time for a splendid view as we circled the bay. The crew timed out the tour just right so we passed underneath the Golden Gate bridge during sunset and my inner tourist couldn't stop admiring the view.

There were live bands on both decks and a small dance floor that we completely tore up with hot dance moves. The food was much better than expected - we split the lamb chops and the butternut squash ravioli. cheesecake for dessert was also pretty tasty. The appetizer was too oily for most of us, but this place still beat the hotel conference room "chicken or fish" dinners that are typically served at the holiday party.

The length of the boat ride was just right- any longer and we would have been antsy, but enough time for us to take full advantage of the complimentary wine (I think the office paid for that- not sure if it is complimentary for everyone).

Easy to find at Pier 3, close to BART, and spectacularly cheesy (after multiple  glasses of wine, we cracked up when the band broke into "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" as we docked).

If my dad didn't get seasick, this is exactly where I would bring my out of town parents for a big night.

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10

139

Valerie G.

San Francisco, CA

Definitely a great date activity. We went on a Full Moon Dinner & Dancing cruise which was so perfect. Dancing under the Golden Gate Bridge was incredibly romantic and beautiful. The food was excellent as well as the drinks. The live band was excellent and the service wonderful.

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Elite '08

2156

663

David D.

San Francisco, CA

Oh Hornblower, you blew it this time!  

You advertised a "Parade of Ships Brunch Cruise."  On the Fleet Week web page, on Military.com.  "These cruises include a delicious brunch buffet, free-flowing champagne, juices, soda, coffee, tea and water. Then watch the Parade of Ships as they sail by your window."    

Veterans from all over the country booked the Parade of Ships cruise, expecting to get as close to the parade as they possibly could.  They quivered in anticipation as they watched the distant flotilla forming out at sea, for the parade that was scheduled from Noon to 1pm.  They thought the cruise would stay in the Bay after lunch to fulfill their dreams.  And at noon, where was the California Hornblower?  At Pier 3, which guaranteed nobody would see the parade at all.  As a ship load of dissatisfied customers left the pier, we asked for our $155 back.  "Call the office on Monday," was your reply.  

So.  You didn't deliver what you advertised.  Your staff at the Pier didn't know when the parade would actually be, even though it is published on the Fleet Week page.  Your Captain didn't adapt to the obvious situation that the fleet would be coming in later than you expected.  You didn't have management on duty to handle your dissatisfied customers.  Who are now going back to homes all over America to tell their friends and families how disappointing your nonperformance was today.  

It's too bad that most of them probably will not discover the joy of a dinner cruise on the Bay.  The food was great, the piano and guitar music was good, and the scenery was spectacular.  My previous experience is that Hornblower is a good choice for a brunch or dinner cruise.  

---------------
UPDATE:  6:50pm 10/6/07
A representative of the Hornblower called and personally apologized for the SNAFU.  A 50% refund is being sent to 400 passengers.  A same-day damage control call was much better than I had expected!  Thank you!

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6

48

Corey S.

San Francisco, CA

SHORT & SWEET: a floating 3-star hotel buffet brunch; cheap but bottomless champagne; a wanna-be stand-up comic for a matre d'; popular for birthdays and newlyweds; stay ashore, save $75 and eat at Denny's - I think there's one with a glimpse of the bay on Fisherman's Wharf.

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4

18

Poof S.

San Francisco, CA

A waste of time and money. Went there for my friends' wedding shower during the Columbus Day weekend. There was a family & friends special for the firework cruise; only paid $45 instead of the full $70-something. This cruise did not even worth the $45!

The food was horrible. The salmon was overcooked, chicken tough, pasta mushy, salad not fresh, bread cold and stale-tasting. The only good thing from the food section was the fruits. They were all sweet and juicy. Desserts were not impressive either.

Ambiance inside the ship was so so. You're seated with other people in long tables (unless you have a large party that can fill up the long table; maybe about 12 people in each table). After the firework (which was awesome BTW), they opened up the dance floor. They have a small dance floor on each level (total 3 levels). Luckily, my level had a really great DJ (DJ Henry). The DJ on other levels were not as good I was told.

Unless they have a bargain fare for under $25, you should forget about this dinner cruise thing. Just not worth it. For those of you thinking about having a romantic dinner or proposing there, choose some other place. Heck, I'd rather got proposed in In 'N Out than here; at least the food's better. :)

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1

11

Suzy Q.

San Francisco, CA

Went for a company function. Went with high expectations that were quickly shattered. The boat looked and smelled old and the tables and chairs were like those you'd find at a cheap restaurant. It was stuffy and crowded - not a good place to mingle. The food was terrible  - not very fresh. Even the cocktails were bad. The only plus was the service from the people that working there. Heard the cruise was expensive. Would not recommend at all.

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Elite '08

31

159

Alia D.

Pacifica, CA

I had the exquisite pleasure of being invited to a wedding on the San Francisco Belle. A themed wedding at that! The theme was 40's era. I desperately sought out every vintage shop (with good Yelp reviews) and actually ended up buying this epic, Art Nouveau look dress from, Nordstrom rack of all places. Anyway the evening of the wedding worked out and we had good transportation to the pier and didn't have to pay for parking at the Hornblower dock. We boarded the boat designed to imitate old style paddle steam boats of an era long gone. It was light out and we enjoyed appetizers and drinks from an on board bar for about 20 minutes while docked.

I had never partied on an undocked boat so I really didn't know what to expect movement wise. I don't get seasick easily and watching the soft movement outside was rather calming. The itinerary was to go out sit under the Golden Gate Bridge, chug out to Tiburon, continue behind Alcatraz and then dock again around 10pm. Before I knew it we were off. I clamored up the stairs to catch a glimpse of Ghiradelli square and made my rounds around the boat taking in the views. It was pretty chilly (as the bay is known for) so I came prepared, what I forgot to take into account was my silk floor length dress being whipped up to my thighs by the wind (reason #12 Alia doesn't wear girly clothing: dresses are too high maintenance). It was almost time for dinner and the live jazz and played as the guests found their seats.

It was dark as the Bride and Groom took their seats and I had eaten before not knowing what quality of meal could be found on a boat. I enjoyed dinner thoroughly, honestly good food, and regretted having eaten a crappy sandwich before hand. here's where things got crazy, and I want an explanation form anyone who can provide it. By the time dinner was served we were pretty close to the Golden Gate Bridge winds were a little rough so the boat turned into the wind so we were not swaying so violently from side to side. Halfway through the dinner course I caught sight of the lights from the Golden gate bridge whizzing by. I started to feel a little queasy. We were making a 180 degree turn with much haste. I think my sickness came from the speed at which we were making the turn. Then we stopped, as abruptly as one can stop on water. At first I thought 'OK, so well be moving to the next location soon' but no; we just sat. Then it happened two more times just as fast as the first and I just had to keep reminding myself to not look outside.

The rest of the night continued on and we only spun around like that again while in the Tiburon area. We danced, had fun, made toast and drank. There was an observation area on top of the boat that was covered seating. it was nice to cool down after rippin it up on the dancefloor. Drinking on a boat might have been super way more fun if I didn't have to fight against my dress and heels (I swear, it sucks to be a girl sometimes). I felt drunker than normal, sometimes the boat moved and I felt like it was just me and it wasn't. Overall I had on of the best experiences with dinner on a boat and a wedding. If I ever have the opportunity to attend a boat event, I'm sooo there. If I have a special occasion, Hornblower would be the company of choice.

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Elite '08

565

846

Ed U.

San Francisco, CA

"Near...fahhhhrrrrrrr....where-evuhhhh you arrrre
I buh-lieeeeeve that the heart does go onnnnnnnn..."

Celine...Celine, could you get off the bow please? It's dangerous up there, honey ...Celine? Merci, baby, merci....So this is Captain Don Rickles speaking, your ship's commander and all-around lovable guy. MAYDAY! ...MAYDAY! ...I'm kiddin'. Just a little nautical humor. I kid. Why? 'Cause I care.

Welcome to my boat! ...I see you chose the $69 Weekend Champagne Brunch Cruise...a wise decision, cheapskate. Kidding. The views are pretty darn spectacular in the daylight if you don't mind a little updraft in your poop deck...if you know what I mean. Yeah, yeah. You can look underneath both bridges....and still not see my root canal work. Hi-yo! (drum rimshot). You can circle Alcatraz and not get arrested. Look, there's Clint Eastwood swimming by...loved ya in "Bridges of Madison County". Yeah right. And the food...it's like the Love Boat if only Joey Heatherton ever really ate. Poor thing.

So we got here your muffins and croissants, your fresh fruit, your shrimp ceviche salad...that means like it's raw....your bacon and sausage links, your grilled salmon, your roasted potatoes, your beef sirloin slices, your smoked ham, your Belgian waffles with berries, your scrambled eggs, your vegetarian frittata...that's like a fancy word for quiche, I think...your corn tortilla casserole, your veggie platter, your pasta salad, your Caesar salad. And then you come back for seconds. Right, Celine? Yeah, that's right, baby. Eat somethin', will ya? You look like a walking corpse!

And you gotta have room for the dessert table. And the complimentary champagne ain't bad. So are the mango margaritas which are a little rich for my blood...about $9.75 a glass. Oh man, that's enough to make Jimmy Buffett three sheets to the wind . Hi-yo! (drum rimshot). But you went for the pricier deal, didn't you, you numbskull?

For another fifty bucks for the both of you, you get a window table with a bottle of iced Gloria Ferrer Brut champagne, a couple of Joseph Schmidt chocolate truffles, a couple of our company flutes, and the attention of our attractive staff. Show some leg, honey. Atta-girl!...and you'll be sharing the boat with a Chinese wedding party. I haven't seen this many Chins since I looked in the Shanghai phonebook. Hi-yo! (drum rimshot)...c'mon, I can hear ya breathing.

Are you gonna have a good time?...Whaaa...is the Pope Catholic? But I kid 'cause I care. May God bless all of ya's. You've been a wonderful audience, ladies and gentleman. Goodnight!

FOOD - 4.5 stars...exceeded my expectations, and there was plenty to go around
AMBIANCE - 5 stars...nice boat though Leonardo and his semen (drum rimshot), I mean seaman, are on the top floor, and Kate and the upper crust are on the bottom...what's up with that?
SERVICE - 5 stars...always there to serve me those mango margaritas...ka-ching, ka-ching
TOTAL - 5 stars...a special occasion cruise much better than my previous Hornblower memory of the company Christmas party where my boss found his inner Madonna and sang "Like a Virgin" to the karaoke machine.

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Elite '08

101

216

Irene C.

Millbrae, CA

originally 2 stars but i'm giving it 3 because it wasn't as bad as i thought it would be given the weather circumstances....

food: did dine about town, food sucked. i know we're going for a discounted price, but don't make it so obvious! i would have def liked to go elsewhere.... especially since they put on a service charge of $11 a person on top of the $32 bucks you're paying for dinner. LAME. i would have totally gotten better food for that money. i basically just wrote it off as the price of the boat ride... which would have been nice, but it was VERY stormy. raining like heck. yeah, maybe i should have checked the weather before booking the tickets, especially since they ask you to cancel at lest 48 hrs in advance. if not, they charge you $20 then give to the remainder as a credit towards a rescheduled trip.

the good part?
well, it was raining like crazy, when we got on the boat,  it was rocking pretty bad, but once it started moving (oh yeah, if its coast guards recommendation that we not sail, you still get dinner on the boat) luckily we set sail and the boat rocked less, the windows were all fogged up b/c of all the humidity, but we were still able to hit up alcatraz, fishermans warf, ghiradelli square, angel island, sausilito, and golden gate bridge.

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0

22

Dorian N.

Oakland, CA

Well damn...after looking at the other reviews, I got ripped off since everyone else was able to get it MUCH cheaper through DAT. I was able to get a $15.00 discount for me and my crew off of the regular price and was pretty darn pleased with myself (until now)

Anyway...it's always nice to do touristy things in your own city. I enjoy looking at the sweet eldery couples, huge asian families, and an otherwise odd assortment of carnival folks.

Me and my peeps foolishly decided that since it was a "Champagne Brunch" that we should dress up for it. So NOT necessary since jean shorts was apparently the appropriate attire for this soiree.  It was really lovely being on the ocean and having the seagulls literally fly right next to your head.  The food was mediocre at best (albeit I'm biased since buffet food is NEVER to be trusted) but definitely filling. We certainly got our monies worth.

We never went on deck to really appreciate the experience, but the overall vibe, low-key music, laid back appeal and, copious amounts of food made me very happy.

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Elite '08

22

188

Yosie G.

San Francisco, CA

Their weekend brunch cruise is a great experience. Food is good, and it's buffet, a plus in my book. I haven't done very many touristy things in SF, but this let me feel OK about being touristy. I actually did this during DAT in January, so a lot of people on the boat were probably not tourists but instead people taking advantage of this opportunity. The boat definitely went around town, with sights of the Bay and GG bridges, Sausalito, Alcatraz, etc. It wasn't too bumpy (no drinks spilling or anything like that) and it was a nice day (albeit very windy). A definite recommend if you ever get the chance.

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92

360

Ringo B.

San Francisco, CA

Hornblower is running the Alcatraz ferry and tours from Pier 33 under the business name ALCATRAZ CRUISES.

I stopped by today to pick up tix for out of towners this weekend and witnessed a circus.

The ticket booths are country fair/amateurish.  The next available cruise sign is written in magic marker.  There is no shelter for the hordes standing in line.  Only half the lines were equipped for both cash and credit card transactions.  This place would be a nightmare on a crowded weekend.

Overall, a real embarassment.

I would love to see what Hornblower's bid looked like when it sought to take over from Blue and Gold (this takeover has been years in the works).

I'm guessing it looked something like this:

"We have Ferrys and know how to get to Alcatraz.-- who can I give these bags of cash to?"

Ah, politics.  Ah, the Federal Government.

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0

4

Jon M.

Berkeley, CA

My lady and I went on this for Dine about Town to see if it was worth coming back for a dinner or something to do with friends.

First the good stuff:

*Even though the weather wasn't great, the views and everythign are fantastic and great to talk about.
*The food was good as well.

The Bad:

*Ship boarded late
*The piano player (the female) was like a lounge act (sang "California Dreaming" and after the line "I went into a church..." she actually said "Yes I did!"). Tourist info was interesting, historical landmarks etc, but was just to "peace love and California" for this local's taste. The loud volume interrupted our conversation constantly. Once dinner was served, people were clammering to get out of the room.
*Service was bad. Waitress left us a WINE LIST and didn't come back for a half hour. Considering we wanted to actually pay extra for some wine, you'd think she'd be back. Nope. We just stuck with the free drinks. Additionally, had to track her down to get a cup of tea.

If you're interested, this thing has the makings of a great date either way. Either the service, singing, and late boarding will be so hilarious and frustrating you'll bond and share stories about  "remember when the singer pronounced 'Yerba Buena' as 'Yrrrrrrbla Bwenah'? and said it meant 'good herb'? oh man!" (she really did that). or maybe the service singing, and the food will come through and make a romantic experience.

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8

132

cynthia l.

San Jose, CA

We went for a company function and had our ride in the captain's lounge. Food was so-so as expected. We went on a good weather evening and the ride was smooth.

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21

259

A to the C.

San Francisco, CA

I spent the 4th of July on a Hornblower boat. To be honest I went in with low expectations for the high price tag. The food was not 5 star restaurant amazing, but it was surprisingly good. The lines were long, but all you had to do was wait about 20 minutes for people to move through. I wasn't in a hurry. I preferred to enjoy the views, which were absolutely incredible. While the views of the city were great the views of the fireworks were even better.

This isn't something I would do all the time, but it would be fun about once a year.

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Elite '08

606

456

Heather C.

San Mateo, CA

Thank goodness for DAT.  Otherwise, I could not personally afford/justify this experience.  Cost per person was around $27.  We did the Sunday brunch through DAT last year and decided to do it again.  Two thumbs up still.

It is absolutely romantic or fun for groups.  People were celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, etc.  The weather was perfect - plenty of sunshine.  Live music - less annoying performer this time (yes, they talk).

It's a great trip around both bridges - Golden Gate and Bay - as well as Alcatraz and other nearby attractions.

I agree with other reviewers that you aren't going for the food.  That part must be made abundantly clear, lest you be fooled by the thought of stuffing yourself at an all-you-can-eat buffet...  Also, pace yourself unless you have a stomach of steel.  I always manage to forget this part.

Anyway, follow this food gameplan and you'll be set:

(1) Assorted fruit platter (grapes, melons, kiwis, strawberries, watermelon, and pineapples).  Best: grapes, strawberries and pineapples - be selective - you're at the beginning of the line and need room on your plate.

(2) Caesar salad - skip.

(3) Assorted muffins, croissants, sliced cake bread (marble, banana, etc.) - skip.

(4) Waffles - yes (not the best in the world but you can make it so).  Look for the crispy, non-soggy ones.  Add plenty of sliced syrup, strawberries, and cream - in your own special order.  I also took a banana and added slices to my concoction.  Perfect.

(5) Bacon / Sausages - same tin.  Take plenty of each.  These tend to run out a lot.  You may need to send runners to get you more.

(6) Eggs - only if you need to eat it with the bacon and sausages.  Not necessary and not fluffy.  Plenty dense.  Remember you're on a rocking boat...

(7) Potatoes - didn't try.

(8) Desserts - cookies were okay, try other items at your own risk.  Carrot cake was okay.

(9) Drinks - you pay for each...  Mimosas - $5 (yes!).  Orange juice - $2-ish (maybe).  Hot chocolate - included (yes!).  The Bloody Marys seemed mighty popular though they're not my speed...

All in all - I would do it again.

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Elite '08

100

487

Melanie C.

San Francisco, CA

We actually had a great time... It helped that we rallied 15 of us for the live jazz dinner cruise for Dine About Town.

The boat itself is really nice... Nice lighting, perfectly clean n kept, and a really nice Cap'n from Ireland, who'd steer the boat so we'd have killer views at all times, including Alcatraz from literally 20 feet away.  Hi, Rock.

Food is pretty mediocre though... And the jazz band plays songs like Billie Jean, if that's any indication...  All in all a fun time for just $43.

I think it'd be fun to go for brunch some day to really enjoy the great views...

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16

17

Caroline P.

San Francisco, CA

it's fun to go on a cruise around the bay and see the views, and i love being on a boat, but the food is definitely less than spectacular.  worth going once, but don't have high expectations.

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Elite '08

34

152

Brian H.

San Francisco, CA

Went on a dinner-dance cruise a few weeks ago for my dad's 60th birthday party, with a party of about 20. We had a great time- the band was pretty good, if kinda cheesy (what do you expect?), and they played our requests ("Orange Blossom Special," "Your Song"). The food was nothing special at all- 1 to 2 stars based on food alone. However, what you're really paying for is the breathtaking views and the novelty of getting schwilly  on the bay and gazing up at the Golden Gate Bridge. Is it worth the $100 plus easily $20-30 for drinks that they charge? Probably not... If you can catch it for half price on Goldstar, or do one of the Dine About Town deals, it's worth it though. The food and music are only so-so, but the view is awesome and the overall experience is pretty fun. Definitley worth doing once.

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26

264

Dilip M.

Santa Clara, CA

Went on a dinner-dance cruise...The cruise was excellent. It keeps going back and forth between the same points along the bay, but it helps to see the bright 7PM light flicker down by 8PM and then see the lighted city by 9PM....was totally worth it. The food was not great. I have had better pork chops and chicken....The best part was the substitute for the shrimp salad appetizer, since we got a plate of wonderful brie and cread with crackers and cookies...We did not take any drinks, since I was on my teetotaller day. The cheesecake for dessert tasted regular. The food would be rated 2-3. The cruise a 4-5. The crew, music and the band 4-5 for being really hospitable...even tho some delays happened at the end.

We did not save any extra $$, and also saved a bit on the cruise by choosing a Sunday eve over Fri/Sat ($20 reduction p.p) and a further discount with Entertainment Guide ($20 p.p again)...So a great saver!

In fact even after parking at Pier 3 garage, and giving a very good tip, we were under $200 for two people.

And yes, do remember that takeout of food is allowed...so don't waste leftovers if you are as concerned about wasting food like me...

Would I do it again? Probably not....coz been there, seen it...thats all.

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28

142

Ricquel N.

San Francisco, CA

hip hip hoorah, hip hip hoorah! I have done three cruises now on the Hornblower and have had a great time at all three. Last cruise was with a group of 10 or so of us and it was a blast! food was ok, drinks nice and strong, apps were great- danced our butts off. A fun thing to do in a group or on a date!

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Elite '08

266

267

Jamie J.

Campbell, CA

My fiancee took me here for my birthday last year.  It was like $100 for dinner!  Yikes!  However, it was a pleasant ONE-TIME thing that I don't regret.  Actually, why would I?  She paid!  =)  

The food was good.  I had the filet mignon and it was better than average.  It came with potatoes and veggies.  There was an appetizer and salad that also came with the meal which was okay.  For dessert, I had a fruit torte and it was good.  Actually, it was better than good.  It was like an orange mousse which I wouldn't think I would like. Boy, was I wrong.

In terms of the cruise around the bay.... it was a COLD night!  But, the scenery was fantastic.  We actually went under the golden gate bridge.  That's pretty much the best thing we could view and we went at night and it's hard to see anything that doesn't have light at that time.

Again, it is pricey, but it's one time experience that I enjoyed.  Oh yeah, good luck finding parking.  They were actually doing construction at the time, so it might be better when you go.

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Elite '08

148

440

Eddie H.

San Rafael, CA

We had our company party on this in 2005. With about 150 people packed on this boat all dressed up for a Vegas themed party, a good time was had by all.

Drinks at the bars were long, and not much room to walk around, but with people gambling, drinking, dancing, and eating, it didn't really matter. We left from the pier in SF and went to Sausalito and back.

I took the ferry everyday to work for 15 months, but this was a little different since we took a different route. I recommend taking the ferry (Larkspur or Tiburon or Sausalito nstead of paying  more here).

I now here Hornblower is going to have a route to Alcatraz now providing an alternative to the Blue & Gold Fleet...

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