City Cruises - San Francisco, CA

Courtney

Cruise was great! Food options were yummy and we got to go under the Golden Gate Bridge. We passed by Alcatraz! Staff was nice and so welcoming, especially Dorathy. There were a lot of people celebrating their birthdays so the cruise did a shout out from the over-com. Loved it!

Perla D.

Cruise itself was fine but the service and the drinks were beyond horrible and overpriced. They charge $24 for some drink with whiskey and we couldn’t even drink it. We also asked for a gin and tonic and they used plain water as tonic- it was disgusting!
Also, The waiter had such a horrible attitude, she did not give salad to a few of us and according to her it was because we had bread in front of us but she did not even check with us, to make sure we did not want it, I didn’t even realize that was a reason to not be served food. Then everyone else got served the main course and I still didn’t get anything despite not having anything in front of me at the time. I would not recommend the drinks or service here but the cruise was pretty nice, going around the bay on a sunny day and the food was pretty decent as well once you asked for it several times and put up with a rude waitress of course.
There is also some parking at the pier, I heard others say it was pricier than the parking around the area but much more convenient.

R M.

It's been a long time since I went out on the bay to enjoy the sights and smells and take in the amazing view of the city. The Hornblower did not disappoint. It was the perfect combo of good music, great bar and food. Beautiful boat with so many levels and decks. The staff was super friendly, the bartenders went out of their way and the weather added the perfect touch. A bit of fog but not too cold either. I suggest giving it a try either as a treat for yourself or with friends and family to celebrate life.

sweety

We had an amazing time! The customer service was truly top-notch — I couldn’t believe how wonderful every staff member was. From the moment we got in line, the person checking our tickets was very friendly. After they took our photo, we boarded the cruise and found our table, where they welcomed us with mimosas.

The main pianist personally visited each table, read our notes, and even mentioned that our mom had come from India. He welcomed her with a special Bollywood song, which was incredibly thoughtful and made the moment even more memorable. Throughout the cruise, the staff continuously checked on us, offering refills and clearing plates, making sure we were well taken care of.

The indoor area was very clean, neat, and had light background music, creating a lovely atmosphere. The food was amazing, and we were happy to see great vegetarian options too. We had a wonderful experience and will definitely return!

Thomas S. F.

The Saturday brunch cruise was a fun excursion to celebrate the birthday of a 25 year old lady although the food was only so so but probably good for such a vessel. Thew scenery was magnificent and everyone had a blast and would come back for a dinner cruise on another special occasion. The weather could have been better as foggy conditions were experienced but there were patches of sunlight and blue that compensated. Watching Alcatraz shrouded with fog that lifted was surreal and magical. Viewing the Bridges from different vantage points was my favorite part of the excursion. I would come back on a sunny day or clear evening to experience it again.

Alan B. C.

We had family in town for a wedding, and took four generations on the California Hornblower for the dinner cruise, from 7 years old through 85. It was a wonderful experience, and our server, Dorathy made it special. I had taken this cruise before, and knew it would be very different than just dining in another restaurant. Everyone enjoyed the changing sights from daytime into tonight, cruising along the bay, under the Golden Gate Bridge, around Alcatraz and under the Bay Bridge. The food was delicious, from the steak to the Salmon, and between dancing to the DJ, and going up to the top deck to see the views outside, it was a wonderful night for everyone.

R C.

This is the experience of a local Bay Area resident we were not the only locals onboard do this is not just for tourist. Let's start with the pros top of the list AMAZING views! As a local you get to see the city from a whole new perspective! This is the top reason to do this! You go under the GG Bridge around Alcatraz under both sections of the Bay Bridge and past Oracle park! A perfect summer evening and perfect time to catch the sunset! What a great experience this alone is worth the price of admission. Staff is great! Kind and super attentive! DJ on board kept the vibe going ! So much fun . Now the food this is where they lost a star. Food was edible but not great. You are not here for the food. I had the steak and it was something out of a cheap diner. Lower your expectations and you will be fine. Again here for the cruise and views not the food. Pro Tip tourism is down big time in SF with all the rampant crime so the cruise was empty! This ship holds probably 390 people there were about 30 of us onboard. We had the entire ship to ourselves! So local residents give it a try you will enjoy the scenery.

Audrey P.

I had to lower this rating because the salmon was over cooked and I had to spit it out. I saw one guy holding his mouth like he was going to vomit running across the dance floor when I was coming back to my table right before the salmon was served, and now I know why the guy was holding his mouth. It tasted like chalk. It was so dry and that’s a sign that it’s over cooked well it could’ve been Recooked? I’m a five star chef, so I know good food the steak, however was amazing how they could serve two different dishes and be so different? The chocolate cake also gave me a feeling of vomit. The food that I do recommend is the steak and the fruit and the salad. The salmon, the soup and the cake. We’re all really bad I’m sorry to say. I’m guessing it was Costco type cake I would give this cruise a five star for the experience and the free bar but the food was so bad and we spent $300 each for a ticket to people. in San Francisco. we have plenty of good chefs here. There’s no reason I have this kind of salmon served in San Francisco. The bartenders however were the same way happen half good and not so good so that was my experience july 4 cruise We were underneath the fireworks, and then they pulled away from the fireworks, and we are about 5 miles away from the fireworks by the end of the fireworks, so how do you have a fireworks cruise that pulls away from the fireworks that was an oddity to me? I am glad I was the first one on the boat because you want to make sure that you are there early. You do not want to miss one second of this, especially after spending that much money. I broke my heel on one of these stairs. There’s three or four staircases to go to the different levels to go to the different outdoor decks so you should know that it’s all stairs and if you’re handicap, you’re not going to be able to get to the different levels.