I love taking Hornblower Cruises when in San Francisco although we rarely take the time to commit to one. While we don’t take city cruises often, we love doing them for the simple fact that it gets us out on the water. Water is a perfect analogy for following the perfect flow of life.
We had a fortunate opportunity to experience a Hornblower dinner cruise when our friend Chris was in town recently — it makes for a perfect excuse to do local activities you wouldn’t normally do on your own. And, with views like this from the deck, I’m now wondering what took us so long.
Hornblower Cruises: Cocktails, Dinner, Birds, Dancing & Views
Sure, taking a formal cruise isn’t the only way to get breathtaking views of the Golden Gate Bridge or the East Bay bridge and everything in between (see my write up on Sailing in the Bay recently), but it is a relaxing way to take it all in, with cocktail in hand of course. Bourbon anyone?
Photo credit: Chris Robinson
We opted for champagne and wine to pair with our dinner — while drinks are not included in the Hornblower Cruises dinner price, there are plenty of options to choose from and we were pleasantly surprised to find that bottles of wine were in the very reasonably priced range of $30-85. It’s hard to go wrong at those prices, so we went for a La Crema Chard from Monterey. Cheers!
Leaving Pier 3
The boats from Hornblower Cruises leave from Pier 3 along the Embarcadero and if you’re heading off on an evening cruise, you board well before sunset so you get some fabulous day time views of the City by the Bay from a myriad of angles before dinner.
The Deck is the Place to Be
Photo credit: Hornblower Cruises
I love feeling the wind on my face and blowing through my hair – it makes me feel alive and well — reminds me of our aliveness. Being on a deck seems to bring out the magic and mystical in everyone who spends enough time there to truly be present and marvel at the surrounding natural beauty all evening long.
In addition to breathtaking city scape views, birds visit. They fly over the deck, often moving in tune with the music from the boat – it’s more transformative than simply a beautiful moment if you are in sync with what’s happening.
It’s almost as if there’s a dance happening between you and the bird and while in his mind’s eye, he may simply be hoping for a snack, there’s something more fluid, familiar and freeing about visits from these lovely creatures while staring out to sea on the deck.
Even if you book the cruise as a romantic escape or go as a group, I’d recommend dedicating a little time alone on either end of the outdoor deck, with nothing between you and the ocean except for the sound of waves crashing up against the boat and a bird’s call between the layers of the wind.
Did I Mention Those City Scapes?
Breathtakingly beautiful this precious city by Bay is in all her glory, especially at night. I’ll let the lights say the rest.
Inside they have music playing, a DJ and a dance floor so after you finish dessert, there’s an opportunity to work it off before heading back to the harbor. And, if there’s a concert or game happening at AT&T Park, you can get a glimpse while gliding by.
The Food
The dishes are simply delish, starting with a Spinach Salad which they top with strawberries, chevre, almonds and a lemon honey vinaigrette. Second course options include a tomato basil soup or a New England clam chowder with thyme and smoked bacon (yum!!)
On our Hornblower Cruises dinner menu, they offered Pam Seared Salmon with forbidden rice and baby bok choy, a Herb Roasted Chicken Breast with veggies and a Braised Lamb Shank with parmesan truffle mashed potatoes. All of it was divine!
For dessert, we had a choice of a New York Cheesecake or a Chocolate Flourless Cake with a raspberry glaze.
You can also enhance any of your meals with additional options for an extra charge, such as Grilled Prawns with smoked paprika, Salmon Cakes or a local Artisan Cheese Board, which sounded scrumptious. The latter is served with dried fruit, assorted crackers and flatbread.
And, as I mentioned, in addition to their stellar wine list, they have no shortage of top notch spirits and liquors to choose from on board. For serious foodies, be sure to follow the WBTW sister brand’s Instagram feed @luxuryfoodies to whet your whistle. We also have three dedicated sections to food/wine, including a Restaurant Reviews section.
The Sunsets
And then, there’s those glorious sunsets, which are reason enough to head out on one of Hornblower Cruises dinner or cocktail jaunts that jet around the harbor.
Now, imagine a combination of sunsets, birds and an ocean breeze as you read the below poem from Francis Bret Harte who penned this gem in 1869. Some words are simply timeless!
Sauntering hither on listless wings,
Careless vagabond of the sea,
Little thou heedest the surf that sings,
The bar that thunders, the shale that rings,
Give me to keep thy company.
Little thou hast, old friend, that ‘s new;
Storms and wrecks are old things to thee;
Sick am I of these changes, too;
Little to care for, little to rue,
I on the shore, and thou on the sea.
All of thy wanderings, far and near,
Bring thee at last to shore and me;
All of my journeyings end them here:
This our tether must be our cheer,
I on the shore, and thou on the sea.
Lazily rocking on ocean’s breast,
Something in common, old friend, have we:
Thou on the shingle seek’st thy nest,
I to the waters look for rest,
I on the shore, and thou on the sea.
In addition to San Francisco, Hornblower Cruises sail out of different ports throughout California as well as New York City.
DETAILS:
Hornblower Cruises SF
Pier 3 on The Embarcadero
San Francisco, CA 94111
415-788-8866
www.hornblower.com
Renee Blodgett is the Founder and Managing Editor of We Blog the World, a global travel, culture and lifestyle publication exploring the world through the lens of meaningful experiences, human connection and cultural depth. Having lived in 10 countries and traveled to 95, Renee has spent much of her life immersed in the people, traditions, landscapes and ideas that shape how we experience the world.
Since launching We Blog the World in 2007, she has written and produced extensive editorial coverage spanning boutique and luxury travel, culinary experiences, arts and culture, wellness, adventure, technology, spiritual traditions and transformative travel. Her work is rooted in the belief that travel is about more than where we go—it is also about what a place, culture or encounter awakens within us.
Renee brings more than three decades of experience across journalism, photography, media, brand strategy, technology, wellness and global storytelling. She has worked with companies and organizations around the world on brand positioning, communications, product launches, media strategy, speaker positioning and storytelling. Through Blue Soul Media, she works with authors, entrepreneurs, thought leaders and purpose-driven brands to clarify their message and expand their impact, which includes speaker coaching/training for high-profile stages such as TED and bringing authors’ work to market while retaining authors rights.
She is also the co-founder of Blue Soul Earth, an educational platform exploring consciousness, ancient wisdom, spirituality, healing and the intersection between science and the nature of reality. Renee is the producer and host of the award-winning Blue Soul CHATS, a conversational series bringing together leading voices in science, technology, consciousness, wellness and spirituality.
Her growing body of work also includes Blue Soul Living, which extends her interest in consciousness and well-being into the spaces we inhabit, exploring how intentional design, energy and environment can support greater harmony and connection.
Renee is the award-winning co-author of the bestselling Magdalene’s Journey and founder of the Magdalene Collection, inspired by women’s voices, stories and wisdom across cultures and generations.
A longtime photographer and storyteller, Renee has documented people, places and cultures around the world and produced photographic collections focused on destinations including the Galápagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome and Ecuador. She also co-founded Traveling Geeks, an international initiative that brought entrepreneurs, journalists, creators and technology leaders together with their counterparts in other countries to exchange ideas and explore innovation across cultures.
Renee’s work has been recognized by Forbes, the United Nations and others for her influence in media and social storytelling. Across her work in travel, media, consciousness and culture, a common thread remains: curiosity about the world, the stories that connect us and the ways meaningful experiences can change how we see ourselves and one another.
