Hornblower Cruises and Events

Today, the company cruises from seven California port cities and New York City. It also operates two National Park Service concessions with Alcatraz Cruises and Statue Cruises and recently began Niagara Cruises, in partnership with The Niagara Parks Commission, an Operational Enterprise Agency of the Canadian Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport.

Terry and a business partner acquired Hornblower Coach Tours in 1980. At the time, the two-yacht company was based in Berkeley, California and its assets included a 75-passenger catamaran called theM/V Admiral Hornblower. Hornblower’s early efforts focused on private group charters but the company also committed to future growth by signing a long-term facility lease in the Berkeley Marina.

In 1984, Hornblower moved its headquarters across the bay to San Francisco. Four years later, the company added new harbor tours and whale watching adventures in San Diego. Terry became the sole owner of Hornblower Yachts, Inc. in 1992 and he renamed the company as Hornblower Cruises & Events to more accurately reflect the variety of products and services offered. He also continued enhancing the charter and dining cruises available to Hornblower guests. The company bucked a nationwide recession to post increased annual revenue during the early 1990s.

As Terry and his team grew the business, several highlights distinguished Hornblower Cruises & Events from its competition. The company added a number of noteworthy yachts to its fleet, including the elegant M/V Wild Goose in 1995. Actor John Wayne used the restored 1942 minesweeper as his private getaway for years and Hornblower Cruises & Events continues to operate the historic yacht in Newport Beach.

The company’s fleet topped 30 vessels in 2001 with the addition of the 2,200-passenger San Francisco Belle. It remains the largest dining yacht on the West Coast. Since then, the company has introduced the nation’s first hybrid ferry, Hornblower Hybrid, as well as Hornblower Infinity, a 1,000-passenger gem with private event spaces and an open-air deck set 65 feet off the water.

Hornblower Cruises & Events’ leaders also chartered a successful course by adding new port cities. In 1997, the company acquired Lake Tahoe Cruises, Inc. and the vessels Tahoe Queen and Tahoe Princess. Hornblower Cruises & Events then added land shuttle services between South Lake Tahoe and Squaw Valley Ski Resort and the Lake Link ferry service across Lake Tahoe. In its day, it was the fastest passenger boat on the lake. Hornblower sold its Lake Tahoe port business in 2002.

Two years later, the company acquired Adventures At Sea. With the addition of the Orange County-based luxury fleet, Hornblower Cruises & Events became the largest private yacht fleet in Southern California.

Alcatraz Cruises, a Hornblower subsidiary, won a 10-year National Park Service contract and began providing exclusive transportation services to Alcatraz Island in 2006. A separate Hornblower subsidiary, Statue Cruises, also won a National Park Service contract and took over ferry transportation to the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island Immigration Museum in 2008. The following year, Hornblower began offering river tours and dining cruises in California’s capital city, historic Old Sacramento.

In 2012, Hornblower brought its private charters and public dining excursions to the Hudson River with the launch of Hornblower New York and the Niagara Parks Commission selected Hornblower Canada Co. for the 30-year lease and operation of boat tours in the Niagara Falls Gorge, which began in 2014.

Coming up on its 35^th anniversary, Hornblower Cruises & Events has made environmental protection and preservation a priority. The company launched its pioneering environmental management and education program, Respect Our Planet, in 2005. The initiative shapes sustainability measures, such as sourcing green products, using reclaimed and eco-friendly materials in new yachts, improving fuel efficiency and incorporating wind, solar and hybrid technology into vessels when possible. Respect Our Planet also educates guests on Hornblower’s green efforts and shares suggestions for sustainable living.

Regional and national organizations regularly recognize Hornblower Cruises & Events’ environmental outreach, respected cruise offerings and steadfast commitment to quality. Hornblower Hybrid took Most Significant Boat of 2012 honors from Workboat Magazine. The San Francisco Business Times named Alcatraz Cruises a Green Business of the Year in 2008, one year after bestowing Most Admired CEO of the Year honors on Hornblower Cruises & Events’ Founder and CEO Terry MacRae. The Knot.com users voted Hornblower their top pick for Orange County weddings and receptions in 2007 and Hornblower San Francisco received a 2006 CORY (Commercial Recycler of the Year) Award. The company and its employees have also been recognized by the California Travel Industry Association, Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International and a number of meeting planner organizations and tourism bureaus.

Looking for a new career? Set sail with Hornblower. Whether on deck, in the kitchen or at a desk, all employees are important members of our crew - and they appreciate being part of a dynamic team where communication, creativity and cooperation are encouraged. Hornblower's success is anchored in superior guest service and enthusiasm for our work, and our corporate environment reflects those values.

THE HORNBLOWER STYLE AND ORGANIZATION

Everyone at Hornblower, from our customer resource center to the CEO, work together to create amazing experiences. We have ports located in San Francisco, Berkeley, Old Sacramento, Marina Del Rey, Newport Beach, San Diego and New York. Each port runs independently with a full team of marine operations, food & beverage, galley, sales & marketing, maintenance & engineering, and support teams. We operate over 50 vessels, including the three largest dining yachts on the west coast and the first hybrid ferry in the United States.

With the help of our exceptional crew, we have developed a solid reputation of delivering the Hornblower experience with a unique and elegant style. From the first cruise to our most recent, our company's success starts with the teamwork of crew members, who are encouraged to communicate and cooperate with each other in everything they do.

In 2005 Hornblower founded Respect Our Planet, a nationwide environmental organization dedicated to protecting and preserving the environment. If being a part of a team that puts customer experience and sustainability at the forefront of what we do sounds exciting, we encourage you to apply for a position with Hornblower Cruises & Events, the leader in marine hospitality.