Hornblower Cruises facts for kids
Hornblower Cruises is a company that offers fun boat trips, dining experiences on the water, and ferry services. It started in San Francisco, California. In 2021, many of its services got new names like City Cruises or City Experiences. In 2024, the company went through a process to reorganize its finances.
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| Locale | Most Major US Waterways, Niagara Falls, London |
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| Waterway | Near Coastal and Lakes, Bays & Sounds, |
| Transit type | Charter Yachts, Dining Cruises, Ferry Service, Tourist Attractions, Commuter Ferry, Overnight Cruises |
| Owner | Terry MacRae (1980-2020 Founder, now Chairman of the Board)
Kevin Rabbit (CEO as of 2021) Mike Flaskey (CEO as of 2024) |
| Operator | Hornblower Yachts, Inc. |
| Began operation | 1980 |
Contents
History
Early Years
The company began in 1974 in Berkeley, California, with just two ships. In 1980, the first owner, Ward Proescher, sold the business. Terry MacRae and P. Michael Watson took over. Proescher later started a different boat company in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Hornblower grew by buying other boat companies. This helped them expand to San Diego in 1984. They then moved into Newport Beach, California, in 1987. Soon after, they bought Marina Cruise Lines, which was based in Marina del Rey, California.
By 1989, Hornblower was operating in many cities. These included Berkeley, San Francisco, San Diego, Newport Beach, and Marina del Rey. The main office was (and still is) on a historic ferryboat called Santa Rosa. It is docked at Pier 3 in San Francisco.
Growing Bigger
In 1992, Terry MacRae became the only owner of Hornblower Yachts, Inc. The company changed its name to Hornblower Cruises & Events. This new name better showed all the different services they offered.
In 1996, Hornblower Marine Services (HMS) was created. This part of the company helped other businesses with their riverboat casinos and ferry services. By 2003, HMS had 80 employees. They had offices in San Francisco, New London, Boston, and Jacksonville, Florida. Just three years later, HMS became a top provider of fast ferry services around the world.
In 2019, Hornblower Cruises & Events bought Entertainment Cruises. This purchase doubled the number of ships and locations Hornblower operated. In October of the same year, Hornblower also bought City Cruises, a tour boat company in England. City Cruises had operations in London, Poole, and York. In 2020, Hornblower grew even more in Boston by buying Boston Harbor Cruises.
In 2022, Hornblower bought Experience Australia Group Pty Ltd. This company ran special tourism trains in Australia. These trains included The Ghan and the Indian Pacific.
Recent Changes
On February 21, 2024, Hornblower Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This is a legal step for companies to reorganize their money and debts. Hornblower announced it would stop all future operations for its American Queen Voyages brand. They put this brand up for sale. The company planned to focus on its other businesses. Hornblower was later sold to Strategic Value Partners on the same day.
Today, Hornblower operates from 19 different ports. These include San Francisco, Berkeley, Sacramento, and London. The company's entire fleet now has more than 80 boats.
Cruises and Ferry Services
Niagara City Cruises
Hornblower Canada Company runs the Niagara Falls Gorge Boat Tour. This tour starts from the Canadian side of the Niagara River. It is similar to the Maid of the Mist cruises on the American side. Hornblower has two ships, Niagara Wonder and Niagara Thunder. Each boat can carry 700 passengers.
- Niagara Wonder
- Years of service: since 2013
- Type: double-stack catamaran tour boat
- Niagara Thunder
- Years of service: since 2013
- Type: double-stack catamaran tour boat
Lake Tahoe Cruises
Between 1997 and 2002, Hornblower operated in Lake Tahoe. They started by buying Lake Tahoe Cruises Inc. and its boats, Tahoe Queen and Tahoe Princess. They also offered ferry service across Lake Tahoe. In 2002, the Lake Tahoe operations were sold to Aramark.
Alcatraz Cruises
In 2006, Hornblower won the contract to provide ferry service to Alcatraz Island. This service is for the National Park Service. The company, called Alcatraz Cruises, sells tickets and takes about 1.5 million visitors to the island each year.
In 2008, Alcatraz Cruises added the Hornblower Hybrid to its fleet. This was the first hybrid ferry in the United States. The Hybrid uses solar power, wind power, and special low-emission diesel fuel.
Statue Cruises
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In 2007, the company won a contract to operate ferries to Liberty Island and Ellis Island. These are important national historic sites in the Port of New York and New Jersey. This service replaced Circle Line, which had run the ferries since 1953. Under the name Statue Cruises, the company sells tickets and provides transportation for visitors. Boats leave from Jersey City or Lower Manhattan. All passengers go through security checks before boarding.
The Liberty Water Taxi is also connected to this service. It travels between Liberty State Park and the Battery Park City Ferry Terminal.
Hornblower New York Cruises
Hornblower also operates other cruises in New York. They have a fleet of six yachts that offer sightseeing cruises. These boats also host special events. Their vessels include the Hornblower Infinity and the Hornblower Hybrid.
NYC Ferry
In 2015, Hornblower Cruises was chosen to operate New York City's NYC Ferry service. This service began on May 1, 2017. It was the company's first commuter ferry operation. One route connects Lower Manhattan and Midtown Manhattan with parts of Brooklyn and Queens. Other routes connect Manhattan with Rockaway Park and southern Brooklyn. A route to Astoria, Queens, started in August 2017. Two more routes to Soundview, Bronx, and the Lower East Side of Manhattan began in August 2018.
Notable Yachts
- The M/V Zumbrota was built for circus owner Charles Ringling. It was named after the largest elephant at the time. This boat now operates in Marina del Rey.
- The M/V Wild Goose used to be actor John Wayne's private yacht. It joined the fleet in 1995. This restored 1942 minesweeper still operates in Newport Beach.
- The ferryboat Santa Rosa once carried passengers between San Francisco and the East Bay. It now serves as the company's main office.
- The M/V San Francisco Belle is a paddlewheel-style vessel. It joined the fleet in 2001. The Belle can hold 2,200 people. It is the largest dining yacht on the West Coast.
- The San Francisco Hornblower Hybrid was the first hybrid ferry in the United States. It was finished in 2008. It takes visitors to Alcatraz Island and Angel Island in San Francisco Bay.
