City Cruises offers smooth sailing, tasty fare, elegance, beautiful sights

"Endless Dreams" offers endless pleasures, when one enjoys a City Cruises/Hornblower occasion.
A variety of options are available to celebrate a birthday, holiday or just a lovely time on the water in many locations.  Pictured is a popular yacht about to leave for a festive Sunday brunch in Newport.

STEP ABOARD CITY CRUISES, FORGET YOUR TROUBLES, DINE, DRINK, BE HAPPY ON A SPECIAL DAY OR JUST BECAUSE

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS

PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER

Lifelong sailor Bruce Keller and Christene
"Cookie" Meyers on Endless Dreams.

WE LOVE City Cruises. What a delight to step aboard an immaculate vessel, be greeted with a glass of champagne, enjoy a leisurely meal, live music and fabulous scenery.

If you're a devotee of all things ocean related, you know that the venerable Hornblower Cruises was rebranded a few years ago as City Cruises/City Experiences.

Rest assured, Hornblower's superb service and time honored classiness still exist. We recently verified that, celebrating an anniversary with friends in Newport.

As we boarded Endless Dreams, the sun was shining and spirits were high. More than 100 fellow revelers booked an entire deck of this classy ship for their private birthday party. We checked in -- next to John Wayne's famous Wild Goose -- enjoying the festive decor of gifts, flowers and balloons. Everyone was dressed to the nines as we hopped upstairs to find our table.  Live music greeted us as we surveyed the picturesque harbor with lively company. The gifted guitarist took requests, keeping the party mood going. 

The Newport shoreline is a wonderland of yachts,
lovely homes, condos, people enjoying the water.

CHAMPAGNE and mimosas in hand, we lingered over our appetizers -- tasty shrimp cocktail for me, perfect, rare ahi with aioli for Keller. We strolled the deck to admire the yachts and homes on the shore before sampling an elegant buffet, a bountiful selection of hot and cold entrees. Highlights were lovely rare beef, succulent salmon, artful salads, appealing side dishes. After another stroll, we approached a lavish dessert table of truffles, mousse and more delightful decadence. Friendly waiters kept everything pristine and fresh. The operation showcases quality produce, seafood, meats and desserts, with special regional touches by each city's chef.

One may leave the pretty table at any time to view
 scenery on the open decks, then return at leisure.

Setting the scene for the repast is important, too. The operation is equally proud of its beautifully kept, state-of-the-art luxury yachts, each with its own features and emphasis on pampering. 

HORNBLOWER Cruises is a familiar name to lovers of the yachting experience for dinner and harbor tours. We've been Hornblower fans for decades and the operation's rebranding to City Cruises/City Experiences encompasses many of the same cities with loyal Hornblower loyalists: San Francisco, New York, and other cities where dining cruises and ferry services exist and operated long before the 2021 rebranding. 

Whale watching delights on City Cruises

San Francisco on a perfect City Cruises evening, lights aglow.

Hornblower/City Experiences has grown to provide a sea loving variety of  services in 18 cities with over 100 sophisticated vessels. "City Experiences by Hornblower" offers myriad water and land based experiences, even overnight cruise opportunities, and ferry services including a delightful history-based trip to Battery Park and Liberty Island in New York. We've done that twice.

The view topside is a splendid one, with pillows
and libations, a pleasant breeze and conversation.

WE CHOSE our latest journey in Newport from many offerings and several ports near us, deciding on the festive brunch. We can highly recommend the operation's offerings in New York, San Francisco, Sacramento, Chicago and southern California cities including our San Diego base. We joined Illinois friends for a lovely evening cruise along the Chicago River, and in the Bay Area, we've cruised past Alcatraz Island and the Golden Gate Bridge, dancing to a jazz trio. Highlights of our New York forays include a dinner cruise with the Statue of Liberty and Tower One as our backdrop. In Washington, D.C., we chose a river outing as the perfect way to view the iconic monuments.

LUNCH AND dinner cruises are typically three hours. We've enjoyed them in New York and San Francisco, as well as in southern California ports. With each experience, we're made to feel special, served with courtesy, enthusiasm and impeccable manners.  Staff are carefully chosen for professionalism and personality. When I accidentally left my new prescription glasses on a deck table, our waitress and the booking manager tracked them down.  A crew member had thoughtfully rescued them.

ALL PARTY sizes and a range of budgets are available. Guests may book a section of tables, a full deck or a private charter, as our birthday celebrants did in Newport. Father's Day specials are available in several cities to treat a special dad,  grandpa, husband, brother or friend.

To book click here: https://www.cityexperiences.com/city-cruises/

cityexperiences.com

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Christene "Cookie" Meyers and Bruce
Keller enjoy a shoreline sail on American Pride,
the official tall ship of Long Beach, Calif.

CCOMING UP: Ahoy from Long Beach and San Pedro, where three stately tall ships are keeping old-fashioned sailing alive and well, sharing the wonders of sailing with children of all ages. Both pleasure crafts and sailing classrooms, two twin brigantines in San Pedro and a three-masted schooner in Rainbow Harbor in Long Beach, California, serve as a marine education platform for the youth of southern California and offer special "sunset sails" for the public. You can book a Father's Day sail June 15, and a July Fireworks Sail Saturday, July 5. Find out more about these classic vessels and see how they keep afloat and provide children with unforgettable learning time at sea.

Twin Brigantines are continuing educational
sailings and public events, including two for
Father's Day and the July Fourth holiday.

Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekly for a fresh spin on travel, performance, nature and more. Please share this column with like minded people. Below is a link for more on Los Angeles Maritime Institute's work in schools and the public: 

 

Click here for more on the above