Hornblower Cruises & Events
The name of the company that I chose is Hornblower Cruises & Events.
Hornblower Cruises & Events is a San Francisco-based charter yacht, dining cruise and ferry service company.
Terry McRae and P. Michael Watson 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 the M/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.
By acquiring existing charter yacht companies, Hornblower was able to expand into San Diego in 1984, followed by Newport Beach in 1987. Shortly thereafter the company acquired the Marina del Rey-based Marina Cruise Lines.
By 1989 the company operated in Berkeley, San Francisco, San Diego, Newport Beach and Marina del Rey. The corporate headquarters were (and continue to be) located on the historic ferry Santa Rosa, which is moored at Pier 3 in San Francisco.
In 1992 Terry McRae became the sole owner of Hornblower Yachts, Inc, which was rebranded as Hornblower Cruises & Events to more accurately reflect the products and services offered.
In 1996 Hornblower Marine Services (HMS) was created to fill a need as a consultant to the booming riverboat casino and ferry service operations industry. By 2003, HMS grew to 80 employees, with offices in San Francisco, New London, Boston and Jacksonville. Three year later, HMS had become the leading worldwide provider of high-speed ferry services.
Coming up on its 35th 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.
Today, Hornblower operates out of eight different ports, including: San Francisco, Berkeley, Sacramento, Marina Del Rey, Long Beach, Newport Beach, San Diego, and Port of New York and New Jersey. The company's entire fleet now includes more than 30 ships. Hornblower Cruises & Events hosts holiday dining cruises, classic, scenic, city and wildlife tours and private charters for corporate, school and family groups. Whether an intimate anniversary celebration, a wedding ceremony, a teambuilding …
