Hornblower Dinner Cruise
Intimate Evening with Someone Special
Patty and Mark toast to their anniversary – 33 years
What is a Hornblower? If you have ever visited San Diego – or heaven forbid have lived in San Diego without indulging in the Romantic San Diego Dinner Cruise offered by Hornblower Cruises, you have missed out on one of the most wonderful experiences that San Diego has to offer.
Romantic Anniversary
We wanted to do something special for our anniversary. Mark and I met on Valentines Day of 1982. But we long ago discovered the difficulty of attaining reservations for that particular evening. Even if you do have reservations, the service is generally lacking because the harried service people are running around like chickens without heads. And the almighty din of chatty diners all around you just doesn’t make for the most pleasurable – or intimate – time.
So on the evening BEFORE Valentine’s Day, we headed out to the pier where Hornblower’s newly refurbished Admiral Hornblower (formerly known as the Lord Hornblower) was moored. Before we climbed aboard, the greeting personnel treated us with respect, and even brought out a couple of chairs for us to sit on, as Mark recently had knee ligament surgery.
The shrimp cocktail with crackers
When we climbed aboard, waitstaff presented us each with a glass of champagne. And a hostess showed us to our table. The D.J., a worldly guy in charge of the evening’s music, came by to ask if we had any special requests. “Secret Journey” by the Police was not on his roster, but “Kryptonite,” one of our favorite dance tunes, was certainly on the line-up.
The salmon was cooked perfectly
Le Menu
The menu features salmon, chicken and beef. You can add appetizers, and substitute entrees and desserts for an extra charge. We shared a shrimp cocktail and there was no skimping on the shrimp, I assure you. They were big and succulent. The Salad of the Season with Farmer’s Field Greens, Artisanal Cheeses with the Tangy House Vinaigrette was tasty. For my entree, I decided on the Loch Duart Salmon with Miso Soy glaze and Seared Risotto Cake that was the best and most tender salmon I’ve had in a long time. Mark had the Filet Mignon with Prawns. He gave me a bite, and the meat was also perfectly cooked.
We finished up our meal with a creme brulee, a cup of coffee and a little bit of dancing. Slow dancing, as Mark was still favoring that knee.
We also visited Captain Jose in his wheelroom. We shared some laughs as we cruised in close to the Hotel Del Coronado.
The glittering lights of San Diego
All in all, a very romantic dinner cruise. Then, Captain Jose guided the Admiral Hornblower gently back to the pier, bringing a lovely evening to its conclusion.
I really can’t say enough good things about this cruise. How can you beat the glittering lights of San Diego reflected in the gentle waters of San Diego Bay, the great service aboard the Admiral Hornblower, and the great food? Highly recommended for lovers, spouses, soulmates. Get a babysitter and leave the kiddies at home. This is your time to gaze into each other’s eyes and truly get away from it all.
