Once again, we had the pleasure of hosting Carli Leavitt, Editor of SanDiego.com, for an enchanting experience on the water. This time around, Carli and her date got to enjoy America’s Finest City with breath-taking views on board the first Sights & Sips Cocktail Cruise of the summer.
“Hornblower Cruises and Events never seize to amaze me with their ability to create a beautiful ambiance and top-notch service for each and every one of their events. As the editor of SanDiego.com, I’ve been invited on a number of cruises in San Diego and Hornblower always manages to take the “work” out of the situation and make it a truly memorable and relaxing experience. The Sights & Sips Cocktail Cruise is a great way to leave the work week behind and start off a fantastic weekend in San Diego.
I was lucky enough to attend the first San Diego Sights & Sips Cocktail Cruise of the season with Hornblower Cruises and Events. It was a gorgeous Friday evening with clear skies and typically perfect San Diego weather. As my date and I arrived at the dock, we caught a glimpse of our luxury yacht for the evening. It was the intimate and beautifully restored antique yacht, High Spirits. We received the customary greeting from the prestigious captains in full uniform upon boarding and were offered a glass of champagne as we headed upstairs. We had a VIP table reserved on the top floor dining area with incredible views of the water and convenient access to hors d’oeuvres and the top deck bar.
We indulged in delicious snacks like crackers, dip, fruits and veggies throughout the cruise, all fresh and replenished as the night went on. After some fun socializing with other guests and filling ourselves with treats, we grabbed a cocktail from the bar and went to check out the rest of the ship. The main salon was a stunning venue with a dance floor, a few comfortable seats and rich mahogany woodwork. One piece of advice for ladies – walk carefully on the dance floor as it’s slick, which is perfect for dancing, but a little tricky for those of us wearing high heels.
We then headed to the bow of the yacht for a classic boating experience. The views were unbelievable as we cruised along the bay, past the military ships docked on South Island and the beautiful skyline of downtown San Diego. The sun was setting as we cruised south in the bay and witnessed a classic San Diego sight – a burnt orange sun dipping into the ocean beneath the silhouette of the majestic Coronado Bridge. All the while we were socializing, getting to know other guests and feasting on interesting facts about the surrounding areas. We saw the NAASCO ships under construction, famous San Diego hotels like the San Diego Bayfront Hilton and Hotel Del Coronado, as well as a sailboat that raced in the America’s Cup. It was an intriguing cruise and set a beautiful scene for romance in San Diego.
My date and I spent most of the evening basking in the beauty of the San Diego Bay and enjoying the luxury of one of the finest antique yachts available to the public. We stole a few kisses in the saltwater breeze and watched the sun set delicately into the distance on an absolutely perfect San Diego evening. Not many activities compare to a sunset cruise and Hornblower has definitely got it right with the Sights & Sips Cocktail Cruise in San Diego. It’s a great way to enjoy the sights in San Diego, learn a little about the bay and revel in the romance of America’s Finest City.”
This article was written by Carli Leavitt, the editor of SanDiego.com. Carli is a San Diego native with a wealth of knowledge about local attractions, hotels, beaches and nightlife venues in San Diego County.