I was adamant that my bridal shower be something different and unique and my mother and I stumbled across City Cruises. From the moment we reached out until disembarking the yacht, the staff at City Cruises went above and beyond. The boat itself was gorgeous. The food was delicious. The service was impeccable. I swear every time I turned around our server, Geri Lynn was there to refill my glass. When my group of guests wandered upstairs to the top floor, I overheard the manager alerting the staff that we were moving... I didn't know what that meant until they all popped upstairs to make sure that everyone up there was still having their glass of champagne refilled and bringing us anything we needed. I have never had so many compliments on an event in my life! Thank you so much to everyone at City Cruises for the amazing experience. I will remember it forever!! read more

Nicky is a superstar!! She served our large group and was SO sweet and really took care of us. Both Nicky and the photographer had such great energy. The cruise itself is a great deal (they also have Groupons!) because it includes unlimited mimosas, breakfast, and some nice photo spots. Was pleasantly surprised by the food variety and quality! I think the service at the tritip station could be a little more energetic, or we were just so used to the energy of Nicky and the photographer, that it seemed a little off and not as welcoming. My favorite items were the petit four cakes, tritip + horseradish, and chicken tenders! A lot of people in the group loved the smoked salmon bagels. Our drinks were always topped off and Nicky was always around in case we had any questions or needed something else. Would go on another city cruise! read more

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Fun time with friends, beautiful Newport Beach weather. Staff was very friendly & accommodating. Service was top notch. Boat was a triple decker, and extremely well kept. Brunch buffet had a nice variety of food, and bottomless mimosas a nice touch. read more

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Our family absolutely loved this cruise for Father's Day. It had all the charm, friendliness, top-notch service, and fun that anyone would would be thrilled to experience for a special occasion. The crew was awesome, especially the captain and assistants to the captain. One of the highlights was the captain let my 8, 6, and 3 year-old in the bridge where the ship is steered/controlled, and the captain let my boys onto the "captain's chair" and to actually steer the big 3-story boat/yacht...of course with his hand on the wheel too! But my boys thought that was the coolest and funnest thing, and it was a memory and experience that just made all the other parts so much more fun and awesome! Great boat, crew/staff, and CAPTAIN who I give all 5 stars, easily. Thank you for a great experience!! read more

Father's Day cruise is always a good time on the water, except the food this time was subpar. 2025 Father's Day cruise food was spectacular so we came back, but something happened or failed to happen right in the kitchen this time. read more

They have some amazing options for your next big event! Came here with the fiancé to preview their wedding venue options. They have a few beautiful ships to choose from for weddings, corporate events, or even birthday parties! One of their ships is the Wild Goose, John Wayne's old private yacht. We got to tour it and it is a treasure trove of old school opulence on the water. Their other modern ships are also very nice with tons of space for events. All the employees here were super nice and helpful. We got to experience a nice cruise with brunch and drinks. It was such a nice experience I can't wait to book them! If you're considering having an event on the water make sure to check them out. read more

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They had paid parking lot available. The service was underwhelming - getting the attention of the servers took multiple attempts, which made the dining experience a bit frustrating. We were sitting by the 'window', but unfortunately, the window couldn't be rolled up so we missed out on enjoying of view. As for the food, the starters and main dishes were okay but the desserts were a letdown. Another downside was the long intervals between the courses, which really impacted the overall flow of the meal. It ultimately cut into our time to explore the ship and enjoy other parts of the experience. One and done. read more

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Hubby and I did the Premier Bottomless Mimosa Brunch Cruise because we needed a reason to sing along to Lonely Island's "I'm On A Boat." And while we didn't bring our swim trunks and our flippy-floppys, I couldn't resist doing my King of the World pose at the bow of the ship. The boat crew was all welcoming and helpful! Everything was so well organized, too. Upon boarding, a photographer took our photo. As soon as we boarded, they checked our reservation, handed us a glass of champagne, and escorted us to our table. The dining area next to the dance floor had about 25 small tables that were spaced out fairly well, so it never felt crowded. Each table fits 2-4 individuals. Our waitress/bartender offered OJ and pineapple juice to make a mimosa. The food was served buffet-style. The brunch menu is posted online and if I remember correctly, printed copies were also on the tables. It clearly marked vegan items which are: - Breakfast Potatoes with caramelized onions and sweet bell peppers - Summer Berry and Farro Salad - Fruit Nothing really stood out about the potatoes but they were still good. The salad was actually better than I expected. The base was baby spinach, the sumac vinaigrette was tasty, and that farro helped make it a filling dish. One thing I wish this buffet had was a plant-based protein. Maybe toss some chickpeas in that salad to make it a more sustaining meal for vegans. https://yelp.to/zhL03sxFkM One thumbs down moment I had, when I went back for seconds, the staff had combined the potatoes with the chicken tenders. That sucks for the vegan/vegetarians. The ride itself was smooth and peaceful. Gorgeous views of Newport Beach Harbor eye-balling the bougie homes. Perfect June weather too. Great experience! read more

City Cruises - Vegan options on Brunch Cruise - American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Omg, I had the best time on this brunch mimosa tour. Biggest kudos to the bartender Denise and our server Nicky!!! Amazing and friendly, the music was good, food was good, drinks were good, and the view was good. Even if the weather was bad (which it wasn't) I think I would have still had so much fun. I just wish it was a longer tour haha. read more

City Cruises - Drink is the Newport Blush or something like that. I forgot with how much fun I had - American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Fun cruise with a DJ! The boat was a decent size! The staff all did a great job tending to tables. The food was fresh and hot. It was buffet style. We had an on-board medical emergency, and the captain of the ship- along with staff, handled it very well! It was a pleasant experience, being a guest! The views were very pretty, and it was super relaxing. The boat went nice and slow, so it wasn't too fast. You could enjoy your food and drinks. There was an open bar, for the wedding. It was great! City Cruises Newport Beach did a great job! 10/10 read more

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I really enjoyed the Brunch Cruise! It was a 2 hour cruise. It was an elegant day on the Harbor with delicious cocktails, chef-prepared dishes, and top-notch service. There was live entertainment which set the mood while we soaked in the views of Newport Beach Harbor from the water. We paid $130 because we wanted a guaranteed window seat which I think was an excellent price. The food and bottomless drinks were worth the price. However, we were shocked to see the same tickets on Groupon for a cheaper price. So moral of the story, go to Groupon first before you buy your ticket. Enjoy. read more

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Amazing!!!!!!!!!! You won't regret it! We booked a cruise with friends for my husband's 39th birthday. Such an awesome time, staff was top tier with service! Everything was beautiful and food was delicious! read more

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Came here with my fiancé to have a delicious brunch while being out in the water in Newport. The first time we did this we weren't able to leave the dock because it was very windy, and it was windy again, but we were able to leave the dock. Service was good. The brunch food was very tasty as well. After eating, we were able to go to the top of the boat and walk around outside. It was a beautiful day and a wonderful experience.. read more

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City Cruises Newport Beach CA Sat 2/8/25 Aboard historic John Wayne's Wild Goose, who was a close family friend of the Bride, an elegant engagement celebration is being held! © Here we are, on the Wild Goose, together with Bride & Groom, their parents & close family and friends, to celebrate the engagement & make the fantastic memory come true! Excitement is in the air! The guests were asked to wear a formal attire & furs! How classy is that? Let's concur! We're mesmerized by the settings, the private cruise, the cocktail bars, the decks displaying phenomenal wood work, the carvings, the wooden panels that John Wayne's hands held! Don't forget to stop by his bedroom suite, take notice of the way the legend lived! On the main deck, we are served the appetizers, the cocktails, we make the introductions, we gather up! On the middle deck, we relax in luxurious chairs, we enjoy the scale model of the boat, and we go upstairs to the top, where tables are set, to break the bread! This special time in couple's life is sweet & elegant! They are dreaming of what the future holds & making plans! Congratulations guys, you're engaged! Let's help make memories last a lifetime! They will be having an intimate destination wedding in Europe to honor heritage & roots, but before all that, here on the American soil, or shall I say, in the Pacific waters LOLz, the engagement party is being held, aboard the historic John Wayne's boat the Wild Goose. * The lights are extremely promising! The souls are happy & bright! The day has bloomed into awesomeness! This Superbowl weekend, a highlight! Engagement party on the Wild Goose! [ Review #825 w 1 pic Feb 8, 2025 ] Engagement Celebration! John Wayne's Vessel! @Wild Goose Newport Beach CA Sat 2/8/25 read more

City Cruises - Engagement Celebration! John Wayne's Vessel! @Wild Goose Newport Beach CA Sat 2/8/25 - American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

We enjoyed every second of our Mother's Day brunch cruise. Wonderful food, exceptional service and amazing sights! read more

City Cruises - Lovely day!! - American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Came through to celebrate Cuzzo's birthday and a belated birthday treat for SIL. Party of 4, I paid a little extra to secure a window seat (much preferred - kinda don't like the idea of being seated somewhere in the middle.) I coulda chanced it, but... meh. We came through about 15 minutes earlier than boarding time so we got the chance to walk around the boardwalk for a bit to see boats and yachts we can only fantasize about. (Heh...!) Boarding was so easy! Drop you name, they hand your host a ticket, they walk you to the champagne table and straight to your table. We sat around for a few just to take in the views as the boat departed. (By the way, they are very serious about leaving on time. There was a decorated table for what seemed like a special occasion which remained empty the whole trip. We're guessing they ran late.) It wasn't long before it was announced the buffet was good and ready to go. We were in the middle deck and the spread was downstairs. It's impressive at that. There is something for everyone. The usual breakfast fleeing was there: scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, choice of pastries, salads. They even had a tri-tip section! Champagne was unlimited, but if you feel like something else to wash it all down, there is a bar available. The music was pretty mellow. It's a mix of recorded tunes as well as a live saxophonist. It set the mood for sightseeing as the ship sailed through the waters. FOOD: 5. SERVICE: 4.5. Our server, Nick, was great! VALUE: 3. A bit pricey. You're paying mostly for the experience, but the food wasn't too bad. PARKING: Private lot at $10 for the day. Come early! OVERALL: 4.25. Great idea for birthdays, weddings or other special occasions! The two hours sorta flew by because we were back in no time! That only goes to show how much of a great time we had b But what an experience! It's definitely something we're going to do again in the near future! read more

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Went on the dinner cruise for my 18th wedding anniversary. We added the romance package which added the right amount of extra to our dinner. Our waiters were awesome and very attentive. They even grabbed us drinks when we were sitting upstairs before the dinner started. The only thing I was sad about was we were supposed to get a boarding photo but that night they didn't have a photographer on board. read more

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My husband and I went on a dinner cruise for our anniversary in March. The experience was good. The harbor views and sunset weren't really visible due to the windows on the boat being down and not being able to see through them. I had the salmon dish and ended up throwing up and being sick the rest of the night from it but our server was great. read more

Love City Cruises Newport Beach! This was my 4th cruise around fabulous Newport Beach Harbor. Always good times embracing the beauty of ocean life. It was a Sunday morning when my friends and I aboard the boat for brunch. We were served a glass of champagne upon check in then escorted to our table. Our server brought us juices for bottomless mimosas. Absolutely elated with flowing champagne throughout the 2 hours cruise. You can't say no to that. Server constantly refilled our empty glasses without us asking. Talking about top notch service. I'm already feeling fancy. As for food it was enjoyable served in buffet style. All sorts of good breakfast and lunch items all cook to perfection. Live jazz music was playing as you eat brunch enjoying the beautiful scenery of water. After brunch we went top of the boat with our mimosas as we cruised around the harbor. So relaxing on a sunny day. Highly recommend to try out this cruise once in a lifetime because it's an unforgettable memory. read more

City Cruises - American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Company xmas party on the old boat wild goose. It was ok. Nothing special. Boat is old and got stuck as the boat can't maneuver out of the dock. So no cruising in the harbor to see xmas lights food was ok. read more

This was our first time on this vessel and with City Cruises and we were very impressed. The staff were very friendly and provided excellent service. The vessel was very neat and clean as well. We will be back asap. The food was very good and they weren't kidding about bottomless mimosas read more

I would like to state again that City Cruises Hornblower in Newport Beach gave me the most wonderful Mother's Day luncheon cruise on their yacht the Endless Dreams! The Crew, the Captain and individuals like Mack who welcomed everyone who came on board, Kevin who pointed us in the right direction to the boat and Miss Danielle who so attentive to all of her guests needs not to mention the wonderful photographer who made my day a real 'Dream. The food was delicious and the Champagne and cocktails flowed. As we went around the beautiful bay it was a treat. The guests of all ages had a lovely time. Congratulations again on a job well done to all of you. Deborah S. read more

Went on a 3 hour bay cruise for our 50th class reunion. The cruise and the crew were wonderful. Great experience and highly recommend..

Definitely not worth the money. The majority of the food in the brunch buffet isn't even good. Powdered eggs in Newport Beach? The bacon was severely burnt and breakfast potatoes weren't completely cooked. I could go on and on about each item, but I'm sure you understand. This is the first buffet I've ever been to where no one finished their first serving/plate and no one went back for seconds. Sure the mimosas are endless, but it's juice and champagne; nothing super impressive or different from other brunch options. They had a musician on board who didn't fit in with the room. I'm sure he's a nice man, but it was odd to hear an entire song being played with a saxophone, the next with a trombone, the next with a trumpet, the next with a clarinet, the next with a flute and then repeat the process. He played by himself, couldn't carry a tune, would miss notes and because it's just him and he's only playing one instrument you're wondering what you're listening to. He's also the MC who announces birthdays, anniversaries, etc. People are too busy talking, laughing, socializing and it would have been less awkward if they played soft elevator music over the speakers. There are steps to get on and off the boat and depending upon what deck you want to be on or get a view from you'll need to be able to get up and down them. The staff did help people on and off the boat. Ultimately the reason you're going is for the environment and the view since you're coasting on the water inside of the harbor area. You'll see beautiful homes, plenty of yachts, boats, paddle boarders, restaurants, the Balboa Fun Zone, etc. as well. The view when outside, on top is great, but for the price and based on previous experience I'd recommend a gondola boat ride, renting a Duffy boat or taking a smaller boat and eating at a nice restaurant with great food instead. read more

We just did a great prewedding cruise for 100 family members including a preboarding hour with a steel drum band and a mermaid followed by a 3-hour cruise with a Motown Band, dinner and dancing. The staff on board needed to pivot a bit with our needs but were very accommodating while doing so. We also had a change 4 days before the cruise that we needed to make for budgeting purposes and the owners of the company got involved and made concessions to allow us the change, which they didn't have to do but was greatly appreciated. The food was plentiful and of good quality. The cruise itself was smooth, comfortable and beautiful. When everyone was leaving there were a lot of thank you comments and raves about how magical the event was. It was priced as you would expect renting the Endless Dreams ship which is 3 levels and very roomy plus all the trimmings. I felt we received what we paid for, which was an upscale, memorable and super fun event. Thank you, City Cruises. read more

I experienced the bottomless mimosa brunch cruise with a group of my friends. We luckily were able to get street parking and boarded the yacht around 10:40. We were checked in and seated by our server. Our server was amazing and made sure we had an ENDLESS amount of champagne which we loved! Aside from that, the brunch was buffet style and had a lot of different foods. It was all very yummy, and I wish I had gotten seconds. It was also very pretty and fun to walk around and take pictures. The only thing is I thought we would see more but the cruise just goes to the end of the port and then turns around. It was still very pretty though and I would come again! read more

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I enjoyed the brunch cruise on Saturday morning with City Cruises by Hornblowers aboard Endless Dreams. I went with my family and we all had an excellent time! Our special occasion was a family reunion/ early Thanksgiving celebration. We were seated on the upper deck and had a beautiful view on the water and outdoor scenery! We were also serenaded by a musician playing the saxophone and played classical music. We were seated by the window and everything was perfectly spaced out. It was buffet style so we had to go down the stairs to reach the buffet. They also provided bottomless Champagne and juices that was included. One of the best parts of the cruise was the top floor because you felt the nice air breeze and had an nonobstructed view of the ocean! It also had tables and chairs and games! They had tic tac toe, jenga and corn hole. It's a great spot to take photos! At the end of our cruise we saw some dolphins! I do want to give a shoutout to our amazing server, Madison! She was so sweet and attentive to me and my family and always checked in to see if we needed anything. My brother said that it was the best service that he has ever had and that she made his day. Parking: I think there is street parking but it is a very busy street so I recommend paying $10 to park in the lot to play it safe I highly recommend coming early to make sure that you arrive on time for departure! It was definitely a very memorable experience! read more

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Went for a corporate event, parked in a lot with their sign in front to the left of the pier, paid $20 to park. Asked for a receipt, they said they didn't have one. Okay, no problem, I'll circle back with them later since the event is already underway. Tried to get a receipt after the event and they couldn't be bothered to help. Fine, guess I'm out $20, I'll tell everyone I know and every company to skip your corporate event services next time since issuing a $20 receipt for parking is too much trouble. read more

My mom is in a wheelchair and we were assured that the boat was handicap accessible. This was not true. We wasted several hours driving to Newport only to find out we wouldn't be able to get my mom on board. So we missed our dear friend's birthday party. Huge disappointment. Don't bother booking if you have accessibility issues. read more

Great food and just a great experience overall. I was expecting to leave the harbor but that's not a big deal. I'd definitely do it again

The vibe was great! Noah our server was fantastic! However this is a brunch and the menu was just ok but what made matters worse was how do you completely run out of cream cheese within 30mins of departure? For the price of this brunch food was not up to par. read more

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Magnificent staff! We were with older people, one needed a walker, and the staff went out of their way to accommodate and help us. We were given the wrong address to begin with so huge thank you to Kevin for being able to drive the older couple down to where the boat actually was. Once on board, huge, huge, thank you to Mac, who went out of his way to accommodate us every step of the way. Also huge thank you to Danielle who was a superb server. We had a lovely time and would highly recommend this harbor cruise. read more

This was our last outing before COVID quarantine. I'm SO glad we took advantage of Orange County Restaurant Week (half off!), took our chances with COVID creep, and went 9ut on the water for a night of wonderful fun! Their parking lot is easy to miss (driveway between buildings), but once you double-back to catch it, it's quite expansive. Once parked, it's easy to saunter up to the entrance. They board not a minute before, so take your time, unless you're sneaking in pictures by the boats. They'll take your pic by the souvenir lifesaver before you board for $20. Upon boarding, choose your table/receive seating assignment before exploring the boat. You can order from the bar during this time as well. We did both, then took pics from the top desck with champagne flutes. Upon cast-off, you'll be in the dining room. We ordered appetizebeginnings. (additional $). Delicious beginnings. The meal was delicious as well. Our compliments to the chef! Dessert was equally fabulous. The D.J. played a variety of music, hut when he finally got to dance tunes, we led the ship in a soul train line of jams! Whew! Fun, fun! --until the D.J. felt obligated to go back to "variety" music. All-in-all, GREAT night which each of us would repeat again! read more

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I took my mom on a special dinner cruise for her birthday and she loved it! Although the tickets were not cheap, we got a discount with a birthday coupon so it ended up being about $100 each. The cruise was definitely worth the money as my mom loved dressing up and seeing the Newport views. The food was generous but the quality is similar to other touristy menus (not quite restaurant quality but still great!) The staff was amazing and the DJ shouted out birthdays. My mom loved having the dance floor to party and the deck was beautiful for pictures and enjoying the views. I would love to return for the christmas lights which would be even prettier. Thank you City Cruises for a great birthday! read more

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Second year in a row thanksgiving dinner and first 50th Birthday celebration for my daughter... Horn Blower Captain and staff all the voyagers had food, song and scenery for our entire evening... My daughter celebrated her milestone birthday, made memories with her family... read more

City Cruises - Family photo celebration on the Horn Blower Thanksgiving Dinner - American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Over the weekend my family and I did a dinner cruise. It was just ok nothing spectacular. The food was good but could have been better for the price we paid per ticket. I had the Salmon which was a nice portion, my husband had what was labeled on the menu as short ribs, but instead seemed and tasted like pot roast. Desserts were ok, the mixed berry and whip cream was good, the cheesecake was ok. The service was good but also keep in mind the boat was not packed with people, so the service staff was able to manage the few tables they had. The bartender was very good mixing and making drinks. The dj was wack, most of the music was all request, by a teenager who liked country and some pop. Would I recommend the cruise, NO- not what I was expecting read more

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3 hour dinner and dancing cruise around Newport Harbor? Count me in! We went here for a Friday dinner cruise at the end of December (yay date night!). It was a bit pricey, but for a unique experience...why not. Parking was $15 but worth it for the convenient spot. We went on a quiet night so the boat was fairly empty (about 40 people). The crowd varied but was a mainly older crowd (celebrating birthdays or anniversaries). We chose the lowest pricing tier since we don't really drink. Around 7pm we lined up and they took photos (2 for $20) in front of the boat. Ours came out terribly compared to other photos we took while on the boat, so we didn't feel the need to purchase any. Upon entering the boat you get a glass of champagne or sparkling cider (included). Tea, coffee, and soft drinks are also included. The bread and hummus/dips were tasty (shout out to the cheese balls). I wish they were warmer, but they were good enough. The Caesar salad starter was delicious. The dressing was on the heavier side (which I personally love). The main dish is a combination of short ribs and crusted salmon over a heap of mashed potatoes and some buttered veggies on the side. The short ribs fell apart with a fork, and the salmon was tasty and cooked well. We laughed at the breadcrumb topping thrown on, but it tasted good. The veggies were sad and buttery tasting but the rest was so yummy that I didn't care. For dessert they gave us a nut free slice of chocolate cake (had almost a tirimisu texture) and a huge piece of butter cake. The butter cake was really rich and sweet. We almost finished both desserts, they were so tasty. Upon leaving the boat they also had a platter of desserts (the s'mores one is amazing - even if you are super full, at least save it for later). The dancing is what you make of it, as is the experience. They take song requests. My only complaint is that the dining room wasn't temperature controlled and it was in the 40s the night we went. Basically, we froze for 3 hours. But the pretty holiday boats and lights were worth it and we didn't even go on a light parade night! read more

City Cruises - Butter cake & nut free chocolate cake - American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Beautiful views, delicious food and bomb drinks! They take small groups on one of their boats for a nice dinner cruise around Newport and the Balboa Peninsula. They also host private events such as weddings or parties. First glass of champagne and beer was free but cocktails are extra. The three-course meal is included with your ticket which comes with a salad, entree of your choice and dessert. Good experience overall and definitely worth it! read more

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It was a 2 story boat.. but i had a baby and they sat us downstairs. It was the best...the lounge area was nice and baby was happy walking around..manager was super nice and our server was great read more

Do not book the Endless Dreams for New Years! It is a joke and the steal your money! If you don't book VIP you can't board till 10pm and the boat only cruises for 30 minutes but they advertise they sail from 9pm-1245 which is a lie. They sailed for only 30 minutes and then sat at the dock. You can't sit unless you book VIP which we didn't know. Security sucked and the whole experience was terrible ! read more