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Hornblower Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Hornblower

Marine Operations - Captain

Sacramento, CA · On-site

Hornblower Group is a global leader in experience and transportation. Spanning a 100-year history, Hornblower Group's portfolio of international offerings includes water- and land-based experiences ...

Hornblower

Seadog Captain- City Cruise Chicago

Chicago, IL · On-site

$28 - $40/hr

Hornblower Group is a global leader in experience and transportation. Spanning a 100-year history, Hornblower Group's portfolio of international offerings includes water- and land-based experiences ...

Hornblower

Captain - Alcatraz Cruises

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$61.83/hr

Hornblower Group is a global leader in experience and transportation. Spanning a 100-year history, Hornblower Group's portfolio of international offerings includes water- and land-based experiences ...

Hornblower

Bartender

Boston, MA · On-site

$15/hr

Hornblower Group is a global leader in experience and transportation. Spanning a 100-year history, Hornblower Group's portfolio of international offerings includes water- and land-based experiences ...

Hornblower

Engineering - Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$35 - $45/hr

Hornblower Group is a global leader in experience and transportation. Spanning a 100-year history, Hornblower Group's portfolio of international offerings includes water- and land-based experiences ...

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How much do hornblower jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 14, 2026, the average hourly pay for hornblower in the United States is $26.34, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.14 and $30.77 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does Hornblower Group do?

Hornblower Group is a company that operates sightseeing cruises, ferry services, and other maritime experiences. Employees in related roles may be involved in customer service, vessel operation, or event planning within a maritime environment.

What is the difference between Hornblower vs Boat Captain?

AspectHornblowerBoat Captain
Required CredentialsUSCG license, maritime training, safety certificationsUSCG license, maritime training, safety certifications
Work EnvironmentPassenger cruise vessels, sightseeing toursVarious vessels including ferries, private boats, cruise ships
Employer & IndustryTourism, hospitality, maritime transportationMaritime transportation, tourism, private charters
Common Search IntentJob roles, requirements, salary infoJob duties, licensing, career path

Both Hornblower and Boat Captain roles require similar credentials, including USCG licenses and maritime safety certifications. While Hornblower typically operates passenger cruise vessels in tourism settings, Boat Captains work across various vessels like ferries and private boats. The roles overlap in industry and work environment, but the specific vessel types and employer focus differ. Understanding these distinctions helps job seekers find the right maritime career path.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Hornblower, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Hornblower, you need musical proficiency, strong breath control, and the ability to read music, often supported by formal music education or training. Familiarity with brass or wind instruments, music notation software, and possibly performance certifications is advantageous. Exceptional discipline, stage presence, and the ability to collaborate with other musicians are important soft skills. These abilities ensure accurate, expressive performances and effective contributions within ensembles or orchestras.

What are some common challenges faced by a Hornblower during daily operations on the water?

As a Hornblower, especially in the context of operating passenger vessels or sightseeing cruises, you may encounter challenges such as managing communication signals during busy docking procedures, ensuring passenger safety and comfort, and adapting to changing weather conditions. Working on the water often requires quick decision-making and effective collaboration with the captain and deck crew to maintain smooth operations. Additionally, balancing the delivery of informative commentary or entertainment for guests while maintaining operational duties can be demanding, but it also provides opportunities for skill growth and guest interaction.

What are hornblowers and what do they do?

A hornblower is someone who sounds a horn or trumpet, traditionally as part of a ceremonial or signaling role. Historically, hornblowers were important in military, maritime, or civic contexts to convey signals or announcements. Today, hornblowers may participate in ceremonial events, parades, or as part of historical reenactments. Their role often involves maintaining tradition and adding a distinctive auditory element to special occasions.

What are examples of labor force jobs?

Labor force jobs include roles such as deckhand, captain, or crew member on a vessel like a Hornblower cruise ship. These positions often require physical work, customer service skills, and safety certifications such as CPR or maritime licenses. They are typically found in the hospitality, transportation, and tourism industries operating in maritime environments.
More about Hornblower jobs
What cities are hiring for Hornblower jobs? Cities with the most Hornblower job openings:
What states have the most Hornblower jobs? States with the most job openings for Hornblower jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Hornblower jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Hornblower jobs are:
Hornblower jobs near you
Infographic showing various Hornblower job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $54,791 per year, or $26.3 per hour.
Full- Time Captain | City Cruises Philadelphia

Full- Time Captain | City Cruises Philadelphia

Hornblower

Philadelphia, PA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 21 days ago

Hornblower rating

6.6

Company rating: 6.6 out of 10

Based on 18 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

6th of 9 rated cruise lines

Job description

Hornblower Group is a global leader in experience and transportation. Spanning a 100-year history, Hornblower Group's portfolio of international offerings includes water- and land-based experiences and ferry and transportation services. City Experiences, Hornblower Group's premier experience division, offers dining and sightseeing cruises and walking and food tours through the City Cruises, Walks, and Devour brands. City Ferry, part of Hornblower Group's Ferry and Transportation Division, is the largest private operator of high-speed passenger and vehicle ferries in the United States, carrying more than 10 million passengers annually and operating services including NYC Ferry, Puerto Rico Ferry, and other regional ferry systemsHornblower Group's subsidiaries include Hornblower Marine, which provides vessel outhaul and maintenance services at Bridgeport Boatworks in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Seaward Services, Inc., a full-service shipping, waterfront logistics and management company that specializes in the operation and maintenance of government and commercial vessels. Additionally, Anchor Operating System, LLC, a Hornblower Group subsidiary and independent entity, provides reservation, ticketing and website integration services for clients in the transportation, tourism and entertainment industries. Today, Hornblower Group's global portfolio covers over 10 countries, over 50 U.S. cities and serves more than 20 million guests annually. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, Hornblower Group's additional corporate offices reside in San Francisco, California; Boston, Massachusetts; Chicago, Illinois; London, United Kingdom; New York, New York; Dublin, Ireland; and across Ontario, Canada. For more information, visit hornblowercorp.com.
Position Summary:
The successful Captain will greet all guests and ensure each guest is attended to in an appropriate manner ensuring consistently high levels of safety, quality, service, and guest satisfaction, while maintaining a high level of profitability.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
  • Rotate as cruise captain on cruises and ensure adherence to procedures detailed in the Product Management Guide. This includes thorough pre-cruise preparation, adherence to cruise scripts, supervision of crew, proper piloting of vessel, adherence to all Coast Guard rules and regulations, and guest satisfaction.
  • Gather pertinent cruise event details from the other departments to ensure special guest requests are fulfilled thereby ensuring complete guest satisfaction.
  • Conduct pre-cruise meetings and communicate to crew all necessary information regarding the cruise (special needs, boarding procedures, etc.).
  • Ensure that staff and quests adhere to all safety standards and procedures.
  • Participate in the execution of the Safety Program, including emergency drills
  • Participate in the proper maintenance of all ship's systems and boarding facilities including but not limited to gangways, diesel, hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, water (potable, raw, black, and gray), fire suppression, communications, and navigation.
  • Ensure adherence to Coast Guard rules and regulations, and other federal and local rules and regulations.
  • Ensure strict compliance to Emergency Response Plan.
  • Execute other projects as assigned by management.
  • Recruit non-exempt operations staff (crew) when necessary to fill vacant positions.
  • Deliver training to new crew.
  • Schedule crew according to staffing matrix.
  • Adhere to Company's performance management guidelines for all discipline and termination situations.
  • Recommend to Marine Management the promotion of crew to full-time annual positions.
  • Develop positive working relationships with city department heads and peers.
  • Develop strong teamwork within the staff.
  • Resolve guest problems in conjunction with the on-duty Restaurant Manager utilizing strong guest service skills and exercising effective communication skills in keeping with company objectives and guest retention.
  • Oversee the implementation and execution of safety programs in accordance with Coast Guard regulations and established Company policies
  • Complete all shift records: checklist, logbook, payroll, and documentation of safety training.
  • Ensure that incident reports are completed accurately and promptly.
  • Participate in administration of payroll system including scheduling, checking, transmitting, and processing.
  • Execute collateral duties as assigned by Marine Management: uniforms, crew training, safety training, recruiting, scheduling crew and routine vessel maintenance.
  • Schedule crew work periods to achieve maximum payroll efficiency.
  • Attend all scheduled meetings.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Requirements & Qualifications:
  • High school diploma or equivalent required.
  • Must currently possess 100-ton license with a satisfactory record.
  • Minimum of five (5) years of marine experience-preferably to include two (2) years as a captain with an outstanding record.
  • Detailed working knowledge of all ship's systems and their proper maintenance: gangways, diesel, hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, water (potable, raw, black, and gray), fire suppression, communications, and navigation.
  • Must be able to operate vessel in accordance with all Coast Guard rules and procedures.
  • FCC Marine Radio Operator Permit.
  • Vessel handling and navigation knowledge required.
  • Able to communicate effectively in oral and written form.
  • Able to effectively deal with internal and external guests some of whom will require high levels of patience tact and diplomacy.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
  • Ability to analyze and solve problems.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities/tasks.
  • Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office applications (especially Word & Excel).
  • Per USCG regulations, must be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident.
    #CityCruisesUS

#HB1
The RESPECT Service System embodies our mission, vision, values and operating principles. By creating a company culture that puts RESPECT at its core, we believe it will drive us to achieve our goal of becoming a Global Experiences and Transportation Leader.
EEO / Disabled / Protected Veteran Employer. Hornblower is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We offer equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals and prohibit discrimination and/or harassment of any type, including but not limited to discrimination and or harassment based upon race, religion, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, pregnancy or relation medical conditions, childbirth, breastfeeding, parental status, veteran and/or military status, disability (physical or mental), medical condition, genetic information or characteristics, political affiliation, domestic violence survivor status, marital status, or other characteristics prohibited by federal, state, or local law. Additionally, as a federal, state, and local contractor, Hornblower complies with government regulations, including affirmative action responsibilities for qualified individuals, where and as they apply. The company also participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations.

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