Captain FT | City Cruises Philadelphia

Hornblower Group is a global leader in experience and transportation, spanning a 100-year history with a portfolio of international offerings including water- and land-based experiences, ferry, and transportation services. City Experiences, the premier experience division, offers dining and sightseeing cruises and walking and food tours through City Cruises, Walks, and Devour brands. City Ferry operates high-speed passenger and vehicle ferries in the U.S., carrying over 10 million passengers annually. Subsidiaries include Hornblower Marine, Seaward Services, Inc., and Anchor Operating System, LLC. The company serves over 20 million guests annually across more than 50 U.S. cities and 10 countries.

About the role

The successful Captain will greet all guests and ensure consistently high levels of safety, quality, service, and guest satisfaction while maintaining profitability.

Responsibilities

• Rotate as cruise captain on cruises and ensure adherence to procedures detailed in the Product Management Guide, including pre-cruise preparation, cruise scripts, crew supervision, vessel piloting, Coast Guard compliance, and guest satisfaction.
• Gather cruise event details from other departments to fulfill special guest requests and ensure complete guest satisfaction.
• Conduct pre-cruise meetings and communicate necessary information to crew (e.g., special needs, boarding procedures).
• Ensure staff and guests adhere to all safety standards and procedures.
• Participate in the execution of the Safety Program, including emergency drills.
• Maintain all ship's systems and boarding facilities, including gangways, diesel, hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, water (potable, raw, black, and gray), fire suppression, communications, and navigation.
• Ensure adherence to Coast Guard rules and regulations, federal and local regulations, and the Emergency Response Plan.
• Recruit, train, and schedule non-exempt operations staff (crew) as needed.
• Adhere to the Company's performance management guidelines for discipline and termination situations.
• Recommend crew promotions to Marine Management for full-time annual positions.
• Develop positive working relationships with city department heads, peers, and staff to foster strong teamwork.
• Resolve guest problems in conjunction with the on-duty Restaurant Manager using strong guest service and communication skills.
• Oversee the implementation and execution of safety programs in accordance with Coast Guard regulations and Company policies.
• Complete all shift records: checklists, logbooks, payroll, and safety training documentation.
• Ensure incident reports are completed accurately and promptly.
• Administer payroll system tasks, including scheduling, checking, transmitting, and processing.
• Execute collateral duties assigned by Marine Management, such as uniforms, crew training, safety training, recruiting, scheduling, and routine vessel maintenance.
• Schedule crew work periods to achieve maximum payroll efficiency.
• Attend all scheduled meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Must currently possess a 100-ton license with a satisfactory record.
• Minimum of five (5) years of marine experience, preferably including 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, fire suppression, communications, and navigation).
• Must be able to operate a 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 deal effectively with internal and external guests, demonstrating 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.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work onboard a moving vessel in varying weather and sea conditions, including maintaining balance and stability while underway.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods throughout a shift.
• Ability to navigate stairs, ladders, narrow passageways, and confined spaces commonly found onboard vessels.
• Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull supplies, equipment, and inventory weighing up to 40 pounds independently.
• Ability to bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach overhead, and perform repetitive motions as required in food service and hospitality operations.
• Ability to respond quickly and effectively during normal operations, guest service situations, and emergency procedures.
• Ability to safely work in a fast-paced environment with exposure to moving equipment, wet surfaces, temperature variations, and moderate noise levels.
• Ability to visually inspect service areas, food presentation, cleanliness standards, and safety conditions.
• Ability to communicate effectively with guests, crew members, and management in person and via radio or other communication devices.
• Successfully complete vessel-specific safety and emergency training.
• Ability to work flexible schedules, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended shifts as operational needs require.

Work Environment

• Work is performed primarily onboard a Coast Guard-inspected passenger vessel, with duties split between dining, service, storage, galley-adjacent, and administrative areas.
• Position requires regular movement throughout multiple decks and may involve occasional exposure to outdoor marine environments, including heat, humidity, rain, wind, and sunlight.
• Must be able to safely perform duties while the vessel is docked or underway.