Cornucopia Cruise Lines

I want to share my review on YELP from last year's New Years Eve experience, I want to do this because it is getting close, and I really don't want people to have the experience we had. Please read:\r \r i dont even know where to begin. this was the worst new years eve experience of my entire life. the boat was supposed to leave at 8pm, but it didnt show up until 11p. thats hours of waiting out in the freezing cold and im extremely sick right now. They were not apologetic or accomodating. There were tourists from Australia who traveled all the way and had to have that horrible experience.\r \r I wish there was an option for NO stars on Yelp. Because I wish I could say that once we got on the boat all was well. That wasn't the case.\r \r The drinks were weak and the place was understaffed, meaning you're lucky if you even got a drink. The waiter came once with a smile and was never seen again. The food was the quality of a high school cafeteria, and the bathrooms were so filthy that i peed standing up.\r \r Most importantly, there was no apologies made. It was almost as if they were doing us a favor by even showing up. I have never come across more arrogant management in my life and being from New York I've definately experienced my share. \r \r I tried to get out of that horrible funk by requesting songs to the DJ which he did not play, just loud ridiculous music. It was just awful almost as if we were on a candid camera reality show to see how much torture guests can put up with.\r \r DO NOT TAKE THIS CRUISE you will be lucky to even have the boat show up! Unfortunate for those like me who had last nights experience and New Years Eve was basically ruined. more

The fourth of July cruise on the cornucopia princess was great. A bit long but sure worth the amount of money we paid. Everyone enjoyed themselves. We sailed to ny for the fireworks and the views were breathtaking. Def. looking forward to sailing with them for their new year's eve. \r \r Ps: The food was delicious! more

The fourth of July fireworks cruise on the princess was good. The food and the DJ were great! We sailed to ny and the views were fabulous. Looking forward for their new years eve cruises. more

Cruised on the Princess out of Perth Amboy with my wife Elaine four our 29th wedding anniversary. I booked the reservation over the phone to surprise Elaine with something different and special. I did not search online for reviews, my son-in-law recommended this and I am surprised at what I have read now. \r \r We had a very nice time. We even had a private table by the window. The food was good and our waitress was friendly. We would have liked to sail to NY but they did not have it available but it was still a pleasant cruise. Will be back soon! more

A bunch of my friends & I went on the 4th of July cruise on the Princess. Julie our cruise director was great. The food and open bar was worth the price. The fireworks\r with the New York Skyline could not have been more beautiful. The top deck is the place to be on a warm summer night. We had music outside and partied in the moonlight. The marine crew was were very helpful.\r \r I was told there is a New Years Eve fireworks cruise with the same deal. Just might consider it. more

We planned a nice Mother's Day lunch on the Cornacopia. Unfortunately we had a terrible experience. It started out by having to wait over an hour to get on the boat. No announcement as to why we were all huddled like cattle waiting. We found out later that the cruise previous to ours had a hard time getting back into port due to the rough waters. I realize that is something that can't be controlled but they should have at least made an announcement before we got on the ship to tell us why we were waiting over an hour to board. \r \r Once on the boat we waited another 45 mins before the food was available. The lines were terrible, some of the plates were not clean, a person at the table next to ours had a chipped glass. I was turned off by the uncleanliness of the boat. The empty food containers were put on the floor in a closet next to a broom and dust pan. The music was so loud we had to change our table. Not only was the music loud but it was not what you would expect while eat more

This was just dreadful. it was three hours late standing in the freezing cold on new years eve. THREE HOURS. I was sick for two days and they weren't even sympathetic or accomodation. DO NOT USE ANY CRUISE FROM THIS BUSINESS more

Nice Boat. Staff was OK. Food Terrible!! more

I booked this cruise for my husband, me, and 2 other couples, just for something to do on a Friday night over the summer. After booking and paying for the night I started reading the reviews on this site and was terrified that I had roped my friends into what was sure to be a horrible evening trapped on a deteriorating boat with lousy service and obnoxiously loud music...Boy am I glad the reviews were wrong. Yes, the boat is old, but I certainly don't expect them to purchase a new one every 5 years. It was clean and the crew was friendly welcoming us aboard. They showed us to our table and immediately took our drink order. Our waitress, Kasia, was quite pleasant and always available. Rather than passing around hors d'oeuvres, which is kind of gross because of all the strangers hands that touch the tray before you, they gave everyone a plate of 6 different ones. They started dinner with a pasta appetizer, then our choice of Beef, Chicken, or Salmon. I had the Salmon and commented to more

My wife & I recently enjoyed your dinner cruise this past Saturday. The food was excellent, the service superb and the overall experience was positive. The musical choices of the DJ was another story altogether. I would say that 75% of his selections had a Latin theme with songs that not many patrons knew. There was about 15 minutes of ""rock"" music when the dance floor was full. There was even at least 1 contemporary song that was sung by a Spanish performer with Latin lyrics. At the very end of the cruise (about 15 minutes from port) he played several recognizable songs typically used to kick off a celebratory event, not end one. The Black Eyed Peas (Tonight's Going to be a Good Night), LMFAO (Party Rock) and several others. But by this time the dance floor was empty as everyone was anticipating their own departure. There was a fairly large group of teenagers on the cruise, we assume celebrating a Prom event or something similar. Several of them were observed listening to their i-Pods outside while the DJ was playing his own music. Apparently we weren't the only ones not pleased with the musical selections of your DJ. Several couples around us also expressed their displeasure. Again, the music was a major disappointment on the cruise. There were two instances where the boat rocked severely nearly making my wife ill and certainly put a damper on her activity for a good 30 - 45 minutes. We were informed it always happened as the vessel approached the VZ bridge heading out to the Statue of Liberty and again upon our return. The cruise was also much too long. Your web site indicates the return is at 11:30 PM but we didn't dock until 1:30 AM. I overheard several patrons complain that they had hired sitters for their children and were very unhappy at the time difference from what was advertised and the actual landing. This is clearly within your control and needs to be addressed. Overall our experience was ""Fair"" and I doubt we would do it again. To be honest, I even doubt I would recommend it to our friends. All of this is due to the DJ - nothing else. more

Hello-- I never write reviews online, but felt very compelled to share my very, very disappointing experience with potential customers of this cruise line. If I could leave the rating blank here I would but I am forced to pick at least one star -- so hopefully that?s telling you something about my experience. First, this was supposed to be a very special dinner for my stepdad's 70th birthday. To be honest, I think we would be better off if we stayed at home. The first major problem of the evening was the more than ear-deafening music played by the DJ. When I first called and made the reservation, I was told that the DJ caters his music to suit all passengers, which was not the case at all. From the moment we left the port and throughout dinner, all the DJ played was hip-hop (not current hip-hop? when he played ?Diamond Girl? I was sold that this was definitely the worst DJ I have ever heard) and Latin beats (which btw, I do not have a problem with if I was in a NYC club, more

Let me tell you by saying this was the most boring and hottest cruise ever!!!!! My sister tried to book the lunch session for me, my mom and her on the Cornucopia Cruise website, but after a technical error she was told that that session was full and was only offered the brunch session and dinner session, so we went with the brunch session which was suppose to start at 11am We decided to show up an hour early and stood around on their dock waiting to be allowed on the boat at 11 but when that time rolled around the staff was still cleaning and bringing beer and liquor in and we weren't allowed on the boat until around almost 11:40. When we were seated at our table, my sister noticed that the fabric on the chair was torn and the table cloth had a stain on it. Also, the boat was extremely hot and we complained to the staff. Come to find out that someone turned the heat on. After turning the heat off, it got a little cooler but no air condition was turned on. Its 87 degrees outside and all who were at our table was sweating and fanning. Complaining to the staff laid on deaf ears. We noticed many people had already gotten up and had started serving themselves from the buffet and the boat hadn't even moved until 20 minutes later. After eating, I felt a little sea sick, so I went on the outside deck to get some fresh air and I felt better. The breeze from the ocean was nice unlike the cabin on the inside which felt like Cruise Oven. There were four people who we didn't know who sat at our table and they ordered liquor and other drinks, all my group had was what they gave as a complimentary Mother's Day drink and a couple of diet sodas. When we came back to our table, the waiter put a 30 dollar bill in front of us. My sister asked him who bill was it, and he told us it was for the table to pay. We told him we were not paying for other peoples drink, mind you the four people had left the table earlier and never returned. We pushed the bill to the other side of the table and when the waiter noticed we weren't going to pay for someone else drink, he took the bill with him. Anyway, there were no entertainment, no wishing a Happy Mother's Day, there was nothing but some music if listening will almost make you vomit. All this boat did was turned around and around in the same area with nothing interesting to see but a few fishing boats, rusted boats and a few scrap metals on the side of the bay. After a half hour I was ready to leave, but was a prisoner of boredom and didn't have any choice but wait until this boat ran its merry-go-round course. We were so bored, that I took out my Kindle Fire and started playing games on it and my sister took out her cell and play her games on it. When the boat finally docked, I was trying to run as fast as I can out of there, but couldn't until the boat was fully docked. I give the boat two stars, one for the food, the food was good and the wall paper was elegant. But if you like boredom and like to be billed for other peoples drinks that you don't know, then this boat is for you. Other than that, I recommend the Spirit of New Jersey. When we took this in 2011 on Mother's Day, we were greeted with a Happy Mothers Day from the speaker, streamers were thrown, excellent food, singers and dancing. The Spirit is worth the money... Don't go on the Cornucopia, its not worth it....the bad reviews are true and we should have taken it into consideration before going on this boring cruise. more

I did not have a problem with the aged look of the boat, the DJ?s playing deafening loud music, my party being seated in a smaller room on the upper deck, learning that the ladies rooms toilets were stopped up, the boat leaving late due to a mechanical problem, the power going out for a bit from that mechanical problem, the pier lighting not functioning and fixed by stringing LED Christmas lights along its length; people tossing their cigarette butts into the bay for the lack ashtrays, the wall of smoke that was belched out by an engine obviously needing an overhaul. I?ve been on worse ships in all these respects.\r Here?s where I got hot under the collar. As dinner was being served, the wait staff did not serve everyone in my party all the meal courses then disappeared; only returning to bus those courses, empty place settings before their eyes, clueless to their error. During this ?Aha? moment I realized I had not booked a party on a fine dining cruise. I had just f more

I did not have a problem with the aged look of the boat, the DJ?s playing deafening loud music, my party being seated in a smaller room on the upper deck, learning that the ladies rooms toilets were stopped up, the boat leaving late due to a mechanical problem, the power going out for a bit from that mechanical problem, the pier lighting not functioning and fixed by stringing LED Christmas lights along its length; people tossing their cigarette butts into the bay for the lack ashtrays, the wall of smoke that was belched out by an engine obviously needing an overhaul. I?ve been on worse ships in all these respects. Here?s where I got hot under the collar. As dinner was being served, the wait staff did not serve everyone in my party all the meal courses then disappeared; only returning to bus those courses, empty place settings before their eyes, clueless to their error. During this ?Aha? moment I realized I had not booked a party on a fine dining cruise. I had just forced 30 of my closest family and friends to endure a counterfeit upscale appropriate attire required event for the next 4 hours. I found the ship officer in charge of our deck and expressed my displeasure in the same manner of tact that my party and I were being treated. Unfortunately, to carry on a conversation I had to yell. The music was that loud. To my surprise the wait staff attending my party doubled. Now my guests are being swarmed over like they were bears raiding the beehive. There was just no happy medium- from neglect to annoyance. Alas this did insure that everyone was receiving the dinner I promised them. When the entr?e was served, the wait staff stood before tables and barked ?who gets the surf and turf, the salmon, etc.? Mind you they write these orders down at meal commencement. Nobody changed their seats, a simple diagram on that order sheet they so desperately needed to write on would have afforded them the ongoing knowledge to serve the meal with aplomb. My apologies I forgot, the music was so loud that they had to bark. The quality off the meal, in my opinion, was commensurate with the brand name Cornucopia. Having dined at the Keyport namesake for years, in this respect I was comforted. At least the cooks knew what they were doing. I am grateful for having booked the intimate dinner over the buffet. Some of my party did not eat. Upon investigation I learned their concerns over the food were unwarranted really. Twelve hours later there has been no report of food borne illness from my party. The coup de gras was when the wait staff started dropping checks on my party?s tables for the bar bill. I had made the instruction when booking this event that I wanted a tab run and presented to me for payment. I had to run the tables, apologizing, snapping up the checks and once again seeking a senior staff member to express my displeasure. It is obvious that the communication between the front office and the ship staff is limited to the number of suckers snagged for that evening?s foray into the Raritan Bay. I am not accustomed to having to repeat myself every step off the way. Not at this price point. In the end, I was simply embarrassed to have booked this party. I believe Cornucopia needs to abandon their claim as a fine dining experience, drop their fares to $25.00 per person; make dinner service a matter of dropping some fish-n-chip on newspaper and be the business they actually are. more

If you really want to know what this cruise is like, choose a restaurant with bad food, lousy decor, rude wait staff and ask them to lock you inside for more than four hours so you can't leave.\r \r First let's start with the ship, the picture is a stock photo, the actual ship has been whitewashed multiple times to make it look ""fresh""... We were brought to our table and the table itself was too wobbly to serve as a table. The couple next to us had the same problem. The waiter's repair technique was to try and prop it up with our dinner napkins. It didn't work. They moved to another table, we had to try two more before finding one sturdy enough to be usable. In between waiting and waiting for the waitress, we began to notice things like the lamp above our table was covered in years of dust as were all the other lamps. The DJ's sub woofer speaker is cracked and any time he tried to pound the room with booming bass, it sounded like angry bees trapped in a coffee can.\r \r Now on to the food. The appetizers were COLD and that should have been the first warning. Then came some sort of noodle and cheese sauce popcicle. When my wife told our waitress it was cold, she offered to bring another. We knew that would be cold so we instead decided to specifically ask that the main course be HOT... Then came the salad... A few tattered pieces of lettuce and what looked like a doll house piece of hardened bread... Followed by the main course.. Now remember we had complained about COLD food all along and almost begged for the main course to be HOT... Do you think they could deliver? NOPE!!! Cold main course meal... We complained that it too was cold but got nothing but an ""I'm sorry"", no remedies were offered to make it right.\r \r All the while we felt like we had just backed away from the docks and were turning slow circles in the harbor... We had hoped that we would at least be able to see the NY City lights at night. No such luck, just a couple of bridges and freighters sitting in the harbor with us.\r \r Typically most waiters/waitresses will try and bend over backwards to correct any unpleasantries that customers are experiencing. To our complete disbelief, when the desert was brough to our table, the waitress delivered it the way you'd expect a frisbee to be thrown! My wife nearly leaped out of her chair to avoid the plate skipping up off the table and making a bee line at her. The waitress didn't even notice her reaction! She then did the same to my desert!\r \r The ship boasted that it holds 1200 passengers. There were maybe 80 at most on our cruise. Surely the wait staff should NOT have been taxed to the point of making so many mistakes. Our drinks didn't arrive until we asked for them AFTER the main course was OVER. Passengers drinking alcohol were treated like royalty as this is where the wait staff makes their tips, not with the passengers paying the dinner fare and drinking what little they have to offer from the ""menu""...\r \r Once we finally got back to the docks, 30 minutes late!!! Half the passengers crowded with us at the door to the ramp. They too felt as we did, like we were part of the song, ""Hotel California"".... ""Last thing I remember, I was running for the door. I had to find the passage back to the place I was before. ""Relax"" said the night man, ""we are programmed to receive. You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave!""\r \r STAY AWAY!!! Save your MONEY and eat at any canteen truck parked alongside the road, the food there will be HOT, garaunteed!!!! more

I organized a corporate event on the Cornucopia Destiny. The attention to detail was phenomenal, and the staff was spectacular. Everyone loved the food, and the DJ was great. We did want him to play a few unedited songs, even though it was a private charter, he refused to play any songs with bad language in them. But, the DJ still had a wide variety of music, and everyone danced the evening away. I highly recommend this cruise line! more

Great experience, Food was great, Service was okay, music was great, and the cruise itself was fun. I recommend the cruise to anyone who has never been on a dinner cruise before. We took the boat out of Perth Amboy and next we are planning on a trip out of Hoboken to get a taste of the New York Harbour. I think its worth the money. more

This was a bad experience. We got our money back and hope everyone else did as well. All parties should be held to account. more

boycott them. They cause major noise disturbances in a residential neighborhood by rolling metal wheeled carts up and down the concrete pier as late as 1am in the morning for more than half an hour. Day after day. Please, imagine if it was your bedroom next to that. They don't respond to emails and continue to do it. I can't imagine how much of a bunch of scheisters they'd have to be to do that and what sort of a cruise experience they would provide but it must be pretty bad. more

On 9/18/10 my girlfriend took me and my hunband and 7 others on the lunch cruise leaving Perth Amboy. This was my 5th visit on the cruise. However, this will be my last trip, I will never return to the Cornocopia even if the ticket is free. My expereince was horrible. When it came to the lunch buffet, we all took our lunches, everything seem ok, until I found a fly in my food. I immediately got sick to my stomach and threw up. I called the waitress, and she seemed grossed out by the sight of the fly on my plate. I ask her to speak to the manager, the manager came out and look at the fly and said,"" well this happen sometimes"". She ask me if I wanted some drink to wash it down. She was insensitive, unprofessional and cold. Her response was inappropriate. I will never return to that cruise ship ever. My girlfriend and others will not return either. Well Cornocopia, you guys have just lost business from 10 faithful people who have always supported you at least 3 times a year. Adios......Train your staff to be more sensitive and professional especially when dealing with faithful customers. more