Hornblower Niagara Cruises

I have worked here for for 2 seasons now and I can't begin to explain how much I LOVE it here. People from all departments are super nice, friendly and outgoing. We receive free uniforms, wage progression, benefits, complimentary tickets, employees events, tuition reimbursement and so much more. 

One of my favourite things about Hornblower Niagara is the recruiting and promoting from within. They are huge about allowing their current employees to go from role to role and being able to climb the ladder to better positions. 

Management here is great, they are easy to talk to, approachable and looking out for the employees best interest. It is like a family environment coming into work everyday and we aren't stuck in the same area for the full 8 hours. We are able to move around and talk to customers.

Hornblower also pays overtime at 40 hours!! As a student, I work as much as I can, and with the competitive wages and getting paid overtime at 40 hours is a greater benefit for me.

Overall, it is a great company with so many perks. I love it here!

Management does not communicate with each other and in turn their staff. They reward those who lie about others and break the rules with promotions and benefits.
Many of the staff are honest hard working people, several how ever do nothing all day except spread rumours about others, they have created an environment of suspicion and mistrust. There is a lot of infighting between departments and contradictions in orders causing confusion among staff which reflects poorly on the company when it impacts on the customers experience.

The tour guides who are not Canadian are very rude and abusive to staff and management would rather fire good staff then find a way to deal with the mysogonist tour guides.

Management breaks the law on many occasions ignoring local liquor laws, and health and safety laws. They also ignore the criminal code when it comes to guests verbally and physically abusing staff.

Terrible workplace to work
To start off with, the management is absolutely terrible. Whenever asking a manager a questing via email or in person, would never get a direct response and often waited weeks before finally getting a response. The pay was terrible (minimum wage), when asking if we (deckhands) would ever get paid more, a laugh in the face would result and only if you went to school to become a mate / captain. The Human Resource team is never around to help the employees, would often say that the employees use too many supplies meanwhile they have top of the line coffee machines in their offices. The Senior Captain only got his job by betraying his old one, and was the worst person to gain the title, as he didn't care about the people just himself. Often when you asked him a question he would just walk away and do something else. Schedules were usually sent the night before the shift even when promised a two week notice. Would not go back to work for this company

I truly enjoy working for this company. Many of the returnees become a work family - we get through the challenging times together! Yes the work has it's challenges - to be expected! Many tourists coming through that have to be directed efficiently - the majority of which are friendly and excited about this venture! Some are a little more resistant. The work occurs in a variety of weather conditions during April to December - yes there are hot busy days in summer - water and gatorade is provided then. You don't stay at one station all day - moving around allows you to get some variety and to be placed in cooler situations. I have found the management to be approachable. There is opportunity for advancement and growth from within. Numerous enjoyable staff events to celebrate our achievements! Is there gossip? Really? What place doesn't have that? Be real. There is no Shangri la employment anywhere but this place keeps me pretty happy! Would recommend this company to friends!

Good job for a high school student or someone looking for a beautiful environment to work in but overall terrible company. There is fighting among staff, managers and captains. Due to the pettiness, many times hard-working employees are swept into some drama that didn't involve them to begin with. Manager's are regularly disrespectful to staff, specifically the food and beverage servers  as well as deck hands. After awhile seeing the Falls up close and personal becomes the only positive moment  of the day working here. It really is too bad, the potential for Hornblower being a positive force for not just the community but it's employees is there, just regularly left untapped. Recommend for young kids who need or haven't had the experience of working amongst daily gossip and managerial incompetence.

Minimum wage, not a living wage of $17.99 per hour (2017) as per Ontario Living Wage Network.
Exposure to excessive heat, limited to wearing ball cap. 
No parking lot for staff.
Very high volume of visitors upwards of 25000 daily in July August.
Very small and hot break room. Only one microwave for entire staff. 
1/2 hour break is more like 15 minutes as break room is far away from relief station.
Heavy gossiping like a bunch of parrots at the zoo.
Have to deal with entitled, ignorant, rude East Indian visitors perpetually.
Poor air quality when working in lower elevator tunnel that traps global disease.
Standing on concrete all day.
Weak support from management.
Irregular work schedule.
No vacation time permitted.

*Check out Maid of the Mist fully electric boats coming 2019 season.

I worked for 3 seasons. SOME supervisors were not good due to lack of training,  but the majority were. I worked in two different depts and if not for a personal injury suffered off the job, I would still be working there. I loved it. Where else can you get a  Million dollar view to enjoy free every day and get paid while you're at it.   If you have the right attitude that no matter whether you are taking tickets, handing out ponchos, recycling, emptying the garbage, serving drinks, or working in some capacity on the boats, it is a great place to work.   You get to meet people from all over the world, and provide them with lasting memories of a once in a lifetime experience.

if it says contract and tells you will work for 8 month dont believe it you will be terminated in 2 months  you boss pretend's he listens but will turn on you so quick to protect his job they went throught a total of 20guys since the lead on midnight was hired and only 1 guy has stayed in hes only been working 1 year, this older guy will start rumours to get you fired and hr will believe him , please do not work for this company unless your only looking for a couple  pay checks no expectations should be put in this midnight position, the lead on midnight will walk around all night and watch you because he does not trust any one but also dont expect him to work , in the end  he will tell hr u do nothing and he does all the work

I have worked for Hornblower Niagara Cruises for the past 2 seasons.  I recently got a job in my field of study and I am disappointed that I am not working there this summer.  I highly recommend this company as it is very team oriented, fair, and thoroughly takes care of its employees.  They have benefits for long service contract employees.  A lot of employee events.  Not going to kid you the business is very busy, especially during the summer months.  Time flies on your shift.  Great working outside.  My management team was very friendly and appreciative of my work.

Learned how to work a cash register. Became Marine Emergency Duties (MED) certified.  Management was there whenever you called for their help. Workplace had some drama between coworkers but overall a great company to work with. The hardest part was dealing with tourists that would not listen to you regarding safety and other laws/ regulations. The most enjoyable part was seeing so many new people from all over the world.

Working at Hornblower Niagara Cruises: company overview and reviews

Hornblower Niagara Cruises

Hornblower Niagara Cruises ratings

Salary satisfaction

Job seeker tools

Employer Tools

Browse

Stay Connected