City Cruises DC - Server

Hornblower Corp; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 25,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Hornblower Group is seeking a capable Server to provide hospitality onboard our vessels in Washington, DC. You will greet guests, take orders, serve meals and beverages, and ensure safety and service standards are met.

Candidates should have high-volume restaurant experience, strong customer service skills, and the ability to work evenings, weekends, and major holidays. Training on the RESPECT system will be provided and safety protocols must be followed onboard.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• One year of high-volume restaurant experience preferred.
• Must be able to lift heavy items and work nights, weekends, and holidays.

Responsibilities

• Provide exceptional hospitality to guests and coworkers as per service systems.
• Greet guests and serve food and beverages in a timely fashion.
• Take orders accurately and enter them into the POS system.
• Maintain cleanliness and safety of all service areas.
• Assist with seating and guest information.

Skills

Customer service

Hospitality

Communication

MS Office

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

580 Water St SW, Washington, DC 20024, USA

Job Description

Posted Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at 7:00 AM

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 systems . Hornblower 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, waterfrontlogisticsand 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,ticketingand website integration services for clients in the transportation,tourismand 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’sadditionalcorporate officesresidein San Francisco, California; Boston, Massachusetts; Chicago, Illinois; London, United Kingdom; New York, New York; Dublin, Ireland; and across Ontario, Canada. For more information, visithornblowercorp.com.

Position Summary:

The successful Server is technically competent in serving food and beverages, is hospitable and cordial to guests and coworkers, acts safely and responsibly, and is knowledgeable about the vessel and the skyline.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide exceptional hospitality to guests and coworkers as prescribed in our service systems, RESPECT.
• Greet guests and serve food and beverages in a timely fashion.
• Accurately take orders and enter them into the point-of-sale system.
• Maintain the cleanliness and safety of all common areas and service stations.
• Participate in the celebration and entertainment experience of the guest.
• Set up and break down dining room and service stations as prescribed; this requires movement of dining cabin furniture.
• Accurately collect payment from guests for on-board purchases.
• Provide information to guests including menu descriptions, order of service, entertainment options, cruise route and points of interest.
• Be prepared to begin work at the scheduled time.
• Maintain uniform and personal grooming in compliance with appearance standards.
• Assist with the warm and efficient greeting and seating of guests when they arrive.
• Additional job duties as assigned.

Requirements & Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• One (1) year experience in high volume restaurant preferred.
• Will work for extended periods without sitting.
• Required to lift furniture and other heavy items such as dishes up and down stairs.
• Must meet minimum state age requirements.
• Strong customer service, organization, and interpersonal skills.
• Maintain a high level of organization, detailed oriented and meet deadlines.
• Handle multiple tasks/projects at one time.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships as required by job responsibility.
• Listen effectively, assess the situation, determine relevant issues, & suggest solutions.
• Have a working knowledge of computer skills, including but not limited to proficiency with Microsoft Office Suites.
• Must be able to effectively understand and convey written and verbal information to coworkers and guests.
• Maintain uniform and personal grooming in compliance with appearance standards.
• Will be required to be available for work nights, weekends and on all major holidays.

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, frequently 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 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.

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.

580 Water St SW, Washington, DC 20024, USA