“Working In The City” is The San Diego Sun’s feature Q&A series with downtown San Diego business operators. It’s a way to get to know the city by meeting the people who work here. This is the 32nd in an ongoing series.
Company name: City Cruises (San Diego Bay)
What happens here: Private Charters, sightseeing tours, whale watching, public dining.
I am: General Manager Chris Durrant. Worked for City Cruises for 27 years. Graduate of San Diego State University Hospitality & Tourism Program. 2025 NACE Industry Anchor Award recipient.
How long have you worked downtown: 28 years
What’s new at work: We’re excited for the upcoming launch of our “Golden Hour” Friday afternoon sunset cruises! The perfect way to end the work week, on the water with good friends and plenty of food and drinks.
Best aspects of working downtown: The view of San Diego Bay never gets old and we always have the best sunsets.
Worst aspects of working downtown: Parking can be a challenge!
Company pet/mascot: Wally the Whale.
Regular customers: Locals and tourists alike. We regularly have visitors from Los Angeles and Arizona. Out of state and international travelers always have a good time on our vessels, too.
Most surprising part of working downtown: People driving the wrong way down one-way streets. I see it all the time.
Funniest downtown work memory: Getting lost looking for where I parked my car. After a long shift, sometimes you’re tired and simply forget. After roaming around for 30 minutes, I realized I was driving my friend’s car that day and I’d already walked by it a few times.
Scariest downtown work memory: A string of broken car windows and car thefts reminded us we’re in an active urban environment.
Big-event bumps: The Fourth of July because there’s nothing quite as spectacular as watching the Big Bay Boom from the water.
Homelessness: It’s a challenging situation for all involved. The San Diego Harbor Police and the city’s social workers do a great job at supporting our homeless population.
How can the city be more business friendly: Be thoughtful about policies and regulation that affect employees working in the downtown areas. Parking is a big challenge for the average worker. Cost and availability. At the end of the day, people represent the heartbeat of San Diego. We need to support them so they can take good care of those visiting our establishments.
Favorite downtown business that isn’t yours: Mona Lisa Italian Foods. Best deli sandwiches and friendliest staff. Been a staple for decades.
Best advice for running a downtown SD business: Cater to the locals and tourists alike. A friendly establishment that welcomes all people will have the most support and success with our community. SDSun
