About Cruise Center Hill

Imagine creating a career from a combination of your favorite hobbies and activities. That’s exactly what the husband-and-wife entrepreneurs Mark and Bobbie O’Neill did in 2001 when they parlayed their passion for boating and entertaining into a successful business venture, Cruise Center Hill.

The couple’s business plan evolved naturally from their love of getaways on their Center Hill Lake houseboat in Smithville, Tennessee and their desire to share the experience with others.

“We would take our friends on excursions and they started asking if we could host their company meetings,” Mark explained.

At the time, Mark was a journalist at WSMV-Channel 4 and Bobbie had just begun building her health and wellness business with Arbonne International.

“We were ready for another challenge and we wanted to do something fun and rewarding,” Bobbie said. “And you always do a better job at something you enjoy.”

On each cruise, Mark captains the boat while Bobbie mingles with clients and supervises the service crew to ensure everyone is satisfied.

“Spending a day on our boat is a real treat and we make it a unique experience where busy people can truly relax,” Bobbie said.

The O’Neill’s goal is to make planning an all-inclusive day cruise easy for their customers. “By letting us take care of all the details, we let our clients fully relax and enjoy a wonderful day on the water,” Bobbie says.

“Though we’re only an hour’s drive from Nashville, once you get on our boat, you’re a thousand miles away in your mind,” Mark adds.

The couple averages 40 cruises per season running from May through October.