Cruises In San Francisco Bay

A One Of A Kind Experience

• Ferry service to Sausalito, as well as cruise and sightseeing tickets can be purchased directly from this site and at the Box Office at PIER 39. Tickets to Harbor Bay, Main Street Alameda, Oakland, Richmond, Seaplane Lagoon, South San Francisco, Vallejo, Oracle Park and Chase Center can also be accessed on this site. General information is also available by calling 415-705-8200.
• Multi-language audio tours on the San Francisco Bay Cruise and Escape From the Rock Cruise around Alcatraz Island, are available in nine languages: English, Spanish, Mandarin, Italian, French, Japanese, Korean, German & Taiwanese. Please bring your Wi-Fi enabled device to access the audio tour.
• Boat tours are offered daily and there are special seasonal events and charter boats available for your private event or celebration. For charter information and custom tour services, please call 415-705-8203.

Box Office Hours

The Blue & Gold Fleet Box Office at PIER 39 is open 7 days a week: Monday – Thursday 10:15am â 6:45pm Friday – Sunday 10am – 7:30pm.

The Pier 41 Box Office is temporarily closed.

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Sunset Bay Tours Of San Francisco

As an alternative to our daytime sightseeing cruises, enjoy sunset and twilight views when sailing San Francisco Bay aboard our relaxed 2-hour California Sunset CruiseSM from Spring to Fall, or the California Twilight CruiseSM in winter.

Included in the price of our evening tours are hearty appetizers from the buffet, a beer, wine or soda, and live guitar music, giving you a perfect opportunity to end your day while sharing drinks with friends aboard the boat in a casual atmosphere. Along the way, check out the stunning beauty of the San Francisco skyline, as you sail past Alcatraz Island, the Golden Gate Bridge, Angel Island, and the charming towns of Tiburon, Sausalito and Belvedere, where breath-taking mansions line the steep cliffs of Richardson Bay.

Our knowledge of the San Francisco Bay area is unsurpassed by other tour companies – Red and WhiteSM is the original guide of all San Francisco Bay cruises. But we don’t just offer bay cruises. Once you’ve seen San Francisco from the bay, join us for a hop-on hop-off bus tour and many other land-based adventures. .

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Cruises From San Francisco

San Francisco, on the Californian coast, is one of Americas most attractive cities with its famous Golden Gate Bridge, steep streets that provide panoramic views of the beautiful San Francisco Bay and surrounding mountains, and its eclectic mix of Victorian and modern architecture. Perhaps also famous for the nearby Silicon Valley, this City by the Bay has become even more international with large numbers of immigrants from Asia and Latin America. Explore the amazing Fishermans Wharf that offers great food, and the numerous boutiques. Take a hop-on hop-off bus that crosses the Golden Gate Bridge and enjoy the beautiful scenery and expensive homes at the Marin Headlands. Read more

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Cruise To Tour Alcatraz

If you want to tour the former prison on Alcatraz Island, don’t let the advertisements fool you. You can see the island from many cruises, but if you want to set foot on it, there’s only one choice: Alcatraz Cruises. They leave from Pier 33 near Fisherman’s Wharf. Combine this tour with a visit to Angel Island on the same day for an “Island Hop.” To ensure you get an Alcatraz tour when you want it, reserve at least one week in advance.

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Fishing Boat Bay Cruises

Fishing boats, a traditional sight along San Franciscos waterfront, usually take chartered fishing trips. Some also take visitors on open load bay cruises. Head to the docks around Jones and Jefferson Streets. Check out Chuckys Pride Sportsfishing, Lovely Martha Sport Fishing, Captain Joes Sportsfishing Charter, Silver Fox Sportsfishing & Tours and Wacky Jacky to see if theyre taking out bay cruises that day. Its as authentic as it gets.

Company Launching Pricy Riverboat Cruise From Sf To Stockton

Riverboat cruising, that seemingly luxurious European concept that gets advertised a lot to affluent seniors in between PBS shows, is coming to the Bay Area and NorCal but would you pay $12,000 to go from SF to Stockton and back via the Delta?

American Cruise Lines, which offers cruises on the Mississippi, in Puget Sound, around Alaska, and up the New England coast among other cruise routes, is launching its first California cruise next winter, out of the San Francisco Bay. Dubbed the San Francisco Bay Cruise, the eight-day and seven-night cruise will take passengers around the Bay, up the Delta, past Sacramento, and over to Stockton, where it will turn around and come back for an extra wine-tasting stop in Napa.

The company marketing copy touts that passengers will “learn the Gold Rush history of Sacramento Valley, and explore the natural beauty of the San Joaquin River and San Pablo Bay” in addition to tasting “the finest wines of Napa Valley.”

That all sounds good? But as the Chronicle reports, prices start at $6,000 per person and go up to nearly $12,000 per person for a “grand suite” with a private balcony. And this is ultimately a cruise to Sacramento and Stockton! It ain’t exactly the Danube!

But hey! No need to rent a car!

Day 7 is spent back in San Francisco, with a trip to Alcatraz and a tour of Ghirardelli Square and the wharves.

This trip is on a 99-room ship called American Jazz, which has six decks in total and a handful of sun decks and lounges.

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San Francisco Champagne Brunch Cruise

Tour Length: 2 hours

The San Francisco Champagne Brunch Cruise is another option from Hornblower. This one is more casual than the one mentioned above, so you don’t have to worry as much about the dress code.

What makes this one of my favorite San Francisco bay tours is the combination of the food/champagne and the cruise around the bay in the morning. The buffet varies a bit throughout the year to allow for seasonal changes. Some of the items you will find include fresh baked breads, a variety of salads, French toast, scrambled eggs, bacon, home fries, herb crusted beef, ham with country mustards, and SO much more.

And, of course, their house champagne .

You will cruise along a similar route to what was mentioned in the descriptions above including heading under the Golden Gate Bridge, near Alcatraz, near the Bay Bridge and past other top sights along the water.

This is a really fun cruise and worth the extra money for a delightful experience.

This San Francisco boat cruise also picks up at Pier 3, which is NOT in Fisherman’s Wharf, but instead close to the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero.

Port San Francisco Ca

Port San Francisco is managed by San Francisco Harbor Commission . The seaport itself manages the waterfront area from Golden Gate Bridge anchorage, along Marina district, all the way around the citys northern and eastern shores and southward beyond Candlestick Point.

Port of San Francisco is a state-owned revenue-generating agency. It manages the seaports wide range of commercial and maritime facilities, plus approx 7,5 ml long waterfront. The port is located on San Francisco Bays western edge, near the Golden Gate Bridge. It is ranked as one of the worlds 3 largest natural harbors.

The port area, besides the waterfront lands, also includes commercial real estate and docking piers between Hyde Str and India Basin . Among the landmarks under the Port Authority control is Fishermans Wharf, Pier 39, Ferry Building, AT& T Park , Pier 70 . Huge piers jut out into the bay along much of the citys waterfront, which is bordered by the roadway Embarcadero .

San Francisco Ferry Building used to serve steamship ferries to Los Angeles CA, Portland OR, Seattle WA, Alaska and Canadas British Columbia. In 2003, this historic building was restored and reopened. Today it houses a premium gourmet marketplace and office spaces . The building also serves San Francisco Bay Ferry to ports in Oakland, Alameda, Bay Farm Island, Vallejo. The other ferry operator using this terminal is Golden Gate Ferry .

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Transportation In San Francisco

Beyond the classic cable cars running widely through San Francisco, several modes of public transportation are popular in the city. For example, the BART can help you get from the airport into the city. The Muni is one public transit option, which includes bus, metro, and some cable car options, mostly above ground. Youll also find taxis, Lyfts, and Ubers aplenty in San Francisco.

Elegant Sightseeing & Dining Cruises

There is no better way to unwind and see the sights than on a 2 or 3-hour cruise on a large, luxury Hornblower yacht. Excellent service, elegant ambiance, good food prepared by local chefs with seasonal local ingredients, and spectacular views are a winning combination.

• San Francisco Supper Club Cruise navigates around the big bay for 3 hours on Friday and Saturday evenings, January November. The relaxed, sophisticated tone is set by the glass of champagne served upon boarding. Small-plate stations offer choices for every palate. Watch the city sparkling in evening lights from the decks or from viewing windows as you dance to music spun by a DJ.
• San Francisco Brunch Cruise, offered Saturdays and Sundays year-round, brings the hectic land sightseeing pace down a notch for 2 hours. The brunch buffet is loaded with choices, sparkling wine free-flows, live music plays in the background, and the cash bar serves favorite drinks.

• Begin your 3-hour San Francisco Mid-week Dinner Cruise or San Francisco Weekend Dinner Cruise by unwinding with cocktails on the deck as the grand yacht navigates past the twinkling City by the Bay. Its a gorgeous light show. Make your way to your table in the interior salons for a delicious, elegantly served dinner glancing, taking in bay front sights as they come into view through huge windows. Then dance to music spun by a DJ until the boat docks back at Pier E on the Embarcadero.

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Mexico Cruises From San Francisco

Enjoy some Mexican flair, fiesta and food on a cruise from San Francisco to the Mexican Riviera . There are several itinerary options available, from short 4-day sailings to more extended and in-depth 10-day journeys. However much time you have, a Mexico cruise from San Francisco is always a fun experience.

The shorter itineraries usually dont go further than Ensenada, on the way possibly stopping in San Diego, while the longer sailings take in sun-soaked spots like Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta. Again, ports of call differ between cruise lines and itineraries. However, each Baja California cruise from San Francisco offers you that fun, stress-free and everything-is-possible feel that only a Mexican holiday can provide.

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Thrill Boat Rides & Cruises

Some visitors just want a thrill ride especially kids! Big, fast Rocket Boat delivers. Go fast, have a blast! May October only, its hard to miss the yellow and red go-fast boat at Pier 39. Tickets are first come, first served. Hop on, find a seat and zoom off listening to rock music. Flying full throttle on the 30-minute ride, Alcatraz, and the skyline are a blur. Crazy maneuvers are wild. Go under the Bay Bridge, past AT& T Park and see the skyline from the north and east.

RIB sightseeing on a Bay Voyager Cruise is an exciting option. Look for a close-to-the-water, 12-person rigid inflatable boat on Pier 39. Thats your ride! Climb aboard for a 90-minute, often wet, adventure to places you might otherwise not see. In addition to bayfront views, going under the Golden Gate Bridge and around Alcatraz, Youll see sites of abandoned gold rush ships, go under the Bay Bridge, motor into estuaries, to the Port of Oakland and by AT& T Park.

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Alaska Cruises From San Francisco

Sail from sunny California to glacier-clad Alaska, a journey thatll take you along the entire northern part of the West Coast. Cruise along Northern Californias redwood-topped coastal cliffs, past the countless sea stacks of the Oregon Coast and through the orca-inhabited waters of Washington and British Columbia.

On most cruises from San Francisco to Alaska, youll spend the first couple of days at sea. Once youre up north, a typical cruise, depending on your cruise line and itinerary, may include a stop or two at British Columbia destinations, such as Victoria and the famed Inside Passage.

In Alaska, you can immerse yourself in the local Alaskan lifestyle, enjoy delicious fresh-caught seafood, learn about Native Alaskan culture and gaze at breathtaking coastal landscapes.

Popular ports of call on San Francisco cruises to Alaska are Juneau, Skagway, Sitka and Ketchikan.

Additionallyand arguably the highlight of your tripmany itineraries include a visit to spectacular Glacier Bay National Park, as well as Icy Strait Point and Tracy Arm Fjord. These cruises usually take at least 10 days.

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Cheap Cruises From San Francisco California

Cheap cruises from San Francisco are available to whisk you off to a variety of wonderful locations. Whether youre looking for a tropical trip to Mexico or the Panama Canal, or have always wanted to see the ice caps of Alaska, we have pricing on cheap cruises from San Francisco for practically every type of adventure.

Spend 10 to 14 nights cruising to Alaska, viewing whales and glaciers, 10+ nights cruising to Hawaii, viewing volcanoes and beaches, even 30+ nights headed to Japan, viewing skyscrapers and pink cherry blossoms. Cheap cruises from San Francisco can give you the adventure youre looking for, so worry less about the price and more about which of these many locations youd like to visit.

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Hawaiian Islands Cruises From San Francisco

Scared of flying but still want to fulfill your lifes dream of visiting Hawaii? Theres hardly a better way to do that than by going on a Hawaiian Island cruise from San Francisco. Board your ship at the Port of San Francisco, unpack only once, and settle in for a once-in-a-lifetime trip around whats arguably the worlds most famous archipelago.

Generally, cruises from San Francisco to Hawaii are round-trip sailings that last about 15 days . Youll spend a significant amount of your time at sea while you make your way to and from these volcanic islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Count on about half of the total number of days spent at sea. This, however, does allow for a super-relaxed cruise holiday. Because there are no new ports or destinations to explore each day, you have plenty of time to enjoy the ships amenities and services, spend time with your co-cruisers and unwind.

Once youre in Hawaii, youll get to visit several of the main islands, all of which have their own vibe and attractions. Explore the iconic city of Honolulu, visit Hilo and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, see Kauais sensational Na Pali Coast and Waimea Canyon, and/or explore the vibrant coastal towns of Maui.

Best San Francisco Bay Cruises

One of the most popular activities for those visiting San Francisco is a sailing cruise or boat tour. Weve reviewed the top choices for you.

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More San Francisco Bay Cruises

One of the prettiest things to see in San Francisco are the white sailboats on the blue waters of the bay. Going out on one of them is even better!

Privateer

The San Francisco Sailing Company runs several bay tours on their sailboats that I highly recommend. I went out on their 90-minute sailing tour…what a treat! It’s like being on a private yacht, fun and relaxing, with a mellow crew and free wine and beer. Leaves from Pier 39.

The price has gone up a bit since I went, $99 now, but you can often get these tickets half price through Goldstar check Goldstar to see if it’s available). If Goldstar doesn’t have tickets, you can book the sailing cruise at SF Sailing Tour.

See photos of the cruise, and details about the trip, at sailboat cruise.

Note: the current Rocket Boat was retired in 2019. They’re were going to introduce a new version of the Rocket Boat in the spring of 2020, but that was delayed by Covid. And there is still no Rocket Boat as of 2022.

If you’re up for a wild ride, try the Rocket Boat, run by the Blue and Gold Fleet from Pier 39. High speed, sea spray and rock and roll. A 30 minute ride, $30 for adults, kids less. I had a great time on this one! The Rocket Boat operates May through October. Goldstar often has half-price tickets for this one you can check for them at Rocket Boat tours.

For more details on what the trip is like, see my page on the Rocket Boat ride.