San Francisco · SAN FRANCISCO BAY CRUISES
An hour on the water buys the skyline, the bridge from underneath and a lap of the island, for less than most walking tours. The 15 below differ on sailing length, departure pier and whether there is a bar aboard, each priced honestly.
From Pier 43 1/2, Red and White Fleet takes you past the waterfront, under the Golden Gate Bridge, and around Alcatraz Island. A prerecorded guide is available in 16 languages, with indoor and outdoor seating, a bar, restrooms, and sunset departures.
“The scenery was nice. The audio was a bit faulty with the limited amount they had. The bar was nice and the staff was very friendly and easy to talk too while waiting for my drinks.”
From Pier 43 1/2, you’ll cruise beneath the Golden Gate Bridge, past Alcatraz, Angel Island, Sausalito, and San Francisco’s waterfront. The one-hour Red and White Fleet trip includes indoor and outdoor seating, multilingual audio in 16 languages, restrooms, and a seasonal snack bar.
“Was cold and windy day but plenty of option of where to sit so you could be comfortable. Good recoded commentary throughout”
Visit Alcatraz by ferry, follow the 45-minute Doing Time cellhouse audio tour in your language, and take a separate Blue and Gold Fleet cruise past Pier 39, the waterfront, and beneath the Golden Gate Bridge. Plan extra time, dress warmly, and arrive at Pier 33 30 minutes early.
“The Alcatraz tour was excellent. The boat ride was enjoyable and short, capturing great views of the city. I loved the audio guided tour of Alcatraz and we even got to enjoy some live informative talks from the national park guides at Alcatraz! Please allow yourself more time though for both tours. 4 hours is not necessarily an accurate estimate of the time it takes to do both tours. I would allow yourself at least 6 hours to enjoy both tours without rushing and with time to grab a bite to eat in between. Also really valued that the boat to and from Alcatraz was both solar and wind powered.”
Board at Pier 39 for a one-hour Blue and Gold Fleet cruise past the sea lions, Alcatraz, Angel Island, and San Francisco’s skyline. You’ll pass beneath the Golden Gate Bridge, hear narration in eight languages, and choose between indoor and outdoor seats. Bring a warm jacket.
“Improvement talk more about what we are seeing and more sound”
You’ll cruise from Pier 39 around Alcatraz Island and beneath the Golden Gate Bridge, with recorded commentary in eight languages. The boat returns to Blue and Gold Fleet after 90 minutes. This is a water-level look at the prison, not an island visit, with food and drinks available onboard.
“Very informative, great staff. A great choice for someone with a very narrow window of touristy time. Thank you!”
Take the ferry from Pier 33 to Alcatraz, follow the award-winning cellhouse audio tour in your choice of nine languages, then enjoy a separate one-hour Bay cruise from Pier 39. The cruise may be taken the same day or on another day, subject to space.
“absolutely fantastic, we spent 3+1/2 hours on the island, the audio guide was very informative. there's lots of information all throughout the tour. would highly recommend this excursion. worth every penny. seeing Alcatraz today - it's such a pretty island with beautiful gardens tended to by volunteers and a variety of birds.”
Take a 90-minute Red and White Fleet cruise from Pier 43 1/2 beneath the Golden Gate and Oakland Bay bridges. You’ll pass Alcatraz, Sausalito, Angel Island, and the San Francisco waterfront while listening to audio commentary in 16 languages. Bring a warm jacket and your camera.
“Great views. The cruise is worth every penny. Loved it!!!!!🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻❤️❤️❤️ David”
Start at Pier 33 for a ferry to Alcatraz, where a 45-minute audio tour brings former inmates and guards into the story. Explore at your own pace, then take a separate 60-minute cruise from Pier 39 past the sea lions and beneath the Golden Gate Bridge. Choose day or night Alcatraz access.
“It was a very interesting experience and I enjoyed the harbor views and learning the history of Alcatraz”
Cruise from Pier 43 1/2 beneath the Golden Gate Bridge and Bay Bridge, passing Alcatraz, Treasure Island, Coit Tower, and the Ferry Building. You get indoor and outdoor seating, onboard restrooms, food and drinks for purchase, and recorded narration in 16 languages.
“Can be pretty windy on the top level, but great experience. Loved seeing these sites so close. Pictures are a must.”
Cross the Golden Gate Bridge, walk among ancient coastal redwoods for 90 minutes, browse Sausalito for an hour, then take a narrated one-hour Bay Cruise past Alcatraz and beneath the bridge. The coach tour includes a professional driver-guide, Muir Woods admission, and flexible cruise ticket.
“Muir Woods is remarkable though the tour is not. Advertised as a tour lasting 3 hours in Muir Woods (we were there 2). We were supposed to be in Saulsilito for two hours and we were there for 1 1/2 hours. The driver gave directions once, if asked to repeat he became irritated and never gave the info. The pickup instructions and location didn’t coincide with texts/emails and the location was difficult to identify. Finally I thought I had purchased a package that I could take the ferry back to Saulsilito at my leisure not take an hour cruise departing from Pier 39, did this yesterday. Again confusing description on…”
You’ll ferry from Pier 33 to Alcatraz, tour the cell house with the 45-minute Doing Time audio guide, then take a separate bay cruise past the Presidio, Crissy Field, Fort Mason, Alcatraz, and the Golden Gate Bridge. The cruise date and departure time are flexible.
“Alcatraz definitely delivered and some, Very well put together and a very informative audio tour from ex Laura's and inmates”
Sail from Pier 3 for a two-hour brunch cruise with complimentary champagne and mimosas, a generous buffet, music, and wide Bay views. You’ll see Alcatraz, Angel Island, Sausalito, Tiburon, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Bay Bridge. Tables are assigned, so request seating partners early.
“The brick cruise was awesome. Beautiful views and lots of good food. Unfortunately there was no one by the parking machine and I paid $40 even though it said it was $20 for cruise riders. It asked for a coupon code and I couldn't find one on my ticket info. So I paid the $40 since I had to get on the boat and had a line of people behind me trying to get their parking paid for. Once I paid and got my ticket, someone and up and started putting in the coupon code for every one else. I told him I just paid $40 could I get reimbursed,…”
Cruise from Pier 41 with Blue & Gold Fleet for about an hour, passing the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, Angel Island, and the waterfront. Choose indoor or outdoor seating, use your own Wi-Fi-enabled device for audio in nine languages, and buy drinks or snacks aboard.
“The experience was poor; it felt too crowded, the windows were very dirty, and the boat was not well-maintained.”
Start at Pier 33 for the ferry to Alcatraz, a ranger introduction, and a 45-minute audio tour through the cellhouse. Later, walk to Pier 39 for a one-hour bay cruise beneath the Golden Gate Bridge. The schedule is flexible, but the two rides use separate piers.
“Great experience. Very interesting, A must see! Lots of walking and stairs. Would be a challenge for the elderly”
You’ll visit Alcatraz by official ferry, follow the cell house audio tour on your phone, then walk from Pier 33 to Fisherman’s Wharf for a separate Golden Gate Bay cruise. Your Alcatraz time is assigned for you, and both activities take place the same day.
Pick a shoreline, a neighbourhood or a road out of town.
