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The Alcatraz Ferry doesn't go around the island, except on their night tours. You can also hop on one of the small fishing boats docked at the marina on the main street of Fisherman's Wharf (Jefferson Street at Jones). The Catamaran Sunset Cruise is one of the most romantic boat rides in San Francisco, out on the Adventure Cat catamaran. Enjoy great views of the San Francisco city skyline, Chrissy Field, Aquatic Park, and the Palace of Fine Arts, while listening to live music, from the comfort of a classy ship. I’ve listed what I think are the top 15 San Francisco Bay cruises so you can choose the one that works for you (plus some bonus extras at the end). You'll see incredible views of the San Francisco skyline, the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island that you can't get on land.
Escape from the Rock
To learn more about the Alcatraz Island tours available and the best ways of getting tickets for Alcatraz, plus what to expect out on the Rock, see my article on Alcatraz tours. If you have several hours and have any interest in the history of the island prison, take one of the City Experiences tours to Alcatraz. The views of the city and the bridges at night were incredible, and the food was great! We went out on Chucky's Pride, one of several fishing boats available for the cruises.
Benicia Historic Sightseeing Cruises
Read the description to be sure, but it would be hard to find one that doesn't. The one hour cruises generally just see one bridge, the Golden Gate. Some of the 1.5 hour and longer tours see both bridges. If you have problems with seasickness, it might encourage you to know that I've never felt sick on one of these San Francisco boat tours. And that is coming from someone who can't even watch the Teacups at Disneyland.
Rent a sailboat or a yacht (and crew)
In 2.5 hours, you will keep an eye out for whale activity and sightings. However, you will cruise through the bay to get to and from the ocean. One of the things to keep in mind with the Hornblower cruises is that they pick up at Pier 3, which is closer to the Ferry Building and NOT near Fisherman's Wharf. The Dinner Dance Cruise is one of their most popular cruises and it runs a few nights a week (usually around the weekends in the winter and most nights in the summer). This one is a good one if you missed your chance to get tickets to Alcatraz or if you want to see it closer up from the water.
SF Bay Cruises Route Maps
Schooner Freda B is the flagship vessel of SF Bay Adventures. She is one of the Bay’s most beloved yachts for locals and visitors alike. She is an eighty-foot sailboat built along the same lines as traditional tall-ships known for long, off-shore ocean passages in the 19th century.
Whale Watching, Wildlife & Ecology
And I've checked the ratings and reviews so I know other people really enjoyed them, too. Children ages 4 and under receive complimentary admission to Red and White cruises but need to be ticketed for capacity control. As we turn back toward the City, we travel past the wildlife reserves of the Marin headlands and the legendary town of Sausalito, which was once home to the late-1960's Flower Generation. With Angel Island State Park to our left, we slowly cruise around the infamous Alcatraz Island, hearing stories from inmates and historians about the famous prison. On your way back to Fisherman's Wharf, you'll see the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and Coit Tower as we cruise back along the waterfront. They offer cruises usually on Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the shows and some also offer cruises during the Blue Angels practice runs.
Whale Watching Tours
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Travel faster, further and closer to the sights than any tour boat on the bay! Under the Golden Gate Bridge, past Alcatraz and all along the San Francisco waterfront. Take the Alcatraz ferry over to the island where you can explore the prison and the rest of the grounds. Audio tour and guided tours included in the ticket. See all my info on tours, booking and best way to get tickets. Here's our experience on the Privateer sailboat cruise on the bay.
Jet Ski Adventures
These are big ferries; no reservations are needed. You can buy the tickets on your phone, online, or at the ticket booths at the Ferry Building or the Blue and Gold ticket booth to the left of Pier 39 on the Wharf. Check out the art galleries and shops and have some great seafood at one of their highly-regarded restaurants (e.g. Trident, or Scoma's). The Alcatraz tours are well-worth doing for their own sake. Probably one of the most interesting things to do in San Francisco. I've been on several of their San Francisco evening cruises - a very professional outfit.
The Best 15 Bay Cruises in San Francisco
My second recommend for San Francisco bay tours is the Bridge to Bridge Cruise. You can also head out past the Golden Gate Bridge to get in some whale watching while you are here or take a special cruise to watch the fireworks on Fourth of July or New Year's Eve. Great time seeing the sights while tasting wonderful wine.
Jump to maps showing the typical routes the bay cruises use. The next on my list of the 10 top San Francisco bay tours is our fun whale watching tours. There usually aren't discounts for these San Francisco bay tours, but I do highly recommend booking your tickets early. What I love about these San Francisco boat cruises is that you get some decent views of the bay from almost all of the seats in the dining room.
The San Francisco Sailing Company runs several bay tours on their sailboats that I highly recommend. You can often get a close look at the sea lions, and sometimes porpoises and whales, and you'll see the San Francisco waterfront from a very different perspective. Cruise under the famous Golden Gate Bride, past Alcatraz Island and along the beautiful San Francisco waterfront. Enjoy the live music as you pass by the Bay Bridge, Pier 39 and the iconic Ferry Building. Join the crew aboard USA 76 for an exciting, heart-racing adventure of a lifetime! Available for both individuals and private parties, our experience will have you sailing San Francisco Bay like the pros.
They first head along the northern shoreline, then under the Golden Gate Bridge, around Alcatraz, past Treasure Island, under the Bay Bridge and then back to Fisherman's Wharf. The Twilight Cruise is offered during the winter months (roughly early November through mid-March). It's called a Twilight Cruise since the sun will already be down by the time the cruise is underway. 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. You can stop by their dock at any time to confirm which tour you can go on for the day of your ticket. When you arrive, you will line up for the cruise and those in front will board first.
All the other bay cruise companies sail around the island, which is fun, too, but they don't stop at the island to let you off. The boat goes around Alcatraz Island a couple of times up close while you can listen to the audio narrative about the history of Alcatraz and the prisoners and their escapes. This Straight to the Gate Access bay cruise takes you all around the San Francisco Bay and under both bay bridges, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Oakland Bay Bridge. On New Year's Eve and Fourth of July, dozens of San Francisco boat tours head out on the water to watch the fireworks shows. First, this bay cruise is smaller and offers a more intimate experience. This one is better if you are looking for a more romantic evening on the water.
This route also gives you a spectacular view of the downtown San Francisco skyline, and sails past the Ferry Building and Oracle Park (baseball). Some of the most popular picks by visitors include the standard 60-minute bay cruise as well as some of our sunset cruises. There are so many great San Francisco bay tours and boat cruises that it can be hard to find the perfect one. San Francisco Bay provides the perfect playground for jet ski enthusiasts, with its stunning views and scenic spots just waiting to be explored. Hop on a jet ski and experience the thrill of racing across the waves, speeding over the sparkling water with the wind in your hair. When it comes to renting a jet ski in San Francisco Bay, there are several popular locations to choose from offering a variety of jet ski models to suit your needs.
If you are around on either of these dates, I highly recommend one of these cruises. Some of them offer dinner and dancing, while others head out just for the show. The first two are cruises for our amazing fireworks shows. It only runs once a night and the time changes by season to give you the best chance to catch the sunset. It follows the typical path with two trips under the Golden Gate Bridge, a cruise around Alcatraz, and a chance to see all of the wonderful sights along the water. In the winter months, gray whales are migrating through this area and there is a special Gray Whale Sightseeing Cruise.
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