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San Francisco Bay Cruise: Golden Gate & Alcatraz
4.7
1,705 Ratings
San Francisco
Embark on a one-hour scenic voyage along San Francisco’s breathtaking waterfront, passing under the Golden Gate and around Alcatraz. Learn the history of San Francisco Bay and spot local marine life. Open ticket valid until the end of the year!
Embark on a one-hour scenic voyage along San Francisco’s breathtaking waterfront, passing under the Golden Gate and around Alcatraz. Learn the history of San Francisco Bay and spot local marine life. Open ticket valid until the end of the year!
Duration:
1 hour
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park - Starting from Pier 43 1/2 in the vibrant Fisherman’s Wharf, the journey offers views of the San Francisco skyline, the bustling North Beach neighborhood, and the San Francisco Maritime National Park.
- Fort Mason, the Great Meadow - As the route heads west towards the Golden Gate Bridge, it…
- San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park - Starting from Pier 43 1/2 in the vibrant Fisherman’s Wharf, the journey offers views of the San Francisco skyline, the bustling North Beach neighborhood, and the San Francisco Maritime National Park.
- Fort Mason, the Great Meadow - As the route heads west towards the Golden Gate Bridge, it cruises along Fort Mason.
- Marina District - The cruise passes through the Marina District, which was significantly impacted by the 1989 earthquake.
- Golden Gate Bridge - Capture stunning photos while sailing directly beneath the impressive 4,200-foot (1,260-meter) span of the Golden Gate Bridge.
- Marin Headlands - Returning to the bay, the route passes by the wildlife reserves of the Marin Headlands and the iconic town of Sausalito, known for its 1960s flower generation.
- Angel Island State Park - Angel Island State Park can be seen on the left.
- San Francisco Bay Bridge - On the return to Fisherman’s Wharf, keep an eye out for the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and Coit Tower.
- Pier 39 - After an hour filled with exciting sights, the sea lions at Pier 39 will greet you as you return to Pier 43.
What's Included
- Multilingual personal audio-guide in 16 languages
- One-hour cruise
- “Straight to the gate” access
- Access to clean and convenient restrooms during your cruise
- Multilingual personal audio-guide in 16 languages
- One-hour cruise
- “Straight to the gate” access
- Access to clean and convenient restrooms during your cruise
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks. There is a full service bar onboard to purchase drinks and snacks.
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks. There is a full service bar onboard to purchase drinks and snacks.
Additional Information
Embark on a one-hour scenic journey aboard a ferry traveling between Pier 43.5 and Fisherman’s Wharf, offering stunning views of San Francisco’s waterfront. Experience the thrill of passing beneath the Golden Gate Bridge and circling Alcatraz Island! Discover the rich history of San Francisco Bay in an open-air museum environment and enjoy sightings of…
Embark on a one-hour scenic journey aboard a ferry traveling between Pier 43.5 and Fisherman’s Wharf, offering stunning views of San Francisco’s waterfront. Experience the thrill of passing beneath the Golden Gate Bridge and circling Alcatraz Island! Discover the rich history of San Francisco Bay in an open-air museum environment and enjoy sightings of local marine life, including sea lions, pelicans, and whales.
No need to worry about San Francisco’s unpredictable weather! This open ticket is valid for any day until the year’s end.
- Boat crew are trained to provide first aid and CPR support, and first aid kits are readily available on all vessels
- The main deck of each vessel are fully wheelchair accessible
- All cruise vessels offer indoor and outdoor seating, restrooms, and seasonal snack bar service.
- Vessels operate on biodiesel - a renewable energy source.
- The award-winning audio narration is available in English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Thai, Mandarin, Hindi, Korean, Japanese, Italian, Russian, Hebrew, Arabic, Bahasa Indonesian and Vietnamese.
- Please come to our location 15-20 minutes prior to the departure time.
Location
Red and White Fleet
5
Please enter in Google Maps: "Red and White Fleet" or "Pier 43 1/2, San Francisco" for exact location and directions.
Pier 43 ½ ticket booth (corner of Taylor Street and the Embarcadero)
Please come to our location 20-30 minutes prior to the departure time.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.7
(1705 Ratings)
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Courtney_t
Jun 5, 2026
Great experience for a sunny, warm day - I got there a bit early so I was able to board first and get a standing spot at the bow of the boat. It wasn’t crowded and you can move freely around the boat but of course at the bow, people didn’t move too much but they are nice with creating space if you ask. The views were great. The boat barely goes on the west side of golden gate; it passes under so you get a quick view of the west side as it immediately turns around to head to Alcatraz. If you’re facing the bow, the best views are on the right side of the boat. And of course it’s windy but I went on a 70-75° day so I just needed to put on my scarf and the linen long sleeve shirt over my short sleeve was enough.
Review provided by Viator
Sibylles970
May 31, 2026
🙌 Awesome. - Today, under sunny weather, it was a very informative and varied ride.
As a bonus, we also saw two gray whales 🥰.
Everything went smoothly.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Genevieve_l
May 31, 2026
Family review - Well organized and there is a narrator , recorded tour guide with a historically guided tour. Family friendly.
Review provided by Viator
Jason_j
May 28, 2026
An Unforgettable Way to Experience the Bay! - This cruise was good value. The views of the San Francisco skyline, Golden Gate Bridge, and Alcatraz were stunning. The highlight of the trip was sailing all the way to the Golden Gate Bridge and passing directly beneath it. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a long-time local, this is a must-do. Highly recommend to anyone looking to see the best of San Francisco from the water!
Review provided by Viator
Falana_b
May 27, 2026
Wonderful experience - It is best to pre-book and arrive 30 minutes early. The cruise gave wonderful history about San Francisco. I would do it again. I enjoyed it that much.
Review provided by Viator
Michaeldt740cy
May 26, 2026
Easy and Fun! - The boat tour was great. I went with my family, young of 11 months to old of 73 and everyone was able to enjoy the trip. The narration inside the boat was nice, but it gets hot, so we went outside and were unable to hear the narration. It was easy to board and deboard the boat.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Diana_g
May 26, 2026
Great ride! - Wonderful ferry ride! Excellent views of the bay and bridge. The crew was great, recommending this ride!
Review provided by Viator
Gary_s
May 26, 2026
Worth doing - Good organisation but very windy. Be prepared. Need to ensure weather is clear as if fog descends you can see little of the bridge
Review provided by Viator
Colleen_d
May 25, 2026
It's an hour and covers a... - It's an hour and covers a lot of history of the bay area. It can be quite windy so dress in layers and be prepared. Very interesting and great if you don't have a lot of time to spend wandering.
Review provided by Viator
Jose_m
May 23, 2026
Awesome customer service - Was great they were amazing with us very helpful with my questions and concerns loved the seeing the Bay Area
Review provided by Viator
