San Francisco Bay Cruise 2026
Golden Gate Bridge & Alcatraz views | Reserve now & pay later
About San Francisco Bay Cruise
Cruise along the beautiful San Francisco Bay while admiring the sights from the water. Sail under the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge and around the infamous Alcatraz Island. This island was once used as a prison and was considered escape-proof. On your cruise, keep an eye out for wildlife such as sea lions and dolphins, and learn about San Francisco's history from your audio guide.
Before your cruise starts, you will receive an audio guide in 15 languages. Learn about the history of San Francisco and find out all about the construction of Golden Gate while you cruise around the San Francisco Bay.
Sail under the iconic bay bridges like the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. Enjoy views from the water of landmarks such as North Beach, San Francisco Maritime National Park, and many more!
Sail around the infamous Alcatraz Island where the most notorious criminals were once held. During its heyday, the prison was considered the most secure prison in the world.
While cruising around the San Francisco Bay, you will have the opportunity to order drinks and snacks from the bar onboard.
Start planning your trip right away! Reserve your preferred time slot now and pay later. If your plans change, cancel your reservation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
RESERVE NOW & PAY LATER!
Keep your travel plans flexible - book your spot without any upfront payment!
We took the whole family on the Golden Gate Bay Cruise and we enjoyed every minute. Seeing Alcatraz Island up close was fascinating. I had only ever heard stories about it so being so close to it felt surreal. The audio guide was very helpful in understanding what we were seeing. The kids were thrilled to see the sea lions at Pier 39 and had fun spotting pelicans and seals along the way. The San Francisco Bay Cruise was a perfect mix of fun and learning for the whole family!
My husband and I went on a sunset cruise and it was beautiful! Watching the sun dip behind the Golden Gate Bridge was simply magical. Seeing dolphins and sea lions while listening to the stories about the bay bridges and island prison was so exciting! The audio guide explained everything in simple terms, so I left feeling like I had learned a lot.
DESCRIPTION
San Francisco Bay Cruise
- Boat tour of Golden Gate Bay
- Multilingual audio guide
- Bar available onboard (at your own cost)
- English, French, German, Spanish, Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, Hebrew, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Arabic, Portuguese, Russian, and Japanese
VIEW POPULAR LANDMARKS AND LEARN ABOUT THEIR HISTORY
As you depart, you will immediately see several popular San Francisco landmarks. North Beach is one example. Located on the northern edge of the city, this neighborhood is also known as “Little Italy,” as many Italian Americans, primarily from Northern Italy, moved here. Another landmark visible almost immediately is the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. There, you will be able to see various historic vessels and the maritime museum on the shore. Later on in the cruise, you will see perhaps the most visually impressive sight - the Golden Gate Bridge. When it opened in 1937, it was the longest and tallest suspension bridge in the world. It spans 1.7 miles (2.7 kilometers), and its towers reach a height of 746 feet (227 meters). Learn about these landmarks and many more from the audio guide included in your cruise!
CRUISE AROUND ALCATRAZ ISLAND
On your cruise, you will sail around Alcatraz Island. You will be able to see firsthand the amount of water surrounding the island and how difficult it must have been to even think of attempting an escape. Praised as the most secure prison in the world during its heyday, Alcatraz has hosted some infamous names within its walls. Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly both served sentences on the island. Despite being regarded as the ultimate maximum-security prison, it became that only after its re-fortification in 1934. Before that, it served as a military prison from 1907 until 1933. Ultimately, it closed in 1963 due to high operating costs. Refer to your audio guide for many more fascinating facts about Alcatraz Island and its history!
ENJOY SAILING AROUND THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY
From the boat, you will have amazing views around you. Onboard, there will be a bar offering refreshments and snacks if you're hungry. You may also purchase merchandise from the bar to bring back as a gift or as a memento for yourself. Be sure to bring a camera onboard to capture the picturesque views visible from the boat. Look out for wildlife in the area. You can expect to see sea lions and dolphins. Also, if you're lucky, you may even have the chance to experience some whale watching!
FREE CANCELLATION UP TO 24H IN ADVANCE!
Receive a complete refund if you cancel your booking 24 hours before the selected date!
Interesting facts about Alcatraz
- Alcatraz was initially built as a military fort. It was declared by U.S. President Millard Fillmore as a military reservation. It was only repurposed as a military prison in 1907 and re-fortified into a maximum-security prison in 1934.
- Sometimes, the families of the guards would move to the island due to its remote location. Children of some guards spent their entire childhoods mostly on the island.
- There was no death row on Alcatraz Island. The facilities did not contain equipment to execute death sentences. Some prisoners did die in Alcatraz, though, mostly due to prisoner violence and suicides.
- What many people don’t know is that Alcatraz, despite its isolation, has always been closely tied to San Francisco. From the island you can see the city skyline, a daily reminder for prisoners of the freedom so close yet unreachable. A great way to understand both sides of this story is with the San Francisco & Alcatraz Tour, which combines a guided city tour with a visit to the island, offering more context, stories, and details than exploring on your own.
GOOD TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
- Please bring an ID or passport in case you are asked for identification.
- Your ticket gives you direct access to the boarding line. You do not need to check in at a separate counter.
- The ticket is only valid for the specific date and time you selected when booking.
- Don’t forget to bring a camera to capture the stunning views during your San Francisco Bay Cruise.
Meeting Point
Meet at the Red and White Fleet Box Office at Pier 43 1/2, Fisherman's Wharf, behind the iconic Crab sign, at the corner of Taylor Street and Embarcadero.
FAQ - San Francisco Bay Cruise
How to get to the meeting point for San Francisco Bay Cruise via public transport?
- Muni buses: several Muni bus lines, including the 8, 19, 28, and 49, stop near Fisherman’s Wharf.
- Muni Metro: the F-Market streetcar line stops at Pier 43 ½.
- Cable car: the Powell/Mason cable car line also stops at the Wharf, just a short walk to Pier 43 ½.
What if it rains on the day of my cruise?
Is there seating on the boat?
What clothing should I wear for the San Francisco Bay Cruise?
I would like to explore only Alcatraz; where can we buy tickets?
What else should I do when visiting San Francisco?
Don’t wait! Book now!
- Multilingual audio guide
- Free cancellation
- Wheelchair accessible
- Reserve now & pay later
We have the best value Alcatraz tours & tickets for you!
Ferry ride included
Alcatraz Day Tour
Visit Alcatraz Island at your own pace and learn about its history with an audio guide. Explore the cell blocks and learn about Al Capone, "Machine Gun" Kelly, and other infamous prisoners, as well as why escape from the island was hard. The tour includes a convenient round-trip ferry ticket.
Explore San Francisco
San Francisco Hop-On Hop-Off Tour & Alcatraz Tour
Enjoy a 2-day Hop-on Hop-Off Bus Tour through San Francisco to see top spots like the Golden Gate Bridge and Fisherman’s Wharf. Visit the famous Alcatraz Island and prison, and enjoy a guided walking tour of Chinatown. Enjoy the unique opportunity to see the city's iconic landmarks illuminated under the evening sky on a panoramic sunset tour. Make the most of your time in San Francisco, reserve your spot now and experience both the city and the island with one booking!
30+ attractions
San Francisco City Pass
Enjoy access to more than 30 attractions in San Francisco! See Alcatraz on a cruise, visit the San Francisco Zoo, the Aquarium of the Bay, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Walt Disney Family Museum, see the city on a hop-on hop-off bus tour, and more. Your pass includes a digital guide and is valid for 1-5 days, so you can have fun at your own pace.