San Francisco Bay Cruises - sailing in the San Francisco Bay in a sailboat with dinner, sunset or just a regular cruise information is found right here.
If you would like to tour San Francisco Bay there are many choices to choose from.
There are San Francisco Bay dinner cruises, San Francisco Bay area tours, champage brunch cruises and Alcatraz cruises.
These cruises are all listed below.
(important: the information below is subject to change so please check with the companies before booking…)
Things To Bring On Your San Francisco Bay Cruise
a camera
warm jacket – even if it’s sunny the island is almost always cold
snacks and drinks – unless provided in tour they are usually available for purchase on the boat (only water available on Alcatraz Island)
comfortable walking shoes if you are walking around Alcatraz Prison or Angel Island
Alcatraz Cruises
In 2009 Alcatraz celebrated it’s 75th anniversary as a prison. This is the most popular of the San Francisco Bay cruises so so make sure to get your tickets early. Cruises sell out often April through October.
Alcatraz Cruises (415) 981-ROCK (415-981-7625)
International callers: +1.415.981.7625
Call Center Operating Hours: 08:00-19:00 Pacific Standard Time (USA)
Alcatraz Group Tickets for 15 or more and Tour Operators: (415)438-8361
For Hearing Impaired (TTY General Info): (415) 438-8385
Tour details: Buy tickets early. This is the most popular cruise in San Francisco so make sure to get your tickets early. Cruises sell out often April through October.
They have regular Alcatraz tours where you get off and walk around the island which include a 45 minute audio presentation (plan on 2 1/2 hours for these), night tours and Alcatraz and Angel Island tours combined which include both islands and a one-hour narrated Tram Tour of Angel Island. (allow 5 ½ hours to complete this last tour).
Departure: Pier 33, San Francisco
Cost: $26 for regular Alcatraz tour for adults and kids 12-17, children 5-11 are $16.00, Seniors are $24.50.
$33 for night tour for adults, kids 12-17 are $32, kids 5-11 are $19.50 and Seniors are $30.50.
$58 for combined Alcatraz and Angel Island tour for adults and kids ages 5-17, $40 for kids 5-11, and $56.50 for seniors.
Toddlers ages 0-4 are free for all tours. Family price is $79 for 2 adults and 2 children for the regular Alcatraz tour.
Regular Bay Cruise San Francisco
The Blue & Gold Fleet and Red & White Fleet and Adventure Cat Sailing Charters are companies that offer a bay cruise San Francisco.
Blue & Gold Fleet (415) 773-1188
Tour details: Fully narrated 1 hour cruises that goes under the Golden Gate Bridge, and very close to Alcatraz.
Departure: Tours depart from Pier 39’s West Marina starting at 10:45 a.m.
Cost: $21 for adults, $17 for seniors, 62 and older and juniors 12-18, and $13 for children 5-11. 4 and under are free. Note: $2.25 surcharge for ordering tickets by phone but tickets are also available online.
Red & White Fleet (415) 434-8687
Tour details: Fully narrated in 8 languages. Offers a cruise in San Francisco Bay along the city’s waterfront, under the golden Gate Bridge, past Angel Island and around Alcatraz Prison.
Departure: Tours leave from Pier 43 ½. Daily San Francisco Bay cruises.
Cost: $21 for adults, $18 for seniors and teens 12-17, and $14 for children 5-11 years old. Note: Discounts available when you purchase online.
Adventure Cat Sailing Charters 1-(800)498-4228 or (415) 777-1630
Tour details: Tour goes around Alcatraz Island, under the Golden Gate Bridge and returns along the waterfront. They have a 55’ Catamaran which holds 48 passengers max and a Luxury Catamaran which holds 99 passengers max.
I personally like this one of all the San Francisco Bay cruises because it gets you closer to the water and feels more like an adventure.
Departure: Located at Pier 39, Dock J Tours leave at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Cost: Adults $30, Children 6-12 $15, Kids 5 and under $2
Dinner Cruises
Hornblower Cruises & Events. See Alcatraz Cruises above for details.
Tour details: Leaves at 7:30 p.m. (boarding begins at 7:00 p.m. Four course meal accompanied by a live band and dancing. Wine list includes local vineyards. One of the higher end cruise companies for a San Francisco Bay cruise.
Departure: Pier 3, San Francisco
Cost: Friday dinner dance cruise $109, Saturday dinner dance cruise $119, Sunday-Thursday dinner dance cruise $99, Supper Club cruise $83. Prices do not include tax and gratuity.
Sailing Cruises
Adventure Cat Sailing Charters. See “Regular Bay Cruise” above for contact information.
Tour details: They offer a Bay Cruise at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. and a sunset cruise in the late afternoon between 5:00-7:00 p.m. The cruises last 1 ½ hours and sail by Alcatraz, under the Golden Gate Bridge.
Cost: $30 for adults, $15 6-12, $2 5 and under.
Sunset Cruise
Red & White Fleet – see “Regular Bay Cruise” above for contact information.
Tour details: Includes drinks and light buffet from Boudin Catering. Two hour San Francisco Bay area tour. Available only from early April to early October.
Cost: $48 adults, $34 youth 5-17, family pass 2 adults + 4 youth $129, group (15+ adults) $40.
Adventure Cat Sailing Charters: for company information see “Regular Bay Cruise” listing above.
Tour details: This San Francisco boat tour lasts 1 ½ hours and leaves at 5:30 p.m.
Cost: These tours cost $45 with no discount for children and include light hors d’oeuvres and 2 drinks.
Rendezvous Charters (415) 543-7333
Tour details: The sailboat used for their San Francisco Bay cruise is called the “Bay Lady” and is a 90 foot sailing schooner. Leaves on Friday and Saturdays and leaves two hours before sunset. Snacks, chips, nuts and munchies included.
Departure: Pier 40, South Beach harbor.
Cost: $25 adults, $20 kids under 12.
Sunday Champagne Brunch Cruise
Two companies offer a Sunday brunch cruise.
Hornblower – see “Dinner Cruises” above for contact information.
Tour details: They offer a Sunday brunch leaving that lasts from 11:00 a.m. – 2:-00 p.m. which includes pastries, fresh fruit, assorted cheese and meat, bagels with cream, cheese, orange juice and lots of hot coffee.
Cost: $76 for adults, $68.56 for Seniors 55+/military, $45.61 for kids under 12, free for ages 3 and under.
Rendezvous Charters – See “Sunset Cruises” above for more information.
Tour details: They offer a Sunday brunch leaving that last from 11:00 a.m. – 2:-00 p.m. which includes pastries, fresh fruit, assorted cheese and meat, bagels with cream, cheese, orange juice and lots of hot coffee.
Cost: $40 adults and $35 for kids under 12. There are many options for San Francisco Bay cruises - I'm sure you can find one that will create a great memory for you.
