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The boat cruise leaves from Fisherman's Wharf and starts out along the northern waterfront. It offers a great overview of the SF Bay both from a sightseeing and history perspective. As I mentioned in my intro, this is by far the most popular cruise and a go to for many first-time visitors. Founded in 1892, the historic Red and White is legendary for its premiere San Francisco cruises.
San Francisco Twilight Cruise
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.
Unique Ways to Cruise San Francisco Bay
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.
Earth Day 2024 -Sunset & Full Moon Sail on San Francisco Bay
They have larger boats in order to accommodate tables for their dinner dance cruises and they also have a higher price tag because so much more is included with this ticket. The Sunset Cruise is offered the rest of the year (roughly from mid-March through early November). They change the time this San Francisco boat cruise leaves in order to have you on the water during the sunset. These San Francisco bay tours are offered by both the Gold and Blue Fleet and the Red and White Fleet. Perfect for first-time visitors and seasoned visitors alike, this package guarantees a day of excitement, discovery, and unforgettable memories in San Francisco's most iconic neighborhood. Note - Always make sure to choose routes that are suitable for your skill level and experience and consider weather conditions and currents before heading out on your kayaking adventure.
Hit-and-run driver strikes pedestrian, tossing her into path of Cruise car in San Francisco - NBC Bay Area
Hit-and-run driver strikes pedestrian, tossing her into path of Cruise car in San Francisco.
Posted: Mon, 02 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The Twilight or Sunset Cruise is offered by the Red and White Fleet. The difference between the two cruises is the time of year. You will also cruise past Treasure Island and the Ferry Building. So, it offers a little more fun on the water for just a few more bucks per ticket. They are also usually flexible with timing too on which San Francisco boat tour you can board unless it's a really busy day.
Golden Gate Bay Cruise + Big Bus Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour + SkyStar Wheel Fisherman's Wharf
They say you should have a "moderate physical fitness level" for this Bay Area cruise. This is a family-run business that takes you out for a tour of the Bay and provides a large selection of California wines for you to try. You really feel the waves and the ocean seems mightier, especially just outside the protection of the gate. I think it's more exciting to sail out under the Golden Gate in a smaller boat than in one of the much larger ferries. No advance reservations, just sign up at the dock on Jefferson Street for the next trip.
Route to both Golden Gate and Oakland Bay Bridges
It's my overview with more pictures and what to expect. In this case, I reviewed my time with the Red and White Fleet. You head west past several SF sights including Fort Mason, the Marina District and the Palace of Fine Arts. Both SF cruise companies follow almost the same route. One benefit to the headsets with Red and White is that they offer narration in several languages, so this is something to consider if English is your second language. If you are looking for something a little fancier, you will find a wonderful Dinner Dance Cruise offered by Hornblower.
In the winter months, it's hit or miss with rainy days interspersed with sunny ones. I have an article about Fleet Week in San Francisco which includes cruise recommendations. These book up so plan ahead if you want to do one of these. This is a great way to watch the Blue Angels perform, right out on the bay, where the boat stops for the show. One big event with a number of cruises is Fleet Week in San Francisco.
Take a look at all the boats they have available for San Francisco Bay; pretty cool. There's a big selection of sizes and prices of boats to rent. Not as expensive as you might think, based on the number of guests splitting the cost. I went on board and explored it; very interesting! You can climb up and down through the different decks and look at the exhibits and sample staterooms open to the public.
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.
Not only is the building fascinating to explore, the views of the city and bay are wonderful. Sail by the Ferry Building, Fort Point, the sea lions, and the Presidio. This cruise also includes a guided tour of the bay, narrated by the captain. In order to hear the audio, you will need a smart phone with wifi enabled; also, it's best to bring some ear buds or a headset to hear it over the sound of the boat.
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.
It's also a good idea to check weather conditions and tidal currents before heading out. Why not combine some time on the water with a visit to San Francisco’s most popular attraction - Alcatraz Island. Sold to the U.S. government in 1849, Alcatraz served many purposes before ultimately becoming an infamous federal penitentiary that housed some of the nation's most notorious criminals. Take a step back in time and explore the remnants of this formidable site, walking through the cellblocks and hearing stories of escape attempts and inmate life.
As the sun begins to set, casting golden rays over the bay, you'll watch the skyline of San Francisco transform into a stunning array of colours, with the iconic Golden Gate Bridge as the backdrop. There are several cruise operators that offer unforgettable sunset cruises, each with their own unique itineraries. Blue & Gold Fleet's Sunset Cruise takes you from Pier 39, passing by the famous Pier 39 Sea Lions and under the famous Golden Gate Bridge.
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