San Francisco Bay Cruise

Badge of Excellence

San Francisco, USA

Very popular!

10+ bookings in the past 6 hours.

1 hour (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.4

· hayley_m ·

Jun 2026

I enjoyed the experience and the price was good. I recommend wearing something warm cause it’s cold, they offer drinks and snacks during your ride and also shares history about the Bay Area. It was really pretty, I recommend this to anyone looking for something to do.

· Jennett_V ·

Aug 2026

The vessel was clean, the crew was friendly, the announcement was clear and informative. Able to see the Golden Gate Bridge, pass by Alcatraz, and see some seals.

Overview

See San Francisco’s most famous waterfront landmarks from the water on a bay cruise that combines iconic views with onboard flexibility. Sail beneath the Golden Gate Bridge, pass Alcatraz Island, and take in panoramic views of the city skyline while listening to stories and insights through an app-based audio guide. With skip-the-line boarding and indoor and outdoor viewing areas, it’s an easy way to experience the bay from a different perspective.

Choose between indoor or outdoor seating areas
Learn about the sights with an audio tour on Wi-Fi-enabled devices
Food and drinks are available to purchase on board
Choose from multiple departures to suit your own travel schedule

What's Included

"Straight to the gate" Skip the Line! Go straight to the boarding line and avoid the Ticket Booth
Audio: English, Spanish, Mandarin, Italian, French, Japanese, Korean, German, Portuguese & Taiwanese
Enjoy the sea life! Possibility of seeing dolphins, sea lions, whales, and pelicans, oh my!
Access to full-service cash snack bar and Free WIFI while you enjoy interior or exterior seating
Multiple restrooms, WC, onboard

Food and drinks (available to purchase)
Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Blue & Gold Fleet
Pier 41, San Francisco, CA 94133, USA
We're located in the marina between Pier 41 and Pier 39.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Pier 39 (Pass By)

San Francisco Bay (Pass By)

Golden Gate Bridge (Pass By)

Alcatraz Island (Pass By)

Fisherman's Wharf (Pass By)

Exploratorium (Pass By)

Ferry Building Marketplace (Pass By)

Crissy Field (Pass By)

Coit Tower (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Children from 0 to 4 years old sail for free
Cruises may not operate during inclement weather. Check with ticket booth on day of sailing for schedule.
Wheelchair accessible
Multi-language audio tour available in nine languages (English, Spanish, Mandarin, Italian, French, Japanese, Korean, German and Taiwanese). Please bring your Wi-Fi enabled device to access the tour.

Times are subject to change without notice.
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Luis_G

You can take some nice pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz…. Great views of town. Nice and friendly crew. Make sure to wear a light jacket, since gets really windy and can be a little chilly.

Reviews

4.4

based on 403 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Sort by: Most recent

Beautiful views!

Amanda_R, Aug 2026

Check the weather first and foremost!! It was a chilly ride for the beginning of August but it was enjoyable! Views were amazing!

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Thanks for the great review and the advice for others. It's much appreciated.

Experience

Shailesh_P, Aug 2026

Was fun, friendly crew, had fun not too crowded. Snacks and drinks included alcohol is available on board

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Thanks for joining us! To clarify, snacks and alcohol is available to purchase on board. Unless you made great friends with the bartender and they hooked you up. And if that's the case, well done! :)

The vessel was clean, the...

Jennett_V, Aug 2026

The vessel was clean, the crew was friendly, the announcement was clear and informative. Able to see the Golden Gate Bridge, pass by Alcatraz, and see some seals.

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Thanks for coming along, and for the kind words. Cheers!

Highly recommend!

Leslie_B, Aug 2026

What a wonderful boat ride! This was a highlight of our family trip! It gets windy, so bring a jacket. Will definitely recommend to others!

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Wow, thank you so much for that great review. We are so happy that we were the highlight. I'm going to share with the rest of our crew as this kind of comment just makes our day.

Refund me PLEASE

Kevin_A, Aug 2026

You should be aware that, if injured on the boat, the captain and crew will get you back to dock immediately to get you medical assistance... However you will need to reschedule or get refunded your costs. The cruise company cannot refund money paid thru third party company like Viator. But the short amount of cruise we did see was Awesome

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Hi Kevin, it is protocol to assist the injured passenger. This is a place to review us, Blue & Gold Fleet. We were offering rescheduling options to guests getting off the boat. But yes, you will have to go back to where you purchased the ticket as they have all of your payment information. We can confirm that this cruise was cancelled due to a medical emergency.

Refund Request - Tour Cancelled

Raul_S, Aug 2026

The tour was cancelled due to an injury, I contacted Viator per the tour company for a refund, I am still waiting for a response.

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Hello, we're very sorry for the unfortunate circumstance with the medical emergency suffered by one of the passengers. As a representative for Blue & Gold Fleet, please let us know if there is anything we can do to assist with your refund from Viator. We can confirm that we had to cancel a cruise early..

Nice boat ride

Larry_M, Aug 2026

Wear a jacket. It gets chilly. Set at the front on the top level for the best view. Steps are steep.

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Thanks for joining us. It does get surprisingly chilly here in San Francisco for summer. A light sweater or jacket is essential in these parts. :)

I was running late due to...

Kelly_M, Aug 2026

I was running late due to the sf traffic and I message the company and they changed my ticket for the next boat ride. The boat ride was perfect. Not too long and not too short. Great activity for the family!

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Thanks for the kind words. We're always happy to assist should there be a delay in your schedule. I'll share your review with the team.

Wonderful Experience!

Amanda_C, Aug 2026

We had an amazing experience and it is a must when coming to SF. It gives you more insight into the city and a different perspective of the city. ❤️

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Yes! Well said. Thank you for the great review.

Exactly as described-...

Shauna_F, Jul 2026

Exactly as described- beautiful views and nice staff. Definitely worth the price. ————————///////////

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Thank you for joining us for this cruise. And thanks for the kind words!

Doesn’t worth

Anna_S, Jul 2026

Boring. You can see Alcatraz and Bridge from the land. You can see sea lions from the Pier 39. I couldn’t book full Alcatraz tour this same day, so decided to go to this. I’d better just walk around. But if you haven’t ever been on a boat than sure, take it

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Hi Anna, we're sorry that you were disappointed in our cruise.

Perfect trip

Pam_K, Jul 2026

Perfect trip. Weather was excellent and we got to see everything we wanted. Just the right amount of time.

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Thanks for the review. Yes, for a 60-minute cruise we are quite proud that we're able to cover so many special landmarks. Thanks for joining us.

Arrived on time and everything was as advertised.

Adeesha_A, Jul 2026

Arrived on time and everything was as advertised. The explanation recording played during the trip was very informative and very well timed so you can enjoy the scenery as it is being explained. Clean toilets. I dis not use the cafe inside the ship.

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Thanks for the 5 Stars. And thanks for joining us!

It’s very crowded....

Jessica_B, Jul 2026

It’s very crowded. Although people were asked not to stand unless they needed to go somewhere else on the boat they lined up on the rails and if you tried to stay seated you couldn’t watch for any dolphins or see much at all. A bit disappointing. You also couldn’t hear a word that was said over the speaker system so that sucked. I wanted to hear any history they were sharing.

Response from Host, Jul 2026

We apologize for the poor experience you had on our Bay Cruise. Not being able to hear or see is not acceptable. If you would like to take the cruise again, we would be more than happy to take you out for what I am sure will be a better time. Please let us know.

Interesting and enjoyable

reneecipriani, Jul 2026

Definitely bring a jacket, and if you have long hair, bring a hair tie or clip, the wind can be strong. Well narrated, interesting history. The tour company was accommodating when our flight was delayed and we could not make the scheduled cruise. We really appreciated that.

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Thanks for the great review and great advice. Happy we could work with your schedule.

Great Experience!

Randy_B, Jul 2026

A well organized tour with clear communication from the start. The staff were very friendly and helpful.

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Thanks for joining us!

Great ride if a little expensive

Jason_K, Jul 2026

Good views, a little pricey for one hour, but it is San Francisco. I enjoyed the audio, and felt it enhanced the experience. The sound System was good enough that it was clear.

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Thanks for joining us!

Great tour of the bay....

Molly_G, Jul 2026

Great tour of the bay. Would recommend this tour to anyone who is looking to see San Francisco from the bay.

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Hi Molly, thanks for the great review!!

We had a wonderful time....

Jamie_W, Jul 2026

We had a wonderful time. It was one of our best experiences yet! We almost want to go again! We highly recommend this tour!

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Hi Jamie, Thanks for joining us. And if you want to go again, we'll give you a discount. Come on Back!!

It’s very beautiful and...

sandy_m, Jul 2026

It’s very beautiful and very nicely documented- you get to hear a lot about San Francisco and its history. Highly recommended.

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Hi Sandy, Thanks for joining us! And for the great review!

Great quick tour of the...

Shauna_H, Jul 2026

Great quick tour of the bay. Takes you just under the Golden Gate Bridge and back. Lots of seating options and can move about the boat for pictures. Bring a sweatshirt or jacket regardless of weather-the bay can be chilly & windy. Definitely recommend this tour.

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Thanks for joining us and sharing your kind words! Cheers!

Fantastic cruise!

Debra_S, Jul 2026

Be ready for fog and wind, but also be ready for fantastic cruise around san francisco bay.. you'll see all manner of birds and wildlife, as well as the big rock, meaning alcatraz, a view of the golden gate bridge from underneath, a narration, about all the other sites you'll see around the bay.

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Awesome!! Thanks for sharing!

Family Fun

Nayadez_C, Jul 2026

It was great, big spacious inside with tables and chairs. Good amount of seating upper deck outside. Loved hearing all the facts and history about Alcatraz

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Thanks for coming along. And thanks for the great review!

It can get cold so dress...

Mark_A, Jul 2026

It can get cold so dress accordingly. You can expect bigger crowds so book ahead of time. Expect to pay for parking.

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Thanks for sharing advice in your review. It's so nice to your fellow travelers. And to add on, it is 10 degrees colder out on the water. And summer weekends are our busiest days.

San Francisco Bay cruise

Theresa_H, Jun 2026

The cruise would have been better if people were not standing and moving around constantly. It was very cold and windy. Be sure to bring a jacket. A hat would have been nice. I think everyone should be required to stay seated for safety reasons. Otherwise, it was nice.

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Thanks for joining us on the cruise. And for your feedback. What's funny is that either everyone stays seating for the duration of the cruise. Or everybody moves around. It's like the wave. Regarding safety, do know that if the waters get too choppy, they captain will have everyone stay seated. Similar to what you might see on an airplane.

Short enough to fit in the rest of your day - but plenty of time to see the northwest part of the bay.

HaroldW_W, Jun 2026

A fun boat ride along the SF coastline, under the Golden Gate Bridge, and along the east side of Alcatraz and back. Very informative narration telling what you are seeing and its history. Short enough that you can fit it in with whatever else you are doing in SF- especially at Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf. From downtown, take the "F" streetcar to get there - easy-peezy and at less than $3..00 a lot cheaper than taking a Uber or taxi to get there!

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Thanks for that great, detailed review. Super helpful for folks. All great information that is correct. Thanks!!

Great sights

Wilfredo_A, Jun 2026

Great views of the bridge and Alcatraz. Wear a sweatshirt or jacket it does get chilly. Food and bathroom available.

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Hi, thanks for joining us and leaving a great review!

Not worth the money.

Lisa_M, Jun 2026

The boat was very dirty and the staff not very friendly at all. The announcments are recorded in various languages but the volume could have been a little higher.

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Hi Lisa, We're sorry to hear that you were not impressed with our boats or the audio tour. I'll share your comments with our Ops Team to make sure we're doing a better job next time.

Available tickets with short window without burning your wallet!

Chatrine_K, Jun 2026

Last minute booking, reliable! Friendly wallet, checked! Easy to deal with, yassss!!! Would recommend this place to friends and family!!!

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Yasss!! Thanks for the great review. We're happy you came along!!

Had so much fun!

Leticia_T, Jun 2026

The staff is very accommodating and friendly. Great trip overall! Although they were talking about the history, I couldn’t hear very well. It would’ve been great to have it a bit louder. Other than that it was amazing!