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    Alcatraz City Cruises

    4.3 (1.3k reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

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    Cady D.

    I didn't know much about Alcatrez so I figured it would be cool to learn more about it by doing this tour. Al Capone was also held here at one point. We did the "night tour" which wasn't really at nighttime since the sun didn't go down until around 8:30pm and we got on the boat to go there at 6:30pm. The boat promptly left from the pier at 6:30pm so make sure you are in line before then! When we got off the boat at the island, we had to walk up some hills to get up to the entrance, but they offer a lift for those with disabilities. It was an audio tour and it was easy to follow along while going through the prison. The only downside is it felt really crowded and hard to move around at times, and I kept feeling like I was in people's way. The tour was shorter than I expected. There's also a museum that explains when Native Americans lived on the island, but we didn't have time to go through it because we wanted to catch the boat and go back. If you're really interested in Alcatrez Island and learning about prisons, I'd recommend it, but if not, I don't think it's worth the price. It seems super popular though. The highlight of the entire tour was seeing all the birds on the island and the beautiful gardens throughout. The views are also great while on the boat.

    The port
    Jodine P.

    Buying tickets online was easy. Highly recommend to buy online, you can skip the line when you arrive and it's the same price. Quick ferry ride to the island, about 15 mins. Food, drinks, and bathroom was available on the boat. Be prepared for a lot of flies. They give out fans, recommend to grab one purely for the flies. The audio tour was great. You have to walk up a long hill to the top, however they offer rides for older people or people you can manage the walk up. Ferries leave every half hour so you have plenty of time to explore. The staff were all friendly. There is a gift shop on the island, it had cool stuff if you're looking for that. By the end of the ferry ride home we were really sick of the flies. The ferry is three levels, try to be on the top, there are less flies and great views.

    staircase
    Diane L.

    We took Alcatraz City Cruises from Pier 33 to Alcatraz Island. The boat ride cost $15 per person, the prison was closed so no tour were offered on this date. The International Indian Treaty Council hosted the Indigenous Sunrise service on Thanksgiving. The lines were long from Pier 33, but the staff moved things along quickly and got large groups of people on board quickly. The boat ride to the island was short and smooth. The sunrise service was a powerful experience and I'm grateful to have shared the experience with all those who were in attendance. Alcatraz Island hosts Indigenous Ceremonies annually on Indigenous People's day and Thanksgiving. It was a powerful celebration of the long history and ongoing resistance against occupation and colonization.

    Smitha S.

    The tickets get sold out really quick !! So book online !! We booked our ferry for 3.20 pm on a Saturday . We reached sfo by 3 pm , but we had hard time finding parking , so we got late and missed our 3.20 pm ferry . The ticket centre was so courteous that they put us on a standby line for the 3.50 pm cruise and then voila we made it to the 3.50 , the whole experience was so well organized . Well organized audio tour , beautiful views , definitely recommend them

    Shawn O.

    We booked a cruise about a week before our arrival. We gave ourselves ample time to get there, but discovered that we got on the wrong trolley and had to grab a Lyft to get there with a couple minutes to spare. I ran down the pier with my husband in tow, who didn't seem as concerned about getting to our cruise in time. Fortunately, I made it to the pier in time and the staff was so pleasant and told me not to worry as my husband slowly made his way to the boat. It was a very nice ferry ride to Alcatraz. We were greeted by a very friendly and funny young lady, who told us what we needed to know, and then we took advantage of the cart, provided to get all the way up to Alcatraz. If you have mobility issues, you should definitely take advantage of the cart because it was much farther than I thought and it's steep going up as it winds around to the top. I was very impressed by the elder lady who drove the cart all the way up the winding hill and she managed to turn the cart around on a dime. We have never been inside a jail before, so this was an interesting experience. Certainly one that I never have any intention of experiencing again unless I'm a tourist. We took advantage of the audio tour, which was very insightful. We learned some interesting facts about the prison. The exterior of the prison has lots of lovely flowers and plants and bird life. We learned that indigenous people occupied the site at some point, a fact that I didn't know. I was disappointed that there was a separate gift shop available with items for the indigenous, but it was closed. I'm not sure if it's closed permanently or if it was just closed for that day. We made our way through the entire property and then took the ferry back. It was a neat tour and one that I'm glad that we went on, but I thought it was a little pricey.

    Mitchell L.

    Boat ride was quick to the island and had some food and beverages to purchase, but one could barely finish anything before getting to Alcatraz. Once we got off it was a quick orientation then you were off to explore. It was a cool experience to see one of the most famous prisons in the world. Lots of history on this island, more than I realized. The ride back was less fun. It was a different boat and there was hardly anywhere to sit. We were tired from walking so much so that was a bummer. Seas were rough and the boat kept slamming into the pier. People were getting tossed around. Not very safe. Two different boat rides for sure. The tour is worth checking out if interested. Once is enough though if you ask me.

    Fred L.

    On a recent trip back to the Bay Area our family toured Alcatraz which is something that we never did when we lived here. If you are visiting SF I would recommend getting a City Pass which has an option for the Alcatraz cruise and tour among other tourist attractions. Since we were using City Pass we already had our ticket but if you are not using City Pass I would highly recommend getting your tickets in advance. The cruises depart in 30 minute intervals. I would recommend that you arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time. You can take any return boat back. The trip is relatively short but you get some awesome views of the Alcatraz and the San Francisco skyline and Bay Bridge. It will be chilly and windy on the trip so a jacket would be recommended. The staff and crew were really friendly. When you return there is an area where you can view some historic items and a model of Alcatraz Island. Overall a great experience with some great views.

    Elicia N.

    I just left the Behind the Scenes tour at Alcatraz and it was amazing! I highly recommend splurging on the enhanced tour. What an incredible experience -- rich with history as well as compassion for those who served time here. I so appreciated that the tour guides and staff emphasized educating visitors not just on the prison itself but also around the human stories inside those walls. I loved the messaging around prioritizing rehabilitation, helping those released from incarceration acclimate, and considering their humanity in extending opportunities. I definitely want to recognize Sanford our tour guide who knocked it out of the park on his first night let lose as our lead guide! He went above and beyond to show up as energetic, engaging, funny and informative! And his partner Jeff was so sweet and truly a precious presence. I was really so impressed with all of the stuff they have working here, everyone friendly and helpful. The workshops and lectures throughout the evening were a wonderful bonus! I definitely recommend this tour hands down! Perfect way to spend my evening! Definitely wear comfy shoes and take extra layers and a hoodie for your ears and head. It gets a little windy at night!

    Alcatraz sign near boarding area
    Liana M.

    Booked our trip online about a month out since we heard it sells out if you wait. Really glad we did because it was definitely packed when we got there. Definitely recommend booking ahead in general but especially during the summer. The loading area is off one of the piers. There's a model of Alcatraz with info about the prison that you can look at as well as a big sign you can take a photo with. Boarding was relatively painless. You board by your designated time. The interior of the boat has plenty of seating with large windows but you can also stand aft or forward and I think there was upperdeck seating as well. They have a small food and drink stand inside the ship. I brought some food but I was glad for the sandwiches they had available too. I ended up really needing one after my experience at Alcatraz. Boat trip was relatively quick, like 15 minutes. But it's just enough time to enjoy the sea and take some photos. The approach to Alcatraz is really impressive!

    Greg F.

    This is the only way to get to Alcatraz. This company is separate from the national parks service, that operates the island. You take the ferry from pier 33. They have restrooms and a few exhibits in the waiting area. They are a pretty organized operation, and the ferry was pretty clean and spacious

    Peter P.

    This is a well-run ferry operation to Alcatraz Island. Boarding is very quick and once you're on board, the boat is almost immediately on its way to Alcatraz. There are restrooms on board as well as a bar where you can buy drinks and light snacks for the short trip (no food and drink are allowed on Alcatraz).

    Alcatraz model
    Patrick S.

    Helpful people, nice considering we don't know the city well. We arrived late but they were able to get us on the next boat out. We really liked the overall experience of traveling there and back. I do think there's a safety hazard with the flies around and I know some of that can't be controlled, but it was a bit much that everyone was swatting persistently. There are snacks on the boat that can be a bit pricey, I would recommend bringing stuff onto the boat since it'll be a long time before you can eat another snack. Overall I would recommend them, if they get a handle on all the flys with some management, I think the experience would be good.

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    Alcatraz City Cruises Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Alcatraz City Cruises

    Is this the official website to buy tickets? I see that www.Alcatraz island tickets has also tickets as well. May someone please confirm which is the correct website or are they both legit?

    There are lots of scummy 3rd party resellers that simply charge a service fee, such as AlcatrazIslandtickets.com. just buy through cityexperiences.com. Unfortunately it's legal. Avoid the 3rd parties.

    Are the prison cells / other buildings open for exploring during COVID in December 2021?

    Yes, it's all open you can see everything.

    Can I bring my hydroflask water bottle?

    I don't see why not. I brought my backpack with camera gears and bottles of water. Nothing was checked by the tour operators or the park rangers.

    Is this open during covid 19?

    Yes

    How long is the night tour?

    Thank you for your question! We suggest that you plan about 2 1/2 hours in your schedule for the Night Tour. There are currently two return departure options: 8:30 PM and 9:25 PM. Please view our official website for current schedules, availability,… 

    I seen theirs ticket options for kids 5 to 11. What about children ages 3 are they allowed on this tour?

    For Day Tours and Night Tours children under 5 years of age do not require tickets but are allowed on the tours. The Behind the Scenes tour is only open to participants 12 years of age or older, as it is a physically strenuous tour that last for 4… 

    How likely to get walk on tickets for tomorrow July 10th?

    not likely.. they sell out way n advance when we where there in may the twilight ones where totally booked through august.. go online and see if you can get some

    What if you're late to get to the fairy? What are the options they provide

    Thank you for your question. It depends on which ferry you are referencing. If you are late for your departure from Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing to Alcatraz Island, please check in at the Will Call area of the Ticketbooth and you will be accommodated on… 

    I'm reading third party tickets like stubhub won't work because the ticket has to match a government ID. Does anyone have such an experience?

    You can only buy tickets from Alcatraz cruises

    How and where can I get 3 tickets for Sunday 3/25?

    Have you checked the website for availability? https://www.alcatrazcruises.com

    How can I find tickets for Easter weekend for 4 people?

    Assuming they are sold out, you can purchase a bundle deal with another tour included using, Citypass or Go San Fransisco Card. Can be purchased at the Alcatraz ticketbooth pier 33. Also a website discovertown.com for tour packages.

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    Review Highlights - Alcatraz City Cruises

    After the audio tour, you are then able to stroll and explore other areas of the island at your leisure.

    Mentioned in 394 reviews

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    4.1(531 reviews)
    5.7 miFisherman's Wharf, North Beach/Telegraph Hill

    We had a great evening, my daughter and granddaughter were visiting from Mississippi and my…read moregrandaughter's wish was to see the lights of a big city at night, so I took her and my daughter on the 2 hour night cruise..It was such fun and Thomas one of the employees of Red and white was extremely helpful and amusing, he also took great pics of us..the view were spectacular.the company was great and wishes were fulfilled good times..

    I got two boat tours - a Golden Gate tour and a Bridge to Bridge (Golden Gate to Bay Bridge) tour…read morewith the Go City Pass - 5 day All Inclusive. The Golden Gate was 1 hour, and the Bridge to Bridge was 1.5 hours. The Bridge to Bridge has few times, so check their website to find one that works for your schedule. On the boat, there is a bar, popcorn, and snacks you can buy. There is a bathroom, although I didn't use it. There are several floors and the lowest floor with the bar has tables. As you enter, if you need the narration in another language, get the headset. By default, over the loudspeaker is English. The first boat trip I did was more crowded on the top deck with more people talking loudly, so I missed about 1/4th of the narration. The volume was never too loud or painful, but with people talking loudly, you will miss it unless you move closer to the speaker. Biggest tips: Wear a jacket and dress warmly if you plan to sit on the top, open air deck. It is extremely windy. Also, having a hair tie is helpful, so you don't have hair blowing in your face. It can be pretty smooth but by the Bay Bridge, the wind makes the water rougher, so you may want to take a motion sickness medicine if you are sensitive. Staff was friendly from the ticket booth to the people at the end telling your goodbye. Nice boat tour!

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    Golden Gate Bridge.

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    City Cruises San Francisco - french toast with whipped cream and berries

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    3.9(836 reviews)
    4.7 miEmbarcadero
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    It was my first time going on the Hornblower for dinner. It was a office party celebrating our win…read moreover the competition. We were greeted by the staff at the gate for check-in. The dining area was up one floor. There were plenty of room on the floor for everyone to dance. A live DJ and bar. Besides our office party, there was a birthday and anniversary party. A few others were on dates. The boat pushed off the dock slowly and was speeding along the water. We circled the entire bay passing all the landmarks, seeing the sunset over the Golden Gate Bridge, passing Tiburon where the San Rafael bridge and Belvedere Island can be seen. I've never gone out that far. Boat wasn't too rocky. It was enough for people in heels to move around the boat and catch the scenery. It was great seeing the city lights and the Bay Bridge lightshow. It's been a decade since the lights on the Bay Bridge were off. Food was well made and delicious. I ordered the dumplings for appetizer, steak and toffee crunch chocolate cake. I couldn't finish my cake. It was so rich. Riding on the boat is well worth the experience if you haven't done so. It's a getaway from city and work life. Hats off to the crew, DJ and celebrity chef.

    We took a City Cruise boat to Alcatraz. It was like $50/person or so, for a round trip. They had a…read morelot of times so we were able to wait in line and catch one pretty much almost immediately. The boat was fine. There isn't a ton of seating outside but there was some seating inside (covered). They actually had a snack bar even for such a short ride. To my amazement, I saw tons of people flocking to buy treats for like a 10 minute ride to Alcatraz. It is a little rocky on the water and my mother in law was getting a bit seasick on the return ride home. But as someone who's not really affected by seasickness I thought the ride was okay, maybe a tiny bit choppy at times.

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    Emerald Lady Boat Rides

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    4.8(22 reviews)
    5.6 miFisherman's Wharf, North Beach/Telegraph Hill

    The is the best deal @ Pier 39. The kiosk is located across Trish's mini donuts. I've taken…read morevisiting family and friends on this tour. $20 per person. They take you to see the Goldengate Bridge, Alcatraz, sea lions and more. Last night we did the night tour for the first time and was amazed. Captain Ryan was fun, knowledgeable and made the experience very special for us.

    Watching Love on the Spectrum on Netflix lead my partner and I to this place on a Sunday. It is now…read more$20 per person. Apparently they try to avoid using the antique boat on the weekends, so we were put on a water taxi. I was pretty bummed that they only use the actual boat on weekdays. Nevertheless, it's a quick 30 minute ride to the sea lions, and WWII ship. The captain briefly talks about the Alcatraz island, but we were quite far from it so don't expect it to come close to the actual island. He was quite knowledgeable and engaged in conversations with the passengers. He also got us pretty wet with the water splashing into the boat, which was quite fun! If you get seasick easily, this might not be for you. The boat is quite small so you would end up feeling the swells a lot more than in a regular sized boat. Note: You don't wear life jackets for the entire ride, due to sanitization costs. You get to use it for FREE if somehow the boat starts to sink. Stating this on here, because I saw some people get off when they found out lifejackets weren't given out. I don't think they got reimbursed either.

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    Blue & Gold Fleet

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    5.6 miFisherman's Wharf, North Beach/Telegraph Hill

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    Five Stars Yacht Charters

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    3.6 miSouth Beach, Embarcadero

    Boy did we luck out. This was part of a 40th birthday present for my husband and it was absolutely…read morethe stand out, highlight of our day. First off, the people - Lisa, her husband (the captain) and her steward are some of the kindest, most helpful humans you'll ever meet. They are also incredibly professional. The process, from booking to good byes, was incredible simple. Now the yacht itself. Wow. She was definitely one of the bigger yachts on the harbor which had my family incredibly excited. We got a beautiful yacht, Lisa checking in and serving us, add to that pastries, fruits, an open bar, two outdoor tables (in the back and front) of the yacht, an upscale and large cabin, music, a great captain, a SECOND STORY to the boat...I mean..this kind of felt like highway robbery. And we were the robbers (they are incredibly reasonably priced) Since we're in a time of Covid I should also add that I saw them wiping the boat down several times, they were always in masks and Lisa served the food and drinks with gloves and a mask on. It's clear that they are very conscious of their health and the health of their customers. Lisa's mom is 90 and they're doing their best to take the right precautions to keep their family safe. All in all, I cannot wait to go back. I cant wait to bring friends onto this yacht (when it's safe). I couldn't be happier with this decision. Thank you so much Lisa for making a milestone birthday unforgettable!!!

    This overdue review is based on my overall experience with planning my birthday with Lisa at Five…read moreStars Yacht. To summarize, I was constantly trying to work around the restrictions that Lisa failed to disclose at the time of contract. And all of this could've been avoided if it was mentioned on the very first day. I just felt blindsided every time she mentioned something new. If you run a business that hosts events, these should be listed in your contract! She was misleading, had poor communication, was unwilling to work with me, and lied. And this event is a couple $$$$. You would think that I would get better service for paying so much. Save yourself the trouble and book elsewhere! I met Lisa in February, through Sailo.com. While I toured the yacht, Lisa explained what I could expect from booking with them. She said I could decorate the boat however I wanted. She mentioned there were tablecloths in a variety of colors to match any theme. I mentioned I wanted pink tablecloths, and she said she had some light pink shades. She showed me upstairs and said they had tablecloths for the smaller tables as well. I mentioned I would want to decorate upstairs. I asked her if I could bring food onboard, which was okay. We went over bar service, music, and set up. She mentioned the yacht was available to set up in the morning before my event time. Now everything to me sounded great, but little did I know, a lot of what she mentioned was complete BS. I reviewed the contract in March, ready to book with her. The contract had the general cost information. I had questions about bar service, but since the company seemed very accommodating, I didn't have any other questions. Fast forward to July, my event was set for the end of the month. I was already ordering decor. Once I started emailing her details about how I wanted to decorate, many things were not approved. There were restrictions that were not disclosed at the time of contract. For example, no balloons outside, no tape on any surface;only string or ribbon. That is a huge detail you should mention early on, especially when it was clear that I wanted to decorate. After going through multiple options, I had to search for plan b, and just rented marquee numbers, since it was freestanding decor. And even she had some hesitations about that. Then, I asked her multiple times for photos of the pink tablecloths she had mentioned. 2 weeks before the party, she told me she "couldn't find them," and only had white or neutral. Clearly she did not have a variety of tablecloths. I don't even think the pink tablecloths existed. So I told her I would like the white tablecloths for the party. The next issue was food. I asked her if I could use sterno food warmers for one dish. She said no, and that I could only use electric. So, I asked about an electric griddle to set a tray on, and she still didn't approve it..Then, she mentioned a flameless warmer, but refused to send me a photo. She just said, "oh you'll see it online." I sent her an image of one option online, which still wasn't what she was describing, but still approved...all of the back and forth could've been avoided if she just showed me. To make matters worse, 2 days before the event she had the audacity to ask me if I wanted to charge gratuity on my card before the event! So I told her I do not pay gratuity before a service is given. I also asked a week in advance if I could set up starting at 10am, just 2 hours before the event time. I was told 10:30 was the earliest because the crew had to arrive at 10 and set up. On the day of the event, I showed up at 10:20 and the crew was not onboard. They showed up at 10:30 and still needed to set up. So I couldn't start decorating until 10:50, and was scrambling with the little time I had. And when I asked for the white tablecloths, they had no idea that I requested them. They didn't have any ready. They pulled out a DIRTY tablecloth that we just had to fold in half. And the captain didn't even know about any tablecloths for the smaller tables. There was clearly no communication between what I discussed with Lisa and her crew. I asked Lisa if we can bring the smaller table from the front deck inside. She told me the table outside couldn't fold up and had to stay outside, which I later found out was a lie. We had enough space for the food, but I still wanted the table out of the way. The crew told me they could bring the table in. It just shows she was unwilling to work with me and refused to accommodate a simple request. Once we left the dock, things seemed to settle down. The captain and the rest of the crew were great. Unfortunately, the crew service for the day didn't outweigh the stress I went through to plan the event. At the end of the party, I thanked the crew, but made it very clear to the captain that working with Lisa was extremely difficult and stressful.

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    Five Stars Yacht Charters
    Five Stars Yacht Charters
    Five Stars Yacht Charters

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    Sea to Sauna - A San Francisco Tour

    Sea to Sauna - A San Francisco Tour

    5.0(3 reviews)
    0.6 miBayview-Hunters Point

    Sea to sauna is a tour about unique SF…read more The start is at 11 am, when I got picked up by a minibus in SF downtown. Then arriving to The Ramp for delicious breakfast/lunch. I chose crispy fish tacos n coffee. The atmosphere is very pleasant, also gathering for the breakfast is a nice opportunity to meet people. Later on it's time for boarding. Getting on wine tasting and feeling salty wind with bay drizzles. So many stunning views! After sailing around Alcatraz and Angel's island we are turning back to the Ramp. Where we are getting picked up to our next destination - Archimedes Banya. It's a 3 floor sauna /spa complex, where you can experience different kinds of worldwide saunas, Russian/Eastern European traditions and the authentic kitchen. Also nice tap beer. Mmmmmm Also they have yoga classes and a patio with beautiful views of SF bay. After some amount of saunas, jacuzzi and the pool it was time to have some food. 4 course meal is included with the tour. For the meal I chose soup charcho, salmon plate, lamb pielmeni and pirozek. In the evening, after fun Banya time, we went to the mission bar to finish the day with some more entertainment. Really fun tour, I wanna go again sometimes.

    I can't recommend this experience enough!! It was one of the best days ever. It was relaxed, so…read morefun to meet the other guests, was very easy and well thought out with transportation and AMAZING locations picked by our organized and gracious host..everything went so smoothly, and generally I am not a tour group kind of person, but this was so well curated... I can't wait to do this again, and to share with friend. For all the incredible experiences we had, sipping wine while gazing at San Francisco and the Golden gate bridge on a lovely sailboat, to entering utter bliss in the sauna, which felt very authentic (my new favorite place in SF!), to an incredible borscht and sparkling wine in the banya, and a rooftop view of the bay...I could go on. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, you won't regret it!!

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    Sea to Sauna - A San Francisco Tour

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    Alcatraz City Cruises - boattours - Updated August 2026

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