When we were in San Francisco, we decided to start our trip with the Blue & Gold Fleet Bay Cruise, and I'm really glad we did! We had actually purchased our tickets through another company and couldn't find much information about where we were supposed to go or what to do when we arrived. The Blue & Gold Fleet staff were incredibly helpful and worked with us to figure everything out and get us onto the boat at the last minute. That customer service really made a difference. Once we got on board, we headed straight to the top deck so we could get the best views. Definitely bring a jacket because it gets pretty breezy out on the water, even if it's warm on land! The cruise took us underneath the Golden Gate Bridge and all the way around Alcatraz, while giving us views of so many of San Francisco's iconic sights. It was such a great way to get introduced to the Bay and learn a little about the history of the area. The narration is done through an audio recording, and that was probably my biggest complaint. It was sometimes difficult to hear because there were so many people on the boat moving around, talking, and taking pictures. I found myself paying more attention to the views than the narration. But the views were absolutely worth it! I got some amazing photos, and being out on the water gave us a completely different perspective of San Francisco. For the price, I thought it was a great experience. It wasn't overly expensive, the staff was helpful, and it was such a fun and relaxing way to start our trip. If you're visiting San Francisco for the first time, I definitely recommend getting out on the Bay and seeing the city from the water! read more

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I took a boat ride with the Blue and Gold Fleet, and at first, the prices seemed pretty expensive. However, we saw they have combined packages, and for our group of 12 people, it ended up being 300 dollars for a 1 hour ride. A major pro tip is that while they tell you to arrive about 15 minutes early, you should definitely come 30 to 45 minutes early if you can because people start showing up early to snag all the great seating spots. Overall, the time on the boat was very comfortable, we got to see a lot of cool things, and they have some tour info that plays in the background. The only thing that saddened me was that there were no available trips to Alcatraz. I believe they only had one trip per day at 10am, and my group would have absolutely loved to go. I would probably look around to see if there are any other Alcatraz accessible boats next time, but if they added more time slots in the future, I would love to try them again. The boat also sells snacks to enjoy at a reasonable price and has restrooms you can use. Ultimately, I have no complaints other than the lack of Alcatraz trips. read more

Weekend afternoon spontaneous decision to take the rocket boat 30min Great time aboard with fantastic weather and music Could've had some more narration but great switchbacks and even motor off time for pictures read more

Went on a bay cruise just having a day out My cruise was really empty maybe 20 passengers, weather was overcast so not a sunny warm day. Boats are a bit weathered. But clean as they can be, the bar area is obviously limited. The ride was comfortable and smooth. It's the same experience to me as riding the ferry. So taking a ferry boat ride To Vallejo or Alameda is the same experience. read more

Blue & Gold Fleet - Bar - Boat Charters Near Me - San Francisco, California

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All the heads visiting or living in San Francisco - we had taken boat tours to Alcatraz but never done a tour just around the bay! With unseasonably warm spring break weather we decided to give it a try and booked via Groupon which gave a $30 discount. The tour was an hour and absolutely worth it ! Plenty of seating, both inside and out and stunning bay views! The boat is clean, roomy and takes a great route under the Golden Gate, past Alcatraz and towards the Bay Bridge offering beautiful views! Well worth it! read more

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Great customer service from the entire crew going and returning from Sausalito. Especially Valentino who was friendly and welcoming! The ride is pretty smooth and less than 30 minutes. Great view of the Golden Gate Bridge! read more

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We decided to book a boat tour of Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz after not being able to book any tour visits for Alcatraz. Tour visits for Alcatraz sold out super fast and were sold out on most of the websites we looked on, with the exception of some still available but for double the price/ticket. We had trouble finding the port originally so we missed our original time but workers let us hop on the next one, which luckily for me, was only half hour later. The tour ran for about an hour and was your typical touristy city boat tour but took us to see some great views of the Golden Gate Bridge + Alcatraz from a distance. Overall, not too shabby. Great for if you want to take a break from walking around the city. read more

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Bookings sell out real fast especially towards the weekend. Overall easy to book online and just show up early for your time. It was our first time out in the pier and we didn't find the dock in time and actually missed our timeslot, but the workers will just put you on the next one if available. Luckily it was about 30 min wait with the line already forming. So if you are looking at their physical ticket booth which we were standing in front of looking for the boat, it's actually to your right at the "end of the block" of that pier. Overall a quick hour a change at sea. They have a snack bar for drinks and chips etc (booze as well) and depending where you find standing room or seats will determine your photos haha most people will shift around for that. Pretty windy, lots of flies out in the bay. Overall pretty good experience if you want to skip the land overviews etc. They also take your photo before you board the boat. They'll green screen it and have hits from the tourist attractions around the pier. Optional if you want to purchase after you board the boat. read more

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The water is the best way to see the SF bay! We went on the one hour sunset cruise on a beautiful November evening! We booked tickets about an hour before the boat left. We loved that there were multiple areas of the boat including the bow, stern, and upper deck to enjoy the views. There are a few bathrooms on board as well as a bar. They had someone sharing history of the area which was a bit hard to hear on the bow but if that was important for you to hear you could easily hear it below deck. We boarded right next to pier 39 and went under the golden gate and around Alcatraz. The views is the city and bridge are unbeatable. read more

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Had family come out to visit and what's better than a fun boat tour of the bay?! We decided to give Blue & Gold Fleet a shot. Out of some of the other tours offered this one was pretty affordable for a 1 hour float. There's tons of seating on the boat with amazing views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, the city, even saw some dolphins, and wind surfers doing some cool tricks! Once when the ride was over we couldn't believe it had already been an hour everyone enjoyed it so much! Highly recommend doing this fun boat tour with kids and family when in the area! read more

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First yelp post: Loved the Bay Cruise, easy to book, has beautiful views and a bar on board with beverages and snacks for kids and adults. My husband and I took our two sons who have never been on a boat before and they had a blast until one got sea sick! Fortunately their deckhand Quinn was there to help us through the whole ordeal and went above and beyond. I can tell he really care about the safety and wellbeing of each person riding and made our sons feel comfortable through the remainder of the cruise. We will definitely be back to bring more family on. Highly recommend going on the bay cruise if you are a first time boat rider and want a good history lesson of landmarks throughout the bay. read more

I love San Francisco. It's one of my favorite places to visit. The last time I was there with my sister and her family we took the Blue & Gold Fleet to cruise the San Francisco Bay. It's a sixty minute cruise that goes out from Pier 39 and cruises past Alcatraz and under the Golden Gate Bridge. There are tons of photo opportunities with great angles. You get up close to both the island and the bridge. You also get a great view of the city skyline and the historic waterfront as you make the return trip. The comfortable San Francisco Bay Cruise tour has both indoor and outdoor seating. They narrate as you cruise and describe the major landmarks as you sail by them. I love that it's a really good pace. You see a lot in the hour, but it's not a speed boat. Even my 1 year old nephew loved the boat. The narration gave a lot of interesting information that kept our attention. We even got to see the Pier 39 sea lions! I would definitely recommend bringing a jacket as it gets very breezy on the bay. read more

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Absolutely stunning. We went during Mother's Day weekend got tickets right away. I highly suggest that you get to see all the icons of San Francisco. We went under the Golden Gate Bridge passed by Alcatraz Island great for families. I highly suggest you sit on the top and to enjoy all the views that they have Also, when you can walk around the boat to see different views overall, the staff was amazing. Great job so knowledgeable. I suggest enjoy this amazing experience. read more

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Great trip around the bay! The boat is dated but has 3 levels, covered and full sun on the top. There were no good snacks, just junk food. The red wine was "Cupcake" and it was very rancid, like the bottle had been opened for a while. Do not recommend buying wine in this boat line. read more

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What an amazing, enjoyable cruise! Very organized, easy to purchase tickets online. Audio was clear and easy to hear, very interesting. Light load on the 4:15pm so lots of seating options! We did second deck outside! TAKE A JACKET OR COAT, it's chilly. I love San Fransisco, and it was a beautiful, sunny day with light winds!! Wonderful! read more

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The Blue and Gold Cruise was the second event of our trap and, I've never been of a Cruise before! I was so excited for this and was even more excited when I was looking at and boarding the ship! It was an insane experience! It was only an hour, but you go quite a ways! All the way to the Golden Gate Bridge and back! Even going past Alcatraz too! They even served drinks and snacks too and, for a "tourist shop" the prices were acceptable! For my first ever cruise, it was an amazing time! I highly recommend it to anyone! Such a great time! read more

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We rode this ferry to get to Sausalito. It wasn't a tour, although it sounds like they also do tours around Alcatraz and under the Golden Gate Bridge. We just wanted to cruise over the bay and my husband and friends thought it would be fun for our toddlers to ride the ferry. Blue & Gold was the first ferry we found that would get us over and back for nap time, so we based our decision on that. It was your standard looking commuter ferry. It wasn't over crowded and on both trips there was room on the upper deck. The views to Alcatraz were interesting, as I think that's the closest to it I've ever been in my 20+ years of visiting the Bay area. The trip is quick too! Maybe 25-30 minutes. The Ferry has a concessions bar, which we did not partake in, but it is nice to know you can purchase water or a snack if you really need it. read more

It was a good trip! We got the city pass, which makes the trip very worth it. Without that city test, you will spend a amount of money that you don't want. The trip itself was 90 minutes, which was just an extra five bucks for the additional trip around Alcatraz. I think it is good just to see Alcatraz from the outside and not actually go in. Great trip depending on the time of the year it is very windy on the water so where what you need and check the weather before hand. read more

Awesome bay cruise for the price. We got it as a part of the SF City Pass but it was only $20 or $25 to cruise the bay for 1 hour or 1.5 hours. What is not to like? It was organized, on time, not too long, not to short, goes under the Golden Gate Bridge, goes around Alcatraz, and has enough space to stand/sit and enjoy the ride. It wasn't too bumpy on that day and it was pretty peaceful. I don't think you will be disappointed if you decide to add this to your itinerary. Go do it! read more

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Extremely touristy cruise, but recommended for seeing SF from a different POV. We booked our tickets at the booth right beside Pier 39. They have daily schedules listed for their Bay Cruises. We originally booked the 1:30pm tour for a Saturday afternoon cruise but ended up rescheduling it for Sunday 11am due to scheduling conflicts. Staff were very easygoing about changing our reservation time. I noticed there are Groupon deals and it's part of the City Pass too but we just bought the tickets at face value. It amounted to be the same price as a single ticket, which is $30/person. Kids under 2 are free and well behaved pets are allowed on the cruise. They don't allow strollers on the upper decks, so be ready to leave it downstairs. We stood in line 15 minutes before departure. We were probably the 10th group in line. We got a few photos taken before cruising. It's $42 (tax included) for a couple of copies and digital versions too if you're interested in purchasing. Upon getting onto the boat, everyone is scrambling to get to the top deck so they can get the best view of the bay. Our group stayed on the middle deck to have some shade. The boat left dock at exactly 11am. We made our way towards the Golden Gate first. The speed was good. We had stunning views of the bay and the city. The boat takes a uturn right after it passes the bridge so you'd get different angles of the bridge. Then the boat heads back while slowly cruising by Alcatraz so you can also get a good view of it. The cruise back is bumpier towards the end. My party got a bit queasy and lightheaded while getting in line to leave the boat. Overall experience was good. It's not a fancy cruise, but it does the job. We would recommend it! read more

Blue & Gold Fleet - Golden Gate Bridge - Boat Charters Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Great bridge Bay cruise. It's an hour ride to see the Golden Gate Bridge and a ride around Alcatraz. The views are spectacular, especially if Carl the Fog isn't lingering around. It is VERY VERY VERY windy and chilly on the water, so hold on to your hats and bring a jacket if you're sitting outside or standing. Unfortunately you prob won't get great pics due to all the many ppl that are on the tour, but it was a nice way to enjoy the view and breeze after a long day of walking! I was just glad to be there and witness the amazing beauty of the bridge and the views of the SF skyline. The color of the bridge isn't evident until we were right up on it! read more

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Great way to get back to SF instead of riding the rental bikes back over the bridge from Sausolito. The price is right , the service ... questionable. Possibly just having a bad day, the gal ushering us in to line up the bikes took her job way too seriously. Quick to point out any rider not listening to her "firm instructions" on where to place the bike tire. Definitely needs a day off. read more

Very entertaining and courteous people. Highly recommended would do again. Loved the narration

Gray Lines partners with Blue and Gold Fleet. I believe I went on the 60 minutes and then the 90 minutes Alcatraz ride. The weather was amazing today. The Alcatraz ride was awesome. The view of the island was captivating and the weather at the end of April was spectacular. The view was spectacular! I was so happy and thrilled like I was on the Titanic. Out to sea with dad and mom. But the ghosts of the past linger on. Life is so unbelievable. The 90 minute Alcatraz ride is spectacular. Gray Lines partnered the voucher. Good times. For tourists and travelers. read more

They completely oversell tickets and pack people onto the boats like sardines. Had the toughest time even finding a good spot to take pictures from without a dozen strangers in my photos. read more

We came here because of the City Pass. If you buy the City Pass, you don't get to swap this for another attraction. It did seem like a fun idea at first but I didn't like how long the tour was. There also wasn't a tour guide and it was all pre-recorded narration. They also pack the boat with a lot of people which can make it hard to find an ideal spot to settle in. I think if they had more time slots, it wouldn't be as packed. I like that they take you really close to the Golden Gate Bridge and around Alcatraz but the trip was very long. I wanted it to end sooner. I'm sure other people might enjoy this, but it just wasn't my cup of tea. They also make you take pictures while you're in line to try to sell you a souvenir photo. read more

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The people in charge of the line were unclear and giving different instructions. One person saying to go all the way to the back because you are cutting while the other is telling us to go to the back if we want a picture (while though there was not even time for it) and telling us to wait at the front but the other guys still telling us to go to all the way to the back lol, then the camera people telling us there is only 5 mins to get on implying like why are we going to the back of the line lol. read more

This is a great way to see the Golden Gate Bridge and learn some SF history. After living in the city for a few months I figured it was long overdue for me to get my tourist on, so I bought a CityPass to force me to explore more of the sites. A CityPass (at least at the time of writing this) includes a Blue & Gold Fleet San Francisco Bay Cruise, and for an extra $5 I upgraded from the standard 60 minute cruise to the 90 minute "Escape from the Rock" experience. Blue & Gold also has a sunset cruise option. Weather is a big factor in the overall experience, but I lucked out with a beautiful day. The cruise takes you underneath the Golden Gate Bridge and around Alcatraz, which allows for some great views and photo opportunities. The trip has a pre-recorded narration to give you some info and history along the way. And there is also a full service bar with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks as well as snacks for purchase, otherwise you can bring your own food from any of the great spots nearby. I definitely recommend Blue & Gold for a fun and easy SF adventure. read more

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My son and I took our first ride on the rocket boat today. It was one of the most amazing experiences! The captain took us through figure 8s and donuts, and we flew through the waves and wakes of the Pacific Ocean! We can't wait to go again!!!!! I cannot recommend a ride on the rocket boat enough. read more

So confusing where to line up. There were people lined up at a gate with no boat, the workers seemed like they hated their jobs - we went to the gate where the boat was actually docked and 10 min after we were supposed to board the guy at the date said "the line is over there." Seems like there should be signs as to where you should line up. read more

I thought this was a great boat ride! They have different rides and we opted for the San Francisco bay one, which goes around alcatraz and under the golden gate bridge. The line to board the ship is fast and efficient, just make sure you're on the right line since they have other boats that go to different places. They have an audio tour that goes with it but it was hard to hear on the boat with the wind and with us being outside, so you're supposed to download the audio tour on your phone and listen to it. Except I read the "about" section of my ticket last minute when I was already there, so I didn't bring headphones. So don't do like I did! They help take photos before you board the ship, and then put different backgrounds on them for you. They sell these photos after you get off the ship, but if you keep the QR code paper they give you of your photo, you can DL it for free after. The whole boat ride took an hour. Make sure you bring jackets cuz it's cold and windy, as SF usually is. They were also very nice, if you are late and miss your boat, they just put you on the next one. read more

This isn't a luxury cruise, but it is the perfect touristy thing to do whether you want to kill 60-90 minutes or are a true connoisseur of some San Francisco history. The City Pass is the best way to go about planning your trip. The 90-minute cruise with the additional Alcatraz coverage is well worth it. There is also an evening sunset cruise at an additional cost and it is incredible if the weather is good. The fog rolling in with not too much overcast really makes a great sunset view. Depending on the season, you may need to buy advanced tickets. Otherwise, the capacity of the ships can accommodate most walk-up ticket purchasing. Bring some layers to dress warm as it will get cold even with ambient daytime temperatures at 80 degrees. A hat is also advisable when the sun is shining above. read more

1) Get there early, yes early early because it gets full quick, the only rear facing seats are on the second deck at the back of the boat, I think those are the best, it's only one bench but great place to take photos, near staircase, restroom and snack bar 2) Buying in advanced means paying full price, if you have a large party buy online using the 15+ party discount, under 15 you can buy the day of using a family pack discount, for 11 of us it saved $100 total 3) Dress to impress but layered and comfortable, they take a boarding photo that you can buy and it's well worth the memory 4) Yeah the boat looks old but the service makes up for it 5) Great views, best tour ever read more

Sunset cruise was great! Full service bar, bathroomn, three decks and a great way to see Angel Island and Alcatraz. Staff was great foo read more

Part of Alcatraz Tour that I had reserved included an hour bay cruise. The company highly recommended the 11am cruise. When I arrived at Pier 39, the ticket booth attendant, who was very friendly, assisted me checking in. Then she instructed me where to check in for the tour. Please note, I took this tour on January 6th at 10am... There were only three (3) of us on this tour. It pays to visit cities during their off season. Plenty of space... I stayed on the 2nd floor, where I had access to the front to the back of the boat. The staff were very friendly. The tour guide spoke over the loudspeaker. Since there were so few of us, I could hear everything very clearly. The guide spoke about the city of San Francisco, the bay, the Golden State Bridge, Alcatraz Prison to name a few. The tour lasted an hour or so. I could not nothing negative about this tour and would highly recommend this tour. Enjoy! read more

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Fun quick cruise. Used a Groupon which saved a bit. Recording seemed slightly off time wise but we made it work.

Yesterday on Sunday thirty one of us in our bike group took the ferry from Pier 41 over to Angel Island on the 10:15am ferry. Most of us had ebikes. It was a non issue. Ebikes are allowed. Bikers board first and are last to get off. Some of us researched the logistics prior to Sunday. We were advised to purchase tickets in advance. Then on the day of the trip to queue up at 9:30am at Gate 2 at Pier 41. Separate line for bikers. It was about a 20 minute ride over to Angel island. As we disembarked the crew advised us to be back at the dock at 2:00pm for the 2:15pm departure. It wasn't a straight shot back to Pier 41. The ferry picks up more passengers in Sausalito before returning to Pier 41. More bicycles were loaded onto the ferry. Mostly rental bikes. The return trip to Pier 41 was longer as a result. Some of us were tempted to get off in Sausalito with our bikes and ride back to San Francisco. But the idea fizzled as our bikes were sandwiched in. There's a bar on the ferry. Some of us had libations on the way to Angel Island and on the return trip. Our day trip was like a 2 in 1. A cruise on the bay with a bike ride on Angel Island. The Blue and Gold boat crew were very professional and efficient. Too bad they're thinking of eliminating the service to Angel Island from Pier 41. If approved you'll need to take the Angel Island ferry from Tiburon. read more

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No longer taking Clipper card, so tickets are twice the cost they used to be with Clipper. Walk or take the F a little further down the Embarcadero to pick up the Golden Gate Ferry instead for a much nicer boat for half the cost! read more

We bought our tickets in advance at the yellow booth and cued up at 7 o'clock for our 730 sunset cruise. The boat filled up quickly. There was a full bar, indoor seating & we went up to the top back with in obstructed views. Music played & got us in a party mood. Everyone was very friendly, we took photographs for each other. We went along the coast under the bay bridge, hugging treasure island, around Alcatraz & under the Golden Gate Bridge. I was bundled up with long sleeves gloves and a leather coat, it was chilly especially when the sun went down. Headed inside but I missed the spectacular views. Unfortunately we miss going onto the Golden Gate bridge, disappointing! read more

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A fun way to see San Francisco from a different view. We didn't need to buy tickets online or even in advance. We walked by the booth located right by Pier 39 and got tickets for four of us for about $150. The tour started in about 30 min , just enough for a quick little run through Pier 39 shops. I do recommend arriving in line a little early. We came back about 25 min later and the line was pretty long. We were at the end of the line, but it moved pretty quickly. The top seating was filled, but if you don't mind standing, the middle actually has the best view , right at the front of the boat. There is seating inside as well as a little bar. I saw coffee, beer , wine, soda and chips. There are three bathrooms on the boat. The tour is 90 min and goes under the Golden Gate bridge , around Alcatraz and back. The way to the bridge was super windy and foggy . My hair got wet from the mist. The way back was much less windy and had great views of the city. There was an informational audio playing with history tidbits. Fun ride! read more

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