Cruises, Sailing & Water Tours in San Francisco

Explore one of California's most iconic settings from the beauty of San Francisco Bay. This hour-long, narrated Golden Gate Bay cruise journeys alongside Alcatraz and Angel Island State Park, past the shores of Sausalito and beneath the Golden Gate Bridge. You can choose to view the sights from inside your boat or out on deck.

Learn stories behind the SF Bay Area's most notorious former federal penitentiary on a fascinating Escape from the Rock cruise. Board a boat for 90-minute journey through the bay while listening to audio recordings (available in several languages) from ex-prisoners and guards about daily life on 'The Rock.' Learn about the Birdman of Alcatraz and the infamous 1962 'Alcatraz Escape,' and come to know why Alcatraz instilled fear into the hearts of even the worst-of-the-worst criminals. Tours are accessible on any of your own wifi-enabled iPads, smartphones or other devices. This ticket allows you to skip the box office line and go straight to the gate.

What better way to end a day in San Francisco than a sunset catamaran cruise? Sail across San Francisco Bay at twilight to admire the city skyline as it begins to light up for the night. With an experienced captain at the helm, you'll glide past Alcatraz Island and cruise underneath the Golden Gate Bridge. Light hors d'oeuvres and two drinks are included.

Cruise the bay and find yourself beneath the Golden Gate Bridge on a 2.5-hour Sunday morning eco sailing tour from Sausalito. Take in fantastic views of San Francisco and Alcatraz while gliding through the bay, and look for native marine life like porpoises and seals with the help of an onboard naturalist.

See San Francisco's top attractions from the water on this 1.5-hour tour by rigid inflatable boat. Your guide will provide gear to keep you dry and warm as you take off from Pier 39. Pass the infamous prison of Alcatraz, Coit Tower, the Presidio and glide under the Golden Gate Bridge while your captain provides insightful narration. Numbers are limited to 12 people to keep this small-group tour as intimate as possible.

Sure. You can hop on the standard ferry to Alcatraz and explore the prison with the rest of the tourists. Or you can catch a ferry over to Sausalito and see a few parts of the Bay. But this combo-tour tour combines best of both worlds. The 'Bay Voyager' is a ship that takes you closer to the sights than any other ship. Make use of complimentary wet-weather gear in case you get a little too close to Mother Nature. After your RIB Boat experience, head  over to Pier 33 to join the famous Alcatraz Prison tour and see the grounds and the notorious solitary confinement wing.*You must submit all passenger names on checkout to redeem your Alcatraz Cruise tickets

Tread in the footsteps of world-champion sailors on this 2.5-hour America's Cup Day Sail on San Francisco Bay. You'll board a high-speed International America's Cup class yacht and take a turn on the official race course from the 2013 competition. With a skilled sailor in charge, you'll take your turn as crew working the sail trim controls and even have a chance to skipper the boat. After departing from San Francisco's famous Pier 39 you'll take to the Bay and cruise beneath the magnificent Golden Gay Bridge. There's no better way to see the Bay than this sailing trip with USA 76.

Cruise across San Francisco Bay twice in one day on this combo tour that includes entrance to the former island prison of Alcatraz, one of those most popular - and often sold-out - attractions in the city. Start with the ferry ride to San Francisco's famous jail, which you'll explore with a self-guided audio tour. After returning from Alcatraz, take a sunset or twilight cruise (depending on time of year) on the bay with an onboard buffet of hors d'oeuvres and a glass of wine or beer.

On this San Francisco bridge cruise, get an up-close look at the city's two engineering marvels "” the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge "” as you travel across San Francisco Bay. You'll see major city sights like AT&T Park, Alcatraz, Coit Tower, and the Ferry Building, and listen to recorded commentary about the city's legendary architecture while you glide under both bridges. Snacks and drinks are available for purchase.

This 2-hour sunset cruise takes you across San Francisco Bay with outstanding views of the city skyline, Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island and Sausalito. Enjoy a light appetizer buffet while you sip a complimentary glass of wine, beer or soda from the full bar. Relax as you listen to the captain's live commentary while background music sets the tone. Watch the sunset or select a twilight cruise during winter months.

Go whale watching in San Francisco on this 2.5-hour cruise that departs from Pier 39. On an eco-friendly catamaran, glide through San Francisco Bay and under the Golden Gate Bridge to reach the open Pacific, where you'll keep your eyes peeled for humpback and gray whales, as well as marine life like dolphins and seals. Learn about the history and geology of the area from an onboard naturalist, and admire the rugged California coast.

Sail around the San Francisco Bay and view the city's iconic sights while enjoying a buffet lunch on this 2-hour yacht cruise from downtown. Only from the water can you see the city's skyline and pass right under the Golden Gate Bridge.

Watch the evening lights come on around the San Francisco Bay on Sundays during a 2-hour sunset sail from downtown Sausalito. Cruise aboard a handsome schooner that passes landmarks such as the Alcatraz Island, Crissy Field, Fort Mason, Fisherman's Wharf, Coit Tower, Angel Island, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Bay Bridge.

Travel in ultimate style from downtown Napa to San Francisco with a private, one-way river yacht charter about the Kiwi Cat, a luxurious catamaran custom built by ESPN for the America's Cup. Enjoy many deluxe amenities aboard the spacious vessel that can accommodate up to 12 as you travel downriver through scenic Napa Valley into San Francisco Bay on a 4-hour journey.

Take the helm of an International America's Cup Class yacht on a 2.5-hour sail that traces the official course of San Francisco's 2013 America's Cup race. Cast off from the city's bustling waterfront, and work alongside the crew to trim sails and operate the hoist while you head towards the Golden Gate Bridge. Enjoy fresh Pacific breezes as you get underway, and capture unforgettable images of Alcatraz, the San Francisco skyline, the bridge and the soaring Marin Headlands from the deck of the USA 76.

Glide across San Francisco Bay with unlimited mimosas and sparkling wine on this 2-hour, weekend brunch cruise. Sail under the Golden Gate Bridge, pass Alcatraz, and see the city skyline from the deck. A hearty buffet and onboard music keep the mood festive while you enjoy brunch and sightsee.

Admire San Francisco and its surrounding sights from the water on a San Francisco Bay sailing cruise. On board a catamaran, you'll sail past the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, legendary Alcatraz Island and the hamlet of Sausalito. Take advantage of great photo ops while you soak up the sea breeze during this 90-minute tour.

Alcatraz admission tickets often sell out, which can make it hard to explore the prison at the time you'd like to go. Book this Alcatraz and San Francisco Bay sailing package to secure your visit to Alcatraz, and take a leisurely sail across the bay, too. You'll also get access to the prison's award-winning audio tour that's available in eight languages.

Take a relaxing 1.5-hour afternoon sailing cruise aboard a traditional sailboat on the San Francisco Bay. Cruise past landmarks such as Alcatraz Island, Angel Island, the Sausalito waterfront, and Golden Gate Bridge, and see the San Francisco skyline on your way back to Pier 39. Includes two drinks, and personalized attention from the crew and captain.

Look for whales during a 3-hour boat tour from Monterey, the premier destination in northern California for winter whale watching. Learn about the majestic animals from a marine biologist or naturalist guide who shares detailed commentary about the whales, dolphins, sea lions, sea birds, and natural history of the region.