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The Dinner Dance Cruise is the first on my list from Hornblower. This company features San Francisco boat tours that I would consider are more for special occasions. This floating wine bar is a blast and allows you to sip on your local wine as you soak in the views from around the SF Bay.
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My final entry for my list of the best San Francisco bay tours is all of the special event cruises. There are several throughout the year for holidays, but three dates offer an extra special experience. Even though there are fewer people around at this time, I find this one of my favorite times to head out whale watching.
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Discover the most iconic sights of San Francisco on a hop-on, hop-off tour. Sit back and relax in the comfort of one of our open-top buses, as an entertaining audio guide tells you about the city’s unique history. South of Pier 39 is the Westfield Mall on Market Street which houses over 170 shops, restaurants, and major department stores for you to find whatever you might need. Head north to explore Chinatown before making your way back to the cruise port. Cruises to San Francisco have the unique benefit of a well-kept cruise port. You can reach the James R. Herman cruise terminal via public transportation or simply walking from Pier 27.
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If the timing of this cruise works for you, I would select this one over the standard 60-minute bay cruise as it gives you some great insight into Alcatraz. This one is very popular, but it only runs a couple of times a day. The Twilight or Sunset Cruise is offered by the Red and White Fleet. 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.
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The waters right outside the bay are very active all year long with migrating whales, dolphins, dozens of birds and other sea animals. However, you will cruise through the bay to get to and from the ocean. One of the things to keep in mind with the Hornblower cruises is that they pick up at Pier 3, which is closer to the Ferry Building and NOT near Fisherman's Wharf.
A trip to San Francisco wouldn’t be complete without an afternoon in Chinatown, a 24-block stretch of shops, restaurants, markets, and historic sites. Take a walking tour or strike out on your own to sip traditional Chinese tea or order dim sum as you explore the oldest Chinatown in the United States. It only runs once a night and the time changes by season to give you the best chance to catch the sunset. The great thing is all of the boat companies work together (you will hear them on the radio) to ensure passengers on all of the boats get the chance to see whales during the cruise. I also wanted to add this one because these are some of my favorite San Francisco boat tours.
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Today, the district is one of San Francisco’s best known, its Victorian-style architecture a stark contrast with the foggy city’s looming skyline. They offer cruises usually on Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the shows and some also offer cruises during the Blue Angels practice runs. This is the second sunset boat cruise on my list of the 10 best San Francisco Bay Tours. There usually aren't discounts for these San Francisco bay tours, but I do highly recommend booking your tickets early.
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In the summer, each company offers about a dozen boat cruises. These San Francisco boat cruises leave from Fisherman's Wharf several times a day. Crime podcast lovers and history buffs can’t miss a tour of Alcatraz, the infamous federal prison where high-profile criminals like Al Capone served their time. Originally, Alcatraz was the first lighthouse and fort built by the United States on the West Coast. Now, it’s a National Park where all can take in its history and rich views of the Bay Area from its lookout points. Patient bird-watchers will find colonies of gulls, egrets, and other species living on the island, too.
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If you want a full write up of what to expect on this tour, you can also visit this page. 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. Not to mention the most famous bridge in the world, and an equally infamous island prison. If you’re a traveler from overseas, note that you’ll need to leave a tip (typically 15-20%) at restaurants and bars.
The next on my list of the 10 top San Francisco bay tours is our fun whale watching tours. 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. 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.
In the winter months, gray whales are migrating through this area and there is a special Gray Whale Sightseeing Cruise. It's the perfect pick for a romantic date night or upscale dinner. The wine is by the glass and is not included in the price of the cruise. You'll then head toward the Golden Gate Bridge, circle close to Alcatraz, enjoy the downtown San Francisco skyline, and then head back to where it all began.
Mitchell’s has been making and serving their homemade ice cream daily for over 65 years. Muir Woods is a can’t-miss experience while you’re in California. Stand humbled among the tallest forest of redwood trees in the world, a quiet refuge from the bustle of the city. Muir Woods have been protected since 1908, when the area was declared a national monument. Rent a car for a quick 40 minute drive from the city, or you can take a shuttle bus to get there. Some of them offer dinner and dancing, while others head out just for the show.
You can also enjoy a drink or two on board (available for purchase at the bar). There is also a musician on board playing some light music in the background. 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.
The lure of California continues to persist centuries after settlers ventured “out West” to widen America’s boundaries. No place better manifests the promise of California than San Francisco. San Francisco cruises offer travelers on a Pacific Coast cruise a chance to experience the Bay Area for themselves.
San Francisco cruises are incredibly popular, with over 300,000 passengers passing through this port of call every year. You can find luggage storage at Pier 39 within the California Welcome Center, just 0.4 miles away from Cruise Pier 27. Bigger than New York’s Central Park, Golden Gate Park is over 1,000 acres of natural beauty enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. On your excursion to Golden Gate Park, visit the Japanese Tea Garden or the San Francisco Botanical Garden. Check out the de Young Museum for an afternoon of fine arts.
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