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San Francisco Sailing trips & boat tours

Our most recommended San Francisco Sailing trips & boat tours

San Francisco: Golden Gate Bridge Cruise and Alcatraz Tour

1. San Francisco: Golden Gate Bridge Cruise and Alcatraz Tour

Discover the beauty of San Francisco Bay on a catamaran cruise. Take in the views of the city’s skyline as you sail by Alcatraz Island and under the Golden Gate Bridge. Feel the sea breeze in your hair, and keep a look out for sea lions. Admire your surroundings from a protected viewing area, or live on the edge and stand on the canvas trampoline nets with the waves beneath your feet. Pick up a helpful navigation guide providing information about San Francisco's landmarks that you sail past. Complete the trip by taking the helm from the captain for a chance to steer the boat yourself. The captain and crew are always there, happy to snap a photo or answer your questions about the sights of San Francisco. If all this excitement makes you hungry or thirsty, there are snacks, soda, beer, and wine available at the snack bar. See San Francisco's skyline like never before on this incredible sailing adventure. The First part of your half-day combination package is a ferry ride and a stop to visit the notorious Alcatraz Prison, which served as a federal penitentiary from 1934 to 1963, housing criminals such as Al Capone and Robert Stroud, the Birdman. Take the award-winning 45-minute cell-house audio tour, and hear the tales of those who lived there. This tour brings history to life through the recounting of stories from correctional officers and prisoners. ***Please note that the catamaran cruise does not stop at Alcatraz Island. You will receive a separate ticket for the ferry from San Francisco's Pier 33 to Alcatraz Island. You will receive a final confirmation with the exact time of your departure for Alcatraz 4 days prior to your trip by e-mail.

San Francisco: Golden Gate Bridge Catamaran Cruise

2. San Francisco: Golden Gate Bridge Catamaran Cruise

Experience the beauty of San Francisco Bay on a round-trip catamaran cruise. Take in San Francisco's breathtaking skyline as you sail by Alcatraz Island and under the Golden Gate Bridge. Feel the breeze and keep a look out for sea lions. Admire your surroundings from a protected viewing area, or live on the edge and stand on the canvas trampoline nets with the waves beneath your feet. Pick up a helpful navigation guide providing information about San Francisco's landmarks as you sail past many of them. Make this experience complete by taking the helm from the captain and steering the catamaran yourself. This sail is the perfect activity for kids as well as kids at heart. The captain and crew are always there, happy to snap a photo or answer your questions about the sights of San Francisco. If all this excitement makes you hungry or thirsty, you’ll find snacks, soda, beer, and wine available at the cabin's snack bar.

San Francisco Bay Sunset Cruise by Luxury Catamaran

3. San Francisco Bay Sunset Cruise by Luxury Catamaran

Take a relaxing 90-minute round trip sail onboard a luxury catamaran. See sea lions, famous sights, and sunset views of San Francisco as the sun dips below the Bay. Sail by Alcatraz Island, under the Golden Gate Bridge, and past Sausalito. Search for the famous Pier 39 sea lions and other kinds of sea life playing in the ocean. Cruise along the shore, gazing on the city skyline as you watch the magnificent sunset. Relax with a complimentary drink on board either a 55- or 65-foot catamaran. Both come complete with a protected viewing area, providing panoramic 360-degree viewing, in addition to canvas trampoline nets for the more adventurous who want to experience the sights in the bracing open air.

San Francisco: Empress Yacht July 4th Fireworks Party Cruise

4. San Francisco: Empress Yacht July 4th Fireworks Party Cruise

Celebrate July 4th on a wild party cruise in the Golden City aboard the Empress Yacht! We’re setting off the summer with a bang; cruising on The Bay, dancing, drinking, and getting the absolute best views of the annual fireworks show. Sounds like fun, doesn’t it? Order your tickets to this superb July 4th San Francisco yacht party now, before it’s too late. Party on the double-decker beauty known as the Empress Yacht. A truly stylish vessel, this yacht sports hardwood finishings throughout its climate-controlled interior, and panoramic window displays on each deck. Take in the truly astonishing views of The Bay, and enjoy a sweet vantage point for the yearly fireworks show. We’re not done yet, there’s a whole lot more to this epic 4th of July party than just sights. From the moment you step aboard, you’ll hear the sounds of our live DJ cutting it up with a mix of the latest and greatest hits, anthems, and bangers. Grab a tasty app from the tray-passed hors d’oeuvres, then become acquainted with the bartender as you take advantage of the 3-hour open bar. Don’t be shy, get social with us!! We know how much you just love capturing memories on that phone of yours. Why not share those memories with the rest of us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook? We wanna see all those awesome pics and vids too! So you better not forget to tag us. While you’re at it, use hashtag #July4thEvents so everyone knows where the real party’s at.

San Francisco: Bay Sailing Tour with Drinks

5. San Francisco: Bay Sailing Tour with Drinks

Embark on a relaxing cruise along the San Francisco Bay and enhance your sightseeing experience with two complimentary drinks. Take in views of the San Francisco skyline and important landmarks, including the Golden Gate bridge. Be welcomed by your captain and first mate and make yourself comfortable on the Privateer, a double-masted sailboat. Motor out of the dock towards the bay and watch the sails rise above you. Be served two complimentary drinks of your choice from a selection of beer, wine, soft drinks, or water. Pass Alcatraz and Angel Island and see the Bay Bridge. Glide past the city of Sausalito before cruising parallel to the the Golden Gate Bridge for some great photo opportunities. Feel free to ask the crew any questions about the landmarks. Finally, be returned to the departure point.

San Francisco Bay: America's Cup Sailing Adventure

6. San Francisco Bay: America's Cup Sailing Adventure

Begin the trip by checking in at Gate B, Pier 39 15 minutes prior to departure (Gate B is located behind the Aquarium of the Bay on the east side of Pier 39 close to The Embarcadero). Upon departure, meet the crew and listen to a safety brief and description of the course. The team will also share some history of the yacht. Then it is time hoist the sails and go.   During the trip, participation is encouraged. With a mast that reaches 11 stories high, everything is big and powerful. You get to fill active crew roles and will have the opportunity to spin the sail trim controls known as “coffee grinders,” take your turn at the helm, or simply sit back and enjoy the ride on this high-performance America’s Cup racing yacht.    While you are enjoying your day sailing, marvel at the spectacular views of San Francisco and the surrounding communities. Enjoy close up views of Golden Gate Bridge and the world-famous Alcatraz as you munch on complimentary energy bars and water. If weather and time permits, enjoy the sea views of beautiful Sausalito. Learn from an expert crew as they teach you about the America’s Cup and sailing on San Francisco Bay. If you enjoy your experience, gratuities for the crew are greatly appreciated. Both your Captain and the yacht are licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard for passenger service. USA 76 is a very stable yacht and seasickness is never a problem for our guests. USA 76 can accommodate up to 20 guests at a time.

Premium Excess 11 Catamaran Untethered

7. Premium Excess 11 Catamaran Untethered

Embark on a journey of a lifetime aboard 'Untethered,' our exquisite Excess 11 catamaran, and let your maritime aspirations become reality! Undoubtedly, we are the most luxurious and modern vessel in the San Francisco Bay. You can book our services for a minimum of three hours. We offer a variety of routes to choose from. Any duration of charter can be combined with anchoring, for example in Ayala Cove, McCovey Cove, Sausalito or SF Maritime National Park. Our rates start now from $250/hr - send us an inquiry to plan your trip. Captain Services: If you're not qualified to operate the yacht on your own, no worries! We have a list of experienced captains who can help arrange a romantic sail or a fun-filled adventure on San Francisco Bay. The cost of the captain is in addition to the cost of the charter and is payable directly to the captain, as required by law. Prices: Number of Passengers: 1-2 - Weekday Hourly Rate (Mon-Thur): $250/hr - Weekend Hourly Rate (Fri, Sat, Sun): $350/hr - Anchor Rate (can be combined with sailing): $100 Number of Passengers: 2-6 - Weekday Hourly Rate (Mon-Thur): $300/hr - Weekend Hourly Rate (Fri, Sat, Sun): $400/hr - Anchor Rate (can be combined with sailing): $150 Number of Passengers: 6-10 - Weekday Hourly Rate (Mon-Thur): $350/hr - Weekend Hourly Rate (Fri, Sat, Sun): $450/hr - Anchor Rate (can be combined with sailing): $200 Number of Passengers: 10-12 - Weekday Hourly Rate (Mon-Thur): $400/hr - Weekend Hourly Rate (Fri, Sat, Sun): $500/hr - Anchor Rate (can be combined with sailing): $250

Frequently asked questions about San Francisco Sailing trips & boat tours

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Other Sightseeing Options in San Francisco

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What people are saying about San Francisco

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 1,388 reviews

Took the whole family(wife and twin 4 year olds) out for a cruise and it was awesome! The captain let the kids take pictures at the steering wheel and the ship had extra jackets if people got cold.

This was by far the highlight of our trip! The staff on the boat was so kind and fun, always making sure to ask us what we needed. This is a must do excision!

Very comfortable boat ride. The crew has extra jackets in case we weren't prepared for the weather. All the crew was friendly and accommodating.

Dress warm and give yourself time for parking and then that’s a awesome cruise

Great views. Free to roam around. So fun and so many photo ops!