Alcatraz City Sail

• What should I bring?
• How long is the tour?
• What should I wear?
• Do you provide meals? If not, can we buy food on the tour or take our own?
• What languages are available for this tour?
• What type of vehicle do you use?
• Will I be in the same vehicle for both portions of the tour? Will I have the same guide?
• Is this tour suitable for children?
• How much time will we have on Alcatraz?
• Is the Alcatraz portion of the tour guided?
• Is Alcatraz accessible for those with disabilities?
• Will I have time to see the Golden Gate Bridge?
• What will we see during the city tour?
• What is the advantage of this combination tour compared to the tours separately?
• Does this tour run every day?
• Do I have to call to reconfirm my tour?

• What should I bring?

  • Valid photo ID for each adult going to Alcatraz
  • Comfortable shoes for walking
  • Extra spending money for lunch, snacks, souvenirs, etc.
  • A light jacket (easily removable) in case of wind
  • Camera (optional)
  • Water bottle (optional)
  • Warm clothes and a waterproof jacket (during the winter months)
  • Hat and sunscreen (during the summer months)

• How long is the tour?

  This tour takes about 8-9 hours.

• What should I wear?

  Temperatures vary depending on the season and time of day in the Bay Area, so we recommend that you wear layered clothing in case of unexpectedly climbing or falling temperatures. We do not recommend wearing shorts or sleeveless shirts in the winter. However, we realize that everyone is acclimated to different weather and thus trust you to make your own judgement. For footwear, we recommend comfortable walking shoes, such as regular tennis shoes, sneakers, or boots with rubber soles and treads. In the summer months, hiking sandals can be worn on the tour, but high heels, beach flip-flops, and other open-toed shoes are not recommended.

• Do you provide meals? If not, can we buy food on the tour or take our own?

  Meals are not included on this tour. There are multiple food options available in the Ferry building and in Fisherman’s Wharf where you are able to purchase breakfast, brunch, and or snacks. You also have the option to have a sit down meal at a casual eatery in the area. Eating and drinking are allowed on our vehicles, and you can also bring your own food if you do not feel comfortable purchasing it on the trip.

• What languages are available for this tour?

  This tour is narrated in English only at this time. If you would like a Bay in a Day with Alcatraz tour that is not in English, please contact our Private Tours department.

• What type of vehicle do you use?

  We have a variety of vehicles available for this tour, ranging from an 8-passenger van to a 37-passenger Minibus for the morning portion, and up to a 41-passenger Minibus for the City Insider’s portion of the tour. As we have several different vehicles, feel free to call on the morning of your tour to determine which vehicle will be hosting your tour as well as the name of your Expedition Leader.

• Will I be in the same vehicle for both portions of the tour? Will I have the same guide?

  The vehicle and Expedition Leader for each tour changes daily. It is possible that you will be in the same vehicle (with either the same Expedition Leader or a different one). There will be a short rest break between the morning portion and the City Insider’s portion of the tour.

• Is this tour suitable for children?

  Children of all ages are welcome on the tour! Please keep in mind all children 7 years and younger will need a booster or child seat in order to comply with California state regulations when riding in any vehicle. There are many agencies in the area that can provide a booster or child seat if you do not have one when traveling. Many of them also provide rentals and hotel delivery.

• How much time will we have on Alcatraz?

  You will have as much or as little time as you want on your own on Alcatraz, but make sure you’re back at Hotel Zephyr (250 Beach St) in time for the city portion of your tour that afternoon at 1:40pm! No refunds will be given if you miss this portion of your tour. Boats from Alcatraz leave approximately every 20-30 minutes. You can find all return times from the island here.

• Is the Alcatraz portion of the tour guided?

  This portion of the tour is run by Alcatraz Cruises - All Alcatraz Island tour tickets include round-trip transportation between Pier 33 and Alcatraz Island, as well as the award-winning Cellhouse audio tour.

• Is Alcatraz accessible for those with disabilities?

  Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing is fully accessible.  Many areas on Alcatraz Island are also accessible with the use of the S.E.A.T. (Sustainable Easy Access Transport) Tram. The S.E.A.T. Tram is an Accessible shuttle that runs about twice an hour in each direction.

  Further information regarding accessibility on Alcatraz Island, including tour information in American Sign Language, and use of Assisted Listening Devices can be found here.

• Will I have time to see the Golden Gate Bridge?

  You will have a chance to see the bridge that afternoon during the City Insider’s portion of your tour!

• What will we see during the city tour?

  The City Insider’s portion of the tour will cover as much of San Francisco as we can in 4-5 hours. We will delve into the facts and history of the Haight-Ashbury, Fisherman’s Wharf, Castro, Chinatown, Financial District - and even more. You will also have the chance to see the city’s majestic parks, rugged coastline, and the not-to-be-missed Golden Gate Bridge. In short, you’ll get to see most of the things that make San Francisco the city it is today!

• What is the advantage of this combination tour compared to the tours separately?

  The Bay in a Day tour combines a major amount of San Francisco's top attractions. You get the chance to see the world-famous Alcatraz Island and you will get the complete insider’s guide to San Francisco neighborhoods and attractions - all in just one day. You also make some pretty nice savings by booking this combination tour rather than booking both trips separately.

• Does this tour run every day?

  Like all our group tours, a minimum number of participants are required before the tour can be confirmed. At this time, our online reservation system does not reflect current availability. If you would like to know if your desired tour has seats available, please call our office at 1-866-231-3752 (toll free from the USA) or +1-415-357-0700 (internationally) during office hours.

• Do I have to call to reconfirm my tour?

  Yes, we request that you reach out to us at least a day in advance to confirm your tour and pick up details. You can contact us via our live chat function or by calling our office at 1-866-231-3752 (toll free from the USA) or +1-415-357-0700 (internationally) during office hours. You can also call us from your hotel’s phone if you do not have a working mobile phone while you are in the area.

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Alcatraz City Sail

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