Bypass the line and head directly to the gate with your prebooked tickets. This sunset cruise takes you across San Francisco Bay with outstanding views of the city skyline, Golden Gate Bridge, the San Francisco Bay Bridge, and Alcatraz Island. Relax while background music sets the tone. Watch the sunset or select a twilight cruise during winter months.

Views of the city skyline, Alcatraz, and the Golden Gate Bridge
Sail under the Golden Gate Bridge and Bay Bridge

Why Travelers Choose This Tour

Cruise the bay when the sun sets and views light up.

What's Included

1.5 hour sunset cruise (summer months) or twilight cruise (winter months) of San Francisco Bay
"Straight to the gate" access

Gratuities
Full bar is available onboard to purchase drinks and snacks.

Departure & Return

Departure Point

Red and White Fleet
Pier 43, 5, San Francisco, CA 94133, USA
Please enter in Google Maps: "Red and White Fleet" or "Pier 43 1/2, San Francisco" for exact location and directions. Pier 43 ½ ticket booth (corner of Taylor Street and the Embarcadero)

Return Details

This activity will end right where it started.

What To Expect

Make your way to the pier at Fisherman's Wharf in time for your chosen departure time (depending on the season). Listen to relaxing background music and watch the sights pass by on San Francisco Bay.

All cruise vessels operate on bio-diesel — a renewable energy source — and offer heated indoor spaces or outdoor viewing decks. There is no assigned seating or formal dress required during this casual, relaxing evening cruise.

Sunset Bay Cruise: If you embark during late March through early November, you’ll watch the sun setting over the the Pacific Ocean as you cruise toward the Marin Headlands and past the Golden Gate Bridge. Glide past Alcatraz, Angel Island and the San Francisco Bay Bridge.. On your return to Fisherman's Wharf you'll see many more notable sights, including the Presidio, the Marina District and Fort Mason.

Twilight Cruise: In the winter, the cruise makes the most of San Francisco’s spectacular city lights on a twilight tour. After the sun sets over the horizon, you'll glide past San Francisco's modern skyscrapers, historic landmarks, the infamous Alcatraz Island and both the Bay Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge. Enjoy the illuminated skyline — an unmissable San Francisco view.

Red and White Fleet

Begin and end your journey at Pier 43 1/2.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Golden Gate Bridge (Pass By)

Sail under the Golden Gate Bridge as the sun sets.

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Please note: In November, December, January and February, tour departs at 5:30pm for the Twilight Cruise and will not see the sunset
Wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed

Near public transportation
Transportation is wheelchair accessible
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 150 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

about cancellations.

Frequently Asked Questions

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.

Q:What is the policy on sanitization during Straight to the Gate Access: San Francisco Bay Twilight or Sunset Cruise?

A:The policies on sanitization are:

Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
Gear/equipment sanitized between use

Q:What measures are being taken to ensure staff health & safety during Straight to the Gate Access: San Francisco Bay Twilight or Sunset Cruise?

A:The policy on staff health & safety is:

Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms

Traveler Photos

Traveler Tips

If you are a light eater, you would pretty much consider it a dinner) They also mention ONE complimentary drink, but you can pay for additional drinks.

It does get cold and quite windy towards the end of the trip, but i stayed out on deck the entire time and finally got to see whales near the end!

Reviews

4.5

957 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

Showing 1-10 of 957 reviews

Fun trip

Michael_C, Aug 2022

A great overview for first time SF visitors, a fun time for folks who just want to watch the sun set. And cocktails.

Perfect for first time...

Eric_W, Aug 2022

Perfect for first time visitors to the Bay Area. Drinks and snack are available on board. Make sure to bring a nice size jacket.

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Thank you! Yes, our cruises are great for first timers and locals alike! Glad you had fun!

Great sunset and extended...

Rick_C, Aug 2022

Great sunset and extended tour of the Bay. Tour was about 90 mins so way more than the scheduled 60 so great value.

Response from Host, Aug 2022

We are happy that you enjoyed your Sunset Cruise with us.

Incredible views fun and...

Michael_A, Aug 2022

Incredible views fun and very professional staff. Will definitely come back and take other family members

Response from Host, Aug 2022

We are glad to hear that you had a fun time on our cruise. Thanks for spending time with us.

family trip

Yarissa_H, Aug 2022

I review this a five all the way!!! I spent my time with family. I got to enjoy a unforgettable cruise and spent time with my loved ones.

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Thank you! We are so thrilled to hear that you and your family had such a wonderful time! This is exactly why we do what we do every day!

Really beautiful...

Laura_F, Aug 2022

Really beautiful experience ! Amazing views and you get to see the entire bay. The pace was nice and slow, overall perfect night

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Thank you! We are so happy to hear that you had an enjoyable evening with us.

Great views

Kirsten_O, Aug 2022

Easy fun option to see the bay and the bridge. Was not crowded once you are on the boat. Crew is helpful and friendly.

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Thank you! Yes, our vessels are quite large so there is plenty of elbow room.

Fantastic

Julianna_C, Aug 2022

It was well worth the money, got to see lots of sites and wildlife. Great amount of time spent on board and it seems to be the best way to see the golden gate bridge.

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Wasn't sailing under the Golden Gate pretty awesome? We think so! Thanks for spending part of your day with us.

Beautiful scenery… great...

Veronica_S, Aug 2022

Beautiful scenery… great cruise. I would suggest adding a little R&B to the playlist. Overall this was an excellent choice for my husband and I anniversary.

A pleasant cruise around...

Alfred_C, Aug 2022

A pleasant cruise around the bay with a tour around Sausalito and the Golden Gate Bridge. We wish it started a little later, we didn’t get so much a moonlight cruise as a cloudy one.

Memorable cruise!

Michel_N, Aug 2022

The cruise was enjoyable and the experience amazing. Highly recommended! Dress warm and be ready to take great photos!

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Thank you for cruising with us! Yes, layers are key when going out on the Bay! We are glad that you had a fantastic experience!

The boat ride was smooth...

Ruth_M, Aug 2022

The boat ride was smooth and enjoyable. I was able to move around and take pictures of the spectacular views and the gorgeous sunset.

Response from Host, Aug 2022

We are so happy to hear that you had an enjoyable cruise and were able to get some good photos. We look forward to welcoming you back next time you visit San Francisco!

Definitely A Must Do!

Joe_A, Jul 2022

This was a great way to see a lot of the sites on the bay! The boat is huge with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Bring a jacket since it’s always chilly on the water

Response from Host, Jul 2022

Thank you! Yes, you are right it can be chilly any time of the year out on the Bay. We are glad you had an enjoyable cruise!

A 90-minute sunset cruise well worth the money.

Babak_A, Jul 2022

Kids and adults in our family loved this cruise. Our ship went under the Golden Gate Bridge, which is a memorable experience by itself. Seeing the local islands, Sausalito, and scores of sailboats on the water was also lovely. They even announced our younger daughter's birthday over the PA system! We took the ninety-minute cruise. I recommend this highly.

Response from Host, Jul 2022

We are thrilled that your family enjoyed the cruise. It is our goal to provide memories of a lifetime. Thank you for the recommendation and Happy Birthday to your daughter!

Enjoyable boat cruise

Charles_S, Jul 2022

Easy to find and board. Really enjoyed when they talked about the sights. The weather was a little cool but it was still enjoyable.

Response from Host, Jul 2022

Thank you very much for sailing with us!

Great tour even though...

INGRID_N, Jul 2022

Great tour even though weather didn’t allow to enjoy the sunset. Staff was super nice. Would definitely recommend.

Response from Host, Jul 2022

It sounds as if "Karl the Fog" made an appearance! This is very typical weather in July! We are glad that despite the weather you still enjoyed your cruise.

Terrible company.

Mark_L, Jul 2022

Very unfriendly staff. Was promised a boat party scene and we were told to not sing or dance, drinking & smoking we were told we’re prohibited on board even though there’s a bar. Overal very poor event.

Response from Host, Jul 2022

We are sorry that you thought our staff was unfriendly. Their job is to make sure that our vessels and guests are safe. They engaged with your group numerous times asking for compliance. Upon further investigation into your complaint, we have learned that you purchased group tickets and resold them which we do not allow. If you wanted to have a private party with dancing, next time we suggest you reach out to our charter department. Our Sunset Cruise it is a laid back all ages cruise around the Bay with pre-recorded music and a cash bar. It is not intended to be a boat party. It is not a fair review for you to say that we are a terrible company when you did something that is not allowed, including smoking which is not allowed on any of our vessels. Due to our liquor license all alcoholic beverages must be purchased from our bars. The overall poor event you mentioned was all your own. Our apologies go out to our other guests that had their cruise disrupted by the behavior of your group.

Great cruise for jerks!

Jason_B, Jul 2022

The travel and views were enjoyable, but the lack of enforcement of established rules made for a memorably unpleasant trip. On the top deck was a rowdy bunch that were screaming and stomping like they owned the boat. Apparently Red & White decided to disregard the other passengers enjoyment so this group could have their fun. There were also frequent announcements about no smoking or vaping. And the penalty for continued use was additional announcements and then simply giving up. If I know anyone who is a complete jerk and doesn’t care about anyone or anything around them, I’ll be sure to give them a high recommendation. Anyone else I’ll warn to stay away.

Response from Host, Jul 2022

We are very sorry that your cruise was disrupted by a group of jerks. We had a group go against our policies. It is not something we encourage or allow. We are investigating it further and it will not be allowed again. Our sincerest apologies. Can you please email me at sales@redandwhite.com?

Great experience

Sam_F, Jul 2022

Great cruise around the bay. It left on time and made great time around the bay for the whole 1.5 hours. The staff were great - there was supposed to be some narration while in the cruise but it was quite poor so at times you didn’t have a clue where you were - especially if you sat near the boat motor, you couldn’t hear anything at all. The cost of the beverages were through the roof and not worth the money so it would be best to bring your own food and drink and save your money.

Victor trip

VictorManuel_B, Jul 2022

Everything is good thanks for your service, the area is good and the time is perfec easy to localization.

...

Questions?

Product code: 2630SUN

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Straight to the Gate Access: San Francisco Bay Twilight or Sunset Cruise

From $50.00

Select Date and Travelers

Overview

Why Travelers Choose This Tour

What's Included

Departure & Return

Departure Point

Return Details

What To Expect

Additional Info

Cancellation Policy

Frequently Asked Questions

Traveler Photos

Traveler Tips

Questions?

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