Overview
2 hours
Mobile ticket
Experience the magic of San Francisco after dark with our California Sunset Cruise, a perfect evening escape. As the sun sets, the city comes to life, and this 2-hour cruise offers a front-row seat to the iconic landmarks of the Bay, all illuminated against the night sky.
Sail under the majestic Golden Gate Bridge, past Alcatraz Island, and along the sparkling city skyline. This cruise showcases San Francisco from a unique perspective. Wrap up in warm layers, enjoy a beverage from the onboard bar, and relax as the sun sets behind the Golden Gate Bridge.
Please note: this cruise does not include audio narration. Pre-recorded music is played throughout the vessel.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Please come to our location 15 minutes prior to the departure time.
This cruise is not narrated. If you would like to learn more about San Francisco, we suggest taking one of our narrated cruises such as the Golden Gate Bay Cruise or the San Francisco Bridge to Bridge Cruise.
What To Expect
San Francisco Cruises (known locally as Red and White Fleet)
Begin and end your journey at Pier 43 1/2.
Golden Gate Bridge
Sail under the Golden Gate Bridge as the sun sets.
Options
Sunset or City Lights Cruise
Sunset Cruise is only available in the summer from Apr-Oct. City Lights Cruise is only available in the winter from Oct-Mar.
What‘s Included
"Straight to the gate" access
2- hour sunset cruise (summer months) or city lights cruise (winter months) of San Francisco Bay
Restrooms: Access to clean and convenient restrooms during your cruise.
Gratuities
Full bar is available onboard to purchase drinks and snacks.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
2,004 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Once in a lifetime...
James A,Jun 17, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Once in a lifetime experience. You must take this cruise if you’re a first time visitor (or not). Beautiful views
Great date
Michelle V,Jun 15, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It was easy to get on and off. The views were great The workers were friendly and helpful. Snacks were priced well. That hot chocolate came in handy.
The boat goes by...
Igor C,Jun 14, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00The boat goes by spectacular coast in the perfect sunset time. The pitching is barely percievable, so motion sickness should not be a problem. Take windblocker jacket with hood if you plan to be on the top open desk.
Amazing Cruising
HersheyLee W,Jun 13, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It was beautiful, very relaxing experience. The staff on board were super friendly. Will gladly go again.
Great way to see the Bay!
Fergifive,Jun 13, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This cruise was an excellent way to end our trip to San Francisco! The ride was smooth, and not too bumpy. There are great views out all windows, and you can get 360 views from the decks. Snack bar is a nice option to grab a drink and something to eat. Highly recommend!
Best cruise in San Fran!
Kameryn B,Jun 10, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It was beautiful and will definitely do it again when I go back to San Francisco! Alcatraz is the next stop we would definitely go to!
Just ok
Dale P,Jun 10, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00It was ok, no real tour experience, just a boat ride. Would have been better if the fog hadn’t come in. Very cold
Great for Everyone!
Jennifer W,Jun 9, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00Like many other travelers have said, arrive prepared. Due to the nature of the weather in SF and being on the water in the evening, it can be very chilly on board. While there was plenty of interior seating the best views are outside. The good news is that there are souvenir shops nearby that sell the items you need. I got a hat, gloves, and a sweatshirt for $15 which made me comfortable the entire ride even though it was cold and rainy for me. Since it was foggy and rainy when I went, the views were different. Not bad, just different. For example, the top of the Golden Gate Bridge and the building tops downtown were not visible, but it was still very beautiful. You get up close to the bridge and to Alcatraz so there are many photo opportunities. The price for the amount of time spent is worth it. I do wish there was a bit more history shared. I was a solo traveler for this excursion and ended up meeting a few other passengers that were traveling solo. We hit it off, talked the whole cruise and even had dinner together afterwards.
Great experience
Michael C,Jun 8, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00You should take this trip later in the season. We got back into dock just after sunset. Most of the city lights weren't on. Overall, this trip is excellent. Seeing Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge up close was spectacular.
Sunset views were breath taking
James D,Jun 8, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We really enjoyed the boat trip. 2 hours of cruising through the bay. The sunset vews were breath taking
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Operated by Red and White Fleet