Straight to the Gate Access: San Francisco Escape from the Rock Cruise

San Francisco, USA

1 hour 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Learn stories behind the Bay Area's most notorious former federal penitentiary on a fascinating 'Escape from the Rock' cruise. Board a boat for a journey through the bay while listening to audio recordings (available in several languages) from ex-prisoners and guards about daily life on 'The Rock.' Learn about the Birdman of Alcatraz and the infamous 1962 'Alcatraz Escape,' and come to know why Alcatraz instilled fear into the hearts of even the worst-of-the-worst criminals. Tours are accessible on any of your own wifi-enabled iPads, smartphones or other devices. This ticket allows you to skip the box office line and go straight to the gate.

Skip the box office line and go straight to the gate with your ticket!
'Escape from the Rock' cruise around San Francisco Bay
Hear the audio-recorded stories of former Alcatraz guards and prisons as you sail around 'The Rock' and beneath the Golden Gate Bridge
Learn why even the worst prisoners were afraid of Alcatraz and what daily life on the island entailed
Access the free audio tour on any personal wifi-enabled device
Enjoy a relaxing cruise around San Francisco Bay

What's Included

"Straight to the gate" access

Food and drinks (available to purchase)
Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
Alcatraz access / ticket

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Blue & Gold Fleet
Pier 41, San Francisco, CA 94133, USA
PIER 39, The Embarcadero at Beach St. San Francisco, CA 94133

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Pier 39

Admission Ticket Free

Golden Gate Bridge (Pass By)

Angel Island State Park (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible, only on first deck
Children from 0 to 4 years old sail for free
Wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed

Near public transportation
Transportation is wheelchair accessible
Most travelers can participate
Times are subject to change without notice
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Q:Does this cruise dock on Alcatraz Island?

A:While it does not dock on the island, you get a 360-degree view of the island from the vessel. All the while hearing tales of the guards that worked there and the inmates that served there.

Dec 2021

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Alexanderj_R

Really nice experience… Price perfect Friendly staff They got me In love with the city… nice view of Golden Gate Bridge

Reviews

4.0

130 reviews

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

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 130 reviews

Cruising the Bay Area

Edward_A, Nov 2023

It was a great experience seeing downtown SF, The Rock and the surrounding Bay Area from the boat. Take a light jacket and depending on which time of year, rain gear if you’re sightseeing from the upper deck. Go check it out.

Worth it!

RIchard_D, Nov 2023

A beautiful day to tour around the bay! 90 minutes is a perfect amount of time and the twice circle around the rock was great to get pictures on one pass and just observe in the second.

Not worth the money

Laura_H, Oct 2023

This is only a boat tour around the bay, the advertisement is not clear and it DOES NOT stop on Alcatraz. Can get the same views from SF for free.

Response from Host, Oct 2023

We apologized if you felt you were mislead, but we try to make it very clear in our description that this is a fully narrated cruise that goes under the Golden Gate Bridge and around the Island of Alcatraz.

Fun and exciting

Sandra_S, Sep 2023

The cruise was so beautiful and interesting I love that they gave some audio about the Alcatraz history with actual people explaining how it was for them.

Boat tour under the golden gate and around Alcatraz

Cindy_J, Aug 2023

Very helpful young lady. When my ticket wouldn’t show she checked us in another way. So sweet and helpful.the tour was amazing and so much history.

Bay tour

Terrence_S, Aug 2023

Brilliant tour , saw all the sites from the voyage and more than expected plenty of time to take pictures

Interesting, a little over priced

Dana_B, Aug 2023

Hearing about Alcatraz and the history was very interesting. It was nice to sit outside and have snacks and beverages accessible on board. We thought it was a bit over priced considering the price for the snacks on top of boarding the boat. The photos were extremely over priced especially when the two large shots were almost exactly the same. Didn't like that there was no option to just get one photo. The only option was the whole package with wallets which was silly and way too much money.

Very impressed and would go again!!

Holly_M, Jul 2023

The knowledge gained about Alcatraz and the kind hospitality on board the tour. Loved the views of the Golden Gate Bridge!

Great ride with Pics a plenty!

Melinda_A, Jul 2023

Loved going under the Golden Gate Bridge. We also enjoyed the audio portion of the tour, with interesting facts and stories of SF and Alcatraz. Plenty of opportunities to walk around the boat and get great pics of all the scenery from just about every angle! Would definitely recommend this tour for anyone who hasn’t or has experienced SF before!

It was a wonderful...

Stephanie_S, Jul 2023

It was a wonderful experience, learned alot of history about the bridge and Alcatraz that I didn’t know before, it was pretty chilly, glad I brought a sweatshirt, nevertheless it was a great little trip around the bay

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Thanks for sharing!

I couldn't obtain my...

Hectors_L, Jul 2023

I couldn't obtain my tickets. The company did't grant my booking. Please give my money back. ................................................

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Hi there, Sorry to hear that you had issues, but you've reached Blue & Gold Fleet. You need to reach out to Viator for your money as they are the ones who have the information on your order

Fun Cruise

Bill_A, Jul 2023

The trip under Golden Gate Bridge. Enjoyed the explanation of the history of San Francisco! The history of Alcatraz and seeing it from all angles.

wonderful

Joe_C, Jun 2023

great trip, I loved the experience. When I'm in the area I may do it again. San Francisco has some great sites.

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. We often say that our boats have the best views of the best of San Francisco.

Relaxing

Kristi_B, Jun 2023

Love this it was relaxing and informative great Birthday gift to myself. The Cruise was very informative and gave historical facts about San Francisco and Alcatraz I never knew.

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Well Happy Birthday to you! So glad we could add a little something to your special day.

Informative scenic tour

Cathleen_H, May 2023

Very informative narrative to accompany a relaxing tour of the scenic bay including both bridges and a trip around Alcatraz. Highly recommend this trip.

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Thanks for sharing your kind thoughts. We're happy that you enjoyed the cruise.

Fun trip

Brandon_M, Jan 2023

The views were amazing and the stories were interesting. It was difficult to hear the speakers though so. Missed a few stories.

Response from Host, Jan 2023

Hi! Thanks for sharing your review. We're sorry to hear that you couldn't hear the whole cruise. If you like, you can download our app for free where the audio tour is available. I know it's not quite the same thing as seeing and hearing it at the same time. But the info is there if you like.

Expansive and not instructive

Cossalter_C, Dec 2022

To much people, the audio guide is on reality your phone and if you dont have data like us … no guide un your language. The audio in the boat is so low that i dont hear a thing about the history… very bad moment for us … i m à fan of alcatraz and i expect à lot of this trip but very expansive and not very instructive

Response from Host, Jan 2023

We are sorry to hear that you didn't have a nice experience on our cruise. It is our goal to make the experience one that will be remembered forever. And we will take your comments to heart, and try to improve.

Bay tour

Olivett_J, Nov 2022

The details from the narrator were nice along the trip. We enjoyed the hearing the history of each location

Response from Host, Nov 2022

Thanks for the great review!

Disappointed in SF

Heather_F, Sep 2022

Well the title escaping the rock is misleading. We thought we booked the tour that stops and walks through the prison. Their was so much fog you couldn't see anything. The sound track needs to be updated, hard to understand with the boat noise.

Response from Host, Sep 2022

We apologize if you felt misled. We try to make it clear that we go around the island on the tour. And the title is from the part on the narration where it talks about the 3 who escaped from the prison.

Great views and photo opportunities

AmyiSellHomes_B, Sep 2022

We went almost twice around Alcatraz and the Golden Gate to the Bay Bridge. Pretty spectacular!! The only negative is the boat seems to be old and not well cared for on the outside and some inside. It was a surprise after seeing the advertised pics.

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