FAQ'S
Cancellation Policy
If you have purchased a ticket for one of our cruises, please be aware of our policies. Our tickets are non-refundable. Should your plans be disrupted, kindly contact us to explore potential alternatives. Rest assured, we aim to accommodate your needs.
Certain cruises, such as the Golden Gate Bay Cruise®, San Francisco Bridge to Bridge Cruise® and California Sunset Cruise® offer flexibility, allowing you to board at any time within the same year. However, for more specific bookings (such as our specialty cruises), it is essential to adhere to the designated timing to avoid missing the departure. If rescheduling becomes necessary, one adjustment is allowed without charge. Subsequent changes will incur a fee of twenty dollars each.
Where do your cruises depart from?
Our San Francisco cruises depart from Pier 43½, located in the heart of Fisherman’s Wharf at the end of Taylor Street. You can find us on most GPS devices by entering “Red and White Fleet” as the destination. For directions, click here.
Do you offer parking validation?
No, we don’t offer parking validation. We recommend using SpotHero.
SpotHero: Book convenient and affordable parking in advance through SpotHero, the nation’s leading parking reservation app. To reserve your parking spot, visit the Red and White SpotHero Parking Page and book a spot with rates up to 50% off drive-up. New to SpotHero? Click here to download the SpotHero app.
Are your vessels wheel chair accessible?
The enclosed main decks of all our vessels are wheel chair accessible. For additional information, please call (415) 673-2900.
Important: the ramps leading on to and off the vessels vary in steepness depending on tide levels. While our crew will make every attempt to assist guests, boarding can be difficult particularly during low tide. To view daily tide conditions, please click here.
Can children under age 5 come aboard your boats?
Absolutely. Children under age 5 can join our cruises free of charge. When buying tickets on our website or through our box office, simply indicate the number of children under age 5 in your party, as all guests require a ticket to come aboard.
Are baby strollers allowed on Red and White Cruises?
All of Red and White’s cruise vessels are accessible with baby strollers.
When should I be at the departure location?
Please arrive at least 20-30 minutes before the scheduled departure time, as we otherwise can’t guarantee available space and are unable to hold the vessel. If you miss your departure, guests scheduled for the one-hour Golden Gate Bay Cruise® or the 90-minute San Francisco Bridge to Bridge Cruise® are welcome to simply hop on the next departure that same day.
For special event cruises and on busy summer weekends, we recommend arriving at least 30 minutes early, as traffic leading to Fisherman’s Wharf can cause delays.
The Golden Gate Bay Cruise® departures between 1:15pm and 3:45pm tend to be the busiest of the day. For a more peaceful experience, we recommend hopping on one of our cruise times before or after that time, or trying out our San Francisco Bridge to Bridge Cruise® instead.
Do I need to make reservations for your cruises?
You don’t have to make reservations for our daytime cruises. We recommend advance bookings of the Golden Gate Bay Cruise® particularly for groups of 15 or passengers. By booking online you can print out your e-ticket at home and go straight to our boarding line, versus our ticket booth.
Advance bookings are highly recommended for the California Sunset Cruise®, California Twilight Cruise®, and Seasonal and Holiday Cruises as they often sell out. These events need to be booked for specific dates and times. We can assist with rescheduling a tour up to 48 hours prior to the scheduled time. You can purchase tickets online or by calling (415) 673-2900.
How can I pay for tickets?
Online and phone reservations can be made with a credit card. At the cruise piers, tickets can be purchased with cash, credit card, and travelers checks. Personal checks are not accepted.
Prices are per person, unless otherwise specified. All transactions are in US Dollars. All prices and availability are subject to change without notice. Tour prices or availability is not confirmed until full payment is received and confirmation provided.
If the authorization on the credit card provided is declined, we will attempt to notify you by email at the email address you provided. The reservation will be cancelled and will need to be rebooked depending on availability.
I booked a Red and White cruise through a third party. What do I have to do?
If you booked your Red and White cruise through a third party, it is important that you bring your printed or electronic voucher to Pier 43 1/2 to redeem it for cruise tickets. This voucher is your proof of payment. Without this voucher, we will not be able to issue tickets for you.
Do your rates include tips and gratuities?
Yes. Red and White’s rates for San Francisco Bay cruises include all taxes, gratuities, fees, and personal audio tour. Of course, you are certainly welcome to tip staff members for excellent service.
Do you offer tours in foreign languages?
Yes. The Red and White offers the only bay cruises in San Francisco with multilingual Personal Audio sets. You can enjoy the Golden Gate Bay Cruise® and San Francisco Bridge to Bridge Cruise® in 16 languages, including English, Español, Français, Deutsch, Português, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, русский, ภาษาไทย, हिन्दी, Italiano, Hebrew, Vietnamese, Arabic, and Bahasa Indonesian. Just pick up a headphone and radio when boarding the vessel, select your language channel provided from the helpful signs located throughout each vessel, and tune in!
Can I rent a boat for an event?
Most certainly. The Red and White can arrange private and corporate events aboard its cruise vessels, including catering and entertainment. For more information visit our Private Charters pages.
What will the weather be like?
For current weather conditions, please visit www.weather.com and search for ZIP code 94133.
Will my tour be cancelled if the weather is bad?
We cruise San Francisco Bay rain or shine. Only on the rarest of occasions do we cancel a cruise due to stormy weather conditions.
What clothing should I wear?
San Francisco has many microclimates with frequent weather changes. It can be windy and cold on San Francisco Bay one moment, and hot and sunny the next. So we recommend that you dress in layers and bring a jacket to make sure you are comfortable throughout your tour. In case it rains, don’t worry as all of our boats have heated interiors with big viewing windows.
What is your policy on smoking?
California Law prohibits smoking in vehicles, public buildings, bars and restaurants. Smoking is not permitted on Red and White’s tours or while waiting in the boarding line. We kindly request that all passengers comply.
Can we bring food aboard your cruises?
Yes. Red and White’s vessels are equipped with cafes, offering hot & cold non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, snacks, and merchandise for sale. Bar purchases can be made with cash, credit or debit cards. You may also bring your own boxed luncheons.
Do you go to Alcatraz?
Red and White does not land at Alcatraz Island. We cruise right up to and around Alcatraz Island, and our award winning narration features interviews with former inmates and tons of info on the history of the island. Both our Golden Gate Bay Cruise® and San Francisco Bridge to Bridge Cruise® slowly sail along Alcatraz Island to provide amazing up-close views. For evening views of the Rock, come aboard the California Sunset Cruise®, California Twilight Cruise®.
Do you offer ferry service to Sausalito, Tiburon, or Angel Island?
No. For ferry service and transit questions, please call 511 or visit www.511.org.
Are the Blue and Gold Fleet and Red and White the same company?
No. The Red and White is an independently-owned family business and has been a San Francisco institution since 1892. We offer San Francisco’s only multilingual cruise tours and take great pride in sharing the history of our wonderful city through well-researched headphone audio with 16 language options. We also feature more departure times for our sailings than other boat cruise providers in San Francisco, with unique cruise routes and themes, such as the San Francisco Bridge to Bridge Cruise® and California Sunset Cruise®.
What is the origin of Red and White’s name?
The Red and White originated as a ferry and tug boat company on San Francisco Bay. In the 1940s, the name for the sightseeing business was derived from the red and white painted tug boats that the company had used for so many years. Contrary to popular belief our company name does not derive from any affiliation with the local Bay Area rival universities, Stanford and UC Berkeley.
What are your safety guidelines?
Please read the Red and White Safety Guidelines and Policies for Cruising the Bay Safely .
What is your animal/pet policy?
Any animal allowed on board must be a service animals, or small enough to remain in a carrier the entire cruise.