OUR PICKS · USA
Golden Gate, Biscayne Bay, San Diego’s naval waterfront and the New England harbours. These 15 are city sightseeing done from the one angle you cannot walk to, priced per head with the sailing times that matter.
Board Bayride Tours at Bayside Marketplace for a 90-minute Biscayne Bay cruise past Miami’s islands, skyline, port, and millionaire homes. Guides such as Ricky, Marlon, Nancy, and Veronica add humor and facts in English and Spanish. Choose the cool main deck or breezy upper deck.
“My daughter and I loved being on the water and viewing the homes of the famous Miami residents”
Join Red and White Fleet at Pier 43 1/2 for a one-hour cruise past North Beach, Hyde Street Pier, the Presidio, Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito, Angel Island, Alcatraz, and Pier 39. An award-winning audio guide plays in 16 languages, with drinks and snacks available aboard.
“great, clean boat.. clean restrooms good staff excellent service”
Cruise San Diego Bay aboard a comfortable boat with indoor and outdoor seating, a snack bar, and narration from guides such as Rusty or MC JJ. Choose one hour in North or South Bay, or stay aboard for two hours covering both, with Navy ships, sea lions, the Coronado Bridge, and Star of India.
“Disappointing...& we've been on several of these. The 'narrator' was about as un-interesting as they come & a 1 hour TOTAL harbor tour would be more than sufficient for the ENTIRE harbor (vs the 2 hours you pay for).”
You’ll tour Miami Beach, South Beach, Little Havana, Wynwood, and Downtown by double-decker bus, cruise Biscayne Bay past Millionaire’s Row, then ride an airboat through the Everglades. Captain Jack has been praised for his Everglades commentary, but expect a long, tightly scheduled day with shared transport.
“The location where tour starts is an unorganized mess! No one is really in charge. They’d rather be snacking on food and talking! They never clearly explained how we were doing all three tours. It was piecemeal information and all tours started late. We did not see any alligators on Everglades ride except the caged ones! Bus tour was hard to understand guide as she had three different languages she was using and had a strong accent herself. Besides having 30 kids on bus yelling and screaming to people on the street! Boat tour was ok but didn’t show much! Boat was playing rap music so loud!! Get a different…”
Cruise Elliott Bay and Seattle Harbor with live narration from Argosy Cruises. You’ll pass the Great Wheel, Space Needle, working container terminals, stadiums, Alki Beach, and Terminal 91. Casey, Nate, Angie, and other local guides have earned praise for lively storytelling. Indoor seating, an open sun deck, restrooms, and snacks are available.
“A must do. Great tour with excellent views of Downtown, The Big Wheel, The Space Needle, Lumen Field, the harbour and so much more. We got lucky with CLEAR BLUE SKIES. Love Seattle.”
Set out from Bayside Marketplace for an approximately 80-minute Biscayne Bay cruise with bilingual commentary, music, skyline views, and a look at mansions on Star Island, Fisher Island, and the Venetian Islands. Drinks and snacks are sold on board, and seating is first come, first served.
“Tour was ok. Nothing special but as advertised they show you the homes of the stars. Was busy so book early for it”
Join Chris' Fishing and Whale Watching at Old Fisherman's Wharf for a three-hour Monterey Bay cruise. Guides such as Kevin and Lauren explain whale behavior, kelp forests, birds, and local conservation while the captain searches for humpbacks, gray whales, dolphins, sea lions, seals, and the occasional orca.
“Awesome experience! We saw many whales with a close distance and took amazing photos. We were totally amazed. The staff were super friendly and knowledgeable”
Spend an hour on a Red and White Fleet boat from Pier 43 1/2, cruising beneath the Golden Gate Bridge and past Alcatraz, Angel Island, Sausalito, and the Bay Bridge. Choose indoor or outdoor seating, listen to narration in 16 languages, and buy drinks or snacks onboard.
“Great toursit cruise. An earlier time meant the boat wasnt crowded. The automated "guide" track was actually really interesting with some great fun facts to listen to - in between taking LOTS of pictures of course.”
Visit Alcatraz by round-trip ferry from Pier 33, follow the 45-minute Cellhouse audio tour in your language, and take a separate 60-minute Bay Cruise from Pier 39. You can schedule the cruise before, after, or on another day, subject to availability.
“This was a chance to visit the iconic Alcatraz, whilst we were visiting San Francisco. We were blessed with ideal Spring weather, great visibility and relatively small crowds. We visited in March, before the main summer rush. It was still very busy so be prepared for big crowds and book well in advance to be sure of your place. There was an audio guide inside the prison which allows you to travel at your own pace. The audio experience lasts about lasts 1 hour, but you have as much time as you like on the island to look around and explore. It is truly fascinating, although the buildings are getting…”
Board Blue and Gold Fleet at Pier 39 for a narrated 60-minute cruise past the sea lions, Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, Angel Island, and San Francisco’s waterfront landmarks. Choose indoor or outdoor seating, use the multilingual audio guide, and buy snacks or drinks on board.
“It was a beautiful cruise, perfect timing with the AirShow. We got to enjoy the landmarks and a front row seat to the planes up above us.”
Join Blue and Gold Fleet at Pier 39 for a 90-minute narrated cruise around Alcatraz Island and under the Golden Gate Bridge. Your mobile voucher lets you go straight to the gate, while onboard commentary covers prison escapes, bridge history, earthquakes, and San Francisco landmarks. Food and drinks are sold onboard.
“Truly enjoyed this very informative cruise. Don’t feel like I missed out on the guided tour of Alcatraz since we were provided so much info on the cruise.”
Spend one hour cruising Boston Harbor with a live narrator, passing the USS Constitution, Boston Light, Fort Independence, the Tea Party ships, and Old North Church. Guides such as Kevin, Holly, Mike, and Jeff have been praised for clear facts and humor, though lower-deck sound and seating can vary.
“Sit on the upper deck on the left side for best views. Tour guide gave a good overview of the harbor. He did have a bit of an attitude. The woman lining everybody up to board was excellent - gave us great tips to enjoy the cruise. She should have given the tour.”
Cruise San Diego Bay aboard a modern Flagship yacht with live English narration from guides such as Rusty, Max, JJ, and Jen. Choose a one-hour north or south route, or the two-hour option for both, with naval ships, sea lions, the Coronado Bridge, outdoor decks, and a snack bar.
“What a great, exciting experience to be a part of! The price was spot on. It happened to be a beautiful day. Unforgettable. Than you!”
Spend 90 minutes aboard a 1920s Bay-Steamer replica with a live English-speaking captain. You’ll pass Fort Sumter, The Battery, the Ravenel Bridge, Civil and Revolutionary War sites, and more than 75 points of interest. Choose daytime or sunset, with indoor seating, an upper deck, and drinks and snacks for purchase.
“I loved all of it. The boat ride was smooth and the captain was great! I wouldn't improve anything.”
Board Adventure Cat at Pier 39 for a 1-hour-35-minute evening sail across San Francisco Bay. You’ll pass Alcatraz, cruise beneath the Golden Gate Bridge, watch Sausalito and the skyline change in the fading light, and enjoy one beer, wine, or non-alcoholic drink. Bring a jacket and headphones for the multilingual audio guide.
“This was an amazing experience and an excellent way to see the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz! The captain and crew were also excellent. Definitely a must when you’re in San Francisco!”
An hour around a harbour, a full day with a swim stop, or a cabin and a sunrise.
