Since we were hitting the San Fran waterfront as hard as we were able, we decided to wander over to pier 41 and buy ourselves a bay cruise. At first we were disappointed because a simple “cruise” wasn’t available, but what we were offered instead was a “bay adventure”, so we took that and it was as fantastic on the water as it was rocky/rolly on the water.
So what’s the difference between a cruise and an adventure? No, it’s not just the hat you wear, but the experience you undertake. Just like a standard cruise, it takes place on a standard “big old boat.” But, beyond that, it’s narrated on the loudspeakers by all of San Francisco’s most famous historical figures, and even a few that predate San Francisco, like Captain Nemo himself.
It’s a bobby ride, as it rolls on the waves, but that just makes us passengers struggle for our footing and not something I actually speak out against. The rolling of the waves is no big detriment, since riding the open seas cannot come without it; but the rest of the endeavor is what’s most notable.
The Blue & Gold fleet runs frequent Bay Adventure Cruises (like two an hour, or so) and it takes you from pier 41 out past the Golden Gate Bridge, and back past the far side of the fabled correctional time-out zone “Alcatraz”, all the while narrating what’s important that you need to check out.
Left – Here you can see me defying the wind with a spectacular view of Alcatraz behind me. Don’t worry, I did eventually turn around to enjoy it.
The best part for us was that the cruise boat was stroller friendly and the littlest of our crew wasn’t even charged for taking the ride. The narration was fun, festive and entertaining, but so were the views, the waves and the many sites we saw along the way, like Fort Point, the sea lions and Angel Island.
But maybe the very best of all of it was that the cruise only took us just shy of an hour, which is especially great if you’re hungry or have a short attention span.
If you want a view of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz like you can’t get anywhere else, consider taking the Blue & Gold Fleet’s Bay Adventure Cruise. It’s brief, unrivaled and fun for everyone from the oldest of parents to the youngest of junior journalists in your party. And take it from me, yours will indeed be a party when you hit the high seas with Captain Nemo as your guide.
The Blue & Gold Fleet has daily departures from morning until night, and you can book your trip today at their website.
Above – If you want a fresh perspective, try taking a look at the world’s first mega-bridge from beneath its belly.