Bridge to Bridge Cruise, Close Up
The Bridge to Bridge Cruise is a 90-minute motor-boat trip from Pier 43½ that sails under both the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge, passing Alcatraz, Sausalito and Angel Island between them. It is for people who want the whole waterfront in one sitting, with a headphone audio guide in 16 languages and a wheelchair-accessible deck.
What happens, in order
The pier is the same one the one-hour bay cruise uses, on the corner of Taylor Street and the Embarcadero. The difference is the far end of the route: this boat keeps going east past the Ferry Building to the Bay Bridge before turning for home.
- Board at Pier 43½ and collect the headphones. Set your language on the handset.
- The boat heads west along the waterfront and under the Golden Gate Bridge.
- It turns with Sausalito and the Marin shore in view, then crosses toward Angel Island.
- It passes Alcatraz. There is no landing.
- It continues east along the city waterfront to the Bay Bridge and sails under it.
- It returns along the piers to Pier 43½. Timothy, one reviewer, clocked it at nearly 90 minutes on the dot.
No alcohol may be brought aboard and there is no smoking. The rest of the rules are the same as the shorter cruise from this pier.
Included
- 90-minute cruise under both bridges
- Headphone audio guide in 16 languages, including Korean
- Wheelchair-accessible boat
Not included
- Food and drink
- Hotel pickup
- Alcohol brought from outside
What works
- Both bridges and Alcatraz in a single trip
- Audio in 16 languages
- Wheelchair accessible
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Worth knowing
- Thirty minutes longer than the bay cruise for one extra bridge
- The audio is recorded; Alois could not hear the German track well over the engine on the open deck
- No stops and no landings
Who it suits, and who should pick something else
Book this if the Bay Bridge matters to you, if you want the longest possible time on the water with a handset, or if the whole family is coming and one of you uses a wheelchair. Timothy says the best views were from the top deck, and that the kids enjoyed it.
If an hour is enough, the bay cruise from the same pier covers the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz in less time. If you want a crew you can talk to rather than a recording, the catamaran from Pier 39 is the one, though it is English only and not wheelchair accessible. For how the boats differ from the bike tours, see cruise or bike.
What passengers mention
Peter from the US mentions the audio narration and the crew. Rose from Australia found the audio informative and had perfect weather, which is not something I can promise you in July. Juliane from Germany was glad it includes the Bay Bridge. Alois from Switzerland could not hear the German audio well over the engine; if you plan to stand outside, the headphones do better away from the stern.
Fog usually sits on the Golden Gate side through the morning and lifts by early afternoon, while the Bay Bridge end is often clear earlier. An afternoon departure gives you the best odds of seeing both. The timing page has the seasonal detail.
Two alternatives
Under the bridgeSan Francisco: Golden Gate Bay Cruise (1-hour)
Under sailSan Francisco: Golden Gate Bridge Catamaran Cruise
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Bridge to Bridge Cruise?
Ninety minutes from Pier 43½ and back. The bay cruise from the same pier is one hour and skips the Bay Bridge; the cruises page sets the three boats side by side.
Does it stop at Alcatraz?
No. It passes the island without landing, as all three cruises on this site do. What you get is the view of the bridge from underneath, which the viewpoints page lists as one of the vantage points you pay for.
Is the audio guide available in German?
Yes, German is one of the 16 languages on the headset. One passenger, Alois, could not hear it well over the engine noise on the open deck, so use the indoor seating if the commentary matters more than the wind. The facts page covers most of what the audio says.