Hollywood movies make this city seem familiar, but San Francisco might surprise you with the range and sophistication of its diverse attractions.
Who goes there
San Francisco is a port of call on itineraries to diverse destinations such as Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico and the South Pacific. Carnival and Princess home-port ships there, and many other cruise lines use it as an arrival and departure port, or while in transit. Celebrity, Cunard, Disney, Holland America, Oceania and Silversea are among the wide range of visitors.
San Francisco Bay has plenty to see after your ship passes under the Golden Gate bridge.
Sail on in
Cruise ships often arrive early, so set your alarm, rug up – San Francisco can be surprisingly chilly – and get yourself up on deck as you sail into a huge but hidden bay right under the span of the Golden Gate Bridge. After that comes Alcatraz, the notorious prison island, then the skyscrapers of the Financial District and Coit Tower, atop Telegraph Hill.
Berth rites
Cruise ships beginning or ending their journey in San Francisco dock at Pier 27, while Pier 30/32 or Pier 35 are more usually used by ships in transit. All are on the Embarcadero waterfront. Terminals aren’t much more than small halls with security checks. You’ll find plenty of dining and shopping nearby, though, and Cruise Terminal Plaza provides open space with lots of benches if you’re waiting for embarkation.
Going ashore
The cruise piers are near Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39 where smelly seals bask, and the outstanding Ferry Building Marketplace, a cornucopia of gourmet eateries and farmers’ markets. There’s so much else to see that you’ll have to make cruel choices. Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge should be at the top of your list. The Japanese Tea Garden or Conservatory of Flowers will please nature lovers. Then wander neighbourhoods such as Russian Hill, North Beach or 1960s hippie enclave Haight-Ashbury.
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