A vibrant aerial view of San Francisco showing rows of colorful homes in the foreground and the downtown skyline with the Transamerica Pyramid, high-rise buildings and the Bay Bridge under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.

San Francisco, California

Cruises to San Francisco, California

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Things to do in San Francisco

San Francisco has many names (the Golden City, Paris of the West), but to those who live in and around it it will always just be The City. And, when you slide into port, you’ll understand why. San Francisco is the kind of place you can get the feel of in one day ashore, or spend a lifetime there and never totally comprehend it. It’s a vertical maze of Victorian houses and innovation hubs, where each neighborhood feels like its own little country. You’ll find redwoods just across the bridge, sourdough with literal pedigree and enough history and culture packed into its seven square miles to make you forget that the rest of the world even exists.

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  • A shaded walking path lined with wooden rails cutting through a lush forest of massive redwood trees, surrounded by bright green ferns, dense undergrowth and filtered sunlight.

    Walk beneath redwoods at Muir Woods and feel very, very small.

  • A line of colorful Sausalito houseboats sitting along a calm marina with wooden decks, small boats moored nearby and vivid reflections of the homes shimmering on the water under a clear blue sky.

    Explore the art galleries and bayfront cafés of Sausalito, a town that knows how to charm.

  • A distant view of Alcatraz Island surrounded by calm blue water with a line of birds flying overhead in a V-formation and rolling hills visible along the shoreline in the background.

    Ferry over to Alcatraz and hear the infamous stories about what was once one of the most feared prisons on earth.

  • A view down the center of a vineyard row at sunset with bright green grapevines on both sides, rolling hills in the distance and warm sunlight illuminating the tops of the vines.

    Sip your way through Sonoma with vineyard stops and a lunch break in wine country.

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Shore excursions to explore in San Francisco

Pick from curated excursions that serve up the city’s classics — over the bridge, into redwood forests, across wine country and into open water. These tours peel back the layers of San Francisco and the landscapes that orbit it.

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  • A row of fishing boats moored at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco with wooden piers, tall masts, and waterfront buildings in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

    Sausalito & Muir Woods

    Cross the Golden Gate Bridge and pause at Vista Point for sweeping views of the bay. In Sausalito, stroll the waterfront, visit art galleries or grab a coffee with a view. Then it’s off to Muir Woods, home to centuries-old redwoods that tower overhead as you walk the quiet forest trails. On your return, drive past Fisherman's Wharf and enjoy a scenic ride back through the city.

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  • A close view of Alcatraz Island’s weathered prison buildings perched on rocky cliffs with peeling walls, overgrown plants and the surrounding blue water under a layer of low fog.

    Alcatraz & Sausalito

    Start with a ferry ride to the infamous Alcatraz Island, where a self-guided audio tour brings its eerie history to life, from the Birdman (the other one) to Al Capone. After returning to the mainland, head north to Sausalito and enjoy time on your own exploring its waterfront shops and galleries. Cap off your day with a drive back across the Golden Gate.

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  • A stone-arched wine cave entrance built into a hillside vineyard with stacks of wooden wine barrels outside and rows of grapevines growing above the rocky facade.

    Sonoma Wine Country

    Vineyards, valley views and varietals: this full-day tour is for the wine lovers. Start with a tasting at family-owned Roche Winery, followed by free time and lunch in Sonoma Square. After lunch, head to Viansa Winery, perched on a hilltop overlooking wetlands and wildlife. Taste your way through the day, then sit back and enjoy the scenic ride back to port.

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  • A scenic view of San Francisco’s waterfront with small boats floating on bright blue water and a backdrop of colorful buildings, brick structures and high-rise towers climbing the hillside under a clear sky.

    San Francisco Waterfront Sail by Tall Ship

    Board the 72-foot Gas Light (a Gold Rush-style tall ship) and set sail on the bay with a glass in hand. During the 2.5-hour cruise, take in views of Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge and the city skyline. Snacks and drinks are available, and guests can even help raise the sails. This is a sightseeing cruise that’s also a trip back in maritime time.

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  • A close-up view of bright red Chinese lanterns hanging above a Chinatown street with ornate building facades, decorative trim and fire escapes in the background.

    San Francisco Sightseeing & Chinatown Lunch

    Glide through the city’s neighborhoods on a narrated motorcoach tour, from Union Square to the Castro and on up to Twin Peaks. Enjoy a meal in the heart of Chinatown, then explore on your own or follow your guide through this historic district. Finish your tour with photo stops at North Beach and the Golden Gate Bridge Pavilion.

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  • A wide-angle view of the Golden Gate Bridge at sunset showing its bright orange towers and cables stretching over the blue waters of the San Francisco Bay with the city skyline in the distance.

    Easy San Francisco: City Drive & Golden Gate Bridge

    This relaxed, half-day tour checks off the icons. See the Embarcadero, Ghirardelli Square and Fisherman’s Wharf. Cross the Golden Gate Bridge, visit Lands End and stop inside Golden Gate Park. There’s a short break at Twin Peaks for panoramic views, then a final ride down Market Street before returning to the pier.

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Explore all shore excursions

Explore itineraries with cruises to San Francisco

Princess Cruises docks at the centrally located Pier 27 Cruise Terminal, right along the Embarcadero and within easy reach of San Francisco’s downtown. From here, you can hop a cable car, walk the waterfront or dive into Chinatown, North Beach and the Ferry Building’s gourmet market scene. It’s a launch point that drops you right into the heart of the action and is an ideal port to launch into Alaska, Mexico, Central America and California coast cruise itineraries.

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Golden Gate Bridge - San Francisco, California, USA

5-Day West Coast Getaway with San Francisco

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10-Day Mexican Riviera

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10-Day Inside Passage (with Glacier Bay National Park)

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Discover San Francisco on your next cruise

Golden Gate sunsets, streets that lean like a roller coaster and waterfront neighborhoods packed with personality — San Francisco has something for everyone. Explore at your own pace or join a guided tour that takes you deep into wine country or coastal forests. With curated excursions and creature comforts waiting back on board, Princess makes the experience seamless from sea to shore and back again.

Cruises to San Francisco
A steep San Francisco street with two cable cars ascending the hill, tall buildings lining both sides, busy traffic below and the Bay Bridge visible in the background through the corridor of skyscrapers.

Ride straight into the heart of San Francisco as cable cars climb a classic city hill framed by the Bay Bridge.

A view of San Francisco’s Painted Ladies, a row of colorful Victorian houses in the foreground with the city skyline behind them including the Transamerica Pyramid and tall buildings under a warm sunset sky.

Watch the Painted Ladies glow as sunset washes San Francisco’s skyline in soft pastel light.

A smiling couple stands at the railing of a Princess® cruise ship, enjoying the open sea and blue sky.

A couple stands together on the wooden deck of a Princess® cruise ship, gazing out at the open sea beneath a bright blue sky dotted with clouds.

Front-facing view of a Princess® cruise ship sailing through calm ocean waters.

Cut through the world’s waterways and experience the planet’s most exciting coastlines from a sea-side perspective; our fleet is your luxury-and-entertainment-packed transport to adventure.

Discover our ships

Whatever adventure you decide to embrace in San Francisco you can be sure that the journey to and from will be just as memorable. 

 

Step aboard any Princess® ship and discover your new favorite way to travel. Each vessel is a floating playground of flavor, comfort and top-deck experiences. Enjoy freshly prepared local dishes, Broadway-caliber entertainment, oceanview fitness and wellness studios, family programming and beds so comfortable they’ve won awards. 


No two ships are identical, but they all share one mission: turn your vacation into a standing ovation.

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Cruises to San Francisco FAQs

*The port location is subject to change. Please check itinerary details after you book for more information.

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    Airplane to Ship Transfer

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    Cruise Plus Hotel Packages

    Extend your cruise vacation and simplify your travel plans with a hotel stay at the beginning or end of your cruise. With a Cruise Plus Hotel Package, a Princess representative meets you at the airport and pier, transporting you to and from your hotel. The package includes the cost of your hotel stay, transportation, luggage handling and the representative’s services.

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A couple stands together on the deck of a cruise ship, smiling as they enjoy the ocean view under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.

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