San Francisco Cruise Port Guide

San Francisco is a compact city of about 870,000 people on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, connected to the north by the Golden Gate Bridge and to the east by the Bay Bridge.

The city's terrain is famously steep, its climate famously foggy, and its personality famously independent. Ships dock at Pier 27 (the James R. Herman Cruise Terminal) on the Embarcadero waterfront, walking distance from Fisherman's Wharf, North Beach (the Italian quarter), and the Ferry Building.

Princess, Holland America, Celebrity, and others use San Francisco as an embarkation port for Alaska, Hawaii, Pacific Coast, and transpacific itineraries. The city packs an extraordinary range of experiences into 49 square miles: the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, cable cars climbing impossible grades, Chinatown (the oldest in North America), and neighborhood after neighborhood with distinct character.

San Francisco's food scene has been among the best in America for decades, with everything from dim sum in the Richmond District to sourdough bread at Boudin to Michelin-starred restaurants in Hayes Valley.

For embarkation passengers, this is a city that deserves extra days before or after a cruise.

Pier 27 (James R. Herman Cruise Terminal) sits on the Embarcadero, walking distance from Fisherman's Wharf (15 minutes north), the Ferry Building (15 minutes south), and North Beach (10 minutes west).

San Francisco's public transit system (Muni) includes buses, light rail, and the famous cable cars. Cable car rides cost $8 per trip and run on three lines, including the Powell-Hyde line from Union Square to Fisherman's Wharf.

Muni buses and light rail cost $2.50 per ride with a Clipper card. BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) connects to the airport ($9.65, 30 minutes) and Oakland. Uber and Lyft are widely available and often the most practical option for hilly cross-town trips.

Taxis are metered. The city is walkable but hilly. Some blocks are seriously steep. Comfortable shoes with grip matter here more than at most ports. The F-line historic streetcar runs along the Embarcadero from the terminal area to Fisherman's Wharf and beyond, and is both transit and attraction in one ($2.

50). For a port day, walking plus the cable car and F-line streetcar cover the main sights.

San Francisco's weather defies California stereotypes. Summer (June through August) is the foggiest season, with the marine layer rolling through the Golden Gate most mornings and temperatures of 55 to 68 degrees F (13 to 20 degrees C).

Mark Twain never actually said the coldest winter he spent was a summer in San Francisco, but the sentiment is accurate. September and October are the warmest, clearest months (65 to 78 degrees F / 18 to 26 degrees C), when the fog retreats and the city gets its actual summer.

This is locally called Indian summer and is the best time to visit. Cruise traffic runs year-round, with Alaska season (May through September) driving the most embarkation activity. Fleet Week (early October) brings Navy ships, the Blue Angels air show over the bay, and a festive atmosphere on the waterfront.

Spring (March through May) has mild weather with occasional rain. Winter is cool and rainy (48 to 58 degrees F / 9 to 14 degrees C). For the clearest Golden Gate views and warmest walking weather, late September through mid-October is the prime window.

The Golden Gate Bridge is the essential San Francisco experience, and you can walk or bike across (free, 1.7 miles each way). The south vista point at Battery Spencer offers the classic photo angle. Alcatraz Island ($41, book weeks in advance) tours the former federal prison on a ferry ride across the bay, with audio tours narrated by former inmates and guards.

Fisherman's Wharf has the sea lions at Pier 39, Ghirardelli Square, and clam chowder in sourdough bread bowls ($10 to $14) at the waterfront stands. North Beach (the Italian district) has City Lights Bookstore (where the Beat Generation published), espresso cafes, and Italian restaurants.

Chinatown is the oldest in North America and the most densely packed, with dim sum restaurants, herbalist shops, and the ornate Dragon Gate. The Ferry Building Marketplace (on the Embarcadero near the terminal) is a gourmet food hall with artisan vendors, coffee roasters, and oyster bars.

Ride a cable car ($8) on the Powell-Hyde line for the steepest hills and best views toward the bay. For food, San Francisco delivers at every price point: Mission burritos ($10 to $14), dim sum in Chinatown or the Richmond ($15 to $25 per person), clam chowder at the Wharf, and Tartine bakery in the Mission for pastries that draw lines around the block.

Alcatraz Island tours ($41, book far in advance) are the top excursion and frequently sell out. The night tour ($47) is atmospheric. Golden Gate Bridge bike tours ($50 to $80) ride across the bridge and ferry back from Sausalito.

Muir Woods excursions ($70 to $120) visit old-growth coast redwoods 30 minutes north of the bridge. Wine country day trips to Napa or Sonoma ($100 to $200) drive about an hour north for tastings. City segway or walking tours ($40 to $70) cover Fisherman's Wharf, North Beach, Chinatown, and the waterfront.

For embarkation passengers, Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge are the two must-do experiences. Book Alcatraz as far ahead as possible since it sells out weeks in advance. Walking the bridge and taking a cable car ride can both be done independently and for free (or $8 for the cable car).

Pier 27 puts you right on the Embarcadero, one of the best cruise terminal locations in the country. US dollars, cards everywhere. English spoken. San Francisco is generally safe in tourist areas, though the Tenderloin neighborhood (several blocks south of Union Square) should be avoided.

Pack layers. Even in September and October, the fog can roll in and drop temperatures 15 degrees in an hour. A windbreaker is essential for the Golden Gate Bridge walk, where it's always windy and often cold regardless of what the city temperature says.

Book Alcatraz early. This is the one attraction where advance planning is mandatory since same-day tickets rarely exist. Cable car lines at Powell and Market can be long. Walk a few stops up the line and board where it's less crowded.

Sourdough bread bowls with clam chowder are touristy but good. Tipping follows US standards (15 to 20%).