# Cruises from San Francisco

Cruises from San Francisco sail under the Golden Gate to Alaska, Hawaii and Mexico. Princess leads the schedule from Pier 27 on the Embarcadero, from $699.

Canonical: https://www.bookcruises.us/cruises-from-san-francisco/


Cruises from San Francisco depart Pier 27 on the Embarcadero and begin with the only sailaway in America that passes under the Golden Gate Bridge. Princess anchors the schedule with 10 night Alaska and 15 night Hawaii round trips, joined by Mexico and coastal wine-country sailings. Fares run $699 to $2,400 per person.

## Key facts

- **Lines sailing from San Francisco:** Princess as the anchor line, with Holland America, Celebrity and Viking on select dates
- **Typical fare range:** $699 to $2,400 per person for 7 to 16 nights
- **Parking:** No dedicated cruise lot, nearby garages about $30 per day, most cruisers use transit or rideshare
- **The sailaway:** Every departure passes under the Golden Gate Bridge, usually about an hour after leaving Pier 27

## Sailing from Pier 27 James R. Herman Cruise Terminal

No American port begins a cruise more dramatically: within the first hour every San Francisco departure slides under the Golden Gate Bridge with the whole city watching from the headlands. Princess has made Pier 27 its Northern California home, running 10 night round trip Alaska sailings and 15 night Hawaii loops that require zero flights for Bay Area cruisers.

These longer round trips are the point of this port. San Francisco to Alaska means you see the Inside Passage without repositioning to Seattle, and the Hawaii round trips are among the last easy ways for Californians to cruise the islands without flying at all. Ahrefs shows almost nobody competing to explain this, which tells you how underrated the port is.

**Season:** Spring through fall for Alaska, Hawaii and coastal sailings year round on select dates.

## Popular sailings

| Itinerary | Length | Line | From (pp) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Alaska Inside Passage round trip | 10 nights | Princess Cruises | $999 |
| Hawaii islands round trip | 15 nights | Princess Cruises | $1,499 |
| California coast and wine country | 7 nights | Princess Cruises | $699 |
| Mexican Riviera | 10 nights | Princess Cruises | $899 |

## Parking

Pier 27 has no dedicated long-term cruise lot, and Embarcadero garages run about $30 per day, the priciest cruise parking in the country. If you must drive, pre-book a garage on a weekly rate. Otherwise, BART plus a short taxi, or a direct rideshare, beats parking on any sailing over a week.

## Where to stay the night before

Hotels along the Embarcadero and in North Beach put Pier 27 within a walk or a five minute cab. Fisherman's Wharf hotels are closest of all and often cheaper on cruise-heavy weekends. Fly into SFO or OAK the day before, both are 30 to 40 minutes out.

## Cruise lines from San Francisco

- Princess Cruises
- Holland America Line
- Celebrity Cruises
- Viking Ocean Cruises

## Destinations served

- Alaska
- Hawaii
- Mexican Riviera
- California Coast and wine country

## Frequently asked questions

### Do Alaska cruises really sail round trip from San Francisco?

Yes. Princess runs 10 night Inside Passage round trips from Pier 27 spring through fall, visiting Juneau, Ketchikan and Glacier Bay without any flight to Seattle or Vancouver.

### Where exactly do ships dock in San Francisco?

The James R. Herman Cruise Terminal at Pier 27 on the Embarcadero, between Fisherman's Wharf and the Ferry Building. Overflow sailings occasionally use Pier 35 next door.

### When should I book San Francisco sailings?

Alaska dates open about 18 months out and the Glacier Bay departures sell first. Hawaii round trips are cheapest booked 6 to 9 months ahead. Prices checked: August 2026.

## Related pages

- [Alaska cruises from Seattle](https://www.bookcruises.us/alaska-cruises-from-seattle/)
- [Hawaii cruises from California](https://www.bookcruises.us/hawaii-cruises-from-california/)
- [Alaska cruise deals](https://www.bookcruises.us/alaska-cruise-deals/)

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