Red and White Fleet — Local services in San Francisco

I debated leaving this review for nearly a month, because I hate being negative, but at the same time I don't want anyone else to go through such a miserable experience.

This review is SPECIFICALLLY for the Fourth of July Fireworks Cruise. It was terrible. Stunningly bad. It wasn't the weather that was deplorable, it was the experience. They PACKED the boat with people. I'm not saying it was legally overcrowded, but it sure came right up to that line. Thankfully, I'm tall, but if you have children don't go on this 4th of July tour, because EVERYONE is standing, packed tight, and trying to see the fireworks, and your kids will have a very hard time seeing anything (sooooo many sad kids crying and whining on the trip that they couldn't see. I don't blame them.)

I emphasize "trying" to see because the boat captain took our little tug boat directly into a fog bank, which made the seeing the fireworks hard. I mean, we saw bright lights eerily peaking through the fog, but it felt like watching a distant war where you see bursts of color. I don't want to tell the captain how to do their job, but there sure looked like a lot of Bay that wasn't foggy. The Red and White website says, "Our expert captains will position the boat to provide you with the best possible views," which sounds comical after being on the boat.

Honestly, staying on the Fisherman Wharf pier would provide a better viewing experience. And, it will save you lots of money.

Oh...and the drinks? True...you do get drinks...but don't expect to get them soon. You'll be in line for 30+ minutes. Literally. God bless those two bartenders who were trying to serve drinks. Red and White needs to hire more bartenders or staff another bar or something.

Also...the snacks. They provide snacks. Kind of. They dumped boxes of snacks on a few tables and anyone can grab anything. After 15 minutes the table looked like a grocery store in some post apocolytic film...stripped bare wiith a few packages here and there.

I just expected more. Is that my fault? Maybe. The 4th of July cruise landing page makes it sound like a once in a lifetime experience. They do a great job hyping the event...but it fell flat. Actually, it didn't fall flat. It began flat, and just went lower and lower. I can think of soooo many better ways to spend money. If you have a family please tell them, "I once read this review on Google that said it was awful, so we're going to spend our money doing something else, because I love you." Trust me...it's the best choice you can make! Do...

Any trip to San Francisco is bound to include sightseeing. There is much to see and quite a bit of scenery to soak up and one of the best ways to see some of the highlights is by boat. There are a few boat tour services offered and the one I tried and loved is the Red and White Fleet.

This tour service departs from Fisherman’s Wharf so it was extremely convenient for me and my family since we were staying at a hotel right by the Wharf. The service offers several options, like a cruise to the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz; a cruise to the Golden Gate and San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge; and others. The tours last about an hour to ninety minutes, and they even have a sunset cruise for those who prefer to see the area at dusk.

Walking onto the boat, my family and I made our way to the top deck, which is open- air with bench seating. This is where you will get the best views. If the weather isn’t too your liking or you start to feel cold, just walk down to the middle deck. If you want something to drink or a snack, they have you covered for that as well, on the lower deck.

This cruise is excellent for taking in the sights of the bay and the highlights are the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island. Angel Island is also in full view, and you get nice view of downtown. In addition to the memorable visuals and photo ops, you also get to learn about the history of the area through the narration. Keep in mind that the narration isn’t conducted by an actual person. Instead, it is recorded. Some may not prefer this, but I liked it because there was no problem hearing what was being said and it was clear and well- edited. If you miss something or have questions, they have people on board who can easily assist.

San Francisco is one of America’s most popular and memorable cities for a reason. The Red and White Fleet is an excellent way to see some of the highlights of the city and to learn about its history. It runs seven days per week and departs from Fisherman’s Wharf, so it’s easy to find. Book a cruise on the Red and White Fleet yourself, soak up the scenery, and educate yourself on the San Francisco area and its...

I was looking forward to this Bridge to Bridge Cruise since I booked this trip in October. We did the 2 hour Hornblower San Diego Harbor Cruise in September and had a great time. On Wednesday when we showed up for the cruise it was raining lightly. We had our pre-paid picture ticket and took a nice picture as we bordered. We stayed our on the bow from the start of the cruise in spite of the light rain. The best pictures are taken outside. We approached the Golden Gate Bridge. I had already taken over 40 pictures, each better than the previous the closer we got to the bridge. When we were right upon and under the bridge in was raining harder. I got some great pictures but rain drops on my lence. As we turned around to head to the Bay Bridge, I toughed it out as long as i could. The rain intensified as we were approaching Alcatraz Island, and it took its toll on me. By this time my husband and I were the last two still toughing the rain. We went inside to get out of the rain and dry off. I tried to take pictures out the window, but rain drops make that nearly impossible. I missed the second ½ of the cruise with the opportunities for perfect pictures of the San Francisco Skyline and of course the Bay Bridge. Overall I enjoy the cruise and I did get some good pictures. The weather can't be blamed of Red and White Fleet. They fulfilled their promised cruise. If I visit again I will plan a spring or summer Bridge to...