A small waterfront pause
Cruise Terminal Plaza
Selected public plaza areas at Pier 27.
- Check both port connections
- Confirm entry and optional purchases
United States Departure & port-visit guide
Waterfront views, market browsing, and hands-on science.
Waterfront views, market browsing, and hands-on science. Pier 27 James R. Herman Cruise Terminal and Pier 35 serve the northern Embarcadero; other assignments appear in the port schedule. Confirm your ship’s pier and passenger entrance rather than using an attraction address.

Option 1
Choose a plan for the stops, food, walking and extra costs. Before sailing, arrange luggage storage and follow your cruise line’s check-in window and final boarding deadline. On a port call, use the ship’s all-aboard time to set your return.
Hours and prices checked Oct 6, 2026.
A small waterfront pause
Selected public plaza areas at Pier 27.
Stops, in order
Your cruise terminal plaza plan
Local tip
The plaza and terminal are different spaces. The port describes a public plaza with lawn, benches and paths. Our suggestion: use those public areas rather than treating the terminal building as a sightseeing attraction.
Set a return reminder
Your phone uses its own clock; if it differs from ship time, set the reminder by ship time.
Hours and prices checked Oct 6, 2026.
Cruise Terminal Plaza: visitor information
Food counters and market architecture
A browse of selected Ferry Building shops and bayside areas.
Stops, in order
Your ferry building marketplace plan
Local tip
Market days are specific. The outdoor farmers market runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Our suggestion: browse the indoor merchants on other days rather than expecting every outdoor stall.
Set a return reminder
Your phone uses its own clock; if it differs from ship time, set the reminder by ship time.
Hours and prices checked Oct 6, 2026.
Ferry Building Marketplace: visitor information
Hands-on exhibits at Pier 15
A selected set of interactive science exhibits.
Your exploratorium plan
Local tip
The Dome needs its own reservation. The museum requires reservations for Tactile Dome sessions. Our suggestion: keep this plan with general exhibits unless you have checked that session’s start and full return journey.
Set a return reminder
Your phone uses its own clock; if it differs from ship time, set the reminder by ship time.
Hours and prices checked Oct 6, 2026.
Exploratorium: visitor informationOn embarkation day, work back from your cruise line’s check-in window instead. Count from when you can get off the ship, or ashore by tender, to the all-aboard time, using ship time. Times on these plans are our estimates, with time to spare; they cannot promise a plan fits your sailing.
Short plans need up to 4 hours in total, medium up to 6, long more than 6. A plan with a connection still to confirm has no total.
Select a terminal or place to see its location and open directions.
Open Cruise Terminal Plaza in Google Maps
Choose a place for its location, then open Google Maps for directions. Confirm the terminal on your cruise documents; a map result does not establish your ship’s berth or an accessible route.
The port lists F-line stops near the northern cruise piers and taxis for passenger drop-off. Check current service and the complete public route from your pier; arrange a return pickup if walking or transit does not suit your needs.
San Francisco: cruise arrival informationSFO lists BART, taxis and ride-app pickup options with terminal-specific instructions. Follow the current signs for your booked service and give the driver the assigned cruise pier. BART does not end at the cruise passenger gate. Confirm the complete fare and journey; no airport-to-ship duration is established.
San Francisco: airport transportSan Francisco: cruise arrival informationBART publishes about 30 minutes from SFO to downtown San Francisco. The airport station is in the International Terminal. Use the current journey planner for the service and fare, then plan the separate Embarcadero cruise-pier connection. The rail estimate excludes airport procedures, waiting and the final passenger entrance. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
BART: SFO rail connection and downtown stations (checked Oct 5, 2026)SFMTA ended new single-ride ticket sales in MuniMobile on September 1, 2026. It lists Clipper, bank-card tapping for adult fares, cash and Muni Metro ticket machines as alternatives. Other app products remain available during the phased retirement; check the product for your date. A Muni ticket is not a complete SFO-to-cruise transfer. Checked Oct 6, 2026.
SFMTA MuniMobile phased retirementOur suggestion: browse Ferry Building food counters if open, check ingredients and the complete bill, and keep purchases small enough to carry back.
Published information checked Oct 6, 2026. Confirm current prices before paying.
Transport
Price the complete outward and return connection, including any waiting, terminal access and luggage. A city fare is not automatically a passenger-gate fare.
San Francisco: cruise arrival informationAt the stops
Admission, food, purchases and optional experiences are separate. Confirm current terms before paying.
Cruise Terminal Plaza: visitor informationFerry Building Marketplace: visitor informationExploratorium: visitor informationOption 2
Prefer an organized outing in San Francisco? Browse tours with Viator, then check the exact meeting point, departure, inclusions and cancellation terms before booking.
Tour duration is only part of your time ashore. Allow for getting to the meeting point, early check-in, any transfers outside the tour and your return reserve. Confirm the ship’s clock, all-aboard time and any earlier last tender. These results have not been checked against your sailing.
Search up to one year ahead. Schedules are indicative; confirm available departure times and your group’s final price on Viator.
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Port details
Check your pier and public waterfront paths. The port lists F-line stops near the northern cruise piers and taxis for passenger drop-off. Check current service and the complete public route from your pier; arrange a return pickup if walking or transit does not suit your needs.
San Francisco: cruise arrival informationCruise Terminal Plaza: visitor informationSan Francisco: airport transportBART: SFO rail connection and downtown stations (checked Oct 5, 2026)SFMTA MuniMobile phased retirementOther outings: Keep longer trips separate. Alcatraz requires its own ferry and booked departure. Golden Gate viewpoints and trips across the bay need separate connections; none is included in these waterfront plans.
Use your actual terminal. Any quoted walk starts at the location named, not automatically at the gangway. Allow for port access, weather and your walking pace.
First steps ashore
Pier 27 James R. Herman Cruise Terminal and Pier 35 serve the northern Embarcadero; other assignments appear in the port schedule. Confirm your ship’s pier and passenger entrance rather than using an attraction address.
Your ship confirms the arrival pier and any tender arrangements for your sailing.
| Location | Area | Passenger detail |
|---|---|---|
| Pier 27 | Northern Embarcadero | James R. Herman Cruise Terminal; confirm passenger entrance.San Francisco: cruise arrival information |
| Pier 35 or another assigned pier | Use the current port schedule | Secondary and other assignments require their own access and pickup instructions.San Francisco: cruise arrival information |
Port hours vary by ship and date in San Francisco. Check your sailing itinerary for scheduled arrival and departure, then the onboard app or daily notice for all-aboard, ship time and any last-tender deadline. Subtract clearance, both transfers and a return buffer before choosing an outing. Scheduled arrival is not your guaranteed time ashore.
Our suggestion: choose one of the three local activities, verify opening and access, and settle both connections before leaving. Check-in, bags and parking come first on departure day.
Sources checked Oct 6, 2026
Cruise Terminal Plaza: visitor informationTake your ship card or wearable, the identification specified in the ship’s port briefing, any tour ticket and a way to pay. Save your terminal name, return deadline and ship’s emergency contact offline. Ask whether your original passport is required for this visit; do not assume a phone photo replaces required identification. U.S. dollars (USD). Check payment methods before ordering and confirm transport, entry and optional purchases separately. No whole-outing price is established.
Sources checked Oct 6, 2026
Royal Caribbean: shore-excursion documents and planningCarnival: identification when reboardingU.S. Department of State: cruise travel planningU.S. dollars: currency informationWait for the ship’s announcement that passengers may go ashore. Follow its gangway, shuttle or tender instructions and any ticketing order. Keep your ship identification ready when leaving and returning. Allow for terminal access checks, queues and security screening before reboarding; tender passengers also need to meet the last return boat.
Sources checked Sep 24, 2026
Carnival: identification when reboardingRoyal Caribbean Group: boarding and port-call screeningA walkable location is not a safety assessment. We have not completed a route-specific security review around San Francisco’s terminals. Before leaving, check current local or government advice and the ship’s port briefing; ask about your intended route and use recognized transport for unfamiliar areas.
Sources checked Sep 24, 2026
U.S. Department of State: cruise travel planningU.S. dollars (USD). Check payment methods before ordering and confirm transport, entry and optional purchases separately. No whole-outing price is established.
Currency checked Oct 5, 2026
U.S. dollars: currency informationFor embarkation, use your cruise line’s terminal and check-in instructions. After the cruise, allow for disembarkation, baggage collection and the airport transfer before airline check-in.
The port says there is no temporary or overnight parking at the cruise terminals. It lists Metropolis cruise parking at 55 and 80 Francisco Street. Confirm the actual reservation, full-stay price, vehicle terms and terminal connection directly with the operator.
Sources checked Oct 5, 2026
San Francisco: cruise arrival informationSFO to downtown: about 30 minutes by BART. This BART estimate is the rail leg only. Add baggage, airport-station access, waiting and the onward connection to your assigned cruise pier. Check current service and fare. Checked Oct 5, 2026. The port lists F-line stops near the northern cruise piers and taxis for passenger drop-off. Check current service and the complete public route from your pier; arrange a return pickup if walking or transit does not suit your needs.
Sources checked Oct 6, 2026
BART: SFO rail connection and downtown stations (checked Oct 5, 2026)San Francisco: cruise arrival informationUse the arrival window and final check-in or boarding deadline issued by your cruise line for San Francisco. They are different from the ship’s departure time. Allow for terminal traffic, baggage drop and security; arriving early does not necessarily mean you can board early.
Sources checked Sep 24, 2026
Royal Caribbean: assigned terminal arrival timeDrop luggage only through your sailing’s staffed baggage operation when it opens. The port says cruise terminals have no luggage storage. PIER 39 lockers are a separate visitor service; confirm sizes and hours before relying on them. Attach your cruise luggage tags before handover. Keep travel documents, medication and valuables in your carry-on. Baggage drop-off is not a promise of early boarding or all-day luggage storage.
Sources checked Sep 24, 2026
San Francisco: cruise arrival informationRoyal Caribbean: packing and luggage tagsThis BART estimate is the rail leg only. Add baggage, airport-station access, waiting and the onward connection to your assigned cruise pier. Check current service and fare. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
BART: SFO rail connection and downtown stations (checked Oct 5, 2026)The port says there is no temporary or overnight parking at the cruise terminals. It lists Metropolis cruise parking at 55 and 80 Francisco Street. Confirm the actual reservation, full-stay price, vehicle terms and terminal connection directly with the operator.
San Francisco: cruise arrival informationSelected public plaza areas at Pier 27.
Cruise Terminal Plaza: visitor informationA browse of selected Ferry Building shops and bayside areas.
Ferry Building Marketplace: visitor informationA selected set of interactive science exhibits.
Exploratorium: visitor informationAlcatraz requires its own ferry and booked departure. Golden Gate viewpoints and trips across the bay need separate connections; none is included in these waterfront plans.
Use the arrival appointment and final check-in deadline issued for your sailing. They are different from the ship’s departure time.
Drop luggage only through your sailing’s staffed baggage operation when it opens. The port says cruise terminals have no luggage storage. PIER 39 lockers are a separate visitor service; confirm sizes and hours before relying on them.
San Francisco: cruise arrival informationThe port, beaches and places to explore









14 itineraries leave San Francisco. See every route on one map, with the ship, the length and the season.
See all 14 cruises from San Francisco42 itineraries in the catalog
Check your pier and public waterfront paths. The port lists F-line stops near the northern cruise piers and taxis for passenger drop-off. Check current service and the complete public route from your pier; arrange a return pickup if walking or transit does not suit your needs.
San Francisco: cruise arrival informationCruise Terminal Plaza: visitor informationSan Francisco: airport transportBART: SFO rail connection and downtown stations (checked Oct 5, 2026)SFMTA MuniMobile phased retirementSources checked Oct 6, 2026
Pier 27 James R. Herman Cruise Terminal and Pier 35 serve the northern Embarcadero; other assignments appear in the port schedule. Confirm your ship’s pier and passenger entrance rather than using an attraction address. Check the terminal comparison above for the different arrival areas.
San Francisco: cruise arrival informationSources checked Oct 6, 2026
SFO to downtown: about 30 minutes by BART. This BART estimate is the rail leg only. Add baggage, airport-station access, waiting and the onward connection to your assigned cruise pier. Check current service and fare. Checked Oct 5, 2026. The port lists F-line stops near the northern cruise piers and taxis for passenger drop-off. Check current service and the complete public route from your pier; arrange a return pickup if walking or transit does not suit your needs.
BART: SFO rail connection and downtown stations (checked Oct 5, 2026)San Francisco: cruise arrival informationSources checked Oct 6, 2026
The port says there is no temporary or overnight parking at the cruise terminals. It lists Metropolis cruise parking at 55 and 80 Francisco Street. Confirm the actual reservation, full-stay price, vehicle terms and terminal connection directly with the operator.
San Francisco: cruise arrival informationSources checked Oct 5, 2026
Use the arrival window and final check-in or boarding deadline issued by your cruise line for San Francisco. They are different from the ship’s departure time. Allow for terminal traffic, baggage drop and security; arriving early does not necessarily mean you can board early.
Royal Caribbean: assigned terminal arrival timeSources checked Sep 24, 2026
Drop luggage only through your sailing’s staffed baggage operation when it opens. The port says cruise terminals have no luggage storage. PIER 39 lockers are a separate visitor service; confirm sizes and hours before relying on them. Attach your cruise luggage tags before handover. Keep travel documents, medication and valuables in your carry-on. Baggage drop-off is not a promise of early boarding or all-day luggage storage.
San Francisco: cruise arrival informationRoyal Caribbean: packing and luggage tagsSources checked Sep 24, 2026
Port hours vary by ship and date in San Francisco. Check your sailing itinerary for scheduled arrival and departure, then the onboard app or daily notice for all-aboard, ship time and any last-tender deadline. Subtract clearance, both transfers and a return buffer before choosing an outing. Scheduled arrival is not your guaranteed time ashore.
Wait for the ship’s announcement that passengers may go ashore. Follow its gangway, shuttle or tender instructions and any ticketing order. Keep your ship identification ready when leaving and returning. Allow for terminal access checks, queues and security screening before reboarding; tender passengers also need to meet the last return boat.
Carnival: identification when reboardingRoyal Caribbean Group: boarding and port-call screeningSources checked Sep 24, 2026
Local guide checked Oct 6, 2026. New practical guidance carries its own source dates. Published prices, hours and terminal use can change. Our outing suggestions are editorial advice, not cruise-line schedules or return guarantees. Cruise-line links illustrate their own policies; your line’s instructions govern your sailing.