ALCATRAZ TOURS

Chamodhi Ravihansi

Highly recommend doing the night tour. It gives a good vibe that goes with Alcatraz. Night tour sells out fast so have to book tickets couple of weeks or even months before. Get to the dock at least 30 min before departure. Fog covered the whole island during our tour which made it a cool experience. A good sunset is promised but it is totally based on the weather. Guides are knowledgeable and there’s a good audio tour for cells. They give you audio devices (sanitized) so no need to worry about bringing headphones. Make sure to stay for events after the cell tour. You get to see the cells without the crowd. Bring a good jacket to protect yourself from cold specially during the night tour.

Jazmin Studebaker

It was better than what I was expecting. The boat only take about 15 to 20 minutes from the pier to the island (pier 33). It was pretty easy when you get there, you can go on your own or follow the guide (we followed Bryan) I think it was his name, he got old pictures of Alcatraz, was very knowledgeable and really nice . After you get to the cells we got the audio and went on our own. Don't forget to go down to where the inmates got free time, you can see the golden gate bridge from back there and a lot of birds. We love that it was clean and it felt good to be out there (it was sunny and a beautiful day) bring a sweater just in case, it was pretty windy. There are bathrooms and you can take the boat back to the pier every hour (don't need to reserve) Definitely RECOMMEND to do this, it was worth it (if you only want to do Alcatraz there is only one company that goes there) Alcatraz City Cruises, the other ones are tour companies, it took me a while to research and found out about that, since we only wanted to do Alcatraz. Enjoy!!

Wayne Pombert II

Overall this was a great way to experience Alcatraz. From the moment we got on the boat, to the moment we returned from the island, it was fun and educational. The tour boat itself that shuttles passengers to the island is solar powered, which is pleasant to know it’s operating with less of a carbon footprint. On the way to the island, there’s amazing indescribable views all around the San Francisco bay area. When you get to the island, it's great that you can venture around the island at your own pace. At first it was a little strange to be offered hand held devices for the self tour, but after getting into the tour, it actually was convenient to be able to explore at our own pace. The tour was very informative and interesting when learning more about the island's history. Before the tour, I didn’t realize there was more tied to the island other than the history of the prison. If you’re into history and exploring landmarks, this is an excellent place to visit. The costs were reasonable and the staff were very helpful. If there were ever any questions, there’s always someone nearby to help. This is a great experience for families and friends. When we arrived, we got an creepy feeling from the island. It was somewhat spooky and unsettling to be on the island, as it should be. Exploring the prison sells and different parts of the prison, it gave a feeling that’s worth discovering on your own volition. Definitely recommend experiencing this tour.

Gregory Hildebrand

This is a perfect way to see both San Francisco Bay and get a history lesson. The boat is comfortable and easy to move around Alcatraz is a perfect state of decay. The island has a very good audio tour and is easy to navigate. Definitely a worthwhile excursion.