doogs

Having a debate with the husband over what time of day to do Alcatraz. Being a big fan of being spooked I'd much rather do a nightime tour. I'd love some feedback on day v. night and having just three nights in San Francisco (in July by the way) if this is the way we'd want to spend one of them. I know it's a choice, but are there better ways to spend our evenings or is this as do not miss as I hear it is.

Thanks so much everyone.

NewbE

In my opinion, it's not to be missed, and if you are into spooky atmosphere, definitely go at night. (The lights of the city from the island are an added bonus.) Alcatraz is one of those touristy things that sounds cheesy but is actually great

frank_and_beans

I'm curious as I've been to Alcatraz many times but never at night. Are you actually there at night during the darkness? In July it won't get dark until close to 9 pm. What time does the night tour start?

chepar

I'd been looking into doing the Alcatraz night tour when we're in San Francisco in early August.

Right now the website for tickets only shows a tour schedule through the end of June. The two departure times for the night tour appear to be 6:10 and 6:40. Elsewhere on the website it looks like the night tour takes about 3 hours (from departure to arrival).

Ended up that the night tour doesn't work with my plans to meet someone for dinner, so I guess I'll have to do the day tour instead. Too bad, I was really looking forward to it.

chepar

To clarify, the departure times I saw on the website are for June.

I emailed the tour operator to see if they could tell me if the departure times would vary later in the summer (to accommodate the changing time of the sunset) but I got back essentially a non-reply.

janisj

"The two departure times for the night tour appear to be 6:10 and 6:40."

"To clarify, the departure times I saw on the website are for June.

I emailed the tour operator to see if they could tell me if the departure times would vary later in the summer (to accommodate the changing time of the sunset)"

June has the longest daylight/latest sunsets of the year so I'm not quite sure what you meant there . . .

In mid June sunset is around 8:30 and by mid August - around 8:00. So in June it will be about dusk when the boat docks back at the Wharf. In August it will be dusk just before boading the boat back.

doogs

chepar - were you looking at blue and gold fleet? Just curious as that's who Fodor's suggested. Have to admit I've checked out the website and see a link for Angel Island, but not Alcatraz. Thanks!

chepar

janisj-

With the sun setting a little earlier later in the summer, I wondered if the night tours would have an earlier departure, like they did earlier in the year. I think I recall seeing the tour departures an hour earlier for April.

With trying to make plans to meet someone for dinner, and hour difference in departure time would make a difference if I could take the night tour or not.

doogs - the website I went to is www.alcatrazcruises.com.

tennislvr1

speaking of Alcatraz, we'll be in the area around Halloween...if anyone hears from the tour operators, could you ask what time typically the tours are held during this time? Also, when do tickets go on sale for that time period?
thanks...always wanted to take the tour - I hear its great and one should try to get on the tour with one of the former guards hosting it.

nelsonian

Blue and gold fleet no longer do the Alcatraz crusies, it's now Hornblower cruises. All the information is on their web site.

We did the night tour at the beginning of April, it departed at 5pm (still light then) but got dark as we were there, we returned at 8pm. Got the lights of San Francisco as we came back. We loved the tour a highlight of our visit to SF.