We are flying to SF to drive up the coast. Husband wants to do a sunset bay cruise before we leave SF. Should we find a hotel close to airport or pier39 for the night and rent our car the next morning? If we do it that way can we Uber to our hotel? Any hotel suggestions? Thanks!

If it fits in your budget I'd maybe look at the Hyatt Embarcadero -- it is not at Pier 39 but up the Embarcadero across from the Ferry Bldg. wonderful views of the Bay and Bay Bridge plus there is a Budget rental car agency in the hotel and it is a short walk from the BART station (IF you are brave enough to use BART in from the airport )

If you don't use BART, I'd just take a taxi instead of uber/Lyft.

What time do you arrive at ? SFO? Also what kind of hotel and price point. Weekend or weekday?

Also where does the cruise depart?

We arrive at noon on a Wednesday 9/11.

It departs from Pier 39.

We are not looking for anything to fancy. We will be leaving early the next morning.

I did not think about trying to get a car somewhere else. That is an idea. Thanks.

If you rent a car at SFO it would probably be more expensive than elsewhere but than you would not have to pay for a taxi into the city which is I believe is quite pricey. Costco if you have a membership often has decent rental car rates. Consider someplace like the Coventry Motor Inn which has free parking and in an area of the city with plenty of restaurants and not that far from your Pier. Alternatively some hotel near Fisherman’s wharf might work but I have no experience with Hotels in that area although I have probably stayed at 20 or so hotels in San Francisco.

For simplicity I would simply pick a chain hotel that you are familiar with located near Pier 39 - something like the Holiday Inn Express. The rooms will be fine. The location is handy to your main purpose - the boat.

Take a taxi or uber from the airport then rent the following morning from a nearby location. All of the major companies have offices in that area.

parking would cost you about $50 a night anyway and a car is more of a hassle than a benefit.

I am staying at Holiday Inn and getting car nearby.

From Google:

BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) provides one of the world's best airport-to-downtown train services. BART takes you downtown in 30 minutes for only $5.35 one-way or $10.70 round trip. It's the fast, easy, inexpensive way to get to San Francisco.

And from there take Uber or Lyft to your hotel.

A hotel by SFO would be less convenient because there's no sunset cruises nearby. If you plan to launch from Pier 39 then getting a hotel near there would be best. I wouldn't rent a car from SFO just to drive to the hotel either. Parking near Pier 39 is really expensive, especially overnight and it's a hassle. I would say getting an uber or lift from the airport to a hotel near Pier 39 is your best bet.