me and a friend are flying to sf for NYE. we will be flying into Oakland and want to take public transit from Oakland to Fisherman's Wharf (our lodging is there).
We know we can take BART from Oakland to downtown SF but how do we get from downtown to fisherman's wharft using public transit. Someone I know who visited SF recently suggested the trolley cars? Does he mean cable cars?

Cable Car from Powell BART to the Wharf - expect a crowd and loooong line.

What time and day of the week you'll land in OAK?

From Embarcadero BART take historic trolley line F or if you're young and healthy you can walk along the waterfront.

Check MUNI website lines 10, 47. I think they run past Embarcadero BART.

From Civic Center BART take line 19 at daytime only. This stop is not recommended in the evening.

Get off at the Embarcadero and then take the Trolley car that runs along the Embarcadero to the Wharf area. When you exit the Bart station, turn toward the Ferry Building (with the big clock) on the bay.

Just a thought...how much luggage will you have?

I only visited SF in the spring and rode the Powell->Wharf cable cars (of course!). The seating was VERY TIGHT on the outside with people standing on something like a siderunner, in front of the outward facing sitting seats. I had to really squish to hold my shopping bags on my lap. I don't think you could sit there with any type of luggage (nor stand of course).

It didn't seem like the inside seats were very roomy either. Just something to think about. Though, you will have no problems on the BART. Perhaps a local can let you know better.

FYI trolley cars are not cable cars. The F line mentioned by previous poster is a trolley car that runs to Fisherman's Wharf.

I was beginning to suspect Faina was the outrageous Oaktown from some of her posts, and lookie what we have here! mymymy

More details. We're arriving 12/30 mid morning. We're leaving 1/1 early morning. I think my friend was talking about a trolley car rather than the cable cars. He says this trolley goes by the waterfront and that we can easily get from downtown to Fisherman's wharf this way. He says it's much better than taking the bus. We will have small rolling duffle bags(we're coming from LA). Do you know where I can get a schedule for the trolley?

top it offf

Don't worry about a schedule. It's one of those every 15 minute things. And you'll probably have plenty of room.

Take BART to San Francisco and get off at the Embarcardero Station. Once you come up to street level, hop on an F train -- this is an above ground city transit train that runs along the Embarcardero waterfront, and will take you to Fisherman's Wharf. (This is NOT the same as the crowded cable cars or "trolleys" that someone else referred to).

If you want map, route, and fare info about Muni, you can find it at the following url:
http://www.transitinfo.org/Muni/

(Click on "Downtown Map").

Have fun!