San Francisco Bay Ferry

Ferry from San Francisco to Vallejo and vice versa is great but the woman who works the beverage snack counter on the boat itself on the weekends is the rudest I have encountered on my trip to California.

Wine on a commute? Sign me up! I think I need to get a job in SFO just so I can take this ferry everyday.
We went at Sunset after a wine tasting just to catch some great views. it was fast, relaxing and had some soul searching views. The concession stand on lower level has snacks, wine and other drinks. I used my Clippr card to board and my boyfriend bought his ticket at the concession area. Boat bathrooms creep me out, but there was one available if you can’t hold it.
Just try it once and enjoy your hair in the wind. (Titanic pose?)

I simply can’t express how much i love taking ferry everyday!!! It is a healthy way to start your day by watching the sunrise with a warm cup of coffee. If you are following me on Instagram, you can see I love taking pictures of the sunrises. Since I was a kid I loved waking up early before everyone else and when I am lucky catch sunrise in the action. There is something breathe taking about starting a new day with good thoughts and maybe even meditate. Birth of a new day is motivating to be happy and live our lives to the fullest!!! I do wish the ferry would start taking credit cards, because not everyone carries cash all the time.

Had to take the ferry today to Alameda/​Oakland because BART isn’t running there this weekend to meet up with a friend. I was pleasantly surprised at how much nicer and cleaner it is compared to the ferry ride to Sausalito and Angel Island. It’s been awhile since I rode those ferry so I can’t say for certain this is a fact today.
I preferred the ride to Alameda and Oakland more than BART. May take it more from now on.

Attempted to take the ferry from Vallejo to AT&T Park for a baseball game yesterday. Arrived 2 hours before departure time (11:00 a.m.), but were told the only ferry to the ballpark was full. Agent suggested we take the 10:30 ferry to the SF Ferry Building. It was a great idea, except they oversold tickets for that time slot and after waiting in line, we were told that ferry was full also. Obviously there were lots of upset people. The agent at the gate, said he would call and see if they could schedule another ferry before 2:00. In actuality, he didn’t want to take the flak, so he told a little white lie, left and did not return. The next scheduled ferry to SF was 2:00 p.m. Since we were trying to get to a game starting at 12:45, waiting was not an option, so we hopped in our car and drove into the city. We often go to games, concerts, overnight stays in the city. We typically drive to Concord and take BART. After this fiasco with the ferry, we will continue to use BART in the future. NOT A FAN OF THE FERRY SYSTEM.

The 30 years I’ve lived in the bay, I’ve never ridden the Ferry until now. We went from the Ferry Building in SF to Jack London Square. Reasonable fares I think especially if you use Clippercard. It was a lazy sunday afternoon with plenty of empty seats everywhere. They have a full bar with some snack food, and at least 1 bathroom that I saw. BTW, the bar is cash only.
I’d like to find out if there is an excursion fee, like they have on BART. Suppose I tag on at Jack London, then ride the ferry all day without getting off anywhere, then return to Jack London and tag off. I wonder if I will be charged more than the initial $ 10. Guess I’ll have to try it sometime.

I like the ferry, I really do… but when a company doesn’t take care of the patrons that give them business every day in exchange for profit it’s not right. They usually back up the ferry on game days so the people getting off of work aren’t waiting an hour for the next ferry. In this case they pick up the fans from the ball park and left the daily commuters here waiting. Bad business practice if you ask me.

We come to Oakland a couple times a year to have some Harley riders fun and Using the ferry to get to San Francisco is the best thing I discovered. We park our car at Jack London Square which has secured parking and plenty of security and walk to the loading dock. Their is a schedule posted up to see times and drop offs and on holidays they run weekend schedules so it runs frequently. You line up on the dock, wait for arriving passengers to exit, hop on board, and that’s when you can pay for your tickets. There is plenty of seating inside and out, tray tables, and bench style seating also. You can purchase refreshments and even alcohol, woo hoo. You are free to move around and it is a pretty smooth ride. The staff is always helpful and friendly boarding and docking. We take ferry right to fishermans wharf, get our tourist on, grab a bite to eat, grab some bites to go, couple souvenirs, and back on the ferry we go back to Oakland, so convenient. My only gripe is, which prolly sounds silly or unrealistic to some if they could clean the outside of windows every now and then so I can getter better photos of all the great landmarks off the water,

Tourist alert: I enjoyed riding the ferry from East Bay to the Fisherman’s Wharf. It was cold and very gloomy, but the sites were still amazing. The ferry was clean with plenty of seating. There was a bar with snacks as well. During the short ride, I was able to appreciate the sites, the stops, and even see how some people regularly commute, which is obviously different from city life in the L.A. area. The only con: dirty windows prevented me from taking good, clear pictures. But only a tourist would care about that, right?! Lol

Took the San Francisco ferry back to Oakland. I really enjoyed all the sights while riding on the ferry. It was the first time for me riding the ferry. I was a little worried because I get motion sickness but it was not to bad for me. As long as I don’t have food in my stomach. Haha…
It seems people are so used to riding the ferry. I see everyone on their cell phone. I like to check out the views since it was the first time for me riding the ferry. I really enjoyed the ride. Got to see other boats go by with tall buildings in SF and of course the bridge. I had a great time.
Make sure you have your clipper card and or ticket. You need it to get on and off the ferry.

This is the best way to commute from the North Bay into San Francisco. The ferry consistently runs on-​time and now takes Clipper cards. The commuters are polite to each other and the staff is very helpful and always smiling. The boats are comfy; nice seats with plenty of room & bathrooms are clean too. They have wifi on board and it works most of the time.
The view from the Bay is unbelievable, so picturesque.
There isn’t a better way to travel into the city.

Why can’t they be honest? We were the cutoff to a full ferry and the gentleman who said the boat was full said there was another boat on the way. 5 min. 10 min max. It’s the day after thanksgiving hundreds of people in line., we were excited that we would be first in line. (assuming he was telling the truth., and their increased scheduled to accommodate). After standing here 30+ min. Realizing he lied. The next boat is an hour away., on the regular schedule.
If he could have just told the truth. We would have been disappointed but would have left, now we are leaving and are not only disappointed but very frustrated! Why lie??? Really why??? What is the benefit?

I seldom ride the ferry, but when I do, it’s like a treat for myself. Yes, it’s more expensive, less convenient than BART. But if you have the time, not time pressed, it’s more of a luxury riding along the bay, seeing the bay bridge, being able to buy a drink if you so desire. It’s a much more pleasant way to travel once you’re on board, particularly with companionship or friends, it’s an event in itself.

During my last hometown SF visit, we wanted to meet with my friends for dinner in Alameda. The ferry dock is in walking distance to his house. How effing cool is that?!
So you gotta line up early — or you could miss the boat (could hit capacity!) And the longer you dawdle, the line grows. In fact it gets really long! You’ll have to figure out which line is going where. And don’t stress — you can buy tickets after boarding on the boat. Find the deckhand once the boat is underway.
Fairly quick ride. ~20−25 minute ride. Very smooth. No motion sickness like the bouncy Catalina Island boat in LA. Gotta love Bay Area commuters. They are super efficient when it comes to getting on or off this boat. No drama.
The weather was gorgeous. Cheaper than a tourist trap ride shoving off from Pier 39. Still it’s pricey to commute this way everyday. Most commuters have the Clipper card which gets you a discount. And the Harbor Bay dock area is a nice place for a stroll alongside the water. Dog friendly too!

Need consistent transport? Need to plan ahead? Want to be surrounded by a friendly staff that encourages you to ride again and again? Are you interested in getting value for your hard earned dollar? Then don’t ride the San Francisco Bay Ferry. Their service is terrible, they never return call, their staff is awful, and it’s clear that they don’t care about your or any of their paying customers.

How to get on the ferry. (No need to purchase tickets online or make reservations — all done once you get there the day of)
Step 1:
Once you walk into the ferry building, you must purchase your ferry ticket. Located in the middle of the layout, there is a small «gift shop» looking place. Once you walk into the main entrance from the city and looking at the schedule that is hanging above, it’s to your right side.
Step 2:
Either ask when you are purchasing your ticket which gate your ferry is and where it is at. Or simply look at the map they have right outside by the docks. Gate B is located on the left side for the building.
Step 3:
Go stand in line by the deck gate. The line really gets long once it gets close departure time. For example, my ferry to Vallejo had a departure time of 4:30pm. The line was all the way to the front of the building by 4:15pm. At 4:20pm, the gates unlocked and we started to walk in.
Step 4:
Give your ticket, go in, and enjoy. Seats have ample space in between each seat, so you can comfortably sit anywhere. Outlets along the wall, drinks and snacks sold on the boat, tables available to sit during the ride, and TV screens with the time, speed, and a map of the area with location.
** The ferries are extremely on time and precise. **
** No restriction on what you bring on. (# of luggages, etc)
Great experience. Would definitely recommend and take again

Of the methods of transportation in the Bay Area, the ferry is tops. It’s pricy but you get what you pay for.
After a long day taking everything you can to test your moral fortitude to make a living, a quiet, comfortable ride home is all you need. On the ferry, you are always guaranteed a seat. There are no psychos that you normally encounter on Bart, and of course no crazy traffic going down i80. Also, there is free WIFI and it’s just superb. Eat, there is more… They have a bar and yes it’s also costly but c’mon! Bathrooms are available as well. The main benefit is getting to enjoy the Bay and the sights.
There are several seats and some seats have tables. I’ve seen grannies knitting, people playing cards and I am just amazed by it. It’s $ 13 one way, $ 103 for a 10 day pass or $ 290 per month. If you can’t afford to do it monthly then the 10 day pass just to break up your commute is enough to remind you that there are better days.

I didn’t want to take the ferry, but had no choice since BART is on strike *shakes fist*. It was a surprise and delight to see how pleasant the whole experience was.
When I arrived at the terminal in Jack London Square, I was a little nervous at the amount of people waiting for tickets and in line to board — would there be enough room for everyone, plus bikes, strollers, wheelchairs, etc. Yes, there was room aplenty, and the ferry workers even decided to start selling tickets on board to speed up the process, and we ended up leaving just a few minutes late.
A quick swing through Alameda, and then a quick journey to the SF Ferry Building. Easy-​peasy, and the view on a beautiful day like yesterday can’t be beat. I took the Ferry back to JLS later in the afternoon and again, a great experience.
Kudos to the workers and crew of the SF Bay Ferry, who dealt very well with the enormous crowds of ferry newbies.
Who knows? Maybe I’ll take the ferry more often, even if BART is running!

Day 2 since I’ve taken the ferry to get to work due to the BART strike.
You get to go to work on a boat. What more could anyone ask for? The ride is very therapeutic, and the view makes you forget how long you sat in traffic for or how much you dislike BART employees right now. The ferry employees have been super friendly and accommodating. Very nice change from the rude service you get at BART.
It cost me $ 12.50 round-​trip to get from Jack London Square to the Ferry Building, and the ride only took about 20 minutes. The line to get onto the ferry looks long, but it actually goes relatively fast. Also, they have outlets on the ferry for you to charge yo thangs.
I was under the impression that you had to purchase a ferry ticket before you hopped in line, but you can just hop in line anyway, and pay before you get off the ferry (you can pay with your card!).
There’s also a bar on the ferry for you to get plastered before work. Bloody Marys, shots of whatever, beer. Food is also for sale. Cash only.
Had it not been for the BART strike, I would have never taken the ferry for any reason. I would ride the ferry again though. Very pleased.

The Alameda-​Oakland Ferry has just been rebranded.
We love riding across the Bay on these boats. It’s a one-​drink ride. Get on the boat, buy a ticket ($ 6.25 per person each way, cash only), buy a couple of glasses of chardonnay, and before you’re finished you’re at the destination. There is a stop in Alameda, but we have only taken it from the Ferry Building to Jack London Square.
The crew is polite, the boats are fast, and the ride is fantastic.
There are reviews for the Oakland-​Alameda Ferry, the Alameda-​Oakland Ferry, the Alameda Harbor Ferry, and the San Francisco Bay Ferry. What I can tell you is that the Encinal has a new paint job, and it looks like the Peralta is also being repainted.
You can read all about the government consolidation of the ferry system here: