San Francisco Kreuzfahrten

Board the Alcatraz ferry and sail to the notorious prison that once housed the likes of Al Capone and the Birdman of Alcatraz. During your ferry ride, enjoy a panoramic view of the famous San Francisco skyline. Upon arrival, you'll tour the small jail cells as the audio narration brings you back to days gone by.

You'll return to San Francisco by ferry and board your motorcoach for a journey across the Golden Gate Bridge. After a stop at Vista Point for a fabulous view of the city, it’s a short ride into charming Sausalito. Here, take a stroll and browse some of the specialty shops or galleries.

Experience the thrill of an Iron Chef-style cooking challenge, where you can put your skills to the test with fellow passengers. With breathtaking rooftop views of San Francisco as a backdrop, classes are taught by local hosts who bring their expertise and passion to each session.

Spend hours with a chef as they demonstrate culinary techniques and provides cooking tips, all in the interest of improving your skills in the kitchen. Whether you are somewhat of a novice or a highly experienced cook, this course has plenty to offer. During the session, you will learn how to prepare dishes using seasonal ingredients that are nutrient-rich and responsibly sourced. You will also discover the principles of flavor composition so you can create memorable dishes without following a recipe when you return home. Much of the course will be hands on, allowing you to better understand the principles by practicing the techniques under the chef’s watchful eye. Afterwards, you will enjoy a lunch made with garden-fresh ingredients that reflect California international cuisine. The exact dishes will be determined by what’s in season, but past offerings have included Thai, summer vegetable galette, balsamic Swiss chard tart and buckwheat crepes with tarragon zucchini.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Spend time in a hands-on cooking class with an accomplished chef in her home kitchen.
• Learn techniques to better prepare nutrient-rich, responsibly sourced dishes.
• Gain an understanding of flavor composition so you can prepare meals without a recipe.
• Dine on dishes that reflect California cuisine.

OVERVIEW

See the highlights of San Francisco at your own pace by riding a double-decker bus around the city, hopping on and off whenever you please at the attractions you find most intriguing. Simply hop on one of the buses using your complimentary pass and then hop off when it reaches a destination of interest from more than a dozen designated stops on the Red Route. You might hop off at Chinatown for lunch, the Embarcadero Center for shopping and North Vista Point for a sweeping view of San Francisco and the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. Other stops along the way include the laid-back Haight Ashbury neighborhood, the 19th-century Ferry Building and the extravagant neoclassical Palace of Fine Arts, a faux palace built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition. Stay as long as you like at each destination and then hop on another bus whenever you are ready. A new bus arrives every 20 minutes or so.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride a double-decker bus around San Francisco, taking in the sights along the way.
• Hop off the bus at attractions that you find most intriguing and stay as long as you like.
• Hop on another bus whenever you wish and ride it to the next interesting attraction.
• Hear commentary that describes each attraction, so you can easily pick your favorites.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Enjoy a delightful and spectacularly panoramic drive through San Francisco in the evening when the city is beautifully illuminated. With no stops along the way, you can comfortably settle into a seat and watch the ever-changing vistas as you follow a route past many of the most well-known attractions. The sights begin at Fisherman’s Wharf, whose iconic crab wheel-shaped sign is particularly easy to spot at night. You will then proceed into the Nob Hill district, from which you will enjoy a close-up view of Grace Cathedral. Its façade is typically illuminated with lights of different colors, making the cathedral look all the more glorious. Next, you will cross the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge to Treasure Island, which will afford extraordinary views of the skylines of both cities. Once you return to the mainland, you will drive to the Embarcadero, an ideal waterfront setting to view the Transamerica Building twinkling against the night sky.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Settle in for an evening drive through San Francisco when it is beautifully illuminated.
• See iconic attractions such as Fisherman’s Wharf, Grace Cathedral and the Embarcadero.
• Enjoy skyline views of San Francisco and Oakland from Treasure Island.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Your scenic drive begins as you travel west by Pier 39, lively Fisherman's Wharf, along the Marina District, by the Palace of Fine Arts and the Presidio. You'll continue across the Golden Gate Bridge for a brief photo stop at Vista Point. Then it’s on to Sonoma for wine tasting, where you'll visit two wineries located in the Carneros Region.

You'll have time in between the winery visits for lunch on your own at Sonoma Town Plaza. This plaza offers a shady park, surrounded by charming boutiques and fabulous restaurants. You’ll return to San Francisco by way of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge to view the city's picturesque skyline.