Your ship docks at Pier 27, the James R. Herman Cruise Terminal on The Embarcadero, with Pier 35 picking up the overflow when things get busy. It sits between the Ferry Building and Fisherman’s Wharf, about 20 minutes on foot from Embarcadero BART, with hotels, food and sights close by either side of your sailing.
Where cruise ships dock in San Francisco
It’s the city’s one proper cruise terminal, a modern glass building with floor to ceiling windows over the bay and a plaza out front where you can watch the water before you head in.
Pier 35 next door is mostly for ships passing through rather than anyone starting or finishing a cruise there, so you’ll almost certainly be boarding at Pier 27 itself. Check your cruise documents for the exact pier before you travel, just in case it’s changed.
Getting to Pier 27 from San Francisco International Airport
Getting to Pier 27 from San Francisco International Airport is quickest by BART, which gets you to Embarcadero Station in around 30 minutes. From there it’s either a 20 minute walk north along the waterfront or a short hop on the F Market streetcar, which stops right across from the terminal on The Embarcadero at Sansome Street.
That’s why most people hop on the streetcar rather than haul a suitcase the whole way. By road it’s about 15 miles from the airport, so 25 to 50 minutes depending on traffic, and a taxi or rideshare will cost whatever the traffic that day decides it should.
Parking near Pier 27 cruise terminal
Parking near Pier 27 cruise terminal doesn’t happen at the terminal itself on a sailing day. The Impark surface lot sitting right on the pier looks like the obvious choice, but its own listing says no parking once a cruise ship is docked, and that catches out plenty of drivers who assumed they could just pull in.
Instead, you’re pointed to Metropolis at 55 and 80 Francisco Street, about half a mile from the terminal, booked and paid for in advance against your ship and sail date rather than settled on arrival. Check your vehicle’s height before you book: 80 Francisco Street only clears 6 foot 5 inches and 55 Francisco Street 7 foot, so most roof boxes and raised trucks are out.
Parking this close to the water costs what you’d expect, and the Embarcadero Center garages, about a 10 minute walk away, tend to come in cheaper than anything right on the pier. Some hotels, like the Hyatt Regency, will sometimes let you leave a car there for the length of your cruise. Call ahead to check they can do this and what it costs.
Boarding and security at the cruise terminal
Boarding and security at the cruise terminal starts in a small lobby just inside the entrance off The Embarcadero, where staff check your photo ID against your cruise travel documents. Your hand luggage goes through an X-ray, you’ll fill in a short health questionnaire, and someone takes your photo for your cruise card before you even reach check-in.
Private cars, taxis and rideshares can’t drive into the Pier 27 compound itself, so you get dropped at the kerb on The Embarcadero and walk the short distance in. Coaches only get space inside if the ground handler has security details 48 hours before sailing, so that’s one for the group organiser to sort well ahead rather than on the morning.
Documents you need to board a cruise in San Francisco
Documents you need to board a cruise in San Francisco start with a government issued photo ID and your cruise travel documents. A passport is strongly recommended for everyone and required on some itineraries.
US citizens can sail on most cruises leaving from a US port with a state-certified birth certificate and a photo ID instead of a passport, though a passport is the simpler option if the cruise calls anywhere outside the United States.
Where to stay near San Francisco cruise port
Where to stay near San Francisco cruise port depends on whether you want the shortest walk to Pier 27 or somewhere central with easy transport onward. Either works well the night before you sail or after you get off.
- Kimpton Alton Fisherman’s Wharf: a 5 to 10 minute transfer from Pier 27 and Pier 35, handy if you’re boarding early or your last day runs late.
- Riu Plaza Fisherman’s Wharf: close to Pier 39, Ghirardelli Square and the Golden Gate Bridge, and the hotel itself says it suits anyone boarding a cruise at Pier 27.
- Hyatt Regency San Francisco: about 0.8 miles from Pier 27 at Embarcadero Center, an easy walk or a short taxi ride if you’d rather not.
- Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero: about 0.9 miles from Pier 27, roughly a 17 minute walk.
The same two areas, Fisherman’s Wharf and Embarcadero Center, work just as well for a night after your cruise ends, before you head out to the airport.
Luggage storage at San Francisco cruise port
Luggage storage at San Francisco cruise port isn’t available at the terminal itself, so plan ahead if you’re arriving hours early or need somewhere for your bags after you disembark. You can drop your bags at the kerb before you go and park the car elsewhere, but there’s no left-luggage desk to hand things over to for the day.
The Francisco Street parking garages don’t have storage either, so if you need somewhere for bags before or after your cruise, sort it before sailing day rather than on the morning itself; you can book luggage storage near the terminal in advance.
Where to eat near San Francisco cruise port
Where to eat near San Francisco cruise port means the Ferry Building Marketplace, a short walk along The Embarcadero from Pier 27, or Fisherman’s Wharf, about a mile the other way.
- Oysters and clam chowder: the Ferry Building’s oyster bar does a chowder with no flour thickener, heavy on bacon and seafood, clams still in their shells. Eat it on the ocean-facing patio if you can get a seat.
- Market hall snacks: inside the Ferry Building, stalls sell Jamaican patties, burritos stuffed with fries, burgers and soft serve, right alongside oysters, cheese, bread and chocolate.
- Sourdough bread bowl of chowder: a Fisherman’s Wharf classic, eaten while watching the crab boats come in.
On Saturdays a farmers market wraps right around the Ferry Building, adding fresh produce stalls to the food hall inside.
Bay cruises leave from different piers to the cruise ship terminal
Bay cruises leave from different piers to the cruise ship terminal, so if you’ve booked a sightseeing trip on the bay, it won’t be leaving from Pier 27. Blue & Gold Fleet sails from Pier 41, Red and White Fleet’s Golden Gate Bay Cruise and similar trips leave from Pier 43½, and City Cruises San Francisco departs from Pier 3, Hornblower Landing, between Washington and Broadway streets.
If you’re boarding an actual cruise ship rather than a harbour tour, head for Pier 27 on The Embarcadero. The Pier 39 and Pier 41 area just north of it is for bay sightseeing only.
Best photo spots in San Francisco
Best photo spots in San Francisco within reach of a port day are Pier 39, the Ferry Building and Fisherman’s Wharf, all close enough together to fold into a walk back to the ship.
- Pier 39: home to a colony of sea lions that haul themselves onto the docks and bark about it, loudly.
- The Ferry Building: the century-old terminal’s clock tower and waterfront plaza, busiest and most colourful on Saturdays.
- Fisherman’s Wharf and Aquatic Park: historic vessels moored at Hyde Street Pier make a good backdrop against the bay.
What to wear in San Francisco: outfit ideas for a port day
What to wear in San Francisco for a port day comes down to comfortable footwear and a bag you can carry without thinking about it, because getting into town means a proper walk. Flat, broken-in walking shoes earn their keep on the walk from Embarcadero BART station, or the similar stretch from the nearby Embarcadero hotels to Pier 27.
Keep your photo ID and cruise documents somewhere you can reach without digging, since you’ll need to show them the moment you walk into the terminal lobby. For more ideas, see these casual cruise outfit ideas for women and cruise outfit ideas for men.
How to spend a port day in San Francisco
A port day in San Francisco works well as a loop along The Embarcadero: the Ferry Building, Pier 39’s sea lions and Fisherman’s Wharf, all within walking distance of Pier 27.
Before you sail
- Book Metropolis parking at 55 or 80 Francisco Street ahead, it isn't available on the day.
- Check your cruise documents for the exact pier, Pier 27 or Pier 35, before travelling.
- Confirm whether you need a passport or can use a birth certificate plus photo ID.
Short port day: under 6 hours
- On dockingWalk to the Ferry BuildingShort walkFrom Pier 27 it's a short walk along The Embarcadero to the Ferry Building Marketplace.
- +20 minBrowse the market hallFood hallWander the Ferry Building's stalls selling Jamaican patties, burritos, burgers and soft serve alongside cheese, bread and chocolate.
- +1 hrLunch: oysters and clam chowderLocal dishEat at the Ferry Building's oyster bar, where the chowder uses no flour thickener and is heavy on bacon and seafood, with clams still in their shells.
- +2 hrWalk to Pier 39Sea lionsContinue along the waterfront to Pier 39 to watch the resident colony of sea lions hauled out on the docks.
- +3 hrWalk to Fisherman's WharfWaterfrontFollow the waterfront on to Fisherman's Wharf for the harbour atmosphere before heading back.
- +3 hr 30 minWalk back to the shipReturn walkRetrace your steps along The Embarcadero back to Pier 27 ahead of all-aboard.
The time on the map is the whole walk, every stop added together.
Open this walking route in Google Maps
If plans change: If the Ferry Building is too crowded, skip straight to Pier 39 and eat at Fisherman's Wharf instead.
Long port day: 8 hours or more
- On dockingWalk to the Ferry BuildingShort walkFrom Pier 27 it's a short walk along The Embarcadero to the Ferry Building Marketplace.
- +30 minBrowse the market hallFood hallWander the stalls selling Jamaican patties, burritos, burgers and soft serve alongside oysters, cheese, bread and chocolate.
- +2 hrWalk to Pier 39Photo spotFollow the waterfront to Pier 39 to watch the sea lion colony bark from the docks, one of the city's best photo spots.
- +3 hrLunch: sourdough bread bowl of chowderLocal dishWalk on to Fisherman's Wharf for the classic sourdough bread bowl of chowder, eaten while watching the crab boats come in.
- +4 hrSee the historic vessels at Aquatic ParkHistoric shipsWalk to Aquatic Park, where the historic vessels moored at Hyde Street Pier make a good backdrop against the bay.
- +5 hr 30 minStroll around Ghirardelli SquareLast stopContinue on foot to Ghirardelli Square, near Fisherman's Wharf, for a last wander before heading back.
- +6 hr 30 minWalk back to the shipReturn walkHead back along the waterfront through Fisherman's Wharf and The Embarcadero to Pier 27 ahead of all-aboard.
The time on the map is the whole walk, every stop added together.
Open this walking route in Google Maps
If plans change: If Ghirardelli Square is too far on time, turn back from Aquatic Park along Fisherman's Wharf to the ship instead.
San Francisco cruise port FAQs
Where do cruise ships dock in San Francisco?
Cruise ships dock in San Francisco at the James R. Herman Cruise Terminal, Pier 27, on The Embarcadero. Pier 35 nearby is mostly for ships passing through, not ones starting or ending a cruise there.
Is there parking at Pier 27 cruise terminal?
Parking isn’t available at Pier 27 itself on a sailing day. You’re directed to the Metropolis garages at 55 and 80 Francisco Street instead, booked in advance against your ship and sail date.
Can taxis drop passengers directly at the cruise terminal?
Taxis and private cars aren’t permitted to drive into the Pier 27 compound. You’re dropped at the kerb on The Embarcadero and walk the short distance in.
Do I need a passport to cruise from San Francisco?
A passport is strongly recommended for everyone and required on some itineraries. US citizens can use a state-certified birth certificate with photo ID instead, on most cruises leaving from a US port.
Can I store luggage at the San Francisco cruise terminal?
There’s no left-luggage desk at the terminal, so sort your bags before sailing day, either with a hotel nearby or a dedicated storage service in the city.
Are the bay cruises at Pier 39 part of the cruise ship terminal?
The bay cruises at Pier 39 are separate from the cruise ship terminal. Sightseeing boats leave from Pier 39, Pier 41, Pier 43½ and Pier 3, while Pier 27 is used only by ocean-going cruise ships.
Does the boarding process differ between cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean?
Boarding at Pier 27 follows the same process whichever cruise line you’re with, Royal Caribbean included: a security check in the terminal lobby, ID and document checks, then check-in.
How far is Pier 27 from San Francisco International Airport?
Pier 27 is about 15 miles from San Francisco International Airport, a drive of 25 to 50 minutes depending on traffic, or around 30 minutes by BART plus a short walk or streetcar ride at the end.
Which cruise lines sail from San Francisco’s cruise terminal?
Lines sailing from Pier 27 include Celebrity, Princess, Crystal, Cunard, Disney, Holland America, Oceania, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Silversea, Regent and P&O Cruises.
Last Updated: 19 October 2026