Experience “The Rock” this summer with guided tours of the famed San Francisco landmark, community day celebrations, commemorative anniversaries, and a special scavenger hunt with the chance to win $200!

San Francisco, CA (March 6, 2023) – Alcatraz City Cruises, the only authorized concessioner for ferry service to Alcatraz Island on behalf of the National Park Service, announced today their offerings for the spring and summer season.

Included in the lineup is the launch of the first-ever scavenger hunt on Alcatraz Island where residents of the nine Bay Area counties are invited to solve clues and discover the Island’s history for a chance to win a $200 gift card.  To qualify, participants must check in at the Alcatraz City Cruises ticket booth with a government-issued ID to pick up the clues flyer, which asks a series of questions and prompts users to post pictures of each answer to their social media.  No purchase necessary, but participants must be residents of the nine Bay Area counties.  Five winners will be chosen at random.  Contact the Alcatraz City Cruises’ call center at 415.981.ROCK (7625) to sign up or CLICK HERE for more information.

Additionally, beginning on Sunday, March 12, Alcatraz City Cruises’ summer schedule will begin, which includes extended departure times for Alcatraz Day Tours, from 8:40 a.m. to 3:50 p.m.  Visitors will also have access to an additional Night Tour departure, with options now departing at 5:55 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Alcatraz City Cruises’ offerings this spring season include:

• March 21, 2023 – 60th anniversary of Alcatraz’s closure as a penitentiary.  On this date, the last prisoner walked out of the famed prison!  After two decades of intense scrutiny relating to operating costs and confinement practices, on Thursday, March 21, 1963, the end of an era arrived with the official closure of USP Alcatraz.  For the next 10 years, the Island became unused federal property before being opened as a National Park in public in October of 1973.  This fall marks the 50th anniversary of the Island’s jurisdiction as a part of the National Park Service.  Tour the Island and get access to the Cellhouse and other popular areas of the Island frequented by visitors.
• April 14, 2023 – Alcatraz City Cruises will host its first Community Day by the Bay at the Pier 33 Landing in San Francisco. This free, day-long event will offer a range of family-friendly activities that combine hands-on fun with informative education stations suitable for all ages.
• The Big Lock Up exhibit describes incarceration through a historical and contemporary lens with data about individuals and populations incarcerated at Alcatraz and throughout the United States as compared to other countries. It contains text, photography, and multimedia and interactive components to provide thought-provoking exhibit experience.

• The Red Power On Alcatraz: Perspectives 50 Years Later exhibit, currently on display in the New Industries Building on Alcatraz Island, tells the story of the 19-month-long occupation of the island by a group of Native American activists in 1969. The exhibit includes photographs by Ilka Hartmann, Stephen Shames, and Brooks Townes, as well as original materials from the collection of Kent Blansett and contributions from the community of veteran occupiers. This exhibit was developed in partnership with Indians of All Tribes, an organization that educates people about the history and development of Native American tribes throughout the Americas. The exhibit aims to shed light on the Termination Policy and the broader plight of American Indians and their ongoing struggle for fair treatment.

• The Alcatraz Behind The Scenes Tour program offers guests an intimate two-hour tour experience gives visitors an opportunity to discover off-the-beaten track areas of Alcatraz that are closed for other tour programs. The tour is now available to the public for the first time in more than a year.  Tour capacity is limited to just 20 or fewer guests per departure.

• Alcatraz Night Tours are offered Thursdays through Mondays on a 6 p.m. departure schedule. This unique experience is limited to just a few hundred visitors per evening and includes special programs, tours and activities not offered throughout the day, allowing guests to enjoy the many moods of the iconic San Francisco landmark during extended hours.  Evening talks by Island expert historians are offered on a variety of topics and change every night.

All tour options will also include the official Cellhouse Audio Tour.  Visitors will be able to walk through the historic structure and experience the windswept Island, learning about its layered history through outdoor interpretive signs, a free Discovery Guide and digital Apps with historical information, stories, and more.  Rangers will be stationed around the Island to assist visitors and answer questions.  The summer season is the perfect school break excursion as well, especially for those who missed out on that annual school trip to Alcatraz Island due to the pandemic.

For those that want to visit San Francisco’s notorious Alcatraz Island, planning ahead is a must.  As the official website for Alcatraz Island Tours, www.AlcatrazCityCruises.com provides the guaranteed lowest price for Alcatraz tickets.  Additionally, the website also offers tips for planning a successful trip. Tickets are now available for purchase up to 6 months in advance.

Passengers may purchase and print tickets online at www.AlcatrazCityCruises.com and can also access the Plan Your Trip link from the homepage. Tickets can also be secured by calling 415.981.ROCK (7625) or from the ticket booth at Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing.  Advance reservations are strongly recommended.

Alcatraz City Cruises departs from Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing, a quarter mile from Fisherman’s Wharf.  Tours are booked through Alcatraz City Cruises, the official concessioner to the National Park Service and the only operator that goes onto the island.  It is recommended that you arrive at least one half hour prior to your departure time.  For more information, visit alcatrazcitycruises.com.

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About Alcatraz City Cruises

Alcatraz City Cruises is the National Park Service concessioner of ferry service to Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay.  Alcatraz Cruises hosts over 1.7 million visitors annually.  Alcatraz Cruises designed, built and operates the first hybrid ferry in the United States.  The Hornblower Hybrid’s revolutionary design has reduced fuel consumption by 75% and has already begun to be implemented in other parts of the country.  For more information visit alcatrazcitycruises.com.

About City Experiences

City Experiences represents Hornblower Group’s expansive portfolio of water- and land-based experience companies and includes two sub-brands: City Cruises and City Ferry.  City Cruises companies operate dining, sightseeing and private events across 22 destinations in the U.S., Canada and the UK.  City Cruises companies also operate cruises on behalf of the National Park Service and the Niagara Parks Commission and currently hold service contracts to provide ferry service to the Statue of Liberty National Monument and the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, Alcatraz Island and Niagara Falls.  City Ferry companies offer specialized knowledge and expertise required to transport passengers, vehicles and other cargo safely across inland and coastal waterways, serving as operator of NYC Ferry and Puerto Rico ferry system, among others.  City Experiences’ portfolio of companies also offers a range of water- and land-based experiences including shore excursions, partner-offered experiences, multi-port packages, with companies including Venture Ashore, Walks and Devour Tours.  For more information visit cityexperiences.com.

About the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy

Since 1981, the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy has worked with the National Park Service, the Presidio Trust, park partners, donors, and community members to transform Bay Area national parks. Together, we’ve supported the stewardship of these parklands and most importantly, connected people to parks through exceptional volunteer and educational opportunities.

About the Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Golden Gate National Recreation Area, situated in and around San Francisco, is the second most-visited park in the National Park Service, hosting more than 12 million visitors in 2020. A diverse park with abundant recreational opportunities, as well as natural, cultural, and scenic resources, it encompasses more than 80,000 acres across three counties. The park also administers two other NPS areas, Fort Point National Historic Site, a Civil War era fortress built on the northernmost point of land in San Francisco, and Muir Woods National Monument, which comprises an impressive stand of old growth coastal redwoods in Marin County.

Press Contacts:

Michael DeiCas / City Experiences / [email protected]
Heather Atherton / [email protected]