Where to stay before a cruise from San Francisco, or after! (Hotels near San Francisco cruise port) ⛰ Alaska cruise tips

Hi there!

It’s always a good idea to arrive a day or 2 before your cruise starts. This allows some buffer in case of potential flight delays, and it allows you to get on the cruise ship feeling refreshed to start your cruise!

Plus, if you’ve never been to San Francisco before, there are things you might want to do! (I’ve listed some of the top things to do below.)

San Francisco cruise port is close to the tourist area of Fisherman’s Wharf, which makes it a good area to stay before a cruise.

Since Fisherman’s Wharf is one of the most convenient places to stay before a cruise, lots of people choose to stay here. There is uber in San Francisco, and you can take a taxi too, so it can be an easy and short ride to the cruise port.

Among people who have cruised from San Francisco, the Riu Plaza in Fisherman’s Wharf comes up repeatedly. This is less than a mile from the Princess cruise port (Pier 27), and just a few minutes walk from Pier 39 which is the tourist pier with the famous San Francisco sea lions. It’s also a 10-15 minute walk from the boat to Alcatraz Island.

There are partner websites included in this post.

Best places to stay in San Francisco before or after a cruise

• Riu Plaza Fisherman’s Wharf
  • Less than a mile from cruise port (map)
  • Read the reviews and compare the cost: expedia | booking.com | hotels.com
• Hyatt Centric Fisherman’s Wharf
  • Less than a mile from cruise port (map)
  • Reviews and cost: expedia | booking.com | hotels.com
• Hotel Zephyr in Fisherman’s Wharf (there might be a 3 night minimum)
  • Less than a mile from cruise port (map)
  • Reviews and cost: expedia.com | booking.com | hotels.com

Airports near San Francisco cruise port

The main airports you’ll want to look into for your flight are San Francisco airport SFO and Oakland airport OAK.

There is also the San Jose airport SJC you may want to look into, but it is a bit further away and less convenient to get to San Francisco from that airport.

I like to search for flights using kayak.com and then book direct.

Hotels absolutely nearest to SFO

• Grand Hyatt at SFO
  • Reviews and cost: expedia | booking.com | hotels.com
• La Quinta Inn San Francisco Airport west
  • Reviews and cost: expedia | booking.com | hotels.com

Hotels absolutely nearest to OAK

• Springhill Suites by Marriott
  • Reviews and cost: expedia | booking.com | hotels.com
• Holiday Inn Express
  • Reviews and cost: expedia | booking.com | hotels.com

Here are some of the popular things to do as a day trip from San Francisco

Each of these will require an extra day in San Francisco! Read the reviews at partner website Viator!

• Yosemite National Park
• Muir Woods National Monument
• California wine country tastings in Napa Valley and Sonoma
• Alcatraz Island combo tour

Next, these are the most notable things I did by foot or by bus with one day in San Francisco:

• Pier 39 to see the sea lions (Fisherman’s Wharf – walked from cruise ship)
• Golden Gate Bridge welcome center and walked part of the coastal Battery to Bluffs Trail (use google maps to get there by bus – example)
• Lombard Street (super touristy famous crooked street that you just need to see 🤣 – bus from the Golden Gate Bridge, then walked back to cruise ship)

HAPPY CHOOSING A HOTEL NEAR SAN FRANCISCO CRUISE PORT!