City Cruises: The Absolute Best Dinner Cruise on the Bay

Celebrate Good Times

There’s hands-down no better place to eat in San Francisco than actually cruising on the bay at nightfall while watching the city lights and the bridges twinkle and sparkle. City Cruises gave me the opportunity to do just that in exchange for an honest review. Well, it’s kind of like selling chocolate really, you can’t go far wrong. The experience I went on cost $112 a head and includes a delicious three course meal, locally sourced where possible. Aperitifs, wine, cocktails and a welcome glass of champagne are all included. The only caveat is, you must enjoy a DJ and loud music, because that comes with the dinner. If you like to boogie before, during and after you wine and dine, then this is a must-do cruise.

Let's Celebrate

Main dinner options included chicken, steak, gnocchi, or salmon. I had some very bright and more-ish hummus and olives as an aperitif, a honeycrisp apple salad, the smoked chili-rubbed Atlantic salmon with vegetable succotash and a yummy creamy chocolate cake for dessert. I also had a zingy grapefruit-based non-alcoholic cocktail. It was all absolutely delicious and I was as full as you might expect. For anyone requiring more to drink, there was also a fully stocked bar. 

There's a Party Goin' On Right Here

The service was perfect. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I had service that good. I notice good service, and there’s barely a venue in Marin I consider worthy of celebrating in, either because of the service or the food, or, heaven forbid, both. I’ve encountered too many wait staff who make it clear they want to be anywhere but serving tables, and / or sub par food at places where I’m expected to slap down $70 plus for a single meal. However, City Cruises and their staff anticipated my every need in a friendly but very unobtrusive way.

A Celebration To Last Throughout The Years

We had a wedding party and an anniversary party aboard, and they seemed to be having a grand time. The music was fun and funky, the DJ chose well, but if all that uptown funking gets too much, it’s easy to steal away onto one of the many decks, and watch the dazzling San Francisco skyline slide by. We had the pleasure of cruising under the Bay Bridge, and the Golden Gate, and went right around the bay at least a couple of times. From the minute Ronnie and I stepped aboard and had our picture taken, to the minute we stepped once again onto terra firma, happily clutching said picture, a full stomach and a cell phone full of killer photos of SF by night, three and a half hours had quickly passed. The website stated a semi formal dress code and I consequently had a mini freak out while getting ready, but, in actuality, I’d say that smart dress is a better descriptor. The wedding party were formally dressed, but everyone else was clad as if they were going to a nice restaurant, which is, infact, exactly what we were doing.

Bring Your Good Times

Don’t forget to bring layers though, it’s pretty out there, but it can be cold too. Parking was easy, there’s a place right across the Embarcadero from Pier Three. I booked ahead on SpotHero and paid $25, and there were plenty of spaces when I arrived early, at 6pm. Ronnie and I hung out at The Ferry Building and shopped and drank tea, before the cruise, so it was a good location to pass the time.

Your Laughter Too

If I had one suggestion, it’s that it would be nice to have the option to cruise and eat in a quieter environment. It got too loud to have a conversation, which is fine if you want to dance and drink. This dinner cruise would be a great option, if I was to go out celebrating with a group of girl friends or date night. However, I noticed a whole other dining area on the upper deck that wasn’t being used, and was perfectly sound proofed from the party downstairs. There are a lot of people out there who want to eat and party but there are also a ton of people who just want to eat and talk and cruise, with maybe just a touch of ambient background music. The option to slip downstairs and dance and return to a quiet table seems very appealing to me. There are no other bay cruises that I could find that offer the quiet wine and dine option so it’s an opportunity waiting to be grabbed and our ship was perfectly equipped to accommodate both. Infact, there are very few wine and dine options on the bay at all, so City Cruises is on to a winner there. I can honestly say I really enjoyed the food, service, party atmosphere and dazzling, dazzling views aboard my City Cruises dinner party. Chocolate sold - maybe the volume added more of a chili kick than I’d normally go for but it was still a good time!

We Gonna Celebrate Your Party With You

And of course you can also charter a cruise and customize it. It’s a great idea for a prom, wedding reception or any other big celebration and that way you get to make it exactly how you like it. If you’re looking for a unique world class event location, a City Cruise right on the San Francisco Bay is undoubtedly among the best options out there.

Review by Hannah Yurke