Free Port of Oakland harbor tours will return in May with a new vessel operator. The Port has announced an agreement with San Francisco-based Blue & Gold Fleet to run 12 cruises through October.
Blue & Gold said it would deploy 230-passenger sightseeing vessels for the 90-minute tours. It’s the first time the Port has engaged the vessel operator for its popular three-year-old tours. Blue & Gold is the best-known name in San Francisco Bay’s competitive excursion market.
The Port said nearly 1,200 passengers sailed on harbor tours last year. It said it expects to attract 3,000 visitors in 2017 by using larger vessels. Since the tours originated in 2015, every excursion has sold out.
Harbor tours will trace the Port’s shoreline along Oakland Estuary and Outer Harbor, the Port said. It added that passengers will be able to see into working Oakland marine terminals from the upper decks of Blue & Gold vessels. The Port said live narration will accompany the tours.
About the Port of Oakland:
The Port of Oakland oversees the Oakland seaport, Oakland International Airport, and 20 miles of waterfront. Together with its business partners, the Port supports more than 73,000 jobs in the region and nearly 827,000 jobs across the United States.