SFO Airport to cruise pier

[cruise.gal]

Arriving via shuttle from Napa to San Francisco airport.  Need transportation from airport to cruise ship...any recommendations?  The transfers via Princess depart at 11am to 12noon...so I'm told.   I arrive at SFO at 11:30 am (luggage in hand).  

 

 

[CruiserBruce]

If you look on the West Coast Departures board, where this is covered frequently,  you will see many options discussed. BART, which involves some flat walking. Shuttles,  like SuperShuttle, Uber/Lyft and taxi.

[clo]

2 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

If you look on the West Coast Departures board, where this is covered frequently,  you will see many options discussed. BART, which involves some flat walking. Shuttles,  like SuperShuttle, Uber/Lyft and taxi.

BART.  Super easy.

[SantaFeFan]

8 hours ago, cruise.gal said:

Arriving via shuttle from Napa to San Francisco airport.  Need transportation from airport to cruise ship...any recommendations?  The transfers via Princess depart at 11am to 12noon...so I'm told.   I arrive at SFO at 11:30 am (luggage in hand).  

 

 

 If you are coming in from Napa, is there a shuttle to the Embarcadero in San Francisco? From Napa to SFO you pass within a mile of the cruise terminal and keep going for another 15 miles to the airport, which you will have to backtrack. It's about 80 minutes to SFO from Napa and another 20 back to the cruise terminal, but only about 55 directly to the cruise terminal. 

 

The closest BART station is about 1-1/2 miles from the terminal. If you have several pieces of luggage, it will be a hassle getting on the train and up the escalators where you need to get off, then a walk or taxi to the terminal. 

 

There are better options than going all the way to SFO to take the Princess transfer.

Edited July 27, 2019 by SantaFeFan

[Flatbush Flyer]

32 minutes ago, clo said:

BART.  Super easy.

Depends on the luggage (and your stamina). 

 

First, you have to maneuver luggage to the sometimes crowded BART SFO station (which occasionally has its own mechanical et al. issues). At the other end, you still need to get to the pier, from BART, which would require MUNI or taxi/Uber/etc. (It's a bit of a hike for most folks)

Speaking of Uber et al., the outcry from the Taxi industry has resulted in moving the Uber/Lyft pickup points into the SFO garages - quite inconvenient for regular flyers.

 

It sounds like OP is taking the airport shuttle from Napa. Though it may be more expensive, a private transfer directly to the pier may mean a lot less hassle. 

To get some sense of the possible cost, check out Execucar (service owned by Super Shuttle). You can get an immediate quote (one way or RT and even price with AAA discount) between home and pier. Then compare with any recommended private transfers you find via research.

While it's much closer to the Embarcadero then would be a trip from Napa, I can tell you that from home in Point Richmond to the SF cruise pier on the Embarcadero would cost you less than $100 incl. tolls and tips (each way). Of course, Napa would easily double the distance.

 

However, if OP is dead set on going to SFO and then backtracking to SF, there's always Super Shuttle.

 

But, IMO, Napa to SFO to SF Embarcadero just as an attempt to save money would be "pennywise and pound foolish."

 

One other long shot idea: There are a few Napa based "wine tour" operators who drive down to the pier to pick up customers for the day. One (or some) of them may be headed to your ship that morning. Maybe worth your calling around. Also a call to the concierges of major hotels nearby the pier may getbyiu contact info for the wine tour operators (or private transfer providers they use from/to Napa.

 

 

 

Edited July 27, 2019 by Flatbush Flyer

[clo]

9 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Depends on the luggage (and your stamina). 

 

First, you have to maneuver luggage to the sometimes crowded BART SFO station (which occasionally has its own mechanical et al. issues). At the other end, you still need to get to the pier, from BART, which would require MUNI or taxi/Uber/etc. (It's a bit of a hike for most folks)

Speaking of Uber et al., the outcry from the Taxi industry has resulted in moving the Uber/Lyft pickup points into the SFO garages - quite inconvenient for regular flyers.

 

It sounds like OP is taking the airport shuttle from Napa. Though it may be more expensive, a private transfer directly to the pier may mean a lot less hassle. 

To get some sense of the possible cost, check out Execucar (service owned by Super Shuttle). You can get an immediate quote (one way or RT and even price with AAA discount) between home and pier. Then compare with any recommended private transfers you find via research.

While it's much closer to the Embarcadero then would be a trip from Napa, I can tell you that from home in Point Richmond to the SF cruise pier on the Embarcadero would cost you less than $100 incl. tolls and tips. Of course, Napa would easily double the distance.

However, if OP is dead set on going to SFO and then backtracking to SF, there's always Super Shuttle.

 

 

 

Great points!  Thanks.

[bonsai3s]

1 hour ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Depends on the luggage (and your stamina). 

 

First, you have to maneuver luggage to the sometimes crowded BART SFO station (which occasionally has its own mechanical et al. issues). At the other end, you still need to get to the pier, from BART, which would require MUNI or taxi/Uber/etc. (It's a bit of a hike for most folks)

Speaking of Uber et al., the outcry from the Taxi industry has resulted in moving the Uber/Lyft pickup points into the SFO garages - quite inconvenient for regular flyers.

 

It sounds like OP is taking the airport shuttle from Napa. Though it may be more expensive, a private transfer directly to the pier may mean a lot less hassle. 

To get some sense of the possible cost, check out Execucar (service owned by Super Shuttle). You can get an immediate quote (one way or RT and even price with AAA discount) between home and pier. Then compare with any recommended private transfers you find via research.

While it's much closer to the Embarcadero then would be a trip from Napa, I can tell you that from home in Point Richmond to the SF cruise pier on the Embarcadero would cost you less than $100 incl. tolls and tips (each way). Of course, Napa would easily double the distance.

 

However, if OP is dead set on going to SFO and then backtracking to SF, there's always Super Shuttle.

 

But, IMO, Napa to SFO to SF Embarcadero just as an attempt to save money would be "pennywise and pound foolish."

 

One other long shot idea: There are a few Napa based "wine tour" operators who drive down to the pier to pick up customers for the day. One (or some) of them may be headed to your ship that morning. Maybe worth your calling around. Also a call to the concierges of major hotels nearby the pier may getbyiu contact info for the wine tour operators (or private transfer providers they use from/to Napa.

 

 

 

 

Outstanding advice...couldn't add anything more.

(...and I attended Galileo HS, a block or so from Ghirardelli Square. 😊)

[cruise.gal]

Thank you all for your advice.  

[zqvol]

On 7/27/2019 at 2:20 AM, cruise.gal said:

Arriving via shuttle from Napa to San Francisco airport.  Need transportation from airport to cruise ship...any recommendations?  The transfers via Princess depart at 11am to 12noon...so I'm told.   I arrive at SFO at 11:30 am (luggage in hand).  

 

 

 

Cab, Uber, Lyft or Princess shuttle, same as if you flew into SFO.