Dreaming of a cruise from San Francisco? Sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge is one of cruising's most iconic experiences. A cruise from San Francisco takes you from one of America's most beloved cities to Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, or down the Pacific Coast. The James R. Herman Cruise Terminal at Pier 27 sits along the Embarcadero, minutes from Fisherman's Wharf. Princess, Holland America, and Celebrity offer Alaska sailings, while various lines serve Hawaii, Mexican Riviera, and transpacific routes. SFO is 25-40 minutes away via BART or rideshare. San Francisco's cable cars, Alcatraz, and world-class dining make pre-cruise exploration essential. Book through Zipsea and receive maximum onboard credit on every sailing—because your vacation should start generously.
Best Cruise Deals Departing from San Francisco
Discover by Cruise Line
Smarter cruisers = happy cruisers
Every Number Matched
The base fare, taxes, and onboard credit lined up perfectly. No fine print, no surprises. That's why I trusted them.
James lee
Switching From Costco Paid Off
We almost booked with Costco for Royal Caribbean. They offered a small rebate card, but Zipsea added $400 in OBC...
Drew
Incredible perks with Zipsea!
..My party and I can actually utilize the credit for our excursions. What a seamless experience.
Jamie
Frequently Asked Questions
Onboard credit is ship money you can use during your cruise—like having a prepaid gift card. You can spend it on drinks, specialty dining, Wi-Fi, spa treatments, excursions, or even onboard shopping.
Travel agents earn commission from every booking. Most keep it. We don't. We pass back the maximum onboard credit allowed by the cruise lines every single time.
Nope. Cruise lines set caps on how much OBC can be given. We simply give you that maximum—while other agents usually pocket it as extra commission.
It depends on your cruise fare and the cruise line's rules. As a ballpark: shorter cruises usually allow $50–$100, longer cruises $150–$500+. When you search a cruise, we'll show you exactly how much.
Yes, it's only valid for the duration of your sailing. Use it onboard for drinks, dining, spa, excursions, or shopping. It disappears when your cruise ends.
Your onboard credit is tied to your booking. If you cancel, the OBC is canceled too. Refunds follow the cruise line's cancellation policy.
Yes. Our OBC stacks with cruise line sales, loyalty perks, or group offers. The only limit is the cruise line's cap.
No. You pay the same published fare you'd see on the cruise line's website—except we give you back the max OBC.
It's automatically applied to your onboard account. You'll see it on your ship card or app as a credit balance. Just swipe and it deducts.
Yes! We're licensed, accredited travel agents. We just run things lean and tech-driven so we can give you back more of the commission.
Yes! We support major cruise lines that you can book completely online, see instant bookable cruises on our website.
We support all the major ocean cruise lines—and we're expanding to river and expedition cruises soon.
You'll get a confirmation from both the cruise line and from us. Your onboard credit will appear on your account when you board.
Absolutely. All payments go directly to the cruise line. We never hold your funds—we just facilitate the booking and perks.
Because you'll get the same cabin, same price, same cruise—but more money to spend onboard. It's that simple.