Taking everything into consideration, this excursion was just fine, no more no less. Really what you’re paying for is a ferry ride to Alcatraz plus the cost of admission. There are no guides nor individualized interaction. As such, one would hope that the ferry ride would be clean, comfortable, snd worry-free. Unfortunately, we were PLAGUED by flies (and that is not an overstatement). They were constantly flying in our faces, in our hair, and all over our clothes. The boat even had those disgusting sticky strips to try to catch some of them (ewwww - just gross)! This was a sour note to what should have been an otherwise fun and educational afternoon. Even still, I kept my review at four stars overall because the guided audio tour of Alcatraz, which is not always available, is worth a bit of inconvenience on the ferry ride. If you’re in San Francisco, Alcatraz is a must see.

As almost all tickets for Alcatraz were sold out, I was super happy being able to go these this way on relatively short notice. The trip was really worthwhile and the audio tour in our own language (Dutch) adding value for the kids. Transportation was smooth and well-arranged. Great experience for us!

For Alcatraz... It was great... Remember to explore areas not on the audio tour!! Don't fret about the warning that it's a 13-story climb... It's over a long distance... And you're not on a schedule... Just take your time... For the Cruise... I'd like to see better integration between GYG and the provider... Had to make a special trip to Pier 39 to exchange one voucher for another... And get there early! If you want a spot on the top decks outside with great views, you want to be in line early. Otherwise, you're going to be "indoors" on the main deck and taking your picture through the glass... For both... Dress in layers!! Even in the middle of summer - the wind is strong and bites a bit...