Printable Important Information

Please complete the Liability Waiver and
bring with you to board your vessel.
Liability Waiver

Village Map

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR EXCURSION PASSENGERS
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

The following includes important information on how to receive your Boarding Ticket for your upcoming Festival of Sail excursion, plus a number of Do's and Don'ts that will help ensure you are fully prepared to sail with us. Please read this information carefully. Do not wait until the day of your sail to read it.

We hope you have a wonderful experience aboard these majestic Tall Ships and look forward to seeing you in the Festival of Sail Villages July 24th — 27th.

HOW TO RECEIVE YOUR BOARDING TICKETS:

To receive your Boarding Ticket, please bring the PDF ticket (that you received via email) to the Village Box Office location associated with your Vessel.* Box Office tents will be clearly marked within each Village. Proceed to the Will Call section of the Box Office which will also be clearly marked.

Your PDF ticket is bar coded and once scanned you will receive an actual Boarding Ticket (similar to a concert ticket) to take with you to the Boarding Location. Please note that the Box Office may not be located immediately beside your vessel so please arrive early and give yourself plenty of time to exchange your PDF ticket for a Boarding Ticket.

PDF tickets may only be exchanged for Boarding Tickets on the day of your excursion and in the Box Office in the Village that your vessel is located*.

For Seaward, Californian, Lynx, Nehemiah or Gas Light, go to the International Village in Justin Herman Plaza. For Bay Lady, go to the Green Village at Piers 30-32. Give yourself plenty of time to get to your vessel after exchanging your PDF ticket for a Boarding Ticket. For a Village Map please click here.

ONCE YOU RECEIVE YOUR BOARDING TICKET YOU MAY PROCEED TO THE BOARDING AREA LOCATED AT OR NEAR YOUR VESSEL*.

  • For Seaward excursions proceed to Pier 9.
  • For Californian, Lynx, Nehemiah or Gas Light excursions proceed to Pier 3.
  • For Bay Lady excursions proceed to Pier 40 (South side of Pier 40).
* Vessel Locations by Village can be viewed at http://www.festivalofsail.org/boarding.asp.

All passengers must check-in at the Boarding Area; show Photo ID and sign a Liability Waiver. Guests must arrive 30 minutes prior to the Sail Start Time noted on the Festival of Sail website, or by the time noted on your Receipt (the time on your Receipt takes into account the 30 minute lead time).

If boarding begins, and you are not in the boarding area, you will not sail. Additionally you will forfeit the opportunity for that sail and any cost associated with the reservation.

If boarding begins and you are not there you will not sail and you will forfeit the cost associated with the reservation. This is important and why we list it twice.

Liability Waiver — all passengers must complete a Liability Waiver before boarding can occur. Docents will be onsite to assist with boarding. Bring proper photo identification along with your completed Liability Waiver. A copy of the waiver can be downloaded at the top of this page.

General Do's and Don'ts

  • Remember to come prepared ~ sailing on the Bay can be chilly so dress in layers. Wear comfortable closed-toed shoes with good traction, and bring your camera and/or binoculars.
  • Guests wearing high heels, black rubber soled shoes, and open toes are prohibited from boarding the vessels. Pants or jeans are preferred.
  • Beer, Wine and Champagne are served in each of the Village areas, but are not allowed on the vessels.
  • With the exception of the Bay Lady, food is not served on the vessels during excursions.
  • Food may be purchased from within the Village areas and brought onboard - one food item and one beverage item per person - no alcohol is permitted.
  • No strollers or large bags are allowed on board.
  • Tall Ships are generally STANDING ROOM ONLY. This should give you some sense of the limited space for extra or bulky items.
  • There is no access to the vessel heads (lavatories), so please use a restroom before arriving to the boarding area. Portables are available at Pier 3, Pier 9, and Pier 40 as well as in each Village.
  • Youth of any age are allowed on vessels accompanied by an adult. Youth waivers must be signed in the presence of an adult. Parents or Guardians are reminded that you are responsible for your child's safety and must abide by all vessel safety rules and regulations.
  • We expect record crowds along the San Francisco waterfront and encourage all attendees to take public transportation to, from and around the event. We have partnered with a number of the local transportation agencies and ask you to visit www.511.org in planning your visit to the Festival of Sail. Or visit our Transportation page.
  • Vessels are unfortunately not wheelchair accessible. Please visit us Shoreside during the event and learn more about these fascinating vessels from our Docents. If you are prone to motion sickness ginger is always a great solution - any food with ginger in it usually works (ginger cookies, ginger pills, ginger snaps). There is also Dramamine and it is now offered in a non-drowsy tablet. Wristbands can be purchased at a marine store such as West Marine. If you are really concerned about it please consult your doctor.
  • All tickets are non-refundable.

We hope you enjoy your Festival of Sail excursion and thank you again for supporting the San Francisco Maritime National Park Association.

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