Historic Bay Cruises

FREE 45 Minute Historic Bay Cruises on a museum historic boat, included with General Admission.

PILOT – Launched in 1914 to her removal from regular service in 1996, Pilot enjoyed an active career as San Diego’s chief pilot craft – assisting almost every one of the thousands of major commercial ships to enter or leave the bay during that time. Pilot has been restored by the Maritime Museum of San Diego and relaunched in 2002, as thousands of people, get to enjoy her classic beauty every year since.

PCF 816 – The U.S. Navy officially called them Patrol Craft Fast – PCFs for short, but the men who served on them during Vietnam have always known them as Swift Boat. In 1971, the US Navy donated two Swift Boats to the newly formed Republic of Malta’s Maritime Squadron. After forty years of coastguard duty, Malta retired these boats from service. In 2011, Malta’s Minister of Defense donated a Swift Boat to the Maritime Museum of San Diego with our promise to preserve her history and to pay tribute to all Swift Boat Sailors from both countries.

Book now! General Admission & FREE Historic Bay Cruise.

General Admission 10am to 5pm daily

Adult 18+ $20.00
Senior 62+, Military w/ID, Students 13-17 years $15.00
Child 12 and under $10.00
General Admission ticket good for all day
Ticket time denotes Bay Cruise boarding time.
Explore museum, before or after your bay cruise
Your cruise could be on either one of our historic small ships

Note: Submarines & and below deck attractions temporarily closed
Limited time offer – Terms subject to change – Quantities limited

Daily boarding times start at 12:15am, with the last run at 3:15pm.

Pilot check-in times:
12:15pm
1:15pm
2:15pm
3:15pm

Tickets also available on a walk-up basis (till sold out). We only sell a portion of available tickets on-line, to allow for walk-up sales.

Please note there are no restrooms aboard Pilot or Swift Boat.

NOTE: if you just want to visit the museum without the Historic Bay Cruise, please let staff know, when checking in.

Free Historic Bay Cruise, has no cash value. Paid admission required on Free boat ride promotion. Offer may not be combined with any other offer.