Groupon: Collective Buying Power

This seems like a pretty sweet deal. Quick question, I have a 2 yr old kid and an One-yr-old niece. At what age do the kids have to buy a ticket?

If I want to go with my girlfriend, can I buy two tickets at the groupon price? Or does she have to buy the other one herself? (“limit one per person”)

Red & White, How much are additional cocktails? Do you have a drink price list on your website?

Hi Michael,
This is Stefan from the Red and White Fleet. Thanks for checking us out on Groupon.com. Kids under age 5 actually get to ride for free with us. For youth, ages 5-17, the regular price for our California Sunset Cruise is $36.

Hi Brett,
You are welcome to buy additional Groupons for our California Sunset Cruise. You can purchase one ticket for yourself and then extra ones for friends. Hope this helps!

Hi Stephanie,
This is Stefan again with the Red and White Fleet. Our drinks are pretty reasonably priced. Sodas and non-alcoholic drinks are usually $2-3 each, beer and wine range between $4-$6, and cocktails tend to be $5-$8, depending on what you are looking for. Thanks for checking in with us!

Happy Groupon everyone!

If you have any questions for us here at the Red and White Fleet, please feel free to post them here. My team and I (Taylor, Emily, Molly, and Stefan) will be happy to assist.

One of the really cool things about our California Sunset Cruise is our sail around Angel Island and along the shores of Tiburon and Sausalito. The views are amazing, the temperatures warmer than in SF, and the bay is nice and calm. So our guests really get a kick out of this and seeing the funky house boats in Sausalito.

With summer just around the corner, a sunset sail of the bay is really neat and very popular also with our locals guests, who head out onto the bay for a relaxed evening with views, food, music and friends.

This looks great, but how do you make reservations? There doesn’t seem to be a location on the website.

Hi Christine,
This is Stefan again. Simply click the “Buy” button on http://www.groupon.com/san-francisco/ to purchase your tickets today! This is a Groupon.com exclusive offer that’s available only for one day. Hope this helps answer your question. Feel free to ask any further.

Is the Sunset Cruise the last scheduled cruise of the day?
or does it have a special departure time?

Hi Dennis,
This is Stefan from Red and White again. Our California Sunset Cruise leaves Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 6pm in Spring and Fall, and at 7pm daily during the summer months (Memorial day to Labor Day). For the exact schedule, please visit http://www.redandwhite.com/cruise_schedule.asp. Hope this helps!

Are there any blackout dates? Can you use the GROUPON deal during holidays?

Hi Eileen,
This is Stefan from the Red and White. We haven’t set up any black out dates. But we recommend that you call Emily at (415) 673-2900 to check for availability on the dates you’d like to head out on the bay. We’ll make it an easy process for you, promise!

Is it possible to book this sunset cruise as soon as March 27 or 28?

I am wondering about parking at the dock. I belong to a car club and we may want to bring a large group of cars. How many cars can be reaonably accomodated?

Hi Anne,
This is Stefan with the Red and White . Our California Sunset Cruise season begins on April 1 this year, so that would be the earliest departure date.

Hi David,
Stefan again. There is a public parking lot right across the street from us, at the corner of Taylor Street and Embarcadero. On busy days, generally Shed A of Pier 45 is also being opened for parking. So it is easy to come down to Pier 43 1/2.

But please note that in the peak summer months and on holiday weekends, traffic at the Wharf can be horrible. To avoid it, you can also park a 2-3 blocks away along Beach Street, where traffic tends to be less. Then you’d simply walk the last three blocks which may end up being quicker on a busy summer day.

Did you know…

…that the Red and White Fleet has been sailing San Francisco bay since 1892 and continues to be family-owned and operated?

Hi,
can i book the tour in advance?

Did you know…

…that in 1849, the Boudin family struck culinary gold?

Wild yeasts in the San Francisco air had imparted a unique tang to their traditional French bread, giving rise to “San Francisco sourdough French bread.” Today, the Boudin family’s initial recipe lives on in the hands and hearts of our expert bakers, with a portion of the original mother dough still starting each and every sourdough loaf we make. http://www.boudinbakery.com/meetboudin/

Boudin also caters the appetizer buffet for our California Sunset Cruise. Enjoy!

Yes, it is best to book the Sunset Cruise as soon as you know what date you’d like to go on. The Sunset Cruise can sell-out, so early bookings are a good idea. Please call our reservations department at (415) 673-2900 to use your groupon and reserve your Sunset Cruise!

Hi Angela,

Here’s Stefan again. You can book the tour in advance. Simply call Emily at (415) 673-2900 or email her at sales@redandwhite.com after today’s deal has ended.

Please provide Emily with your Groupon.com booking number over the phone and your preferred sailing date. She will then place your order and provide you with our confirmation number for your order.

On the day of your cruise, simply come to Pier 43 1/2 with your Groupon.com voucher in hand, about 15-30 minutes prior to the departure time, and pick up your tickets with the confirmation number that Emily provided you with.

That should make it very easy for you

What kind of appetizers and drinks are included? Tossing a few crackers and cheese can be considered appetizers, but so could sandwiches. And the same for drinks.

Hi Lek,
This is Stefan from Red and White. Our appetizer buffet is pretty substantial and includes platters of mini sandwiches, antipasti, two types of seasonal salads, fruit and cheese trays, veggies with dip, and cookies for dessert. At times, we also offer bruschetta.

Hi Lek,
PS: sometimes the menu changes a little, but generally the above is what we offer.

Plus, a lot of our female guests really dig our musician, Chris Mc Vittie, who’s not just an amazing artist but also really personable and a nice guy. :)

Can these be used for KaBoom!?

If I purchase four as gifts and give it to friends from out of town, can they use them together as a group with each paying for their own ticket using a groupon

Hiya! I wanted to ask, since I see someone wanting to bring toddlers aboard — and frankly, I prefer adults-only cruises. What is the general ‘mood’ of sunset cruises? Are they ‘family friendly’, or because they are late in the day and serve alcohol, do they tend to be ‘romantic’ or ‘intimate’ style? Thanks!

Hi Christiana,
This is Stefan from the Red and White Fleet. sorry, but the California Sunset Cruise tickets aren’t valid for any special event cruises, such as Kaboom.

Hello Kenneth,

Thanks for your question as well. If I understand correctly, you have friends who will each have their own Groupon. If they want to head onto a cruise together, simply have them give us a call to make reservations for the same night.

Once the Groupon deal closes tonight, we’ll be ready to accept reservations starting tomorrow. Email at sales@redandwhite.com or call Emily or Taylor at (415) 673-2900.

Hi Anna,
We have a pretty big range of guests on our cruises, including all ages. Overall, the cruise is all about having a relaxed, casual night out on the bay with food, views and friends. So it’s pretty family friendly, but also very popular with couples and even work groups for team building.

Hi Tracy,
Usually the route we take tends to be pretty calm, but of course that’s not something I can guarantee, since the currents can change. Generally, under the Golden Gate Bridge, the currents tend to be the roughest.

But, to be honest, I get seasick easily, and have never gotten sick on our California Sunset Cruise. It’s usually when you go out on the Pacific, so beyond the Golden Gate Bridge, where things get tough. :)

Hi Anna,

Let me know which night you are thinking about going, I’ll tell my kid that’s a blackout date….(whisper) axxhole!!

Booking Procedure: Hello Everyone, this is Emily. You can book the tour in advance by simply call me at (415) 673-2900 or emailing me at sales@redandwhite.com after today’s deal has ended.
Please provide me with your Groupon.com booking number over the phone and your preferred sailing date. I will then place your order and provide you with our confirmation number for your order.
On the day of your cruise, simply come to Pier 43 1/2 with your Groupon.com voucher in hand, about 15-30 minutes prior to the departure time, and pick up your tickets with the confirmation number that I provided you with.

Hey, Mike! Sure, I will, might save them having to fish big and little people out of the water. ;-) (whisper) Jacka$$!

Anyway, it’s usually obnoxious parents (like, say, those who take offense to people who openly admit that they prefer not to share adult activities with children — know anyone?) …that make obnoxious kids, so I think I rest my case.

(Signing off, since I got my answer, and won’t likely bother checking back in, so feel perfectly free to post more jealous, self-righteous statements. :-))

Anyway! Thanks, Stefan, for politely answering my questions! And thank you Fleet, for the great deal!

What if I sign up for this deal, and the cruise is booked on the day I want to go? I’ll only be in SF for a few days in May.

HI William,
I would suggest calling and making a reservation as soon as you know what day you’d like to take the Sunset Cruise. We will begin taking reservations tomorrow. Please go to www.redandwhite.com to view our cruise schedule and see what day works best for you.

How many people are taken on each Sunset Cruise?

Can I bring my 7 month old daughter along with my husband?

Hi David,
this is Stefan from the Red and White. We limit the capacity per sailing to 150 guests, but generally have about 5—100 per night. Considering that we have indoor and outdoor decks on two-three levels, there’s plenty of space for everyone. Hope this helps! You can also check out our boats, especially the Royal Prince which we usually use for the California Sunset Cruise, by visiting http://www.redandwhite.com/royal_prince.asp.

Hello David, this is Emily from the Red and White Fleet. Our Sunset Cruise has a maximum capacity of 150 people.

Hi Giovanna,
You are welcome to bring your little guy with you aboard the California Sunset Cruise. Like I said, we have guests of all ages, and it’s really meant to be an event for all. It’s all about enjoying yourself and spending time with friends and family in the breathtaking urban & natural surrounding of SF Bay.

Hello Giovanna,
this is Emily from the Red and White Fleet, yes, please feel free to bring along your 7 month old daughter with you and your husband as we welcome children of all ages. Also children under the age of 5 years old are free.

What to wear?

It’s a casual affair so come and have fun. Wear some comfortable clothing and shoes, and dress in layers, since the weather can fluctuate from one part of the bay to the next. In case it gets cold or windy, there’s always inside seating and hot drinks are available from the bar. And don’t forget to bring your camera – the views are awesome!

Check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvBXIUcoFBE for a quick video of our California Sunset Cruise!

Merkl,

If I accidentally nudge Anna M. and she just happens to fall overboard, can we naturally assume that she will safely swim back to shore, or would the captain have to turn the boat around and delay the entire cruise?

Hi Everyone,

Looking forward to a fun California Sunset Cruise Season with you all. It’s been an awesome Groupon day and let’s see if we can go beyond the 2,000 mark today!

Once we have our will call list tomorrow, please feel free to contact us at sales@redandwhite.com to set up your cruise tickets for a particular date. Emily, Taylor or I can help!.

Did you know…

..that our boat, the Harbor King, was in the movie “Birdman of Alcatraz?”

All of our boats are operated using biodiesel and full efficient engines.

Hi Alka! It has been fun having such an active discussion board. Thanks for the kind words.
We are looking forward to a busy day on the phones tomorrow!
Taylor

Did you know…

…that San Francisco sits on 43 hills spread out over 49 square miles? This makes for amazing views of the city when seeing it from the bay! :)

I’m really excited about this groupon. I’m visiting my step mom this summer sometime and never been to California. this is the best groupon, to see california!

Hi Jennifer,
Glad to hear that you’ll cruise San Francisco Bay with us on your first trip to California. I think you’ll love it, and San Francisco is just such a cool city with loads of neat shops, cafes and restaurants. Where will you be visiting from?

Didn’t really feel the one question was answered about what happens if your requested date isn’t available. We’ll be in SF only for four days in late May. I’d love to buy, but can we get a refund if when we call tomorrow our date is unavailable?

Hi Masona,

Thanks for your note above. Currently, we have space on all of our California Sunset Cruises during the 2010 season.

Please check our sailing schedule to see what dates will work best for you: http://www.redandwhite.com/cruise_schedule.asp

SPRING 2010 (Apr 1 – May 25): Thurs – Sat @ 6:00 PM
SUMMER 2010 (May 26 – Sept 6): Daily @ 7:00 PM
FALL 2010 (Sept 7 – Oct 24): Thurs – Sat @ 6:00 PM
NOTE: No Sunset Cruise on May 22nd or July 4th

If our departure schedule meets your needs, then feel free to book your passes today through Groupon.com.

Then, please simply email us at sales@redandwhite.com or call us at (415) 673-2900 with your preferred date, so we can book you and your guests accordingly.

Hope this helps!

What route does the cruise take, is there a map on your site?

Hi John,
good point and I am sorry for not mentioning this earlier on today! Please visit http://www.redandwhite.com/california_sunset_cruise.asp where you can find a map of the sailing route at the bottom of the page.

We start of the cruise in San Francisco at Pier 43 1/2 in Fisherman’s Wharf. From there, we sail over to Alcatraz Island to get a good view. We continue the trip on to Angel Island, which we circle almost in its entirety. We then sail along the shores of Tiburon, Belvedere and Sausalito, before heading under the Golden Gate Bridge. After going under the Golden Gate Bridge, we sail along San Francisco’s nightly skyline back to Fisherman’s Wharf.

Did you know…

… that the Red and White Fleet started out as the brain child of 18-year old entrepreneur Thomas Crowley in 1892?

Find out more about our long history on http://www.redandwhite.com/our_history.asp

Yikes, I accidentally ordered 6, then saw the limit of 1, so “cancelled” the order and re-ordered 1 for me, and 1 for a gift. Will it show up on my credit card as total of 8 (which is showing as being processed right now)?? Sorry about that!
We’ve been on one of your cruises before and LOVED it!!

Hi Angela,
glad to hear you had a great time on our cruises. I’ll let Groupon.com follow up with you directly regarding your order adjustment, since I wouldn’t be able to assist on that end. All the best, Stefan / Red and White Fleet

Thanks Red and White Fleet for taking the time to answer all our questions. We bought ours and looking forward to the cruise. Wish others offering items on here would be so active in the discussions as you have been. Really demonstrates great customer service.

Hi,
I plan on visiting SF in mid-June and I was wondering if I make reservations can they be changed in case that night does not work for me? Also how soon do should I make reservations in advance? Thanks!

There are 8 people in our group and I was going to purchase 1 for myself and 7 as gifts, can I book all 8 of us together tomorrow?

If not, could you please let me know how I can go about taking advantage of this promo for a group of 8?

THANKS!

Hello,
I need to gift 4 groupons to a family. Can i gift the 4 to one person in that family or should it be to each person in the family?

Thanks Alka….Will follow your advice. My groupon still shows 8 but if I should get that many…….even better!! hahaha…

I bought 2 tickets and it has been several hours, and I have still not received an email confirming my purchase. There isn’t much time left before the deal ends, how do I check to see if the purchase went through or not. I really do not want to double purchase.

Same here, purchased at the point where there were still 55 minutes remaining before the deal expires and I have not gotten any email confirmation. My purchase was 10 min ago.

I purchased 3. I wanted to buy one for myself, and then the other 2 as gifts. However, after I click on the “purchase as gifts”, and then I can’t save at the window that let me put in my friend’s email. There’s an “error on page” message. I hope I can get all 3.

I also tried to purchase 1 for myself and 7 as gifts. It wouldn’t save the recipient’s names, so I have no idea if I have bought 1 or 8. Clearly Groupon needs to improve their “gifting” procedure, it just doesn’t work for multiples! Can I please get some feedback from Groupon??? donna

Hi Stefan,
i purchased two tickets for this sunset cruise via groupon. But when i logged back in to groupon after a few days, my purchase isn’t showing/ disappeared. I haven’t printed out the tickets so I have no copy and I accidentally deleted the e-mail confirming my purchase. But i have my credit card transaction reference number. And I’m sure my name was on the transaction receipt. Can you help me out?

oh nevermind, fixed it with a groupon customer service rep.