Is Alcatraz closed? Yes, Oct. 26 to Nov. 18; tickets in that window are refunded

Yes, Alcatraz is closed. The National Park Service shut the island to visitors on Monday, Oct. 26, and lists the closure as running to Nov. 18 while new pilings go in under the ferry dock. Because the only way onto the island is the Alcatraz City Cruises ferry from Pier 33, no tours are landing at all. What that means for you depends on the date on your ticket, so start with the table below.

Oct. 26 – Nov. 18Closed to visitors

Nov. 19 (not confirmed)First possible reopening day

72 h beforeFree cancellation on later tours

from $44Bay Discovery Cruise, no landing

Visitors queueing under the canopy at Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing in San Francisco as an Alcatraz Cruises ferry waits at the dock

What happens to your Alcatraz ticket

Find the date on your booking.

Tour date	Status	What to do
Oct. 26 to Nov. 18	Cancelled. The island is closed	Alcatraz City Cruises notifies holders and refunds them, with the option to rebook the island tour for another date or take a San Francisco Bay Discovery Cruise on selected dates during the closure
Nov. 19 onward	Valid as booked, for now	Repairs are due to finish by Nov. 18, but the NPS and the operator say dates may move. Watch your email. If you want out, Alcatraz City Cruises refunds cancellations made at least 72 hours before departure
Thanksgiving, Nov. 26	No tours	Alcatraz is always closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day, closure or not

Bought from another website?Alcatraz City Cruises is the only company with ferry access to the island. If you booked through another website, start with the company you paid: outside sellers have no control over the operator's inventory, and the operator says tickets are only guaranteed valid when they come from an approved reseller.

Getting your money back or a new date

If you have not heard from the operator, these are the steps.

1. Find your Booking ID

It is on the confirmation email from Alcatraz City Cruises. You will need it for anything the contact center does.

2. Decide: refund, new date or Bay cruise

The NPS says affected visitors get a refund along with the option to reschedule the island tour or book a Bay Discovery Cruise for selected dates during the closure.

3. Contact Alcatraz City Cruises

Use the form at alcatrazcitycruises.com/contact-us or call +1-415-981-7625. The contact center is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time.

Rebooking for late November? Alcatraz tours often sell out a week or more ahead, and same-day tickets are rarely available, so do not leave the new date to the last minute.

Three options while the island is shut

Bay Discovery Cruise, from $44
Alcatraz City Cruises' own 90-minute round trip from Pier 33. It passes close to Alcatraz without docking and sails under the Golden Gate Bridge when the weather allows. Fees and taxes are included in the price.
Angel Island, $10 each way with Clipper
Golden Gate Ferry runs the weekday winter service from San Francisco to Angel Island State Park. $15.50 one way for an adult ticket, $10 with Clipper or a contactless card, $8 youth and seniors, park entry included. Buy the return before you leave: there are no ticket sales on the island.
Rebook for after Nov. 18
If the island itself is the point, the NPS offers rescheduling rather than only a refund. Pick a date with a few days of margin after Nov. 18, keep an eye on the park page, and remember the 72-hour cancellation window if the work runs late.

Why it is closed

The ferry lands on a floating dock held by five pilings. One failed in January and closed the island for nine days; three were strengthened in April during a six-day closure. Now the last two are being replaced outright, a pile-driving job that has to be done before regulators restrict in-water work in the bay after Nov. 30. Alcatraz City Cruises is paying for it under its concession agreement.

Ferries in the WestCalifornia crossings we cover, from San Diego Bay to the Delta Coronado ferryBroadway Pier to Coronado, $9 one way Real McCoy ferryCaltrans' free Rio Vista crossing, every 20 minutes day and night J-Mack ferryThe smaller Caltrans Delta boat to Ryer Island

Sources

National Park Service: Alcatraz Island to Temporarily Close for Dock Repairs This Fall, Sept. 28, 2026.
National Park Service: Alcatraz Island park page.
Alcatraz City Cruises: tickets (72-hour cancellation), Bay Discovery Cruise, FAQ (contact center, holiday closures, resellers, how far ahead tours sell out).
Golden Gate Ferry: Angel Island fares; California State Parks: Angel Island State Park.

Updated October 27, 2026

By The Lauttainfo USA desk

An independent guide to American ferry crossings, from cable ferries on rural rivers to San Francisco Bay. Every page is dated and built from the operator's own notices and timetables.

Dates, refund and rebooking terms from the National Park Service's Sept. 28 news release and the Alcatraz Island park page (checked Oct. 27). Cancellation rule, prices and contact details from Alcatraz City Cruises' tickets, Bay Discovery Cruise and FAQ pages. Angel Island fares from Golden Gate Ferry. Photo: Fabio Achilli, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0, cropped to 16:9. The NPS warns that weather or other factors may change the closure dates.