If you're planning a trip to Alcatraz...

[clam]

BOOK IN ADVANCE! We'll be there in two and a half weeks and I was trolling about on the website and noticed that nearly all the slots for our window of opportunity were sold out. I'd read that it's not wise to try to book on the day as "they might be sold out a few days in advance" but 2.5 weeks?
I've just squeezed in, but would have been really hacked off to have missed it, so thought I'd share.

Who have you booked with? Planning a California holiday hopefully next year and this was something we wanted to do.

We booked on the day bookings opened for the day we wanted (might be 6 months in advance - a long time anyway). Try to get the first trip of the day if you can, as it means stepping off the boat onto an empty island, which is very cool.

Alcatrazcuises. Think they're the only "official" outfit. A number of others only sail past, this lot land and do tours.

I ended up phoning them in the end, as the website was playing up. The guy said this was typical peak season - but none of the 'warnings' I've seen say to book this far in advance.

I have been twice and the first trip of the day was by far the best.

Aren't you risking fog though, first thing in the morning? More likely to have cleared by later on.

Thanks Clam, have a wonderful holiday and pleaee come back and make me jealous tell me all about it, any hints, tips etc

I remember going back in 1996, ended up staying in San Francisco for a week before I could get a ticket!
But it was worth it!

The evening trips are the best. You're the last off the island, the light starts fading and it's very eerie.