Private Charters

The USS Potomac, President Roosevelt’s historic presidential yacht and a National Historic Landmark, is available for private charter throughout the year.  Whether for a special anniversary, wedding, reception, corporate event, retirement party, memorial ash-scattering cruise, or any other occasion, the USS Potomac is a truly unique venue for any very special day.

Docking Locations

The USS Potomac normally departs from the foot of Clay Street in Jack London Square, Oakland, California, its home berth. However, by special arrangement, Potomac can pick up and drop off your guests in San Francisco at China Basin Ferry Landing at Oracle Park (closed for the winter after baseball season) or Gate B at the Ferry Building (year ’round). In Sausalito, Potomac can pick up and drop off at the Sausalito Ferry Landing. 

Fees

Cruise Charters

The base fee for a minimum three-hour charter cruise on the USS Potomac is $9,500 for a departure and return to Jack London Square in Oakland. Each additional cruise hour is $3,000; each additional dockside hour is $2,000. A $500 refundable cleaning fee is also applied to all charters.  This is refunded when the ship is returned in the cleaned condition in which you find it.

San Francisco and Sausalito Pick Ups and Drop Offs are by Special Arrangement
If you would like a San Francisco or a Sausalito pick up and drop off, additional fees are applied to the base rate for the transit time to these locations and for the remote docking fees that are assessed by either the Port of San Francisco or Golden Gate Ferries, respectively.

The fee for the added transit time on Potomac to these “remote docking” locations ranges from  $3,500 to $5,500.  The Port of San Francisco then assesses a 7% docking fee on the charter total while Golden Gate Ferries assesses about $200 per docking in Sausalito.
Calculating your rate to/from San Francisco:
Charter $9,500 + transit fee of $3,500 = $13,000 +  $910 (7%)  = $13,910
Calculating your rate to/from Sausalito:
Charter $9,500 + transit fee of $5,500 = $15,000 + $200 = $15,200

Fleet Week charter pricing is not included here. 

Dockside Charters (Ship does not leave the dock)

The fee for a dockside charter is $5,000 for a minimum three hours and $2,000 for each hour after that.
A charter that is a combination of dockside and cruise can be arranged but would be priced at the cruise charter base rate.

Your Charter Package includes all of the following amenities:

– Full access throughout the ship during a private charter of the USS Potomac, a National Historic Landmark and the former, fully restored presidential yacht of Franklin D. Roosevelt, one of the most consequential presidents in United States history. FDR used the yacht for more than 75 personal and official trips from 1936 to 1945, including two trips to meet with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

– Capacity of 120 guests, including your catering service staff for a standing, cocktail-style buffet event.

– Preferred caterers list.  A list of professional caterers in various price points who have worked successfully on the ship.  You would arrange catering separately, as well as any equipment needs.  

– Five-person Coast-Guard certified, professional crew who work in consultation with you to plan your route on your date. You have personal access to the captain who will go over your route on your charter day as it relates to weather conditions.

– Two to three docents who are available to answer questions or offer tours for your guests of the ship.  

– Use of the ship for up to 5.5 hours, including the three-hour cruise or dockside and your set-up and take down/removal periods. If you wish, you can break up your cruise time to remain at the dock for a portion of the time.  You can also schedule additional time on the ship at the rate of $3,000 per hour.

– Use of two galleys (kitchens) and one professional size refrigerator, two electric stoves for heating, and two microwaves for use by your caterers.  The galleys are set up for light food assembly and storage.  They are not suitable for full meal preparation.

– Available dates year ’round.

– 60 folding metal chairs and 13 permanent chair seats and settee inside the vessel

– Use of our hand-held microphone audio sound system for an added fee of $250 for your event.

Accessibility
The Presidential Yacht USS Potomac is a nationally preserved historic vessel. Due to her 1934-era construction, the Potomac does not fully meet modern accessibility standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We warmly welcome visitors with mobility impairments, but please be aware that there are some access limitations.

The ship has no operable elevators. Walkers and canes are commonly used aboard, though visitors should carefully assess their ability to navigate stairs when exploring different areas of the vessel. Wheelchairs up to 25 inches wide (measured from outer wheel to outer wheel) may be used on the main deck only.

Restrooms aboard the Potomac have a small step down for entry, with narrower doorways and stalls. Fully accessible restrooms are available at the dock near the vessel. Please note that for safety reasons, USS Potomac docents and crew members are not permitted to provide physical assistance—such as lifting occupied wheelchairs or helping individuals over obstacles.Please call for questions and more details on Potomac’s availabilities, charter rates, or accessibility issues for your special event at 510-627-1215 or email jpettley@usspotomac.org or contact@usspotomac.org.