- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Airship Ventures
Category: Hotels & Travel Tours Tours
NASA Research ParkBldg 20 S Akron Rd
Moffett Field, CA 94035
(650) 969-8100
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 9 am - 5:30 pm
Sun 9 am - 12:30 pm
Amy R. said: "Great service! On time, efficient, courteous and great price. Highly recommended for personal or business use." read more »
13 reviews for Airship Ventures
13 reviews in English
-
Review from Adam s.
San Francisco, CA
12/11/2011 4 photos
You can mark this off your bucket list...(I did). Great, lifetime experience.
First, there are only two zeppellin companies that give rides to the public. Here in the SF Bay and the other is in Germany. The SF BAy area is like your in dream. The Zeppelin cruises at a slow 50 mph, and only at 1,000 feet, this give you a great, dreamy feeling as you cruise over the bay, SF financial district towers (just a few hundred feet above them), the GG bridge, Alcatraz, Angel Island and the bay bridge. It's INCREDIBLE!!
We took the one hour tour leaving from Oakland. There is a two hour tour leaving from Moffet field (Palo Alto area), I don't know about the tours leaving Moffet, but I'd definitely recommend the Oakland tour.
Each seat is by a huge picture window and get this, some of the windows open and you can stick your head out and take pics!! The cockpit is open (no walls) and you can chat with the pilot. Lotsa fun.
This is Five Star experience. I'd recommend it for any special occasion. It's a bit pricey, but well worth a lifetime of memories.Listed in: The Places I Go Out
-
Review from Johnny B.
Saratoga, CA
2/22/2012
I'm sure this WILL be fun, once they finally put us in the air!! We've had our tickets for a year and a half and have been rescheduled 6 times!! It's either weather, unscheduled maintenance, or pilot training. And it's always last minute. Last weekend, we were supposed to go and we were half way to Oakland when we got the dreaded phone call and had to turn around yet again. The most disappointing part is that they don't do anything to accommodate us any earlier, or bump someone else to make sure we get our flight. And they don't give you your money back either. So when we are rescheduled, it is usually another few months before they have the time to schedule us on another flight. Plus, they are only up in tis area 6 months of the year.
Not happy yet, but maybe I will repost something positive when they finally get us up in the air... -
Review from brian s.
San Francisco, CA
11/18/2011
I have flown on the Eureka twice now(!!), once on the Bay Area tour departing out of Oakland, and once from Moffet Field all the way to Long Beach. Since I am the guy who always gets a window seat on airplanes, the Zeppelin tour is definitely for me!! Huge windows, and plenty of time to look around. I really enjoyed talking to the pilots and learning about the intricacies of Zeppelins too. On both trips the weather was flawless, and the views were just spectacular!
There is simply no better way to sight see if you ask me. Going to Long Beach was especially amazing, we saw a sunset along the coast and dusk lights, and flew right over LAX! It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. And guess what, I will probably go again! For me life is about enjoying the journey, and that epitomizes a Zeppelin ride!! -
Review from Lou A.
San Jose, CA
4/4/2011 3 photos
I flew on the Eureka on a warm, sunny, cloud free day--March 31, 2011. I found the experience wonderfully exhilarating and unlike anything else I have ever done. My flight was scheduled for 45 minutes but actually lasted about an hour. Be warned that the whole experience takes a good bit longer, with a procedure/safety briefing beforehand and shuttle rides to and from the boarding site.
One of the coolest things about the flight is that the windows on the airship can be opened and passengers could stick their heads out or take pictures out the open windows.
There are no bad seats in the gondola below the zeppelin. There is a row of six seats down each side of the ship and every seat is both an aisle and window seat. It only takes about 45 seconds to lift off once the flight begins and from then until about a minute before landing the passengers are free to wander about the cabin.
My experience with the staff was not at all like some of the others described here. I found people helpful when we talked and my phone calls and emails were returned promptly. Also, every single employee I met the day of my flight was friendly and wildly enthusiastic about their jobs.
This is an expensive trip but since there are now only two Zeppelin NTs operating in the world (the one in Japan went bankrupt) the price is not outrageous. I may well spend money to do another one of their tours.
In addition to the pictures I have posted here I have about 50 pictures from my trip on flickr at http://www.flickr.com/... -
Review from Laura S.
Boulder, CO
3/9/2011
It's a zeppelin. Over San Francisco. Unbelievable. Yeah, sure, expensive, but think about it: it's a ZEPPELIN. Flying over SAN FRANCISCO. Utterly swoon-worthy.
We took the two-hour sunset tour. Lucked into perfectly clear weather. Words aren't adequate; there are pictures in my profile. -
Review from js b.
Mountain View, CA
12/23/2010 3 photos
45 minute tour. Sounds short, but wow, we loved every minute. What a Major Memory to treasure. Parking at building #20 (buildings show no numbers, of course) is screwy, so ask the folks for detailed directions. We all got together for a chat and a pre-flight safety lecture which was fun; David, our "host", had lots of good info and stories. they are not the TSA, but they still wand you! We hear that often you get bumped to another day because wind is a critical factor. I bet the morning flights must be less prone to that. Amazing sight, that big mother wafting in like a feather. Two people on, two people off, as the "Eureka" gently bobs on the vast Moffett Field Tarmac.
I live nearby and always wondered if I should wave... I should! You can see individuals from up there. We just looped around part of the South Bay, but it was green and crystal clear, and instead of smudgy little airliner windows, you have these vast clean windows that often let you look straight down. At 40 mph you can really see the sights and find out who has the biggest swimming pool. We asked the pilot what street a certain park was on and she whipped out her ipad, looked it up on Google Earth, and told us in about 20 seconds. Even she takes pictures on her iphone; says she never gets tired of it. And yes, you can talk to the pilot if they aren't busy, and wander around the cabin, and there is a bathroom-- with a window.
Did I mention you can OPEN a window, stick your head out, and get "zep hair"?
Yeah, for two it's the price of a television, but you will never never forget this experience. How many people can say they have been up in a zeppelin? I'm still smiling. -
Review from Jeanette M.
Redwood City, CA
11/17/2011
I had the time of my life on my Zeppelin tour!
First of all, as soon as I called to book my ticket, I was greeted with a cheerful customer service representative who tried to help me book a tour that would work best with my schedule. She gave me multiple different options for times and also different dates, and also made sure I was aware of special promotions. I was trying to plan a surprise for my husband's birthday, and the lady made sure she passed on notes to keep the tour a secret if they had to call me back for any reason!
I received an email with directions to our flight out of Moffett Field, and when we arrived, the staff was so friendly! They seem to be really excited with their jobs and truly enjoy working with the Zeppelin. We got a quick briefing from one of the flight attendants, then were brought to the ship in a nice tour van.
My husband and I went on a 45 minute tour, and I cannot tell you how gorgeous it was! We couldn't have gone on a better day! We were able to stick our hands out the windows and sit in the back seat where the view was amazing! It was wonderful to be able to see the area that I grew up in from 1,000 feet in the air! I also had a chance to talk to the pilot! Her name was Kate and she seemed thrilled to be able to explain to me a few things about flying a Zeppelin!
We were sad when our tour was over, but we will definitely be telling all of our family and friends about the amazing experience we had! When we got back to the building, we toasted with champagne to conclude our tour. It was really thoughtful to end such an event with a group toast! They even had sparkling cider for children or those who do not drink.
Thank you Airship Ventures! -
Review from Claire C.
San Francisco, CA
12/10/2008 ROTD 3/26/2009
Let's just all take a moment and thank our lucky stars to have been chosen to ride in this magnificent Zeppelin over the Bay Area...! Let's just say that very few things in life can actually return me to the childhood joy of discovery, but this was one of them!
We arrived at Moffet Field all a flutter to board one of THREE, yes THREE operating Zeppelin's in the world! We were greated by the gracious staff who informed us that we would be boarding and exiting two at a time to maintain weight balance...um did anyone else get nervous right there?
We were whisked from the headquarters (located in an old NASA building, cool!) to the tarmac. Woweee zowweee, when that thing comes down you really realize how incredibly HUGE it is! For a minute I considered quashing my nervousness with a Xanax, but then I realized that being nervous was part of the adventure!
We boarded, two at at time, and were greated with a sunny, open passenger compartment. Complete with a restroom and plenty of space to move about, we were off into the late afternoon sun! We brought some champagne which was popped, and it was quickly passed around. I thought I would need it, but was actually so thrilled and intrigued to examine the ground below that I forgot to be nervous. it was amazing!
Let me say viewing Ocean Beach, traveling through the Golden Gate and seeing the City at sunset is just insanely awesome. It was one of the coolest things I've ever done! We also saw another blimp pass us by, we all jumped up and down and waved at each other...ahhh the comraderie of the skies...
I highly recommend gathering some friends and taking the sunset flight on this ship! They served us appetizers half way through the trip and we were also provided with sodas, water and champagne. Honestly, this was probably the coolest way to see the Bay Area ever...
The last half hour was great, but in a calmer more mellow way, we were all burned out from our adrenaline from the first hour and were calmly in our seats, watching the bay spin by and admiring the moon on the water from our perch up above. Spectacular!! -
Review from Rob V.
San Francisco, CA
6/1/2009
I proposed to my fiancee on this vessel and it was worth it ( she did say yes). There was nothing like it. It was incredibly smooth (the ride that is, not me) and the ability to slowly linger over a place and have the view slowly change and evolve as you pass over it cruising at a leisurely speed makes it a view that you really get to enjoy and savor. The huge panoramic windows bring all the scenery in, and made a special event all that much more special.
Special thanks to their crew for bringing out the champagne and to the deskworkers for keeping everything under wraps for me. Each and every one of them added to the experience. -
Review from Justin D.
San Jose, CA
8/6/2010
I highly agree with the other review about poor customer service. Didn't even bother with tickets.
Waited in Lobby for 10-15 minutes before someone would actually look at availability. After that I was told to call back at 3pm. Called back at 3pm and was told someone called 5 minutes before me and got the last set of tickets for the date I wanted.....if I could call early and get the tickets, why not tell me to call early? Total BS.
When I told them about the fact that I was told to wait and call back at 3pm they just said there was nothing they could do. Really? Nothing? I wouldn't bother with this if you are trying to plan anything important, like an anniversary gift.
Very disorganized, poor customer service, and poor communication. -
Review from Sven S.
Burlingame, CA
2/26/2009
The views are what are incredable, not flying a blimp... Save yourself $400 and go to a local airport and take a scenic flight in an airplane. You will see more and it will be just as memorable. Or for 1/2 the price take a helicopter tour, you would still be able to hover!
~ Long time pilot -
Review from Barbara M.
Moss Beach, CA
1/25/2009
We got my Husband & Dad a ride for Christmas. I would have given them 5 stars except for the awful customer service trying to get tickets. They made me feel like I was the first person to ever call, not to mention making it very difficult get in touch. Took 6 calls, no call backs, very frustrating. That said.......seeing the excitement when they opened the envelopes Christmas morning, then seeing the smiles on my 87 year old Dad and my Husband when they landed, it was worth the trouble.
-
Review from Terry H.
Los Gatos, CA
12/28/2011
I must admit, I was a bit leary about this experience to begin with. I get the jitters when flying and couldn't imagine flying in a blimp. How wonderfully surprised I was. I wasn't nervous at all - it is such a smooth, mellow experience - really one of those most do lifetime experiences. We took my 85 year old mother and she can't stop talking about it! The views, the wide open windows, the ability to walk around the cockpit, and actually open the windows in the rear and stick your head/hand out all just added to the experience of it all. I have lived in the bay area my entire life and yet was able to see things that I had never seen. Flying over the bay and seeing the salt flats, sanctuaries and ghost towns (yes ghost towns) was so much fun. I have told everyone that I know about it and if at all possible, put this on your bucket list and keep saving until you do it!! You will never regret it!!!
