San Diego Whale Watching Cruise | 4 hours

2015 Reviews | San Diego
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You can select up to 9 travelers in total.
Adult (13-99) Minimum: 1, Maximum: 9
2
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Free Cancellation For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
San Diego Whale Watching Cruise
2 Adults x $85.00
$170.00
Approx Total
$170.00

Inclusions / Exclusions

  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English
  • 4.5-hr sailing cruise
  • Bring layers, blankets, and jackets. It can be cold on the water!
  • Free Parking. Check-in located next to parking lot.
  • 1:15 PM trip: Check in between 12:30 - 12:45
  • No seasickness' guarantee: Lose your lunch, we get you a new one
  • 2:00 PM Trip: Check in between 1:15 PM - 1:30 PM
  • Sodas and snacks
  • 11:00 AM trip: Check-in starts at 10:00 AM and ends at 10:30 AM
  • Whale sighting guarantee: If you don't see a whale, you get to come back for free
  • 9:00 AM trip: Check in between 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pickup and drop off

Overview

Whale watching season is all year long in San Diego! Our team at Next Level Sailing provides the optimal experience with guides so experienced we received a 100 percent success rate during winter whale watching when spotting the King of the Deep. We are one of the best outdoor activities to do in San Diego. Gray whale watching season spans from mid-December through April. Blue whales and fin whales are seen feeding in San Diego from April - August. Humpback whales and minke whales are seen throughout the year, particularly in the spring, summer, and fall. Aboard our 141-foot sailing yacht, the Yacht America, you will see a plethora of whales firsthand in their natural habitat. In addition to whales, we also see dolphins and sea lions, and an abundance of naval activity. Don't be surprised if you see an F-18 fly overhead! Bring your own picnic, friends, and family for a wonderful day out on the water

Meeting points

Check in opens an hour before departure time and closes 30 minutes before departure. Check in flag located across the street from the Best Western Island Palms Hotel and Blue Wave Bar & Grill. Please look at Inclusions/Exclusions for specific check in times. Abundant free parking at our location!

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

We sail past North Island Naval Air Station, US Navy Base Point Loma, Cabrillo National Monument, Point Loma Lighthouse to see many dolphins and whales.

Sample Menu

Additional Info

  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Specialized infant seats are available
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Please call if you have a wheelchair so we can discuss the boarding options as we have had guests with wheelchairs enjoy this experience. We do have 5 steps in order to board the vessel. There is a single step in the deck. Please call Thank you!

Free Cancellation

June 18100% refund
June 19No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews

4.8

2015 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
  • 5 stars
    1761
  • 4 stars
    145
  • 3 stars
    69
  • 2 stars
    23
  • 1 star
    17

Reviews by TravelOne travelers

Showing 1-5 of 1761 reviews with 5 stars

An excellent value

Published on Feb, 2025

Don’t give it a second thought. Choose this whale watching trip. It’s an excellent value. It’s a 4 sail sailboat. The trip is gorgeous. The captain and crew are very knowledgeable. The captain has a chocolate lab, Marie Antoinette, that can bark when she smells the presence of a whale. The captain and crew, including Marie, led us to 9 different gray whales. Bundle up if your trip is in the winter. Bring cash for the merch and for a tip for the hard working crew.

Wonderful experience. Saw...

Published on Feb, 2025

Wonderful experience. Saw whales & then took us to a large pod of dolphins where we were in the middle of hundreds. Amazing & won't forget that.

7 gray whales!

Published on Jan, 2025

We saw 7 gray wheels! Great crew, and beautiful sailboat! They handed out snacks and beverages. Great information about the area too!

Fantastic Tour!

Published on Jan, 2025

Start to finish, can't imagine a better "tour". The whole staff, from the Captain on down, were crazy "cool". The hostess was super knowledgeable! Crazy cool replica sailing vessel. Luck of the draw, we only saw a couple of gray whales, but several dolphins, and sea lions. Still, can't imagine the experience going much better. We would most def recommend this tour!!

Great sailing trip

Published on Jan, 2025

We saw two whales and stayed near a long time. Very knowledgeable captain and assistant and mates. Snacks and soft drinks for free. Beer and wine for a small fee. Stayed out 20 extra minutes because we saw a whale on the way in. The ship is very impressive. And the cafe across the street is great for breakfast. Fantastic cold brew! Really!

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