Luxury Whale Watching: Fewer People, Extra Speed, Expert Staff
Overview
Mobile ticket
Onboard our 50’ pristine Catamaran Yacht, our always low passenger capacity makes for an intimate at sea experience. The luxury whale watching cruises feature a perfect balance of gorgeous nautical details, and spacious viewing areas which allow you and your family to get up-close views of wild marine mammals including giant blue whales, humpback whales, mega pods of dolphin, and so much more. The unique 360-viewing walk around feature, allows for a perfect view from almost any vantage point onboard and means you’ll never miss a moment. Our favorite spot onboard is up front, where you can gaze down at bow riding dolphin, which will glide just below your feet on one of the dual bows, so close they are almost within arm’s reach!
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Arrive 1 hour or earlier during peak summer months for parking
Parking Fees located at Balboa Pier Municipal Lot and public lots
Trolley Information for the Balboa Peninsula can be found at the City of Newport Beach website
Trolley runs seasonally and not year round
What To Expect
Balboa Fun Zone
All guests will check in at Davey's Locker and pick their boarding pass up from the office. The office will then direct all guests to the appropriate line where the crew will grab all guests and direct them to the vessel.
Options
Luxury Whale Watching: Fewer People, Extra Speed, Expert Staff
What‘s Included
Landing and facility fees
Alcoholic Beverages
Coffee and/or Tea
Snacks
Binoculars
Parking
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
192 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Resolved a security problem
albertcA6485NO,Jun 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had a problem checking in and one of the Hard Rock staff named Faye went above and beyond to help with my check in. I did not have the reservation number and Faye remembered the birthday reservation for my party and resolved the security checks for me. She should be recognized by Hard Rock management for her perseverance and dedication to excellent customer service.
Go watch whales with these folks!
X1648SJkimberlye,Jun 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Jill was knowledgable and it was obvious that she is passionate about sea life - especially whales! She and the boat captain (Terry?) made a great team. saw a humpback whale multiple times and hundreds of dolphin, in addition to anchovy pods, several sea birds and a seal.
great saturday
E6026QQsteveb,Jun 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00we went out on june 13 on the 9am sailing. three humbacks and plenty of dolphins. captain and first mate top notch. coast guard asked our captain for advice
Amazing experience. We...
Jay L,Jun 12, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Amazing experience. We saw a massive pod of dolphins and 2 different kinds of whales. Worth the money!!!
Was there effort?
kevin m,Jun 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
2.00It started off pretty rough with our Google Maps taking us to the Ferry. While we were waiting in line we were also on hold to find out if we indeed were to cross on the ferry. Parking was a nightmare. They ask that you are there an hour before the tour. Due to the traffic and Google’s directions we were cutting it close. You know it’s not going to be a “whale watching tour” when the captain and mate announce for everyone to “enjoy the boat ride”. There was no warning to the people up front that they were going to get wet. They were soaked. Since we saw no signs of whales the captain took us to a kelp patch in hopes of seeing something. We saw nothing. So we headed for a buoy that had several sea lions on it. It’s understood that nature is unpredictable- however it seemed like the hosts didn’t even try- and that was disappointing. They did hand out a free coupon for another date.
We saw an incredible...
Corine S,May 27, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00We saw an incredible amount of common dolphins, truly magical. No other whales unfortunately, but they gave us a coupon for next time. Only disappointment was that the 2-3 hours was that it was exactly 2 hours and he didn’t take the time to look for whales after the dolphins.
Captain, Danny and crew...
Steve H,May 25, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Captain, Danny and crew were awesome. Got to see two species of whales next to each other a Fin whale and Minke whale and a ton of dolphins. A must do while in newport.
Yesterday we spent an...
Diana T,May 24, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Yesterday we spent an amazing day in the ocean. We were searching for Moby Dick, but unfortunately we didn’t find him. Still, the hours spent in the ocean were absolutely unforgettable. The ocean is magnificent, breathtaking, and beautiful. To feel its power and strength is truly priceless. I will definitely come back to meet Moby Dick one day.
Best experience!
Francis C,May 23, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Great! We saw dolphins and a whale. The staff was great! They were friendly and informative. It was bumpy but overall a great experience.
Saw pods of bottle nosed dolphins and seals. No whales, was toward the end of migration.
nicolegT7646TB,May 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Well worth the extra dime to have a less crowded boat.
Secure Checkout
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