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
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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.
What‘s Included
Landing and facility fees
Alcoholic Beverages
Coffee and/or Tea
Snacks
Binoculars
Parking
Options
Luxury Whale Watching: Fewer People, Extra Speed, Expert Staff
Reviews
168 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
It boat crew was...
Charles p,Mar 21, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It boat crew was fantastic, guiding us to see dolphins and fin whales. They were knowledgeable and respectful of our group and the animals we saw. When you are near Newport Beach, schedule this experience.
My uber ran into a road...
Logan S,Mar 21, 2026
- Review from Viator
1.00My uber ran into a road block so I ended up being a few minutes late and they left. They didn’t have the courtesy to call the number I gave them when I signed up. $300 down the drain
Memorable Experience!
Brenda N,Mar 19, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This trip was awesome! Such great memories made with my kids and grandkids (ages 6-14). Harrison and Matt were our hosts, they did a great job and made it understandable for kids and adults alike. Thank you for a great experience!
Great time!
Taylor R,Mar 16, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We had an amazing time! We saw a whale and several dolphins. Cocktail a where great and Jill was really friendly and knowledgeable.
Amazing
Rhonda G,Mar 15, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It was absolutely an amazing trip. Well worth it. Educational.....informative crew. Beautiful sunset
5 stars and we didn't even see any whales!!!
Kerri F,Mar 2, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We were lucky enough to come up on a pod of 30-50 dolphins that surrounded our boat and swam with us for a very long time. It was magical. Unfortunately we did not see any whales but the dolphins made the trip worth it. Captain Dani and Captain Bryce were awesome. 10/10 experience!
Professional crew
W266OGsandras,Feb 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Kayla was a wonderful captain. She and Matt worked well together along with other boats that were out at the same time. Through their coordinated efforts we were able to see large groups of dolphins including many babies. Unfortunately no whale sightings which of course they felt badly about. They were friendly and informative and very professional
Great whale watching trip
I2962AXmichaelw,Feb 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Crew was friendly and knowledgeable, tracking down some whales and giving good information while we waited for them to surface. There’s no guarantee you’ll see the wild animals, but they did a good job for us and we had a fun trip. If you ride in front, you may get wet.
Watching whales
Anita S,Feb 12, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We went on the Catallac which is smaller and faster than some of the other ferries. We only had 11 people on our cruise and it was nice. The boat has a great viewing area in front but we were warned we would get wet on the way back so we went inside. We saw two gray whales and tons of playful dolphins. The crew was informative and made a point of going around so we saw the whales twice. Highly recommend this on a sunny afternoon!
Great day on the water!
Trina B,Feb 7, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We did the whale watching tour out of Newport Beach. While we didn't see any whales, we did see a large pod of dolphins. The captain and crew were fantastic and made the adventure safe, informative and fun. I liked that there were refreshments on board for purchase.
-16% off
From US$57.96Was US$69.00
Want a private experience? Upgrade to a private tour
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Operated by Davey's Locker Whale Watching