San Diego Whale Watching Cruise

Overview

Available languages

English

4 hours

Mobile ticket

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

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!

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What To Expect

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

What‘s Included

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

If you arrive after check in ends, you will miss the boat.

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

Options

San Diego Whale Watching Cruise

Reviews

4.80

2,332 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

2053

163

A dream come true
LimasMom,,Feb 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Absolutely extraordinary. I’ve wanted to see whales all my life and this afternoon did not disappoint. We followed 3 grey whales for about 40 minutes. Slowly and respectfully. I cried. We also saw dolphins, sea lions and birds. The crew is fantastic. So glad we chose this provider for a very special day.
Amazing day!
Siobhan D,,Feb 9, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
The ship is beautiful, and the crew are very knowledgeable. Of course, I’m especially happy with our experience because we saw three! Gray whales, plus a pod of dolphins and some very lazy sea lions. Fathom, our tour guide, gave lots of great information. She also took and shared videos of the whales so we could be present and not have to watch through our phones, which I really appreciated.
Sailing Adventure
T9078QZcarrieh,,Feb 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Had beautiful weather. Saw 7 grey whales. Friendly and knowledgeable crew. Beautiful sail boat with a great history. Highly recommend!
Great Sail, but No Whales
Roger W,,Feb 7, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
What a wonderful day for a sailing expedition. The American replica and their crew were delightful. The day was perfect. Unfortunately, we didn’t see any whales (first time this season, apparently). We did see lots of dolphins, which was fun. Because we didn’t see whales, they provide a no expiration date rebook. Gives us a great excuse to return to San Diego. Crew was outstanding.
Fantabulous Sea Adventure…!!! 11/10!
Carlos C,,Feb 7, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Highly recommend for any one wanting to experience a great wonder…!!! The Captain and Crew were amazing…!!!
A must!
AnnwillTn,,Feb 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Even though we didn't see any whales...which is rare!... we still had a great time. And we were given a no expire -next time trip..as guaranteed! Truly hope to use it! Highly recommend this outfitter. The ship is gorgeous!
A wonderful sail!
johnhF1317KS,,Feb 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
What a great sailing! The boat was beautiful! Crew members were very attentive and made the day very enjoyable. Our naturalist was very knowledgeable about whales. Would definitely take this trip the next time we get to San Diego.
Wonderful experience
David K,,Feb 6, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
It was an awesome experience, with a very friendly and knowledgeable staff that made it a memorable and thoroughly enjoyable excursion. We saw several wales and lots of marine life. It completely exceeded our expectations and we would highly recommend that you experience this for yourself.
Check-in was seamless,...
Robert B,,Feb 6, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Check-in was seamless, boarding was organized. We took the 11:00 tour which was apparently a good choice because we saw a total of seven whales. The entire crew was professional and friendly and made sure everyone had a great view. Our crew leader was exceptional and gave informative narration with interesting facts about whales and sights during the excursion. We highly recommend booking with San Diego Whale Watching.
Epic day on the ocean
Amy H,,Feb 5, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Amazing day! Crew were very knowledgeable and friendly. The boat (the America) was immaculate. We were fortunate enough to see 3 whales! They provided snacks and sodas/water during our 4 hour sail. Definitely bring layers, as it was brisk on the ocean.