San Diego Whale Watching Cruise

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

City: San Diego

Wed 20 Nov

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $85.00

Make a reservation

Wed 20 Nov

Starting at $85.00

Make a reservation

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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

2:00 PM Trip: Check in between 1:15 PM - 1:30 PM

Sodas and snacks

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!
Face masks provided for travellers
Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff
Regularly sanitised high-traffic areas
Guides required to regularly wash hands
Regular temperature checks for staff
Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
We always follow California state protocols

What To Expect

Old Point Loma Lighthouse

We sail past North Island Naval Air Station, US Navy Base Point Loma, Cabrillo National Monument, Point Loma Lighthouse

Cancellation Policy

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

Traveler Photos

Reviews (1000)

Amy_W

Oct 2022

I am unsure why the high ratings. The staff stated they become aware of whale sightings from other boats. I saw very few boats on our tour and no whales or dolphins. It is 2022, there has to be a better way of tracking whales. The boat has no real seats. You sit on apparatus that looks like storage unit lids. There is no back support nor is it comfortable. The crew ask for assistance to pull the sail and if no one volunteers they continue until volunteers are secured. The tour is approximately 4 hours which is nice, if seating were comfortable and whales spotted. It proved to be very boring. I thought I’d purchase a glass of wine and I was embarrassed what they served me. The plastic cup stated on the bottom 7 ounces. The glass was presented to me filled one third of this glass. My son’s pour was the same. It was insulting. The crew were friendly and provided free soda and chips. What we thought would be the pinnacle of our vacation ended up very disappointing. Traveling from Ohio, I doubt the “free return tour” for those who didn’t see whales, will be redeemed. The boat had a problem with their sail and only one was operational. Something about the other one was on order. Lastly, I suggest areas on the deck which have a step, need to have a hand rail available. I was seated when I saw an older man trying to make the step but with the boat moving/rocking and his age, he was unable to make the step. I intervened and assisted him but a small hand rail would assist guests with potential ambulation issues.

Response from Host

Nov 2022

Feedback during a trip is always helpful. I'm sorry to hear that this trip did not end up being the highlight of your vactaion from Ohio. That said, I wanted to mention a few things. We intentionally buy larger glasses to reduce spills. We ensure our pour is the standard 5 ounces. I wish this guest would have brought this to our attention at the time as we would have gladly offered additional wine. I would be happy to refund this customer for their wine but I am unable to find their reservation. Please feel free to reach out to me directly so I can do so: [email protected] or call us 619-922-6215. Captain Troy communicates with all the other whale watching operators in the area. If we can get to whales spotted by other operators, we certainly would go there. Sometimes, they are too far away and we would arrive to our home dock several hours later than our scheduled time. We are very proud of our safety record and our stability. We only have 1 six inch step in our deck and we place crew members at that location. We are the most stable vessel in the fleet of whale watching boats. Our seats are bench seats. There are various ways to sit on the benches. If we were told that this customer was uncomfortable, we could have figured out a way to make them more comfortable. Thank you for your feedback regarding all issues.

Wilson_V

Oct 2022

Great Amazing experience! Trip was memorable and team America was super nice. Got to see several whales.

Response from Host

Nov 2022

Thank you so much! I am so glad to hear you had a wonderful time sailing with us. Thank you!

Sacha_W

Oct 2022

It's not only about whales (though I was lucky to see some humpback whales): it was also interesting to see the crew working on the sails! They answered questions about setting the sails and work on the ship.

Response from Host

Nov 2022

Thank you for your review! I am so glad to hear you had a wonderful time seeing whales and sailing. We can't wait to have you aboard next time you are in town. Thanks!