Whale-Watching Cruise from Newport Beach

Overview

Hop aboard our 65-foot (20-meter) whale-watching boat made just for whale watching and start a fantastic adventure off the Orange County coast! During your whale-watching cruise, learn fascinating details about all types of California sea life from the onboard naturalist with the beautiful coastal scenery of Newport Beach & Laguna Beach as backdrop. Year-round whale-watching cruises like this one are rare, so don’t miss this chance to see giant blue, finback, grey, minke and humpback whales. Over half dozen different types of dolphin including giant Risso Dolphin at over 12 feet in length, white sided dolphin, bottlenose dolphin, and common dolphin. See super pods of dolphin sometimes numbering over 1000 dolphin strong. What a amazing sight. Harbor seals, seal lions, schools of fish, many species of sharks, and more can also be viewed on one of our 2-2.5 hour whale watching cruises.

City: Newport Beach

Tue 31 Dec

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $34.00

Make a reservation

Tue 31 Dec

Starting at $34.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

2.5-hour whale-watching cruise

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Outside alcohol, ice chests, coolers or glass containers are strictly prohibited.
Vessel may change depending on availability.
Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff
Regularly sanitised high-traffic areas
Gear/equipment sanitised between use
Transportation vehicles regularly sanitised
Guides required to regularly wash hands
We have decreased our passenger capacity by 30% for each vessel in our fleet.

What To Expect

Balboa Pier

This pier provides excellent sightings of the beautiful coastal line along with the crashing waves into the white sandy beaches.

Balboa Fun Zone

Here families and children can enjoy a ride on the Ferris Wheel or test their luck out in the arcade. Three other rides (swings) or available to smaller children as well.

The Wedge

Famous surf location

Crystal Cove State Park

Marine protected preserve and state park.

Newport Beach Pier

Historic pier and home to dory fleet.

Balboa Island

Take in the views as they pass through Newport Harbor.

Crystal Cove State Park

Whale watching cruises often view mammals off the Crystal Cove Park and marine protected area offshore.

Huntington Beach

Whales and dolphin are often viewed off the coast of Huntington Beach and the Huntington Beach Pier.

Newport Beach Pier

Great whale watching takes place in the waters about 1/2 mile off the Newport Pier. Waters get quite deep just off the end of the pier and upwelling brings fish and mammals into feed.

Laguna Beach

The coastline is often the backdrop when viewing whales and dolphin and if part of the 60 square mile marine protected park .

Main Beach

Downtown Laguna, Main Beach is often visible while on a whale watching cruise out of Newport Beach

Corona del Mar

Beautiful coastal town often see in background while viewing mammals on whale watches

Corona Del Mar State Beach

Pass by or stop in front of during our whale watches out of Newport Harbor.

Dana Point

Whale watching cruises can travel down to Dana Point in search of whales and dolphin. Just south of Laguna Beach

Dana Point Harbor

Whale watches can travel down to waters off Dana Point harbor to view whales and other marine mammals.

Top of the World

Often viewed from a distance while watching off Laguna Beach

Aliso Beach Park

Good whale watching and dolphin viewing takes place in the deeper waters off Aliso Beach Park in Laguna .

Victoria Beach

One of the beaches in Laguna we spot while whale watching in the waters offshore.

Huntington Dog Beach

Can be spotted along the coast when whale watching off Huntington Beach.

Bolsa Chica State Beach

One the beaches to north that we travel too on some of our whale watches. The waters from the lagoon provide nutrients and attract marine life.

Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

Protected reserve birds from the area offer some unique viewing opportunities in the waters offshore along with good habitat for whales and dolphin.

Sunset Beach

One of the most northern beaches we see on our whale watches from Newport Beach.

Huntington State Beach

Long stretch of beautiful white sand beach we cruise just offshore looking for whales and dolphin that travel the area.

Marina Park

Great park can visit before of after taking a whale watching cruise from Balboa. Long walk or short bike ride too.

Little Corona Beach

Close to where we exit Newport Bay we often pass in close proximity.

Pelican Hill Golf Club

Scenic backdrop while we view whales and dolphin in the waters just off the golf club.

The Spa at Pelican Hill

Nice option for he perfect day after or before a whale watching cruise. Can be seen from one of our whale watching boats.

Salt Creek Beach

Just south of Laguna Beach the waters off Salt Creek support whales and dolphin and our cruises travel to this area at times

Table Rock Beach

Neat beach and the protected waters offshore provide ideal habitat for whales and dolphins year round.

Laguna Beach Pirate Tower

Landmark visible from our whale watching cruises when in Laguna Beach.

Catalina Island

Often seen in the distance on whale watching cruises some of our longer trips travel to Catalina Island.

Avalon

Main town on Catalina Island. On clear days can see Avalon while whale watching in the channel between Newport Beach and Catalina Island.

Irvine

Often the buildings of downtown Irvine can be spotted along the coastline while on a whale watch.

San Juan Capistrano

At the southern end of our whale watching cruise range can be spotted while whale watching off the coast.

Seal Beach

Seaside town spot from the distance when whale watching in the northern part of our range from Newport Beach.

Fashion Island

Popular outdoor area can be spotted from waters off the coastline of Newport Beach on whale watches.

Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters

Neat event taking place onshore. Sometimes can spot when viewing mammals close to shore.

Aliso Viejo

Spans the upper hills from coastline can be viewed while whale watching offshore.

Laguna Niguel

Can be spotted along the coastline when whale watching off Laguna.

Laguna Niguel Regional Park

Great green area is a nice view from the waters off the coast.

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Cancellation Policy

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

Traveler Photos

Reviews (460)

MegDesc

Dec 2017

Not too impressed. We have seen whales on other cruises, but not here. I don't get the impression they have any strategy other than going out in the ocean and cruising. Maybe it is harder to find whales here, but I have never been disappointed in San Diego.

DavidBuckleyGM

Nov 2017

Well, well worth the trip. Didn't get to see whales but I think we were out of season anyway but we came across a large pod of dolphins. Special thanks to Dale Fink and the rest of the crew for all the info and great photos. Highly recommended!

Candace M

Nov 2017

This was a cool experience but there are a few things I didn't like. When booking, it would have been important to let people know just how cold it would be out there. Maybe letting us know the average temperature over the water during that season. Everyone was wearing a light jacket expecting it to be a little colder than on land, but it was a lot colder. Everyone was freezing because they really weren't prepared for it.
Also, the cruise would be properly branded as a Marine Life Watching tour. It was only when we got on the boat we were told that we might not see a whale. Which was highly disappointing and felt misleading! Thankfully!! We did see one hump back whale right at the end of our tour. That made up for what felt 45 minutes of aimlessly circling the water with nothing in sight in the freezing cold for so long! It would've been nice to have something to entertain us with during the wait as well.
That being said we did see a large pod of dolphins and some sea lions catching some rays on a buoy. So that was pretty cool.
Overall, I enjoyed the tour!