This is a great way to try to see some whales. The boat is just the right size so you feel close to the water, but have a stable platform. It didn’t seem overcrowded even though I believe we were at capacity (about 150 gawkers). The crew is friendly and eager, with helpful commentary about where to look and what you’re looking at.
I’ve gone out in a sailboat many times looking for whales and have seldom seen one. A boat like this, with more speed, offers a far better chance at seeing whales, although it’s unlikely you will see them up close. You’ll see whale spout and tail flukes and distant large bodies – very cool, but perhaps not awesome. It’s illegal to get closer than 100 meters and in some cases not even that close. My wife and I thought we saw two pairs of whales, but the naturalist on board said we simply saw the same pair more than once.
The dolphins, however, were spectacular and everyone totally enjoyed them. We saw at least a hundred dolphins, many right next to the boat and on the bow wave.
This tour leaves from Mission Bay, much more convenient than downtown. It’s a delightful 2 ½ - 3 hours on the ocean, which I think makes it one of the great things to do in San Diego, if you get good weather (generally not a problem).
Note that even small bags of chips are expensive, like any amusement, I guess. Coors Light or Budweiser was a better value at $4. You are discouraged from bringing any alcohol or coolers on board.