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City Cruises San Diego: Whale and Dolphin Watching Adventure

126 Reviews 4.48 out of 5 stars Based on 126 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor | Recommended by 90% of reviewers | San Diego, USA

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4 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Instant confirmation
Offered in: English

Overview

Enjoy the best sightseeing on the San Diego Bay—with a professionally narrated tour provided by The San Diego Natural History Museum of San Diego's whale-watching hot spots. Join us on the water as we search for Gray Whales (winter), Blue Whales (Summer), Minke Whales, Fin Whales, dolphins, sea lions, marine birds and much more!
As we cruise, we’ll see up-close views of the bay's wildlife as well as iconic landmarks from a new perspective. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to capture all the sights in photos and video.
If some type of whale is not sighted on your whale watching cruise, you will receive a pass good to return for a Whale Watching Cruise or Harbor Cruise from City Cruises San Diego.

NOTE: The whale watching vessel cruises in the open ocean. Our yacht is the most comfortable yacht in San Diego, due to stabilizers that greatly reduce the yacht's motion.

What's Included

  • Expert narration by Captains and Volunteer Naturalists from the San Diego Natural History Museum
  • All Fees and Taxes
  • Spectacular views of the city skyline and local landmarks, including whales, dolphins and sea lions
  • Food and drinks (available to purchase onboard)
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Meeting Location

Meeting point

970 North Harbor Drive
San Diego, CA 92101, USA

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Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Whale and dolphin watching. As we cruise, we’ll see up-close views of the bay's wildlife as well as iconic landmarks from a new perspective. Onboard our staff will provide live narration and details about the aquatic life and landmarks we pass for a truly memorable experience. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to capture all the sights in photos and video.

Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • There are Personal Floatation Devices on board for all guests, as per Coast Guard requirements. You do not need to wear life vest or the provided PFD's during the course of this cruise. However, if you would prefer to have children wear the PFD's during the course of the cruise, please advise so at the time of booking in the Special Requirements box.
  • Please let us know if you require a wheelchair accessible cruise so that we can confirm that your requested cruise date has wheelchair accessible departures.

Frequently Asked Questions

(9)

Q: Do we get to swim with or touch the dolphins?

A: As an active member of the Dolphin SMART program, we do not have physical contact with the dolphins on City Cruises San Diego: Whale and Dolphin Watching Adventure. We watch them in their natural habitat from the boat. Read more Dec 2022

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

Still have questions?

We're here to help.
Activity code: C-2540SANWHALE

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.48
126 reviews

Average 4.48 out of 5 stars based on 126 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and partner sites such as Trustpilot, Viator, and TripAdvisor

5 stars
85
4 stars
29
3 stars
3
2 stars
5
1 star
4

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On average, this is booked 30 (0) days in advance.

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What's Included

Activity name

  • Expert narration by Captains and Volunteer Naturalists from the San Diego Natural History Museum
  • All Fees and Taxes
  • Spectacular views of the city skyline and local landmarks, including whales, dolphins and sea lions
  • Three Hours (Dec-April) Four Hours (June-Sept) Whale Watching Cruise on the San Diego Bay
  • Food and drinks (available to purchase onboard)

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • There are Personal Floatation Devices on board for all guests, as per Coast Guard requirements. You do not need to wear life vest or the provided PFD's during the course of this cruise. However, if you would prefer to have children wear the PFD's during the course of the cruise, please advise so at the time of booking in the Special Requirements box.
  • Please let us know if you require a wheelchair accessible cruise so that we can confirm that your requested cruise date has wheelchair accessible departures.
  • Please arrive at the meeting point 30 minutes prior to departure.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 300 travelers
  • Operated by a business

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Free Cancellation

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You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (PDT).
  • This tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
  • This tour requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

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