San Diego Whale Watching: Breathtaking Marine Life Encounter
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
Reviews
Reviews and Rating (Tripadvisor)
5 stars
Reviews by Tripadvisor travelers
Karen_F, 10/23/2025 11:43:08 PM
We loved everything about this adventure! The crew was engaging and the sailing smooth and we learned a long about the importance of the harbor to the community. Once we were out at sea we saw plenty of whale action and it was quiet and non threatening to the whales, who came quite close. Thanks for a fabulous afternoon.
DeborahA_E, 10/22/2025 7:11:30 PM
The ship, America, was beautiful. The tour guide/docent was awesome! I was beginning to have my doubts about an hour into the cruise, but then we ran into a huge group of dolphins who were 'stampeding' and soon after, saw several hump-back whales. The day was beautiful, the water was glassy; it couldn't have been a better trip!!
Tracy_W, 10/19/2025 12:26:11 PM
Beautiful day on a fantastic ship. Saw a lot of whales at a time of year they’re hard to find. Crew was great and shared their passion for whale watching.
Kathy_V, 10/17/2025 10:58:16 AM
I loved this cruise even though we didn't see anything. (And we get a free repeat because of that.) The boat is beautiful. The crew is fantastic. They were very attentive and fun. I loved going out on the ocean.
Timothy_S, 10/16/2025 7:38:06 PM
Excellent! Nature and history combined into a great afternoon. Friendly and knowledgeable crew. They find the whales! We watched a pod of 3 humpback whales. Highly recommended!
sprindle77, 10/16/2025 12:04:24 PM
Very cool experience if you have never been on a sail boat. So fun to watch the crew hoist the sails!!! The boat is beautiful. great information provided about the history of the boat, the naval operations in San Diego and lots about marine wildlife. We saw 3 humpback whales!!! It was amazing. Would absolutely book again!!
Lori_D, 10/15/2025 11:49:15 PM
Terrific experience! We saw multiple whales and sea lions. The staff were AMAZING! I highly recommend this experience and look forward to coming back and doing another trip with this company in the future.
Todd_W, 10/14/2025 10:08:37 AM
The experience was amazing even though we did not see any whales on this particular trip. This is good for kids as well as adults. Appreciated the educational component as well.
Nancy_A, 10/13/2025 2:04:19 PM
My daughter and I took this tour yesterday. The swells were big and the boat rocked in rhythm. Many people struggled with motion sickness, but WE thoroughly enjoyed it. The crew were friendly and attentive to care for everyone’s needs from water, refreshments, hats, anti-nausea options, and buckets. Although we didn’t see any whales, we were offered another tour at no cost. We understood this is nature, and they couldn’t predict their presence or location. The beautiful day and relaxing cruise made up for it. We highly recommend this!
Karen_R, 10/11/2025 12:17:12 PM
Beautiful day of sailing on a historic vessel. Crew was fantastic and well informed. Sadly, no whales but still a great experience.
- 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!
Departure point
Check in opens an hour before departure time and closes 30 minutes before departure. If you arrive after check in, you will miss the boat. Check in flag located across street from the Best Western Island Palms Hotel and Blue Wave Bar & Grill. Check Inclusions/Exclusions for specific check in times.Return details
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 waterRedemption
• We suggest you dress in layers as conditions can change hour to hour. Blankets are available on board. • Check in starts an hour before departure and ends 30 minutes before the departure time listed on your ticket. If you arrive after the check in period, you will miss the boat. Please check exclusions/inclusions for details. • In case of emergency, please call: 619-922-621524 hours before travel date - 100% refund
Less than 24 hours before travel date - 0% refund