San Diego Whale Watching: Year-Round Marine Adventure
4.8
2,007 Ratings
San Diego

Experience year-round whale spotting on our San Diego whale watching cruise. Join us aboard the Yacht America for a thrilling adventure with experienced guides and the chance to see gray whales, blue whales, fin whales, humpback whales, dolphins, sea lions, and naval activity.

Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Next Level Sailing - We sail past North Island Naval Air Station, US Navy Base Point Loma, Cabrillo National Monument, Point Loma Lighthouse to see many dolphins and whales.
What's Included
  • 4.5-hr sailing cruise
  • Free Parking with convenient check-in
  • Complimentary snacks and sodas onboard
  • Guarantee against seasickness
  • Whale sighting guarantee or sail again for free
  • Bring layers for warmth
  • Multiple trip times with specific check-in windows
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pickup and drop off
Additional Information

In San Diego, whale watching is a year-round activity! Our expert team at Next Level Sailing guarantees a premier experience, with such skilled guides that we achieved a 100 percent success rate in detecting the King of the Deep during the winter season.
Recognized as one of the top outdoor experiences in San Diego, the period for watching gray whales…

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Location
Next Level Sailing
Shelter Island Drive
Check in opens an hour before departure time and closes 30 minutes before departure. Check in flag located across the street from the Best Western Island Palms Hotel and Blue Wave Bar & Grill. Please look at Inclusions/Exclusions for specific check in times. Abundant free parking at our location!
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.8
(2007 Ratings)
5 stars
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1 star
Abhichet_b
Nov 16, 2024
Fun ride - To make sure we would see the Whale, they took us 15 mintues further in the ocean. We got back by 3.30pm instead of 3pm.
Review provided by Viator
Jacqulyn_p
Nov 15, 2024
Great! - Great boat ride! We saw lots of dolphins, seals and one whale! The crew were great and had motion sickness remedies on hand.
Review provided by Viator
Kerry
Nov 13, 2024
Fantastic - Booked this trip during our holiday to San Diego travelling from England. Spent a long time looking at different companies but I was drawn to next level sailing. I’ll be honest, I prepared myself and my children for not seeing any whales to avoid disappointment as I know there is no guarantee with Mother Nature. Myself and my family had an absolutely amazing time on the trip. The yacht was beautiful. The staff were friendly and I’ve got to mention Noah cause he really was so entertaining and had lots of stories to tell. Staff gave out complimentary drinks, snacks and blankets when it got a bit chilly. The captain managed to locate a humpback whale and followed closer to allow everyone to see. It was truly an amazing experience that we will not forget. Thank you for allowing us to create amazing memories and I would highly recommend this company.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Familiewio
Nov 11, 2024
Experience like a picture book - It was such a cool experience! The crew was totally nice and always cared and told a lot of interesting things. The ship is amazing and a great experience. There is always water and soft drinks and 2x snacks and a lot of blankets;) We first saw a huge school of dolphins and then a big humpback whale. We then watched him for an hour and followed him jumping and eating. All around it are dolphins and seals. This experience cannot be described, so surreal is it to watch these giant creatures!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Karin
Nov 10, 2024
Super fun - Great staff, we followed 2 humpbacks for quite a while. They offer complimentary water, pop and snacks (chips). Really cool ship! They allow you to bring your own food and beverages, which is really nice. Highly recommend this excursion.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Raquelb182
Nov 4, 2024
Amazing experience - Amazing tour, never expected to be so beautiful, we couldn’t see whales but we saw hundreds of dolphins… they are beautiful , greatly recommended
Review provided by Tripadvisor
341jennifera
Nov 3, 2024
Glorious Whale watching trip! - Go on the San Diego Whale Watching Cruise on the America’s sailing ship, the Captain spotted whales and extended our trip so we could all enjoy them! It was a glorious site to see! Guess we are now in the less than 1%!❤️🙌😎
Review provided by Tripadvisor
R3400upnataliek
Nov 2, 2024
Family fun - Fun times! We had a great time on the American sailboat. A beautiful ship! The captain doggedly tracked the humpback whales so that we could see them. We had a great time watching 2 humpbacks chasing each other. We also saw common dolphins and sea lions. The crew offered free snacks and drinks. You can purchase merchandise or alcohol for cash. You are allowed to bring your own picnic lunch and drinks. Communication prior to boarding was excellent.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Pat
Nov 2, 2024
Went way beyond my expectations - Excellent boat and crew. Awesome narrator/naturalist. Mother nature was perfect as were the multitude of marine animals we saw. Really appreciated the informative talks and q/a. Would do it again in another season in order to see other types of whales.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Joseph
Oct 31, 2024
My sailing cruise - I booked this harbor cruise because I thought that it would be a great adventure in a sailing ship. It didn’t go quite as planned, but it was still worth it. I used to work offshore when I was younger and had been in rough waters before, but this time it got me. Heading out, fighting the current and the wind the boat bucked up and down quite a bit and I got seasick. Now you’re probably wondering why I rated it 5 out of 5? It’s wasn’t just the boat ride but also the crew members. When I got sick I notified them and they immediately assisted me. They have things on board to alieviate the feelings of sickness and attended to me regularly to provide a clean bucket and towels and to dispose of the pryer one. Once we turned towards shore the boat leveled out and the wind decreased and the seasickness abated. And everything went fine from there as far as we saw a school of dolphins feeding on the herring and then two different species of whales came and joined in the feast. The captain circled the boat a few times so that everyone had a chance to view them. On the way out of the harbor and coming back in there were multiple low water platforms where hundreds of sea lions were laying around suning themselves. So to sumerize it all, it was one of the best short adventures that I’ve been on. It’s within driving distance of Phoenix if you plan on staying a while, book a cruise on this sailing ship and be prepared for a great experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 9 guests
1 Adult
December 2024
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