Recommended Experiences in San Diego

What People are Saying

We were able to take a whale watching tour on the first day of the season and it was OUTSTANDING! My expectations were pretty low and figured we wouldn’t see any whales but instead, we saw about a dozen in the open water and even got to see them fluke several times for a deep dive. Incredible! - Maria Healey
I went on a dining cruise on Saturday Night with my husband, and it was a really awesome experience, the food was very delicious. I had the Salmon and my husband had the chicken, and we both had the cheese cake. The waiter and waitress were really nice and professional, also the host was always playing good music, and would also play what other people requested. Me and my husband had a very fun experience and we love it - Omicamy Myers
The experience is so good that I would to go again and again. I am huge fan of San Diego. You can see city's skyline. It is amazing. - Jaimeen Mehta
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The Best Things to Do for Your Birthday in San Diego

For West Coast locals and visitors alike, there are few places better suited for an awesome birthday bash than San Diego, California. In fact, there are so many fun things

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Top Things to Do on Coronado Island

Coronado Island has been a favorite travel destination for over a century, drawing in visitors from around the world. Situated in San Diego Bay, this incredible island offers a rich

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Celebrating Dolphins in San Diego

Did you know that March is Dolphin Awareness Month? To celebrate, Hornblower San Diego is featuring a dolphin species every week. Dolphins are toothed whales in the Delphinidae Family. Off

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Winter Whale & Dolphin Watching Cruises Began with a Splash

Last Saturday, Hornblower Cruises & Events in San Diego began a new season of whalewatching cruises! So far we’ve spotted the first migrating Eastern Pacific Gray Whales off the coast

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Winter Whale and Dolphin Watching Cruises on Sale!

Splash Sale! For a limited time, Hornblower’s Whale & Dolphin Watching Adventure Cruise Tickets are only $30 per person for Monday  through Friday cruises (a savings of $15 per person)!

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Killer Whales off the San Diego Coast

Orca alert! Last Saturday, our Captain, Whalers(naturalists) from the San Diego Natural History Museum, and on board guests were thrilled to spot three Killer Whales (orcas) off the San Diego

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The Return of Patches the Famous Dolphin

Yesterday, admist another incredible day of Whale and Dolphin Watching, we spotted Patches, the most famous, offshore Bottlenose Dolphin on the West Coast! Patches is a  rare, black-and-white piebald dolphin.

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Summertime Whale Watching

We began our Summer Whale Watching and Dolphin Watching season with sunny skies, calm seas, and a sampling of baleen whales. Each cruise was filled with thousands of playful dolphins,

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Blue Whale Watching in San Diego

  Book Your Whale Watching Tour BLUE WHALE  Balaenoptera musculus The blue whale a rorqual, a family that also includes the humpback whale, fin whale, Bryde’s whale, sei whale, Omura’s whale, and

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Gray Whale

Description: The average size of a gray whale is approximately 11 to 15 meters (36–50 feet) long, and it may weigh up to 45,000 kg (49.6 tons). Like other baleen

Frequently Asked Questions

More about the best boat tours in San Diego

The best boat tours in San Diego range from dining cruises to harbor tours and whale watching! San Diego is home to some of the best whale watching tours in the world. Dining cruises, including brunch and dinner, are also some of the most popular options. If interested in dining, a sunset dinner cruise on the San Diego Bay is truly unforgettable. You will get to see the skyline and enjoy a three-course meal as the sun sets. Not to mention the Coronado Bridge! For more sightseeing focused cruises, a tour of the harbor is a fantastic opportunity to soak in views and take lots of photos to share.

Are private boat charters in San Diego available?

Which landmarks and famous sights can you see on a San Diego cruise?

On a San Diego cruise, you will experience some of San Diego’s most iconic landmarks. This includes the Coronado Bridge, Cabrillo National Monument, and the USS Midway Museum. You can also get a great view of the cityscape from your cruise ship. This is one of the best views you can find to see Downtown San Diego!