Reviews for Whale Watching and Dolphin Tour: San Diego’s Best Whale Watching Cruise

This was a truly extraordinary experience! Though we didn't see any whales that day, I was not disappointed at all. We saw at least three pods of dolphins! One huge pod probably had 300 dolphins in it! They were swimming and diving around the boat everywhere you looked! The crew and naturalist on board were highly conscious of safety for passengers and the wildlife we saw. I took the sunset cruise and we saw a specular sunset on our way back to the harbor. Tips: Have a waterproof case for your phone or camera; bring layers and a wind breaker to keep you warm since it gets chilly toward the end of the day; if you're on the front of the boat, be prepared to get wet. I would absolutely do this again.

Had an amazing time with San Diego Whale Watch! The captain and crew were so friendly and made the trip unforgettable. No whales this time, but dolphins leaping in the sunset made it magical. P.S. These two sea lions felt like our little gatekeepers before heading into the open sea.

Stellar, the whole thing was stellar. Spacious boat, outstanding crew and captain, great info on what we were seeing and what was happening and where to look. We were treated to sealife galore from pelicans to a migrating humpback that we were about to see surface many times. But the cherry on top was just after a out of this world sunset as we headed back to shore, a huge pod of dolphins showed up and swam with the boat. It was like a gift from the universe and something I'll never forget in my life. Totally surreal and the only word I can use to describe it was pure joy. Thank you for such a spectacular evening.

This was our second time on the sunset Cruise and we were pleased to encounter staff that were both friendly and knowledgeable- both trips! We had both adults and children with us and all had a great time! There are blankets and hot chocolate for purchase if you get chilly as well as adult beverages. Definitely recommend!

Awesome time with my family. All of the staff was super friendly and informative. We got to see a humpback whale and a huge pod of dolphins. Also amazing sunset views as we went to the 3:30 cruise.

My husband and I booked this tour with San Diego Whale Watch with no prior experience in San Diego. We are Florida natives and it exceeded all expectations. The boat was large, clean, and comfortable, with plenty of great food and drink options. They even provide binoculars for wildlife viewing. Within the first five minutes we spotted seals, and once we reached the first viewing area we were amazed by hundreds of dolphins jumping and swimming together in a massive pod. Seeing whales has always been a bucket list item for me, and we were lucky enough to spot three. The captains did a wonderful job rotating the boat so everyone had great views. To top it all off, we even witnessed the sunset green flash. An unforgettable experience at an incredible price. Highly recommend!

Great experience! Progressional crew, friendly and tons of interesting information! We were lucky and did spot a humpback and a minke whale. Also hundreds of dolphins. We took the late cruise at 4:30 and got also a spectacular sunset. Went with the family and everybody loved it! Highly recommended!

Be sure to bring a jacket or a blanket to keep you warm, especially during the winter and on the sunset tour! There are binoculars to rent to help you see the whales more clearly, otherwise i would bring a camera with a really long lens on it

I have now done this tour twice- both a morning cruise and a sunset cruise- and I cannot say enough good things about this entire company and our experiences. The first time I went was around mid November 2025 with 3 of my coworkers following a conference in San Diego. We did the sunset cruise and it was amazing! While we did not see any whales, we saw HUNDREDS of dolphins, sea lions, and our naturalist guide, Allison, shared so much knowledge, making the experience truly one of a kind. The second time I went, my family and I decided to visit San Diego from Wyoming for Christmas 2025 (they were a little jealous of my November trip and wanted to experience SD for themselves). To my luck, there was a huge storm that rolled into SD that week with a lot of rain, wind, huge tides, and cold. While sitting at the airport in Denver, I got a text that our tour had been cancelled due to the weather and safety of not only staff, but the clients they serve. We were able to either request a refund or reschedule. Since we were there for a limited time, we rescheduled for a different day, with no promise that the cruise would go out that morning, but everyone would remain hopeful. We made it to the day and the cruise was able to go out! The remnants of the storm continued, making the waves choppy, but the experience was still amazing. The staff on board really took care of EVERYONE during this cruise- from motion sickness meds, towels, and consistent checking in on people, to making sure that it was worth it for everyone on board. We saw a TON of whales that day, a few dolphins, and sea lions. Allison did a phenomenal job, as did all of the staff who took us out. Following the cruise, my husband and I stopped to talk with Allison and staff about the area, her background, beaches for seashells, the tides, the Galapagos, and so much more. You seriously could not go wrong with any part of this cruise. Every part of it is absolutely wonderful!

Absolutely magical evening! We are so grateful for our experience with San Diego Whale Watch, and are so excited to return. The staff is absolutely fantastic, so attentive, professional, and caring. The boat was a really good size that seats over 140 people. Which is very helpful if you get sea sick. There are bathrooms, a galley that serves snacks/refreshments, and some alcoholic beverages after you reach 3 miles out. Ten out of ten recommend if you are just visiting San Diego or if you are a resident like us. We enjoyed the sunset cruise, and we got to see three humpback whales traveling together. There was a mother, her calf, and a male escort. The sunset was absolutely spectacular from the water! If you love nature, adventure, close wild life encounters, and epic sunsets this cruise is for you! Thank you so much SD Whale Watch for such an amazing evening!