San Diego Whale Watching: Gray Whale Migration
4.5
532 Ratings
San Diego

Annually, an estimated 20,000 gray whales make a remarkable migration from Bering Sea to the Baja California lagoons and vice versa. Join us off the coast of San Diego to experience this incredible voyage during an educational whale watching tour.

Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • 990 N Harbor Dr - Enjoy breathtaking view of the beautiful San Diego Bay before departing out into the ocean where you will have the chance to see whales, turtles, dolphins and so much more!

Flagship’s whale watching cruises are educational and fun for the whole family. The incredible connection with nature will leave a lasting impression.

Reservations recommended.

What's Included
  • Indoor and outdoor seating options
What's Not Included
  • We suggest dressing in layers. The temperature and winds can be unpredictable even if it’s sunny out.
  • warm clothing
  • medication - If you may be prone to seasickness, plan ahead. Medication only works when taken BEFORE boarding the vessel. Wristbands for motion sickness also can be effective. Either can be purchased at any drug store.
  • Snacks
  • Food and Drinks
Additional Information
  • Chances of spotting a whale are exactly the same, whether you choose the morning or afternoon departure. Whales don’t wear watches.
  • Same goes for the days of the week. Each day has an equal chance of sightings. Whales do not have calendars.
  • In the unlikely event that your departure is cancelled due to poor weather conditions, we do our best to contact you in the morning at the phone number you provide. We will reschedule your tour for another day if you like or provide you with a full refund—your choice.
  • Guests with wheelchairs can access the vessel and interior main deck. However, the exterior top deck and the restrooms are not ramp accessible.
  • No touching the whales. No feeding the whales. No petting the whales. This is whale watching. We watch with our eyes.
  • Indoor and Outdoor Seating
  • .
Location
990 N Harbor Dr
North Harbor Drive
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.5
(532 Ratings)
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Trudy_w
Apr 16, 2024
Very Fun Unique Experience - Amazing trip with a one in a lifetime whale sighting. Beautiful views the entire way. Plenty of space onboard. Very knowledgable and helpful crew too.
Review provided by Viator
Barbara_b
Apr 15, 2024
Late Spring Whale Watch - Spent 20-30 minutes watching a mother and baby fin whale pair. The naturalist was knowledgeable. The captain gave us an opportunity to observe this adorable pair without spooking them. Probably a once in a lifetime experience. Thank you!
Review provided by Viator
Seora_c
Apr 14, 2024
The staff and naturalist... - The staff and naturalist on board were very informative and comedic. They definitely kept us on our toes and also very much engaged with everything that was going on. The drinks and snacks were also really good and the bartender is it a jewel. We definitely look forward to more adventures like this when we make it back to the San Diego area.
Review provided by Viator
Carrie_w
Apr 13, 2024
Lots of whale activity! - Seeing a humpback whale do chin breaches multiple times as well as a full body breach! Narrator, Sophie, was excellent. And the crew were a well-oiled machine.
Review provided by Viator
Pattyc19
Apr 13, 2024
Great crew and experience! - The trip was almost a bust except for a few sea lions and boat was ready to head for home, when one of the crew spotted some strange jelly fish like creatures in the water and knew it meant food sources. The crew stuck around a bit longer and we were rewarded with a fin whale sighting! We saw it take several breathes and deep dives 3 times which was really cool ! The crew stayed a bit over our allotted time to let us truly enjoy the experience! It was a cold day but we were rewarded!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Krishna_b
Apr 12, 2024
Best experience!! - One of the best experiences ever!! We got to see Mum and baby humpback whales, and a pod of dolphins on a feeding frenzy. Our conservationist was very knowledgable and talked us through what to expect and the issues sea life currently faces. Very fortunate to see as many species as we did on one trip. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Viator
Bryonyhart
Apr 12, 2024
Best Trip! Extraordinary - There are no words that can express how this trip was! Well organised and the briefings were good and informative. So that was the start of the trip. Lots of mentions of taking Dramamine before the trip as it can get choppy out on the sea. Sophie our naturalist guide was very informative and the whole team were on point when it came to spotting. The first exciting bit was we were joined by a pod of dolphins. We hoped that this signalled a good trip. Sophie and the Captain took us out to approximately 3 miles out and we spotted the first puff of whale breath. It just got better from then. A mother and her calf came up to the boat and I cannot write the word to describe how this felt. There are no guarantees that this would ever happen again and to be that close to these beautiful creatures was immense and nothing can compare. With everything there are no guarantees, but what an experience. The crew were awesome and were on hand if necessary. A recommended trip!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Maria_a
Apr 12, 2024
An unforgettable experience - It was an amazing experience. We started by seeing sea lions, dolphins, and finally whales. But it was the best whale watching experience with the guides and crew. A whale with her calf stayed with us for over 30 minutes, coming incredibly close. This won't happen again, but totally worth it. An unforgettable day.
Review provided by Viator
Lisa
Apr 11, 2024
Best whale watching cruise - This was the best whale watching tour. The staff were amazing we had whales come up to our boat!! I couldn’t have asked for a better whale watching cruise!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Deepika_r
Apr 21, 2024
Highly recommend 🐳 - Fantastic experience.. honestly I’d give it a 5 star review if we had seen a whale.. and that’s sheer bad luck.. but we saw such beautiful dolphins in their natural environment and several lazy seals .. will definitely go again if I have a chance .. crew, cruise and captain are fantastic
Review provided by Viator