USA · BOAT TOURS IN SAN DIEGO

The 10 Best Boat Tours in San Diego

10 tours  ·  from $37 a head

Good boat tours in San Diego fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 10 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.

San Diego: Harbor Cruise - Choosing between the one-hour and two-hour routes
Boat Tours in San Diego, Cruises & Boat Tours, San Diego Tours, Tour Reviews

San Diego Harbor Cruise

1.San Diego Harbor Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,980 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $37Our pick

Review the San Diego Harbor Cruise for Navy ships, skyline views, sea lions, narration, seating, price, timing, and practical booking tips.

“Tour was very informative and relatively smooth. I would have liked more information on taking a tour of the entire San Diego harbor but the half tour was nice.”

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San Diego Whale Watching Cruise - Leaving Shelter Island and reading San Diego from the water
Boat Tours in San Diego, Cruises & Boat Tours, San Diego Tours, Tour Reviews, Whale Watching

San Diego Whale Watching Cruise

2.San Diego Whale Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,317 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $85Top rated

Sail San Diego’s historic schooner America in search of gray whales, dolphins, and sea lions, with snacks, blankets, and a whale guarantee.

“I took my sister-in-law visiting from Illinois and my 8 yr old grandson. My sister-in-law enjoyed the day, loved the trip and the weather. My grandson said it was "his best day ever!" He likes boats and He loves animals. He knows so much about whales and was just thrilled to see a mommy and her baby, and the dolphins were a special treat. He told his mom and dad he thought he saw 500 of them. I am sure he will be taking this trip again with his parents. The crew was excellent. They were all very personable and great communicators. Marie was a hoot, we just loved her.…”

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San Diego Whale Watching & Dolphin Cruise - Crossing the bay toward the Pacific
Boat Tours in San Diego, Cruises & Boat Tours, Dolphin Watching, San Diego Tours, Tour Reviews, Whale Watching

San Diego Whale Watching & Dolphin Cruise

3.San Diego Whale Watching & Dolphin Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,588 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $71

San Diego whale watching cruise review with whale, dolphin, sea lion sightings, bay views, practical tips, pricing, and honest drawbacks.

“Amazing! I thoroughly enjoyed our whale watching trip. The boat and the crew/naturalist made this fun as well as educational. Whales, dolphins, sea lions, blue water, sunshine and a nice boat ride … what’s not to love? This was the best of our many experiences while vacationing in San Diego! Do not pass up this company and their whale watching trip. Highly recommended tour.”

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San Diego: Harbor Cruise - Choosing between the one-hour and two-hour routes
Boat Tours in San Diego, Cruises & Boat Tours, San Diego Tours, Tour Reviews

San Diego: Harbor Cruise

4.Harbor Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,378 reviews · 1 - 2 hours · from $37

Review the San Diego Harbor Cruise for bay views, naval history, sea lions, Coronado Bridge scenery, comfort, access, and value.

“I loved the whole experience! Boarding was easy and well organized, and the boat had all the amenities we needed to enjoy the ride comfortably. We were lucky with the weather, which made everything even more enjoyable. Just a heads up: we took the 2-hour tour, and we especially loved the second half, where we headed north along the bay — the views were stunning and totally worth it!”

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San Diego Harbor Dinner Cruise - The San Diego Bay route
Boat Tours in San Diego, Cruises & Boat Tours, Dining Experiences, Dinner Cruises, Dinner Experiences, San Diego Tours, Tour Reviews

San Diego Harbor Dinner Cruise

5.San Diego Harbor Dinner Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,234 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $125

Review of San Diego’s 3-hour harbor dinner cruise, with bay views, dinner, sparkling wine, live entertainment, pricing, and practical tips.

“Great experience food was excellent service on point loved the view drinks delicious our waitress was perfect”

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San Diego Harbor Speed Boat Adventure - Passing the Bait Barge and watching the sea lions
Boat Tours in San Diego, Cruises & Boat Tours, San Diego Tours, Tour Reviews

San Diego Harbor Speed Boat Adventure

6.San Diego Harbor Speed Boat Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 716 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $75

Drive your own speedboat around San Diego Harbor, passing USS Midway, sea lions, Coronado Bridge and historic ships with a guide.

“Captain k went above and beyond and made this experience fantastic. I recommend this adventure. Thank you”

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San Diego Whale Watching Cruise - Leaving Shelter Island and reading San Diego from the water
Boat Tours in San Diego, Cruises & Boat Tours, San Diego Tours, Tour Reviews, Whale Watching

San Diego Whale Watching Cruise

7.San Diego Whale Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 663 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $54

A practical review of San Diego’s 3.5-hour whale-watching cruise, with dolphin sightings, expert guides, seating tips, seasickness advice, and value details.

“It was a beautiful relaxing day with sightings of grey whales, dolphins, and sea lions. We were told exactly where to look at just the right time! All the crew was friendly and helpful. Enjoyed our day!”

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Sunset Sail Along the San Diego Skyline - Meeting at Safeharbor Sunroad Marina
Boat Tours in San Diego, Cruises & Boat Tours, Evening Experiences, San Diego Tours, Sunset Cruises, Tour Reviews

Sunset Sail Along the San Diego Skyline

8.Sunset Sail Along the San Diego Skyline

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 603 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $109

Review of San Diego’s intimate two-hour sunset sail, with skyline views, small groups, bean bag seating, marine life, and practical booking tips.

“We had an amazing time on our sunset sail! Captain Aaron was friendly, professional, and made the whole experience smooth and enjoyable. The boat was clean, comfortable, and easily accommodated the five of us on our girls’ trip. We had plenty of room to relax, enjoy the views, and share some laughs. It was the perfect way to end the day—highly recommend!”

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Small-Group San Diego Sunset Sailing Excursion - Point Loma gives the sunset a proper backdrop
Boat Tours in San Diego, Cruises & Boat Tours, Evening Experiences, Sailing, San Diego Tours, Sunset Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours

Small-Group San Diego Sunset Sailing Excursion

9.Small-Group San Diego Sunset Sailing Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 592 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $127

San Diego sunset sailing review with a six-person boat, skyline views, drinks, snacks, captain tips, pricing, and practical booking advice.

“An incredible, relaxing, and peaceful experience! Captain Kenley made it truly memorable with his insights about the surroundings, pointing out landmarks, and making sure we spotted some sea lions. The weather was perfect, with great winds and clear skies that set the stage for an amazing sail and a stunning sunset. Highly recommend!”

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Small-Group San Diego Afternoon Sailing Excursion - Point Loma lighthouses and the harbor entrance
Boat Tours in San Diego, Cruises & Boat Tours, Sailing, San Diego Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Small-Group San Diego Afternoon Sailing Excursion

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