San Diego Whale Watching Adventure Cruises by Hornblower Cruises and San Diego Natural History Museum

Images are taken by Antonia Ramirez and Claudia Faust from the San Diego Natural Hisory Museum "Whalers". They are the trained naturalists who ride the whale watching cruises each day to interact with our guests!

Below you see Gray Whale Tails, California Sea Lions on the buoy, Risso Dolphins and a pair of Gray whales spouts.

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What you'll see on a Whale & Dolphin Watching Cruise!

The stars of the Whale & Dolphin Watching Cruises are California gray Whales. You'll see mother whales and calves, you'll see frolicking adolescent males and you may even witness whales mating.

You'll see hundreds of dolphins. We see up to three different species: Common dolphins, Pacific White Sided Dolphins and Risso's Dolphins

You'll see California Sea Lions living in a undisturbed colony on the Bait Barges near Point Loma.

You'll witness whale tails and behaviors such as "footprints" and "blows", and "dives" but the best thing you may see is a "breach".

It is amazing the marine life that flourishes in the San Diego Bay.

Birds: Great Blue Heron, Geene Heron Black Crowned Night Heron, Double Crested Cormorant, Brandt's Cormorant, Common Egret, Brown Pelican, Harrier, Red Tailed Hawk, Least Tern, Caspian Tern, Many types of Gulls, Common Loon, Surf Scooter, Bufflehead, and Mallard Duck Mammals: California Gray Whale, California Sea Lion, Harbor Seal, Pacific White Sided Dolphin, Bottlenose Dolphin, Common Dolphin, Humpback Whale, Pilot Whale, Fin Whale, Blue Whale, Killer Whale, Southern Right Whale, and Minke Whale.

San Diego Whale Watching

Hornblower has the best yacht in southern California for Whale Watching Adventures.

The boat is fittingly called the Adventure Hornblower and is the fastest, largest and most stable whale watching vessel in San Diego with a large guest capacity. The yacht is three decks high with bird's eye views of whale spouts from 25 feet above the water. For your comfort, climate controlled indoor and outdoor seating. Binocular rentals available on board.

NEW Sea Lion Adventure Cruise

Come see the Sea Lions living in San Diego harbor.

The wild and rugged headland of Point Loma encloses the western end of San Diego Bay underneath high cliffs and provides a comfortable and sheltered lee. As you cruise toward Ballast Point there is an incredible view of the resident population of California Sea Lions.

Several hundred of these fascinating pinnepeds lounge around on buoys and the what is locally known as the bait barge.

The Sea Lion Adventure Cruises are one or two-hours in length and cruise daily at 10:00am, 12:30 pm, 3:00 pm and 4:15 pm. The cruise includes a narrated cruise of the north end of the San Diego bay. You will see the Star of India, Aircraft carriers, Shelter Island and of course SEA LIONS! The sea lion cruise is half price for children ages 3-12 years, under age 3 are FREE. Children receive a Sea Lion Treasure map, an information sheet about sea lions and a sticker when they see the California sea lions in the wild about half way through the cruise.

Discounts are available on all cruises for children groups, seniors and military personnel. Hornblower Cruises & Events ticket booth is located at 1066 North Harbor Drive.