San Diego Whale Watch

I loved the experience shaw whales and dolphins. Great snack bar and kid friendly they give coloring books at the end. :)

Lots of fun!
Remember sunscreen! Out on the water is usually 10 degrees cooler, but didn’t seem to bother me at all. Was probably mid 70’s on land so not too bad out on the water. Also it was a clear beautiful day in early November so I think we were lucky. Calm waters, light breeze and beautiful sunshine.
Food and beverages available on the boat, not too expensive ($ 4 for water and soda).
We saw dolphins and sea lions but no whales as it is between seasons right now. But still a great morning!

We attempted a whale watch on a rainy day we had booked far in advance but the weather took a turn for the worse once we were out to sea. They ended up turning around because it was so rough and visibility so poor but after that something amazing happened. They not only refunded our money but also gave use free passes! Who does that?
We were able to take the tour again and saw hundreds of dolphins a few days later. Great company!

Excellent tour services provided.
Staff very courteous, professional and great sense of humor.
Very knowledgeable.
Snacks, drinks and even seasickness medication are sold at reasonable price.
Catch is Cash only
Despite going out to sea on Tuesday Sep 15 where an unexpected storm hit that day, boat captain handled the choppy seas very professionally and safely.
Despite the hour early we had to return to shore, we were issued full refunds since we were unable to enjoy the boatride.

Our mom was visiting San Diego for the first time, and we were relatively frugal on this trip so we weren’t looking to spend hundred of dollars on whale watching. I finally stumbled upon their website and it was wonderful! The staff was incredibly friendly and the guide was so knowledgeable and you could tell she actually loved what she does!
I’m absolutely bringing back more friends and family here when they visit and the tours are year round which is crazy!

Ok, I rarely have the patience to write reviews but for this place, I will! So on a recent trip out to San Diego, my boyfriend and I decided to go whale watching in Mission Bay. We went early in the morning so it was a big foggy and cloudy so I was a bit skeptical about actually finding any sea creatures. We drove out in the Pacific for more than an hour and spotted some juvenile humpback whales! It was so awesome. We even saw one that was breaching at least 20 times! We didn’t get to see any dolphins and that was disappointing. I wish I got better photos but it was such a beautiful thing to witness.
The boat, the Privateer, is pretty roomy, enough space for 150 people to sit and roam around. It also has a snack section and you can even order Mimosas! The guide, Erin, is a marine biologist and she is very friendly and knowledgable. She answers any questions you may have.
I would definitely recommend this to anybody interested in whales and sea life, and for anyone visiting San Diego! Go on Thursdays because the price is half-​off!

Very nice crew and pleasant experience!
I got the deal from groupon and enjoyed this trip. The employees are very friendly and the environment are clean.

Great tour with friendly and knowledgeable staff who have a great whale watching tour. The Groupon is a great deal and easy to use — just enter your voucher on the website and you are set.
The tour was right on time for departure and return. The staff explained everything from start to finish. They were good at talking just enough during the cruise, but not too much.
We saw lots of dolphins and a blue whale that surfaced twice near the boat. We were also able to see a nuclear sub that was out cruising close by.
Snacks and drinks for sale were basic, but more than adequate. Boat was clean and crew was continually making sure it stayed that way.

(Whale Watching Experience Review).
Check out the Groupons!
Got a last minute deal on a Groupon for the Whale Watching aboard the Privateer run by the same company.
We took a 3 hour tour about 20 miles out from the dock on the lookout for dolphins and perhaps a whale.
Overall I would say this experience was well worth the Groupon and I would use the 50% off voucher they handed you when you left. Yes I would be back.
This is not my kind of adventure personally I would just rent the boat out and have fun. However I enjoyed it a lot. On the way out I thought «oh no, a 3 HOUR tour», by the time they announced we couldn’t chase down the 3 whale as we would be late back I was upset that we didn’t have more time.
The Naturalist narrator was great, and had a lot of knowledge. We saw plenty of dolphins up close and got to see 3 whale spouts, and 3 whales at distances over the course of our time.
Bonus of the trip was being almost run down by a submarine who let us remain close by so we could watch the whale next to us. A surprise to the crew as they said they usually get radioed to move.
One disappointment for me was that each time the crew spotted a whale they kept the boat head on, this mean that only small areas at the front of the boat were the best spots to take photos. When the ultimate shot came to capture a picture of the whale tail next to a sub, the only best place to see or photograph the experience was from the deck in front of the bridge. This area in the front that surrounded the bridge was roped off and the crew certainly took advantage of the space to take all the photographs they wanted.
They announced that they would post the photographs on the website and facebook, but nothing has been updated on FB for a while now.

I won’t re-​iterate all the fabulous points my fellow Unilocalers have made — they’ve covered how awesome the experience is for the price, and the great staff too!
We had a very calm ocean the day we went out, so seasickness wasn’t an issue for anyone on the ship. We did take 24 Dramamine the night before, just in case.
As a resident of SD, I frequently have family visit from out of town. I highly recommend this experience for out of town visitors. They get to see amazing whales and see life, and a fantastic view of our amazing city. If you live here and still haven’t gone on a tour, go get yourself a groupon and DO THIS. Be a tourist for a day and enjoy yourself!

As a qualifier, this review is after getting incredibly sea sick, after using Dramamine. We arrived to the dock about an hour before the ship boarded. We had a group of about 20 or so, and I believe getting tickets was a breeze. They have both a shop and a little grill for anyone brave enough to fill their stomach before departing.
After boarding at around 12, I immediately noticed that the boat was a double-​decker, and that the staff was very accommodating. There is a grill on the bottom deck, and extensive seating on the upper tier. From a totally oblivious, touristy perspective, the staff was incredibly knowledgable of the various whales and dolphins we were witnessing. In my moments lucidity, which were few and far between, I had gotten a tour with what felt like a marine biology lecture.
Staff had seemed incredible interested in both their job and anything aquatic in general. We had returned three hours later after multiple whale and dolphin sightings. The entirety of our group was well satisfied and I am more than glad to recommend this specific tour to anyone looking for an off-​kilter adventure for their family, significant other, or theirselves.
If this is by chance your first time on a smaller sea vessel I warn against boarding without Dramamine. I had taken some, and this was my second time on a boat, and I became incredibly sick. Other than this, incident, which the crew had no control over, the tour was enjoyable.

Great time on whale watching tour! The tour guide was great! We saw a ton of dolphins and got lucky and saw a blue whale. Pretty spectacular ! The best views are on top of boat and front of the boat or back, but front is bouncy and you may get splashed a bit. We sat on side and did get lucky that the whale came up on our side. We had such a blast, I want to go out again. FYI –They did have drinks and snacks. Def take motion sickness if its windy or a little rough, you can call prior and ask.

I spent my birthday with whales and it couldn’t have been any cooler. I can’t say enough good things about our guide. She was up at the top of the boat, sea legs planted firm, with a camera in one hand, a mic in the other, watching out for any notable sea creatures AND watching everyone on the boat for cues that they saw a whale. All while keeping us entertained with facts about the whales and just being generally conversational about it. Impressive!
We got quite a few sightings of two whales in particular, one who she said was famous and this was the first time she had seen it, so that was cool. Everyone who worked on the boat was really friendly, and by the end of it we got a coupon for a tour to the Coronado Islands for half off, which we were so happy about because she told us about it midway through and it sounded like something we would want to do. Best of all, we had already planned to have brunch at the Catamaran, then go whale watching… and it’s right up the street! A lovely way to spend my birthday!

Purchased the $ 39 groupon for a three-​hour tour for two people. The process was super easy, you reserve your spot via the online form and receive an email confirmation right away. If you do have questions, i.e. weather questions and recent sightings, the San Diego Whale Watch employees are extremely nice and prompt in answering the phone.
I booked the 1:30 afternoon tour on May 10^th. They suggest arriving 30 mins prior to your tour to check in. Parking is FREE and a breeze due to the designated parking lot. Checking in took us less than 5 mins, that we had enough time to use the restroom and purchase snacks and beverages next door before we boarded the boat.
No worries if you’re not the first person to board the boat! We ended up being the last two to board since we opted for a beer instead of standing in line. We still had prime seats on the first floor, even given the busy Mother’s Day crowd.
The employees on-​board are very knowledgeable and helpful. There are limited blankets if you’re cold, snacks and beverages for purchase, and trash bags if you start to get seasick. All throughout the tour, we received narration and fun facts about all the sea animals.
You’ll definitely see see lions and birds on your way out of the bay to deeper water. We were lucky enough to catch some dolphins and three fin whales!
Definitely worth the $ 39, whales or no whales.
Tips:
1) Bring a jacket or blanket. It gets a little chilly.
2) Bring your own snacks or cash to purchase snacks on-​board
3) Take a Dramamine prior to the tour if you’re prone to motion sickness.
4) Check out San Diego Whale Watch’s facebook page for videos from your tour

Had a blast! Purchased 4 tickets on groupon that was an amazing deal. Took my family, husband and 2 kids 10 and 16. We all took drammamine before just in case. My daughter (16) still got really sick. Rest of us were fine. They offer food and drinks for all lots of kids had ginger ale and adults had Mimosas. We say grey whales that were «courting» it was so cool to watch them roll over and just play in the water saw sea lions and dolphins as well. The boat was a good size and plenty of seating. Staff was wonderful! Very friendly and knowledgeable. As we left the staff handed out 50% off for next time tickets that never expire. Will be bringing my mom next time. Wonderful experience.

Absolutely amazing time with San Diego Whale Watch yesterday! My family was visiting from out of town, and we wanted to do something different. We purchased 4 vouchers on Groupon for $ 79. We could not believe what a steal we got. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable about the marine life. We were able to see 4 gray whales, sea lions, and dolphins! While on the water we got to witness the whales jump up, and two of them actually breached at the same time. The staff could not stop reiterating how rare this was, and for many of them it was there first time seeing 2 whales breach at the same time.
We were also given 50% off vouchers for our next ride, which was very generous! You are able to purchase sandwiches, snacks, refreshments (for adults and children) which is always appreciated !! The boat was very clean, and we felt very safe! Thank you for a great trip!

Was awesome! Got my gf and I the deal off groupon and did the 10am tour. We saw grey whales right out side of the jettie! It was pretty cool. Also saw some white sided Dolphins and sea lions. It’s kinda hit or miss on these but we did pretty good. Saw probably 6 whales!
The boat unfortunately began having motor issues and so instead of risk getting stuck out there they took us in an hour early and gave us free passes for next time. More than happy to go again.
Pros: the staff was awesome and knowledgeable, boat was nice, captain would make sure both sides of the boat saw the whales, $ 4 beer (lagunitas!), $ 5 mimosa, can bring your own snacks, had a fun time!
Cons: fills up fast so get your spot! Also bring a jacket! :) you’ll enjoy it

San Diego Whale Watch was an INCREDIBLE experience!
I first learned of this company via Groupon. As my family from Ohio came to visit, and wanted to go Whale Watching, I figured it was the perfect opportunity to give them a try.
I was able to easily register for my day online (using the Groupon) and has no issues. The morning of December 20^th, we were off to board the Privateer! The crew seemed generally happy to be there and the boat looked in good condition. I grew up in Gulf of Mexico and have seen lots of boats in my day… I digress, we left promptly at the 10 am for the great Pacific Ocean!
As we made our way out, the person on the microphone told us about the sea life (seals, sea lions, birds, dolphins, migration season, etc). Our captain did an excellent job navigating out to see as well! That week there was lots of rain, and high waves, and you couldn’t tell at all when you were on the boat.
We were fortunate to have a Fin Whale that wanted to see what we were up too just as much as we wanted to see him/​her. The Captain was the one who found it — She’s my name favorite person. After spending lots of time and excitement walking back and forth seeing the whale who was circling our boat, it was time to go back. Our new whale friend followed for awhile!
We made it back to the dock almost exactly on time. Two thumbs up!
Snacks and Drinks are available on the boat! Great prices too. I had a local IPA for $ 4.00. Cash only.
Don’t forget to also bring cash to tip. It’s not a requirement, but their industry is service, too!

Worth every penny. Except for my 3 puking kiddos lol. I didn’t give them enough Dramamine. Make it a more pleasurable experience and TAKE DRAMAMINE. Also, stay at the back of the boat.
We saw 2 whales and tons of beautiful dolphins. It was a beautiful day and the crew were all so kind. They shared a lot of info on the animals which was great.
There is a galley with soda, wine, water and beer along with snacks for additional costs.
Be sure to tip the crew!

«A 3-​hour tour, a 3-​hour tour…»
There are a bunch of options for whale watching in San Diego, and I’m glad I chose to go with San Diego Whale Watch (SDWW). The Groupon I took advantage of, just $ 39 for 2 adults, seemed like a great deal. Also, anticipate that after your excursion you’ll be given 50% off vouchers for a future trip (no expiration date) or a voucher for a free do-​over should your first trip be whale-​less.
Arrive early, park for free, check in at the desk, and then head back to the landing to hang out until it’s time to board. Easy. I liked that a board on the landing showed counts of species sightings from the last few days. Lucky for us, our trip ended up breaking a days old dry spell!
Privateer is a fairly small boat, with a capacity of about 150. For whale watching the smaller the better, or at least that’s my understanding. The certified marine biologist onboard did a nice job narrating during the excursion. Before we pushed off she let us know that the back of the boat, where my girlfriend and I happened to be, is the most stable; it’s where you want to be if you feel sick. (Later, a lot more people joined us near the back out the boat!) Then came some pill-​pushing. She asked everyone to consider purchasing pills in the galley – snacks and drinks and stuff are available in the galley too – to take right away to prevent seasickness. A lot of people don’t realize that pills like Dramamine need to be taken beforehand, that they don’t do any good taken after the queasiness sets in.
My girlfriend did end up getting sick… x5. Poor thing. Should this happen to you, just hang in there and know that you’ll feel about 100% as soon as you hop off the boat. Seasickness sucks, but it is, after all, just motion sickness, not the flu. My girlfriend was ready for lunch and mimosas in no time. She laughed about it a lot and was thankful we saw whales, that all that puking was not for nothing. The crew was great, especially Trevor. I thought Trevor was really kind to my sick boatmates, passing out ginger ale and crackers and checking back on people who probably felt as though they were in the midst of the longest 3 hours of their lives.
I don’t see any reason not to give SDWW 5 stars, though of course the fact that we did see 3 grey whales makes it easier to give the highest rating. And Trevor was the icing on the cake.
That’s about it! Don’t forget your sunglasses, sunscreen, layers, and camera.