Whale Watching Cruise: Explore Marine Wildlife

9 Ratings

San Diego

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Embark on a breathtaking sunset cruise in Mission Bay, spotting dolphins and sea lions. Experience nature’s wonders on a serene 3-hour journey.

Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes

Cancellation: 24 hours

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Highlights

Mission Bay Park - The journey will take us around Mission Bay, and if the weather is favorable, we might venture beyond the bay. This offers an opportunity to spot dolphins and whales.

What's Included

Landing and/or facility fees
On-board restrooms
Parking fees

What's Not Included

Gratuities
Alcoholic beverages
Snacks
Carbonated beverages
Bottled water

Additional Information

Guests are required to check in 30 minutes prior to departure. Fifteen minutes before departure, they will be escorted to the boat. The cruise will last between 2.5 to 3 hours, during which time we will search for whales, dolphins, sea lions, and other marine life. Should the weather prevent us from leaving the bay, we will spend the majority of our…

Location

1717 Quivira Rd

Quivira Road

We depart from Seaforth Sportfishing. Please check-in inside Seaforth Tackle Shop at the top of the dock and then we will all walk down to the boat after a brief introduction. Please do not park in Seaforth Boat Rentals, Seaforth Marina, Marina Village parking lots, as you do risk being towed.

Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings

3.9

(9 Ratings)

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Miriam_c

Apr 12, 2026

Highly recommended - Very relaxing and beautiful scenery, the boat was very fast, we enjoyed it very much, the sunset seen from the water is another level

Review provided by Viator

Trek29743402877

Jul 8, 2023

Best whale watching trip - Me and my family went on the Legacy whale watching cruise in early July 2023. It was absolutely AMAZING! We saw 5 blue whales and many pods of common dolphins. I can’t wait to come back and would definitely recommend Legacy to anyone looking for a great time!!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Jjenoula

Mar 3, 2022

So much fun! - We loved our whale watching experience with Legacy! The guides were very knowledgeable and the experience amazing. We found two giant pods of dolphins, one of about 40 or 50, which stayed with us for over 30 minutes. The crew angled us right next to them, and the dolphins seemed to have a lot of fun playing, jumping and showing off for us. We were SO close! It was magical. We also saw many birds, a seal and California Sea Lions, of course. Unfortunately, we didn't see any whales that day, but the crew was in constant contact with other boats the whole time, ready to share a sighting experience. No one, on any cruise, saw whales the day we went. In spite of that, our whale watching experience with Legacy was the highlight of our trip. Even our two teens remember as their favorite experience in San Diego, and we got free coupons to return for another trip!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Lynec587

Feb 18, 2022

A Whale of a Tour - Everything you could ask for on a whale watching cruise. We saw whales, dolphins, seals and a variety of birds. The ship was comfortable and the guide knowledgeable.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Collinsfamily2018

Jul 8, 2021

Excellent family cruise - Although we came at the wrong time of the year. My family enjoyed the time we had out there. It was the first time my wife and kids have seen dolphins in the wild, like they should be. If you are interested, we were told the best time to go on the whale watching cruise is January and February. That is the migration time. We will definitely be back at one of those times. Being a Navy Veteran it was good to be back out in the open ocean.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

O3751ehjanicep

Mar 15, 2026

Fun time! - Unfortunately, we didn't see any whales but we did get to see dolphins. The boat was clean. The crew was great! We got vouchers to go again for free because we didn't see any whales.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Clinton_a

Apr 2, 2026

Could have been more... - Could have been more interactive. We did see 1 whale a few times. Beautiful sunset, boat ride was good.

Review provided by Viator

Aimee_w

Apr 27, 2026

They took us out, nothing more - We went on the sunset whale watch, and to be fair, they did exactly what was advertised—they took us out on the water for the trip. Unfortunately, the conditions were really rough and freezing cold, which made it less enjoyable. There was no sunset and no whales during our outing, which was disappointing, though seeing dolphins was definitely a nice surprise and the highlight of the trip. The crew was fine and did their jobs, but they weren’t especially warm, engaging, or memorable. Overall, it was an okay experience, but not something that felt extraordinary or particularly special.

Review provided by Viator

Cpoulos

Apr 5, 2026

Worst customer service - The police blocked off the road and as a result, it caused us a three minute delay. There were probably several other people who paid for tickets and had the same issue. They did not even wait 5 minutes for us, even though we called them. Horrible. The person working was apathetic.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Check Availability

From $34

up to 15 guests

1 - Adult