San Diego Harbor Cruises is the best way to explore the San Diego Bay area, a natural harbor and deepwater port.
These cruises are professionally narrated tours that take you under the Coronado Bridge, past military ships, waterfront landmarks, and more for an in-depth look at San Diego’s scenic beauty.
Visitors can choose from numerous options – dinner cruises, champagne cruises, speed boat rides, drive-your-own speedboats, and more.
This article shares everything you must know before booking your San Diego Bay Harbor Cruise.
Top Tickets
# 1-hour harbor tour
# Harbor Sightseeing CruiseBook your San Diego Harbor Cruise tickets early to skip the queues and guarantee your spot on this unforgettable experience.
What’s ahead
Companies offering San Diego Cruises
Two companies offer cruises in the San Diego Bay area – Flagship Cruises and City Cruises.
Both companies offer excellent services and are rated 4.5/5 on Tripadvisor.
Flagship Cruises
Flagship Cruises is a family-owned company that has been in operation for over 100 years.
They offer many ways to cruise around San Diego Bay, but their cruises on their luxury ships are the most popular.
Flagship’s luxury ships feature three indoor and outdoor seating levels, offering 360-degree views, as well as an onboard snack bar serving a variety of snacks, sodas, beer, and wine.
Tourists who love speed prefer Flagship’s Patriot Jet Boat Thrill Ride, a turbo-charged way to explore the San Diego bay.
They also offer seasonal whale-watching tours, available from December to April.
Flagship harbor cruises are the most beautiful way to enjoy the best of San Diego.
City Cruises
City Cruises was formerly known as Hornblower Cruises and offers numerous narrated San Diego harbor cruises for all visitors.
Their 2-hour Harbor Sightseeing Cruise is the most popular among tourists and locals.
City Cruises also offers a 2.5-hour, 3-course Dinner Cruise and a 2-hour Champagne Brunch Cruise in the San Diego Bay.
If you prefer fun-filled, happy hour entertainment with an enticing menu and cocktail specials, check out City Cruise’s Sights & Sips 2-hour Cocktail Cruise.
The company also offers Whale and Dolphin Watching Cruises and Sea Lion Adventure Cruises for those interested in local wildlife.
San Diego Harbor Cruise prices
The 1-hour harbor tour by Flagship Cruises to either the South or the North of San Diego Bay costs $35 per person.
For just $40, you can go on the 2-hour Flagship cruise, which allows you to see both the North and South sides of the Bay.
The 2-hour Harbor Sightseeing Cruise, offered by City Cruises, is priced at $40.
The San Diego Harbor Dinner Cruise costs $198, and the Brunch Cruise costs $141.
North Harbor or South Harbor?
While booking a San Diego Harbor Cruise, tourists have three options: North Harbor, South Harbor, or both.
The North Harbor cruise is the better choice, as it offers a more scenic experience. It offers closer, superior views of San Diego’s skyline and notable landmarks, including Harbor Island, Shelter Island, Point Loma, and the North Island Naval Air Station.
Additionally, passengers have the opportunity to spot sea life, which enhances the overall experience compared to the South Harbor tour.
If you opt for one of the harbors, the cruise is one hour long, and you get to see only half the attractions.
The full tour of San Diego Bay lasts two hours, and you get to see both the North and the South harbors.
Both Flagship Cruises and City Cruises offer 2-hour long San Diego Harbor cruise.
Dress code for San Diego Harbor Cruises
The dress code for San Diego Harbor Cruises depends on the type of cruise booked.
Dinner Cruises
Business casual to dressy casual attire is a safe bet for dinner cruises on the San Diego Bay.
Men can wear slacks or khaki pants paired with a collared shirt, optionally accompanied by a jacket. Women can wear slacks or skirts, complemented by a collared shirt or a dress.
City Cruises recommends that you refrain from wearing jeans, shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, or gym shoes on dinner cruises.
Lunch and Brunch Cruises
For lunch and brunch cruises, it is better to dress in business casual attire, such as khaki pants and collared shirts.
Shorts, tank tops, flip flops, or gym shoes are strongly discouraged.
Regular Harbor & Whale-watching tours
For San Diego whale-watching cruises, or regular harbor tours, tourists can wear casual attire, such as shorts and t-shirts.
We recommend dressing in layers and bringing a jacket or wrap, as it can get breezy on board, especially on outer decks and during cruises that head out into the open ocean.
Bringing a hat and some sunscreen makes a lot of sense for daytime cruises.
Departures
City Cruises depart from 970 North Harbor Drive, and the Flagship Cruises leave from 990 North Harbor Drive.
Departure piers for both companies are just 300 meters (.2 miles) from each other.
However, it is better to check your ticket confirmation email to determine the boarding point and timing.
Boarding time
Boarding time is usually 15 to 30 minutes before departure.
It is better to arrive at least 30 minutes before dinner cruises to enjoy your boarding cocktail and dockside sights.
What to expect on a harbor cruise
Here is a quick video on what to expect on a San Diego Bay Harbor cruise.
San Diego Harbor provides stunning views of the city skyline, Coronado Bridge, Naval Base San Diego, and the picturesque coastline. Be prepared to capture some fantastic photos of the harbor and its surroundings.
Depending on the time of year, you can spot marine life, such as sea lions, dolphins, and various seabirds. Some cruises even offer specific wildlife-watching tours.
Most harbor cruises offer narrated tours led by live guides. These narrations provide insight into the area’s history, landmarks, and interesting facts.
Cruises often pass by or stop at key landmarks, including the USS Midway Museum, Seaport Village, the Maritime Museum of San Diego, and many more.
You can enjoy the gentle sea breeze, take in the views, and have a peaceful time on the water.
Many harbor cruises are designed to be accessible to visitors, including families with children and individuals with mobility challenges.
