So are you visiting San Diego and want to experience the water? I know of a great way of doing just that, but without getting seasick. May I suggest to you a San Diego Bay cruise?
I believe that there is no better way to enjoy the saltwater environment than being in it. After doing a little research, I found some exciting cruises. Take a look for yourself at the wide variety of San Diego Bay cruises that are available.
Before I begin, I should note that I will only be listing San Diego Bay cruises, not whale watching or fishing tours, as I have written about both extensively. Please refer to the two previous posts I have linked if you want more information regarding whales or fish.
Let’s now see all of the San Diego Bay cruises and which is best for you, shall we?
Table of Contents
What to See on a San Diego Bay Cruise
Before listing all of the available San Diego Bay cruises, I thought I would take the time to list a few notable spots you will encounter while on tour in both North Bay and South Bay.
If you are interested in checking out what there is to see at San Diego Bay, click here, as I have written an in-depth photo tour.
Below are a few significant locations on any of the San Diego Bay cruises.
North San Diego Bay
- Maritime Museum
- Star of India
- Harbor Island
- America’s Cup Harbor
- Shelter Island
- North Island Naval Air Station
- California Sea Lions
- Nuclear Submarine Base
- Cabrillo National Monument
- Point Loma Lighthouse
South San Diego Bay
- Travel under the Coronado Bay Bridge
- U.S.S. Midway Aircraft Carrier
- Seaport Village
- Naval Destroyers and Frigates
- Embarcadero Park
- San Diego’s Working Waterfront, shipbuilding facilities
- Naval Base San Diego
- Coronado Island
Look at the Variety of San Diego Bay Cruises!
San Diego Bay is over 27 miles long and 1 to 3 miles wide. There are a lot of areas to cover. Here I would like to show you the wide variety of San Diego Bay cruises offered every day of the week.
Flagship Cruises Tours and Events
(619) 234-4111
Spirit of San Diego– 146-foot, holds up to 575 guests
Open every day from 8 am to 6:30 pm
Flagship Cruises Tours and Events was established in 1915 and are San Diego’s oldest and longest-running touring company.
Amenities–
- 3-levels
- indoor and outdoor seating
- lush carpeted interior
- unobstructed 360-degree views
- full bar/snack bar
- V.I.P. Captain’s Salon
- Wifi internet
Cruises-
- 1 hour North Bay Tour departing at 10 am, 12:30 pm, 3:00 pm
- 1 hour South Bay Tour departing at 11:15 am, 1:45 pm, 4:15 pm
- 2 hour Full San Diego Bay Tour departing at 10 am, 11:15 am, 12:30 pm, 1:45 pm, 3:00 pm
So it turns out the same boat is used on the North Bay and South Bay Tours, as the ship is continually circling the Bay throughout the day.
Once the North Bay Tour has ended, the ship heads back to the dock to pick up the remaining passengers who wish to go on the South Bay Tour. You will remain on board if you have purchased a ticket for the Two Hour Tour.
Rates-
1-Hour North Bay or South Bay Tour
- Adults-$27,
- Seniors/Military-$24.
- Children (4-12)- $13.50
2-Hour Full San Diego Bay Tour
- Adults- $32
- Senior/Military- $29
- Children (4-12)- $16
Additional Offerings-
Flagship Cruises and Events have several different unique San Diego Bay cruises! If you would like additional information, please refer to their website. Here are a few that I would like to share with you!
- Sunday Champagne Brunch
- Beer Pairing Dinner Cruise (Fridays)
- 30-minute Patriot Jet Boat Rides (Sat-Sun)
- San Diego Dinner Cruise (Every night)
- Sunday Prime Rib Dinner Cruise
- New Year’s Eve Dinner and New Year’s Day Brunch Cruises
- Patriot Jet Boat Thrill Ride
- Flagship Ferry-connecting Downtown San Diego and Coronado
Hornblower Cruises and Events
(619) 686-8700
Adventure Hornblower– 150-foot which holds up to 400 people
Mon-Fri 5 am- 11 pm; Sat-Sun 7 am- 11 pm
Amenities-
- Three levels
- an educational and environmental narrator on board
- comfortable outdoor and climate control indoor seating
- snack bar with adult beverages
- onboard exhibit with green environmental facts regarding San Diego Bay as well as local marine wildlife
- “Hornblower is a proud partner in environmental stewardship on San Diego Bay.”
Cruises-
- 1 hour North Cruise departs @ 10 am, 12:30 pm, 3 pm, 5:30 pm
- 1 hour South Cruise departs @ 8:45 am, 11:45 am, 1:45 pm, 4:15 pm
- 2 hour Full San Diego Cruise departs @ 10 am, 11:15 am, 12:30 pm, 1:45 pm, 3:00 pm, 4:15 pm
Rates-
- 1 hour $27
- 2 hours- $32
Special Notes-
Very similar to Flagship, the same boat does both tours. So when the South Cruise is done, the ship will return to the dock to pick up North Cruise passengers. And yes, if you are on the Two Hour Cruise, you will stay on the boat.
Additional Offerings-
- San Diego Full Moon Dinner Cruises
- Nightly Dinner Cruises
- Sunday Champagne Brunches
- Lobster Dinner Cruise (Sat-Sun)
San Diego SEAL Tours
(619) 298-8687
Here we have the unique vessel- a Hydra Terra, which is amphibious! Explore San Diego on both land and water!
10:30 am- 5:00 pm
Cruises-
- 90-minute tour– 30 minutes on land, 60 minutes in water
- Seats up to 40 people
- 2 locations to board at (see above)
- 100%Â satisfaction guarantee
Rates-
- Adults- $42
- Children (4-12)- $25
- Children under 3- $10
Adventure R.I.B. Rides
(619) 808-2822
adventureribrides.com
An authentic Navy S.E.A.L. Rigid-hulled Inflatable boat that holds up to 6 passengers
Open 24 hours
Amenities-
- The boat’s design allows for incredible speed
- Low profile reduces rocking; therefore, less of a chance of seasickness
- The vessel’s small size gives you the ability to see things at a closer range
Cruises-
- The San Diego Harbor Cruise last 2 hours and concentrates on North San Diego Bay, with special consideration for Military Operations
Rates-
- $350 for up to 6 people
Additional Offerings-
- Eco-Tour to Los Coronado Islands, Mexico
- Corporate Outings and Team Building
- Film and T.V. Production
- Whale Watching
- Custom Private Tours
Speed Boat Adventures
(619) 294-5852
F-13 mini speedboat
Amenities-
- each boat can carry three people
- comfortable seat, and drives like a car
- super quiet, eco-friendly motor
- cruise slow or go as fast as a jet-ski
- learn basic boating rules and hand signals beforehand
- storage compartment for bags
Cruises-
- 2 hour Speed Boat Adventure Tour-follow behind a tour guide and listen to a narrated tour via a two-way communication system
- cover over 13 miles, concentrating
- departure times- 9 am, 11 am, 1 pm, 3 pm, 5 pm (Summer)
Rates-
- 1 person boat- $120
- 2 person boat- $139.80
- 3 person boat- $204.70
Additional Offerings-
- San Diego Harbor V.I.P. Tour includes a guided speedboat tour, followed by a Harbor Bike Tour, ending with admission to U.S.S. Midway Museum.
Private Yacht Cruises on San Diego Bay
Below, I have found several businesses that can create your custom San Diego Bay cruise!
Mai Tai San Diego Yacht Charters
(888) 624-8247
Many vessels to choose from
Captain-Dan Wilson
Amenities-
- It all depends on which vessel you choose from
- there are smaller boats, catamarans, and superyachts (45′ to 90′)
- catering and drinks are available for an additional charge
Cruises-
- Bay Cruises Tour
- Sunset Booze Cruise
- Ultimate Yacht Parties
Rates-
- 1-6 passenger boat- $350/hour
- 1-12 passenger yacht- $400/hour
60′ Hatteras- $600/hour
86′ Super Yacht- $1200/hour
- 13-27 passenger yacht- $600/hour
- 1-40 passenger yacht- $700/hour
- 3 to 4-hour rentals are suggested
Additional Offerings-
- Anything that you can dream up, Mai Tai San Diego Yacht Charters will make it happen! Take a look at the website for additional information.
Cherie Amie Yacht Charters
(888) 749-6559
Cherie Amie-Â A 90-foot, 1980s King’s Craft luxury liner which holds up to 140 people
Open 24 hours
Amenities-
- indoor and outdoor lounges
- Three levels
- two outdoor decks
- multi-media access
- Captain and crew
Cruises-
- Private Charters
Rates-
- $500/ hour
Additional Offerings-
- Dinner Cruise for $50/person
- full bar upgrade
- catering upgrade
Private Sailing Charters on San Diego Bay
Have you ever wanted to go sailing? How about cruising San Diego Bay on a sailboat? Below, I found a few fantastic San Diego Bay cruises that are on a sailboat!
Let’s have a look!
Pacifica Sailing Charters
(619) 268-4868
-Choose from a variety of vessels
10 am- 6 pm
Cruises-
- A 2.5-hour San Diego Bay Cruise is offered twice a day-10 am and again at 4 pm.
- The main objective of this tour is to see the California sea lions hanging out in the northern section of the Bay and concentrate on the military installations along the way. There is also a great chance of seeing dolphins in this section of the Bay.
- Also, learn the history of the Bay via a tour guide onboard
- complimentary snacks and water
Rates-
- available every day- 2 passengers for $180
Additional Offerings-
- Couple Sailing Cruise for Two-$180
- Private Couple Afternoon Sailing Cruise- $280
- Sunset Sailing Cruise for Two- $220
see the website for other options
San Diego Sailing Tours
(619) 786-0173
sandiegosailingtours.com
Choose from classic sailing yachts with ‘lustrous wood and brass detailing.’
Amenities-
- Experienced Captain and crew
- Sit back and relax or help with sailing-it is up to you
- First beer or wine is complimentary
- Hors-d’oeuvres
Cruises-
- 2-Hour Signature Sailing Tour around San Diego Bay- This is a group tour with a maximum of 6 passengers. Tours leave at 10 am, 1 pm, and 4:30 pm (Sunset Cruise)
Rates-
- Day Sail-$79/person
- Sunset Sail- $89/person
Additional Offerings-
- Private Sailing Charter for 2
- Private Group Charters
- Custom Private Charters
- 60-foot Catamaran, which holds 48 people for private charter
Sail J.A.D.A. Charters
(858) 222-9479
9 am- 9 pm
Cruises-
- J.A.D.A., built-in 1938, is the only authentic classic wooden sailing yacht for charter in San Diego
- Sunset Champagne Cruise– includes sparkling wine, beer, water, light snacks, and blankets. Enjoy the view and learn exciting things about San Diego Bay while you cruise into the sunset.
- 2.5 hours
- Boarding times are seasonal, so please refer to the website for appropriate arrival times
Additional Offerings-
- Private Charters
- Corporate Charters
- Memorials at Sea
- Dinner Cruises
- Weddings at Sea
Fun Cat Sailing Catamaran Adventures
Gate A-D, 955 Harbor Island Dr
(619) 866-7245
Two big catamarans-Tigress and Wind Drum
Captain Rod (owner)
6 am- 10 pm
Amenities-
- very stable ride
- shade
- Queen beds
- a large net to lay on and sunbathe
- a large table in the middle for food and drinks
- running water
- kayaks
- snacks and beverages provided
- sunscreen, blankets, jackets, binoculars, and hats for a loan are available
Cruises-
- Relaxing Morning Sea Life Sailing Adventures-Â three hours of a harbor tour as well as the coastline-9:45- 12:45 @ $85/person
- 2 in 1 Catamaran/ Sea Kayak Adventures-Try their new stable Hobie peddle tandem kayaks while anchored-call for a seasonal schedule-@ $95/person
Additional Offerings-
- Afternoon/Sunset Sea Life Ocean Sailing Adventure- available daily. Discover the wildlife outside of San Diego Bay while sailing on the coastline and returning at sunset-1:30 pm- 4:45 pm-@$85/person
Custom Charters are available; see the website for more information
So what do you think? Can you believe how many San Diego Bay cruises are offered? There is something for everyone from your big boat tours to mini- speed boats to large catamarans; there is something for everyone!
If you know of more companies that offer tours, please leave me a message in the comment section, as I would love a complete list.
I have always had a deep-seated passion for the Ocean Environment which ultimately led me to receive a degree in Marine Biology. Living in the San Diego area for over 30 years, I have extensively explored the 70 miles of San Diego’s coastline, and I am here to share! Please use my website to your advantage and have a look around at all the wonders that the beaches of San Diego can offer you!
Thanks for the great information. I used to live in Los Angeles many years ago and have always said if I could return to living in California, I would definitely look to live in San Diego! What a beautiful place, and those cruises look like a great way to check it out!
I used to live in Los Angeles also Yvette, and San Diego is so much more beautiful! Thanks for the comment!