Water activity

Newport Beach: Year-Round Whale Watching Cruise

4.3 / 5

56 reviews

Activity provider: Newport Landing Cruises
Water activity

Newport Beach: Year-Round Whale Watching Cruise

Activity provider: Newport Landing Cruises

From US$ 44.50 per person

Go whale watching at any time of the year on a cruise that has a 96 percent success rate in whale viewing! You’ll be on the lookout for a variety of whales, including the giant blue whale which is over 80 feet in length, humpback whales, and others.

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Reserve now & pay later
Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.
Covid-19 precautions
Special health and safety measures are in place. Check your activity voucher once you book for full details.
Duration 2.5 hours
Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide
English

Experience

Highlights
  • Take a cruise that boasts a 96 percent whale viewing success rate
  • Travel on a ship built specifically for whale watching, with 2 decks
  • See finback whales and grey whales in the winter and spring, and giant blue whales in the summer and fall
Full description
The waters surrounding Newport Harbor are deep and nutrient-rich, attracting all types of marine creatures. Cruises typically see a variety of whales including giant blue whales (during the summer and fall), finback whales, grey whales (in the winter and spring), minke whales, and humpback whales, as well as several types of dolphin, seals, and all sorts of other marine life. Each cruise is a unique experience in that you never know what you might encounter. The Laguna Beach coastline lies just to the south of Newport Harbor and is some of Southern California’s most beautiful coast. The grey whales are commonly seen in this area. Most whale watching cruises take in the scenic backdrops of Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, and Newport Beach, while viewing the gentle giants just a few hundred yards from shore. Due to the geography of the Orange County coastline that surrounds Newport Harbor, ocean conditions are very calm allowing whale watchers to fully enjoy the amazing viewings. Our primary whale watching ship is 65 feet long, and has a large upstairs sundeck, wrap-around outside seating, snack bar, and indoor seating with large windows. The ship was purpose-built for viewing marine life. Plenty of other amenities guarantee a very comfortable and exciting trip. Captains and crew members are well-versed in marine biology and are incredibly knowledgeable about marine creatures, environment, and eco systems.
Includes
  • Whale watching cruise (2.5 hours)
  • Fees and taxes
  • Binocular rentals
  • Beverages purchased on board
  • A USD 1-4 fuel surcharge may be in effect if marine diesel exceeds USD 3.50 per gallon. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Select participants and date

Participants

Date

Meeting point

Newport Beach Whale Watching, 400 Main Street, Newport Beach CA. 92661. Please be at the meeting point at least 30 minutes before your tour departure time for whale watching excursions.

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Important information

Know before you go

  • Please try to check in about 45 minutes before departure time.
  • Children aged 2 and under may join the cruise at no charge but must be counted in your reservation. The USCG gives us maximum load limits that involve a head count. Age and size are not a factor in this count.
  • Binoculars are not available on rent
  • Fees and taxes are included in the price
  • Beverages can be purchased onboard
  • A USD 1-4 fuel surcharge may be in effect if marine diesel exceeds USD 3.50 per gallon. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause
Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.3 /5

based on 56 reviews

Review summary

  • Guide
    4.4/5
  • Transportation
    4.4/5
  • Service
    4.2/5
  • Organization
    4/5

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Wir hatten Erfolg auf ganzer Linie und sehr viel Glück. Zuerst sah es so aus, als würde es schwierig werden, Wale zu sehen. Nach einer Weile entdeckte unser Kapitän jedoch in der Ferne einen Buckelwal und fuhr uns dorthin. Am passenden Ort angekommen wurden wir von Hunderten von Delfinen begrüßt und den Buckelwal bekamen wir auch ein paar Mal zu Gesicht. Atemberaubend! Später sind wir, begleitet durch die Delfine, die gefühlt überall waren, zurückgefahren und haben noch ein paar Seelöwen gesehen. Der Kapitän gab sehr interessante Infos. Es gab Verpflegung an Bord. Das Wetter war auch super. Wir waren mehr als zufrieden.

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March 29, 2023

Fue una experiencia maravillosa recomiendo a las personas que vienen en la mañana usar ropa adecuada para el frío fui en el mes de agosto ! No pues nos ver ballenas pero el personal fue muy amable vimos delfines y recomiendo esta aventura es muy fácil el acceso y ubicación parqueadero súper seca y también encuentras lugares lindos para caminar comprar y comer recomendado

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March 29, 2023

The tour was good but would I do it again? Probably not. We booked the 2,5 hour tour at 5pm and we knew that there is no guarantee to see whales or dolphins. This is not a visit at sea life. However, we did get lucky and saw a whale from afar but only briefly. We waited for half an hour if the whale would reappear but it didn't. At around 6.20 pm the captain said that he would like to wait longer but because we were running late we'd need to return the harbor. That was frustrating because before he kept saying that the whale would reappear any minute now plus we arrived back at the dock at 7pm - running not late but early! The crew handed out $7 coupons for the next trip but I still felt cheated because the trip was only 2 hours (and not 2,5 hours). Moreover, I did not like the email I received a day later saying that the crew gets a bonus for every positive review.. Is that the reason for all these 5 star reviews?

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March 29, 2023

Product ID: 29249