Whale and Dolphin Watching
Our most popular cruise: two hours from Oceanside Harbor on NALA or Oceanside Adventures, our two catamarans. Pick a day and a time to book.
About the Whale and Dolphin Cruise
- All our captains are US Coast Guard licensed and American Cetacean Society Certified Naturalists.
- It’s always whale watching season: gray whales from late November to April, blue whales from May to November, and humpback and fin whales year round.
- Adult Ages 13+ $67*
- Children Ages 3-12 $52*
- Seniors Ages 55+ $62*
- Infants Ages 0-2 $10*
- Temporary Fuel Surcharge $5 per person
*not including fees
Boat Tours from Oceanside Harbor
Whale and dolphin watching, private charters, holiday cruises and services at sea, all from Oceanside Harbor. Pick the trip that fits your group.
- Families and couples Whale and Dolphin Watching, two hours, year round
- Groups Private charters and weddings on the water
- Memorials Burial at sea and ash scattering
- Holidays Parade of Lights and Boat Ride with Santa in December, plus Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day
- A gift Gift cards with no expiration date
Your Own Boat
Book a catamaran for just your group, plan a burial at sea, or plan one of our weddings on the water aboard NALA.
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Private Charters
Custom · All ages
Join us for a private charter. Great for families, couples, private parties and corporate events, with harbor cruises, coastal cruises and whale and dolphin cruises.
From $1,349* *not including fees
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Burials at Sea
Saying goodbye to a loved one is never easy. We hold ash scattering services at sea from Oceanside Harbor, with our crew beside you at every step.
From $699* *not including fees
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Oceanside Adventure Wedding
Have your wedding on board NALA, our newly built double-deck catamaran in Oceanside Harbor. She holds up to 100 passengers.
Special Events
Holiday cruises on Saturday, December 12, 2026, plus our Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day cruises.
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Parade of Lights Cruise
December 12, 2026, 6:15 PM PST · 2 hours · All ages
See the Oceanside Harbor Parade of Lights up close on a two-hour harbor cruise aboard one of our catamarans.
From $69* *not including fees
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Boat Ride with Santa
December 12, 2026, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM PST · 20 minutes · All ages
Take a boat ride with Santa around Oceanside Harbor this holiday season. Bring your own camera for a photo with Santa.
From $5* *not including fees
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Valentine’s Day Cruise
Ages 21+
Celebrate Valentine’s Day on the water aboard NALA, our 63-foot catamaran, with champagne and chocolates included.
From $70.84* *not including fees
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Mother’s Day Cruise
2 hours · All ages
Treat mom to a two-hour Mother’s Day cruise along the coast from Oceanside Harbor, with a chance to see dolphins and whales.
From $45* *not including fees
Gift Cards
Gift cards work for a graduation, a birthday, an anniversary, a thank-you or just because.
They’re good for our whale watching cruises, with no expiration date, and available in any amount.
4.8 on Google
From 2,324 reviews
4.7 on Tripadvisor from 2,051 reviews. Travelers’ Choice in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Joshua D. on GoogleEasy to book, friendly & knowledgeable staff. Great tour with lots of sightings!!
Tricia A. on GoogleToday was our first time out of Oceanside Harbor to whale watch. What a great trip this afternoon. A beautiful, safe catamaran, nice staff and what a fantastic view! We saw lots of dolphins today. We will definitely be repeat visitors with them.
Verity W. on GoogleIt was amazing!! The staff and captain did an excellent job and finding the whales and staying close but not too close to them. They are very knowledgeable and kind. Highly recommend!!
Connie A. on GoogleJust perfect!! Seen 5 humpback whales
Tyler G. on GoogleOutstanding crew and boat! First class experience all around.
Janet M. on GoogleIt was an awesome experience!! We got to see dolphins and humpback whales. I did get videos but no still photos! The crew were informative and helpful. I highly recommend.
Thomas B. on GoogleEasy access for the departure location, boarding was easy, the kids loved the choppy waters heading into the swells, saw some dolphins, and lots of ocean. The crew was great!
Deb M. on GoogleIt was educational, they told us about the humpback whale that we sailed along side for awhile. They were friendly and answered all questions.
Michelle W. on GoogleWe went for my sisters 40th birthday and had a blast! The crew was very nice, boat was clean and comfortable with lots of space to walk around. We saw at least 40 dolphins sooooo close to the boat! It was an amazing time and I highly recommend it!
Ruthanne C. on GoogleGreat trip, beautiful boat. We saw flying fish, dolphins and a sunfish. Lovely day on the water. Terrific crew, friendly and informative.
Tanya D. on GoogleWe had an amazing afternoon! Saw Orcas and whales!!!!! Great friendly crew…second time with Oceanside!
Pete B. on GoogleCaptain and crew were awesome and we saw a pod of bottle nose dolphins that contained about 40 individuals and some including several calves.
Colette T. on GoogleWe saw a huge female humpback whale that breached 3 times. The crew was amazing and the boat ride was a great hit with all, especially my 7 year old graddaughter!
Effie H. on GoogleGreat experience. Friendly and experienced crew. Saw 3 breaches, 4 tails and multiple pectoral fins with quite a few spouts! It was a perfect outing.
Morgan D. on GoogleWe had an absolute blast with Captain Andrew! Not only did we feel completely safe and secure the entire time, but we also learned so much about the area. His sense of humor kept us laughing from start to finish. Highly recommend!
A selection of recent five-star reviews. Read all reviews on Google Read reviews on Tripadvisor
Getting Here
256 Harbor Drive South
Oceanside, CA 92054
Check in at our kiosk by the Lighthouse, in front of Rockin Baja Lobster, for your boarding pass. Please don’t go directly to the boat. We’re in Oceanside Harbor, off the 5 freeway,, 30 minutes north of SeaWorld San Diego and 30 minutes south of Orange County.
Questions
How long are the cruises?
Our whale and dolphin cruises are two hours. The Parade of Lights cruise is two hours, and the Boat Ride with Santa is about 20 minutes. Private charters run 90 minutes or two hours.
Do I need to buy tickets in advance?
Advance purchase is strongly recommended, and trips often sell out quickly. To get the day and time you prefer, please buy your tickets well in advance.
Can I book a private charter?
Yes, all our boats are available for private charters. Call us at 760-277-3737 for pricing and availability.
Which boat is the cruise on?
Our public whale and dolphin cruises run on either of our two catamarans: NALA, 63 feet with two decks, or Oceanside Adventures, 47 feet.
Will we see whales?
We can’t guarantee a sighting on any trip. See what the crew has logged lately in the recent sightings.
What whales can you see off Oceanside?
From November to April: gray whales, minke whales, humpback whales, fin whales and all four species of dolphin. From May to October: fin whales, blue whales, minke whales, humpback whales and all four species of dolphin.
What is the best month to see whales?
It’s always whale watching season here. Gray whale season runs from late November through April, blue whale season from May to November, and we see humpback and fin whales year round.
Is it better to go in the morning or the afternoon?
Whales migrate 24 hours a day, so there is no best time to see them, but the water tends to be calmer in the morning.
What if it rains?
We run in light rain, but if it becomes extremely windy we may have to cancel for safety. If conditions turn unsafe after we leave the dock, you get a “whale check” to come back another time.