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    SoCal Whale Watching

    4.8 (33 reviews)

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    Sea lions

    Beautiful adventure- amazing memories!! Fantastic and knowledgeable crew! We will definitely be back

    Water
    Patty L.

    Signed up for the 930am boat ride. Just like captain Steve mentioned, wear layers. When the sun is out, it feels great as the boat is speeding, but it can easily get too warm when the boat is just floating. When the clouds were out and the wind was blowing in your face, it was cold for this CA valley girl. Captain Steve was well informed about the best spots to likely spot sealife. He also provided our boat with information on the migration and sea depth. During our 3 hour ride we saw pods of dolphins, a fin whale, and a sea lion. All of it with a close up view. Definitely a fun adventure with some great views. I only took a few photos. Most of what I have are videos of dolphins and the whale emerging.

    Sea lions sun bathing
    Brittany P.

    AMAZING! My family and I had an amazing time with Captain Steve. He made sure we all had a good time. He was very informative. Steve knew exactly where to go to see a wide range of sea life. Great thing to do with family and kids. The boat is very private so you get the joy of all being together. Thank you once again Captain Steve. It's always a pleasure to have you as a captain.

    While our whale-watching adventure didn't yield any whale sightings, I'll give Steve an "A" for effort - We get it, it's not like he can call the whales and be like "Hey, hi..we're coming out can you come up for a bit?" We did see sea lions and enjoyed a brief encounter with dolphins after 2+ hours at sea. As for the boat, it's a raft. With small bench seats that are rough on the tush after 3 hours, otherwise it's a fun ride that felt safe. Dress in layers. We were wearing jeans, t-shirts, sweatshirts, and jackets with our own blanket draped over our lap and were still cold. Rechargeable hand warmer was useless, get the disposable ones, maybe consider some for your feet and a face covering too. As for amenities, Websites $88 Premiere trip says "Blankets, towels and refreshments provided Bluetooth speaker provided." We saw one blanket that another passenger found at her feet, didn't see (or need) towels, but no refreshments or any kind of Bluetooth speaker. Bring your own snacks and a beverage with a cap. Keep it simple. It'd be tough to do a charcuterie board or picnic basket while on the move. Consider bringing binoculars too. Weather was clear, temp was 57 at the dock, parking at the building adjacent to the Aquarium was ample at 9 A.M. and cheap at $9.

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    Steve P.

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    Ask the Community - SoCal Whale Watching

    What months are best for this?

    Hi Wendy, great question! We are very fortunate to have whales and other wildlife year-round in Southern California. In fact, Humpback whales have been sighted the last few days! The Gray whale migration lasts from December through April, and Blue… 

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - SoCal Whale Watching

    I think Captain Steve covered about x5 the distance on his boat in comparison to the much slower big boat.

    Mentioned in 13 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Harbor Breeze - California sea lions

    Harbor Breeze

    4.3(719 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    Epic boat trip! We saw two humpback whales and they were so active! One breached over and over! The…read morecrew was wonderful!

    We've been taking Harbor Breeze Cruises for many years and have probably been on the Long Beach…read moreHarbor Tour more than a dozen times. Whenever we have family or friends visiting from out of state or overseas, it's one of our favorite activities because it's a relaxing way to see the Port of Long Beach, the Queen Mary, and, if you're lucky, the sea lions. We brought another group yesterday, and everyone enjoyed the tour. The only downside, in my opinion, is the boats used for the harbor tour. Yesterday we were on the Kristina, and in the past we've also been on the Caroline, which we chartered for my mother's ash-scattering ceremony about 14 years ago. Both vessels are showing their age. I also think the marketing could be clearer. The photos on the website and many travel sites prominently feature the newer catamarans, which gives the impression that those are the boats used for the harbor tour. I actually called ahead to ask and learned that the harbor tours use different vessels. While I appreciated getting the correct information, many first-time visitors probably wouldn't think to ask and may expect the newer boats shown in the advertising. The harbor tour itself is still worthwhile, and we'll likely continue bringing our guests because we genuinely enjoy the experience. I just hope Harbor Breeze considers updating or refurbishing the harbor tour vessels and making the marketing a little clearer so guests know exactly what to expect.

    Photos
    Harbor Breeze - Grey Whale

    Grey Whale

    Harbor Breeze - Amazing sunset on our way back from seeing Dolphins and Whales

    Amazing sunset on our way back from seeing Dolphins and Whales

    Harbor Breeze - Sunset from back of boat

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    Sunset from back of boat

    Spirit Cruises - Plenty of standing/seating in the bow area.

    Spirit Cruises

    3.8(59 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    I decided to go on this cruise spur of the moment while dealing with some loneliness and…read moredepression, and I was fortunate enough to get a ticket. Looking back, I'm so glad I did. When I say this experience was awesome and refreshing, I truly mean it. The views during the boat ride were absolutely amazing, and for a few hours I felt completely at peace--as if all my troubles had simply vanished. The atmosphere was relaxing, the scenery was beautiful, and it gave me a chance to clear my mind and just enjoy the moment. One of the things I enjoyed most was watching families and friends have a great time together. It was uplifting to see so many people creating memories, and I even had the opportunity to meet a few genuinely kind and interesting people along the way. Thank you for providing such a memorable experience. If you're looking for a peaceful, refreshing escape with beautiful views and great energy, I highly recommend it. Five stars!

    June 28, 2025 | Long Beach | While walking around the festive & colorful Shoreline Village, a…read morefriend and I were passing a lime green building and noticed a sign advertising a cruise! What a fun & spontaneous thing to do & so we did on a Saturday afternoon! Hahaha! Boat | Roomy, spacious & clean! We sat at the top of the boat! The views were fantastic! Plenty of other boats/ships/yachts passed by along the way! It was a really beautiful day as well & simply, relaxing! I recommend bringing sunglasses and or sun hat if you're going to sit at the top of the boat, especially on a sunny day! Cruise | Informative! We were given the history of Long Beach, cruised by plenty of colorful shipping containers, as well as enjoyed the gorgeous views of Long Beach! The person on the loudspeaker did a fantastic job! I'm new to exploring the Long Beach area, so the information was helpful! Other Passengers | While chatting with my friend, a woman from Pacific Palisades joined us! She had a margarita in one hand and a big personality in the other hand! Haha! She had me laughing, nearly nonstop! She was hilarious, which made the boat ride even more fun! She even turned up music on her iPhone to add to the ambience! Good times, great energy! Cost: $19 per person! Score! The cruise was about an hour! Customer Service | The woman who booked us on the last-minute cruise, which was leaving in less than five minutes, was so friendly! She was personality plus, thanks again! The Captain was friendly as well! I spoke to him as we were exiting the boat & thanked him for a great cruise! Overall | What a fun cruise! I would highly recommend if you were visiting Long Beach, especially had friends and family in town to show them around; another fun thing to add to your list! Let's go!

    Photos
    Spirit Cruises - Stern view showing the upper deck and enclosed lower deck. Very nice boat.

    Stern view showing the upper deck and enclosed lower deck. Very nice boat.

    Spirit Cruises
    Spirit Cruises

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    Breakwall Fishing Charters - Fishing trips

    Breakwall Fishing Charters

    4.7(44 reviews)
    0.0 mi

    Kevin Doshier…read more 7:42AM (0 minutes ago) Our family of four recently had an incredible fishing experience with Captain Jeremy of Breakwall Fishing Charters! Captain Jeremy's expertise, warmth, and commitment to creating lasting memories were exceptional. He effortlessly guided us to the best fishing spots, engaging and educating our children with patience and enthusiasm. The well-maintained boat and top-quality fishing gear provided by Breakwall Fishing Charters added to the enjoyment. Captain Jeremy's genuine care and friendly nature made the trip extraordinary. We are immensely grateful for the unforgettable family fishing adventure. If you're looking for an exceptional experience, book a charter with Captain Jeremy. Thank you, Captain Jeremy, for an absolutely fantastic day on the water--we will cherish these memories!

    My family booked a last minute fishing trip with Breakwall while we were in CA for a baseball…read moretournament. Booking the trip was easy. My family of 4 went out for 4 hours of fishing and it was great - we caught a variety of fish (calico and sand bass and a sculpin). We kept a few and had a yummy lunch! I'm not a fisherwoman, but our captain (Kevin) was very helpful and patient as he taught me to cast. If we find ourselves in CA again, we will definitely book with Breakwall.

    Photos
    Breakwall Fishing Charters - Fishing with Breakwall Fishing services

    Fishing with Breakwall Fishing services

    Breakwall Fishing Charters
    Breakwall Fishing Charters - This the boat we took so clean and loved the boat ride.

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    This the boat we took so clean and loved the boat ride.

    SoCal Whale Watching - whalewatchingtours - Updated August 2026

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