The 13 Most Popular Newport Beach Whale Watching Tours

1.2-Hour Whale Watching Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 1,375 reviews · 2 hours · from $27Our pick

Set out from Balboa Pavilion with an English-speaking crew for two hours off Newport Beach. Captain Hunter, Kayla, and other guides have helped guests spot blue, fin, gray, and humpback whales, plus huge dolphin pods, sea lions, and birds. Wildlife is never guaranteed, but the Newport-Laguna coastline and low price make this an easy outing near Disneyland.

“We arrived a little before time to go, and the trip was wonderful. Although we saw no whales, we did enjoy seeing two large pods of dolphins and were able to hang with them for a while. The captain was very helpful and we even had a volunteer naturalist on board. Thanks for a great day!”

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2.Whale-Watching Cruise from Newport Beach

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 927 reviews · 2 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $31

Cruise from Newport Harbor for about 2 hours and 15 minutes aboard a 65-foot boat, watching for whales, dolphins, seals, and sea lions. Captains and guides such as Dani, Jill, Harrison, and Addison explain the marine life and help spot animals. Bring warm layers, sunscreen, and patience: sightings are never guaranteed.

“Our experience was so excellent! Dani, our captain, and Jill, our guide, made this whale watching cruise unforgettable. We saw ridiculously scenic coastline views, which added to the magic of thr trip. While we only saw bottlenose dolphins (tons of them), the cruise was still spectacular and definitely worth the ticket price. Plus, due to a last minute change on their end we happened to get upgraded to the higher end smaller boat with less people. There were lots of moments of sheer joy (we geeked out pretty hard) at getting to visit the dolphins up close in their natural environment. Others around us expressed feeling similarly. What also set…”

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3.Whale and Dolphin-Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 415 reviews · 2h 30m · from $30

Cruise from Newport Beach for 150 minutes with an English-speaking captain and crew who explain local marine life. Look for dolphins, sea lions, gray whales, blue whales, humpbacks, fin whales, and more. The boat follows the Newport Coast toward Laguna Beach, with calm water, ocean views, and a reported 96% chance of seeing whales or dolphins.

“We didn’t spot any whales but what we did see was very special to share as a family”

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4.Ultimate Whale Watching Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 272 reviews · 2 hours · from $84

Join Newport Landing Cruises for a fast, intimate 2-hour ride aboard a 15-seat RIB. Captains and guides such as Erika, Delaney, Molly, Mark, and Ryan search up to 14 miles offshore for whales, dolphins, sea lions, and other wildlife. Expect open views, lively commentary, and no bathroom onboard.

“An amazing experience to see gray whales, lots of dolphins and sea lions. We were lucky enough to find two gray whales pretty early into our tour. And then we headed to an area where there was 300-400 dolphins in a pod. Seeing that many dolphins at once was magical. And the sea lions was a great way to end the trip. Delaney and Erica were amazing guides and the fact that they took pictures of the wildlife on a large digital camera with great zoom and shared these with each passenger with Air Drop was an unexpected extra that made this trip five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”

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5.Newport Beach Whale and Dolphin Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 212 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $28

Spend about two hours aboard a two-deck catamaran from Newport Beach, watching for blue, gray, humpback, fin, and minke whales, plus dolphins, sea lions, and pelicans. The crew, including Captain Hunter on some departures, shares useful facts as you cruise from 309 Palm Street and return to the same point.

“We got put on an earlier boat, which was great. However, we didn’t see any marine life. The inside seating in the bar area was fantastic, particularly because it was a cold, rainy day.”

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6.Luxury Whale Watching Catamaran Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 194 reviews · 2h 30m · from $58

Spend 150 minutes aboard a 50-foot catamaran from Newport Beach, with a 360-degree deck, naturalist guides, and open-water searches for whales, dolphins, and sea lions. Captains such as Kayla, Larry, Dani, and Chris have led memorable outings, but wildlife is never guaranteed. Bring a hat and expect some spray near the bows.

“We had a great time. The captain kept us informed on where to look and educated us on dolphin and whale habits. Being with a small group really made the difference. We saw other boats FULL of people. We are really happy with our decision.”

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7.Private 2hr Supreme Whale/Dolphin Watching Tour, Newport Beach CA

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 161 reviews Top rated

Set out from Newport Harbor with Captain Nick or another USCG licensed captain on a private two-hour whale and dolphin trip. The small twin-engine catamaran carries up to six people, giving you a quick, personal ride toward local wildlife. Expect harbor views, naturalist commentary, and possible dolphins, whales, and sea lions.

“We went on a Dolphin/Whale watching excursion with Nick from East Meets West yesterday morning. It was honestly the trip of a lifetime! Nick was our captain and is extremely knowledgeable about marine life. We learned alRead more”

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8.Luxury Whale Watching: Fewer People, Extra Speed, Expert Staff

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 160 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $69

Set out from Newport Beach on a 50-foot catamaran with room for up to 40 people, though some trips carry far fewer. The fast Catallac offers walk-around viewing, indoor and outdoor seating, and crew members such as Captain Larry and Captain Dani who explain the marine life. Plan for dolphins and sea lions, but treat whales as a lucky bonus.

“We didn’t see any whales but witnessed two dolphin pods coming together. It was an amazing experience!”

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9.Year-Round Whale Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 151 reviews · 2h 30m · from $30

Spend 2.5 hours aboard a 65-foot whale-watching ship from Newport Landing. Look for gray and finback whales in winter and spring, blue whales in summer and fall, plus dolphins, seals, and seabirds. The boat has indoor seating, large windows, wraparound outdoor seats, a sun deck, and a snack bar. Check in 45 minutes early.

“We didn't get to see any whales, but the Captain made a huge effort to follow some common dolphins and we caught up to a very large pod feeding. Was amazing!”

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10.Private Dolphin and Whale Watching Tour in Newport Beach

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 65 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)

Join Captain Dustin aboard Surfrider, a private 40 mph speedboat for up to six people. Cruise Newport Harbor, then head along Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, and Dana Point with a Certified Marine Naturalist explaining dolphins, whales, sea lions, and other marine life. Bring your own food and drinks for the 2.5-hour outing.

“We had a wonderful time on the dolphin tour. Dustin’s knowledge of the history of the harbor, past and present was a added bonus. We saw so many dolphins! He exceeded our expectations. We will definitely book another tour on our next visit.”

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11.Supreme 2hr Whale/Dolphin Watching Newport Beach, 6 person max

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 40 reviews · from $119

Cruise Newport Beach’s Pacific waters for two to two and a half hours with Captain Nick, a dedicated guide on a boat limited to six people. Look for whales, dolphins, sea lions, birds, and bait balls, then return to Balboa Island near its ferry, bars, and chocolate-dipped strawberries.

“Nick is a great captain and his love for his job really shines through. He is super knowledgeable about the ocean wildlife you might see. On our tour, we got very lucky seeing three whales, including an amazing blue whale, a huge pod of common dolphins that swam all around the boat, and some lounging sea lions. It was an amazing trip.”

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12.Whale Watching Cruise from Newport Beach

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 14 reviews · from $60

Set out from 400 Main Street in Newport Beach on a 2.5 to 3-hour coastal cruise toward Long Beach, Redondo, Santa Monica Bay, and Marina del Rey. A guide and captain provide live commentary while you look for whales, dolphins, sea lions, sharks, and seabirds from a 45-passenger boat. Food, drinks, wine, and beer cost extra.

“Local company and boat. Smooth slow ride . Had a great morning and day . It was easy to locate the dock . Happy with the tour :) 5stars”

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13.Superior 2hr Private Whale & Dolphin Watching Newport Beach

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews

Join Captain Nick for a private two-hour whale and dolphin trip from Newport Beach. The 26-foot catamaran carries up to six people, with suspension seats, 360-degree viewing, and a SeaKeeper stabilizer that cuts side-to-side motion by up to 92 percent. Expect expert commentary, coastal views, and close wildlife encounters.

“Nick was utterly amazing!! We were desperate to see dolphins as it was my daughter’s dream. We had to travel 15 miles out into the ocean, but Nick never gave up and then we found the most amazing pod of about 150 dolphins. We spent about 15 minutes amongst them, watching them jump and play and swimming alongside the front of the boat. It is a memory that will stay with the whole family forever. He certainly made my daughter’s dream come true and we all absolutely loved it. You just would not have had the same experience on a larger boat and we probably wouldn’t even have found them…”

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