Top 12 San Diego Harbor Cruises

1.San Diego Harbor Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,980 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $37Our pick

Cruise San Diego Bay aboard Flagship Cruises for one or two hours, with indoor and outdoor seating, harbor narration, Navy ships, the Coronado Bridge, Star of India, and possible sea lion sightings. Guides such as Rusty and MC JJ add humor and local detail. Choose North Bay, South Bay, or the full route.

“A group of us who were attending a conference decided to take this tour on our last afternoon in San Diego. We had a great time. Being a Thursday afternoon, the boat was not crowded. We were able to relax and enjoy the scenery. The tour narrator was knowledgeable and with the help of Google, we kind of geeked out on all the Navy ships that were in the harbor, both in port and in the water. They were doing some sort of exercise. At one point there were Navy boats in the water shooting flares and helicopters overhead. The trip also included a view of submarines, sea lions and…”

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2.Harbor Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,378 reviews · 1 - 2 hours · from $37

Cruise San Diego Bay aboard a Flagship yacht with indoor and outdoor seating, live English narration, and harbor views from three levels. Choose a one-hour north or south route, or take the two-hour cruise for both sides of the bay. Guides such as Rusty, Max, JJ, and Jen bring local, naval, and California history to life.

“We took the 2 hour cruise and saw it all! JJ was a great narrator and the staff professional. We moved between indoor seating and top deck. They had a bar/snacks/food to purchase and restrooms. Very relaxing and the highlight of our San Diego stay.”

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3.San Diego Harbor Dinner Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,234 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $125

Spend an evening aboard Flagship Cruises’ Spirit of San Diego, leaving from North Harbor Drive beside the USS Midway. You’ll get a sparkling wine welcome, indoor dinner, live entertainment, and views of downtown, Coronado, the bridge, Navy ships, and the bay. The open bar upgrade costs $40.

“Bathrooms downstairs lol but other than that The service people were very attentive. If you have any celebration, the DJ will announce it on the intercom and it's just very memorable and very special.”

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4.San Diego Harbor Speed Boat Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 716 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $75Top rated

Captain your own F13 mini speed boat around San Diego Harbor for about two hours. A guide such as David, Keoni, or Keegan leads the way, gives safety instructions over two-way radio, and points out the USS Midway, sea lions, Coronado Bridge, Star of India, and naval ships. No boating license is required.

“We had such a great time on our tour! Our guide, Keoni, was fantastic - friendly, welcoming, and full of enthusiasm. He explained everything clearly, shared fantastic knowledge about the area, and kept the ride fun with his dad jokes. His energy and passion really made the experience memorable. We learned so much about the San Diego harbor and would absolutely recommend this tour to anyone visiting or living in the area!”

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5.City Cruises San Diego: Scenic 90-Minute Narrated Harbor Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 507 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $37

See San Diego Bay from a Coast Guard certified yacht on this 90-minute narrated cruise. You’ll pass Point Loma, Cabrillo National Monument, Coronado Bridge, the USS Midway, Navy ships, Shelter Island, and Harbor Island. Bring a jacket, arrive 30 minutes early, and use the onboard snack bar or cash bar during the ride.

“Best of Bay cruise is really great. The ship is very modern and comfortable. The narration is very knowledgeable and helpful. Saw the best sites in San Diego.”

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6.City Cruises San Diego: Best of the Bay Scenic Harbor Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 370 reviews · 1h 30m · from $37

Spend 90 minutes on San Diego Bay with live English narration, skyline views, naval ships, the USS Midway, Coronado Bridge, Point Loma and more. The open-air vessel also has indoor seating, with snacks, drinks and cocktails sold onboard. It is wheelchair accessible and suits first-time visitors, families and military-history fans.

“It’s was so fun and informative ! You have to do it at least once in your life for the experience! Highly recommended.”

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7.San Diego Harbor Cruise on the largest Catamaran in San Diego!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 36 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $55

Spend about two and a half hours aboard Triton, San Diego’s largest catamaran, cruising past the USS Midway, Maritime Museum, Portside Pier, Coronado, and beneath the Coronado Bridge. Expect spacious seating, an onboard cocktail bar, open bay views, and a relaxed pace. Commentary may be limited, so bring your own curiosity and a snack.

“Nice smooth ride, good for all ages. There is no food available, highly recommend bringing a nice lunch lunch. Also there is no commentary… so it’s really just a ride around the bay.”

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8.1 Hour GPS Guided Scooter Tour: Harbor/Gaslamp Quarter

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 23 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $92

You drive your own electric scooter on a private, GPS-guided route through San Diego. Expect a short orientation, helmet, and stops near Little Italy, Seaport Village, the USS Midway, Balboa Park, Old Town, Petco Park, and the harbor. Kelvin and the on-site team can help you get comfortable before you set off.

“This was such a fun sightseeing experience. First off the person who helped me, his name was Kelvin, he was patient and very nice, super helpful and explained everything in great detail. I was starting to feel like I wouldn’t be able to follow the instructions cause it seemed a bit overwhelming, he reassured me I would be ok, and if not I can return the go cart and not have to finish the tour. I really enjoyed this and will definitely do it again, I’m thinking I’ll upgrade to the electric go car. And I will definitely recommend this to all my friends and family.”

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9.1Hr GPS Self Guided Scooter Tour: Harbor/Gaslamp Quarter

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 10 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $63

Ride an electric scooter for about an hour on a private, self-guided route through San Diego. After a short orientation, GPS leads you past Little Italy, Seaport Village, Balboa Park, Old Town, the USS Midway, Petco Park, and other major sights. Helmets are included, but you must be at least 15, carry photo ID, and use a major credit card.

“Best experience ever!! I was super scared at first. Especially because this was my first time drive anything that fast, but after a bit practice, I had the time of my life. It had me excited the whole time, not once was I bored.”

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10.San Diego Gaslamp Harbor Segway Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · from $90

Glide through San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, past Petco Park and the Convention Center, then along the Embarcadero to Seaport Village, the USS Midway, and views of Coronado Bridge. Guide Bridgette provides local stories, safety help, water, helmets, and photo stops. Minimum age is 15.

“Bridget is awesome, she personalized our experience. We had grandparents and teenagers with us and they all could do it”

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11.Historic Bay Cruise Aboard 1914 Pilot boat with General Admission

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 8 reviews · 45 minutes (approx.) · from $34Best value

Board a historic 1914 pilot boat at the Maritime Museum of San Diego for a narrated 45-minute loop around the bay. You’ll see aircraft carriers, Coronado, the bridge, naval stations, shipyards, downtown, and the USS Midway from the water. Admission to the museum and historic fleet is included.

“Many different types (steam, sail, ferry, pilot, swift) ships to explore with the feeling of being in a floating piece of history. Much exercise for active and mobile people”

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12.San Diego Harbor Cruise: 2.5 hour Catamaran Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 5 reviews · 2h 30m · from $60

Start at 2700 Shelter Island Drive for a 2.5-hour cruise aboard Triton Charters’ 75-foot catamaran. You’ll have plentiful seating, front bean bag chairs, two small bathrooms, a 13-seat bar, a dance floor, and a captain, crew, and bartender on board. Drinks and food cost extra.

“War in Ordnung soweit. Es wurde sehr viel Alcohol konsumiert. Hat allerdings nichts mit der Besatzung zu tun. Fand 2.5 Stunden zu lang. Ansonsten soweit ok”

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