← Long Beach cruise guide
wildlife · Long Beach

Guided Whale Watching: Blue Whales & Dolphins at Sea

Sail into the warm Pacific feeding grounds aboard a dedicated whale-watch vessel to encounter blue whales — the largest animals on Earth — alongside pods of leaping dolphins. A profoundly moving, bucket-list experience on the open ocean.

What to expect

You'll cruise offshore into waters frequented by blue, humpback, and fin whales, particularly prolific June through October. The onboard naturalist identifies species, explains feeding behaviors, and shares conservation insights. Common dolphin superpods of hundreds sometimes flank the bow. The open sundeck and interior cabin allow you to choose your vantage point for every sighting.

Book it
Long Beach: Whale and Dolphin Watching Cruise
$48 per person
Book it →

Good to know

Tours run approximately 2.5–3 hours. Depart Rainbow Harbor — a short walk or rideshare from the cruise terminal. Morning departures offer calmer seas. Dress in layers; ocean temperatures can be 10°F cooler than shore. Pre-book online as peak-season tours fill quickly.

Sail there

Luxury cruises that call at Long Beach — book through us, the fare is identical and your concierge stays on your side.

Seabourn · Seabourn Quest
31 nights · calls at Long Beach
from $11,474
View sailing →
Carnival · Carnival Radiance
5 nights · calls at Long Beach
from $197
View sailing →
Carnival · Carnival Panorama
6 nights · calls at Long Beach
from $256
View sailing →
Carnival · Carnival Legend
6 nights · calls at Long Beach
from $620
View sailing →
See all cruises to Long Beach →

More to do in Long Beach

← Back to the full Long Beach guide

⚓ Your bucket-list concierge

Doing the whole cruise?

Tell us your sailing and we'll send the bucket list for every port — the operator to call, real prices, and an honest verdict on each ship tour.

We send the plan to your account’s own address — never to one typed into a box. Free, and Google works.