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Maritime Museum of San Diego: Historic Tall Ships & Bay Sail

Board the world's oldest active sailing ship, the 1863 iron-hulled Star of India, and set sail on a narrated historic bay cruise aboard a tall ship — a rare living history experience on the waters that shaped San Diego.

What to expect

Step aboard the Star of India, circumnavigating the world 21 times under sail and the oldest iron-hulled merchant sailing ship still afloat. Explore the decks of a Soviet submarine, an America's Cup yacht, and a 1904 steam ferryboat in a fleet unlike any other museum in the world. Then join a two-hour sailing excursion aboard the tall ship Californian, California's official tall ship, as crew hoist canvas sails and navigate San Diego Bay with the city's skyline as your backdrop — a genuinely majestic afternoon. The museum's curators deliver narration that brings each vessel's story vividly to life.

Book it
Maritime Museum of San Diego General Admission Ticket
$28 per person
Run by Maritime Museum of San Diego
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Good to know

The Maritime Museum is located at 1492 N. Harbor Drive — a 5-minute walk from the B Street Cruise Terminal, making this the most conveniently positioned excursion on this list. Sailing excursions are scheduled on specific dates; book directly at sdmaritime.org well in advance. General museum admission allows as long as you wish aboard the historic fleet. Check tide and sailing schedule times against your all-aboard.

Sail there

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

Azamara · Azamara Quest
7 nights · calls at San Diego
from $2,349
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Explora Journeys · EXPLORA III
7 nights · calls at San Diego
from $4,350
View sailing →
Oceania · Oceania Vista
15 nights · calls at San Diego
from $6,247
View sailing →
Silversea · Silver Dawn
18 nights · calls at San Diego
from $13,750
View sailing →
See all cruises to San Diego →

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