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Long Beach: Whale Watching Cruise with Aquarium Guides

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.63 (566 reviews) 79% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/16

Duration2h–2h 30m

GroupUp to 120

Audio guideEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Whale watching in Long Beach with expert guides and real Pacific moments

You’ll set out from Long Beach past historic ships and into open Pacific waters with expert guides from the Aquarium of the Pacific. Watch for whales, dolphins, sea lions—even rare birds—while enjoying comfortable seating inside or out. The thrill of spotting your first spout or dolphin pod is unforgettable; you might even find yourself grinning at strangers or tearing up at something wild and unexpected.

2h–2h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Depart from Long Beach harbor
Pass by the Queen Mary ship
Travel into the Pacific Ocean
Search for whales and marine life
Pass by Aquarium of the Pacific
Pass by Long Beach Cruise Terminal
Pass by Spruce Goose historic site
Pass by largest commercial port
Pass by large breakwater
Return to Long Beach harbor

The Experience

We pulled away from the Long Beach Cruise Terminal, passing right by the Queen Mary — honestly, I didn’t realize how massive that ship was until we glided past her hull. The morning air had that salty, slightly metallic smell you only get near big ports. Our guide from the Aquarium of the Pacific waved us over to the side as we picked up speed, pointing out pelicans skimming so close to the water I thought they’d crash. I remember my niece asking if whales ever come this close to shore — our captain just grinned and said, “Wait and see.”

The boat moved smoother than I expected (I’m not great with waves), and there was plenty of room inside if you wanted a break from the wind. Out in the open Pacific, everything felt huge and kind of quiet — except when someone spotted a spout in the distance and everyone rushed outside. We saw dolphins first, hundreds of them weaving around us like it was no big deal. The guide explained which species we might see depending on season (gray whales now, maybe blue whales in summer), but honestly I lost track because I was too busy trying to catch everything on camera. Didn’t do them justice.

At one point, a sea lion popped up right next to us — just his whiskery face and those big eyes before he dove again. There were families everywhere on board, some kids pressed against the windows, others running around outside yelling every time they saw something move in the water. One woman next to me started crying when a humpback surfaced; she said she’d waited her whole life for that. It made me feel weirdly lucky just being there.

The ride back felt slower somehow, like nobody wanted it to end yet. We passed by the Queen Mary again (someone joked she looked jealous of our little boat), then drifted into port with hair tangled from salt spray and way too many blurry photos on my phone. I still think about that moment when everything went quiet except for the sound of a whale surfacing — it’s hard to explain unless you’ve heard it yourself.

What’s included

Your day includes a 2–2.5 hour whale watching cruise departing from Long Beach Cruise Terminal aboard custom-built catamarans with low-emission engines for minimal impact on marine life. You’ll be guided by seasoned captains and expert educators from the Aquarium of the Pacific while enjoying both indoor climate-controlled seating and outdoor viewing decks—plus multiple restrooms onboard for comfort throughout your trip.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Harbor Breeze Cruises