City Cruises San Diego: Best Of The Bay Scenic Harbor Tour

Take a 1.5 hour scenic cruise through the harbor of San Diego. Sightsee along the harbor and take in the scenery from the water on this boat tour.

Overview

This is a 1.5-hour narrated loop around San Diego Bay aboard an open-air City Cruises yacht, departing from and returning to 970 N Harbor Dr. The boat glides past a long roll call of waterfront landmarks: the Star of India, the USS Midway Museum, Seaport Village, Petco Park, Shelter Island, Point Loma, the Hotel Del Coronado and the Coronado Bridge, plus naval installations including North Island Naval Air Station and the Naval Amphibious Base Coronado. Passengers also pass the Maritime Museum's historic ships and Cabrillo National Monument from the water.

The crew narrates throughout, covering local and military history, current habitat restoration work for the bay's marine life, and facts about the ships docked along the shore. Reviewers consistently praise the commentary, calling the captain knowledgeable and the guides terrific, and several mention how close the route runs to the active naval bases. Keep a lookout for wildlife too: blue herons, pelicans and sea lions all appear on the bay.

The tour suits travellers who want a short sightseeing circuit with skyline views and naval spectacle. One reviewer described indoor seating that let an elderly companion sit by a window while others stayed out on deck. Snacks, drinks and cocktails can be bought onboard, and the cruise is non-smoking with no outside food or drink permitted.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at 970 N Harbor DrCheck in at the departure point on North Harbor Drive. There is no hotel pickup for this tour.
2. Downtown waterfront pass-bysThe yacht passes the Star of India, the Maritime Museum's historic ships, the USS Midway Museum, Seaport Village and Petco Park, with skyline views along the way.
3. Bay landmarks and naval fleetThe route continues past the San Diego International Airport approach, Tom Ham's Lighthouse, the San Diego Yacht Club and ships of the U.S. Navy Surface Fleet docked along the shore.
4. Point Loma and CabrilloThe boat passes Shelter Island, Point Loma and Cabrillo National Monument, with narration on the bay's history and marine habitat restoration.
5. Coronado side of the bayPassing Naval Air Station North Island, the Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, the Hotel Del Coronado and the Coronado Bay Bridge.
6. Return to 970 N Harbor DrThe cruise loops back to the original departure point after roughly 1.5 hours on the water.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help you get the most from the cruise.

• Open-air boat. The vessel is open-air, so dress for the weather on the water. One reviewer suggests taking the tour when the sun is out.
• Food and drink. No outside food or drink is allowed onboard. Snacks, drinks and cocktails are available for purchase during the cruise instead.
• Pace and comfort. This is a seated sightseeing cruise, and the ride was described as comfortable by reviewers. One traveller noted the option to move between indoor and outdoor sides of the boat for photos, which worked for an elderly companion who preferred to sit by a window.
• Photography. Bring a camera. The route offers views of the skyline, the Coronado Bridge and naval ships, and one reviewer described taking pictures from the deck.
• Seating with your group. Guests wishing to sit together must be on the same booking. If you have already made separate bookings, contact City Cruises ahead of time to be seated together.
• Finding the boat. One reviewer flagged unclear signage for where to board as the main snag. Allow a little extra time at 970 N Harbor Dr to locate the correct vessel before departure.

Common issues. The cruise is non-smoking and outside food or drink is not permitted, so plan around the onboard purchase options. The open-air design means weather matters, and one reviewer suggests taking the tour when the sun is out. Another noted the boarding signage could be better, so it pays to arrive early and confirm the right dock. Guests on separate bookings who want to sit together need to contact City Cruises in advance.

Common Questions