Oceanside Adventures

A Birthday Tradition Turned Unforgettable My family and I booked a whale watching excursion with Oceanside Adventures for my birthday last year. Even though we didn’t spot any whales on that first trip, we were treated to beautiful views, playful dolphins, and curious seals. The ride itself was peaceful and scenic, just a bit chilly out on the water. The crew gave us “whale checks,” allowing us to return anytime for free, which was such a thoughtful gesture. We decided to try again this year for my birthday, and it was absolutely worth the wait. Not only did we see even more dolphins, swimming and jumping right alongside the boat, but we were lucky enough to watch a gray whale having the time of his life. He fluked, spyhopped, and breached over and over again, giving everyone on board an unforgettable show. The crew was superb: knowledgeable, friendly, and clearly passionate about what they do. The boat now has both indoor and outdoor seating, which makes the trip comfortable in any weather, and there were snacks available for anyone who needed a little something during the ride. It was a wonderful adventure from start to finish and made my birthday feel truly special. Oceanside Adventures has earned our loyalty, and we’re grateful for the memories they helped create.

Nice weather. Great boat! Seas pretty calm and we spotted Gray headed north and followed most of trip watching as it surfaced about every 3-4 minutes for a gulp then back down. Saw fluke once! Great trip! Great guides.

We loved our whale watching excursion! The boat was spacious, clean, and fast. The crew and captain were courteous, helpful, and knowledgeable. Even though we didn't see any whales that day, we saw a HUGE pod of dolphins. The crew provided lots of interesting information about the dolphins. The dolphins themselves were in the mood to perform that morning, so that was a plus.

My group went on January 19th and it was amazing! The dolphins were playing around the boat and we were lucky enough to see three whales. The crew was knowledgeable and shared great information with us. The captain knew where to take us and kept us and the whales safe. Great tour and we were lucky to have fantastic weather and seas.

No, didn't see any whales, but saw some dolphins(I only took videos of them and can't post them) and some sea lions. That said, it was still a great time out on the water on a nice boat with some other folks. Hopefully will see some whales the next time we come out to Oceanside.

My story starts bad! I spent an hour looking for a parking spot. I wish I knew about the parking lot on the other side of RR tracks. Once I got on board the Iboat I cheered up. The crew was very friendly and knowledgeable. The captain knew just where to find the whales. We saw both sperm and fin whales. My wife and I had a great time and would recommend it highly.

Was a fun adventure and boat ride! If course they can't control the activity of whales or dolphins but it was great that we got to see a few during our ride. It would be great if Oceanside Adventures advertised the cruise as both whale and dolphin (maybe we missed that part), but it was really fun. Also, depending on what time of year you go matters! The staff was courteous and friendly and we had a great time!

It exceeded all my expectations. The crew was very friendly and knowledgeable. And you can tell that these guides are conscious and smart. The amenities were awesome. The organization was superb. It was a great time. We saw hundreds of dolphins and 3 whales. Amazing.

Oceanside Adventures has truly changed my life. Being on the ocean and experiencing the marine wildlife has helped me heal trauma as well as grief and loss. The crew and Captains are all professional, extremely knowledgeable and accommodating. I recommend the Oceanside Adventures for everyone. They are an incredible organization that respects the ocean and marine life, as well as safety. Experiencing the dolphins and whales has been a religious experience for me. Every time I go on the boat it feels like my nervous system is repaired as well as I feel connected to something greater than myself. Also, the NALA is very clean and comfortable and offers excellent viewing of the marine life.

What a great day for whale watching! The crew is amazing! Ivy, Tekon, Saxon, Chris. Hope I got all the spelling right! I've been on this boat and it's not always a guarantee as nature is nature but today was perfect. Calm seas, thousands...yes thousands of dolphin and a dozen whales. Mostly humpback but we saw two finback as well. So rad. Can't wait until next time!

Although this was a sad occasion the crew of Oceanside Adventures made it lovely. First off the boat was really nice. It had covered seating as well as seating on the bow. The boat was clean and it also came with snacks for our 25 minute ride out to sea and back. Not sure if he was the first mate or the captain and I'm probably spelling his name wrong (Tolcan) was super attentive to our group. The ride was what could be expected on the ocean. A super plus was all the dolphins that we saw. This crew and the young lady at the sign in booth made this a very nice family event. If you are in the market to charter a boat, this is definitely a company I would look into.

Went on a holiday boat ride with Santa and enjoyed every minute! Very nice boats with really friendly crew and staff.

Such a beautiful evening for a wine tasting cruise! This company partners with Beach House Winery to host such a cruise--check website for times/tix. I do get the comments about the crew mostly interacting with each other, and in this case, the winery folks and it was also someone's birthday (George!) within their inner circle. But I was able to mingle with a lot of people and someone had made birthday cupcakes (made with merlot!), and they were offered to everyone and it really all added to the experience. I generally do my whale watching in Santa Barbara, but I will try it with this group at my next opportunity! I also want to visit the winery. Thanks for a fun time!

We have used Oceanside Adventures yearly and have always had an amazing time. We have seen dolphin pods, whales, and just enjoyed our adventures. Great family fun!

It was easy to book our whale watching and dolphin viewing adventure. The process was seamless in terms of location and directions to parking, etc. Chris was a fantastic captain. Given his heads up anytime we should be on the lookout for wildlife in the ocean highly recommend.

Oceanside adventures is our go to for whale watching in San Diego for the last nine years. Incredible captain, crew, and boat!

My family and I did the Christmas Harbor Lights ride and it was beautiful seeing all the boats lit up for Christmas. The weather was perfect and we enjoyed the Christmas music on the boat. I definitely recommend this for a memorable way to enjoy the holidays.

A lovely voyage, not too many folks, sea lions barked as we headed out. We soon spotted a lone Humpback and escorted it to a small kelp island, where it stirred up the avian occupants and flipped its tail several times. AND, to the Captain's credit, we chased down and relieved the ocean of a despicable mylar balloon! A lovely way to spend an afternoon! Thanks again!

Went out yesterday. Friendly crew. The Nala is solid, clean, and provides a smooth ride. Great views. We did not see whales as we are kind of at end of one season and before the next. Not unexpected. However, our common dolphin encounter and just being out on the water was a great time. We will come back in November to January for sure!!

The boat is nice and well kept, but the tour is a crap shoot. You may or .at not see any Wales or dolphins, and for this reason there should be amenities, like music and food. The food is only grab bag size store bought snacks, that we had to buy. We rode 2hrs on the boat with only the sound of the engine running loudly. Once was enough for me, no referral.

I was invited by a friend on this adventure. Although we didn't see any whales on this ride we saw pods of Common Dolphins frolicking. What a sight to see these beautiful creatures play in the deep blue. This experience was a pleasant beginning with the check-in at the booth. Because we were part of a group we had to wait for everyone to be present so that we could all head out to the vessel after signing a waiver. Although we were part of a group there were still room for other's that had made a reservation. After boarding and sailing off, our captain introduce himself and the crew and gave the run down of the tour. The tour is about 2 hours. A single restroom is available on the boat. There are light snacks available for purchase. Outside liquor is prohibited but they do have some for purchase on board. The boat itself is spacious with front (uncovered) of the boat. The seating along the sides are covered above, so provided good shade. It did get a little chilly when the sun was on the other side of the boat. I saw sweaters being passed by family members. We sat towards the back. Dress accordingly at least a sweater to take the chill off. It was a smooth ride, no rough waves. The two young crew graciously answered my many question's. I would definitely suggest this business to friends and family. I will return in the future.

Great experience. Great crew. Super fun. Would go again. Ocean gets windy, so if you get cold easily, bring appropriate clothes.

Love these guys! Definitely worth it and its absolutely beautiful out there! There was literally, HUNDREDS of dolphins and they hung out with us for most of the 2 hour trip. This was my second time using them and will definitely be coming back the next time I'm in Cali.

What a great day for whale watching. We saw lots of dolphins and a blue whale. The crew was awesome.

Staff was very nice and friendly. For the first 1 and half hour, no whales or dolphins were seen, that is nature and can be expected. What looked like a bust, the captain finally found a mother and her baby humpback whale! He shut the engine off, and the whale was at our side of the boat. We were able to take great photos and video of the whales. Because it took so long to find whales, and there was not an afternoon cruise planned for the company, Captain extended our tour beyond the 2hr limit. Highly recommended Oceanside Adventures.

Oceanside Adventures rocks! This was our second time out with them. Staff is super friendly and courteous. Excellent bar drinks. They really go out of their way to give you a great time!

Incredible afternoon. With the Oceanside Adv crew! They were polite, friendly and knowledgeable! The boat was clean and we felt safe. We were so lucky to see four fin whales (second largest whales in the world) and two types of dolphins! One of the whales Swam under our boat. It was so neat! Fantastic fun with our family!

Went for a whale watching trip today spur of the moment. Had a fabulous day. Went on The Nala, which is a new vessel. Great layout and plenty of room for everyone to have a great view. Plenty of shade or sun available. The crew was very laid back and great to be around. They made sure you had everything you wanted and was able to answer every question people had. This is not a trip with someone narrating the whole time. It was a wonder day on the water. We did not see a whale, but we saw A LOT of dolphins and a sunfish. It's a great way to spend a couple of hours l

Best boat trip ever!!! Went out on a whale watching tour with Oceanside Adventure luxury cruises and saw the most amazing pod of hundreds of dolphins all around us. It was incredible and a memory I will never forget

We did a 9:30am cruise on June 23rd. Not even a half hour out of the harbor we saw 2 blue whales. Got to see them do 4 deep dives which was awesome. One of them was huge. We also saw a sunfish and crazy enough we even saw a shark jump out of the water. The only thing we didn't see were dolphins but we've seen those on every other boat trip so that wasn't really sad. Chris was our captain and even he seemed surprised that we had such great luck on our tour. We had a great time and would highly recommend.

Unfortunately we didn't see any whales, but we did get to see a huge pod of dolphins all around the boat. Only saw something like that on TV. The boat was very clean. I would definitely go again.

This was a great whale watching cruise and I honestly can't wait to do it again. The staff was super knowledgeable & friendly. Bring cash to tip or have a little drink.

I've gone whale watching with Oceanside Adventures more than a handful of times and every single time has been fantastic. We've seen countless dolphins, whales & sunfish. The crew has always been super sweet and knowledgeable. Only once did we go on a tour without seeing any dolphins/whales and we were able to come back another for free as a result.

I've been coming twice a year for years on the same free pass (if they think you don't see enough, you get to come back), but today I'm happy to report, I lost that perk (though I will get 25% off my next trip!). Everyone's mileage will vary on these tours, but me personally, even if I don't see anything, I'm just happy to be out. I learned today that dolphins don't have a set mating season, and will mate just for fun. Hence the babies swimming about all year long. I saw three species of dolphin this trip! And you can see the differences in the way they look, in my photos (which is why I posted so many instead of my usual collages). Pro tip: bring cash to tip! These guys are knowledgeable and passionate about what they do, and work so hard for us. I'm mostly including this tidbit so I remember to do so myself. PS- check the videos on here for a swordfish I saw one trip! Super cool.

I have been going whale watching with Oceanside adventures multiple times a year since they opened. The staff is so great! The last few times going I have had Captain Chris and Saxon, both of which are amazing and always provide a great time!

Best whale watching tour I've ever been on! We saw multiple blue whales and had a great view from all sides of the boat. Shannon was very helpful checking us in and Saxon was very knowledgeable of the ocean and whales. Everyone was very friendly and accommodating. Clean, new catamaran boat was large and comfortable so no one experienced seasickness. We'll definitely be back!

The crew is always super friendly and knowledgeable and if there is wildlife to be found they are going to deliver! We go year after year to enjoy the ride and beautiful Oceanside weather. This year 2024 we were surrounded by 800+ dolphins! Thanks for the amazing day for me and my girls!

Absolutely best experience we could have imagined. This is only the 3rd yelp review I have ever given over 15 plus years but it was that amazing of an experience. We got to see a momma dolphin help her baby take its first breathes, tons of large fish, and more then one school of dolphins, the last group had upwards of 500 dolphins. I not only have sent their info to everyone I know but will most certainly take the tour again next time I am visiting the area and can't wait. Fantastic experience!

Take a fun adventure on the beautiful Oceanside coast. As a Carlsbad resident I was looking for the perfect way to spend the morning of my wife's birthday and Oceanside Adventure did not disappoint. Beautiful views, tons of dolphins and a great crew made for a wonderful experience. Highly recommended for locals and tourists alike.

This was a beautiful experience. The ship was clean, safe and very comfortable, the staff were great and it was a wonderful experience to be in the middle of hundreds of dolphin and gorgeous seabirds. Mother Nature is unpredictable and we did not see a whale on this trip. However, the gorgeous ocean, fresh ocean air, the frolicking dolphin and other creatures we saw all made for a memorable day. One of the things that I liked best about this excursion, which departed from Oceanside at 5:00 pm, was that there was no music playing or anything else to distract from the joys of nature and the participants on the excursion enjoying their time with each other.

I had such a great time with Oceanside Adventures, so much so I went back a second time! Sadly the first time we didn't see whales but it wasn't really the season. We saw sooooo many dolphins though. The crew was also fabulous!

My first whale watching tour and we saw a blue whale!! The largest animal on earth! What a treat and apparently not a common siting when whale watching around here. Even the boat captain seemed pretty excited. We also saw a giant sunfish...I've never seen one before and was amazed by its unique appearance. Also got to observe a very large pod of common dolphins...striking color, graceful and fast. So it was a very successful tour and I would recommend everyone go at least once in their lifetime. The guide/captain was very informative and the ticketing/ boarding process was a breeze. The boat felt safe/secure/stable, minimal rocking but it was a pretty calm sea...even glassy at times. There is a bathroom on board as well as a small snack bar (I didn't use either). You are free to walk/sit/stand anywhere, there is some shelter from the wind inside behind clear vinyl sheeting. I was up front the entire time and the wind was not bad at all. Definitely dress in layers, secure your hat, wear shoes with traction. Other things to pack...sunscreen/water/chapstick/sunglasses/binoculars/camera.

I went on the tour with my family and we all loved it! I highly recommend! It's amazing to see the huge pods of dolphins and other sea life. The kids and myself also enjoyed the little educational segment presented by staff as the boat took off from the harbor. Awesome staff, awesome activity, & they have drinks and snacks available for a minimal fee! On another note, I'm that person that get dizzy on swings and trampolines and gets car sick easily. I took my non-drowsy Dramamine before we headed out and I was 100% fine. Some other people onboard audibly were not... The waves definitely move the boat up and down the entire time (but not aggressively).

I've been living in Oceanside for over 5 years now and I've enjoyed my experiences while whale-watching with Oceanside Adventures. I've been out on the ocean on 3 separate trips and each one was a pleasure. On my very first trip, I was fortunate enough to see dolphins, seals and some whales. This was such an awesome adventure being able to witness such massively majestic creatures breach in their own habitat. The crew know their craft and have good experience with sea creatures and I like all the fun facts and knowledge gained on these trips. The boat ride alone is peaceful and it is calming just being in the open water being able to look back on Oceanside. If soloing, it makes for great self-reflection time and reconnecting with your thoughts. Kids will love it just because SEA ANIMALS!! Definitely a fantastic family outing! Pros: The vessel is spacious and safe. The crew is friendly and knowledgeable. The prices are affordable and if you check Groupon, you'll probably find a discount. There's beverages & snacks for sale. Cons: Not guaranteed to see whales on every trip. Although you will most likely see dolphins and if you're lucky see a playful pod! One thing that would be cool is if passengers were incentivize to take return trips if they didn't see any whales on their voyage and could have an automatic 10% on their next booking. Overall, I recommend taking a ride out with Oceanside Adventures and enjoying the sea and don't forget to keep your camera battery charged full

This is my third time going on Oceanside adventures over the course of twelve years or so, and I just love it. I have yet to see a whale, but I've never not seen hundreds of dolphins- and the tour guides are so lively, knowledgeable, and fun. The banter and jokes don't feel canned; they are all genuine human beings that just enjoy being around other human beings. We giggled the whole time. They're also supreme customer servants. My daughter was cuddled up shivering at one point and one worker hurried to bring her a jacket. My nine year old son kept up a steady stream of questions and another worker never tired of answering them. Hugely impressive and applause worthy. And the dolphins, of course, get a standing ovation! There's nothing quite as magical as hundreds of dolphins jumping along mere feet below, joyfully catching the wake.

OMG I'd give these guys 10 stars if I could! Chris and Cindy took us out Wednesday to follow (at a respectful distance) a pod of FIVE grey whales! It was a glorious day we will never forget. It was our 2nd time with Oceanside Adventures; this time we brought my sister-in-law and niece. They adored it! We loved being close enough to HEAR these magnificent creatures as they were breathing (in set rhythms), fluking, diving, repeating. Chris explained it as we went. Cindy fished two metallic balloons out of the water to prevent whale injury/death...she said that was 5 total balloons for the day. It was nice they do this good deed for these spectacular creatures. Thanks for the absolutely unforgettable day!!!

We had a great time on the whale and dolphin cruise! We saw dolphins, blue whales, a humpback whale, a mako shark, and a bunch of sea lions. But even if we didn't see that much it would have still been a great time. Chris and Saxon were very knowledgeable and told us where to look but also taught us about the animals. They answered all of our questions and were a blast! Drinks and snacks were available on board (cash only) which we also enjoyed. The instructions in the conformation email were perfect. We followed them and had no issues with parking and checking in. Would recommend this tour to anyone. We are already planning on going back and bringing more friends.

Best whale watching trip I've ever experienced. Saw 10 whales! Chris and T were awesome!

We had such an amazing time! The captain and crew were super knowledgeable and friendly. We saw SO many dolphins! If you are ever in Oceanside, this is a must!

Saw at least 5 whales and a dolphin, wasn't that expensive and wasn't overly crowded. Definitely worth the trip. Also booked on the website, easy

This is our go to place whenever we have guests from out of town come to visit. The crew is incredibly knowledgeable and friendly; the captain keeps you informed of what is ahead. On our many trips out, we have seen dolphins, sea lions, and humpback whales. Even on the trips where no whale is seen, you can be assured of dolphin sightings and not just one hundreds. It's an easy check-in and both vessels are comfortable and well equipped. Remember to bring a jacket...it can get cool at sea and enough cash for any snacks or drinks you want. And please don't forget to tip. These folks work hard to make it a pleasant 2 hours! So don't be cheap!

Amazing afternoon with Captain Chris and deckhand Tikhon watching a young humpback whale in glassy seas. The captain even stopped and turned the boat so everyone could watch the epic winter sunset. Boat was clean, crew friendly and they even have drinks and snacks for sale.

Really great crew that made our cruise adventure lots of fun! Highly recommend! We would do it again for sure!

Chris, TConn and Samson were amazing! Always patient with our never ending questions. We were treated very well! We saw super pods of dolphins on 2 of our 3 trips! We will be back!

Trip went swimmingly--tickets easy to buy online, boarding was organized--OA doesn't overcrowd the boat. We enjoyed Nala, their new catamaran--while we didn't see whales, bottlenose dolphins and common dolphins loved racing the boat, and swimming in the open center of the craft. It was a joy to see these super fast, intelligent creatures close up. There were several young calves with the bottlenose, and the antics of the common dolphins were wonderful. Swimming upside down, and jumping into the air.... Crew were great, and overall experience excellent.

So worth the price. Nala was a treat to go on. Though we didn't see whales we saw and were surrounded by a superpod of dolphins which was amazing! About 800 of them by the Captain's estimate. Really friendly staff on board, clean boat, nice ride! Get there extra early for parking.​

Took our family of 5 (out for whale watching this morning and we all had a blast. We saw 1 mink wale, 2 fin whales and lots of dolphins. Captain and Crew (Saxson) were very friendly and knowledgeable.