During the pandemic, the best activities to do are outdoor activities, and one of the best experiences you can have during social distancing with your family is Whale Watching with Newport Beach Whale Watching & Dolphin Cruise.
About the Cruise
See giant blue whales, finback whales, gray whales and many more in their natural habitat at this awesome whale watching cruise! With one the largest marine protected parks just outside of Newport Bay, whales and dolphin of all types can be viewed as soon as you leave the bay.
You and your kids will be amazed by the beauty of the sea, and the giant whales and dolphins you will encounter on the Cruise. It is absolutely a breathtaking experience to come so close to these wonders of the sea, and an extraordinary
The cruises are 2 to 2.5 hours. The ship has two levels, one with indoor seating and one outdoor on the second level. The sittings are limited to allow for social distancing so we recommend to get there early so that you can get a good spot. On the first level, there is a bar where you can purchase alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and snacks.
We also recommend taking your binoculars if you want to watch the dolphins and the whales as they approach the ship. Don't forget to wear sunblock and your sun hat if you have a sensitive skin.
Use promo code ‘mommy50’ in the ‘promo code/voucher code’ box and it will take 50% off your entire whale watching order for whale watching in Newport Beach.
Health & Safety Protocols
For your safety and the safety of the crew the following procedures will be followed:
Disinfectant solution will be available on the vessel for public use.
Passengers will be required to wear a face covering.
The Crew is required to wear face masks and will be provided with a non-medical grade covering.
Loading will be executed by using space marks, to allow for distancing between guests, thus avoiding crowded lines.
Vessel capacities have been limited to avoid large gatherings and to provide social distancing.
Passenger flow on the vessel, will be guided to avoid crowds.
Indoor areas will be monitored to limit the amount of people that can be inside at any one time.
After each trip the vessel is cleaned again and sanitized.
Getting There
If you are using navigation device be sure to configure your settings to avoid tolls and ferries. Failure to do so may lead you on to Balboa Island which is across the harbor from the whale watching location.
All reservations are released 30 minutes prior to departure, so you should arrive one hour prior to departure to obtain your tickets/boarding pass. Also if there are multiple parties/orders attempting to get on the same vessel, everyone must please check in together.
Departure Location
Davey's Locker, 400 Main St., Newport Beach, CA 92661.
Parking
Parking is best found at the valet parking structure located at 309 Palm St. Newport Beach, CA 92661 (corner of Adams Street & E Bay Avenue). Click here for rates. On the weekends the parking structure at 309 Palm St is also best option although if it is full, you can also try parking at the Balboa Pier Municipal Parking Lot located at 1 Balboa Pier Newport Beach, CA 92661.
Be prepared to pay for parking at both locations. Also oversized vehicles should use Balboa Pier Parking.
