On the Water
2 hours
Recommended by 93% of travelers
93% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$64
per adult
Oceanside Adventures
Oceanside Adventures
4.5
Boat ToursEco ToursPrivate ToursDolphin & Whale WatchingNature & Wildlife Tours
10:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Full view
About
Come out with us for an AWE inspiring Whale and Dolphin Watching adventure. Trips are 2 hours and great for families, couples, private parties, and corporate events. Our top rated adventures are perfect for anyone and everyone that loves the ocean or the wildlife we may encounter. The Oceanside Adventure is a 50 foot beautifully equipped one level fast Catamaran built by Cooper Marine in Florida. You will find our Kiosk conveniently located next to the historic Oceanside Harbor Lighthouse. FREE parking in designated area. We look forward to having you aboard soon!
Oceanside, California
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,884 reviews
Excellent
1,558
Very good
227
Average
57
Poor
24
Terrible
18
nadinemwh
Vista, CA1 contribution
Jul 2020
really appreciated that the Captain took his time to find several dolphins playing. The dolphins played along the side of the boat and in front for a spectacular view. it was amazing. the family had so much fun and was grateful we were able to get many pictures. The Captain interacted with us via speaker with much history about dolphins and sea lions. Will do this again soon. very clean on the boat and had snacks for the kids. wonderful experience.
Written August 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We appreciate your kind words and sharing what you experienced on our cruises. We look forward to you visiting again!
Written August 2, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Nardin
Temecula, CA24 contributions
Sep 2020 • Family
Let me start by saying that we didn't expect to see whales - I had been reading reviews that were posted around the time we were going and many hadn't seen whales, only dolphins, so we were expecting to see dolphins. We were originally scheduled to sail the day before, but poor water conditions postponed our adventure and we booked the next day. Water conditions still weren't ideal, but safe enough for us to go out and we felt comfortable that the crew knew what they were doing. It was foggy, but we were still able to see a lot of dolphins! They sailed further out than they expected because we couldn't find the dolphins right away, but when we did find them, we were able to get really up close. I wish we had spent more time actually watching the dolphins - it was probably about 20 minutes max, but it was still nice. Also - for COVID safety, they reduced the number of passengers by half of their full capacity (I believe we were 20 passengers total) and they give you sanitizer as you board.
Written September 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with others and we are so happy you had a fun time! Thank you so much and we look forward to seeing you again!
Written September 20, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
karenmcintire
Hayden, ID1 contribution
Jan 2020 • Friends
I was visiting my sister in oceanside and we decided to go whale watching. We booked out adventure and had an amazing time. The staff is professional and courteous. When waiting to get on the boat they saw that one of us was in a wheelchair, not only did they offer to let us aboard first, they helped us with the wheelchair (it was a steep incline to and from the boat). The Captain did everything in his power to assure we saw something, even running a little over our time. We did see some sea lions and Dolphins. He was able to get us into a pod of over 100 dolphins, that was Amazing!!! They even felt bad that we didn't get to see any whales that they gave us a coupon for a return trip (which we would have done anyways). Great People and a Great time!!
Written January 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for both your patronage and for posting such generous comments regarding our business. We work very hard to ensure that we please wonderful customers like you. Thank you for validating that we are accomplishing that goal.
Written January 17, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
CHernanigans
1 contribution
Aug 2020 • Family
We didn't see any whales. That's understandable. We did see dolphins which made up for it. I feel children like my 2 year should be free or of lesser charge than an adult admission. Other than that it was a nice 30 min or an hour out at sea. Might go back cause they gave me a coupon for our next trip. I really want to see whales lol
Written August 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review and we are happy you enjoyed the 2 hour cruise! Due to the limited capacity allowed on our boat due to Covid 19, we have changed our pricing to General Admission only, infants are $10 (under 2 years old). As soon as we are able to run at full capacity we will start to offer our tiered pricing once again. We hope you can use your 25% off coupon on your next visit!
Written September 3, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Robert L
Guelph, Canada7 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
We took a tour recently. They told us there had not been whales seen for several days so we were not optimistic. Despite best efforts we only saw a few seals on a buoy (always there) and one dolphin. They gave us back our boarding passes and told us to come back.
Like most of us on the cruise, we planned to come back the next day. Checked with the office the next morning and they told us all cruises were cancelled. So many of us were unable to go again - useless boarding passes! We suspect that there were many folks with passes so they decided to reduce the numbers by cancelling. We were not disappointed by not seeing whales as much as the poor follow up from this company.
Like most of us on the cruise, we planned to come back the next day. Checked with the office the next morning and they told us all cruises were cancelled. So many of us were unable to go again - useless boarding passes! We suspect that there were many folks with passes so they decided to reduce the numbers by cancelling. We were not disappointed by not seeing whales as much as the poor follow up from this company.
Written January 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
So sorry Robert to hear we did not meet your expectations. The re-ride boarding tickets you received as a courtesy from our Captain never expire and we instructed everyone to call in advance to make a reservation for a re-ride. We don't cancel our trips for no reason or to frustrate passengers, that is ridiculous. We cancel due to weather conditions, boat maintenance or lack of reservations (which is not very frequent) so I don't what day you tried to book but I am sure it was for one of those reasons. Our customer satisfaction is the number one priority and we work very hard to make sure everyone has a great experience.
Written January 17, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
elizvarg
1 contribution
Apr 2021 • Family
We were running late so I called ahead but they said that the boat leaves at 12 sharp. I understand that there are other people who expect to leave on time but there has to be some point where you make an exception especially since the trip went 30 minutes over the 2 hour listed time. I told the worker that my husband was on his way from the parking lot but they literally pulled away while he stood on the dock watching us leave. It ruined our entire family trip. We’ve taken trips out of New Port beach that we’re much better service and quality of viewing. (And at a fraction of the price of Oceanside Adventures.)
Written April 28, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are sorry this happened and looked into the entire situation as your comments were very concerning to us. Check in time on the weekends is 45 minutes prior to departure as mentioned in your booking confirmation, it also requires your entire party to check in at the same time. You called us at that time saying your ETA was 5 minutes before the boat departed. We waited an extra 10 minutes for your husband and that is why we were late coming in. It is not fair to all the other passengers that arrived on time to hold them up. This all could have been avoided if the check in requirements were followed. Again we are sorry but did what we could in this situation.
Written April 30, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
HavanaB1997
1 contribution
Nov 2021
This was hands down one of the best ocean outings I have been on. The boat was safe and easy to navigate for my handicapped husband. As we scanned the water for signs of sea life, Captain Chris spotted some dolphin activity. We headed that way and found ourselves in a gathering of dolphins that was in the thousands! We were completely surrounded by the dolphins jumping, playing, and chasing the boat. It was truly incredible. The beauty and magic of that hour is hard to describe. We will do this again with our family, and highly recommend this as part of any vacation or family outing. Shout Outs to Tikhon and Ivy, our crew on the boat. Aloha for now!
Written November 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are honored by the review you posted about your experience with us. While we are constantly told face to face how much customers enjoy our service, it takes a very special person to proclaim to the online world that they should check us out. You are one of those individuals and we are proud that you do business with us.
Written November 28, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
TheiPrincess
Encinitas, CA1 contribution
Feb 2020
We live in Encinitas, and this tour was so convenient. We saw 0 whales and about 2000 dolphins. The dolphins were so cool that I didn’t care about not seeing whales. The crew were laid back, and everyone enjoyed themselves. We will use this as a go-to for entertaining visitors.
Written February 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking some of your valuable time to provide fellow consumers with your rich perspective. We appreciate the feedback and look forward to seeing you again soon!
Written February 22, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jo Ann B
San Marcos, CA1 contribution
May 2021
Captain Shane did a great job of piloting the boat and describing the various whales in the area. He knew which areas to search and found several Fin whales for the passengers to see. It was great being out on the open water in the fresh air!
Written May 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are happy to hear you enjoyed the tour and got to see the fin whales! Thank you very much.
Written May 27, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
caminarqueen
San Marcos, CA1 contribution
May 2022 • Family
Although we didn't see any whales, it was late in the season as they migrated to Alaska. The boat and captains were wonderful. We were blessed with great weather, sunny and 70 ventured out at the noon time slot. The seas were rough and had some water splash a bunch of us sitting on the outer deck but it was so much fun and excitement! A family of 6, 2 children 3 and 5, 2 parents, and 2 grandparents. It was educational and fun. We all enjoyed it and will do it again as well as other excursions as we live so close not to take advantage of these great experiences.
Written May 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are happy your family enjoyed the cruise and look forward to seeing you again. Thank you so much!
Written May 31, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Does Oceanside offer any 1/2 day fishing trips? Thanks!
Written July 16, 2021
Heroesskulls
Los Angeles, California
If we are taking children, is the pricing the same for an adult?
Written August 18, 2020
Yes we have one General Admission price of $44 at the moment due to the reduced passenger capacity of only 20 people. Infants (under 2) are $10 but must be booked by calling our ticket office 760-277-3737.
In October we offer Kids Ride Free all month, with the purchase of 2 full fare adult tickets, one child (12 & under) rides free.
Written August 19, 2020
we have our family with us & need 16 tickets. your website doesn't allow me to purchase that amount. please advise me how to do this.
Written July 24, 2019
Most likely you can't book that many because there is not 16 spots available for the trip you chose. We do offer group rate discounts for 15 or more passengers so please give us a call for further assistance. We will be happy to assist you.
760-277-3073 Groups/Private Charters
760-277-3737 Ticket Office Main Line
Written July 25, 2019
I have a friend, coming in from New York - mid - late August. Is that good whale viewing time? Plus - I walk using a cane. Will I be able to board the boat?
Written July 12, 2019
Yes! We see whales and dolphins year round. Check out our Daily Sightings Log on our website.
The crew will be happy to assist you on and off the boat. We have no steps or stairs for easy access.
Also you can review our FAQ's page on our website for more details.
We look forward to having you aboard soon!
Written July 12, 2019
What is the best month for whale watching? Is March good? Is May good?
Written February 25, 2018
What might you see on a tour?
Nov-April: Gray Whales, Minke Whales, Humpback , Fin Whale and all 4 species of dolphin
May-Oct: Fin Whales, Blue Whales, Minke Whales, Humpback Whales and all 4 species of dolphin
Other sightings may include Orca, Pilot Whales, Turtles, Sharks, Sun Fish, Sea Lions and various birds and other marine life, one never knows what we will see next on one of our adventures. Our daily sightings log is on our web site.
Whales migrate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There is no “best” time to see whales or dolphins, but the weather on the water tends to be calmer in the morning.
Written March 30, 2018
The whales and dolphin travel 24/7 so there is no best time to go. It's just a matter of what is in our radius during our 2 hour trips.
Written February 6, 2018
We are traveling to Oceanside from Ohio the week of April 8th. In order to maximize what we may see on our boat tour what time of day would you recommend? The sunset cruise sounds great but I want to make sure we see dolphins/whales too.
Written March 14, 2017
Whales migrate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There is no “best” time to see whales or dolphins, but the weather on the water tends to be calmer in the morning.
Written March 30, 2018
How much does a 1/2 day fishing trip cost? Tackle included or separate rental?
We're coming to Escondido for Reunion in May, 13-14, Do you have any short trips early AM on Sundays? My husband and I are driving over from Bisbee, AZ. Our stany is very short, but would love to go out on a boat, and cast some anchovies over the side. Thanks so much for the information about what's available that weekend in May!
Mary Ann Baxter
Written April 6, 2016
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