Excellent time - Our first time on a whale watch and on a Big sailboat. We saw whales. A Male escort a female and her calf. One of the whales did a roll and we saw the white belly. The young crew members were very knowledgeable. I would highly recommend this excursion. Whale watching on a big sailboat was on my bucket list. I'd definitely do it again.

Spectacular Whale-Watching Experience on the AMERICA! - I had the pleasure of going on a four-hour whale-watching trip with Next Level Sailing, departing from Shelter Island in San Diego. The journey aboard the historic sailing yacht AMERICA was nothing short of incredible. We encountered numerous whales, playful dolphins, and curious seals, making for a truly mesmerizing day out on the water. Captain Troy and his crew were outstanding. Their deep knowledge and genuine enthusiasm made our experience not only enjoyable but also educational. It’s no wonder this company offers whale-watching trips all year round—they are absolute pros. If you’re in San Diego and looking for a top-notch whale-watching adventure, look no further than Next Level Sailing. Highly recommended for an unforgettable encounter with marine life!

Whale watching - Suggest wearing layers as quite chilly on the water. The captain and crew did a wonderful job. It took a little longer than expected to find the whales, but it was worth it.

Whale watching at its best!!! - The boat was beautiful, staff was very helpful and informative! It wasn't just a mere tour but an incredible life experience! Seeing dolphins, seals, sea lions, and 2 types of whales was incredible!!!! When you arrive to the boat be prepared to climb up a slender ladder of about 5 steps. Overall great experience and took lots of pictures and videos!!!!

Wonderful, but don’t get left behind! - What better thing to do with my visiting Kansas born-and-bred sister than take her out on the ocean to look for whales? We had a great time, and she said one of the best experiences of her life was when a rarely-sighted blue whale blew and then glided alongside us no more than 30 feet away. A fin whale also made an appearance, as did two different species of dolphin (including a pod with babies). The Navy base was pretty cool, especially the Los Angeles class attack submarine in drydock and the drone ship Sea Hunter. I think we’d have been happy just to go sailing. Being on the America was an order of magnitude better than being on the big double-decker diesel ships the other cruises offer. You’re down near the water, and it’s pretty thrilling just riding the waves and feeling the movement. The crack of the sails is a nice accompaniment. I’d advise making your way as far forward on the America as allowed, and getting a seat on one of the flat benches (I assume they store life jackets) along the side. The seating along the middle is at a slight incline, and in addition to being more comfortable the benches give you the better view to the side and forward anyway. Be sure to bring your own cushions! Otherwise you’ll be sitting on bare wood or plastic. When signing in an hour early, look for the gazebo with a blue Whale Watching vertical banner. We checked in and then stood by the water looking at the ships, and somehow missed the announcement that it was time to cross the street and head out. We turned around just in time and caught up to our group before the locking door at the marina closed. Pay attention! Extra credit goes to the crew member with Kai the corgi dog who loves gazing at the ocean almost as much as we did; who doesn’t love a happy corgi? Extra-extra credit for her (the owner) knowing which aircraft carrier it was we were watching coming into port and flying her air group off. Another rare treat. I’ve been on other whale watching cruises, but this is the only one I’d consider in the future. Great crew, great vessel, whales, and free Doritos. What’s not to love?

Great activity to enjoy but dogs get seasick, so do yourself and everyone else a favor and just don’t bring ’em. - Every aspect of the tour/cruise was great, from the early and honest communication to the patience of the captain and crew. They calmly dealt with passengers who were rude and didn’t follow instructions. I would 100% recommend this activity for anyone who is not easily motion sick.

Everyone needs to do it - Seeing the whales and when the water was calm lol. The captain was very clear on what to be expected and I enjoyed it even tho I puked twice. Worth its

I want to go again!!! 100% worth the money - Absolutely incredible whale watching adventure! The ship is beautiful and crew members were wonderful. Snacks and drinks were provided along with complementary sea-sickness medication, if needed. The crew were really knowledgeable about the local areas leaving the port and clearly knew a lot about the aquatic life in San Diego. We saw tons of sea lions, dolphins, and a BLUE WHALE!! According to Captain Troy, it was really rare to see a blue whale so made the trip even more special. It was a wonderful experience and couldn’t be recommended enough!

Awesome! - Our whale watching trip on the replica of the 1851 America was amazing!! The boat is GORGEOUS!The staff were so knowledgeable and kind! Service on the boat was awesome and we did get to see the whales!!

Whale watching on my Birthday. - We went for my Birthday and had a great time. We saw the first blue whale of the season!!! Amazing Birthday. Dayana and all the ladies in the crew where great.