Whale Watching With Flagship Cruises and Birch Aquarium
Birch Aquarium at Scripps and Flagship Cruises and Events have teamed up for San Diego whale watching adventures for over a decade! Naturalists from Birch Aquarium narrate each of the educational expeditions, which happen twice daily through mid-April. We were invited to take one such cruise, and our daughter and her grandpa had a fun adventure!
Birch Aquarium Naturalists Enhance the Experience
While waiting for my father and daughter to board the Flagship Cruise, Naturalists from Birch Aquarium spoke with us about the gray whale migration from the Bering Sea all the way down to Baja. I was amazed how much I learned from speaking with them for just a few minutes. My father said the narration continued on the boat throughout the whale watching trip.
What To Expect From A San Diego Whale Watching Trip
Aside from seeing gray whales, my father and daughter saw a seal, sea lions, dolphins, and different species of birds. The Flagship San Diego whale watching cruises are about 3 1/2 hours in length, and the boat ventures somewhere around 3 miles out to sea. The Naturalists from Birch Aquarium at Scripps said that they can normally spot gray whales closer to shore during the beginning of the season (December/January), and that they normally travel farther out during the mid to later part of the season.
What To Bring On The Trip
Some things you might want to plan to bring on a San Diego whale watching trip are a warm jacket, mittens, cap, camera, binoculars, and sunglasses. If you’re prone to motion sickness, it might be smart to take motion sickness medication prior to boarding. Chewing on ginger is also suppose to help ease motion sickness, so it might also be good to bring some along.
Flagship Cruises and Events allows you to take snacks in a soft snack bag (no hard coolers). You can also purchase snacks and beverages on the boat.
Where, When, & Pricing
Daily whale watching with Birch Aquarium and Flagship Cruises embark from the foot of Navy Pier, at 990 North Harbor Dr., in downtown San Diego. Easy parking is available next to The Midway Museum, just steps away from the Navy Pier, at $10 for 10 hours. Other parking is available at 5 Star Parking, at the corner of Broadway & Pacific Highway,for $12.00 for the entire day. (Call the specific parking companies to verify pricing prior to your trip.)
Whale watching cruises with Flagship range in price, depending upon age, and day of cruise. Pricing for the educational cruises are from $19 – $43. You can find a $5 off adult fare coupon (valid for up to 6 people), HERE. Reservations are recommended, and you may reserve by calling 619-234-4111, or online at this LINK. Whale sightings are guaranteed. If you do not see a whale, you ride again for free! Proceeds from the cruises help support educational programs, as well as exhibits at Birch Aquarium at Scripps. Perhaps we’ll see you on a future whale watching cruise!
Interesting Facts About Gray Whale Migration
• Gray whales migrate around 10,000 miles round-trip! One of the longest mammal migrations in the world!
• Approximately 20,000 gray whales pass through San Diego. That’s a lot of whales!
• The whales migrate to lagoons in Baja, where they rest, play, give birth, and breed.
• Gray whales eat the majority of their feed at the Bering Sea, and eat very little during their migration.
Helpful Links
Birch Aquarium at Scripps
~ Website
~ Twitter
~ Facebook
Flagship Cruises and Events
~ Website
~ Twitter
~ Facebook
Discount Whale Watching Through Our Affiliate
~ Go San Diego Card
We were invited to attend a Media Whale Watching Cruise with Birch Aquarium and Flagship Cruises and Events. We believe many of our readers would also enjoy the activity with their families. No compensation was received for this post. Our opinions are our own. Many thanks to Birch Aquarium at Scripps and Flagship Cruises for inviting us to experience whale watching with them in beautiful San Diego.