I've gone on their whale watching tour twice now, the first time in December and the last time was yesterday, May 29th. I was hoping I'd see just one whale but in December, we saw 5 humpbacks ! Yesterday I wasn't too confident because one of the staff said the tour prior, they saw absolutely no life. Not even birds. But we went out and we saw a Minke whale and 3 humpback whales! One even waved for us. It was great. The staff is very knowledgeable about the whales and other animal life and even the surrounding area. Will definitely be back. read more

Fantastic trip! Great staff on board. Comfortable inside cabin seating. We got to see a huge pod of dolphins and a whale with her calf! read more

I took the 2 1/2 hour Whale Watching & Dolphin Tour. I've always wanted to see a whale. When you check in you get a paper ticket and they tell you which dock you go to then you line up. There was a lot of people in line. I was in the middle and thought I wouldn't get good seats, but I ended up sitting outside in the front. The boat is really nice and big. The front is the best place to sit with a good view of the whales and dolphins. The inside was packed and you don't really see a lot and sitting outside in the back you could smell the fumes from the engine. I did see dolphins and whales - the mom and the calf. They had a couple of experts talk about the whales and dolphins. We were past Newport Beach when we finally saw the whales. We spent a good amount of time seeing them. Then we went back. It's gets windy. It was a fun experience. read more

When you say the trip is at 3:15...and you don't start loading UNTIL 3:15. It is currently 3:30 and we are still just BAKING IN THE HEAT!!!!! LAME I realize there is a downstairs that I could sit in-WHY WOULD I DO THAT??? 3:32 Finally started the engine. read more

So, I will start by how clean the boat was. When boarding, not all the crew was there to greet. That's ok, but seemed unusual for a 2 1/2 boat cruise. Was extremely disappointed with the first hour of going into the ocean. Not one of the crew spoke to anyone. Usually, the captain or mates would be on the radio and letting you know of the area, or landmarks, or anything... but "crickets" literally for the first hour. We did spot an incredible pod of dolphins and some fin whales. Was pretty incredible. We were all in Awh of how many dolphins there were and saw 2 different species of dolphins and whales. After that we had to head back and wasn't until we got into the harbor that one of the crew was talking. Suggestion: if you want to earn tips, then talk to the people on your boat. Engage. I have been on whale tours that were so incredibly interesting. I take these to see animals but also to learn. Learn the area the species etc. of the area.! Would I go again? Yes, but I would Highly... recommend the crew engage with the paying people that want to be on your boat... read more

Had a great experience. Staff was friendly and seemed knowledge. Smooth ride and bathrooms were clean. read more

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I took a Whale Watching Tour with Harbor Breeze in February for my birthday celebrations. They operate out of San Pedro as well, but Long Beach is more convenient to us. They are located near the Aquarium, easy to spot. Parking near by and light rail in downtown Long Beach! I booked the 12:30 PM on line and it was a fast process (tried Groupon and Living Social and had issues, didn't work w. my CC which works everywhere and had no problem on Harbor Breeze's site, trying to save a buck, but didn't happen!). $55 per person, no extra fees! You can book at their ticket booth if it's not sold out. Didn't want to chance it! What I liked about Harbor Breeze is that they pick up the phone and you can talk to a human. They have nice staff working for them and they answer all your questions. Super cool people! If you get tickets online, get there ahead the cruise, go to the booth to get paper tickets! Easy process! Harbor Breeze sends emails and texts with updates and remainders! The boarding starts 30 minutes before the cruise leaves! Tip: get in line 1 hour ahead to get a good seat on the upper level of the boat for the sightseeing! We got there 20 minutes before Noon (boarding time) and it was a long line and barely snagged 2 decent seats on the upper deck! Bring sun tan lotion, water, take motion sickness pills ahead! Wear layers and comfy shoes! They sell everything at the booth if you forgot your chopstick for example or lotion. Drinks and snacks on the boat! The boat is big and clean, they clean right before you get on! They have restrooms! Didn't use it, so can't speak. Every boat is different. This one doesn't have enough seating on top, enough benches. This was a con for me. The layout! They have tables with seating facing backwards (away) - we have motion sickness so we weren't gonna be stuck with those because that could create issues. Staff is nice, you get a docent from the Aquarium. It's nice to get some info, but I thought it was too much talking. We got to see a few pods of dolphins which was great, a few seals, a deceased whale while leaving the harbor and a shy grey whale. I thought we lingered too much around the grey whale which stayed in the water a lot instead of going and looking for others. But I am not an expert. I thought we'd see more whales since it was the season. Not to be ungrateful, but each time I go on a cruise like this I barely see a whale. I know some people see none, some see more. It's nature, you never know! I surely never saw one jumping out of the water like in the ads! Maybe some day! But it's a pleasant, fun, informative, instructive adventure. You learn about marine life and the views of Long Beach and its harbor are beautiful! It's a tad cheaper if you go during week time. They have them going out at different times: 9 am and 3 pm as well. They also have cheaper, 1 hr. Harbor cruises -that could be nice. Check their site! It's got all the info, also don't hesitate to call them! Overall, a decent experience! I would do it again. We were lucky with nice weather, so it made it super enjoyable. read more

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We had a very nice Fourth of July. Sailing on the harbor, enjoying the sunset, having a meal, then watching several different firework shows. We enjoyed that it was family, friendly, and safe. read more

Harbor Breeze - Fourth of July firework Harbor cruise. This was a really nice safe way to spend the Fourth of July watching fireworks. Family friendly. - Boat Charters Near Me - Long Beach, California

Beautiful day! Beautiful boat. We saw hundreds of dolphins. I was not expecting to see whales this time of year -- we lucked out! We saw two Grey whales up close!! Even if we did not see the whales, this would have been a great excursion at sea. The volunteers are super knowledgeable and friendly. I loved seeing the dolphins! Super organized. read more

Harbor Breeze - Whale tail! - Boat Charters Near Me - Long Beach, California

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Awesome value for the money ! We parked at Aquarium parking.....Dock 2 very close by... Easy to find.....Enjoyed all the information shared about the Long Beach Harbor ! read more

Harbor Breeze - Carnival Panorama and Queen Mary - Boat Charters Near Me - Long Beach, California

Having gone whale watching in Boston and in Alaska, we decided to buy tickets to Harbor Breeze. I give this place 3 stars for the very educational speaker on board, and also for the fact that the ship has seats in the front, on the side, behind, and also an enclosed area. The enclosed area smells very damp and musty, so we stayed outside. Unfortunately there were no whales to be seen on our trip, but I did appreciate the boat ride. They also showed up 30 minutes late and still had us docked on time. The presenter also said that viewing whales in a gamble, like a lottery ticket to where you sometimes lose, and sometimes you get a free scratcher ticket. We were then not offered anything. They could've at least given us one of their overpriced snacks (chips, canned soda, etc. ). Or they could've refunded us a small fraction for being late (even $5 would be a good gesture). This cruise was much more than the one from Newport beach too, so I'd consider that one in the future. On the bright side, Harbor Breeze did a phenomenal job with communication, and also comped out parking, so I'm sticking to 3/5 instead of going lower. read more

Harbor Breeze - Boat Charters Near Me - Long Beach, California

The Fourth of July cruise with Harbor Breeze was fantastic! Everthing from the crew, to the food to the other passengers were first rate, as was the highlight of the night, the fireworks. We are already looking forward to doing it again next year! read more

I took some out‑of‑town visitors on the 45‑minute boat tour, and it ended up being such a relaxing experience. We got beautiful views of the Queen Mary and other local sights while the captain shared interesting bits of history. It's not a whale‑watching tour, but we did see a few cute seals. read more

Harbor Breeze - Queen Mary - Boat Charters Near Me - Long Beach, California

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Such an incredible experience for my family! We saw three different dolphin pods! We spent the entire time at the front of the ship enjoying the waves and views! read more

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I had a good tine with my kids. He went on a boat ride and had some snacks and some drinks. We got to see the Queen Mary. Great and affordable prices. read more

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I was staying at a nearby hotel for work and decided to try out their 45 min cruise for $20. They had tickets available at a little booth before I got on the dock. The employee let me know when boarding starred and how to get to the boat. Since I went in the afternoon on a Thursday, my cruise was not crowded. I had the bottle back part of the boat to myself which was nice however I could barely hear the announcement and the info the guide was telling about the things we were passing along the water. Boarding started at 1:45 for my cruise and it ran roughly 45 min or so. I was glad that it wasn't crowded; it made for a very relaxing ride. They also have bathrooms and food available for purchase on the boat if you need a snack. I was in town for work a week later and went again and the experience was totally opposite. 3 families with small children were on the boat and as many times as I moved to the opposite end of the boat, they followed soon after so I'm not sure what that was all about. read more

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The Harbor Breeze Cruises' Whale Watching & Dolphin Tour was one of my favorite activities ever. Even though I live in Los Angeles, doing this tour made me feel like I was on vacation. It's really amazing how much marine life you can see right off the coast through one of these cruises. We saw so many dolphins, likely hundreds, all swimming in a pack and surrounding our boat. We also saw a few minke whales throughout our trip! It's best to get a seat on the outside of the boat--just make sure that if you're wearing a hat that it has a strap since the wind can get very strong! You can also get some snacks/drinks inside as well. I highly recommend stocking up early--not to be gross, and maybe this was just my particular trip, but there were many people who became seasick who stayed inside and the inner cabin definitely smelled like vomit towards the end of the trip. Lastly, the tour guide was very nice, engaging, and informative. Definitely check out one of these tours when you can, whether you are a local or visiting! read more

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Lovely day to take a boat ride along the harbor. Not much to see but just being on a boat is nice. We did get lucky and saw some sea lions, diving birds, and many dolphins. We came in March. It was 90° outside but the wind cooled us down. The seats had left over water on them that we didn't see roll down to our end so my mom and me got our bums soaked. The trip was quick. I think an hour would be better than 45 minutes. The driver was good and no one felt sea sick. The narration was good although not a whole lot to show us or talk about in Long Beach harbor. They validate parking to $8 instead of $15/day. It's right next to the aquarium of the pacific so you can do both things in one day. They have restrooms on the boat. They have little snacks and beverages for sale. Staff were nice. read more

Harbor Breeze - Harbor breeze boat view of the lighthouse in Long Beach - Boat Charters Near Me - Long Beach, California

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Absolutely amazing! Crew was very friendly and knowledgeable. We got lucky and got to see whales and dolphins! This was my nieces first time out on a cruise and she loved it! Thank you Harbor Breeze we will be returning with guest read more

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The trip was a success. The captain provided excellent information about the wildlife we saw and about the surrounding area. Anywhere you sit is a great seat. It was easy to move around the boat and very clean. We were able to see minke whales, common dolphins and Finn whales. read more

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Pleasantly surprised by the harbor boat tour I took with Harbor Breeze Cruises! It was spontaneous but I'm so glad I did it, and it was only $15! You get close up views of the Queen Mary, the Port, and the Oil Islands. I recommend going during sunset for the amazing views. The boat ride was smooth and didn't feel seasick at all. Staff was really friendly too and the guided tour from the captain was informative. Great group activity for tourists and locals alike! read more

Harbor Breeze - Boat Charters Near Me - Long Beach, California

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Had an amazing experience on the harbor breeze whale watching tour! I have been whale watching in Ventura, Oxnard and Santa Barbara! This one was definitely on par with the quality of the rest! We saw many dolphins and humpback whales! The seats were very comfy and the inside was so big! The boat felt safe and very clean! The guide was super informative! Highly recommend! read more

Harbor Breeze - Humpback whale - Boat Charters Near Me - Long Beach, California

Even as a local, this experience makes me feel like a tourist in my own hometown in the best way possible. I've been coming here for years--first with my nephew and cousins, and now with my son--and it never fails to create lasting memories. While I haven't tried the whale watching yet, the shorter harbor cruise is stunning. Seeing the Queen Mary and the shoreline from the water is absolutely breathtaking. They have a great selection of snacks, beverages, and cold beer to enjoy while you take in the views. I can't wait to be back! read more

Harbor Breeze - Is that a statue? - Boat Charters Near Me - Long Beach, California

We had an awesome time on the Triumphant boat for the Fourth of July. The lines are long so be sure to get there early to get seats because they go fast on top of the boat. The only negative I would say is they book too many people for these ships. A lot of people were trying to stand in front of us and block our view of the ocean and fireworks. read more

Such an amazing experience! The crew is super knowledgeable and do really well at pointing out what you may see and where we are heading. We saw a whale and two pods of dolphins on our trip! read more

The music he was playing set. The vibe was beautiful. Snacks were over priced but all around great trip. read more

It was a nice boat ride out on the ocean that we made the best of. Our boat departed later than expected, but we weren't too worried about it since when we asked about it they said we'd be back within plenty of time to still make our dinner reservation. We started heading out and it was beautiful. The boat did hit some rough waters, as we were on the later afternoon tour, but we didn't mind since we're used to being on boats and had come prepared with patches and Dramamine, if needed. At first, everyone seemed to be having a good time, but once we got about an hour or so out, people started getting sea sick. It was really bad for a handful of them. Also, there were restrooms on board, but they were pretty gross. Other than that, there was lots of boat splash fun and nice ocean breezes and views. We didn't end up seeing any whales, buts tons of dolphins (which we learned are also considered whales), and a lot with babies next to them. The kids were so excited and all loved it, which made the trip worth it. It turned out, we got back a lot later than expected and missed our dinner reservation. Luckily, we were able to call the restaurant and they were understanding, but something to think about if you're wanting to plan that. Overall, we probably wouldn't do it again, but it was fun a one time thing. read more

Harbor Breeze - Boat Charters Near Me - Long Beach, California

Never have we ever until yesterday! What a great time we had and I'm thankful for the memories. Erick and the crew were great and I enjoyed the humor mixed in while educating us on marine life. The boat was clean and we felt safe the whole time. Thank you so much for a great experience and I will definitely recommend to friends and family! read more

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Fun and relaxing. Reasonable prices. Snacks on board is available But expensive. Bring your own food. read more

Absolutely loved this and could not ask for a better family outting adventure. Saw dolphins and two types of whales. My toddlers who are going through their marine life era had so much fun! Will be doing this again read more

I love the boat tour! You can learn a lot within an hour and it takes you around the harbor of Long Beach. I didn't know what the islands were for and i've been living here for over a decade! I would recommend going on groupon first, since you can find good deals on it. read more

Harbor Breeze - Boat Charters Near Me - Long Beach, California

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SoCal Road Trip 2025 Day 1 First stop - Harbor Breeze Cruises in Long Beach. Departing Vessel - Kristine My buddy and I boarded at 11:30 for a quick tour around Long Beach Harbor. We quickly made out way to the open air top deck. There was a lower level fully enclosed with tables and seating for snacks and drinks. The top side also had a small snack bar plus bench seating. No tables. As soon as all passengers had boarded, we were off for a 45ish minute jaunt around the harbor where we would have views of the world famous Queen Mary, the THUM oil islands, down town Long Beach and whatever wild life would show up. It was mostly smooth sailing with the exception of some wakes and rollers at the furthest point. I took some dramamine before in preparation for that so I did alright. I'm not a boat/water person so that was a serious concern. It helped having the cool sea breeze blowing on me. The scenery was also helpful. Though not especially scenic. The Queen Mary is a stunner. The Long Beach skyline is nice too. The oil islands, some named after the Apollo 1 astronauts who perished, are reasonably beautified. You can tell they are manmade but at least the oil equipment on them is camoflauged by trees. I had hoped to see more wildlife than I did. Mostly it was seagulls and pelicans. There was on sea lion swimming about. No dolphins and no whales. Perhaps on the longer cruise that Harbor Breeze. So what was a point of concern for me turned out to be a good first stop. The staff was friendly and professional. The boat was clean and well maintained. The facts given throughout the tour were interesting and informative. The experience from start to finish was comfortable and relaxing. read more

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Second time going and FINALLY saw a whale! Absolutely breathtaking experience, dolphins are amazing beautiful creatures but seeing a whale is completely different and magical. read more

Harbor Breeze - Whale - Boat Charters Near Me - Long Beach, California

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The family took a 45 minute trip on the Kristina and it was absolutely beautiful. Our cruise took place at 6:15pm and it was the perfect time to see the sunset!! read more

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Went on the harbor tour yesterday and it was quite pleasant. I felt the price of the tour was fair, but try to pack your own snack/drink because the snack bar was WAY overpriced. It was nice that they told a little bit about different things you passed in the harbor. We went mid day on a thursday, the line for the tour after us was much longer, so go early in the day if you want more room to move around. read more

Harbor Breeze - Boat Charters Near Me - Long Beach, California

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It was a great day with hubby in a boat hearing all the stories that had happened there. Very interesting and not expensive. It's around an hour. Recommended it if you are around Long Beach read more

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Definitely a good time but it's a long time and if you get sea sick I would hold off and go with a 45min cruise. This cruise was amazing and totally worth it. We saw whales and dolphins. There's a snack bar and comfortable sitting but feeling sea sick was not fun read more

The process to book and get on the boat was super easy. The boat ride itself was over a couple hours and while we didn't see any whales, we saw lots of dolphins and some sea lions. The crew tried really hard to find some whales for us and didn't cut the ride short when we didn't see any. It was a really fun experience! read more

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This was a great experience, boat ride was comfortable & I loved that we had 2 aquarium of the pacific employees there to guide and inform us on what sort of sea life we were seeing! We got so lucky and saw common dolphins, 3 humpback whales, and sea lions! Would def do it again. read more

All I can say is wow! Exceeded all of our expectations! To start, we couldn't have asked for nicer weather, and calmer seas. Had we seen nothing at all, we still would've been happy with the weather, being out on the ocean, and the experts that they had on board to answer any of our questions and share an abundance of knowledge. Not long into our trip, we ran into a giant pod of dolphins. There were literally hundreds of dolphins surrounding our boat and surfing the wake. That would've been well more than enough for us to call it a successful trip, but then we got to spend about 45 minutes observing 2 humpback whales swim under our boat numerous times, just as curious about us as we were about them. Best whale watching trip we've been on hands-down. Highly highly recommended! read more

Harbor Breeze - Common dolphins - Boat Charters Near Me - Long Beach, California

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