December to April brings gray whales and May brings blue whales, on 2-hour cruises from Newport Harbor starting at $38.75 per adult. Davey's Locker sails three or four times a day, all year.
Dark months are the peak for that species, light months are the rest of its season. October is marked.
| Species | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gray whale | January: in season | February: in season | March: in season | April: in season | May: not usually seen | June: not usually seen | July: not usually seen | August: not usually seen | September: not usually seen | October: not usually seen | November: not usually seen | December: in season |
| Blue whale | January: not usually seen | February: not usually seen | March: not usually seen | April: not usually seen | May: in season | June: in season | July: in season | August: in season | September: in season | October: in season | November: not usually seen | December: not usually seen |
| Fin whale | January: not usually seen | February: not usually seen | March: not usually seen | April: not usually seen | May: in season | June: in season | July: in season | August: in season | September: in season | October: in season | November: in season | December: not usually seen |
| Humpback whale | January: in season | February: in season | March: in season | April: in season | May: in season | June: in season | July: in season | August: in season | September: in season | October: in season | November: in season | December: in season |
Peak In season
From visitnewportbeach.com, visitnewportbeach.com, newportwhales.com, visitnewportbeach.com. Whales turn up outside these months too.
| Operator | What you get | From | Length | Group | Min age | Boat | If no whales | Cancellation | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Newport Beach Whale Watching & Dolphin Cruise |
$38.75 per adult |
About 120 minutes |
Boats custom built for whale watching, such as the Nautilus (snack bar, indoor and outdoor seating, top deck) | Not stated | Check dates | ||||
Luxury Whale Watching |
$71.75 per person |
120 minutes (approx.) |
Catallac up to 39 guests, Legacy up to 48 |
Catamaran yachts Catallac (39 guests max) and Legacy (48 max), 360-degree walk-around deck | Not stated | Check dates | |||
Ultimate Whale Watching: Intimate, Fast, More Sightings |
$84.50 per adult |
120 minutes (approx.) |
Limited passenger count, each with own seat; minimum 7 per trip |
5+ (children under 5 not permitted) | Custom Super RIBs Shearwater and Pelican (36 ft and 48 ft); a 25 ft RIB may be used if the minimum is not met | Not stated | Check dates | ||
Private 2-hour charter |
$375 per group |
2 hours |
up to 6 |
Custom fiberglass center-console boat with suspension seating and a Seakeeper gyro stabilizer | Free next tour if no whales are seen, with no expiration | All sales final (100% cancellation penalty); weather cancellations get a new date or a full refund. | Check dates | ||
2-hour Whale & Dolphin Tour |
Not listed |
120 to 150 minutes |
6 passengers max (site header also says 6 to 24) |
Custom fiberglass center-console boat with suspension seating and a Seakeeper gyro stabilizer | Free next tour if no whales are seen, with no expiration | Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead; weather cancellations get a new date or a full refund. | Check dates |
From each operator's own website, checked October 21, 2026. How we compare.
Whale boats leave directly from Newport Harbor, which holds about 9,000 boats and ranks among the biggest recreational harbors on the West Coast. Davey's Locker & Newport Landing lists Davey's Locker at 400 Main Street on its booking page, and Newport Landing sells the same cruises from 309 Palm Street. Newport Coastal Adventure (Suite A) and East Meets West Excursions also meet at 309 Palm Street. East Meets West asks guests to arrive at least 30 minutes early and emails meeting and parking details with the booking.
Davey's Locker runs cruises at 9:00 am, 12:00 pm and 2:30 pm all year, adding an evening departure from late May to mid-August (6:00 pm in its schedule table, 5:30 pm elsewhere on the page). Its main ship is 65 ft, with an upstairs sundeck, wraparound outdoor seating, indoor seats with large windows and a snack bar. Newport Coastal Adventure says its RIBs can run up to 14 miles from port.
Gray whales pass from December through April, according to Visit Newport Beach. East Meets West Excursions narrows that to January through April, with the peak in February and March, and says April is the best month for mothers with calves. NOAA Fisheries says northbound gray whales travel the West Coast from mid-February to May, after calves are born in Mexico from early January to mid-February.
Blue whales are the summer and fall draw. Visit Newport Beach says they are seen from May through November, and East Meets West focuses on them from May to October. Davey's Locker pairs blue whales with fin whales in summer and fall, and also lists minke, humpback and killer whales. East Meets West sees fin, humpback and minke whales all year when anchovies and krill are plentiful, and names September to December as its favorite humpback months.
Dolphins and seals are year-round sightings, according to Visit Newport Beach. Davey's Locker describes mega pods of a thousand or more common or bottlenose dolphins, plus Risso's dolphins and sea lions. East Meets West points out that whales can cover up to 100 miles in a day, which is why it calls sightings impossible to promise.
Mornings usually bring calmer seas off Newport, East Meets West Excursions says, while afternoons can be breezier. It is chillier on the water than on land, so the company suggests dressing warmly and bringing an extra jacket or sweater. Its 26 ft catamaran carries a Seakeeper stabilizer that it says cuts side-to-side motion by up to 92%, and it calls the boat a very dry ride.
Seasickness is less likely on a small stabilized boat than on a larger one, according to East Meets West, which still advises anyone prone to it to take precautions. Neither the East Meets West boat nor Newport Coastal Adventure's RIBs have a restroom aboard. Newport Coastal Adventure gives a cruising speed of 25 miles per hour and does not take pregnant passengers or anyone at risk of neck or back problems.
Davey's Locker & Newport Landing has the lowest fares. Its 2-hour cruise starts at $38.75 per adult on the booking page, plus a 4% processing fee, a $10.50 supplement on cruises between 10 am and 5 pm and a $4 weekend surcharge. Children 3 to 12 and seniors 60 and over start at $30.75. The company says its captains and crews have backgrounds in marine biology.
For fewer people, Davey's Locker's luxury catamarans, Catallac (39 guests at most) and Legacy (48), cost $71.75 on weekdays and $86.75 on weekends, with naturalists aboard and a walk-around deck. Newport Coastal Adventure charges $84.50 for adults 16 and up and $76.50 for children 5 to 15 on its 36 ft and 48 ft Super RIBs, Shearwater and Pelican, and needs 7 passengers. It also runs 4 to 8 hour expeditions toward Catalina Island, and private boats for 6, 12 or 19 at a flat rate.
East Meets West Excursions takes no more than 6 people on Captain Nick's stabilized catamaran, with certified naturalists guiding. If you see no whales or dolphins, the next tour is free, with no expiration. Its shared tour price appears only in the booking widget; a private 2-hour charter for up to 6 was on promotion at $375. Weather cancellations get a full refund or a new date.
from $38.75 per adult
Newport Beach Whale Watching & Dolphin Cruise and 1 more option
Booking pages say the trips are operated by Davey's Locker & Newport Landing; Newport Landing (newportwhales.com, 309 Palm Street) sells the same cruises
from $84.50 per adult
Ultimate Whale Watching: Intimate, Fast, More Sightings
Private charter boats for 6, 12 or 19 people at a single flat rate (price not published)
from $375 per group
Private 2-hour charter and 1 more option
Captain Nick runs the tours; the company calls its boat the newest whale watching boat in Newport
Prices and policies come from each operator's own pages, read on October 21, 2026. Seasons, rules and local details come from the pages below.