San Diego Excursions

San Diego is a great place to get out and explore. The cruise lines making port in San Diego have put together about 20 tours and excursions for your consideration.

Your ship docks at the San Diego Avenue B Cruise Terminal, which is a short one block walk to Broadway, one of Downtown San Diego's major thoroughfares. All of the tours and excursions offered by the cruise lines begin at the dock. Note that some of the tours are not available for passengers disembarking in San Diego.

If you have taken any of the tours listed below, we'd like your feedback on your experience. Please click on the link of the tour you took, and then click the "Write a review of this tour" button and tell us what your experience was all about.

Biking

Coronado Cycling Tour

3½ hours

Coronado Island is a very special place, and this leisurely-paced 8 mile bicycle journey around the Village introduces you to the Coronado of yesterday and today. The ride includes a visit to the Victorian-era Hotel del Coronado.

La Jolla Plunge Bike Tour

4 hours

This 13 mile tour begins on top of Mt. Soledad, where you'll take in the spectacular 360° view of San Diego and La Jolla. You then descend for 3.5 miles to the Pacific Ocean, and ride the streets of quaint cities of La Jolla and Pacific Beach.

Cycling the Waterfront

3½ hours

This 12 mile downtown bike tour is a fun, active way to tour the city. You'll travel along the San Diego Bay to Seaport Village, enjoying great views of Coronado Island and the Naval Station, then pass through the Gaslamp District and downtown before returning to your ship.

City Tours

Old Town Trolley Tour of San Diego

2 to 2½ hours

Join a narrated journey through San Diego to see the city's many attractions, including Coronado Island and the Hotel del Coronado, the Gaslamp Quarter, Balboa Park and the Zoo, as well as Old Town State Historic Park, the birthplace of California.

San Diego & La Jolla Highlights

4 to 4½ hours

Explore the attractions of San Diego and Coronado Island, then go up the coast to the Village of La Jolla, and enjoy shopping or a quick bite at a local cafe. Then return to the city via Mt. Soledad for a spectacular view, and through Balboa Park to the Old Town, the birthplace of California.

San Diego & La Jolla Highlights, with Airport Dropoff

4½ hours

Explore the attractions of San Diego and Coronado Island, then go up the coast to the Village of La Jolla, and enjoy shopping or a quick bite at a local cafe. Then return to the city via Mt. Soledad for a spectacular view, and through Balboa Park to the Old Town, the birthplace of California. After the tour, you'll be dropped off at the airport for your flight home.

Carlsbad Village by the Sea

4 hours

Discover the Village of Carlsbad by the Sea, a charming town just a half hour north of San Diego. With unique shops, good restaurants and beautiful views of the seashore, Carlsbad evokes a unique sense of gracious California seaside living.

Cultural

Maritime Museum of San Diego

Varies

If you're into ships--whether it's schooners, steam ferry boats, pilot boats or Soviet submarines--the Maritime Museum of San Diego is what you've been wanting to see. And the museum lets you tour them all.

Eco Tours

San Diego Wild Animal Park Safari

6 to 6½ hours

Take a trip to Africa while you're on your cruise! The Wild Animal Park is a 1,800 acre zoo, where the 2,200 animals roam freely in their natural habitats.

San Diego Zoo

5 to 7 hours

Visit a world-class zoo set in a beautiful park setting. Hosting animals from around the world, the San Diego Zoo specializes in rare and exotic animal species, including 4 Giant Pandas on view.

Sea World Adventure Park

6 to 7 hours

Come to the West Coast's largest marine animal park, home of Shamu, the killer whale. There are rides, shows and exhibits that will thrill your kids!

Whale Watching

3½ hours

Over 20,000 whales migrate from Alaska to Baja California each year, passing through San Diego. This fully narrated excursion takes you out to see some of these magnificent creatures up close and personal. Note: this excursion is only available from December to March.

Wine & Drinks

Wine Tasting at Belle Marie Winery

4 hours

Take a trip in the country to the Belle Marie Winery and Chateau Dragoo. The vintners produce over 25 unique varietals from their vineyards in the Guadalupe Valley of Baja California, and process the grapes at the winery.

Golf

Steele Canyon Golf Club

6 hours

Course particulars: 27 holes, Par 70/71, 6,500. This highly-rated Gary Player-designed course features three 9-hole courses in a unique natural environment. The courses offer a type of play for golfers of all levels of experience.

Riverwalk Golf Club

6 hours

Course particulars: 72 holes, 6,600 yards. Designed by Ted Robinson, this course winds through Fashion Valley, offering great play and some challenging water features.

Scenic Tour

San Diego Harbor Tour/ Harbor Cruise

2 to 2¼ hours

Come aboard and enjoy a fully-narrated tour of San Diego Bay. You'll travel 25 miles, viewing Coronado, the Navy submarine base, aircraft carriers, the oldest merchant craft afloat and the magnificent San Diego skyline.

San Diego Harbor Tour & USS Midway

4¼ hours

This excursion combines a tour of San Diego Harbor with a hands-on visit aboard the USS Midway, an aircraft carrier that saw service for over 47 years.

Balboa Park Discovery

6 to 6½ hours

Museum-rich Balboa Park beckons you to discover the art and culture of San Diego. You have entree to your choice of 13 museums featuring everything from art to automobiles to natural history. It's a great way to spend a day in a beautiful setting.

Watersports

La Jolla Sea Caves Kayak

4 hours

Take a magical journey to the waters off La Jolla, experiencing marine life from your tandem kayak. Dolphins, sea lions, seals and marine birds will entertain you as you ply the kelp beds of the La Jolla Ecological Reserve.

San Diego SEAL

1½ hours

Explore San Diego by both land and sea! Hop in an amphibious Hydra Terra vehicle that takes you down San Diego Bay as you've never seen it before!

Important Information

Notes on the above cruise excursions:

• The information on the cruise excursions listed above was developed from publicly available sources.
• The cruise lines may elect to add to, change, delete or otherwise alter the itineraries of the excursions above;
• The cruise lines may restrict the number of passengers allowed to go on any particular excursion.
• The cruise lines may impose other restrictions on any particular excursion, including height, weight, minimum age, etc.; make sure to check with them to determine if there are such restrictions.
• There may be seasonal limitations on certain excursions or tours, such as whale watching. Be sure to check with your cruise line to determine if the tour in which you're interested is available when you're on your cruise.

Why buy a tour through the cruise lines?

• They have selected tour operator partners who are safe, reliable, licensed and insured.
• They offer a wide selection of tours, purchasing convenience and can provide expert advice on the most appropriate tour for you.
• They offer a one price, no surprises policy, with no hidden fees.
• They will be happy to credit your onboard account if you've already booked an excursion and there is a change in itinerary of the ship.
• They will wait for you if your tour is late.

Footnotes