Step aboard the legendary 139-foot schooner America and let Next Level Sailing carry you across San Diego’s sparkling waters. Their Coast Guard–inspected crew blends seasoned seamanship with genuine local warmth, guiding you on gr...
Step aboard the legendary 139-foot schooner America and let Next Level Sailing carry you across San Diego’s sparkling waters. Their Coast Guard–inspected crew blends seasoned seamanship with genuine local warmth, guiding you on gr...
The crew aboard the historic replica yacht America consistently earns praise for their warmth and expertise. Captain, Diane, Ed, Axel, and Jonathan (plus Marie, the ship's dog!) create an engaging atmosphere with storytelling, marine life facts, and genuine enthusiasm for their work. Guests appreciate how attentive the staff is to everyone's comfort, helping with seasickness when needed and providing complimentary snacks and drinks throughout the journey. What really stands out is how genuinely pet-friendly this operation is. Multiple reviewers mention the crew going above and beyond for their dogs, providing beds, water bowls, and plenty of attention. Wildlife sightings vary by day—some guests saw orcas, humpbacks, and blue whales while others encountered massive dolphin pods or no whales at all. Even on days when whales don't appear, most travelers still rave about the sailing experience itself and the beautiful boat. The four-hour tours on the open water feel like authentic adventures, and the company offers return trips if wildlife doesn't cooperate, showing their commitment to customer satisfaction.
5 stars isn't enough for this experience. We (wife, daughter and I) ended up there after checkin closed and were trying to find the place - while mentally trying to make peace with the fact that we might pay for our lateness by losing the experience. A gentleman who was walking by asked whether we were there for the whaling tour. While surprised, we said yes. He said that we "had the look" - I assume that we looked lost enough :) We learned that we'd been lucky enough to bump into captain Troy as he headed towards the pier and the gorgeous boat. This was definitely representative of the experience we were about to have. The crew was amazingly friendly and responsive, patiently answering the questions of various passengers. They even came around as we headed back to check on whether we'd like to be photographed as a family - of course most people, even if they were alone were delighted to have something other than selfies to show for the trip. The lead tour guide was incredible. She had a ton to say not only about the animals we saw, but also about the bay as well as the military and non-military ships we saw. I think she had enough enthusiasm to keep the boat afloat by herself, and it was infectious on a lovely (albeit cold day). Of course, importantly, we saw fin whales (a mother and calf), which rounded off the trip into one of the best experiences we've had while travelling. Remember that while they have a whale sighting guarantee, its useful mainly when you are likely to be back (and us coming from India again felt unlikely). We also saw a ton of sea lions including one that was frolicking behind the boat. Highly recommend doing this if you're going to be in San Diego.
Akshay Soni
July 6, 2026
5 stars isn't enough for this experience. We (wife, daughter and I) ended up there after checkin closed and were trying to find the place - while mentally trying to make peace with the fact that we might pay for our lateness by losing the experience. A gentleman who was walking by asked whether we were there for the whaling tour. While surprised, we said yes. He said that we "had the look" - I assume that we looked lost enough :) We learned that we'd been lucky enough to bump into captain Troy as he headed towards the pier and the gorgeous boat. This was definitely representative of the experience we were about to have. The crew was amazingly friendly and responsive, patiently answering the questions of various passengers. They even came around as we headed back to check on whether we'd like to be photographed as a family - of course most people, even if they were alone were delighted to have something other than selfies to show for the trip. The lead tour guide was incredible. She had a ton to say not only about the animals we saw, but also about the bay as well as the military and non-military ships we saw. I think she had enough enthusiasm to keep the boat afloat by herself, and it was infectious on a lovely (albeit cold day). Of course, importantly, we saw fin whales (a mother and calf), which rounded off the trip into one of the best experiences we've had while travelling. Remember that while they have a whale sighting guarantee, its useful mainly when you are likely to be back (and us coming from India again felt unlikely). We also saw a ton of sea lions including one that was frolicking behind the boat. Highly recommend doing this if you're going to be in San Diego.
Akshay Soni
July 6, 2026