Published on : Saturday, November 23, 2013
The captains at Hornblower Cruises in San Diego are gearing up for this year’s whale watching season, set to begin on December 14th and is scheduled to run through late March. After a spectacular whale watching season last year, Hornblower captains are expecting an outstanding turnout of marine life again this year – one that should not be missed. Over the course of last year’s whale watching season, spectators on Hornblower’s boats saw almost 1000 whales and over 120,000 dolphins.
Visitors and locals alike can purchase their tickets now for this year’s trips. The family-friendly excursions run twice a day for 3-1/2 hours, and include a tour of the North Bay of San Diego Harbor with many sights including the sea lions, the submarine base, the Star of India, the Point Loma Lighthouse, and the Cabrillo National Monument, which is celebrating 100 years. Spectators will be treated to the sights of migrating marine life including gray, finback, humpback and blue whales, orcas, dolphins, sea lions and many species of seabirds. Hornblower’s experienced captains will take visitors directly to the best spots for viewing the migrating animals off of San Diego’s coastline.
“Whale Watching last year was quite an adventure. Not only were we very successful in locating the Gray Whales, but we’ve also been tracking locations of other types, like Blue Whales, Fin Whales, Humpback Whales, and several others,” says Hornblower Captain Rich Goben. “Add to this the encounters with four different types of dolphins, and we have the makings of another great year!”
The captains treat guests to a live narration that includes scientific stories and fun facts about the marine life that they encounter. Aware of their impact on the whales, Hornblower captains are respectful of the marine life and their natural habitat. They maintain a minimum distance from the animals to insure that all of the cruises are whale-friendly.
Additionally, onboard every vessel, expert naturalists from the San Diego Natural History Museum help point out whale sightings to the guests and are happy to answer any questions spectators may have about they are viewing. The San Diego Natural History Museum and Hornblower Cruises & Events have been partners on these cruises since 2005.
Spectators can enjoy their whale watching experience in comfort on large, fast yachts, which are Coast Guard certified and maintain the highest standards of seaworthiness to ensure customer safety. The vessels can seat hundreds and feature a sundeck nearly 30 feet above the water, which provides an opportunity to view whales from up to a mile away. These sightseeing tours are eco-friendly with latest technology tier-3 clean diesel engines, onboard recycling programs and sustainable products used vessel-wide.
Reservations
Reservations are recommended and can be booked via Hornblower’s, by calling 619-686-8715, or by visiting the Hornblower ticket booth at 970 North Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101.
Hornblower’s whale watching cruises depart daily at 9:30 AM and 1:30 PM. For weekday excursions, ticket prices are $38 for adults and $19 for children ages 5 to 12. For weekend excursions ticket prices are $43 for adults and $21.50 for children ages 5 to 12. Children aged four and under are free.
For those intrepid guests who may want to go whale watching more than once a year, Hornblower offers a Yacht Club card, which costs $76 and includes unlimited whale watching trips throughout the season for its holder. During the off-season, the Yacht Club card can be used alternatively for unlimited Harbor Cruise & Sea Lion Adventures.
Hornblower has partnered with other local attractions to provide sightseeing combo packages that include the Whale Watching Cruise, plus admission to one of the following: San Diego Natural History Museum, the Maritime Museum or the USS Midway. Combo tickets start at $32 for adults and $16 for children.
Save the Date
This year’s Big Bay Whale Festival is set for Saturday, January 25, 2014 at the Port Pavilion on the Broadway Pier. Hornblower Cruises & Events is a proud sponsor of the family-friendly event, which features music, exhibits, art and more. The Big Bay Whale Festival is part of Big Bay Whale, days a full month of entertainment and fun on cruises, tours and tickets for many of San Diego’s most popular activities.
Source:- Hornblower Cruise
Tags: cruise news
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