10 Best Dinner Cruises In San Diego, California - Updated 2024

Anne
Anne 
Updated
| 5 min read

Lying on the Pacific Ocean in California, San Diego is well known for its warm, sunny climate, gorgeous beaches, parks and gardens. It offers tourists plenty of amazing accommodations, including hotels with ocean views and Airbnb vacation rentals. Among the green areas in the city is Balboa Park, where San Diego Zoo can be found, home to apes, giraffes, koala bears and many more species. In Mission Bay Park, visitors can explore SeaWorld San Diego with its oceanarium, outdoor aquarium and marine animal park. There are also a number of interesting museums and art galleries in the city, including the USS Midway Museum, based in the longest-serving aircraft carrier in the world. After exploring all the options, take some time out on the water to enjoy one of the best dinner cruises in San Diego, California, listed below.

1. Gourmet dinner cruise on Spirit of San Diego (from USD 118.0)

This two-and-a-half-hour San Diego night cruise takes guests along the gorgeous California coastline while enjoying a gourmet dinner, cocktail, and live entertainment. Guests board the Spirit of San Diego on North Harbor Drive, where a glass of sparkling wine is handed out. Guests can explore the open-air observation deck, taking in the views and cool ocean breezes. Then it’s off to the cabin to enjoy a delicious dinner, which can include favorites like steak, prime rib, chicken piccata, pan-seared salmon or manicotti, along with a selection of salads and desserts, all while taking in the panoramic views from the windows.

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San Diego Harbor 2.5-Hour Luxury Dinner Cruise

Duration: 2 hours 15 minutes

767 reviews

2. Thanksgiving buffet dinner cruise

Posted by Hornblower Cruises & Events San Diego on Tuesday, 23 July 2019

Guests can enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with friends and family, combined with a fabulous San Diego Bay sunset cruise on a luxury yacht. A traditional Thanksgiving dinner buffet is served without all the preparation and clean-up. Guests can relax and take in the beautiful views over San Diego Bay while enjoying a two-and-a-half-hour cruise, full buffet dinner with a boarding glass of Champagne or sparkling cider and a wine list and cocktails to choose from. Views change with every course and a DJ entertainer plays music for dancing.

Thanksgiving Buffet Dinner Cruise

Address: Pier 1 Hornblower Landing: 1800 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, California, USA

Website: Thanksgiving Buffet Dinner Cruise

Price: 62.40 USD onwards

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3. Fourth of July VIP fireworks dinner cruise

4th of July fireworks, San Diego
Source: Pixabay

This enjoyable fourth of July cruise on a luxury yacht allows guests to watch the Big Bay Boom Fireworks Celebration while out on the water. First, there is a delicious buffet dinner where groups of friends and family dine in style, before watching the famous fireworks shooting off from four barges all in one go. Two different cruise times are available. Dinner includes a VIP window table with show plates, a bottle of premium Champagne, souvenir Champagne flutes and chocolate truffles. A gourmet buffet dinner is served with complimentary coffee and tea. There is a DJ entertainer for music and dancing. Views change with every course.

Fourth of July VIP fireworks dinner cruise

Address: Pier 1 Hornblower Landing: 1800 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, California, USA

Website: Fourth of July VIP fireworks dinner cruise

Opening hours: July 4th, 2020: Boarding: 5:30pm & 6pm; Departure: 6:30pm & 7pm

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4. Christmas Day dinner cruise

Posted by Hornblower Cruises & Events San Diego on Thursday, 21 February 2019

Guests can enjoy a Christmas Day celebration onboard a luxury yacht. Holiday carolers welcome guests on board with a glass of Champagne or sparkling cider. They then settle in to enjoy a traditional holiday buffet out on the calm waters, surrounded by the beauty of San Diego Bay. The cruise takes two and a half hours during sunset on the bay. Views change with each course and a DJ entertainer plays music for dancing.

San Diego Christmas Day dinner cruise

Address: Pier 1 Hornblower Landing: 1800 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, California, USA

Website: San Diego Christmas Day dinner cruise

Opening hours: Dec 24, 2019: Boarding: 4:30pm; Departure: 5pm

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5. Lobster dinner cruise in San Diego

Posted by Hornblower Cruises & Events San Diego on Thursday, 21 February 2019

This three-hour cruise on a luxury yacht in San Diego Bay offers a choice of three-course dinner menus, prepared freshly on board the yacht. A selection of vegetarian, gluten-free and children’s options are available on request. Guests are welcomed on board with a glass of champagne or sparkling cider. Unforgettable views of San Diego from the yacht change with each course. A DJ plays music for dancing the night away.

Lobster dinner cruise in San Diego

Address: Pier 1 Hornblower Landing: 1800 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, California, USA

Website: Lobster dinner cruise in San Diego

Opening hours: Fri - Sat: Boarding: 6:30pm; Departure: 7pm (closed from Sun - Thu)

Price: 53.40 USD onwards

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6. Bands on the Bay dinner during the summers

Posted by Hornblower Cruises & Events San Diego on Thursday, 21 February 2019

Friday nights in summer in San Diego means live music. What better place to enjoy the live musical performances from the San Diego band Republic of Music than on a luxury yacht combined with a dinner cruise? Guests are welcomed on board with a glass of Champagne or sparkling cider. Dinner includes a choice of three-course dinner menus prepared fresh on the yacht, with vegetarian, gluten-free and children’s options available.

Bands on the Bay dinner in San Diego

Address: Pier 1 Hornblower Landing: 1800 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, California, USA

Website: Bands on the Bay Dinner in San Diego

Opening hours: Jun 7 - Sep 27: Friday: Boarding: 6:30pm; Departure: 7pm

Price: 53.40 USD onwards

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7. Sunday prime rib dinner cruise

Joining us for dinner? Here's a tip: try to grab parking at a metered spot by our boarding pier. After 8pm, they're...

Posted by Flagship Cruises & Events on Friday, 28 June 2019

This two-and-a-half-hour cruise is ideal for a group of family or friends to enjoy Sunday dinner in San Diego. Dine out on slow-roasted prime rib on a yacht, while enjoying the passing beautiful scenes of San Diego, with live musical entertainment. The cruise covers views of 25 miles (40.2 kilometers) of downtown from the water while dining. Vegetarian options are also available. After dining, enjoy dancing the night away.

Sunday prime rib dinner cruise

Address: Flagship Cruises & Events, 990 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, California, USA

Website: Sunday prime rib dinner cruise

Opening hours: Sunday: Boarding: 6pm; Departure 6:30pm

Price: 47.70 USD onwards

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8. California Cruisin’ dinner cruises

We are proud and happy to have this new addition to our fleet. "Seas the Days" is a beautiful Navigator 53' Motoryacht.

Posted by California Cruisin' Yacht Charters on Tuesday, 24 June 2014

Guests can enjoy a dinner cruise on San Diego Bay while watching the spectacular skyline go by. Dinner cruises are available on a luxurious power yacht for group charters of up to 49 people. Whatever the occasion, whether a birthday, wedding or romantic evening, professional staff will customize the dinner cruise to suit. Dine on superb cuisine and enjoy the glorious light show of San Diego waterfront by night.

California Cruisin’ dinner cruises

Address: Cabrillo Isle Marina, 1450 Harbor Island Drive, San Diego, California, USA

Website: California Cruisin’ dinner cruises

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9. San Diego luxury dinner cruise (from USD 117.0)

The adventure begins by heading to San Diego Grape Street Pier to board the luxury yacht. A glass of Champagne or sparkling cider is handed to guests on arrival. As the yacht heads out into the water, views over the San Diego skyline can be enjoyed. Then it is time to head to the guaranteed window seat to watch the sun go down as San Diego passes by. It is then time to enjoy a gourmet three-course meal prepared from fresh, locally-sourced seasonal ingredients along with a bottle of Champagne. After dinner, a DJ plays popular tunes to have guests dancing the evening away with the sparkling lights of San Diego on the horizon.

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San Diego Dinner Cruise

Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes

247 reviews

10. Dinner cruise with beer pairings (from USD 110.0)

Guests board a luxury yacht in San Diego harbor for a two-and-a-half-hour cruise. On the ship, there are a number of food stations where choices of smoked brisket, pasta, pulled pork, or grilled macaroni-and-cheese cakes are served, along with a choice of delicious desserts. It’s a great dining experience for foodies who are fond of sweets and dessert. Along the way, guests will enjoy four beer tastings from a rotating roster by regional craft breweries including Saint Archer Brewing Company and Stone Brewing Co., paired to perfectly match the meal. While the yacht sails along at sunset, guests are welcome to buy additional beers from the full bar or head up to the upper platform where a 360-degree view of the Coronado Bridge can be enjoyed. The party continues after dinner with a DJ and dancing.

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San Diego Harbor Luxury Yacht Dinner Cruise with Beer Pairings

Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes

26 reviews

Dine with a beautiful San Diego view

Whatever the occasion, get out on the water this year to dine in style while enjoying a delicious dinner cruise and taking in all the gorgeous views of the waterfront and harbor at the same time, on one of the best dinner cruises in San Diego, California, USA. While you’re here get aboard the San Diego Harbor Cruise or visit some dog-friendly beaches with your pets to make the most of your stay!

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Anne Sewell was born in England, but has spent most of her life in Africa - Malawi, Zimbabwe and South Africa - and now resides on the beautiful Costa del Sol in southern Spain. She loves writing...Read more

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