San Diego Shore Excursions

Across USA — laws, safety & health

National rules and risks that apply anywhere in USA — relayed from official sources, not our verdict. We pass on what the authority says and leave the judgement to you.

Laws that catch visitors out

• The national legal age for buying and drinking alcohol is 21.
• Illegal drugs, including cannabis, carry severe penalties — a long jail sentence and heavy fines, including when transiting through airports. (US federal law applies even where a state has legalised cannabis.)
• Always carry a passport showing you have permission to enter or remain in the US.
• US law prohibits importing, exporting, making, selling or transporting drug paraphernalia.

Drones

Visitors flying a drone recreationally in the US must take the FAA’s free online TRUST safety test and carry proof. A drone of 250 g or more must have Remote ID and be registered — on the FAA DroneZone, or by filing a Notice of Identification if it is already registered in your home country. Fly at or below 400 ft in uncontrolled (Class G) airspace, keep it within sight, and do not fly over people.

via US FAA — Recreational Flyers & Community-Based Organizations · 25 Jun 2026

Scams to watch

Do not leave passports in rental cars (especially the boot) — vehicles driven by people who look like tourists may be targeted.

Health hazards

The FCDO health page lists Zika virus, West Nile virus and altitude sickness (in parts of the country) among the health risks in the US. There is no reciprocal healthcare agreement — treatment is expensive, so comprehensive travel insurance is essential. Check current detail and vaccine recommendations on TravelHealthPro before you travel.

via UK FCDO travel advice — USA (health) · 18 Jul 2026

Relayed from UK FCDO travel advice — USA · checked 18 Jul 2026

Traffic drives on the right. Look left first when you cross the road.

Docking & terminals in San Diego

Two cruise terminals sit side by side on San Diego Bay's Embarcadero, which the port describes as "a two-mile stretch of downtown waterfront offering dining, shopping, lodging, museums, attractions and more". The majority of cruise ships dock at the larger B Street Pier & Cruise Ship Terminal; the Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier also handles cruise ships. Both piers have shore power.

• B Street Pier & Cruise Ship Terminal — In the heart of downtown — the port's own directions put the Santa Fe Depot rail station "only two blocks east of the terminals", and San Diego International Airport approximately two miles north (under 10 minutes' drive). (Walk straight off the pier into downtown: the port built and maintains the Embarcadero promenade, "designed and constructed for pedestrian use".)
• Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier — The neighbouring pier on North Harbor Drive, on the same downtown Embarcadero waterfront; Santa Fe Depot is likewise about two blocks east. (Also a venue for special events and public waterfront access, with a restaurant, visitor centre and public plaza (port's description); step off into downtown on foot.)

Mobility & step-free access

Getting around between the pier and town:

• Walk — The Embarcadero promenade is port-built and "designed and constructed for pedestrian use"; the USS Midway Museum sits on the same street as the piers (910 N. Harbor Drive).
• Train and trolley — Santa Fe Depot — "only two blocks east of the terminals" per the port's directions — serves Amtrak – Pacific Surfliner rail services, and San Diego MTS runs the bus and trolley network ("San Diego's light rail system"). Check routes and fares on the MTS site.
• Shuttle — FRED, described on the port's transportation page as a "low-cost electric shuttle in downtown San Diego".

Step-free options vary by pier and by the day — confirm the specifics with your operator and the ship’s guest-services desk before booking.

Heading back at the end of the day: The two piers are neighbours on North Harbor Drive but are separate buildings with separate gates — check which pier your sailing uses before arranging drop-off or pickup. The port asks that your ride drops you "beyond the gate, on the pier".

Cruise lines don’t always tell you which pier you’re on, and it’s easy to forget once you’re ashore. As you leave the ship, note or photograph your pier’s name — then give your taxi that exact pier (or your ship’s name) for the trip back.

Your exact pier is assigned per sailing — confirm it on the ship's daily programme or gangway signage before heading ashore.

Getting around & must-sees in San Diego

Getting around

Both cruise piers open directly onto downtown San Diego's waterfront — the port says "your adventure awaits as soon as you step off the ship" and that it is "almost always a perfect day for a stroll to nearby attractions".

• Walk — The Embarcadero promenade is port-built and "designed and constructed for pedestrian use"; the USS Midway Museum sits on the same street as the piers (910 N. Harbor Drive).
• Train and trolley — Santa Fe Depot — "only two blocks east of the terminals" per the port's directions — serves Amtrak – Pacific Surfliner rail services, and San Diego MTS runs the bus and trolley network ("San Diego's light rail system"). Check routes and fares on the MTS site.
• Shuttle — FRED, described on the port's transportation page as a "low-cost electric shuttle in downtown San Diego".

More on getting around ↗

Must-see sights

• USS Midway Museum — Aircraft-carrier museum at 910 N. Harbor Drive — the same street as the cruise piers — with "more than 30 restored aircraft and nearly 10 acres of exhibits"; open daily 10am–5pm, last admission 4pm.
• Balboa Park — "San Diego's ever-changing, always amazing, 1,200-acre backyard" — museums, gardens and performing arts, in the park's own words.
• San Diego Zoo — "Located in Balboa Park, minutes from downtown San Diego" — the zoo's own description; 2920 Zoo Drive.

Taxis & ride-hailing — Uber, Lyft work here — both are listed on the Port of San Diego's own transportation page, alongside taxis (confirm in the app — you’ll need mobile data).

Getting back to the pier

Head back to North Harbor Drive — both piers are on the downtown waterfront, with Santa Fe Depot about two blocks away for rail and trolley connections.

• Trolley — San Diego MTS bus and trolley connect via Santa Fe Depot, "only two blocks east of the terminals" (port directions).
• Taxi — Taxis serve the whole San Diego region (port-listed); rides may drop you "beyond the gate, on the pier" per the port's boarding tips.

More on getting back ↗

Key facts only — confirm times, fares and seasonal openings locally.

Operator policies we’ve checked in San Diego

Before a tour earns its trust pills, we read the operator’s own site — their terms, cancellation and accessibility pages — and relay what they state. These are the operators’ own terms, not our verdicts; confirm when booking.

• Bike and Kayak Tours, Inc.

  • Cancellation policy — Cancellation is possible up to 24 hours ahead, but a 10% non-refundable deposit always applies — not a free cancellation.

  Checked 20 Jul 2026 · covers 1 tour listed on this page

• Border Tours

  • Cancellation policy — No published cancellation window could be verified on the operator's own site — check the booking platform's policy before booking.

  Checked 20 Jul 2026 · covers 1 tour listed on this page

• Cruise San Diego

  • Free cancellation — verified on the operator’s own site

  Checked 20 Jul 2026 · covers 1 tour listed on this page

• Everyday California

  • Cancellation policy — The operator reportedly runs a 48-hour change and cancellation policy — we could not verify this at their site, so confirm before booking.

  Checked 20 Jul 2026 · covers 1 tour listed on this page

• Legacy Whale Watch

  • Free cancellation — verified on the operator’s own site

  Checked 20 Jul 2026 · covers 1 tour listed on this page

• Next Level Sailing

  • Cancellation policy — The operator reportedly refunds cancellations made more than 48 hours ahead (7 days for larger groups) — we could not verify this at their site, so confirm before booking.

  Checked 20 Jul 2026 · covers 1 tour listed on this page

• Old Town Trolley Tours of San Diego (Historic Tours of America)

  • Cancellation policy — Refunds before the travel date carry a 10% fee (waived only with Trip Protection); tickets are non-refundable after the travel date. Booked via a platform, the platform's policy applies.

  Checked 20 Jul 2026 · covers 2 tours listed on this page

• San Diego Beer, Wine & Spirits Tours

  • Cancellation policy — Refunds are typically not issued once booked; the operator may offer a reschedule or gift certificate at their discretion.

  Checked 20 Jul 2026 · covers 1 tour listed on this page

• San Diego Jet Ski Rentals

  • Free cancellation — verified on the operator’s own site

  Checked 20 Jul 2026 · covers 1 tour listed on this page

• San Diego SEAL Tours (Historic Tours of America)

  • Cancellation policy — Date-specific tickets are non-refundable; the operator offers rescheduling up to 24 hours ahead rather than a refund.

  Checked 20 Jul 2026 · covers 1 tour listed on this page

• San Diego Whale Watch

  • Cancellation policy — Cancellations are accepted up to 24 hours before departure, but the terms do not state whether a refund follows — confirm before booking.

  Checked 20 Jul 2026 · covers 1 tour listed on this page

• Snorkel San Diego (Scuba San Diego)

  • Cancellation policy — No general cancellation window is published on the operator's own site — confirm the booking platform's policy before booking.

  Checked 20 Jul 2026 · covers 1 tour listed on this page

• So Diego Tours

  • Cancellation policy — The operator's cancellation terms could not be verified at their own site during our check — confirm the window before booking.

  Checked 20 Jul 2026 · covers 1 tour listed on this page

• Wild Pacific Whale Watch

  • Cancellation policy — Operator T&C offers refunds for cancellations made at least 48 hours ahead (no-shows not refunded) — attribution to this operator awaits confirmation, so the pill is withheld.

  Checked 20 Jul 2026 · covers 1 tour listed on this page

How we check, and what “not stated” means

Local know-hows in San Diego

Money

Currency

United States dollar (USD)

Cards

Credit cards are widely accepted throughout the U.S., including for hotels, dining, entertainment, and public transportation.

ATMs

ATMs are found across the country.

Tipping

Tipping is a common practice, especially at restaurants; many service employees rely on tips. Some restaurants automatically add a gratuity for parties of six or more, usually noted on the menu or check.

Practicalities

Tap water

Tap water is supplied by the City of San Diego Public Utilities Department, which "conducts regular water sampling and quality testing throughout the distribution system" and states that in more than 100 years it has "never sold a drop of water deemed unsafe by any local, state or federal agency". Supply blends nine local reservoirs with water imported from hundreds of miles away, serving nearly 2 million people; quality is reported annually in the state-mandated Drinking Water Quality Report under California State Water Resources Control Board and US EPA oversight.

Plugs

110/120 volts (standardised across the United States); international visitors may need a voltage converter for 220/240V appliances. Laptops, razors and cameras usually have built-in converters.

More practical info ↗

Key facts to know before you step off — confirm anything time-sensitive locally.

Port busyness in San Diego

Usually quiet

San Diego is a big-city home port: the port's 2026–27 schedule lists 177 ship calls, concentrated October to April, and the downtown waterfront absorbs cruise crowds easily.

Peak pattern: Season runs roughly October to April; several dates carry two or more ships at once (port's 2026–27 schedule).

• Large downtown city absorbs crowds
• Season concentrated October–April
• Some multi-ship days
• Two terminals in the heart of the city

This shows a typical day for the time of year — actual crowds vary on your date, and it isn’t a guarantee.

What we’ve checked in San Diego — and when

We last checked the facts on this page on 20 Jul 2026. Live travel advisories refresh automatically from the official sources.

Docking & getting ashore

Verified by The Excursion Edit against official sources · 20 Jul 2026

Getting around

Verified by The Excursion Edit against official sources · 20 Jul 2026

How busy it gets

Verified by The Excursion Edit against official sources · 20 Jul 2026

Operator policies

From each operator’s own site and terms · 20 Jul 2026

Travel advisories

FCDO (GOV.UK) & US State Department · refreshed automatically

How we check, and what “not stated” means