Hafen
San Diego

Sample the highlights of San Diego during this guided excursion. Take a city drive to see the Embarcadero, Seaport Village and downtown San Diego. You'll drive through the magnificent 1200 acre Balboa Park, the nation’s largest urban cultural park. Then onto the seaside village of La Jolla, considered the "Jewel of Southern California." Indulge in free time to shop and explore this affluent, hilly seaside resort community featuring boutiques, restaurants and galleries. Last stop is San Diego’s historic Old Town offering the finest in theater, galleries, shops and free, live entertainment.

Discover ‘America’s Finest City’ at night during this picturesque evening sightseeing excursion to San Diego via trolley.

San Diego, Waterfront, Seaport Village, Gaslamp Quarter, Bright Lights, Victorian Architecture

Depart the pier aboard the ‘Old Town Trolley’ for an approximately 1.75-hour ride around San Diego. Your journey kicks off with an exploration of San Diego’s downtown waterfront and Seaport Village whilst enjoying easy listening music with minimal narration. Continue on to the Gaslamp Quarter, the West Coast’s premier entertainment district. Famed for its vibrant nightlife, bright lights, and Victorian architecture, this unforgettable cosmopolitan playground captivates the imagination.

Balboa Park, Coronado Bridge, Hotel & Ferry Landing, City Skyline, Photo Stop

Next, head to Balboa Park, the largest urban cultural park in the US, with its ornate buildings, fountains, and statues glowing brightly. Transformed at night, they are equally as remarkable in the evening as they are during the day. From Balboa Park, ride to the top of the Coronado Bridge for more spectacular sights, including the lights coming in from Tijuana, the bay, and downtown San Diego. At Coronado’s Ferry Landing, a brief photo stop is made for stunning panoramic vistas and photo opportunities of the San Diego city skyline from across the bay. Afterward, marvel at the beautiful lights of the Hotel Del Coronado.

Little Italy, Administration Building, Maritime Museum, Antique Ships, USS Midway, Embarcadero

Your route travels through San Diego’s exciting Little Italy, a chic, pedestrian-friendly neighbourhood packed with trendy cocktail bars, brewpubs, and restaurants with bustling patios. From here, pass by the uniquely-lit Historic County Administration Building and view a wonderfully-diverse collection of antique ships docked at the Maritime Museum. Included are a steam ferry from 1898 and the Star of India, the world’s oldest, operational, iron-hulled sailing vessel. Finally, pass by the USS Midway and take in beautiful bayfront views at Embarcadero. Your tour concludes back at the pier.

Experience the wonderful flavours and scenery of San Diego’s Little Italy neighbourhood at night during this bespoke outing to a pair of local restaurants.

San Diego, Historic Little Italy Neighbourhood, Local Restaurants

Depart the pier with your guide, after sunset, for a short walk to Little Italy neighbourhood. It’s the perfect neighbourhood to stroll in for brunch, lunch, dinner, coffee, or a quick bite. Many creative restaurateurs have established Little Italy as the ideal location for their unique restaurant concepts, including pastries, desserts, bakeries, and gelatos. Whilst you can get some of the city’s best Italian food here, you can also find a myriad of delicious desserts and locally crafted cocktails.

Guided Walking Tour, Elegant Landmarks, Historical Buildings

Upon arrival, take a guided walking tour through this charming neighbourhood. Along the way, your guide shares local insights about the elegant landmarks and historical buildings, their cultural significance, and the global influences that have had a hand into making San Diego a favourite foodie destination. Following your walking tour, your guide takes you to unique spots to sample unique pairings of some of San Diego’s most renowned local desserts and cocktails.

Le Parfait Paris & Techo Beso Restaurants, Dessert & Cocktail Pairings

At the first restaurant, Le Parfait Paris, enjoy a glass of Prosecco with one of their signature desserts (an almond biscuit and praline crisp crust topped with dark chocolate mousse). Following this delicious pairing, proceed on-foot to the second restaurant, Techo Beso, for an espresso martini accompanied by a slice of tres leches cake (traditional sponge cake topped with fresh mango and cream). Additional drinks and desserts are available at each guest’s own expense. At the conclusion of your evening desserts and cocktail tour, make your way back to the pier with your guide

Explore the history and flavours of San Diego during this culinary, half-day walking tour of Little Italy.

Depart the pier for the short drive to the bustling Little Italy neighbourhood. Once home to generations of Italian families who earned a living in sunny San Diego’s flourishing fishing industry, Little Italy is today a neighbourhood filled with restaurants, cafes, brew pubs, wineries, and exquisite views of the bay. Upon arrival at the Piazza Della Famiglia Fountain, begin your guided, foodie walking tour through Little Italy.

The first stop on your foodie tour is at a local restaurant for an appetizer and wine tasting. Afterward, continue on to your second stop for a delicious Italian meal served family-style with wine. Leaving the restaurant, take a scenic stroll through some local artisan shoppes that have thrived here in San Diego for generations.

Next, walk to a restaurant in a nearby hotel that is perched on a little hill and has big windows offering panoramic views of your surrounds. Upon arrival, sit back and relax whilst enjoying Sangria and small bites accompanied by breath-taking vistas overlooking Little Italy, the downtown area, and harbour. Leaving the hotel, a final stop is made at a local gelato shoppe with many varieties of homemade gelato. Afterward, some free time is made available for shopping and exploring at your leisure. Following your tour, re-board your coach and commence the short drive back to the pier.

Experience the ‘Birthplace of California’ and a ‘haunted’ house during this self-guided sightseeing excursion to Old Town State Park via trolley.

San Diego, Old Town State Park, Historical Buildings, Shopping, Restaurants

Depart the pier aboard the ‘Old Town Trolley’ for a short ride to nearby Old Town State Park, a thriving historical, cultural, and commercial district. Known as the ‘Birthplace of California’, San Diego’s Old Town State Park is the ancestral land of the first people, the Kuymeyaay, who lived in this area for 12,000 years. Your self-guided, at-leisure experience begins here where you can connect to the region’s past whilst exploring a slew of cultural destinations, including 27 historic buildings, shopping, and over 30 dining experiences, many of them Mexican-themed.

‘Haunted’ Whaley House, Self-Guided Tour

After exploring and browsing Old Town State Park, a short walk brings you to the Whaley House, known as America’s most haunted home. Following a brief introduction about the house and Whaley family, proceed at your own pace whilst learning about this fascinating landmark and its macabre history. A hub for the San Diego community from 1857 to early-20th century, the house was thought to be haunted due to its construction on the site of a former gallows, and the untimely death of toddler Thomas Whaley, Jr. Visitor reports include seeing images of six of the Whaley family members, and hearing baby Thomas crying. Afterward, walk back a few blocks to the Old Town Trolley and commence the short drive back to the pier.

Explore the history and iconic sites of San Diego in a unique new way during this scenic sightseeing excursion via trolley.

San Diego, Embarcadero, Seaport Village, USS Midway Aircraft Carrier, Gaslamp Quarter

Depart the pier aboard the ‘Old Town Trolley’ for an approximately two-hour, fully-narrated ride around San Diego and Coronado, with opportunities to hop on-and-off the trolley at 11 conveniently-located stops en route. Learn about the rich and remarkable heritage of San Diego, the ‘Birthplace of California’, and hear entertaining stories about its historical figures and landmarks. Your journey aboard this open-air, orange-and-green-coloured trolley begins with a ride along the Embarcadero towards Seaport Village, and past the renowned USS Midway aircraft carrier. Continue through the Gaslamp Quarter, the West Coast’s premier entertainment district and an architectural delight, famed for its vibrant nightlife and Victorian-era buildings.

Barrio Logan, Chicano Park, Murals, Coronado, Hotel Del Coronado, Naval Air Station, Balboa Park

Next, ride through Barrio Logan, a neighbourhood with a distinctive, Mexican-American flavour. Its cultural past is depicted in bold murals throughout the local Chicano Park, and elsewhere around the district. From here, ascend a bridge more than 200 feet (about 61 metres) above sea level en route to Coronado, the ‘Crown City’. This distinctive resort ‘island’ community is home to the beautiful and historic Hotel Del Coronado, as well as the west coast location of America’s Pacific Fleet at Naval Air Station North Island. Crossing back over the bridge to San Diego, continue to Balboa Park. The nation’s largest urban cultural park, it is home to 17 museums, spectacular gardens, and the world-famous San Diego Zoo.

Little Italy, Old Town, State Historic Park, Museums, Whaley House, Maritime Museum, Star of India

Your sojourn continues to Little Italy, a chic, pedestrian-friendly neighbourhood packed with trendy cocktail bars, brewpubs, and restaurants with bustling patios. Your next stop is the Old Town, the ‘Birthplace of California’. The Old Town’s State Historic Park is populated with free museums in restored buildings that represent life in the 1800s. It is also home to the Whaley House, America’s most ‘haunted’ domicile. During the ride back to the pier, pass by a diverse collection of watercrafts docked at the Maritime Museum, including a steam ferry from 1898 and the Star of India, the world’s oldest, operational, iron-hulled sailing vessel. Upon arrival at the pier, return to the ship on-foot.

Experience the wonderful flavours and scenery of San Diego at night during this bespoke outing to a pair of rooftop bars.

Depart the pier in the early-evening for the short drive to downtown San Diego. Upon arrival, take a guided walking tour of the downtown area. Along the way, your guide points out the historical buildings and their significance. Following your walking tour, proceed for stops at notable rooftop bars for craft cocktails.

Upon arrival at the first rooftop bar, enjoy some of the best craft cocktails in San Diego accompanied by breath-taking panoramic vistas of the downtown area and San Diego Bay. Afterward, take a stroll to the second rooftop bar for more of the same, exquisite views, this time served with small bites accompanied by a glass of wine or prosecco to toast your evening. At the conclusion of your tour, re-board your coach and commence the short drive back to the pier.

Why not make your concluding journey day an on-land cruise through California’s oldest and most enchanting city?  

A jaunt to La Jolla

Depart the port on a scenic waterfront drive traversing the Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego’s 16-block enclave chock full of restored Victorian-era buildings housing bistros, boutiques, and bars. You’re headed for picturesque La Jolla, an epicenter of extraordinary beauty and home to what must be SoCal’s most photographed beach. Take about 45 minutes of free time here to gaze on spectacular sea views and graze the shops and galleries before reboarding for the drive to the largest Little Italy in the US, where your Foodie Walking tour will commence.

Bite and Wander in Little Italy

Guided by a seasoned gastro-expert, wander one of the most stylish – and authentic – dining neighborhoods in San Diego. All of Little Italy is decked in flowers, its restaurants and shops kept fastidiously small and local. Your stroll sets out from the fountain in Piazza della Famiglia, as your knowledgeable guide shares stories of the immigrant fisherman who settled here over 100 years ago, anchoring the character of this remarkably vibrant neighborhood. Stop in at three local restaurants for tastings of homemade pasta, veal, or lamb delicacies accompanied by wine or a soft drink. Savor a vino tasting at a local wine bar and call on a sweets emporium for gelato or pastry. Ample time is allowed for this relaxed culinary adventure.

Balboa Park & Old Town

A short drive onward is Balboa Park, a 1,200-acre Spanish-style wonderland created for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition and awash in water gardens, museums, and theatres. Following your 45 minutes at leisure here, it’s on to a similar-length exploration of Old Town San Diego, where the stories of early California and Mexico converge. Soak up some of the rich history and color here before heading to the airport and your flight home.   

This tour concludes at San Diego International Airport and is recommended for those guests with international flights departing after 8pm and domestic flights departing after 7pm.  

Cap off your Silversea ocean voyage with a half-day landside tour of California’s oldest city and its dramatic coastline before being dropped at the airport for your flight home.   

Your scenic survey begins with a narrated drive along the waterfront, traversing the heart of downtown San Diego and the Gaslamp Quarter, a beautifully restored Victorian-era enclave chock full of bistros, boutiques, and bars. Soon, you’ll arrive at Balboa Park, a lush 1,200-acre Spanish-style wonderland created for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition and awash in water gardens, museums, and theatres. Enjoy 45 minutes of free time to experience why this architectural and botanical gem is a National Historic Landmark. You’ll experience a sense of tranquility and leave feeling rejuvenated after your time in the gardens.

Next up is picturesque La Jolla, perched a half-hour’s drive northward along the coast. This epicenter of natural beauty is best known for its extraordinary cliff vistas and one of the most photographed beaches in SoCal. During your 45-minute visit, you’ll be free to take in jaw-dropping Pacific Coast views and be tempted by the casual fashion and artisanal goods displayed at the many quaint shops and galleries in town.

Back on the coach, enjoy the ride to your next destination, Old Town San Diego, where a wealth of preserved historic buildings from the early and mid-1800s commemorate the earliest days of California itself. Spend an hour amongst landmarks, boutiques, and cafes steeped in colorful – and delicious – Mexican influences before reboarding your transport for the final leg of today’s journey: drop-off at the airline terminal for your flight home.  

This tour concludes at San Diego International Airport and is recommended for those guests with international flights departing after 4pm and domestic flights departing after 3pm.  

Explore San Diego at your leisure during your full-day (8-Hour) sightseeing tour via private car. Customize your own itinerary or choose to see an overview of the area's highlights.

Depart the pier with your English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned car and discover the city and surrounding areas at your own pace. Your exclusive tour concludes back at the pier.

The car can accommodate a maximum of 2 guests.

Explore San Diego at your leisure during your half-day (4-Hour) sightseeing tour via private car. Customize your own itinerary or choose to see an overview of the area's highlights.

Depart the pier with your English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned car and discover the city and surrounding areas at your own pace. Your exclusive tour concludes back at the pier.

The car can accommodate a maximum of 2 guests.

Explore San Diego at your leisure during your half-day (8-Hour) sightseeing tour via private van. Customize your own itinerary or choose to see an overview of the area's highlights.

Depart the pier with your English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned van and discover the city and surrounding areas at your own pace. Your exclusive tour concludes back at the pier.

The van can accommodate a maximum of 5 guests.

Explore San Diego at your leisure during your half-day (4-Hour) sightseeing tour via private van. Customize your own itinerary or choose to see an overview of the area's highlights.

Depart the pier with your English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned van and discover the city and surrounding areas at your own pace. Your exclusive tour concludes back at the pier.

The van can accommodate a maximum of 5 guests.

Indulge in a relaxing and romantic champagne cruise through the canals and waterways of the Coronado Cays during this sunset gondola excursion.

San Diego, Coronado Cays, Gondola Cruise, Canals, Waterways, Champagne, Chocolate Truffles

Depart the pier for the scenic, approximately 40-minute drive to the Coronado Cays. Upon arrival, embark your Venetian-style gondola and begin your cruise just before sunset. A gondola cruise is the perfect way to enjoy a relaxing time on the water. During your cruise through the canals and waterways of the Coronado Cays, your gondolier recounts the history of the canals whilst you enjoy Italian music, sip on champagne, and delight in the chocolate truffles you receive as a welcome gift.

Breath-Taking Panoramic Views, Photo Opportunities

After sunset is the most romantic time to be on the gondola. It is frequently quieter and calmer, but there is still plenty of ambient light to see where you are going and delight in the breath-taking panoramic views and photo opportunities of San Diego. Your gondola cruise concludes back at the Coronado Cays. Upon arrival, disembark the gondola, re-board your coach, and commence the approximately 40-minute drive back to the pier.

Discover the awe-inspiring wonders off the coast of San Diego during this exhilarating, half-day whale-watching excursion via RIB-boat.

Depart the pier for the short drive to the boat-launch pier. Upon arrival, meet your captain/guide, and receive your whale-watching safety and tour instructions. Afterward, embark your Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) and begin your panoramic, approximately three-hour whale-watching adventure. The low-profile RIB boats enable you to get closer to the marine life, and their small size enables maximum manoeuvrability to cover greater distances at speeds up to 50 m.p.h. (about 80 k.p.h.).

The waters of San Diego Bay and the Pacific Ocean are a haven for numerous species of fish, marine life, and seabirds. During your whale-watching experience, make sure you hold on tight whilst marvelling at the breath-taking natural beauty of the coast and ocean. Upon spotting the whales, your experienced captain/guide approaches within a safe distance to observe them.

In addition to these sea giants, you might catch a glimpse of other abundant and diverse marine life and seabirds commonly found here. Species you may see during your exhilarating RIB-boat-ride include seals, sea lions, sharks, dolphins, pelicans, cormorants, and many others. Your whale-watching adventure concludes back at the boat-launch pier. Upon arrival, disembark your RIB-boat, re-board your coach, and commence the short drive back to the ship.