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Online Ticket Sales: 2.3% credit card fee and a 6% online ticket fee will be added to your total.
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Walk-up General Admission tickets are available at the ticket booth.
General Admission
- Open daily 10am to 5pm
- The entry gate closes daily at 4:00 pm, visitors already at the museum can stay until the final 5 pm shutdown.
- General Admission ticket good all day, walk-up tickets also available.
- Visit the museum’s historic ships, for ONE low price.
- General Museum Information, Location, and Parking
- ADA Visitors Information
Adult 18+: $24.00
Senior 62+, Military w/ID, Students 13-17 years: $18.00
Child 12 to 3: $12.00
*Child 2 & under: $zero (*General Admission is free for children 2 and under but requires payment for any add-on activities)
Online sales end 8 am day of
Walk-up tickets are available at the ticket booth till sold out.
Unique 45 minute Historic Bay Cruise aboard the 1914 Pilot.
Includes Museum General Admission
Enjoy a narrated bay cruise aboard the oldest active pilot boat in the country! From her launching in 1914 to her removal from regular service in 1996, the Pilot enjoyed an active career as San Diego’s chief pilot craft – assisting almost every one of the thousands of major commercial ships to enter or leave the bay during that time.
Enjoy this unique one of a kind cruise, only at the Maritime Museum of San Diego!
Tickets range: $34 to $10 and includes general admission for the day
- Boarding starts at the early time listed on your ticket. Check-in at least 15 minutes before (we suggest 30 minutes)
- This is a narrated cruise describing the history of San Diego Bay.
- You can check-in as early as 10am, enjoy the Museum before and/or after your cruise. Ticket includes general admission.
- Click for more Historic Bay Cruise info.
- Click for General Admission info.
Online sales end 8 am day of
Walk-up tickets are available at the ticket booth till sold out, Saturday & Sunday.
Take a high-speed Naval History Tour
aboard a legendary Swift Boat
Available Saturday & Sundays (and some weekday holidays)
75 minute narrated tour aboard Swift Boat PCF816, includes Museum General Admission
Feel the history & power of the twin 12 cylinder Detroit Diesels as you take a behind the scenes tour of San Diego Bays military history. Tour route heads under Coronado Bay Bridge, Naval Base San Diego, and then Naval Amphibious Base. It then heads back by the aircraft carrier basin and Naval Air Station North Island before returning to the Museum.
Enjoy this unique one of a kind adventure, only at the Maritime Museum of San Diego!
Tickets range: $39 to $15
- Boarding starts at the early time listed on your ticket. Check-in at least 15 minutes before (we suggest 30 minutes)
- This is a narrated tour describing PCF 816‘s role in the U.S., Malta, Viet Nam, Swift Boat sailors, and the above establishments on the Bay, plus a high speed run to feel the unique power of the twin 12 cylinder engines.
- You can check-in as early as 10am, enjoy the Museum before and/or after your tour. Ticket includes general admission.
- Click for more Swift Boat Naval History Tour info.
- Click for General Admission info.
Tall Ship Adventure aboard Californian
Tall Ship Adventure Sail is a four-hour adventure history sail aboard the schooner Californian.
Join the crew in sailing a traditionally rigged tall ship. Passengers will be invited to haul a line, man the helm and end their day with a cannon salute.
4 hour sail, boards at 11:30, returns 4:00pm – Tickets range $119.00 to $69.00
- Boarding starts at 11:30am
- Sail is 4 hours and returns to the museum at 4pm
- You can check-in as early as 10am, enjoy the Museum before and/or after your sail. Ticket includes general admission.
- Click for more Tall Ship Adventures info.
- Includes General Admission to the Maritime Museum
San Salvador Sailing Adventure
The San Salvador is a replica of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo’s ship that arrived at the port we now call San Diego on September 28, 1542.
These 4 hour Sailing Adventures are for people who love history, and sailing. Very few people have sailed aboard Galleons of the sixteenth century and these day sails will offer the public a chance to be aboard the magnificent galleon, the San Salvador.
4 hour sail, boards at 11:30, returns 4:00pm – Tickets range $119.00 to $69.00
- Boarding starts at 11:30am
- Sail is 4 hours and returns to the museum at 4pm
- You can check-in as early as 10am, enjoy the Museum before and/or after your sail. Ticket includes general admission.
- Schedule is subject to change. Any new times will be noted on ticket.
- Click for more San Salvador Adventure Sailing info.
- Includes General Admission to the Maritime Museum
Guided Docent Led Tours
See the ships like never before, learn of the ships in-depth stories from our trained and knowledgeable historians. This is your opportunity to enjoy the waterfront sights of San Diego Bay and meet other people with like interest in maritime heritage and history.
2nd & 4th Wednesdays of each month
$35 per person.
Guided Docent Led Tour Ticket, includes General Admission, good till 5pm. Once at the museum, one can add-on a 45 min Historic Bay Cruise, leave the museum for lunch, return and explore. Lot’s of food options in close walking distance.
BOARDED A New Pirate Adventure
Upcoming 2024 performance dates, two shows per date:
Oct 19
Nov 30
Dec 28
This hilarious 90 minute interactive show puts you right in the middle of the pirate action.
Choose from two show times.
Ship boarding times are 10:30am, 12:45pm (please check-in 15~30 minutes before)
Tickets:
Adult $85.00
Child 12 & under $35.00
For Group Discounts please contact Jim Davis >>> Click Here to Send email
Please note: The Boarded Pirate Show includes play gunfire, which may frighten young children. If your child might be startled by loud noises, we recommend using ear plugs.
Sails are not set for BOARDED
Tim Flannery & The Lunatic Fringe
Aboard The Star of India. Event returns to the Maritime Museum of San Diego
The beloved former San Diego Padres, MLB broadcaster network show announcer and analyst turned musician and passionate philanthropist has performed this annual holiday concert aboard Star of India 20 times. His ace band, the Lunatic Fringe, brings his songs roaring to life in various musical genres like bluegrass, country, and rock.
Saturday December 21, 2024 • Tickets: $99.00 VIP, $65.00 general admission.
This is a 21 and over event.
- 21 and over event
- VIP gate entry 6:00pm
- General admission entry 7:00pm
- Concert ends 10:00 p.m.
- Click for more Tim Flannery info.
Parade of Lights Viewing Dinner
Our annual fundraiser is held aboard the Berkeley steam ferry. Complete with dinner and is a spectacular platform for viewing the Parade of Lights on the bay.
2023 Theme: Peace on Earth
Since the Berkeley is the judging platform for the Parade of Lights awards, this event is typically a sell-out and its popularity has grown over the years. It is a perfect way to celebrate the holidays with friends and family, while supporting the Maritime Museum of San Diego.
Two nights, Sunday December 8 & Sunday December 15, 2024 • Ticket range, $70.00 – $35.00, with a private table option.
- Tables seat 8, smaller parties share a table.
- Choose seating by ticket zones
- Dinner check-in starts at 4:30pm
- Dinner served 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. only
- Click for more info.
SAVE WITH CITYPASS®
One simple San Diego CityPASS® purchase saves up to 45%
Online sales end 8 am day of:
Walk-up General Admission tickets are available at the ticket booth.
Swift Boat(Sat & Sun) & Historic Bay Cruise tickets are available at the ticket booth till sold out.
Online Ticket Sales: 2.3% credit card fee and a 6% online ticket fee will be added to your total.
The final price will be displayed before checkout.
Give the gift of Maritime Museum of San Diego Membership, Click Here.
As a member of the Maritime Museum of San Diego, you support our preservation and education efforts, and in return receive many benefits! Bring the adventure and discovery to life as often as you would like – choose the membership plan that is right for you.
All Members receive the following benefits:
- Unlimited Museum admission for one year
- Guest Pass(es)
- Pass(es) for Pilot’s Historic Bay Cruise
- 10% Museum store discount
- Full & By digital membership newsletter
- Discount or free admission to special events
- Invitations to exhibit previews
- Invitations to Member Nights
- Use of Museum library
Patrons receive additional benefits, including:
- Mains’l Haul, the Museum’s esteemed Journal of Pacific Maritime History
- Reciprocal admissions through the Council of American Maritime Museums
- Passes for additional sailing adventures +more
Through membership, you support the Maritime Museum of San Diego, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and presenting our rich Pacific maritime heritage.
Maritime Museum of San Diego Gift Cards, good for Sailings aboard Californian or San Salvador, General Admission, Harbor Bay Cruise, and Swift Boat Tours.
Gift Cards can be redeemed on-line (link included with Gift Card), or by contacting support@sdmaritime.org
Your gift card may only be used for making purchases with Maritime Museum of San Diego, and cannot be redeemed for cash unless required by law.
Your Maritime Museum of San Diego general admission ticket includes an Embarcadero Adventure Offer discount at the Midway Museum! Midway savings: $5 off Adult General Admission, $3.00 off Youth or Veteran ticket.
When you visit the Midway Museum and purchase general admission you can present your proof of purchase to the Maritime Museum Ticket booth and save! Maritime Museum savings: $5 off Adult General Admission, $3 off Child ticket (age 3-12), Seniors and Military at the Maritime Museum of San Diego.
Each discount applies for up to 6 people. To redeem, show your Maritime Museum of San Diego ticket at the entrance or ticket purchasing station.
All discounts above cannot be combined with other offers, discounts, products, or cruises.
Offer excludes event tickets, member event tickets, and cannot be combined with other group rates.
Testimonials
“Want to do something different than the touristy stuff on San Diego Bay? Get on the Dolphin submarine, look through the periscope, and imagine what it was like to be 3000 feet undersea! Go under deck on the Star of India and imagine what it was like to be with 400 other emigrants for 5 months at sea! Take a tour of the bay on a 100+ year old ship and go under the Coronado bridge while looking at current Navy ships! So many things to see, and definitely something different to do (and kid friendly!) Thank you to the many volunteers that make this experience possible!”
You have a great museum. Fortunate enough to have visited from Illinois three times over the past 20 years.
“Both Keke and our captain were amazing. Very informative and funny. Took out my boys 6 and 10 as well as my mother in law. My mother in law has lived in San Diego for over 50 years and learned many things even she was surprised about. Highly recommend adding the boat tour to your museum trip.”
Wow what a day out first of all make sure you look round all the boats and take your time, but the trip on the California was amazing help out the crew in pulling up the sails get involved when ever you can you’ll learn so much in the time you are there. Recommend this to everyone so much to see too and more than worth the price of the ticket thank you to all on board for making this a special day out.
“We opted to add the Swift boat harbor tour once we got there. You MUST add this to your museum tour. You get a 75 minute tour of the harbor mainly focusing on the Navy ships moored down on 32nd Street. The Docent was an old Vietnam Swift boat crewman and is well versed on the history of that boat and anything else at the museum. Ran into this guy 3 different times while in the museum and he just kept giving out information like a walking encyclopedia.”
“What a great museum!! We got to walk around several amazing ships, and two submarines. It was very informational, and very fun! We also took the optional bay cruise, and it was really great!! Our tour guide was Kiki and she shared a lot of very interesting facts and tidbits with us. Overall, a really great day!!“
“Stopped by here on Memorial Day. And I must say, it’s a lot of fun. Went out there with the whole fam bam and wifey and I had already checked out the midway (lots and lots of walking) so we decided to check out the other ship. We caught one of those bike thingy’s over to the Maritime Museum and paid a pretty high entrance fee, but it also came with a Swift boat ride with some awesome maneuvers and they even let my kids drive the boat!! WHICH WAS AWESOME!! We walked to the submarine first. I’m a “Fluffy” guy, it was a tad bit tight in there for me, but it was cool nonetheless…My kids took a nap on the bunks, and my daughter “drove” the submarine…lol. It was so much fun. From there we went to the next couple of ships, until it was time to get on the Swift, Vietnam War era boat! Now that ride was ABSOLUTELY worth it! Overall we had a great time, took lots of pictures, and had an amazing experience. Definitely worth the price tag you have to pay at the entrance…. Thank the gentleman on the boat ride for treating us so well, and giving my kids swift pins! Definitely 5+ Stars!”
