Maritime Museum of San Diego Ticket
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E-tickets accepted
Flexible Tickets
USD 30
Climb the rigging-shadowed deck of a ship launched in 1863 and still sailing today. Duck through the hatch of a Cold War submarine. Stand on the quarterdeck of the frigate from Master and Commander.
The Maritime Museum of San Diego spreads across the Embarcadero waterfront as a fleet rather than a building, with more than a dozen historic vessels you can board and explore. Book your tickets and step aboard five centuries of seafaring history!
The Maritime Museum of San Diego spreads across the Embarcadero waterfront as a fleet rather than a building, with more than a dozen historic vessels you can board and explore. Book your tickets and step aboard five centuries of seafaring history!
Key Highlights
- Board the Star of India, the world’s oldest active sailing ship
- Explore HMS Surprise, the frigate from Master and Commander
- Descend into the USS Dolphin, the world’s deepest-diving research submarine
- Step inside the Soviet-era B-39 submarine
- Walk the decks of the San Salvador, a replica 16th-century Spanish galleon
- Discover below-deck galleries on the 1898 steam ferry Berkeley
- See the Californian, California’s official state tall ship
- Admire the elegant 1904 steam yacht Medea
About Maritime Museum of San Diego Ticket
The Maritime Museum of San Diego is not a museum you walk around so much as one you climb aboard. Stretched along the Embarcadero waterfront, its collection is a working fleet of historic vessels, nearly all of them open for visitors to board, explore and descend into. It has been named among the finest maritime museums in the world.
The star of the fleet is the Star of India, launched in 1863 on the Isle of Man and still the oldest active sailing ship in existence. Her history reads like fiction, surviving a collision, a mutiny and a cyclone on her first voyages before going on to circumnavigate the globe twenty-one times and carry waves of emigrants to new lives. She still sails.
Nearby sits HMS Surprise, a replica eighteenth-century Royal Navy frigate familiar to anyone who has seen Master and Commander, and the San Salvador, a recreation of the Spanish galleon that first reached California in 1542. The 1898 steam ferry Berkeley holds below-deck galleries of maritime history, naval exploration, vintage photography and finely detailed ship models.
Then you go underwater. The USS Dolphin was the United States Navy’s deepest-diving research submarine, and the B-39 is a Soviet attack submarine from the Cold War. Both are open to walk through, and both are a lesson in just how little space sailors had.
Most visitors spend two to three hours working along the waterfront. A narrated historic bay cruise can be added to your ticket for a small extra charge.
Book through Thrillark and secure your admission at the best available rate, so you can head straight for the gangway.
The star of the fleet is the Star of India, launched in 1863 on the Isle of Man and still the oldest active sailing ship in existence. Her history reads like fiction, surviving a collision, a mutiny and a cyclone on her first voyages before going on to circumnavigate the globe twenty-one times and carry waves of emigrants to new lives. She still sails.
Nearby sits HMS Surprise, a replica eighteenth-century Royal Navy frigate familiar to anyone who has seen Master and Commander, and the San Salvador, a recreation of the Spanish galleon that first reached California in 1542. The 1898 steam ferry Berkeley holds below-deck galleries of maritime history, naval exploration, vintage photography and finely detailed ship models.
Then you go underwater. The USS Dolphin was the United States Navy’s deepest-diving research submarine, and the B-39 is a Soviet attack submarine from the Cold War. Both are open to walk through, and both are a lesson in just how little space sailors had.
Most visitors spend two to three hours working along the waterfront. A narrated historic bay cruise can be added to your ticket for a small extra charge.
Book through Thrillark and secure your admission at the best available rate, so you can head straight for the gangway.
Inclusions
- All-day general admission to the Maritime Museum of San Diego
- Access to board the historic ships and submarines
- Self-guided exploration at your own pace
Exclusions
- Food and drinks
- Gift shop purchases
Insiders' Tips
Start with the Berkeley’s below-deck galleries before boarding the ships, since the maritime history exhibits give context that makes the rest of the fleet far more interesting.
Additional Information
Operating Hours
Child Policy
Accessibility & Facilities
Restrictions
Other
- Open daily: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Last entry at 4:00 PM
- Visitors already inside may stay until 5:00 PM closing
- Ticket booth open daily from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Online ticket sales close at 8:00 AM on the day of visit
Child Policy
- Children aged 5 and under enter free
- Youth rate applies to ages 6 to 17
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- The visit involves climbing ship ladders and narrow interior spaces
- Submarine interiors are tight and may not suit very young children
Accessibility & Facilities
- The visit includes walking and climbing up and down ship ladders
- Interior vessel spaces are narrow and not suited to all mobility levels
- The waterfront walkway between ships is level
- Gift shop on site, open most days
- Contact the museum in advance to discuss specific access requirements
Restrictions
- Some ships may be temporarily closed for events or maintenance
- Ladders and hatches must be navigated to reach below-deck areas
- Children cannot be left unaccompanied on any vessel
- Tickets are valid for the selected date only
- Online sales close at 8:00 AM, with walk-up tickets available until 4:00 PM
Other
- Located at Star of India Wharf, on the Embarcadero between Grape and Ash Street
- Admission is all-day, so you can explore at your own pace
- A 45-minute narrated historic bay cruise can be added for a small extra charge
- Bay cruises run daily with multiple weekday and weekend departures
- Docent-led group tours run most Wednesdays with advance reservation
- Military and senior rates are available
- The museum is a nonprofit with vessels listed on the National Register
Cancellation Policy
This ticket is non-refundable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in a Maritime Museum of San Diego ticket?
Your ticket covers all-day access to the museum’s fleet of historic ships, submarines and below-deck exhibits. You can board and explore vessels including the Star of India, HMS Surprise and the San Salvador. The historic bay cruise and docent-led tours are available separately.
How long does a visit to the Maritime Museum of San Diego take?
Most visitors spend two to three hours exploring the fleet and exhibits. A focused visit covering just the Star of India and the submarines takes around ninety minutes. Admission is valid all day, so you can take as long as you like.
What are the Maritime Museum of San Diego opening hours?
The museum is open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with last entry at 4:00 PM. Anyone already inside at 4:00 PM can stay until closing. Online ticket sales close at 8:00 AM, though walk-up tickets remain available until 4:00 PM.
What ships can you board at the Maritime Museum of San Diego?
The fleet includes the Star of India, HMS Surprise, the San Salvador galleon replica, the steam ferry Berkeley, the steam yacht Medea and the tall ship Californian. Two submarines are also open to walk through, the USS Dolphin and the Soviet B-39. Some vessels may close temporarily for maintenance or events.
What is the Star of India?
Launched in 1863 at Ramsey Shipyard on the Isle of Man, she is the world’s oldest active sailing ship and still puts to sea. Her early voyages involved a collision, a mutiny and a cyclone, and she went on to circumnavigate the globe twenty-one times. She is the centrepiece of the museum’s fleet.
Is the Maritime Museum of San Diego suitable for children?
Yes, boarding real ships and climbing through submarines is a genuine thrill for most children. Under-5s enter free and ages 6 to 17 pay the youth rate. All children must be accompanied by an adult, and the narrow submarine interiors may feel tight for very small visitors.
Can I add a bay cruise to my Maritime Museum ticket?
Yes, a 45-minute narrated historic bay cruise can be added for a small extra charge when you buy general admission. Cruises run daily with several departures on weekdays and an additional late sailing at weekends. Check availability on the day, as departures can fill.
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