Santa Barbara Harbor features multiple charter businesses offering whale watching, private boat charters, sunset cruises, and scenic excursions on vessels like the Condor Express (up to 127 passengers), Whisper (up to 6 passengers, all-electric), Lil’ Toot (up to 19 guests), and others for various events and marine tours.

Celebration Cruises of Santa Barbara offers public and private boat cruises including sunset cruises, coastal cruises, whale watching, narrated water taxi rides on Lil’ Toot, and private charters on vessels like the 70-foot luxury yacht Azure Seas (up to 46 guests), electric boat Whisper (up to 6 passengers), Lil’ Toot (up to 19 guests), and Voyager (up to 12 guests), along with parasailing. Locally owned by Captain Fred and Kathy Hershman, they provide event planning, catering coordination, full bar service, and operate from Santa Barbara Harbor and Stearns Wharf.

Santa Barbara Channel Charters offers scenic sailing charters out of Santa Barbara Harbor aboard the 31-foot sailboat Star Jasmine, providing morning, afternoon, and sunset cruises with views of the coastline, mountain ranges, Channel Islands, and marine wildlife such as sea birds, seals, dolphins, and whales.