Holiday Lights Cruise Throughout Luxurious Newport Beach Harbor
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September 2026
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Who is going?
Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
Select a highlighted day to see live departure times and the exact price for your group.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.0/5
Based on 13 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Holiday Lights Cruise Throughout Luxurious Newport Beach Harbor worth booking?
Holiday Lights Cruise Throughout Luxurious Newport Beach Harbor is a 1.3-hour experience in Newport Beach, United States, from $38 per person. It scores 54 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 4/5 rating across 13 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 54 / 100
- Rating
- 4/5 (13)
- Duration
- 1.3 hours
- From
- $38 per person
What you'll do this Christmas? The holiday season is a time to spend with family, eat big and delicious meals, exchange gifts, and go to holiday office parties. Of course, you won't want to miss out on festive holiday li
What you get
About this experience
What you'll do this Christmas? The holiday season is a time to spend with family, eat big and delicious meals, exchange gifts, and go to holiday office parties. Of course, you won't want to miss out on festive holiday lights and decorations either. The answer, The Newport Beach Harbor Cruise Of Lights has it all. Elaborate Christmas light displays of Bayfront estates with their Ring Of Lights competition and one of the largest decorated boat parades in the country. Hundreds of decorated ships of all sizes compete for top awards in over a half dozen categories. The Newport Beach Boat Parade is viewed by over 1.5 million people each season and is one of the largest boat parades you will likely ever see. Millions of holiday lights are a part of the Newport Beach Boat Parade and Ring Of Lights decorations making Newport Bay a "must see” for the holiday season. Jump on board one of our 9 tour vessels to view this spectacular event, that will also be decorated with holiday cheer!
What's included
Included
- Local guide
- Driver/guide
- Local taxes
- Live commentary on board
Not included
- Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase $2-$15)
- Food and drinks (available for purchase)
- Transportation to/from attractions
- Gratuities
- Balboa Pier Parking Lot $3.75 per hour or $37.50 per 24 hours
What you'll see and do
Balboa Fun Zone
Children can enjoy an arcade, ferris wheel, large bounce trampoline and other fun activities. And, of course, the ever famoun, Balboa Bar (chocolate covered banana).
60 minutes here · Admission not included
Balboa Pier
Embark down the beautiful Balboa Pier where Rubys Diner awaits at the end with a delicious burger or milk shake.
30 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Newport Beach
Best place to park is at the Balboa Pier Municipal lot. Walk to the Balboa Pier then walk away from the Balboa Pier all the way down Main Street. Make a left once you hit the Balboa Pavilion and walk down the board walk roughly 300 yards past the Ferris wheel and auto ferry location is on the left.
Meeting point
Newport Beach
Best place to park is at the Balboa Pier Municipal Parking lot. Walk to the Balboa Pier then walk away from the Balboa Pier all the way down Main Street and you will walk straight into Davey's Locker locating inside the Historic Balboa Pavilion.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Best place to park is at the Balboa Pier Municipal lot. Walk to the Balboa Pier then walk away from the Balboa Pier all the way down Main Street. Make a left once you hit the Balboa Pavilion and walk down the board walk roughly 300 yards past the Ferris wheel and auto ferry location is on the left.
Ends at
Best place to park is at the Balboa Pier Municipal Parking lot. Walk to the Balboa Pier then walk away from the Balboa Pier all the way down Main Street and you will walk straight into Davey's Locker locating inside the Historic Balboa Pavilion.
Options you can book
Non-Peak Tour Times
Cruise: 75 minute Tour to view the Holiday Lights on the boats and homes of Newport Harbor
Peak Time Tours
Cruise
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Davey's Locker Whale Watching
Know before you go
- Service animals allowed
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Closed toed shoes and a heavy jacket are recommended
- Minimum drinking age is 21 years
- Refunds will not be issued if tour/activity is missed due to late or non-arrival of cruise ship
- Parking may be challenging during the week of the boat parade and weekends- please arrive early
- Rideshare is recommended on the weekend or arriving extra early for departure
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 13 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Good for families
3 mentionsReviewers traveling with kids report it landed well with their group.
Photo opportunities
2 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Organization
2 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Food and drink
2 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Traveler reviews
13 verified traveler reviews for Holiday Lights Cruise Throughout Luxurious Newport Beach Harbor. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Loved it
Excellent boat tour of Newport Bay Area. .The lights were absolutely stunning. Highly recommend this tour.
via Viator
It's an absolute must....
It's an absolute must. Wonderful experience you will enjoy every minute of this parade. I went solo and enjoyed every minute of it
via Viator
Christmas boat lights in Newport
This was well Organized, it was fun festive Spent the right amount of time on the water Happy Holidays to you and family
via Viator
Newport Boat Parade
The boat parade was fabulous. We were pleasantly surprised because we were expecting holiday lights, not the boat parade.
via Viator
Sub par experience
The only reason why I’m not giving this one star is because besides all of the cons, we did enjoy the boat parade. Other than that, I feel like my experience was definitely ruined by the amount of people and by the amount of limited parking available. I booked this experience thinking that I would get a luxurious experience however it was just a regular boat tour. when we got to the parking structure three hours before mind you, we were shocked to find out that parking was horrible. Every other parking structure was charging $50 up to $100 all day, which is so ridiculous. On top of that the parking lot that we parked at said that we can only park there for a max of two hours. When I parked there for only an hour, we came back to the car to find a citation. Every other car did not have a citation except for me. I ended up paying for parking, and now I have another citation to pay. When we go to check in, we noticed there is a lot of people and the people checking us in seemed very rushed. We were then asked if we wanted to upgrade to VIP because apparently VIP gives you a better view on the top of the boat. I find that very ridiculous since the tickets were already $100+. I ended up not picking VIP and we still got at the top of the deck and we still got a pretty good view. So the people that paid VIP ended up paying VIP for nothing. We saw the boat parade, but we only saw it from the back. And when we got off the boat, we were greeted with hundreds of people, and it was extremely overcrowded. Overall, the actual experience was all right, but it was definitely not worth $100+ for two people. I will definitely not recommend to anybody who is looking for a fun time. If you want to see the boat parade for free, you could just go early and secure a spot by the deck, which I saw a lot of people doing.
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 1.3 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $38 to $45
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 5
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Why this scores 54
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Holiday Lights Cruise Throughout Luxurious Newport Beach Harbor: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Newport Beach.
How much does Holiday Lights Cruise Throughout Luxurious Newport Beach Harbor cost?
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Prices start at $38 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Newport Beach usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Holiday Lights Cruise Throughout Luxurious Newport Beach Harbor take?
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Plan for about 1.3 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Newport Beach is not rushed.
Is Holiday Lights Cruise Throughout Luxurious Newport Beach Harbor worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 54 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (4/5 across 13 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Newport Beach, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Holiday Lights Cruise Throughout Luxurious Newport Beach Harbor?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Holiday Lights Cruise Throughout Luxurious Newport Beach Harbor suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 1.3-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Holiday Lights Cruise Throughout Luxurious Newport Beach Harbor?
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Around 5 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Newport Beach can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Newport Beach and add a light layer if any part of the 1.3-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Holiday Lights Cruise Throughout Luxurious Newport Beach Harbor start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Newport Beach within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Newport Beach?
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Newport Beach runs year-round whale watching out of the harbour, duffy boat and sailing charters, Balboa Island walks and coastal e-bike rides toward Laguna. On Outty we rank every Newport Beach experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include The Escape Game: 60-Minute Adventures at Irvine Spectrum Center, Whale-Watching Cruise from Newport Beach, Electric Boat Rental in Newport Beach for Up to 12 People. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Newport Beach?
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December to April for grey whales, June to September for blue whales. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Newport Beach?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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