Presentation on Map Reviews Nearby

Princess Monterey Whale Watching in Monterey

4.5 (198) 96 Fishermans Wharf, Monterey, CA 93940, United States

Categories

Whale watching tour agency

Location on the map

Monterey, Monterey County, California, US

Phone: +1 831-372-2203
Site: https://montereywhalewatching.com/

Opening hours

Monday:8 AM–8 PM
Tuesday:8 AM–5 PM
Wednesday:8 AM–8 PM
Thursday:8 AM–8 PM
Friday:8 AM–8 PM
Saturday:8 AM–8 PM
Sunday:8 AM–8 PM

Edit info

Total reviews rating 4.5

198 Reviews for Princess Monterey Whale Watching 2024:

Review №1

2024-05-19 01:10:41

Fantastic team at Princess Monterey whale Watching who do everything they can to ensure you have a fun and safe trip.Of course they will never guarantee sightings or activity, but they are so informative throughout the trip you are learning as you go regardless.We were lucky to see dolphins and whales on our trip which was incredible!!Tips.No matter how warm take a waterproof jacket and layers as the wind cuts across the boat and you WILL feel it!!If you are not a good traveller then get some sea clams to ease you especially if its choppy.Other than that, listen, look and enjoy it .

Review №2

2024-02-20 22:34:59

Mr. Scott said it best when he said Captain! There be whales here!This was a GREAT trip and we saw several grey whales. Our naturalist (I think her name was Kristen) was _SUPER_ knowledgeable and really made for an enjoyable tour.The boat is quite large and for the most part I did not have issues with seasickness. We did have to go out into the ocean to find the whales, and often park sideways to the waves, so we did get some motion of the ocean that did upset some stomachs, including mine. Thankfully the staff is incredibly helpful and they had remarkably well priced soft drinks and other food items available for purchase (and they let you bring on food and drinks too).I paid the extra $20 for the VIP deck and it was SO WORTH IT! Ocean air and unobstructed views of the whales and other sea life, plus the night lights on the return (I had the 330pm trip).I was in town for a Realtor convention and everyone was jealous of my trip! Definitely recommend the Princess line and the afternoon trip.

Review №3

2024-06-03 05:37:40

Torturous whale watching with Princess Monterey whale watching tour.The company advertises that it is has the most stable and biggest boat for whale watching in Monterey, ideal for people who may get sea sick. During our tour on 6/2/2024 in morning the water was choppy from the start. The boat was rocking and rolling like crazy. Almost everyone in the boat was sea sick and started vomiting after leaving the harbor.The crew knew that the water was choppy but they still continued. They should have canceled the trip. After 1 hr, we barely saw some whales. Everyone in the boat was waiting for the ordeal to end. I did not see even one happy face at the end of the tour or people saying what a great experience they had.The only reason for choosing Princess whale watching vs others (who had better reviews) was their advertisement of most stable boat in Monterey for people who may get sea sick. I would never choose them again.

Review №4

2023-12-08 01:49:30

Good trip last Monday. We saw 5 humpback whales and a group of sea lions in the bay. This is low season so there was loads of room on the boat which was great. Maybe 20 people total. We did not opt for the VIP level and it was a good choice. I guess could make some sense in busier times but the second level does not extend to the front of the boat. Absolutely bring layers and sunglasses, you can’t always predict the weather conditions on the water. There were 2 bathrooms and a large indoor area.

Review №5

2024-06-18 16:23:56

Took a tour with my family yesterday. We got to see some amazing sea creatures including whales and dolphins. The ride was not as smooth but expected due to wind and big waves. We were warned before.

Review №6

2024-03-19 07:09:56

Great price ($70) for 3 hours and a chance to encounter these magnificent creatures. 3/17/24 - we saw a pod of orcas, multiple humpback whales, and some dolphins. All the staff we interacted with were great, and the Princess Monterey was spacious and well-maintained.

Review №7

2024-07-01 07:07:31

Great crew ! Everything was explained in detail,as far as, the water being a little choppy, holding on when taking pics, the life jackets and what to do if you feel sick.We saw 4 humpback whales, and watched them work with the seals to feed. It was amazing. We circled them to get a closer look and take pics or videos.It seems like the cpt of the boat enjoys watching the whales every time he goes out and will not short you on your chance to see those amazing creatures.

Review №8

2024-01-20 18:04:08

We had an amazing time on this whale watching tour. The check-in process went smoothly and the boat guide was really knowledgable!January proved to be a great time to go with multiple gray whale sightings (including a fluking!), sea lions leaping out of the water, and the occasional otter

Review №9

2024-04-21 05:50:32

4/20/24 - went out on the afternoon cruise. Saw 5 or 6 humpbacks - it was amazing! But what made it the best whale watching cruise was the staff. The naturalist (Rachel I think) was great at pointing out different groups of whales and other wildlife, and gave good basic facts about what we were seeing. She even made a point of talking to everyone on the way back, asking if we had any questions for her - never been on a cruise that did that. Had a fun talk with one of the other guides (Katie or Elizabeth), she was great! Talked in depth about a variety of tour related subjects, was very personable and friendly! Even gave me some great recommendations for other things to do in the area. The only down check was that I paid extra for the upper deck access, but noticed that everyone had equal access, so felt a little like a sucker for paying extra. Maybe just raise the price a little for everyone and dont have different tier pricing.

Review №10

2023-07-05 10:51:07

The whale watching experience was nice. The boat was on time (we took 9AM one). Decent seating. Ticketing was easy too. You can buy online or buy on the spot.IMPORTANT ADVISORY: You must take warm (I mean good one) irrespective of what the weather is in the shore.

Review №11

2023-09-27 19:21:52

We went whale watching last weekend and it was better than we could have imagined. We didnt just see a few whales, we saw over 30 humpback whales. We also experienced a feeding frenzy with whales, dolphins, and sea lions churning the water in pursuit of large schools of fish. It was a great, once in a lifetime experience for us.

Review №12

2023-05-08 19:29:16

Princess Monterey Whale Watching is a fantastic experience! The crew is knowledgeable, friendly, and eager to share their passion for marine life with their guests. During the tour, youll have the opportunity to see whales and other marine animals in their natural habitat, and the crew does an excellent job of pointing out interesting sights and answering any questions you may have. If youre looking for the best views, its definitely worth paying extra for the upper viewing deck.

Review №13

2022-05-31 07:38:35

The best whale watching experience ever! We took the 9am boat ride and saw many humpback whales within the first hour! The weather was amazing! Definitely need winter jacket and winter hat because it’s cold! We arrived early and we were able to board the boat immediately to sit down and chill (unlike other companies’ boat, they make people stand and wait in line before 9am). The boat is big (2 stories) and the ride was smooth and lesser bumps. Definitely would come back again!

Review №14

2024-06-06 06:00:33

This boat trip met my expectations. We saw just one species of whale but i enjoyed the pelicans very much plus an albatross and sealions and more.I felt well looked after by the crew and the lady who spoke on the mic about all the wildlife had lots of knowledge to share in an interesting way . I would like to see plastic-free snacks sold on board.

Review №15

2024-04-27 07:11:50

My husband chose the tour company for a whale watching expedition. He bought tickets online and the check-in process once we got to the pier was very easy. There are bathrooms on the pier, as well as on the boat. The staff is very friendly and explains the do’s and don’t on the boat. Once on the boat, you can choose to sit inside by the bar or on the outside around the rim of the boat. Yes, you can get refreshments on board, snacks and drinks. We chose to sit in the front of the boat outside. The trip itself is about three hours long. We did see whales, which was exciting, as well as sea otters and sea lions. No dolphins, though. The staff tried their best to get us in position for the whales. There was some information being told to us through the PA system, but unfortunately it wasn’t working like it did at the beginning of the tour, and those of us out front couldn’t hear what the man was saying, even though we could see him on the top of the boat. I didn’t have a clue what was said, but I didn’t care because there were whales!The ocean was pretty rough and we were told to have 2 feet on the ground and one hand on the railing at all times. I could see why. I was tossed around quite a bit even with three points of contact. People were getting sick off the side of the boat. I would advise you to wear acupuncture wristbands or take a seasickness pill, even if you never get sick. I never get seasick and the rough waves were even affecting me, but I thankfully was keeping it together. You aren’t guaranteed 100% that there will be whales, but they tried their hardest and were successful on our boat ride. I so appreciate their effort. I would definitely do this again!

Review №16

2024-02-02 16:57:56

Very cool experience, they were very good about finding whales and making sure we got a close view. Highly recommend the second deck, Pay a little extra but worth it.

Review №17

2024-05-07 00:51:08

Staff was great. We enjoyed our morning, even if one of us got sick due to rough waters. The lady doing the talking was enjoyable and knowledgeable. We saw two humpback whales on our trip and it was fun to be able to see them. My only small negative would be to move the boat from side to side so everyone can see. The first several minutes if we weren’t on the left side it was nearly impossible to see the whales since they were staying pretty level with the water and not breeching.

Review №18

2022-08-08 18:54:43

We had the most memorable experience on our sunset ride.It was just amazing. We saw a mother whale with her baby and a shark!The staff was fantastic, and the tour guide kept us interested. Our kids learned a ton and really enjoyed it. We wholeheartedly recommend it.

Review №19

2024-05-03 10:48:51

Pretty awful experience to be honest - the tour should have been cancelled due to bad weather but they continued on (even after cancelling the original booking the afternoon before). The boat took over an hour in incredibly rough seas to get to the area with whales/dolphins. During this time, about 80% of the passengers were throwing up given how rough the seas were. A passenger cut themselves on a sharp metal railing. We stayed in the area with whales for about 10 minutes before they decided everyone was too miserable to continue... At which point we spent another 1-1.5 hours travelling back. Saw the tail of one whale for about one second during the whole trip... Upon reaching shore, no mention of any refund at all to put right a trip that shouldnt have happened... For what its worth, the crew were helpful, despite the awful conditions. Make sure you go only in good weather.

Review №20

2023-05-05 14:34:00

Very nice experience! We enjoyed getting to see some Orcas and humpback whales. They also had hot chocolate and baked goods inside the boat which were both tasty! Our captain was very nice and went around to ask if we had any questions about the whales

Review №21

2022-08-13 01:43:35

What an absolutely wonderful experience!! The humpback whales swam so close to our boat! We even saw a couple of blue whales in the distance. Whenever a crew member spotted a blue whale, they came on the speaker and informed us where to look and then the boat went full speed ahead to try to get closer. It was very exhilarating! The crew were great and it was so fascinating to learn about the different behaviors of the whales and sea lions. We went on the 9am boat and it was very chilly and windy on the water, so make sure to bring warm clothing!

Review №22

2023-10-03 20:38:33

We did this tour last Friday and would 100% recommend it. The boat was clean & well maintained. The crew were super friendly with a warm welcome. Their knowledge of the marine life in the bay was fabulous & the commentary was entertaining & interesting. We saw plenty of humpback whales, sea lions & pelicans. You need strong sea-legs & a warm jacket as it was pretty bumpy & blowy out there!

Review №23

2022-05-31 14:58:43

This tour was absolutely amazing! We saw so many whales. Several came right up to the boat. It was incredible! If you get sea sick I do recommend Dramamine and ask for a bag in advance. The crew was great too. Id love to come back again.

Review №24

2024-06-09 17:27:09

5 stars=we saw whales.Pros: saw whales, clean and well maintained boat, friendly staff.Cons (**all of which we were warned before going**): It is seriously cold. Like winter ski gear cold out there. Sea-sickness got my whole family-even despite taking Dramamine 30 min prior to boarding the boat and taking more once we got further in. The kids were miserable and begged for it to be over as soon as possible. Once again, knowing these things ahead of time we still chose to go but wont make the mistake again!

Review №25

2022-04-19 17:50:31

I don’t write reviews that often but this experience made me come here and write how amazing the tour was. I am beyond happy that I chose this tour. We saw whales from so close and so many of them. The tour guide kept giving us knowledge about different whales and their behavior. Vessel driver did a great job of going near whales at the same time not disrespecting their boundaries, but observing them silently. You should definitely GO FOR IT! Plus make sure the months and temperature are favorable to spot whales.

Review №26

2024-04-22 05:52:40

Wonderful experience. We took a 9 am boat and were able to watch the humpback whales individually as well as 3 to 4 together, sea lions.Great job by the captain and crew for giving important information on the ride.I would certainly recommend Princess montery whale watching ride .

Review №27

2022-10-11 21:12:26

We did a 9-12 Saturday am cruise. Upgraded to vip upper deck and it was worth the extra few bucks. On the visit monterey site you can get a promo code for $5 off per ticket. All in all we spent about 1.5 hrs or so following around 4 humpback whales. Great experience, well worth the money.

Review №28

2023-12-15 16:46:19

Very awesome company, the other boats were smaller, crowded, and seemed to get too close and bother the whales. We were on a large boat with plenty of space, knowledgeable staff, and had a great time! Will go again!

Review №29

2023-09-15 01:24:02

My parents and I had a fantastic tour with Princess Monterey on a recent Wednesday morning! Our tour guide (Katie, I believe) was a Naturalist and her knowledge, passion & expertise were evident throughout the duration of our ~2.5 hour tour. She pointed out all kinds of wildlife including birds, dolphins, sea lions, otters and whales. She also shared tons of interesting marine life facts along the way. We were fortunate to see numerous whales and the Princess crew was very helpful pointing them out and orienting the boat for the best view. This was such an awesome, once in a lifetime experience that we won’t soon forget!

Review №30

2022-05-04 06:41:36

Amazing experience I have ever had in the sea. Totally recommend it to everyone! Let me start listing out everything I like in my brief whale watching trip. The images shoutout for this review!!- Easy online ticket buying procedure and they scan barcode to give you tickets- Marine biologist assigned to the boat for giving information on all the sea species you would see like otters, sea lions, birds, of-course Hump back whales. She provided information on the species type, anatomy, feeding practices, their reproduction of offerings in Mexican waters, feeding frenzy here at Monterey, the parasites attached to the whale, their snorting smell (haha), trumpet exhalation, and a lot more to list and remember. They also watch and give you a direction on where to look at. We found like 40 hump back whales within first hour itself. (No kidding) This could be rare as whales are solitary and come together only while feeding.- clean restrooms in the boat- snacking shop inside the seating area- two sections of the boat (upper and lower) for seating and watching- sealable bags to assist you with sea sickness.- in the waters for the entire duration of time no matter what.Overall amazing experience! Would totally come back again!

Review №31

2024-03-12 19:28:07

Average at best. 3 hour trip through the roughest sea possible. They talked over the mic once we saw an animal but only then. Wasn’t sure if/when we were headed back. The trip could have easily been much more informative. Tell us what we are seeing on shore or history of Carmel or just play music. Anything besides the dead silence. It was one of the most miserable things I’ve done. 1.5 hrs in and no one wanted to be on that boat. VIP is bogus. Nothing vip about it.

Review №32

2021-02-13 20:40:26

This cruise felt like the VIP experience due to very few folks on the deck and very attentive and caring staff. Their valentines special looked very affordable so take advantage and book your tour with them. We saw whales, dolphins, sea lions, and jellyfishes. It was worth the trip I squeezed into my itinerary. Go take a ride with them for a good time

Review №33

2022-09-15 05:08:39

Loved our experience! The staff were all very friendly right from the fellow who checked us in to the crew on the boat. They had a marine biologist onboard to narrate & explain what we were seeing and how to look for possible whale breaches. We were lucky that it was a good time of year to see the whales as there were a LOT of them. Really a rewarding trip and well worth every penny! I highly recommend it!

Review №34

2024-05-21 12:23:16

Breathtaking! Awe inspiring! Miraculous! A “Must see (sea?)” I made a Video you can check out on YouTube.

Review №35

2021-12-04 01:17:28

Mom finally got to see whales!! Our original cruise was scheduled for her 75th birthday, but the winds were too strong and the trip was canceled. We were notified early enough that we adjusted our schedule, and came back to Monterey two days later. The waves were still pretty big, and the upper deck population thinned out quickly, but we thought the waves added to the excitement, and never felt unsafe or anything. We saw some Risos dolphins, jellyfish, and lots of humpback whales! Right next to the boat, Mom was absolutely thrilled. Definitely, a dream come true for her.

Review №36

2021-08-13 08:17:34

One of our best experiences on a boat out in the ocean ( though I ended it with throwing up a bunch due to a bout of sea sickness ) watching whales and sea lions having their gala dinner.We started at around 2pm from the wharf/marina and within 30-45 minutes of boat ride were able to trace rafts of sea lions chasing a school of fish and were almost sure of a whale sighting, soon to find out an be around a humpback whale for a good hour or so.We saw a few different ways the whale would hunt and grab its meal and kept circling around the sea lions and the whale. Being in the upper deck ( quite some seasickness is the only shortcoming in the covers section on the upper deck) we had a very good view of what was going around and at a moments notice could move to either side of the boat and notice the amazing wildlife.Very knowledgeable crew definitely helped and helped a of the crew members kept talking to the audience around everything whales and wildlife in the ocean making it a wonderful experience overall.On our way back I did end up throwing quite a lot ( mistake was I had a cup of coffee right before the boat ride and such drinks should be avoided and is as well called out on their website) though it didnt at all affect my experience in a negative way.Would definitely recommend this!!!

Review №37

2024-05-04 01:37:31

We saw humpback 🐋 whales. Seals, pelicans. Great naturalist kept us informed.

Review №38

2024-05-03 00:48:06

It was a good trip. We did see humpback whales and common dolphins. Staff was good about talking about the wildlife. Inside cabin was not heated as advertised, and it was a chili day.

Review №39

2023-11-23 20:07:22

We had awesome experience right from onboarding to, seeing different sea creatures and the narrative. I recommend this to anyone who has been looking for having a fun experience for the full family.

Review №40

2019-10-09 10:56:48

We went late September and got to see a few different whales as well as a lot of dolphins. The guide was very knowledgeable in marine life and other workers were great too. You will enjoy this trip if you are out to watch whales and bond with the ocean. Keep in mind this is a very basic ship. It got very chilly and uncomfortable out there in the big waves. I was okay (just cold), but many passengers barfed. We were told there were catered food, but it was just cold vegetarian wraps, a charcuterie plate, and hummus. I’d come back again though — with a better camera and warmer clothes for sure.

Review №41

2024-01-07 03:46:10

Checked off whale watching from our bucket list with Princess Tours, opting for the upper deck for optimal views. The kids were incredibly excited, and as we sailed a few miles into the sea, dolphins joined us, adding to the thrill. Venturing about 20 miles into the deep Pacific, our hearts raced with the choppy waters. The ship suddenly stopped, and two grey whales appeared right next to us—truly a lifetime experience. The staff, courteous and helpful from start to finish, made the journey memorable, despite over few of co-passengers experiencing seasickness in the deep and choppy waters.

Review №42

2022-07-10 03:55:49

Great tour! We encountered 3 humpback whales & they were on the surface a lot, so we had plenty of time to see them. We also saw jellyfish, otters, seals, and different kinds of birds. The narrator was great explaining all the things we were seeing, from the whales’ behavior to the history of Monterey to the other animals around.

Review №43

2023-05-13 17:16:59

Great experience here, absolutely worth every penny! We saw about 20 whales, 60 dolphins, and countless sea lions. Staff all very friendly, ship was comfortable with snack bar and restrooms on board.We did pay for the upper deck seating and received a wrist band, but it seemed like on board nobody actually cared who had a wrist band or not. That being said, the upper deck is absolutely worth it as you can easily move from side to side.

Review №44

2024-05-03 19:29:59

Top notch operation along Californias Central Coast. Largest vessels for whale watching, especially if you are prone to motion sickness. Always comfortable. Staff and crew are knowledgeable and helpful. Always a great experience. Dont forget to stop for a bite to eat at the Old Fishermans Grotto afterwards.

Review №45

2021-09-01 02:54:43

We just finished an afternoon tour and saw many humpbacks breaching and getting quite close to the boat. One whale swam right under the boat and turned to look at us eye to eye from no more than 10 feet away. Was the best whale watching experience of my life! Staff members were friendly and accommodating. Boat was not at all crowded. Even though the ocean got a little rougher in the last half of the tour we were still in good shape with the large boat and skilled crew. Highly recommend!

Review №46

2024-03-06 15:11:17

Highlight of our trip to Monterey! Friendly staff, naturalist talk was interesting and entertaining, and we saw AMAZING amounts of wildlife—humpbacks, gray whales, several types of dolphins, birds, sea lions, otters. Wish we could have stayed out all day!

Review №47

2024-02-26 19:29:36

We have had an amazing experience working with Princess Monterey Whale Watching to bring large school groups on several tours. Their staff is incredibly helpful, they are great communicators, and the actual experience on board is wonderful! Thank you Barb, Gina, and team for all that you do!

Review №48

2023-04-12 20:28:22

That was a fantastic experience! Even on a crowded boat you’ll find a good spot to experience this spectacle of nature. I especially enjoyed the info the kind lady gave us over the speakers, telling you where to look, making jokes and being super informative. BTW: absolutely no need to pay extra for the upstairs thing!

Review №49

2024-05-21 02:24:08

Great experience, we saw a lot of whales. Very friendly stuff and great explanations

Review №50

2021-09-16 23:58:23

This is the most whales Ive seen in one trip ever! All of the crew were nice and the ship was clean and top notch! Excellent value to get the upper deck pass as well!

Review №51

2022-04-18 19:40:35

We saw a lot of whales and dolphins and we stayed relatively far away from the animals. Good for the animal welfare but unfortunate for the photographs. The deck was clean and all the crew was friendly. Did not use any of the inside services (bathroom/food etc).

Review №52

2022-11-19 00:41:43

Randomly chose that experience while in Monetary and did not regret. Amazing team, the guide was interacting with us, spacious boat and most importantly dozens of sea creatures.Whale watching was a lifetime experience!

Review №53

2024-02-11 11:22:31

I went on the tour yesterday, and it was a bag of mixed feelings. The crew was really nice and helpful, we did spot whales twice or so, and dolphins and sea lions too towards the end of the tour. But pls remember that the tour is about 3 hrs long and it gets super chilly, pls carry a warm hat, a very warm jacket and comfortable non-slippery shoes. A lot of people felt sea-sick and threw up, but thats natural, since the waves are high and speed of the boat is good enough. The deck inside is heated, but if youre sea sick being outside is better. Maybe chewing on a piece of gum can help lol.Overall, a good experience :)

Review №54

2018-10-31 04:15:15

Our trip was awesome! We went in the end of October and the boat tracked a group of humpback whales which were followed by some seals and we were able to get really close, it was amazing! The crew was also really nice and the guide gave us some cool trivia on whales.

Review №55

2023-11-18 01:02:39

This was a great experience. We saw several humpback whales on the 3-hour trip. The guides were good at figuring out where the whales might surface, and getting us near the areas. They shared interesting info about the whales and other animals. The boat was large and comfortable. We sat on the upper deck which has a cover for shade. Overall a great time.

Review №56

2024-03-05 18:57:30

Big thanks to Elizabeth at Princess Whale Watchings office. Right from the get-go, she hooked us with an amazing rundown of what we were in for in Monterey. Not just a ticket-seller, she really knows her whales and shared cool facts that got us super pumped for the trip. Because of her, picking Princess Whale Watching was a no-brainer. Big thanks to Elizabeth for kicking off our adventure on such a high note!

Review №57

2024-01-20 05:39:56

Yes we saw a lot of whales (and some dolphins), but overall it was a disappointing tour. The main problem is the distance kept to the whales. Similar tours in e.g. Iceland bring the whales much closer. The impact of the presence of these magnificent animals is hindered by the distance kept.Other comments:- advertised with heated cabin: cabin wasn’t heated- outdoor seating was still wet.- boring tour, no attempt to fill the gaps between animal encounters- safety instructions only given outdoors, not within the cabin

Review №58

2023-12-25 01:51:39

Pro tip do not go during December as there is likely not going to be any whales to see. The crew was great and Im sure that during peak whale watching season in Monterey is great however, they should likely reduce ticket pricing in December or off season times if they are aware that there wont be many if any sightings. Overall, it was just a really expensive boat ride, that being said they did offer a rain check for a ride to compensate.

Review №59

2023-02-03 13:20:27

What an awesome experience, the crew and staff are great. Would definitely recommend it. Go for the last tour of the day and get some beautiful pictures of the sunset with whales.

Review №60

2023-11-23 00:26:26

Great trip out into the bay, remember to bring more thermal layers than you think. Friendly staff who answered questions at the end of the trip.

Review №61

2022-07-31 01:19:43

We took a tour on the Princess Monterey whale watching at 12.30.It was simply fabulous. The fog cleared quickly, soon we saw sea lions and then majestic whales swimming 3 all together alongside our boat Simply wonderful.... An experience I will never forget.The crew was also very knowledgeable, friendly and professional.We sat at the upper deck which was well worth it. Superbe!

Review №62

2023-11-07 20:46:08

We had an outstanding time! Went around 11:00 AM and saw plenty of whales and dolphins.

Review №63

2021-10-23 18:43:57

We saw Rissos Dolphins and Humpback Whales. That was great, although we had hoped to see more! Anyway, my review is not based on this, as this is beyond anyones control. The crew was also pleasant and helpful, even as my child was seasick.The reason for the 2 stars is that we did not use ship we paid over $400 to complete this tour on. That ship was just sitting there, and the difference between them is big, comfort being the main reason why we decided to fork over the $$$$.Our kids had been very excited for this trip, which we drove over 11 hours for, and therefor I booked what I thought was going to be the best ship experience... so upsetting.

Review №64

2024-01-13 03:33:43

I am not sure why all the reviews say it’s amazing and the staff are knowledgeable . We went on December and it was not what I expected. We opted for a bigger ship since we get seasick. We prepared and took motion sickness medication half an hour before and it helped the down side is you get sleep towards the end. We saw a group of dolphins that was nice it was towards the end of the trip so the first 2 hours we didn’t see much. The crew didn’t say much they didn’t speak much the whole trip was mostly quiet with the exception of the dolphins. The wind was cold we started off in the front and decided to go in about an hour in the trip. They did not explain where we could sit or direct us you get in the boat and you can sit anywhere. I took this trip with my 4 year old and 8 year old. I do not recommend, most plp ended inside the boat due to the cold wind, half of the plp ended up going to sleep, maybe during the summer and when your children are older but I also personally didn’t love it. It’s ok as a one time thing to do would not take this trip again.

Review №65

2024-05-11 14:25:30

Its a big scam. Except for a few birds, we saw nothing. They knew it was foggy at sea and should never have set sail. According to them, it was only the second time this happened. I read in the reviews that this happens every day. No cash back after it!!!!!

Review №66

2020-02-17 23:23:45

This place was a bit expensive and we only saw four whales or so in three hours but we got pretty close to them. We also got to see lots of sea lions and birds. The crew was very kind and helpful and the person leading was very informational and funny. The tour was about 2 and a half hours and the view was beautiful.

Review №67

2023-12-03 04:47:13

Majestic! Great views and the Crew is so knowledgeable! Saw two Humbacks on December 2nd

Review №68

2023-09-15 18:53:21

Amazing experience. There’s marine biologists who talk about all the animals. There’s snacks and drinks on the boat. All the employees are super friendly

Review №69

2023-12-20 17:48:31

We went yesterday. The announcements very difficult to hear. The ride was very bumpy and half the boat threw up. One of the staff was very kind and made sure we were ok. Pros: we saw sea lions, otters, dolphins and 2 humpback whales, big boat, indoor seating Cons: staff friendly but didn’t add a lot of personality or fun to the trip, you don’t really interact the staff. When we saw the whales they didn’t get close so it was very much from a long distance compared to other whale watching trips I’ve been on. And again half the boat was throwing up and really unwell.

Review №70

2024-01-24 20:30:02

Omars customer service was excellent over the phone. He was very knowledgeable and helpful. He certainly has me excited to coming out to see some whale with my family! Everyone Ive spoken to in this company has been very friendly. I highly recommend them.

Review №71

2024-06-08 00:05:31

Had a fun time, the guide was extremely knowledgeable, and the crew was friendly. However, the snacks are NOT free and the cabin is barely heated.

Review №72

2023-08-22 20:12:03

We went on the tour on Aug 9, 2023, and had an amazing time! The experience did involve some luck, of course. We saw a wonderful pod of common dolphins on the way out, we saw a rare species of porpoise, two kinds of whales, and we saw a humpback from a very close distance. If you inquire what the cruises have been seeing in a given week, your chances are pretty good to see similar things. But, there are parts of the operation that are built for success. First, everyone we dealt with on shore or the boat was friendly and courteous. The boat was clean and easy to move around in to spot whales when they were moving to different sides of the boat. The naturalist who gave information about what we were seeing was excellent, and he went around the boat on the way in to see if we had questions about what we saw. This was an unforgettable experience that I would like to do again. I totally recommend this company. You should just go. You will not regret it.

Review №73

2022-11-07 18:16:38

A great tour and great guide! Humpbacks and sea lions. We had the VIP upper deck and it was easy to move around. Lucky with the weather ☀️

Review №74

2023-12-02 03:42:21

The crew is very nice and the boat is clean. That aside, the whole time I was shivering and heaving at the back of the boat because it was so rocky and I could barely stand straight. They drive the boat for an hour out to open sea and I was praying they would stop at some point. We kinda saw some orcas and a humpback or two, but my eyes could barely open because of the wind. Multiple people also threw up off the boat but at some point someone missed and it was all on the ground in the front. Not fun at all unfortunately or worth the money.

Review №75

2017-10-24 08:03:02

First time whale watching for me. I was hesitant as often the chance to see whales is low, but due to the underwater canyon it’s almost 100% here. We did see humpback whales.BUT the ship did not go nearly as close to the whales the other ships around, they were not even trying to. I could only get pictures with extremely high zoom.It was nice that throughout the trip we got information about whales over the speakers, it would have been nicer to actually be able to see the whales without high zoom though.Plus the crew was extremely eager to be back at the port after exactly 2,5 hours, even though the whales still came to the surface.Hot chocolate tasted horrible, they only accept cash on board.I’ll do a tour in Monterey again but with a different vendor.Uploading photos with and without zoom to get a feeling for the distance.

Review №76

2023-05-12 21:51:49

Fun tour! The trip yielded various types of ocean life. Staff is knowledgeable and friendly. Bring gloves and a jacket for the early morning ride. Bring or take dramamine if you get sick. I found it peaceful and was gently rocked to sleep when i sat down long enough.

Review №77

2023-01-22 20:04:49

Fantastic way to see whales up close. We saw 9 gray whales on our mid January cruise. Nice clean boat and fantastic crew and nature guide

Review №78

2023-11-21 20:30:05

I came here not thinking I’d see anything but then i saw the tail of a humpback. So cool; one even breached on the other side of the boat. I wanted to see one up close, that’s what I expected. The only thing I saw up close were some very cute sea lions

Review №79

2022-06-18 16:40:38

Truly a memorable experience. Saw dozens of humpbacks, seals and dolphins. The humpbacks were very active and the marine biologist was very informative.

Review №80

2018-03-20 17:31:35

This is where you want to go whale watching. Beautiful modern boat with nice amenities. Plenty of room for everyone to move around. We saw time of whales, seals, birds, sea otters. The naturalist that details things as you go is entertaining and informative. The staff for goes above and beyond. We had a camera malfunction and missed one of the whales breeching and they even took the time to email us a photo that they had taken. I cant imagine a better whale watching experience. Id strongly suggest spending the extra money and getting the upper deck pass. The view from up there is even better. Would also recommend bringing polarized sunglasses as it helps to see things just under the surface.

Review №81

2023-09-10 18:16:16

My wife and I drove up the coast of California for a week for our 31st anniversary, and this whale watching cruise ended up being the highlight of the whole trip! We had a bit of a snafu with our online tickets (no fault of theirs), and not only did they make it right, they improved our trip! Great people all around! We saw lots of whales, the captain was very knowledgeable on where to find them, and we even had a humpback breach the surface right next to the boat! Excellent tour, I highly recommend them! My wife wants to go back and take the tour again!

Review №82

2022-02-01 21:28:21

Amazing trip! Very kind crew. We saw a group of around 15 whales feeding on a group of fish for about 1 hour. I have done whale cruises in different parts of the world, and this one is the absolute best! I advice to take some sea-sickness medication, just to be sure.

Review №83

2022-08-10 15:45:29

Great whale watching tour even though it was very foggy when we set out at 1030am. Got to see a mother and calf pairing. Crew was great.

Review №84

2024-02-01 22:14:01

Wonderful, saw lot of whales, only downside is: trip is little long, close to 4 hours. If youre prone to get sea sickness, be prepared

Review №85

2022-05-23 17:53:00

Fantastic 3 hours. Once we got out of the harbor, it was non-stop viewings of humpback whales. Late May seems to be a great time, as there were many whales and they were very active. Lots of tail flutes and even whale jumps!

Review №86

2022-04-26 23:47:32

This was our 2nd trip with Princess and our 1st trip was on a better vessel for taking pictures from the bow but this trip we saw much more whale activities with breaching being the most spectacular. Will definitely take their tour our next trip to the area.

Review №87

2023-08-26 04:53:16

This experience has been on my bucket list forever! Ive not been able to see any frompast whale watching trips in Southern California or any deep sea fishing trip Ive been on. Tonight was the night! We took the sunset cruise. The night was hazy and cold. Do not let this discourage you! We may not have been able to see the sunset, but I came to see whales, and I sure did! Totally teared up when they breached the first time. What a cool experience, and one Ill never forget!The crew was great and super knowledgeable! Dont wait to cross things off your bucket list - take the trip!

Review №88

2023-09-20 12:02:30

So happy with our morning whalewatching. Marine Biologist on board was very knowledgeable and personable. We saw a cow and calf humpback whale from a respectful distance. Also an absolutely huge pod of dolphins (hundreds) were with the boat for a while. Lovely comfortable and safe boat.

Review №89

2023-08-08 01:16:56

I had gone in with moderate to below average expectations. I was also skeptical whether the money would be worth it.And guess what, this cruise totally blew my mind. We saw humpback whales from different angles, 3 types of dolphins. The tour guide was very informative, knowledgeable and the sailor very patient (everyone on the cruise got glimpses of these sea creatures).Conclusion:Totally loved it and would do it more times.

Review №90

2022-10-12 14:46:08

Best whale watching trip ever!!!!! Great captain and crew. Very knowledgable and helpful. Captain gave us a great ride and the whales were wonderful.

Review №91

2022-04-15 00:31:10

We took the 9 am whale watching trip on the Princess, what a wonderful adventure ! I cannot say enough about the entire trip starting with Captain Bill and crew as they all did a wonderful job making us feel safe and sailing us right out to the midst of a Pod of Humpback whales and the knowledgeable marine naturalist/, biologist that educated and laughed with us in amazement of these delightful creatures ! I highly recommend them and will be returning for a second trip

Review №92

2023-05-20 05:02:12

We went in thinking we would be lucky to see a whale, but it ended up being an amazing few hours. Highly recommend bringing sunscreen even if its overcast, and wear layers.

Review №93

2023-06-20 20:47:09

Super fun! We saw some humpback whales and tons of seals! They definitely make sure both sides of the boat get to see animals and letting you know exactly where the animals are located so you can walk to that part of the boat. Definitely would go again! Deck-hands were super friendly too!

Review №94

2023-10-24 21:16:51

Pretty much as advertised. We saw a ton of Humpbacks (October). I would spend the extra money for the upper deck as you can see and move from side to side quite freely.Only real problem was boarding. Watch your head. We did not see any other species of whale or dolphin but there were tons of birds, seals and a few otters in the harbor.Get the Dramamine (warning: Its an antihistamine)

Review №95

2024-01-06 20:10:06

A great experience while in the coast. We saw sea lions, otters, grey whales aand dolphins! Just dont eat anything before to prevent some more serious sea sickness

Review №96

2017-08-07 05:03:28

Check out some Whale Tail!Bought tickets online for the upper deck and we couldnt have been happier! Boat was very clean and not oversold. I guess we got the full package because we saw a Blue Whale, numerous Humpback Whales, which included a Calf with its Mom, Dolphins and even Sunfish. You cant go wrong with Princes Monterey Whale Watching! Very nice and professional crew. Better than expected experience!

Review №97

2023-07-06 03:11:37

Awesome place for whale watching. If youre going to go out looking for whales, this is the place you should trust to take you out on the Pacific ocean for a luxurious cruise out into the ocean for whale watching. The staff is extremely helpful and knowledgeable about all things whales and the prices are competitive. They have many different times when they leave for whale watching, so no matter what, youll be able to go as long as they have room. I would definitely make a reservation if I were you.

Review №98

2023-08-12 03:11:21

My family and I had a magical experience aboard the Princess. A huge pod of hundreds of dolphins swam playfully alongside the boat and we also saw numerous humpback whales up close. I was particularly impressed with Captain Benji and the excellent, personable customer service he provides guests. My father said it was the experience of a lifetime and I agree! Highly recommended.

Review №99

2021-03-21 17:54:39

Had a great time, crew were great and the boat was clean and comfortable. We paid for the upper deck and glad we did, had a really good view of all the whales, and we got to see a white dolphin! REALLY.

Review №100

2020-09-16 06:18:56

Far exceeded my expectations. Saw pod of dolphins, then saw about 6 humpbacks in a feeding frenzy. The crew was fantastic and informative. Thank you!

Review №101

2022-11-07 21:03:41

This was a great tour! The guide was excellent and we saw a lot of humpbacks, (a mother and her kid), sea lions etc. Recommend you to pay more for upper deck and get a good view.

Review №102

2023-07-13 03:26:03

Booking and loading process was very easy, all the crew was friendly and the boat was clean. We saw two humpback whales that were mostly just drifting around not doing much exciting stuff but still exciting to see. It was a little difficult to hear the naturalist over the loud speaker at times. My only complaint was I wish they had sparkling water or saltine crackers on board because everyone was feeling nauseous in my family. They do have ginger tea, ginger drops and ginger ale. If I go whale watching again I would definitely take non drowsy dramamine as the water can be quite rough.

Review №103

2022-04-30 01:10:58

Crew and Captain were very knowledgeable and shared about the whales, otters, and dolphins. The most amazing trip Ive ever had! Cant wait to go again.... Gina V

Review №104

2017-06-14 14:30:22

Nice trip: the boat is huge (2 decks) but you will still see and get close to the whales. Be prepared for windy and cold temperatures. The boat leaves on the dot so be there 30min early! There is a legal limit to how close you can get and Ill have to count on them coming to the boat to see them closer.The ride to the watching spot is pretty long (30-40min) but you might get lucky and see sun fishes or dolphins on the way there.There is a premium for being upstairs but it is worth it.

Review №105

2023-10-15 18:06:47

I went with my girlfriend for the 5pm whale watching tour, planning to see the sunset and whales.It was sunny when we boarded, but as soon as we got a mile off the shore, we went into a thick cold blanket of fog and we had vip tickets for the top deck so I felt like I wasted my money because it simply wasnt worth just seeing a few whale tails and being battered by strong, cold wet winds from the thick fog.After the first hour, the cold was Unbearable, even with jackets on we were freezing and wet from the fog and wind, i went down to the gift shop to buy another jacket for my girlfriend and as soon as I got back my she was throwing up from the cold shock of me letting her sit alone for 5 minutes without holding her tight.We didnt get back until an hour after sunset, we were on the water longer than the captain said we would be, and overall the entire experience was miserable and not worth the 200 dollars I spent on tickets and then the extra 100 I spent on food, liquor which did nothing, and the jacket and blanket.Maybe earlier in the day would be nicer, or if we stayed downstairs, but overall I wouldnt recommend the evening tour unless youre ready to freeze to death.We couldnt even see 30 yards into the fog.It didnt even look foggy when we boarded the boat.It caught us by surprise.

Review №106

2023-09-30 01:02:42

Nice whale watching experience! Rough sea though and you definitely have to bring warm clothes with you

Review №107

2023-07-07 10:51:37

We saw a humpback whale (that came up for air 3-5 times), birds, and a sea lion. We paid extra to be on the upper deck, which was nice to have the open-air boat experience but did not help to have a better view, especially since the whole bow of the boat was closed off. My main complaint is that the upper deck was packed and there wasn’t enough space for everyone to be on one side of the boat to get a glimpse of the whale(s). The captain positioned the boat so that all the viewings would be only on one side - so if you weren’t lucky enough to get a spot on that side, then you had no choice but to miss out on the sightings. (The crew doesn’t allow you to stand on the seats which is understandable for safety reasons, but they don’t even let you pick up and hold your child.) If the crew had made a simple announcement for everyone to get closer together or make space for children, then that may have helped. The overall experience was fine for our first time whale watching, but mediocre due to the space issue which affected our view.

Review №108

2023-04-09 05:00:57

Save your money!!!! Total scam! Im a local and my mom and I go whale watching fairly regularly. (About once a month). We went on Friday 4/7 for a 9am 3 hour trip. Usually we book with Monterey Bay Whale Watch, but they were booked as it was a holiday weekend with nice weather. This is the second time weve been disappointed with Princess. To start, the boat arrived late. They took us straight to Miss Landing, which took over an hour to get there because the boat was going so slow (I was trying to give them the benefit of the doubt thinking that maybe they were respecting some sort of new speed limit because I have NEVER gone that slow for so long), where she said that there was one, maybe two humpback whales to check out. Cool! Except these whales were exhibiting their sleeping behaviors and completely inactive. We spent over an hour in the exact same spot watching sleeping whales. She gets back on the PA and Im thinking alright, were ready to get our last looks and move on to try to find another group of whales. NOPE! She tells us that were heading home and if we see anything else, good for us. They turn the boat around and BOOK IT back to the wharf debunking any of my previous speed limit ideas. Even if they would have said lets go TRY to find something else, and we didnt, I would be less disappointed than I am about this trip. I get that the ocean is unpredictable, but this was a total joke and a scam. Call it what it is. A bay tour. That was NOT a whale watching experience. Even a family next to us told their kids that they basically just paid a bunch of money to chill on a boat. Just sad. DO BETTER!!!!! Your customers DESERVE BETTER!!!! I will NEVER book with or recommend Princess Monterey

Review №109

2023-09-13 00:11:13

This was the boat that we were on to go and see the Whales there was plenty of room & the crew was helpful & friendly.

Review №110

2023-10-21 20:39:59

We were fortunate to see a hundred dolphins, many sea lions, sea otters and maybe 12 whales close to the boat. The weather was fine and the top deck was probably worth the extra $20 charge.

Review №111

2020-09-08 04:23:45

Princess Monterey wale watching by having Nice & knowledgeable crews along with the biggest fleet provide an awesome experience to us on Labor Day. Thanks

Review №112

2023-08-28 21:33:58

Top notch experience. Everyone talks about getting seasick but seasickness is not a problem on this boat!

Review №113

2016-10-05 03:34:36

Make sure you know you are not seasick before going. I ended up sleeping through the whole cruise to prevent myself from throwing up. All my other friends threw up. The views are nice and the rode is for around 2 hours.

Review №114

2023-04-30 02:04:25

Weve done the whale watching trip and the sunset cruise. Have had a wonderful time on each trip.

Review №115

2023-07-23 21:58:09

If I could, Id give them 50 stars, I WOULD!!These guys are the REAL DEAL!! Not only were they super friendly and got us out far enough in the bay to see plenty of sea life: dolphins, sea lions, etc. but we saw TONS of whale activity throughout our whole tour. We found ourselves in the middle of everything multiple times throughout the whole tour.On top of that, months later, my wife had booked me another whale watching tour with him around my birthday in hopes of seeing Orcas. Unfortunately, I ended up catching covid and we werent able to go. Seeing the no refunds part of their page, we were fully ready to the cost of the tour. A few minutes before the tour was supposed to start, they called us to see if everything was ok, and that we were still coming, at which point my wife explained what happened. Without hesitation, they reimbursed wishing us well, and hoping wed come back another time. Rest assured Princess Monterey, next time were down there, well definitely hop aboard. Thank you all so much again!!

Review №116

2022-06-23 06:05:02

Took the 330pm boat cruise and purchased the tickets online. I got the VIP pass which gives you access to the top of the boat. The boat is fairly clean. Staff was friendly and informative. Drinks and snacks are available for purchase. Not a lot of variety though. It took approximately one hour to get to where the whales were. We only saw humpback whales and got quite close to them. Its always a pleasure seeing the whales and their tail flukes.Warning: a lot of passengers had motion sickness including two people in my group. This is obviously not the fault of the boat. I would suggest taking something for motion sickness if you are prone to that.

Review №117

2023-06-09 11:50:56

This was a fantastic experience. The whales were active and the crew was helpful/knowledgeable. It was a little cool weather-wise but we would just move to the indoor seating if we got too cold and could still see outside.

Review №118

2022-09-19 17:20:36

We had a good experience aboard the Atlantis Monterey on the 9am tour. A chilly morning- be sure to bring a sweater, beanie, and long pants! We took some Dramamine prior to the ride and thank goodness we did. The boat was rocking for sure! We sat on the top deck and had gorgeous views of the animals. Seals swimming in large groups and eating fish along with the sea birds. Lots of whale activity- many were breeching and tail flapping, it was incredible! The captain and the crew were very knowledgeable and kept the ride interesting by sharing lots of info about the local area and sealife. The only downside I can think of is that all of the people crowd to one side or the other when there is some activity happening. Doesnt leave much room to see or get good photos/videos. I just gave up after a while- the same people wanting to push to the front of the boat all the time. But I could still see everything well from my seat. Overall a fun experience and highly recommend!

Review №119

2023-02-25 14:12:12

Great experience! The Princess Monterey crew were very friendly and knowledgable. They did their best to ensure we could see as many Risso dolphins as possible and got us as close as possible to a pair of gray whales on our way back.Very fun experience worth doing while in Monterey!

Review №120

2021-08-08 15:40:01

Awesome experience!Staff was very informative and nice boat was very clean and in the VIP experience not many people come which makes it more orderly and you can better enjoy the view

Review №121

2023-08-15 02:12:45

Went on a 9 am Whale Watching tour and we saw 7 Humpback Whales. The crew was great, reservation was easy, and we had a great time. Highly recommend!

Review №122

2023-08-31 06:45:16

Actually watched lots of whales. Come prepared with jacket and gloves, you’ll be getting hit with cold wind and mist. My only complaint is that we were only able to see the whale tales and seals, nothing else. But, not bad to be honest

Review №123

2023-06-26 05:45:33

There was only 1 whale and our large boat was stalking it for half an hour before going searching for more but actually ran straight back to port. We were told that humpbacks are like tigers, one mountain one tiger, not social at all! And this whale stays in the water the whole time, sometimes showing its tale which is about it! What a bummer. Dont bother going to see whales in Monterey. Sad for $70 per person.

Review №124

2020-09-06 14:33:28

Sunset whale watching was amazing, very romantic. We saw lots of humpbacks!10 / 10 would recommend!

Review №125

2023-01-08 03:38:47

Id never seen whales in my life before getting on this boat. wyoming isnt really know for its whales. i was not disappointed during my trip during the holidays, we saw a pod of dolphins and gray whales. one of the gray whales breached several times, which was very exciting to see and the naturalist said was a rare experience. i was impressed with the staff, who were very polite and helpful. there was a young lady whose name I wish I had written down that chatted with me throughout the trip. she wasnt the naturalist, but she knew so much about the whales, birds, and other animals in the region. funny enough, i met her at my visit to the aquarium where she volunteers. overall it was a lovely trip and the staff worked hard to make the trip comfortable and safe for everyone.

Review №126

2023-09-04 15:24:07

We had an absolute blast! We saw humpback whales, dolphins and seals. The crew was friendly and helpful! Great experience for the whole family.

Review №127

2023-07-02 03:31:46

Absolutely loved it. Much smoother ride. Got to see a couple humpback whales, dolphins, and a couple curious sea lions. My daughter had thr best birthday on the ship. Thank you very much!!

Review №128

2016-07-09 09:46:26

Awesome trip. Dolphins, whales...Hint: Dont forget to take something against motion sickness and dress for the windy sea even on a 80°+ day.

Review №129

2019-10-15 21:27:49

Super fun! Great crew and boat. Saw lots if humpbacks and a pod of Orcas! Highly recommend!

Review №130

2022-08-29 11:56:45

The best, most exhausting couple of hours you can spend on a boat. We were extremely lucky to see a pod of Rissos dolphins both on the way out and way in on the coast, followed shortly by a mother otter with her cub and a dozen sea lions relaxing on the rocks and docks. For the next hour out at sea, the tour guide was in disbelief in how many humpbacks we saw! During one of the feeding frenzies, the whales swam directly under our boat, and a whale slapped a seal in another! It was awesome spotting a dozen pods all over the horizon, and by the end of the ride I was tired from running around the boat to catch the sightings.

Review №131

2023-09-28 13:59:40

Absolutely amazing, we saw lots of whales, dolphins, otters, seals…. The crew are so well informed, great hosts. Can’t recommend enough!

Review №132

2022-09-29 05:05:42

Loved the experience and a really well run show. Saw plenty of whales in fact, many were super near and easy to photograph. Great narrator onboard and she gave a lot of insights into whats what of whales and the area. Highly recommended!!

Review №133

2022-09-04 17:30:46

Professional staff and good-sized boat. We saw a family of Orcas with some amazing breaches! On the way back we saw a couple humpbacks, which I wish we could have slowed down for just 5 minutes to get some better views of, but I understand having to stay on schedule. Amazing experience!

Review №134

2023-03-06 22:35:16

Great crew! Fun experience! We saw a rare Northern Right Whale!

Review №135

2023-05-15 02:45:56

2nd tour with Princess whale watching. Crew was very helpful and professional. My In-laws were first timers and crew took extra effort to accommodate as there were some mobility issues. I would highly suggest and recommend this company.

Review №136

2023-08-05 01:35:22

We made a horrible mistake and got Princess and Goddess mixed up and showed up at the wrong place. It was my mistake and I called to let Princess know we were too far away to make it and please give our spot to someone else in case they needed to. The staff was super accommodating. We will be back and will be sure to double-check our reservation next time.

Review №137

2022-06-28 16:00:21

Whales were great. We saw a humpback pair. But the boat was a vomitorium. Water was very rough. Saw 10 or more passengers get sick including 2 from my group and many others that were just holding on for dear life. I realize it’s a judgement call but I think the crew should have at least given a warning before we left that it was rough waters.Recommend going in the morning which the crew told us during the trip is the calmer waters.

Review №138

2024-06-06 19:05:38

Saw whales, fabulous experience. Friendly crew too!

Review №139

2023-03-28 02:24:18

Great boat driving, expert narrative and helpful deck. One a couple from our family got sick. Saw some gray whales. Recommend the tour, and some motion sickness medicine and avoid a big breakfast!

Review №140

2022-06-07 06:51:20

Excellent tours at an amazing price. Ive toured with these guys twice now and both times we found the whales within the hour so it meant you were able to spend more time catching photos! Larger ship means less motion sickness too!

Review №141

2021-07-21 21:41:13

Awesome experience staff was very informative and nice boat was very clean and they give you a come back ticket if you happen to not see whales which we did overall experience was great

Review №142

2022-08-06 04:00:52

It was one of our best tours in California. The crew was amazing, they wanted us to experience and see all the sea life in the bay. We took the 17:00 Cruz and were able to see whahls 60m close to the boatApart from dolphins

Review №143

2021-10-23 16:01:36

Probably one of the coolest things Ive ever done! The staff was amazing, very knowledgeable. We went early October and had great views of sea lions, dolphins and humpback whales. Dress warm! We were glad we had our jackets and hats.

Review №144

2020-03-21 14:36:23

My friend from MN flew in for Labor day weekend and we drove down from Marin County. Someone I work with recommended doing a whale watching tour and told me this is the company he went with! I purchased tickets online very easily and got a confirmation email immediately. We chose to go with the VIP upper deck so we could get a better view. Being from MN originally, I knew to bundle up! We went on the earliest tour we could because I had read that the water is calmer, and my friend can sometimes get motion sickness. I found the ride to be pretty smooth for how large the boat was and my friend did great! There were a couple people who looked very ill but sat towards the back of the boat where it was calmer. I loved what we were able to see! We saw three different types of dolphins and the whale display was nice too. I got some amazing photos and videos that I will have to rewatch forever! When we docked, we went to a restaurant recommended by the employees and it was a great seafood lunch. We LOVED the experience and I would love to do it again!Some tips I would pass along:*Get there early/on time to check in*Bring items to bundle up! Hat, scarf and at least one mitten/glove to cover the hand that is not operating a phone :) It did warm up after we got off so it was easy to remove layers.*Bring water or a snack so you do not have to walk around the boat to their snack bar (we never even saw it, we stayed upstairs the whole time)*Take Dramamine beforehand if you are worried about motion sickness*Wear comfortable/slip resistant shoes! The whales/dolphin views can switch sides on the boat so be ready to move to get a better view!

Review №145

2021-11-24 05:12:16

We went out on Sunday11/21. What a wonderful experience! The crew was friendly and helpful. The naturalist was knowledgeable and took time to answer questions. She (and the captain) did a phenomenal job finding whales and explaining the behavior of the wales. We got to see humpbacks and 2 orcas. 10/10 would recommend!

Review №146

2022-07-15 02:31:46

Saw some whales breach from land, but my kids missed it. Decided to take the princess whale watching tour the same day, 1530.Boat went straight to where the humpbacks were (other boat around them).Saw them spout, dive deep AND breach!Simply amazing.Not cheap, but a new life experience and therefore worth it.Can get 10% discount and can book online (AMEX).

Review №147

2019-11-08 19:31:58

Great tour, very informative, found 3 different groups of whales. Great staff! Great picture taking opportunities

Review №148

2021-08-15 01:31:02

We chose a 9am departure time during the second week of August. Our kids were excited that we saw sea lions, 3 different types of jellyfish, risso dolphins and humpback whales. The crew was very helpful with our young children. The biologist narrated our trip for us, telling us what we were seeing, educating us on the animals. It wasnt nonstop talking, just when appropriate to enhance the experience. On our way back to shore, the biologist came and talked to them, answering any questions we had. Would highly recommend.

Review №149

2023-09-28 13:52:44

Benji & his team are wonderful. Informative and friendly, we got some great views of the wildlife out at sea. Thanks for a fantastic time - highly recommend!

Review №150

2018-07-15 20:19:45

Awesome whale watching experience and very courteous staffWe purchased tickets online for 4 adults. My wife was pregnant. We didnt know that the whale watching tour wasnt for pregnant woman. When we arrived there, staff was very courteous and was promptly ready to refund all the 4 tickets. But we requested to refund 2 tickets and my parents continued with the tour.The tour was well organized. And my parents enjoyed the tour. They sighted around 8-10 whales and watched them play. Really worth the trip.

Review №151

2023-08-21 04:21:59

Nice experience, some people still got sea sick despite the size of the vessel. We were able to avoid that and enjoy the whales and dolphins.

Review №152

2022-05-01 12:51:01

Took the wife on Saturday on the 9 am boat.We both thought what if we dont see any whales. The capt. Knew where to go and seen plenty of whales and not that far out. I would recommend this company. Well worth what we paid, another check on my bucket list complete.

Review №153

2021-04-12 05:46:54

We had a fantastic experience with Princess Monterey Whale Watching. Boat was clean and spacious. The staff was excellent and hospitable, the main guide had some really interesting insight about the sea life, but also didnt speak too much and come off as a know-it-all. I highly recommend them for whale watching experiences.

Review №154

2022-08-24 06:13:19

No sunset, bad weather, terrible sight all foggy and grey, have not stopped the operator from making this tour at 6:30 pm. The original operator we booked with was clever enough to cancel the tour. There were not many people on this tour and almost everyone felt sick and threw up. We barely saw the back of the whale. It was cold and the crew didnt even bother to warn people from standing out at the front as they might go wet, and they got socked.An irresponsible behavior of the operator and a miserable end to a wonderful road trip. Shame...

Review №155

2022-06-03 03:09:15

This tour was awesome. We saw so many whales I couldnt believe it. It was definitely worth the price and experience. From the moment we got out to the bay to the time we headed back it was nonstop whale sightings. I would highly recommend this tour.

Review №156

2022-04-19 07:03:05

Just rename your company to HUMPBACK whale watching! Your pamphlet at hotels is either old or a scam. Said it was highly likely to see everything except blue whales during April. Well, when you literally stop the boat and turn in circles for 20 minutes at every single humpback whale, thats all anyone is going to see!! And, how is it that your pamphlet and website only talk about 2 tiers of tickets and when we arrive theres actually 3 but only 2 decks and everyone is getting the same viewing??? Horrible first time experience, I would suggest doing your research with a microscope to find a better company. Oh, and how is it that the company right next to princess was giving their passengers a 30 minute safety talk and we werent spoken to until we are pulling out into the bay and all we got was a literal 20 second drive by of how to put on a life jacket!

Review №157

2019-08-18 19:20:22

Great trip, we saw humpback whales! Friendly crew and live commentary by a marine biologist.

Review №158

2022-02-23 19:19:05

Pretty disappointed. I booked a month in advance and was looking forward to going on my first whale watching boat right after getting engaged to my fiancée. They predicted the surf was going to be rough. The day before we were supposed to go and cancelled it completely. That day happened to be sunny and amazing. This place sucks.

Review №159

2023-07-04 05:13:03

Thoroughly enjoyed this experience, nice boat with commentary by naturalist. Saw humpback, orcas, dolphins, seals and lots of birds. Good big boat with good café service and refills on the coffee

Review №160

2024-06-14 02:35:59

Great crew.. saw many humpback whales!

Review №161

2021-07-05 00:28:53

Thank you for a magical whale watching trip!! We saw so many whales and also dolphins and it was beautiful and soothing exploring the Monterey Bay! I told the owner Benji it was my first time whale watching and he went above and beyond to make this trip extra special. Highly recommend!

Review №162

2019-03-30 16:05:32

What an awesome experience! We got to see so many whales and Sea lions! I did get a bit seasick towards the end but the water was very rough that day and it was a bit rainy before a storm hit. but it was perfect otherwise. The staff was so knowledgeable and the views were incredible! It was an experience i will never forget! Well worth it! Highly Recommended!

Review №163

2023-08-20 16:54:53

Good experience. My only somewhat negative was we pulled out right when the whales were coming up close to us. Overall it was a great experience

Review №164

2019-09-07 21:36:50

We did this on my fiancé’s birthday and it was the best experience of the Carmel/Monterey trip. It was cold and cloudy and very windy, but evidently that makes for great whale-watching. We saw several “feeding frenzies” which started with hundreds of birds after krill, then sea lions, then whales. They said there were about 200 sea lions and 15-20 whales. We couldn’t believe it! We’ve been whale watching before and it was NEVER like this. Watching 5-6 whales at a time surfacing and smacking their 15-18 feet across tails was amazing. There were so many we could smell the “whale breath” which they warned us about. You do get a little seasick, and we jumped on the boat rather quickly and didn’t have enough to eat beforehand. No pop or snacks on this particular boat, and along with the cold and wind I was worn out afterwards. We were very glad we didn’t go on a smaller boat. I’m not sure the extra $20 to go on top was worth it under the weather circumstances. But highly recommend this company, very knowledgeable too.

Review №165

2018-07-27 15:56:17

AMAZING experience! We saw 15 Humpbacks lunge feeding and they were right by our boat. The ship is bigger and quite stable. Although we took Dramamine an hour before we left based on the recommendation of others. Totally worth it. I highly recommend spending the extra $20 for the top deck as well. Staff is very knowledgeable and interactive. Go in the morning and you wont be sorry!

Review №166

2016-06-28 21:49:34

Excellent tour! We saw bottlenose dolphins and lots of humpback whales. My poor husband got super seasick the entire time, and the crew checked on him regularly, offered him ginger candy, and made sure he still had as good a trip as possible. The marine biologist was very knowledgeable and kept us informed and entertained. Very much recommended!

Review №167

2020-08-12 12:01:35

I feel like because the boat is so big and loud that as we got closer to the whales they were scared off. We seen the other whale watching boats that were smaller surrounded by whales and they were within 2 ft from their boats. This boat wasnt getting as close to them and even though we seen probably a dozen whales, they were at a distance. The crew was great and very energetic, I was just disappointed because it seemed like all the whales were so far away and hard to see. One if the other companies got so close they could reach out and touch it or so it looked like from our tour boat. Oh well still a great experienceto even see them I guess.

Review №168

2018-09-27 20:57:48

Did the 2.5 hour whale watching tour ~ which was plenty of time! 2 hours would be enough personally. We saw lots of whale activity!! 10+ humpbacks, sea lions, some other sea life. Good narration, nice boat ride in Monterrey Bay. It was not noted beforehand that upper deck tickets are an up-charge (these seats were sold out upon check in). Successful trip in Mid- September.

Review №169

2018-09-23 04:37:12

We had a wonderful experience. Much of that may be good luck with the weather and whales, but the boat was really nice and the staff very friendly. We saw dozens of whales and the most memorable part was when 4 whales came straight up at the same time.

Review №170

2021-04-20 03:52:07

First time whale watching. The booking and check in was not long. They were organized and stuck to their covid procedures to those barfing and not wearing a masks (this is a good thing). Ride was about 3 hours, got to see some wonderful sealife, staff were all very nice, welcoming, and informative. Make sure to dress warm if you are going in the morning, wear a beanie/hat, bring your camera or use your phone but make sure they have a strap since youll be holding on for dear life as the boat rocks. Overall great experience, would do it again. Make sure to take something if get motion sickness.

Review №171

2019-04-19 03:51:26

An utterly amazing way to spend an afternoon. Well priced, such lovely staff and we saw whales within 20 minutes, amongst other sea life. Many were unwell due to the motion on the boat, but the staff were kind and understanding and helpful. It was (despite quite a lot of sick) a fantastic experience!

Review №172

2022-08-18 05:31:16

***DON’T BOTHER***. We booked the sunset tour with this company…after 20mins after we set off the fog came down, so obviously we could not see any sunset…we couldn’t see anything further than 10metres…needless to say we could only see the odd bird. They turned the engines off for about 15mins but the fog was too bad to see anything, then we set off back with them saying we could try and spot something on the way back…it was pitch black!!!!So all told we had 20mins to try and spot some wildlife!!!We were offered a ticket to try again but we leave Monterey tomorrow!!! No other offer was made…we asked for something of a refund/gesture of good will and was told point blank we had no chance!!!Given it cost us $400 in total it was extremely poor level of customer service and an absolute waste of money!!!!!!!!!!! We saw more wildlife for free at the end of the pier!Save your money or book with another company that might give you a better level of customer service.The sunset cruise is an absolute moo okbeh making scam…probably why the other companies don’t go out after 5pm!!!!!!!!!

Review №173

2019-11-08 21:49:59

We saw dolphins, humpback and bleue whales. Crew was very cool. Amazing experience!

Review №174

2020-11-01 16:21:29

I moved the Monterey, CA one year ago and have been on 5 whale watching tours . I’m never disappointed with this company.Princess Monterey is a class act. The naturalists and crew are so knowledgeable & thoughtful.They go out of their way to make you feel special and always give amazing information about the sea life and whale and dolphins.This last tour I was on they even played whales singing . They never disappoint!

Review №175

2016-06-03 01:14:20

Great deal for the price paid. If youve never went whale watching (I hadnt) the fee is totally worth it. The ship isnt too small (saw others listing as the crowds gathered on one side) and it fits just the right amount of people.We upgraded to the roof top seats, which were worth it as well.... All in all, we saw a bunch of killer whales pretty close, tons of dolphins and a good number of hump backs....A good time on the water!

Review №176

2019-07-08 00:45:11

Nice big boat handled the moderate waves nicely, and we saw three humpback whales! Two of them were at the surface sleeping, so we could see them for a long time while the onboard naturalist dished out interesting facts. The other we followed around for a little while learning to recognize its behavior, whether or not it was diving, etc.. Im glad we opted for the upper deck, but Im sure it would have been great on the main deck too, especially out front. Tour time was a bit under 3 hours, felt just right. Theres a snack bar and several small bathrooms. Waves werent strong for us but they have aircraft barf bags if you want one and they teach you what to do if you feel queasy (pro tip: do not go in the small bathrooms). Morning waters are usually noticeably smoother than the afternoons. The daily report in the pier office showed that every single recent day they found whales, and sure enough we steamed right to them. Would go again.

Review №177

2018-07-09 20:11:49

Big boat, crew was great. The naturalist who took us through our trip was great. Only saw a couple whales but thats not their fault. Seas were a little rough but the larger boat helped a lot!!!! We didnt pay for the upper deck (extra $20) and saw everything that was needed. Plus when the whales are off to 1 side there qasnr enough room on the upper deck for all up there to get great views.

Review №178

2014-03-28 22:35:34

We had a reasonably good experience with this company and had a number of beautiful sights of sea life - dolphins, an orca and 6 humpback whales. The whales were a bit far from us, but thats just the luck of the day, and we did get to see their tails as they dove. All that was magical.Overall Im happy we tried this company, although I feel they could have done a bit more for the price of the tickets ($45 per person). The commentary from the marine biologist was nice but I would have enjoyed even more. This was basically closer to a touristic cruise than a science experience. The company allows you to buy upper deck seating at a premium of $20 per person. This turned out to be a waste of money, as we ended up not using it. We were either outside on the lower deck to be closest to the action or in the indoor section of the lower deck. Make sure to take very warm clothing with you, as it got super cold out on the Pacific when the boat was moving.

Review №179

2017-08-22 21:21:21

Excellent service with a beautiful boat. Staff were very careful to ensure kids got to see the whales too. In no rush and very thorough descriptions of the whales and wildlife. Wish the upper.deck seating wasnt as expensive. Tiana was an amazing guide.

Review №180

2013-04-03 00:38:29

Really cant imagine a better experience. Buying tickets online was easy, the e-mail communication describing what to expect was full of good information, the boat was super clean and the captain and guide were enthusiastic, fun and took us to some fantastic spots to watch dolphins, humpbacks and grays. Amazing morning out on the boat. Highly recommended!

Review №181

2020-11-09 22:51:03

We had a great time and saw several whales and sea lions. Anyone visiting Monterey should go whale watching with Princess Monterey Whale Watching. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. And even though our original reservation had to be changed due to weather, the whole process was easy and fun.

Review №182

2023-08-04 14:46:45

Super exciting until I got sick. views are incredible, even when youre barfing. could have accomplished the same thing with a 2 hour tour. really didnt need the 3rd hour.

Review №183

2021-12-01 22:24:58

Absolutely spectacular. Saw 4 humpback whales for a good length of time. Bonus blue whale on way back. Very friendly, knowledgeable crew who took the time to answer all questions. Look forward to doing this again. Thank you guys n gals.

Review №184

2023-07-23 19:06:24

Got us on whales within 45 min, crew was helpful and knowledgeable. Only reason it isnt a five is because I think we stayed in one spot too long.

Review №185

2021-07-19 17:46:20

Please dont waste your money. Also, they sell you upper deck like VIP; theres nothing VIP about it, to be honest! Mostly everyone got sick and was vomiting the whole time. It was a puke party in that boat! Also, they charged me an extra $120 that I did not approve, and when I called them, they did not want to refund the money. Very unprofessional and not worth it in the end since the whole boat smelled like vomit. To add to the bad experience, a drunk guy was mistreating his wife and daughter on the ship; I noticed that everyone in the boat was bothered by the situation. I cant believe they allow a drunk man on the ship; his acting was unsafe and unpleasant for everyone experience.

Review №186

2020-10-13 02:32:04

We went Sunday AM and was a trip of a lifetime! Mom and calf whales swam up to the boat and under neither at least 5x, calf kept jumping up and wiggling his tail in the air soo cute and awesome, lots of pics of whale tails!. Staff was attentive and fun.

Review №187

2023-11-15 23:18:10

Worth the money, even in the slow season. Staff was knowledgeable and friendly. Saw several whales.

Review №188

2016-05-31 23:20:46

My husband loves whales. We went whale watching in San Diego but only saw Dolphins so I was wary of paying to go on another whale watching excursion. However, we decided to try it since the excursions had seen humpback and blue whales that week already. We sat on the top deck and it was great! We got to see humpback whales, otters, sea lions, and seals! It was definitely worth the price! Just make sure to wear layers and bring a wind breaker because it can get cold!

Review №189

2022-03-19 03:31:22

Nice experience, when we spotted our 2nd whale, time was over. Would have hoped that we add 15 more minutes as for all guests this is a life time experience. But can also understand that time is limited. Beside that, a lot of information were provided, very detailed.

Review №190

2023-07-10 23:55:09

Mediocre experience for my family and I. VIP deck wasn’t worth it and the captain kept turning the boat when everyone had a clear view on the side they were already on. Lots of running back and forth.

Review №191

2018-07-27 01:32:19

- The whales were absolutely amazing to see, the best time to go is the 12:30, as the whales are feeding.- Make sure you are prepared if you are prone to seasickness - it can get really bad out there.- The staff working on the ship were absolutely amazing so prepared for the passengers (including myself) being sick.

Review №192

2022-03-20 19:51:17

I was so worried about the 96% chance of rain forecasted, but it was NO PROBLEM. The upper deck is 100% covered and theres an inside seating area on the main level (also a snack bar). We paid extra for VIP (2nd level) but honestly there were so many people on the upper deck that we went down to the main level and had much better viewing access. Saw several Humpbacks, breeching like crazy that day!

Review №193

2022-06-22 19:45:36

Fantastic experience. The captain and crew were wonderful. It was a great boat ride, saw some beautiful animals and enjoyed a great day in the water! Highly recommended!

Review №194

2014-08-15 22:32:32

Absolutely spectacular! It was a wonderful and unique experience to see very active humpback whales (mother and her calf). We came close, but the whales werent disturbed at all.I was even able to take several pictures of the calf jumping out of the water.Thank you!

Review №195

2013-10-13 17:50:47

Took the 10am tour on October 8th, 2013, what a spectacular event. The crew was remarkable and the Captain got us close to a mother and calf humpback whale. The calf was breaching and playing while the mother was fluke slapping to keep the sea lions at bay. While going out we spotted a sea otter having breakfast. The view and the experience were breathtaking and was well worth making the trip. When we come back we will definitely be going out again with them.

Review №196

2021-02-15 18:34:10

Hell hath no furry like riding the Princess in a 10ft swell. As we plunged onto another 20 valley the horizon disappeared from my view point on the upper deck. I paid extra for this upper deck seat and all I see are 75%of the 40 passengers lying down or actively heaving over the side. The 4 deck hands can barely wash the chuncks away before another person blows. Its at this point I realize this entire boat is sanitized at the end of each trip for a much better reason. I lost my breakfast twice and so did my valentines date. Finally we see a water animal but no one turned their head to look. The only hope is to fix your gaze on the horizon and go for distance when the urge comes again. Land, land, sweet mercy come save us!

Review №197

2017-07-04 00:04:40

The crew were very friendly and knowledgeable. They expertly pursued a beautiful humpback at a respectful distance, allowing us to enjoy it in its majestic splendor. We were out on rougher seas, and quite a few became ill. The crew were attentive, patient and caring with all who were ill. They also had plenty of crew to help out, which is important with many land-lubbers and children aboard. It was a bit pricey, but for the experience of seeing a humpack jumping out of the water multiple times and the care they showed, it was well worth it.

Review №198

2014-02-24 23:47:26

Amazing staff!! Very nice, helpful and knowledgable. We didnt, however, get our moneys worth. There was a boat named Sea Wolf that was visible to us the entire time... They went out of their way to try and see wildlife. The Princess seemed too concerned with saving fuel to take us near the whales. On the way back we saw dolphins. Our boat was in too much of a hurry to get back, but the Wolf followed them for a while. What a waste of our money. Next time well ride the Wolf.