Princess Monterey Whale Watching Cruises

We are fun on the boat ride out to see the whales, the captain was very good and knowledgeable, he handle the boat well in the rough waters and it was overall fun and informative.

The Princess Monterey vessel is very comfortable for whale watching trips in regards to space and the indoor snack area (which is heated). The captain "narrated" the trip identifying facts about the whales which was helpful. And, I think the size of the ship helped lessen the effects of the up/down motion from the ocean swells (for those more prone to motion sickness.) However, the size of the ship, I believe, hindered having a more personal whale watching trip. Participants are not low to the water so seeing the whales and other animals (sea lions, otters, etc.) is more from afar. The timing of the trip was okay -- it was 2 1/2 hours. For a cold day, that seemed enough. The captain did linger in areas that pods of whales were seen so there was ample time to view the whales, however 2 1/2 hours may not seem long enough on days there are less whales. I was also disappointed that there wasn't a local phone number to call to ask about the reservations. Having other choices of whale watching companies I wanted to inquire about how many people were signed up. For example, if the ship already had 100 people registered, I would probably opt to take a trip with less individuals, for better viewing. The reservation company is not local to Monterey and were not able to answer that question for me. Overall, it was an okay trip because we did see some whales (from a distance). I will, most likely, be going on more whale watching trips in the future, however I will be signing up for a smaller vessel. If you like comfort, however, then this is a good choice for you.

My girlfriend and I took this trip in mid-January. It was great; lots of wildlife. We both wore multiple layers - two sweaters plus raincoats and gloves and hats - and I recommend that you do too if you want to stand out on the deck. I don't know if the seasickness remedies sold at the wharf actually help, but I rather wish I'd tried them. Once the captain decides to let off the throttle and let the boat sit in open water, the ups and downs can be a bit much on the vestibular system.

The guide was very nice and knowledgable about the Whales and all sorts of animals we saw during the trip. We saw a group of gray whales and the boat stayed there long enough to see the whales several times. Make sure you dress in warm clothes and bring gloves, especially when you going to take pictures. All in All it was a fun trip and I can highly recommend the Princess Monterey Whale Watching Cruise.

We enjoyed the whalewatching excursion. The guide was very nice, funny and knowledgable about all sorts of animals. Our only wish was to have seen more whates! But, there's no controlling that aspect of the excursion.

Even with a six year-old who was as much interested in the snacks as the wildlife, the trip was well worth it. The naturalist made sure to keep everyone's interest and the vessel was well-maintained and comfortable. Would be happy to do this again in humpback season.

The whale watching cruise was fun. We saw a few whale but from a far distance. I think the most interesting thing was being out there in the ocean. Overall it was fun and I would do it again.

This is my second time on the Princess Monterey. The crew members are articulate, friendly and enthusiastic. The boat is VERY clean (restrooms are great!), and very comfortable. Though we saw no whales this time we saw tons of other sea life up close. It was a gray day just prior to raining but the boat ride was wonderful. I HIGHLY recommend this outfit.

Right off the bat u shud know they don't use any tech tools to track whales....so there is a good chance u won't see any. When this happens they shud let u ride free atleast one more time. But they don't. That said, the boat ride was good, the naturalist on board was very active and helpful with info. Wud have loved see mire than sunfish though...

Saw some Dall's porpoise and a few grey whales, so I consider the trip to be very successful. The porpoise were uncharacteristically playful and accommodating, as were the whales. Wonderful spray and tail fluke action. Staff was knowledgeable and friendly, and the boat (Princess) seemed well-maintained and clean. Very reasonable price... overall well worth the time and money.