Princess Monterey Whale Watching Cruises

Great weather, calm water, and lots of whales. But, all of the whales were on the other side of the boat. It seemed as though the boat always went to the left of the whales so it would have been better to be on the right side of the boat.... Otherwise, there was a bit too much talking (blah,blah) for me.

they were very informative especially for first time whale watchers.....their prices were affordable too....will do it again, i highly recommend it....

I chose this whale watching trip after a friend went on one with spectacular results. I read all the reviews of the major lines and wanted to go with one of the businesses with smaller boats but they were all filled up. (My friend went on one of the smaller boats.) So, I picked Princess Cruise as a second choice and was glad with it because it might be safer in a larger boat, there might be less of a chance for sea sickness, and they do have bathrooms onboard. That might come in handy for some of us older ladies. Four of us were scheduled for the 1:30pm cruise and we had just eaten beforehand. I waited in line while the others used the restroom at the restaurant, just in case they started boarding promptly. No need to worry about missing the boat because we boarded about fifteen minutes late--still no big deal. By then, however, I had to use the facilities and found out that the flushers don't work until the boat starts off. I waited about ten minutes for it to get going so as not to bother any subsequent users. We wore warm clothing and brought gloves but none of us remembered the dramamine. The ocean was a bit choppy but no one got sick, especially after the staff warned us it might be better outside the large community cabin (where we sat and tried to chat till we got to a good stopping place). It's quite loud in the cabin and a bit difficult to hear the narrator with my poor hearing but still I understood most of it and it was quite pleasant and refreshing. A few people at the front of the boat got soaked and had a good laugh but it was dry and safe on the side and back of the boat. We saw humpback and blue whales and plenty of seals. They were not so close that you could see their eyes (as in my friends earlier trip) but you could still see them arching, spouting, popping up out of the sea and then their tails fluke as they went under. It was all at a safe distance and both adults and children onboard were pleased no matter which side of the boat they were on. Gloves were not needed on this particular trip and I didn't even put on my jacket but most did. I saw more whales on this short outing than on a week long cruise in Alaska but I know there are never any guarantees. The price was a bit more than the smaller boats but still within reason and they gave out some nice coupons for shopping and dining so we were all pleased and had quite a fun outing. I would do it again and recommend it for others. Don't forget your jackets, gloves, hats and sunscreen because you can't always trust the weather in Monterey.

Lots of fun, Dolphins, Humpbacks, Killer Whales, and Blue Whales seen. Very successful tour. Knowlagable and informative crew. Highly recommended

We saw quiet a few blues and humpbacks and also some beautiful dolphins. Weather was cool and overcast, but we could still see the beautiful creatures.

This was our first trip whale watching; our group was my husband, my best friend from high school and myself. We waited a long time to do this-and have no idea why!? We went out on the Princess Monterey, which I chose after reading other reviews plus the "size" of the boat (it was a good decision). The day we went was overcast/foggy and cool. Once the boat got underway it was cold, but not unbearable (except for my husband), so coats were definitely in order. The captain had to take us 10 miles out since the whales were not so close as the week before, but we saw Risso dolphins, blue whales and humpback. It was exciting for us to finally be doing something we had only dreamed about for a long time. We all highly recommend this company/this tour. The captain and crew were all very informative, letting us know where and when to look, turning and idling, to wait and see if the whales would swim closer providing lots of information about the whales all along. We seemingly had plenty of photo opportunities but ...if only the whales and dolphins had been more cooperative "posing" for us! You cannot go wrong using this company. I know some reviews stated they left late, came back too soon (although anytime is too soon!), so while we may have left a few minutes late-the trip did not disappoint. We have no complaints about their time frames. We plan on taking another trip in the very near future!

Felt like cattle being herded. Forgot my copy of email with the Zerve code. Had to call the Zerve phoneline. Not very organized for online reservations. The guy at the ticket counter was like a circus barker. The crew on the boat were nice, helpful, and friendly.

Good whale sightings, cooperative weather and seas made for a fine trip. Plenty of Humpbacks and 3 Blues, what more could you ask for? Boat captain was very good as well.

We saw quite a few whales and dolphins. The ride was a bit rough but it's well worthwhile.

We saw several whales and a bunch of people hanging over the side of the boat feeding the fish. Water was rough but that should be expected by all who decide to take this trip. Nothing the crew can do about the waves. Be sure to wear warm gear, especially gloves. It gets really cold out on the water. Also try not to eat before going out to sea. Another suggestion is to take the larger 100' boat, the other smaller boats appeared to have more problems with the waves. Overall, this is a must do trip for all who visit Monterey and I would recommend this company in order to have the best experience possible.