Princess Monterey Whale Watching Cruises

Though the crew and accommodations were fine and the water relatively calm, our trip starting at 1:30 pm on Sunday, September 27, 2009, did not result in whale or dolphin sightings. There was fog just outside Monterey Bay. We cruised back and forth in it while the crew talked with the crews of other boats in the area trying to locate whales. No mention was made of searching for the whales using passive sonar or other benign fish-finder equipment. Nor was the search successful, so we received an unrestricted raincheck for use at some future time. This was disappointing because the announcer had said that there were numerous whale sightings with other trips earlier in the day. Maybe next time, maybe at a different time of day. It's a big ocean and the critters are free to come and go as they please.

A heavy fog was in the ocean the day we went out. We sailed right into it and saw nothing. Should be refunds prior to going out if the weather is questionable, but the attitude seemed to be like the old fishing guide after a day of not seeing any fish, the guide says " well they were really biting yesterday!!" I know it's buyer beware, but next time, we'll wait to make the reservation until the actual day of the event to make sure we maximize our weather chances. A real waste of $90.

Enjoyed the ride and the staff were very easy to work with. It is cool so dress properly.

The cruise was terrific -- and your kept your promise by finding us whales to watch -- humpback whales. The captain also went out of his way to find a large group of dolphins to play in our bow-wave, which was wonderful to see. A perfect day -- thanks so much.

We had a giant blue whale rise within 50 feet of the boat. Much of its body and tail came completely out of the water. It must have been at least 80 feet long. We also followed a pair of humpbacks approx. 50 yards from the boat; unfortunately they were continuously moving away from the boat. These 35-40 foot long whales seemed small compared to the blue whale. Despite the cold weather and lots of fog, it was a great trip!

We saw a humpback after about 45 minutes. It did not come very close, but it didn't matter- to see it dive and the tail fluke come up was amazing! We were very fortunate to see 2 blue whales at the very end of our cruise, too! I would definitely recommend this to anyone- it was a unique and awesome experience! Do make sure you take Dramamine, though.

You must do this at least once in your life! i was very nervous but wanted to see the whales so bad! We had such a good time, we plan to do it again soon. This boat was the biggest in the harbor so I chose it in hopes of a smoother ride and boy was I glad! It was foggy and cold in the morning but I understand this is usually when the water is generally calmer. A little rough going out but soon calmed. Bundle up! The wind and the ocean spray are quite chilly! A warm jacket and something over your ears is well worth the investment. We saw two blue whales, quite rare, and several others. I am a nurse and recommend Meclizine for motion sickness before you board, just in case. No one got sick on our tour and everyone had a great time. Crew very knowledgeable and I felt very safe. The seating arrangement on this boat is also a plus as you can stand near the rail, sit down when tired or go inside if you get cold. This was certainly a highlight of our trip and we will be back!! Loved this tour! Also, booking with Zerve was new to me and it all went smoothly.

A great experience to see whales, dolphins & birds. We were lucky to see 2 types of whales and 2 schools of dolphins. It does get cold on the ship so dress in layers to stay warm. We all had an enjoyable trip and learned alot about the whales, dolphins & birds that we saw.

So much fun when we were sighting dolphins and whales. Absolutely thrilling. But the morning was overcast and foggy, weather was windy, and the seas were choppy. Everyone on board was very excited when sightings were made, but there were times when a fair number of passengers were in the cabin trying to get out of the wind or napping. Would I go again? Absolutely!

reat that we actually saw both dolphins and whales, wouldn't have thought so...

The whale watch so much fun! It's a long boat ride out to find them but as soon as you see the first burst from the whales come up from the water it's breathtaking! It's amazing to see these beautiful creatures up close! Besides getting very sea sick, this activity was very enjoyable!

fantastic 2 whale

My husband, kids and, me we all have had a great time! It was one of our best experience and we also got the chance to see whals and delphins too. We definatly want to repeat this experience again!

We thoroughly enjoyed our whale watching cruise on the Princess Monterey. Before we boarded the boat our captain gave us a short description of what to expect. He was very knowledgeable, and his running commentary during the trip was quite entertaining and informative. When we reached the area where the whales were, he would tell us where to look for them, and he actually would maneuver the boat around so that we could get a better look. The gentleman who stayed with us passengers (I think his name is Monty) was very nice, and he took special care with one of the passengers who became a little queasy. All in all it was a pleasant afternoon out on the water and I highly recommend a whale watching cruise on this boat to anybody. It was well worth the money, and I can't wait to do it again.

We were extremely impressed with the whale excersion - it was almost as if the whales were ready for us and began their performance upon our arrival. We were lucky enough to spot a Mom and Calf pair that could not have impressed us more! I was hoping for a little bit more information about the habits of the whales but the captain seemed every bit as excited as we did with every whale spotting. It would be awesome if the crew would take the time to interact with the customers on deck to ensure that they are getting the most out of their experience. I just wanted to know more about the habits of the Humpback Whales! Overall, it was a great experience and I would do it again!