Princess Monterey Whale Watching Cruises

We have always talked about going, so glad we did. 8 of us, 3 kids under 7. Everyone loved it, 2 of the kids got a little seasick, but still really enjoyed the trip. Saw humpback and blue whales. Staff was great, walked around checking on everyone.

My boyfriend and I booked the tour last-minute when we were passing through Monterey on a road-trip, and we were so happy we did! We went on the 9 am tour, got there about 15 minutes early (even then a lot of the "good" seats were taken, so you might want to get there early). We saw some kind of whale immediately (so quick that the announcer wasn't prepared yet), a blue whale (we even saw it come up out of the water while feeding, so we saw its mouth), 3 different species of dolphins, several humpbacks including a couple of mothers and babies, lots of jellyfish in the water, sea lions, lots of sea birds... it was incredible. The marine biologist on board was very knowledgeable and did a great job. I don't have any complaints at all, the company was terrific. Take some kind of motion-sickness medication (take 2 if it's an option, even if you don't think you'll get sick-- better to be safe than sorry, there were a few very unhappy people on the boat). It was cold even though we were out on the water on a fairly warm day, so definitely bring a good jacket and I would recommend a hat and gloves as well. If we're ever back in Monterey, we would definitely go with Princess to go whale watching again.

I loved the trip and love seeing the whales. Things that would make it better include having less people on the boat so it would be easier to move around and getting closer to the whales. Other than that, clean boat, great guide, friendly staff.

The whales were very co-operative on the day we were there breaching and appeared to be having a fun time in the water. Our group was thrilled. The boat kept the required distance but tried very hard to anticipate when they would surface and point out to the passengers where to look - they did a good job. The narrator had interesting information about whales and other marine life we saw and it made the trip more interesting. It was a bit rough on the water out there and the crew had extra duty with a passenger getting sick but they handled it OK. The only thing I would offer as a "needs improvement" is more information at the ticket office on the pier as to how rough the water is at boarding so passengers can gauge whether there was a need to take something for sea sickness. They encouraged to buy ginger but didn't seem to know how rough it was out there. If you find yourself enthralled with nature I recommend this trip. Mother nature is a fascinating woman.

Overall good experience. Staff were nice. Easy to get to. Wasn't a single wow moment. Did see whales surfacing to breath, smacking tails and fins on water, jumping out of water but these were mostly all great distances away. Sometimes 1/2 mile by my estimation. There were two instances where a blue whale surfaced maybe 30-40 yd from boat which was the closest exciting event but all you could see was it's back and blowhole. The trouble I see is that the sightings are so brief. If you aren't looking in the right area by the time you turn around to look the animal has gone under again. If you are lucky it'll pop up again in the same place but most of the time it's completely random. Including myself several persons got seasick. I think two people vomited. Many of us were so miserable we were standing fixed on the deck and not really aggressively looking for whales. I don't think this reflects poorly on Princess Monterey, they are at the mercy of the ocean and the whims of the animals. I did it because I think this is a unique experience we all should do in our lifetime. I don't think I'll do it again because of the seasickness and the underwhelming sightings. A seaworld or aquarium trip would yield more exciting moments.

We saw many Humpback Whales, moms with calves, Blue Whales, and a Fin Whale. I would recommend highly. Also pay the additional $10.00 to have access to upper deck where there is more room and it is easy to go from side to side when the whales surface in a different location. Lower deck gets crowded on a full boat.

Highly recommended.

nice big boat. very knowledgeable naturalist. Best whale watching i've ever seen, and i've been out several times . Monterey bay can be so amazing - lotsa whales, seals, sunfish, otters, salmon, all kinds of birds, these huge porpoises, you name it. My kids were a little seasick and cold though.

My boyfriend and I had a great time on the boat. We saw a ton of whales - humpbacks and blue - and a bunch of dolphins. Unfortunately, I get really sea sick and although I took dramamine I was still feeling icky. The staff were really friendly about it and kept checking on me and the other seasick passengers. Make sure you bundle up - it gets cold out there!

Weather was cool but I dressed accordingly. Lots of whales to see. Wish they had come closer, but that was no one's fault! Staff/crew were pleasant and helpful.

Saw lots of whales and dolphins in really chilly weather--be sure to bring warm layers!

I recommend that you sign up early so you can get upstairs. They only let on a small amount of people, and it's first come, but it's the best viewing because it's 360 degrees. Otherwise, stand at the front of the boat...as long as you don't get motion sickness! Great time!! Wherever you sit!

A wonderful experience...really enjoyed it!

We were pleasantly surprised at the number of humpback whales we saw, and were thrilled to see several of them breaching the surface around us. We found the boat to be comfortable, and appreciated its size in the choppy water. We are also glad we spent the extra money to sit upstairs, because the visability was excellent there.

My husband & I were celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary in Monterey. We saw the aquarium, walked on the wharf & saw the whale watching sign. It is easy and convenient to order the tickets over our cell phone. The staff at Zerve & the Watch were very accommodating and pleasant. Plus we learned a lot about whales and the bay . Saw 6 humpbacks, one of them was a juvenile.