Princess Monterey Whale Watching Cruises

Signed up for the 2.5 hour tour on 5/27/08 but converted to the longer tour. Glad we did it. Longer (and earlier) is definitely better as you get more opportunity to see the animals. Saw at least 7-8 humpback whales at close range. We could hear them make trumpet like noises as they blew air out of their blowholes. Many seals, otters, moon jellies, numerous shore birds. Boat trip itself was very enjoyable. Highlight of the trip was when we were literally surrounded by a pod of 2000 or so dolphins (3 different and distinct species). As the boat left the area many of the dolphins rode the pressure wave at the front of the boat. You could almost touch them they were so close. It was a perfect day!!!

Went to a whale watching cruise for the first time and I was very happy and satisfied with the service of Prince Monterey. I made an appointment on the phone and upon reaching, was promptly registered. They also provide binoculars for an additional $5 which was pretty decent. The guide was knowledgeable and showed us plenty of whales. They took us as close to the whales as possible and we saw some amazing "breaches" by the beautiful mammals. The trip was just the right length and we came back very satisfied. Would recommend Princess Monterey to my friends. Always make sure to take jackets and warm caps if going anywhere in the sea in Monterey, otherwise you'll be cold.

Our trip was entertaining and informative. The ship was well run, smoothly navigated and comfortable. Would have enjoyed a closer experience with the whales, but understand that is the luck of the draw. Would have rather stayed with several pods of humpbacks we saw rather than pushing further out to chase dolphin. It was a whale watching cruise, after all. But the whole trip was great family fun and provided memories that will last a long time. Would recommend this provider over others in the Monterey area.

My wife and I enjoyed our whale watching experience on board the Princess. We saw a few groups of whales and a large pod of dolphins. My only reservation was that we were quite a distance and as all boats are fitted with sonar I am sure we could have been a little closer.Maybe next time we will go at a different time of year when there are more to see and get some close up photos.

The activity was excellent, we saw a lot of whales but I would not recommend this for families with small children. My wife and I thought many of the comments made by the female guide were not appropriate for children.

We saw lots of whales, and the water was great. The guide, however, made the trip memorable. She was enthusiastic and had a wealth of knowledge that she was just dying to share with everyone aboard. The PA system on the boat was clear enough that no matter where I stood on the boat, I could hear the guide's comments. Great Tour!

This exploration was a very fun and great way to spend time with your loved one. My girlfriend and I enjoyed the brisk wind in our faces and our eyes were amazed as we saw the humpback whales jumping. There were some bad moments, such as the boat slowing down, causing a rocking back and forth with no wind, which may cause dizziness. However this is an excellent way to appreciate nature and have some fun as well.

We had an awesome time aboard the Pacific Explorer. It was both of ours first time whale watching and we were not disappointed. We first sighted harbor seals, then Humpback whales (over 30), then at the end we observed beautiful Orca whales. I highly recommend this tour as our guides were helpful and funny.

Although we did not see as many whales as we would have liked too, we did see some humpbacked whales, dolphins, seals, sealions & a variety of birds. We had a 5, 6, & 9 year old kids with us, they had the run of the ship & had a great time.

incredible

Kathy was an amazing guide! She was so enthusiastic about the wildlife and her excitement was contagious. We really appreciated her willingness to share information and upbeat personality, even though it was early in the morning. She went out of her way to talk to us about specific things we were interested in. We would DEFINITELY recommend this trip to others.

This was truly an amazing tour as we were able to see humpback whales, sea otters, and sea lions. The whales came close to the boat which gave us an incredible view. Nonetheless, I would suggest the 2.5-3 hr tour because after 3 hours everyone started getting tired and the motion of the sea started to sicken many. The other 1.5-2 hours seemed to take forever and we didn't see much sea life in this time period.

We booked the Whale watching tour as a last minute thought after visiting Yosemite National Park. We were delighted to see humpbacks everywhere including under the boat. It was a truly thrilling time for our entire group.

It's very good trip on the whale watching boat. I love it so much

This cruise was great. The host was informative and funny. She was approachable and knowledgeable. We saw many whales even in the fog of the day. They really know the animals of the bay.