Stagnaro Charter Boats

The people were friendly and the tour guide was outgoing. We followed two humpback whales for at least half an hour. Close enough for lots of photos but not too close to harass them. Over the loud speaker they would announce as the whales were starting to surface and then they would. I will go back when the gray whales are running.

Seeing whales is never a sure thing but we were pleasantly surprised to watch a pair of blue whales as they roamed around the Monterey Bay. Ironically, we expected to see grey whales but never saw any. Having 2 naturalists on the boat made the trip much more pleasant and helped pass the time out from Santa Cruz and back again.

I live about 2 hrs from Santa Cruz, and had a friend come visit for the weekend of Feb. 10. She has never been whale watching, so we decided to go try and see some CA Gray Whales, as they are the species with the highest sighting expectancy this time of year. We were in for a treat when our captain found us 2 Blue Whales! This was an unexpected sighting since they are so rare to see, and usually not in these waters until June. That was our trips highlight! They were a beautiful sight to see! The staff and volunteers were very nice and informative, going around to each person talking about whales, and showing photos. The captain did a fantastic job keeping track of the blue whales so we could observe them for a long time. He also discussed information about the whales, and pointed out "tail prints", etc. while we were out on the water. This enriched the experience. The boat was nice and clean, the food looked good, and though I did not eat, many people were enjoying the food, and drinks served on board. The boat had a good size crowd, but not over crowded. Everyone could see the whales easily. The only bad thing I can say is the sound system was clear at the front of the boat, but terrible at the back, and it sounded like he had marbles in his mouth. I could barely understand anything he was saying. That was annoying, but it was a beautiful day, I can now add Blue Whales to my sighting list, and a fun time still! Personal note: I've been one many whale watching tours in San Diego, Monterrey, San Juan islands, and Hawaii. As an overall score for all categories I talked about above, I would give this trip the highest rating, except for the sound system, and the weather in Hawaii which is hard to beat!

My husband and I went on a whale watching tour with Stagnaro Charter Boats. We arrived early, excited to start our day. The entire experience was carefully planned and we had a wonderful time. The boat was clean and in good working order. The crew was knowledgeable and personable. Overall, I would pay to whale watch with the organization again.

Captain Ken and crew went the extra mile to make sure everyone had a quality time. Despite the changing weather, he stuck it out once we sighted our first whale near the end of the scheduled trip. You could tell he enjoyed the viewing just as much as the rest of us onboard. Friendly, knowledgeable, and able-bodied crew made the trip a well-rounded experience. Our son (8) thoroughly enjoyed himself once he found his sea legs (Dramamine certainly helped).

Crew was courteous, friendly and very knowledgeable. They were determined to find whales - which they did. Even stayed beyond the scheduled time to make sure we had a good experience.

Enjoyed our cruise, did spot some grey whales feeding.Well worth going. We had a good time.

We were fortunate to go out on a sunny, almost windless day, so the conditions were perfect for whale watching. Our captain took us right were we needed to be in order to follow, at a respectful distance, a group of 4-5 whales as they headed south across Monterey Bay. We also saw sea lions and sea otters. Maureen, the naturalist on our cruise, was fantastic. She was informative, energetic, and went the extra mile to make everyone onboard feel welcome. I got the best whale photos I've ever taken. We couldn't have asked for a better whale watching experience.

Very nice whale watching experience. Friendly and dedicated staff, great views of a blue whale. A perfect day on the ocean!

Our whale watching trip was a real pleasure.The weather was beautiful. The staff was friendly, knowledgeable and efficient. The whales, dolphins and hundreds of jellies we saw were truly majestic. It was a real thrill to see them in their natural environment. I would recommend this trip to everyone. Dress warm!!

It was wonderful and the crew was fabulous! We saw a grey whale and then the captain received word of whales and we took off to find 2 killer whales and followed them for a short while and then found 3 more killer whales that just hung out and were very playful. It was a trip of a lifetime!

The trip started with a safety breifing. Had a lot of luck on the ride and saw 3 different kinds of big aquatic mammals, and the weather was perfect. The atmosphere on the boat is relaxed, and the option to buy a can of beer at a very decent price is a big plus. Overall a great experience!

The boat ride was amazing, and I usually get very seasick, but the boat is large enough that with a little dramimine I throughly enjoyed my self. My 8 year old son had "the best time ever mom", and even my hard to please husband said it was a very fun family outing. The staff were not only knowledgeable, but showed great concern and respect for the wildlife, not getting to close to a mother and calf, which pleasantly surprised me. Saw a lot of whales, but even if we hadnt the boat ride would have been worth the trip - and it was COLD!

We came down from San Francisco for a day trip to go whale watching . Although the whales were scarce that day we were greeted and treated with nothing but respect and educated on all kinds of sea life . The crew was beyond friendly and we did see a bit of sea life an had a very pleasant time and will return again . This was an experience that I won't soon forget , beautiful views and great service by all on the vessel . We really enjoyed our time talking with the crew and learning about your local attractions and people. Although we only saw a couple whales a dolphin and some sea lions otters we had a great afternoon and was well with the ride down .we will return again in the summer to try and see some other species and enjoy a day out with the guys . Thanks for a great day on the water , see you guys soon for sure . Thanks for everything . Michael Simon Subology restaurants LLC

The trip would have been great without the smokers. It was a beautiful day. They crew was friendly and informative. We saw a lot of wildlife. But smoking was allowed on the boat, and that ruined the experience. There were a few chain-smokers who were rarely without a cigarette. Smoke was everywhere. I would urge the tour operator not to allow smoking on the boats.