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Activity #1389

The Pacific Explorer Whale Watching Cruise

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THURS 11/26 THANKSGIVING DAY HUMPBACK WHALES-JUMPERS!! RISSO'S DOLPHINS NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE DOLPHINS PACIFIC WHITESIDED DOLPHINS WEDS 11/25 GORGEOUS WEATHER!! LOTS OF HUMPBACK WHALES!! 400 TO 500 RISSO'S DOLPHINS!! TUES 11/24 HUMPBACK WHALES!! RISSO'S DOLPHINS NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE DOLPHINS PACIFIC WHITESIDED DOLPHINS MON 11/23 GREAT TRIPS!! LOTS OF HUMPBACK WHALES!! SUN 11/22 ANOTHER GREAT DAY ON THE BAY! HUMPBACK WHALES!! RISSO'S DOLPHINS NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE DOLPHINS PACIFIC WHITESIDED DOLPHINS SAT 11/21/09 FANTASTIC!! LOTS OF HUMPBACK WHALES!! RISSO'S DOLPHINS NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE DOLPHINS PACIFIC WHITESIDED DOLPHINS DALLS PORPOISE HARBOR PORPOISE SAT 11/14 HUMPBACK WHALES!! HUNDREDS OF DOLPHINS!! DALLS PORPOISE RISSO'S DOLPHINS NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE DOLPHINS PACIFIC WHITESIDED DOLPHINS Live reports from Capt. Brent "Duke" Williamson Gina Thomas-Naturalist Boat: PACIFIC EXPLORER

While we can’t guarantee a whale sighting every trip, our experience has allowed us to maintain an unsurpassed record for success in the Monterey Bay area! If you do not see a marine mammal, you will receive a voucher to come back for another trip for free.

The kinds of whales that you see depend on the time of year. During the winter (December through April), you’ll most likely see California Gray Whales, who generally travel only a few short miles from the coast. During the rest of the year (April through November), popular sightings include humpback whales, fin whales, minke whales, orcas (killer whales), and mighty blue whales (the largest animal to inhabit the earth).

There is plenty of wildlife in the area, such as seals (including the Harbor seal, Northern Elephant Seal and Northern fur seal), sea lions (including the California Sea Lion and Stellar Sea Lion), dolphins (including the Common Dolphin, Risso's Dolphin, Pacific White-sided Dolphin, Northern Right Whale Dolphin and Bottlenose Dolphin), porpoises (including the Harbor Porpoise and Dall's Porpoise), Southern Sea Otters, Leatherback Sea Turtles, and various seabirds (including loons, grebes, black-footed albatross, shearwaters, pelicans, cormorants, phalaropes, jaegers, gulls, terns, alcids and many more), along with sharks, ocean sun fish, and jellyfish.

Currently the trips are 2 1/2- 3 hours.

Sometimes departures may be delayed up to 30 minutes due to weather, late returns from previous trips,or other conditions determined by staff. We thank you for your patience if this comes up.

Because the distribution of whales and dolphins in the Monterey Bay depends on their migration route or where their food is located, we may have to travel between 2 and 16 miles (3 and 26 km) from the harbor.

Severe weather in this area of California is rare and cruises will proceed as scheduled in light rain and other mild weather conditions. The Pacific Explorer is an enclosed vessel with plenty of large windows, so your visibility shouldn't be impaired! In the rare event that a cruise for which you have purchased tickets is cancelled, you will have the opportunity to to reschedule your tickets (subject to availability), receive credit towards a future event, or receive a full refund.

Advanced purchase is strongly recommended, as cruises often sell out well in advance. To maximize your chances of getting the day and time you prefer, please book as far ahead of time as possible.

If the day and time you are looking for has not yet been added to the calendar, we encourage you to keep checking back on the website, as we extend our schedule regularly.

For safety reasons due to the inherent motion of the boat, children under the age of 3 and expecting mothers are not allowed on the cruise. If you are bringing a child between the ages of 3 and 12, you can purchase a reduced price Child ticket.

Sometimes! Though we are not allowed to touch the bigger animals like the whales and dolphins, you will get to touch smaller sealife (both flora and fauna) like kelp and sea stars that we're able to bring on board.

The Pacific Explorer is an enclosed, 75ft cruiser with plenty of large windows so you can sit inside or outside and enjoy the sights. Our indoor cabin is also heated when necessary, and though there is no air conditioning, don't worry - the temperatures can be about 10-15 degrees cooler on the water than on land! Unfortunately passengers are not allowed on to the upper deck.

We follow the federal whale watching guidelines; stopping the boat at least 300 ft (91 m) away from the whales and allowing the whales to approach us. The California coast offers a unique opportunity to observe whales and other marine wildlife year round. We offer a safe, fun, and educational trip for the whole family to enjoy.

Most items range from $1-$2. Please bring extra cash if you might want to purchase something.

We recommend that you dress in warm layers, wear long pants, and a warm windproof jacket. A wide brimmed hat or baseball cap and a warm cap, along with flat-soled closed toed shoes are also a good idea. The Bay gets sunny, so bring sunglasses and don't forget sunblock and chapstick.

You are able to bring wine and beer on the cruise, but nothing with a higher alcohol content. You are also able to purchase wine and beer at the snack bar during the cruise.

The cruise returns to the same pier from which it departed. Specific meeting location information will be provided to you once you purchase your tickets.

Unfortunately, there are 14 steps down to our loading area that are not passable by a wheelchair. If you are mobile and able to navigate the steps, our friendly staff is always willing to assist you. If you need more information, please click on "Contact this seller".

Yes! The Pacific Explorer is equipped with large, clean restrooms for your convenience.

There is some room on the boat where you may store your belongings. Please keep in mind that these areas are not guarded, so we cannot take responsibility for any broken, lost or missing items. But we have not had any problems with items being left on prior cruises.

Yes! We are animal-friendly, and we'd love to have your well-behaved pet on the trip with us.

No, the Pacific Explorer is completely non-smoking, which includes both the inside and the decks. If you would like to smoke, you may do so on the dock area before or after the cruise.

Although modern and speedy, the Pacific Explorer is steady and gentle. There is always that possibility for our guests to become seasick. While most people do not experience any sea sickness, you may want to consider taking precautions if you are prone to motion sickness. There are a wide variety of remedies available please consult your doctor or pharmacist about what would work best for you. We also do have ginger candies available in the shop and on the vessel which prove to be very helpful. Please keep in mind that we may encounter poor weather. We would never keep the boat out in hazardous conditions, but the weather is one of the variables we may encounter. It is not common practice to return back to the harbor for passengers who become sea sick.

Absolutely! Your safety is our number one concern. The Pacific Explorer meets the latest United States Coast Guard regulations carrying life vests for all passengers and all other required safety equipment. All kids age 3 - 8 years of age must wear a life vest for the duration of the cruise (children under 3 are not allowed on the cruise). Our trained crew is always there to help!

Yes! You can visit our shop for great deals on hats, sweatshirts, jackets, and more!

We are approximately 2.5 hours from either San Francisco and Oakland airports, and approximately 1.5 hours from San Jose International Airport. Whether you are coming from or heading to the airport, please note that traffic may be heavier at times, so allow yourself ample travel time.

Yes, our cruises are only conducted in English. However, our non-English speaking guests always enjoy the beauty of the area and the experience of watching exotic marine life. For by-appointment private charters, we can arrange for a translator to accompany the cruise. Click on "Contact the seller" for more information.

Yes! Gift certificates are great for any occasion. To purchase a gift certificate, click on the "Contact this seller" link.

Yes! We offer cruises for private charters, marine education field trips for school groups, conferences, corporate events, family outings, and much more - any size, any occasion, any time! We can accommodate a variety of special requests. Please use the "Contact this seller" link to inquire further.

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