I booked tickets for my family online the night before the cruise, and was able to avoid the long lines at the harbor...especially since it was Labor Day weekend. The boat has several levels, and a limited number of seats, so it's better to board earlier (ie, get there a little more than 30 min prior to departure) so you don't end up standing for the hour long ride to the Bay. Also..bring a light jacket, as the temperature is cooler out on the water.
We quickly spotted whales when we got to the bay, and saw two adults and a calf diving right next to the boat, and they stayed there for the full hour we were there. The captain was great in turning the boat around so that everybody had a good look at the boat (from the left and the right). The research tour guide was great in letting us know where the whales were, and also gave great insight into their behavior and biology.
Although it was a full boat, and thus crowded, we noticed that the enthusiasm died down after the first 25 minutes, and so we were able to see whales up close and not from behind the crowds. We started on the upper deck, and later on moved to the lower deck. I recommend the lower deck because you do get the best up close view.
The boat has a great "snack bar" which carries everything from hot dogs and beer to coffee and candy. It was very kid friendly as well.
Overall a great three hour experience!
Pros: You get to see whales!
Cons: It's a full boat during the tourist season
Posted 09/08/07
