Let me start by saying that this company, from start to finish, really helped create the best experience for us here on Kaua'i. Every crew member we had (6 different ones), and the front desk ladies were amazing. They created a great environment.
This company really cares about you getting what you paid for - which is an awesome time out on the water & seeing the most you can. The boats are very nice, and while the trip doesn't have a lot of fancy embellishments - I preferred that. So here I go in my in-depth review of our 3 trips out with Captain J's!
When we first landed we saw this advertised in the airport. I had done a lot of research on different boat tours, but hadn't seen anything that really fit the bill in my mind. I had some older members in my party that weren't interested in a "holding onto the raft" zodiac rides (which I love), and I wasn't interested in a overly expensive catamaran trip...
When we saw that their boats were a nice compromise between the two, we decided to book with them! We started with a whale watch. Our first crew members were Landon & Matt. They were great, but the whales just were not preforming. In fact, we didn't see a single one! And you can't control nature! But then Captain J's really shined through... they worked with us to get booked again! I have never EVER had a tour do this. It really made an impression that they cared about you getting the experience you paid for.
So we rebooked for later in our trip. It was at this point we decided we wanted to do a Napli Coast tour. Now while this may change, at this time, if you booked this tour with them and they had to reroute, you could choose not to go and get a refund. Based on the research I had done, I did not see this offered by any other tour! And winter in Kauai - the weather on that coast is very unpredictable, so I appreciated this!
We then went on our second whale tour with our favorite crew!!! CJ & Nohili! They were absolutely fantastic and were so much fun. We saw at least 10 whales, and had such a great time. It really was a blast.
The next morning we got up early for our coast tour. Now - let me say: the waters on the coast were serious. Ryan, our captain - handled the water great, but if you're wondering if you can handle the weather, I would suggest giving serious consideration to if you can handle this trip in the winter. The two older members of our party did not do this trip, and I think that was the best decision. As their website says, this is an adventure tour! So be prepared for one!
On the coast trip we saw more whales, hundreds of dolphins, and the coast was breathtaking. In the morning, the sun starts filtering through the cliffs, and with the sea mist rising - the area looks fierce. It was quite a sight to behold. Afterward, they took us back to smoother water, to a nice area to snorkel. It wasn't anything over the top amazing, but there was plenty of sea life and more coral than I had seen in other parts of the island. Light snacks and drinks are provided, and you can always bring additional food. Like I said - no frills, but I wasn't interested in paying $75-100 more for a nicer lunch.
Over take-aways:
This is a no frills tour that centers on the adventure. The staff is great, and focuses on giving you the best experience possible. I am so glad we found this tour group, and booking with them really completed our trip to Kaua'i.
Mahalo to the entire Captain J's team! read more