This was our first time whale watching (ever), we came from San Diego and were visiting Victoria for the first time. We were surprised when we arrived at the boat, it was way smaller than we expected. When we booked the reservation I could've sworn the picture showed a much larger boat. With 11-12 passengers and 2 captains it felt extremely crammed. It was also rainy that day and not all of us could fit inside the tiny cabin with the captain, so about 4-5 people had to sit outside in the rain/wind. We did see 2 pods of orcas during the tour, and first group got really close to us and possibly swam under the boat which was really cool (we saw a female, calf, and large male orca up close). The second pod we saw from very far away and all we could really see were black dots (that I think were fins?) in the distance. We also saw porpoises and various types of sea birds. The captains were really knowledgeable and friendly, and we enjoyed the tour overall. However the fact that we had to sit uncomfortably shoulder-to-shoulder really detracted from the experience. I also feel they should give a warning about possible seasickness, as the waves could be rough the farther out you get. read more

Five Star Whale Watching - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

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Tour was cancelled due to issues with the boat. Was not notified ahead of time and arrived at our tour time excited just to find out we couldn't go on the tour anymore. They said the issues occurred the day before. I understood the need to cancel the tour, but the lack of an early notice prevented us from being able to rebook with other tour companies in time to go out that same day, which was our only day in Victoria. Big disappointment. read more

Actually was lucky and saw 4 Orca whales all together and also a Humpback! Staff was very nice.

Great tour company! We wanted a morning tour but there wasnt enough people so they offered afternoon. That was fine so we booked that instead. However soon as they got enough the called us to offer AM again which was awesome. Also the tour was great, get a decent ride out and actually saw a few whales. On the way back saw a lighthouse with sea lions and such. Captain was smart and friendly. Would recommend these guys for a whale tour read more

We went whale watching for the first time with this company and had a GREAT experience. We were on a boat for 12, and being the last ones on, my husband and I sat in the covered part where we could still look out the open window. The best part of our trip (besides seeing real whales!) was our captain, Gordon. He shared with us so much information about the area and the whales. We had read this company is environmentally conscientious and respective of the whale habitat. True to word, Gordon kept us at a respectful distance where we could see the whales easily but also not disturb them. He also stopped the boat at one point to pick up a party balloon that was floating in the ocean as trash. He really made this trip fun and informational. Thank you, Cpt Gordon! This trip was a highlight of our vacation! read more

Five Star Whale Watching - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

So amazing!! They staff was very helpful and compassionate knowledgeable there isn't enough good things to say about them, loves it!!

Five Star went over and above for us before we even had our tour. My husband became quite ill and our request to go on a different day was accommodated with understanding. Additionally, we had a conference rate that Tourism Victoria couldn't facilitate and they both made it a seamless experience for us. The tour itself was beyond our expectations. Captain Brad and naturalist Amy were both professional and excited for the experience, too. We were on the Salish Shadow, a smaller vessel with one other couple. The seas were a bit choppy and as we went further out, it became chillier which made us grateful that insulated flotation jackets were provided. I got soaked with one big splash, because although we were offered to sit inside, I wanted to feel the wind in my hair... and ended up feeling a whole lot more! It was quite funny and not wholly unexpected. We witnessed how their networking worked in terms of the companies all helping each other. We came across one humpback feeding, which I'm sure was shared to our captain and stayed to watch for a few minutes, but quickly left to look for a different site as he'd heard a rumour that another site was better. We went about as far as we could go, given the time limits and did indeed find a rather large baleen pod, which I understand is more unusual. We saw numerous flukes and tails and one curious young humpback 'mugged' us by approaching although we were outside the recommended distance. Captain Brad, shared this with the other companies and two other boats showed up in a bit, which really showed how they cooperate. On the return trip, we went past a lighthouse with sea lions and also encountered seals. Some non-wildlife sights included a US nuclear submarine with two escorts, a military helicopter, float planes, harbour patrol trying to keep vessels off the 'aquatic runway,' shipping vessels, sailboats, ferries and fishing vessels. And they offered us some hot chocolate near the end, which was a lovely gesture. I would highly recommend this company, because although they can't guarantee great weather and whales 'on demand,' they care. read more

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Has an amazing adventure on this whale watching tour. 3 hours of fun in the sun and a beautiful boat ride around Victoria with spectacular views. The crew did not disappoint. They found us a whale and her calf and gave us an opportunity to see wildlife in their natural habitat and it was exquisite. The crew is so knowledgeable about wildlife, Victoria history and so much more. It was a pleasure to sit and listen and take it all in. Definitely would book with Five Star Whale Watching again. read more

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My family had tried to do a whale watching tour when we went to Victoria a number of years ago. But the weather turned bad and we were never able to go. This time I was lucky. Thanks to Groupon I was able to get a good deal on this tour. I really liked my whale watching experience with 5 Star. The boat was a good size. I was worried about getting seasick, but I didn't have any problems, and I didn't even take anti-seasickness pills. The staff was really nice, and my guide was very funny (I can't remember his name, he was from Australia). We ended up seeing seals, porpoises, a bald eagle and orcas (the Jpod). I didn't get a lot of pictures, so I was glad to see that the offer some up on their blog. My shots wouldn't have turned out so good anyways (I don't have the right lens). The staff were very informative and able to answer any questions we had. Whale watching is something I think everyone should do at least in their lives. 5 Star was a really a great company for whale watching and I highly recommend them. read more

Choose another tour. You will get closer to the whales and have a much better experience on another boat. I've been on several tours in this and other areas and this was the worst for what I paid. It's pretty disappointing when you see an entire population surfacing and breaching in the distance but your Captain has their own agenda. You will see a whale, but you will appreciate your time and money spent a lot more aboard another vessel. read more

We bought this on the clipper and I really hoped to see some orcas, the main advertised whales in victoria and one of the animals I am fascinated by. When we got on the boat they said that they are using a "natural" way to find whales without any technology so the whole trip is based on luck. The guides were friendly but they talked to almost everyone to get to know them except for us for some reason. We saw a humpback and stayed by her for a while with some other boats and when we left we went to this preserve with 2 bald eagles, seals, a sea otter and sea walrus. We headed back then and it left me feeling pretty disappointed that we only saw one whale which wasn't a orca. But it might have just been one of those days, I just felt their methodology isn't top, they didn't talk to us or the fact that you could possibly not see any whales and have no money back guarantee (that I know of) read more

Five Star Whale Watching - The humpback we saw - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

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My dad and I visited Victoria, B.C., from Seattle, via the Victoria Clipper. The attendants on the Clipper recommended Five Star Whale Watching for one of our excursions. From check-in at Five Star's main office (about a block from the dock) to our wonderful guide, Keegan, we undoubtedly had a great time! We enjoyed the knowledgeable staff and just being with nature. We saw a few humpback whales, and a lot of sea lions! We also enjoyed spending time with a small group (there were about six of us on board). Although I had an expectation to see many whales, I soon understood that this was nature--I am in the whales' territory, and as Keegan explained to us, the whales could simply be swimming right underneath our boat! I found this whole experience thrilling, and most importantly educational. I hope that everyone can experience whale watching at least once in their lives. read more

I went Whale Watching on over Labor Day weekend - my friends and I traveled from Seattle, so this was part of our day trip to Victoria! We arrived at 5-Star Whale Watching and the staff was incredibly enthusiastic. After a quick intro about what to expect on trip, we were off on our adventure! I sat on the top deck - which was INCREDIBLY windy. But after about 45 minutes - we located a pod of orcas - were were about 100ft away from them AND were were the closet boat to the pod. At first, they were really difficult to see, but once you spotted them, it was great. The staff on the boat ws very knowledgeable and was able to answer so many questions - about Orcas, their behaviour, lifestyle, etc. Keep in mind, photography is really tough, unless you have a professional lens/camera. With a digital, the photographs are hit or miss - because you are 100ft away. Overall, it was a very enjoyable trip and I would definitely go again. The value for what we saw was good - 5-Start is comparable with their competitors in price, however, I felt the staff really made the experience better. read more

This started very well! The nicest woman greeted our group and we walked a short distance to the boat. Approximately 40 of us boarded and off we went after a brief safety demonstration. As we were about to leave the harbour, we slowed, turned around and headed back for lack of obvious reason. After deboarding. We were told that the engine overheated and to head back to office so we could be taken out by another vessel. Here's the rub: they only have two..the broken one and the smaller boat that holds 12! For those of us leaving the next day, we were left to scramble to the other companies...to no avail since they had been booked for days. I'm not faulting the company for an overheated engine...this probably could happen to any boat company; my beef is that they have no alternatives for rescheduling, they gave no information to us as this unfortunate situation was unfolding and the way it was handled at the office appeared a little shady. There was no way they could have gotten the 40 of us on another vessel and the slow and individual process in which they handled this problem made it such that only few of us got to go out at all to see any whales! Many of us lost a fun day and it was too late to reachedule any activity! The complete wasted day and lack of compassion this company showed us nearly ruined our last day in Victoria. The owner/manager never showed up ! read more

Booked this trip through Clipper Vacations. Very disappointed. Saw a few birds, few sea lions, porpoises, prison, lighthouse. No whales. Naturalist could have spoken about habitat/life cycle of whales; could have asked passengers if we have questions. Naturalist could have given passengers a 5-second warning to return to seats before boat built up fast speed. Lot of $ for a very cold boat ride on a cloudless day in Victoria. read more

After reading some of the reviews, I admit that I was on the alert. Realizing that there is unpredictability with the "creatures of the sea", we were given a briefing about safety, what to expect, where we were going, and what they expected from us. It was clear, concise and informative. As soon as we saw a spotting of sorts, the captain would do everything possible to ensure that we saw it and would wait to see if there was to be anymore activity from the whale. While we were searching for activity, the captain would educate everyone about habitats, what we were seeing, the reasons for some things, etc. We enjoyed the entire experience. It was well worth the money! read more

The staff at Five Star Whale Watching were great. They took the time to walk from one end of the boat to the other throughout the entire three-hour trip to provide each passenger with information about the whales, major sights and to point out nearby whales and wildlife. There was a comfortable indoor seating area but we sat outside on the back of the boat for most of the trip (which was super cold) for a better view. It was quite foggy so it took a long time to find an orca pod and a couple of gray whales, and they were a bit further from the boat than I expected, but we were able to get some great photos and it was exciting nonetheless. The Five Star staff also posted photos from our tour online later that day for all of us to download. Overall the trip was great but we will probably book the afternoon tour next time to try to avoid the morning fog. read more

Five Star Whale Watching - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

This company works hard to provide an adventure in every trip! We visited in August. The trip begins at the office with a quick rundown of the day's itinerary and confirmation that no one has back to back obligations (just in case it takes a while to find some wildlife, they may stay out longer than the 3 hours). Then, there is a one block walk down to the boat. Be prepared for a few stairs. The boat will join the queue of other craft moving out of the harbor while crew brief on safety, offer viewing suggestions and extra jackets and set up a coffee/cocoa station. The ride was smooth on our day, and we were fortunate to find a huge group of humpback whales. We also saw harbor seals, porpoise, sea lions and bald eagles. The currents near the lighthouse are fascinating. The guides were knowledgeable, friendly and patient. Some language translation was available. Temperatures in the top deck were crisp even on a sunny day. A warm hat, light gloves, wind resistant jacket, closed toe shoes, binoculars and camera are recommended. Online booking is a breeze. read more

What a wonderful crew! We came up to Victoria from Seattle for the gardens and this tour, and we got more than what was expected. The crew were so helpful to my mom who was very concerned about the rough waters we encountered. Their knowledgeable responses to her concerns were relieving and educational. We saw a group of whales, an eagle, and many awesome other birds. Thank you so much! read more

What a fun trip! We saw quite a few humpback whales along with sea lions and seals. Well worth the money. Can get pretty rough out in the open water so folks with motion sickness should plan ahead with medication. If you can, get a trip with Jenna! This young lady MADE the trip for us, she is fun, funny, and has a wealth of knowledge about the ocean and its inhabitants. read more

Five Star Whale Watching truly is five star!! My family went whale watching with Five Star on April 9, 2015. I booked the trip through Tourism Victoria. Five Star had the most reasonable pricing and had a great new boat that was custom built. It sounded perfect. I was a bit worried we might not see whales since it sounded like it wasn't the prime season for the resident pods. The weather was perfect and the crew (Andrew, Kayla, Trev the Captain and Ron the Whale Specialist) couldn't have been more knowledgeable or better. They told us what to watch for birds, etc. We departed and started out. It was such a nice day that we were all enjoying the boat ride. Since we had brought our kids along we had to sit in the inside portion on the lower deck which was comfortable. Once we went a ways they stopped the boat and sure enough, Andrew who was on the lower deck, pointed out the transient Orcas. We were able to get such great views of them. It was amazing. We had plenty of time to enjoy the Orcas and take pictures. I've been whale watching before in a zodiac and I would have to say this was far, far superior to what I experienced in the past. We watched the Orcas for a long, long time. Since our crew knew the Orcas were going to the lighthouse they decided that we should go there to view the Sea Lions and Seals before the whales get there, which we did. We saw two bald eagles, lots of Sea Lions and Seals and then on the way back saw the Orcas again. My personal highlight was when a small pod of Dall's Porpises started swimming back and forth under our boat. It was amazing. My kids will probably never forget it. All in all, I would highly recommend Five Star, and even my 8 year old son said: "They truly are Five Star!" Best whale watching I have experienced and far exceeded my expectations. read more

What a great experience. We started and finished on time. We saw Orca's, sea lion's, and seals.

The tour started promptly. The crew was knowledgeable, friendly, & very engaging. While i would've LOVED to have seen the orcas up close, the crew was careful to keep the legal distance from the animals, even having to change course a couple of times. We saw orcas, harbor porpoises, seals, & many different seabirds. All in all, very enjoyable. read more

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We went Whale Watching this past weekend and it was amazing! It was a nice and smooth ride. We saw sea lions, bald eagles and Transient whales. We sat in the inside cabin and it was a perfect view. Also, the staff was fantastic! Rachel and Tara were our guides, Ron as the captain and the researcher (His name escapes me at this time). They are very nice and personable and have a lot of knowledge about the area and whales. We had to catch a flight at 5:40pm and they made sure that we didn't miss our flight. I highly recommend 5-star Whale Watching tour because the staff are truly wonderful. You could pick any whale watching tour, but I am so glad we went with 5-star! They really enjoy their job and make sure you have a fun time too! read more

I went whale watching early this morning and we were lucky to see about 10 killer whales and it was so beautiful! I chose five star only because they were the first on the web page of Victoria official website. As a matter of fact the price of five star is lower than some others I saw. I don't know why but I guess it had some thing to do with the ads which five star hardly put. Never experienced any other whale watching so I don't know if it's better, but I am satisfied enough that I got what I wanted: whales, safety and warmth. And, I was in a hurry this morning that I took a waffle from the Cora's and I had no fork with me that I tried to ask for one at five star office, I knew it was ridiculous but I was amazed that the guide later on the vessel, his name was Andrew, he went back to the office and gave me a fork! I just can't image. Thank you so much. And the orcas really worth the coldness on boat. I will surely do this again. read more

Went whale watching mid April, just after the season started. I had my family to visit from Germany and they loved it. We got groupon tickets just the Friday before and could use it immediately. It was a great deal. Saturday it was too windy so we did not go, but Sunday was perfect. Our 3 hour trip ended up being a good 4-4.5 hours, but hey no complaints from us. It was cold, but worth it. We went all the way up to Nanaimo to see a family of 5-6 orcas. With a baby too....anyway, it was great experience, it took us a while to track them down, but we found them and got great pix. The team was friendly but the boat is cold and they run out of hot drinks fairly quickly. My only big concern is that the boat is super, extremely noisy, Not quite sure how they think the Whales will stick around if the motor is this loud. If I can't stand the noise above ground, I don't want to know what does poor beast hear under the water surface... All in all however I think that these trips are overpriced with $100 per person tickets. I paid $55 and that seemed to be a fair price. read more

I went whale watching twice this summer. The first time, with a much smaller company, we saw humpback whales (right under the boat), and two pods of travelling orcas, some seals and sea lions. The owner/operator drove many miles up and down the coast and spent a lot of time communicating with other boats in order to find the whales. The second time I chose 5 star because I was buying two tickets and they had a better price. The boat was much more comfortable and the guide was very well-informed and friendly. However, their method of finding whales was completely different. Several times we stopped out in the middle of the ocean and they said, Okay, now look for something. We saw lots of sea lions at the light house but not one whale the whole trip. It was very disappointing, and although I wish I had had the nerve to ask for the no whale guarantee, I did not. It would have been nice if they had offered because my son was very disappointed, and it's a lot of money to pay not to see any whales at all. What I would recommend: if you want a nice, warm, comfortable boat ride, go with 5 Star. If you really want to see whales, go with a smaller company. read more

I have nothing but wonderful things to say about my experience tonight. Went on a "night" whale watching tour (5:30pm-8:30pm) with my husband, mom, and both in-laws. Found the check-in process and getting to the boat very easy. We had about 14 people in our group for a boat that maxed out at 20 passengers, so we have enough room to spread out. Jim was our guide and Sherry was our captain. Getting out to sea was pretty easy and exciting, however my sea legs (or lack there of) didn't quite adjust to the somewhat rough waves. After about an hour being out on the water, seasickness overcame me and I began barfing over the side of the boat... NOT FUN! The one thing that made it less sucky was Jim and Sherry. Jim checked on me every 5 mins to see if I wanted to move, needed another jacket, wanted water, etc. Sherry adjusted the route so we would see smoother water, which did help. We saw 2 Orca whales and they took us by the sea lion rock, so we saw lots of marine life which was awesome. Because the last 90 mins weren't the most comfortable for me, Jim asked if we would be in Victoria the next day to come back and get another tour or even to be reimbursed. Their hospitality was enough to know the price was worth it and they deserved the money. Overall, couldn't recommend this company enough for whale watching! Oh and bonus, they have coffee and hot chocolate on the boat too read more

I had a great time on the boat. Expert staff , informative and they found the whales! The orca pod was moving down the island coast and then they found a hump back whale. I learned a lot about their behaviours. My thanks for supplying a bathroom, coffee and a warm jacket as well. Check out their pictures! read more