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    Island Packer Cruises

    4.5 (426 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Services - Island Packer Cruises

    Boat charters

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    Lisa O.

    Island packers is a first class company that can take you on various cruises, including to Channel island NP! We did a weekday trip out to Santa Cruz Island, getting off at Prisoners Harbor for some hiking. The cruise out there is as packed full of campers and day visitors, almost all of which got off at the first stop, Scorpion Harbor. We loved our 4ish hours off of Prisoners Harbor. We did a nice few mile hike on rhe pelican bay trail with two guides from the boat. We also had time to picnic and walk around the lovely beaches in our own. We encountered a lot of wildlife on this trip including a pod of over 1000 dolphins, humpback whales, the endemic island fox, many plants and the island scrub jay. The boat captain really took time to stop for the dolphins and humpbacks, which we really appreciated. We also loved the snack bar on the boat and the staff as a whole.

    Boat
    Sandy B.

    They are a very organized company with clear instructions to prepare for your cruise to the Channel Islands National Parks. Priced fairly. Great crew both ways that are very helpful and experienced. About an hour to the Santa Cruz Island. They also have a gift shop with clothing and accessories. They also have 2 stamps for your passport book. Bathroom nearby. Free parking during the week but paid parking on weekends.

    No whales today but we will see em next time
    Abigail P.

    I have never been on these cruises before, and this is my first time whale watching. I have always dreamt of going to the channel islands, and we did not see any whales today probably because it was too early in the season for them to surface. We saw a ton of dolphins 3 kinds to be exact and some sea lions. Everyone on boat was polite and everything was clean, I do want to come back. The tour guides were kind and would linger around where we'd see wildlife. Id come back again and really enjoyed the boat ride and the experience. Wish I saw whales

    Judy G.

    We got tickets to go to the Santa Cruz Island and I love how this company is super communicative with updates. They text and email all the info you need to enjoy your time at the island and they highly prioritize your safety. When we got on the boat they went through how to put on a life vest and when we arrived to the island, there was an orientation that went over safety and common sense things to follow. All their tips were great and straight to the point.

    Painted cave
    Angela P.

    Everything was fantastic, from check-in to boarding, hospitality to knowledge. We had a great experience with Island packers. We boarded the vessel heading to Santa Cruz Island & the painted cave. We were spoiled to see thousands of dolphins and about 10 whales. The captain, was so kind to spend a lot of time with the mammals. One whale came so close to the boat, as curious about us as we are it. It was incredible. I appreciated the knowledge of the staff, they told history of the Channel Islands as well as the oil rigs. After about 2 hours we dropped off 1/3 of the passengers to the island and made our way to the painted cave. It was another 30 minutes north. The captain nestled the boat as far as she could into the cave. Very impressive in the tight space. We could see sea stars, sea lions swimming in the cave and just the impressive rock formation it was! (Next time, I'd skip the cave and allow more time to explore the island. We only had 2 hours before embarking back to Ventura) Tip: It can be rough seas out there, and nobody wants to hear ppl puking! If you know you struggle with motion sickness - prepare wisely. LISTEN to crew staff. They know best. Take water & snacks to the island! Take your own TP... I brought my she pee funnel. Just sayin' the "pits" are disgusting. It was a great trip!

    Orca one of four.

    Orca show. Had the best nature cruise Saturday to Anacapa island. We saw around 6 humpbacks. Then later we came on the second mega pod of dolphins. This mega pod was being chased by four orcas. To see orcas off California was amazing. The crew shared many interesting facts, and were so professional and safe.

    Michael M.

    Come for the boat ride, flee from the birds Ah, East Anacapa Island. A name that will haunt us in our dreams... or at least every time we see a seagull or hear the words "protected ecosystem." Let me start by saying the boat tour operator was a gem--knowledgeable, friendly, and, most importantly, the only sane part of this fever dream. The voyage out was promising... if you ignore the biblical plague of flies that decided we were their promised land. Bug spray? More like bug soup. But nothing--and I mean NOTHING--could have prepared us for what awaited on the island. Picture this: a barren rock floating in the Pacific, covered in bird poop and anger. It's like nature said, "What if we took Hitchcock's The Birds, added a million screaming seagull babies, and turned the whole island into a maternity ward from hell?" We bravely (foolishly) set out on the hike, which was less a scenic adventure and more an avian battleground. These seagulls were not just protective. They were tiny feathery assassins. One dive-bombed my head so hard I swear I briefly saw my ancestors. Every step was met with screeches, flapping wings, and the constant fear that we might not make it back with both eyes. Our hike turned into a speed-walk of terror, dodging poop bombs and bird rage, until we finally begged--yes, begged--the boat to take us back to the fly cloud, which at that point felt like a spa retreat. Would I recommend this island? Only to someone I deeply dislike or someone training for survival reality TV. Would I do it again? Only if the seagulls sign a peace treaty

    Line to board!
    Mike S.

    YOUR BEST ECONOMICAL OPTION! SAFE & SPEEDY US Coast Guard inspected and they have the process dialed in! Board vessel, take your seats (open seating), receive safety speech, depart, arrive, enjoy island. Return is same in reverse! SEATING Board early and get a spot on the inside. You can always step out to enjoy the sea air. You can't do the opposite if all the inside seats fill up and you get cold! Enjoy! :)

    Giacomo C.

    These folks know what they're doing. 60 years in business and not one incident (we were told). They ain't cheap (not even close), but I guess this is the price you pay to have a peace of mind. We utilized their transportation services for a couple of day trips from Ventura to Anacapa Island and Santa Cruz Island. Everything ran smoothly. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly. Volunteers are often on board to provide additional information about the Channel Islands National Park. The boats have two floors (one indoor, the other outdoor) and are reasonably spacious. The restrooms - believe it or not - are kept clean and odorless throughout the journeys. An additional bonus is provided by the fact that if they run into wildlife on their way to an island, they'll make as many stops as they need to make sure passengers can see the animals. So, what you paid to reach/leave an island may as well turn into a whale watching experience with no additional cost. This happened to us on our way to Anacapa Island, where we saw dozens of dolphins and a handful of whales (a couple of whom swam directly next to the boat). That was pretty sweet, but of course you can't count on it to happen. Either way, although you really don't have a choice (they seem to have the monopoly of transportation services to the Channel Islands), this company delivers what advertised. Get at the dock in a Ventura an hour early if you want to choose your seat, as they're all on a first come first served basis. Restrooms also available at their dock (with drinkable water) and a gift shop for the younger ones.

    Entrance to main office at the Ventura Marina
    Hannah S.

    Island Packers is the only boat concessionaire approved to run trips to and from the islands within Channel Islands National Park. But it's still a family owned company- with two children of the founder still operating the company! And even though you're a captive audience, they still strive to provide an excellent experience - I've loved every trip I've taken with them! Their main office and departure location is in the Ventura harbor marina. They do also offer trips out of Oxnard to certain islands so be sure to check your location when booking online - bc there are options sometimes where you can book to leave from Ventura and return to Oxnard and vice versa. Check in is a breeze - the staff are super friendly and knowledgeable and give you tons of info. After checking in and getting your boarding pass, you'll board in an orderly fashion with clear instructions and help from the staff. Once on board, the staff give a brief safety orientation, open the galley, and you're free to move around as you see fit. There's lots of booths and tables inside, as well as rows of seating outside in the back of the lower level and more on the upper level. The galley offers all sorts of snacks and hot food, as well as hot coffee, tea, and cocoa. Prices are really inexpensive - the drinks and packaged snacks are decent. I tried a breakfast burrito on my last trip but it was not that great - just a standard microwave variety so I probably wouldn't get that again. Their catamaran style boats are designed to navigate through inclement weather and handle the huge rolling waves of the Pacific to give a smoother ride. I've taken three trips with them over the years and all have been relatively smooth. The waves can get quite large, especially on the way out - but it's absolute mad fun to stand on the front of the boat when it's like that - feels like a roller coaster!! If you suffer from sea sickness, I recommend taking your medicine. Most (if not all!) of the staff on board are trained naturalists who love to educate on any wildlife we may come across while on our journey. The captains do a fabulous job of looking out for and getting close (safely) to any pods of dolphins, seals, and whales we may come across. I've seen dolphins and seals on every trip!! Prices for the trips run around just over $60 depending on the length and landing. I've been to both ports on Santa Cruz Island (Scorpion Cove & Prisoner's Harbor) for day trips and I did a half day boat-only trip to Anacapa. They give you plenty of time on the islands. And there are some options to extend your trip and camp as well. They do tell you to arrive at least 30-45 minutes before departure. The office Same for your return departure- and they always say they leave on time - but honestly I've never seen them leave an island without making sure every single ticket holder is either on board or accounted for - so I don't think they'll just up and leave you if you're running behind. The main office has clean bathrooms, limited supplies, and some concessions as well as plenty of parking in a private lot. I love the boat rides over to the islands - Someday I'll make it to all of them!!

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    3 months ago

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    15 days ago

    Very friendly. Great trip to Channel Islands. We did 2 islands on 2 different days. Both were great.

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    Ask the Community - Island Packer Cruises

    How likely is it to get on through standby? & Is 7 hours too many hours there for a day trip?

    What's the parking situation like? I know they recommend carpooling, but is it really that scarce?

    There seemed to be plenty of parking each time we went. We have been twice.

    View All 3 Questions

    Review Highlights - Island Packer Cruises

    I booked our day trips well in advance to Santa Cruz Island (Scorpion Anchorage) and Anacapa Island.

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    Ventura Harbor

    Ventura Harbor

    (20 reviews)

    I love the Ventura Harbor and it's my most frequented harbor in Ventura county. This one feels like…read morehome and has that nostalgic feeling since I've moved here as this was always the place I'd escape to for some good eats and seaside vibes. There is so much to love about the Ventura harbor. They host great events here and there is always something going on. I love when they hire live music on the weekends so that when you're walking around you can enjoy the tunes. A great selection of restaurants here and some nice variety. I love that the harbor has Mexican cuisine, seafood, brunch spots and Greek food. Also some newer spots with arcades and beer have popped up which is great for pulling in a larger crowd/audience. This harbor has always seemed relatively safe to me. I don't see much of security or law enforcement presence but I appreciate that as it just is on the safer side. Like anywhere be aware of your surroundings but I'm happy it's always a safe and family oriented spot. Plenty of parking, easy to get to from the freeway. It's a perfect tourist destination but also locals love it here as well. Cute shops, especially their clothing and pottery store. There is a lot to see at the Ventura harbor but it's also quaint and cutesy. Not too big and you can see everything in about an hour or two depending on your pace (and spending) lol. Happy that the Ventura harbor continues to thrive, really a great spot.

    We used to very much enjoy visiting this area for its eateries and entertainment venues…read more It turns out that they now are charging for simply parking. We turned right around and went back home. Not going there any more! Forget that noise. Too many businesses buckle and dimeing. Gouging were they have no business charging. Not a recommendation!

    Far West Marine - Captain Joe at work

    Far West Marine

    (3 reviews)

    I just purchased my first sailboat - and it's big. (My rigging guy patiently explained that…read moreusually, you buy a 25 foot boat in your younger days, then move up gradually). Well, my circumstances dictated a larger first boat. Insurance was difficult to obtain, and when I did, they asked for 30 hours of sailing and a sign off from a licensed captain. Captain Joe of Far West marine agreed to be my mentor, and I could not be happier; an expert sailor, an intuitive teacher, and an interesting person to spend time with. We have finished our insurance requirement and I feel like I've made a good friend. Im sure we will sail again in the future.

    I recently bought a 27 foot yacht but had no clue how to drive it. I had a few "expert" friends…read morevolunteer to teach me but the size of the boat was bigger than anything they had experienced so they kept crashing into stuff and causing all kinds of problems. I quickly realized I'd need professional training or else the boat would never be enjoyed and might as well be sold. Luckily, I was able to find Captain Joe online. Joe is everything you would want in a marine mentor or coach. He's extremely knowledgeable but also patient and knows what to say and when to say it so you learn while also feeling safe . After a few hours under his tutelage we went from not even being sure how to really start the boat to being able to pull it in and out of the slip ourselves, get it to the ocean , get it on plane, drop anchor. He also went around and did a basic safety check of everything on the boat and gave some recommendations for a simple maintenance plan . Joe is also full of good stories so it's fun just to hang out with him. I'd definitely recommend far west marine for anyone interested in getting into nautical piloting and seamanship .

    Scarlett Belle Event Harbor Cruises - Outside seating

    Scarlett Belle Event Harbor Cruises

    (58 reviews)

    This is long due review. You should be WARNED that whatever is discussed with MICHELLE! If it's not…read morewritten even if she VERBALLY says it. She is not up to her word. she will change her mind Problem is that she is very moody and changes her mind instantly including the day of your event. Could even cancel your event! She doesn't care! Apparently has done that before! She also gets involved during your event as if she's the " event planner" when her outfit is not a fit or appropriate and should be dressed more properly! At least you're the owner and the least you can do is DRESS PROPERLY! Even if the space is nice, you don't want to deal with the headache and stress with this lady. Do yourself favor and find something else! RUN I was helping my friend find a venue for an engagement and unfortunately she stumbled upon this one because of the pictures! Again don't be fooled! IT WAS booked unfortunately Some things that were AGREED Upon before signing the contract were changed! Including the day of the event. It was agreed there florist can arrive early to set up. As I was helping the florist set up. Only certain number of people were allowed to get in! We were given at least one hour before contract was signed and she declined that the day of the event. so to save time, we needed more people to set up before guests were allowed to come inside. So she has her workers count and say only this amount of people are allowed and they were asking people That were setting up to leave ! EXCUSES ME! When are we gonna finish setting up if you didn't allow us the time there you had AGREED ON! That caused unnecessary confusion to the guests and stress for the bride and groom. It was also discussed that you are able to use the upstairs room for the prayer until the bottom one is ready as she had another event in the morning before our event and again we're not allowed to get in one hour before as she had agreed so had to rush and set up. Well! Guess what happened. When guests arrived. She only allowed certain number of people go inside when these people have driven for hours to respect the bride and groom. She left them outside until the main event started Downstairs. Why did it matter is my question! Why MICROMANAGING EVERYTHING. MICROMANAGING AT ITS FINEST! few days before the event, MORE surprises with additional charges that had never been clearly communicated beforehand. Even simple technical requests came with unexpected costs and restrictions, making coordination unnecessarily complicated. It was asked from a DJ to come as the sound system there wasn't going to be the best. When she was informed, she YELLED at the person over the phone and refused! The DJ apologized saying I'm sorry that you have to deal with this. He refunded saying good luck dealing with this human being! Communication with management ( MICHELLE) was inconsistent and at times unprofessional. After asking for an inappropriate offer from the bride, the tone noticeably shifted, and flexibility became minimal. This made the planning process more difficult than it needed to be. This is a business! I don't understand how It's run when the customer is always treated this horrible! How is she still in business! It surprises me! To add to the frustration, one of our event items was "discarded" the very next day without any notice or opportunity for pickup -- something that should not happen when dealing with personal property. We were told we threw it away! Ummm obviously it's ours and we're entitled to it and clearly brought it with us. So what I think is that she kept it to use for her future guests and overcharge because that's her motto! You paid for the food and any left over she kept and there was lots of it! Probably to treat her staff or for herself in the expense of other people. Unsure why! Even the cake! I'm so confused! If it wasn't tight with timing! We would have chosen another venue! NEVER AGAIN.

    We had a beautiful holiday event here that we may well repeat. It was a round success. A little…read morechallenging to plan but my time was limited. Incredibly beautiful, quaint and perfect for a party of 50. Food was delicious.

    Breakwater Charters

    Breakwater Charters

    (1 review)

    My family wanted to do something completely different for a change. We have been to Magic Mountain,…read moreDisneyland (expensive too), the movies, BBQ at the park and the beach. We went online to look for something and my son who loves to fish saw the website for the Breakwater Charter. I'm not a fan of boats or the water, but I'll try anything once. Well the kids and the wife LOVED the adventure! We sailed with Captain Bob and had a blast. The water was not to bad, my son fished with Capt Bob assisting (instead of at the jetty). The rest of the family and a couple friends had a wonderful time just enjoying each others company, no cell phones, no tablets and no TV, it was heaven being out on the open water. We got to see the seals playing, other boaters relaxing too and fishing and kayakers. The Islands were magnificent and a sight to see. We are planning another boat trip soon, this was truly a fun and happy experience for the entire family.

    From the owner: The Breakwater is pleased to share a new season of Island Adventures and Sportfishing in 2016. We…read morewant you to join us in the fun! We offer a wide variety of Island Adventure trips to the Channel Islands for single day Fishing, Kayaking, Snorkeling, Hiking trips and more. Our boat is the perfect private getaway for a family or group of friends. The Breakwater is available for private charters, with accomodations for up to 6 people. The advantage of a private charter aboard the Breakwater provides passengers with all the necessary amenities offered by larger sport fishing vessels, but gives you more room to fish, less tangles and leaves you with a more intimate experience. Whether it's fishing, taking a tour around the islands, spending the day with friends or family or even a burial at sea, the Breakwater will create a memorable day on the water. Call us today to book your trip at: 805.302.9240

    Island Packer Cruises - boating - Updated May 2026

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