This was my second tour with this company and once again, I was not disappointed! We did not see…read moreany larger whales (it WAS the "Orcas Only" tour lol) but we were blessed with the T65B Orca pod . Our guides were knowledgeable and our captain was awesome! They guarantee whales or you get to go back for FREE! I hope to visit again next year! (Or sooner if I can help it!)

Great tours! You WILL see whales, or they'll invite you back free. Very informative staff, and they…read morewere super helpful when we missed our tour due to a very long delay at the ferry. We went on two tours. Highly recommend!

How do we keep adding stars! From the time we met Jette and Jon, we felt right at home and spoiled…read more Sailing the San Juans was a dream come true, but little did we know how wonderful every single day would be. Attention to every detail from warm coffee mugs to fill our fresh coffee at 7am to gourmet lunches and dinners, and of course desserts. We had a wonderful time. Jon and Jette are the most gracious hosts, who now we consider friends. Jon keeping us safe and informed of the wildlife and sealife, but also taking us on hikes on islands only accessible by boat. Jette with her great sense of humor surprising us at every turn with a new talent from gourmet cooking, writing songs, playing her guitar and sharing her doodles are a few of the many talents she revealed to us. And then there is Geni, sweet Geni, their portugese water "boat" dog. We instantly fell in love and could not get enough of her. I don't now the last time I felt so relaxed and pampered. Thank you Jette and Jon for the wonderul memories! We are looking forward to returning next year! To anyone considering Sailing the San Juans - this is your charter! You will have the time of your life!

Well it has happened agin. I spent an absolutely idyllic week on the Northwind. This boat is a…read moredream to sail - or just watch the incredible scenery. Especially with the delicious scents of Jettes cooking wafting up- I ate more than I should have but it was too good to pass up! The wind and the water, sunlight or moonlight- its magic irl. Off boat excursions were terrific as well- hiking, kayaking, biking- its all there and so rejuvenating/relaxing. TailEr is her usual canine calming spirit. John and Jette continue to inspire me with their incredible skills: nautical, culinary and interpersonal! I could go on and on. The care and attention to all aspects of this trip is just superb. You should sign up as soon as you can though- they book up fast.

There are no words to describe this experience. Glacier Bay National Park is a wondrous place but…read morethen add in an antique trawler with the nicest people you'll ever meet. AND THE FOOD! OMG - phenomenal. Our hosts were terrific and just so knowledgeable and friendly. The trip itself was magical. If there was wildlife or whales Jeffrey stopped the boat or maneuvered it so we had a great sighting. AND we got to meet Kim Heacox! Thank you Jeffrey! This is a trip of a lifetime and more folks should do it...on the M/V David B. A shout out to Sarah and Matt too. You both are wonderful.

This was more than a trip...it was an experience and I mean that in the best way. The boat was…read morebeautiful and obviously cared for. It is obvious Christine and Jeffrey take each winter to make everything better on the boat down to the smallest item or storage. From the beginning of scheduling, Sarah happily answered every question promptly. Christine served top notch food from her wood burning stove. Delicious pastries, breads, soups, seafood, salads and appetizers. She helped me slow down, take a breath and see the beautiful world of Misty Fiords National Monument. It was absolutely breathtaking. Jeffrey was so much fun, so knowledgeable about many subjects. He was happy to change course on the boat when the whales were seen. What a pleasant experience to have a trip adapted to the environment. I would highly recommend this trip. I'm already looking at which one I want to do next!

Brett took 4 of us out on 9/10/24 and was amazing. 2 of us were very experienced and 2 were…read moremoderately experienced. Boat and gear were in great shape. We felt he structured the trip to our skills. We limited out. Definitely do it again.

Pros: Beautiful nature, boat ride, fish you get to take home!, nice people, did I mention the…read moreviews!! Cons: none ! We planned a fishing trip with R&R Charters in February, and knowing nothing about fishing Captain Brett taught us so much! He was an awesome captain to have on the boat because he pointed out landmarks, took us north enough to see canada, explained every process on the fishing/gear/how it works, and he helped us catch fish! This was a great hands on experience that helped me understand and learn about fishing. We started kinda early in the morning, but the nice office had FREE COFFEE and a good heater. Then we went out on the boat which was loaded and ready to go (aka i didn't have to do anything ) and went out to multiple fishing spots. Just the boat ride out made me so happy. You could sit inside or outside the heated cabin on our boat which made the ride fun for my boyfriend who wanted to be outside and comfy for me inside. Then Captain Brett set up lines and taught us everything we needed to know! Honestly this was a great addition to our trip to anacortes and The best way to see the San Juan Islands, catch fish, it was educational, and we even got to see seals at the end! This was an awesome date, and would be great for a family trip or with kids. I can't wait to go back and do it again!!

I have been eyeing San Juan Cruises for at least two years and this year my oldest son wanted to…read morecelebrate his birthday exploring by boat. Booking our adventure was extremely easy via the San Juan Cruises website. I greatly appreciate how detailed the reservation information was, and most importantly how courteous the entire team was throughout our time aboard. The team went into great detail about our journey, history on each island we passed, and insights on the protected wildlife we could possibly encounter during our voyage. The vessel was extremely accommodating for all of us on board, ample seating, viewing opportunities, and two restrooms. The team makes an excellent warm lunch was provided; while snacks and beverages were available throughout the entire duration of the voyage (grab a cup of coffee Blue Herron coffee beans based out of Bow, WA makes a great cup!) We managed to encounter eagles, seals, walruses, dolphins, a gray whale, and two different orca pods. Each sighting was absolutely breathtaking and majestic! I could not ever imagine going to a theme park to view these magnificent animals. The voyage takes between 5-6 hours plan, you'll be surprised at how quickly that time goes by. Helpful tip for parents bringing children feel free to pack coloring books, board games, binoculars, and snacks for your littles the San Juan Cruise team welcomes it for the little voyagers. My parents have already had planned to book an excursion during their visit next month, and I highly recommend for anyone who lives in or visiting the area to do so as well!

My boyfriend and I booked the afternoon whale watching cruise at San Juan Cruises not knowing what…read moreto expect and it ended up being the highlight of the weekend. The crew was very friendly and I loved that it was guided by the Captain and Naturalist onboard. I learned a lot about islands in the Salish Sea and we saw several species of animals. There are several great viewing spots on the boat and it's easy to see from inside if it gets too windy. I learned so much about the Biggs orcas, sea lions, and harbor seals. It's not promised, but we saw two different groups of the orcas right at the beginning of the trip and surprisingly at the end in Bellingham bay. It was so nice to learn about them and get an up close view (within safe distance). They served a lunch onboard which was included in the cost, however we packed our own. They also have beverages and snacks for sale throughout the ride. I didn't bring binoculars on board, but I did see people with them. My iPhone was enough to get close up videos and pictures of the animals! I would definitely recommend this to family and friends!

Such nice and helpful people…read more.. Last weekend my wife and I rented a boat from them and Chris was super helpful in getting us prepped with everything we needed. What I really liked was that no one at this facility read the riot act as they were walking us thru the process, which is what my experience with a LOT of boat rental places is... everything was done in a very relaxed manner and everything was explained very nicely We really enjoyed the 4 hour boat ride and did a loop around Waldron Island. Our boat died in the water after about three hours. Nate, Chris and Natalie were there within 15 minutes and helped us get back. They are all SUCH KIND and NICE people, they took care of the issue immediately, put us on a new boat and brought us back meanwhile towed the other boat. Despite the minor hiccup, a worthwhile experience...

Wonderful opportunity to rent a boat and explore the area from the water. Well worth doing as part…read moreof a visit to Orcas Island. The people who run it are very nice, and informative. Only negatives are the web site is out of date and they don't actually rent everything that's currently advertised. It's not an especially inexpensive way to spend a day (depending on your personal situation) but is a memorable, scenic experience. Not recommended if you don't have some boating skills, there are some shallow spots, rocks and tidal conditions to be aware of that could turn a fun day sour - but this isn't their fault of course. Overall a very good & fun experience that also felt safe. Seeing the islands from the water and not just from the ferry route is great!

Such an incredible experience. My partner and I sailed on Hopscotch this past summer and it was…read morejust a perfect week. The San Juans are a unique corner of America that few, even locals, get to see. While you can take a ferry to a few of the major islands, most of them are accessible only by private boat. Sailing through the San Juans feels like something out of a by-gone era - remote islands, lovely old resorts, quaint towns, and (thanks to Skipper Brendan's local knowledge) hidden bays and lots sunsets all to yourself! It's an amazing way to see these islands. Brendan is not only a fantastic skipper, but a really wonderful person who makes sure everyone aboard is comfortable, happy and having a great time. He grew up in Washington and knows so many fun facts about the islands, local spots and was obviously stoked to be able to share a place he loves with us. The boat is lovely. The staterooms are very comfortable and each has its own head (bathroom!) so there is a surprising amount of personal space. Chef Jess cooked up amazing food all week long. There is also lots of deck space so you can spread out and take advantage of the sun, nap on deck, or just sit and watch the scenery with a glass of wine! I really can't say enough good things about the whole experience. Thanks for making this trip all-time! We will be recommending it to friends and family, Cheers!

We just finished a San Juan cruise and it was a spectacular time for all of us. Excellent food,…read moregreat accommodations and a wonderful crew. Brendan our Captain was incredibly knowledgeable about the islands and kept us informed each day as to what our options were. Bri our Chef and the person that really ran the boat turned out the most delicious and unique meals every day in addition to attending to her other duties. Brendan and Bri are truly the nicest and most accommodating people I have ever met! I highly recommend this charter to everyone!

Beautiful spot on Orcas Island -- peaceful, unique, and worth the visit…read more Leona at the front desk was absolutely wonderful, truly a blessing and such a welcoming presence from the moment we arrived. The hot springs are my favorite part and the main reason I came back. My friends and I booked a private soak ($150 for 1.5 hours), which was well worth it. If you stay overnight, you can also do a group soak for $20. The hot springs are clothing optional, and during the group soak most people were nude. It was a bit crowded, but still fun and a memorable experience -- especially if you're open to something new. The room itself was a little cold, but thankfully it had a wood-fired stove (and one of us actually knew how to use it). Beds were comfy, and the bathrooms are a short walk away since they aren't in the rooms. Overall, such a special place -- I'd definitely come back again.

Had a beautiful fall weekend retreat at Doe Bay! Stunning location, huge variety of lodging, and…read morefriendly staff all around. Loved the hot tubs and sauna, and the communal fire pits and outdoor lounge areas. The cafe offerings were delicious, love that it's walkable from your lodging. They had a wild mushroom walk while I was there, as well as a small but well stocked store. Can't wait to visit again in other seasons!