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    Sanctuary Cruises

    4.7 (312 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Services - Sanctuary Cruises

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    Dana A.

    This was the most amazing whale watch I have ever been on!! The crew was so nice and knowledgeable and we had a female humpback with our boat for an hour and a half just looking at us and showing off.. it was so special! I would do this again in a heartbeat, as a matter fact, I might do it again next week! Super easy to book and a very small boat that is low to the water so you get a really great experience, I think the weekends are probably busy but I went on a Friday on the 11:30 AM and had a fantastic time ! We probably saw over 25 whales, and then of course the dolphins and all the wildlife and birds and sea lions and an otter too. 10 stars!

    Humpback Whale

    I've been on two trips with these guys and they've both been absolutely amazing. I was fortunate enough to see a super pod of dolphins that was estimated in the thousands on the first trip along with some humpbacks and sea lions The second trip included a pod of transient killer whales, with a huge male named Hercules, as well as a baby Orca. There were also some humpbacks that put on an hour-plus breaching show for us. It. Was. Amazing.

    Spyhopping
    Linda R.

    Great customer service.They were willing to work with us to accommodate our schedule. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. They answered our questions thoroughly. We saw about 20 humpback whales at fairly close range and several rafts of sea lions, as well as a few seals and Sea Otters as well as a sprinkling of sea birds. The sea sickness wristbands that you can rent. Worked beautifully and I am usually prone to sea sickness. There was a bathroom on board, but it is a very small vessel which is great, because it allows you to get close to the whales. We lucked out with some very active whales that day. It was just wonderful and I would definitely do it again.

    Having a blast in Monterey Bay!
    Clint J.

    We had an amazing time, despite the freezing cold rain. Saw lots of humphack whales playing - slapping the water, waving with their fins, breaching half of their bodies out of water putting on a show - could have sworn they were on Santuary's payroll!

    Chris A.

    This is the HANDS DOWN best whale-watching ECO trip in the Monterey Bay Area! The boat is cozy but it's all you need! It's close to the water so when the whales come up, you SEE them up close and personal. Chase Dekker and Jackson are the best combo around. Chase is the best naturalist/photographer around and Jackson is the best captain. I have been on 2, almost 3 Photography centric cruises and whale watching several times and every single time was memorable!! I have been on other boats in Moss Landing and Monterey and I will never go on anything other than the Sanctuary! Do yourself a favor and book a trip!

    9-15-23 Humpback Whales lunging for food!
    V. B.

    Seriously, don't bother researching. I did all the research and landed on Sanctuary Cruises. I was right! LOL THE BEST whale watching boat and crew! Chase and Joe were as excited as we were to see these magnificent creatures in their ocean! I talked to a couple on our trip who have done whale watching with Sanctuary 17 times! They said they had done a few others before and Sanctuary is the best!

    Kristy W.

    Love this company so so so much!!!!! Have been out many times with them... always enjoyable! Can not wait to go out again!

    Grey Whales on 3/27/23

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    Page 1 of 8

    Sanctuary Cruises Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Sanctuary Cruises

    They are not posting any recent sightings. Are they still operating as of Aug.29, 2022?

    Check their website and click Bookings to see calendar for open trips. Looks like there are spots all this week..

    How much is it?

    $55 per adult for the 3.5 to 4 hr tour - October 2018

    Can i please tell me how many people are on the boat? if i get too cold, is there heated in door seating area where u can also look out!…

    Yes, there's an indoor area that's sheltered from the wind and warm--though if you tend to get seasick, it's better to be out in the air. I'm not sure exactly how many people are on the boat (maybe 25?), but, having gone out with several companies… Read more

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Sanctuary Cruises

    The Humpback whales & their feeding fish were in plentiful supply and we could see whales almost everywhere we looked.

    Mentioned in 49 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Blue Ocean Whale Watch

    Blue Ocean Whale Watch

    (202 reviews)

    Picked this company because of the reviews and everyone was right! After booking they provided a…read moredetailed list of everything we need, including parking and clear directions. Because of their location in Moss Landing, we saw several whales within minutes of leaving the harbor. In addition, we saw otters, sea lions, and dolphins. Both the captain and guide were professional and checked on us during the excursion. Also very knowledgeable and shared lots of great info. The boat is not as big as some of the tours we saw, which was nice because we all got a great view without being on top of each other. Highly recommend for all those reasons. The big plus is location. Don't have to deal with traffic getting in/out of Monterrey.

    I've tried out various whale watching tours in the Monterey Area & I always choose Blue Ocean over…read moreeveryone else. Why? 1. Capt Kate is so knowledgeable about everything we are seeing 2. Capt Kate doesn't book the boat full this way everyone has a great view 3. The boat itself is more suitable for an optimal viewing experience 4. Capt Kate will seek out various viewing opportunities. 5. Capt Kate keeps a respectful distance to the whale and never chases them 6. It's out of Moss Landing which is right where the activity is. Most other whale watching companies go out of the Fisherman's Wharf which means you have to spend 30-40 minutes traveling just to spend 35 minutes with the whales and then spend another 40 minutes it's traveling back. Bottom line you get more bang for your buck with Blue Ocean and it is truly a whale watching EXPERIENCE rather than a boat ride.

    Kahuna Whale Watching

    Kahuna Whale Watching

    (7 reviews)

    These folks are the best deal on the block. Their Groupon is an amazing offer…read more I love that they have coffee and breadsticks available to munch on before you get on the boat. The boat is nice enough although it's the smallest in the area. Their boat goes to the same place Sea Goddess goes so the experience is basically the same once out on the bay. As a whole they are A-OK (definition of a 3 star yelp review). The crew and staff are fantastic, and alone would get 5 stars. My only personal issue with their setup is that the boat you go out to admire marine life in is the same boat used to go out and slaughter marine life. Kahuna fishing does all day excursions where they take fishermen out to sea in this ride. I love animals so I don't kill them. I don't fund the killing of animals by eating them either. There's an irony that we can marvel at one segment of the marine life and thirst to destroy the other.

    The most amazing experience ever! My whale watching tour was cancelled and I had driven 3 hours…read morefrom Sacramento when I meet Carol from Khauna Sports fishing and whale watching. She was amazing, she wrangled up her crew, Bryan the captain and Katherine the naturalist in half an hour. I wrangled 33 strangers, like me who were disappointed that our trip was cancelled. Carol and the Khahuna crew gave us the perfect outing and Katherine' s knowledge was amazing! We saw Risso's dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins, Humpback whales,Sea otters, Harbor seals, Sea lions and several different species of sea birds. We had Watchers from different parts of the country and world, China, France and Netherlands and USA I would say, the day was a successful meeting of different species ! Bryan even followed the Whales and dolphins for what seemed forever. He gave us an experience of a life time. Everyone was amazed at the trip. Way better than the other company. Thanks Carol, Bryan and Katherine you rock! Kat and Marian and group.

    Fast Raft Ocean Safaris - The Fast Raft is a 33-foot Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) with twin 300-hp engines built for military patrol use.

    Fast Raft Ocean Safaris

    (92 reviews)

    Absolutely incredible experience with Fast Raft Ocean Safaris & Captain Kate!…read more If you're anywhere near the Monterey Peninsula, local or visiting, you must experience Fast Raft Ocean Safaris. We had the privilege of heading out with Captain Kate, and what unfolded was truly beyond words. We witnessed countless humpback whale calves breaching all around us-so many that we didn't know which direction to look-left, right, behind the boat...it felt like nature's ballet on full display! The raft itself is impeccable-comfortable, smooth, and incredibly close to the water, which makes the encounters feel all the more intimate and powerful. It's small-group, thoughtfully guided, and environmentally conscious. Captain Kate's knowledge, passion, and deep respect for the ocean and its creatures created a sense of reverence and wonder that elevated the whole journey. This is not your average whale-watching tour-it's in a league of its own. A soul-stirring, jaw-dropping, life-affirming kind of outing. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Whether you're a local looking to reconnect with the majesty of your own backyard or a visitor hoping for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, this is the one to book. Truly unforgettable.

    I've taken Fastraft a few times. It's always an amazing experience ! The raft gives you the…read moreability to be up close to the whales or dolphins while being completely safe. Leaving from Moss Landing allows you to be directly over the ocean trench so the wildlife is close to the harbor. It's amazing. Laura D

    Oceanic Expeditions - Humpbacks diving together

    Oceanic Expeditions

    (19 reviews)

    We had an incredible day out on the water with Mike and Mary yesterday! It was my first time whale…read morewatching, and I was fortunate enough to get the complete experience. We saw over 10 humpback whales and got to view a full breach by one! We also saw 3 different species of dolphins. The boat was modern, well maintained, and very comfortable offering comfy chairs at the back as well as an indoor section (with seating) to protect from wind or rain. Mike and Mary are both very knowledgeable and friendly, and made sure we had an excellent time!

    Overall, I had a really great experience with Oceanic Expeditions. I went out recently while…read morevisiting the area and after following them on social media for years, knew I wanted to book a trip due to the small boat size (only 6 people max). I went on the 9:30am trip with two couples and we were lucky to have great weather and overall calm waters. We were lucky to see many humpbacks and several breeches and to see humpbacks relatively close to the shore. The reason however I docked a star is that we were back at the dock after 2.5 hours, when the trip was very clearly listed as 3 hours. Given that this was a pretty expensive experience, it left me feeling a bit confused and cheated. Even though we had seen a lot of "action" and I had a wonderful time, I still feel that we should have been on the water for the amount of time the tour was marketed for - if it was 10 minutes short I wouldn't have been as bothered losing half an hour is a significant portion of the trip. I have been on many whale watching tours and they are typically marketed with a range of hours or a minimum amount of time, and the duration has always met that minimum. I do think Oceanic Expeditions would be better marketing this as 2.5-3 hours if they are not going to be on the water for the full 3 hours.

    Monterey Bay Eco Tours - Monterey Bay Eco Tours

    Monterey Bay Eco Tours

    (127 reviews)

    We took this tour yesterday and it was amazing. First, you're in an electric boat so it is quiet…read moreas you leave the harbor. We immediately saw sea lions and seals sunning themselves on a dock and multiple species of birds nesting and hunting in the harbor waters. But, it was out in the slough where the real magic happens. Sea otters, seals ,sea lions and birds abound. You can hardly turn your head without seeing something amazing. The tour also had a naturalist with years of experience in the Elkhorn Slough. She identified animals and birds for us and told us about the efforts to restore the slough. It was a fun and informative tour that I highly recommend. 10/10

    I've done their boat tour twice now and I can't stop raving about them. You can easily book a tour…read moreonline and they are easy to find with plenty of parking. The guys who run it are fantastic. Friendly and extremely knowledgeable. Not to mention the boat is electric and it runs so quietly. I went a few months ago with John for the first time and it was lovely. We saw so many sea otters! I decided to bring my brother on Tuesday. I figured it would be pretty similar from the first tour. Was I wrong! We had the most amazing tour! First, we happened to see humpback whales from the boat. Just so you know, that doesn't normally happen. We were very lucky and a special moment for us. In addition to that, there were so many pelicans flying around and diving into the water to catch fish! It was incredible. We will come back again especially knowing that you never know what you will see on a tour. Just fantastic!

    Sanctuary Cruises - boatcharters - Updated May 2026

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