Absolutely amazing experience! We rode the Black Fin on 7/26/26. The crew was all women (go…read moreladies!) and the owner of the boat was on board. The crew checked on all riders multiple times to ensure we were feeling well. The explanations for what we were watching were detailed and easy to understand. The company truly cares for the passengers. I applaud them for not squeezing the max number on the boat to make an extra buck. There was room to move around and change seats as needed. The best part for me was the railing on the outside was just perfect for my children to watch and enjoy the whales as well as be safe doing it. Overall, I'd recommend this company to anyone looking to go whale watching!

Although this was my first experience on a whale watching tour I'm so glad it was this one!! We…read moretook my Daughter for her birthday and had a wonderful time! The crew was so friendly and full of interesting information on the whales, seals etc. they even took us out a little farther so we could see another species. The captain also was so kind to let my daughter sit behind the wheel for a picture on her birthday! Thank you so much for a wonderful day my family had! I would definitely recommend this tour/company!

Beautiful scenery, excellent knowledgeable guides , knowledgeable of all the sea life…read moreExtra clear visibility, super clean boat , everyone receives a life vest. Excellent for familys . The Shake family always make sure your comfortable in all aspects. 5 stars for Angelo Shake thank you for making our 2026 4th of july memorable for life God BLESSS!

We had a wonderful time. The Captain was very knowledgeable with lots of historical information.read more

Finally get to check seeing a whale breach off of my bucket list ! The crew was enthusiastic and…read moreknowledgeable. They tell everyone which side of the boat they'll face the whales on and ensure everyone gets a spot to see. They don't overcrowd, so everyone gets to be against the railing on the viewing side. It's truly magical being surrounded by so much life. We saw 1500+ dolphins, multiple humpback mothers and calves, an escort, and a 34+ year old male breaching all in the span of an hour. They also provide the photos they get on Google Drive, so you can focus on taking everything in with your own eyes if you'd like. I loved knowing the identities of the whales we saw as well. Even if nature had decided to show us nothing, I'd still very much appreciate their service. Couldn't recommend enough ! I'll come back some day in hopes of seeing a blue whale !

We did the 1.30pm tour today and it went for 3 hours. At 1 hour in we reached an area just past the…read moredrop off where Isaiah mentioned whales tend to hang out, and what to look for. My daughters (age 9&7) were thrilled to see splashes ahead and looked hard to find a whale and very excited to see a mom and calf humpback whale right after that. We also got lucky and saw a blue whale. Isaiah gave some info about blue whales and they took it all in. I was a bit worried about how it would go as my oldest daughter has autism but she felt comfortable enough to take herself off to a quieter space (indoors) when needed. It was also a small enough group that it didn't feel overwhelming for her. Overall we had a great time!

Here's a fun and exciting review for your whale watching experience with Princess Monterey:…read more --- **Princess Monterey: A Whale of a Time (with a Splash of Adventure!)** Well, folks, if you're looking for a whale watching trip that's equal parts exhilarating and stomach-churning, look no further than Princess Monterey! Our group of 40 brave souls set sail yesterday, and let me tell you, it was a wild ride! Picture this: the ocean was a bit like a roller coaster--waves crashing, boats rocking, and our group members discovering just how quickly they could become best friends with the sea. Quite a few of us found ourselves feeling a bit queasy, but hey, who knew that whale watching came with a side of "hold on to your lunch"? But here's the kicker: despite the rough waters, we saw more whales than I've ever seen on any whale watching excursion! It was like a scene out of a nature documentary--humpbacks breaching, flukes flipping, and us squealing with delight (and maybe a little nausea). Every wave brought a new adventure, and the sight of those magnificent creatures made it all worth it! The crew was absolutely fantastic! They were like walking encyclopedias of the ocean, ready to answer every question we threw at them, no matter how ridiculous. "Is that a whale or just a really enthusiastic dolphin?"--they handled it all with grace and humor. Their enthusiasm was contagious, making even the toughest waves feel like a minor inconvenience. So, if you're up for a thrilling adventure with the chance to see some magnificent whales (and maybe test your sea legs), Princess Monterey is your go-to! Just bring some ginger ale for the ride trust me on that one!

Everything exceeded all expectations. Saw plenty of dolphins and whales, many very close to the…read moreboat. At $75 per person (times four) you wonder if it's going to be worth it. But when they deliver exactly what they promised, you walk away happy

My family of 5 took a last minute private 1.5 hour sunset cruise and couldn't have had a better…read moretime. Captain Tiki was amazing, had a great sense of humor with the kids, and made the tour very fun. While it would've been great to be on the water longer, an hour and a half was still plenty! This was the highlight of our summer in Carmel/Monterey!

Our company recently booked a charter for our employees, and to say we had a wonderful experience…read morewould be an understatement--everyone absolutely loved it! Captain Vince was incredible. He was attentive, informative, and extremely kind. We felt comfortable and safe throughout the entire trip. Our employees couldn't stop raving about the experience, and many shared that they plan to book their own charters in the future for their families. It was such a peaceful and beautiful time out on the water--truly a memorable experience that will stay with you. Thank you, Captain Vince, for making our trip so memorable. You were awesome!

It was a gray cool morning, and all 6 of us were bundled up, as if we were going into a snowstorm…read more That was a wise decision. Ten minutes after leaving Moss Landing we encountered 4 humpback whales foraging, 10 minutes later 2 more, and half a mile away more blows. In 3 hours we encountered at close range probably 40 humpbacks. We were able to get fluke photos of 18 different whales and using Happy Whale identify 17 known individuals and at least one whale not in the Happy Whale database. Fabulous morning on the water with Captain Kate Spencer.

Fantastic experience, many many Humpback Whales. Got some National Geo type images of breaching…read morewhales. Kate and Don did their best to get us close to the action. With limited people on board this is the only way to watch whales.

We had a great time! Super customer service from booking to the end of the tour. We enjoyed all the…read moreinformation shared by the crew. Thank you for a great time. Highly recommend!

Sanctuary Cruises was *thee* best whale watching experience! Easy booking process, and very…read moreaccommodating staff (we were running late due to the lovely Bay Area traffic coming from SF, and they actually called to make sure we were coming and would make it for departure!). Both the guide and captain were so nice, and knowledgeable! I understand that our cruise wasn't usual, as there was so much activity - however we saw SO many whales. We could see no less than 3 at a time, and many were within 10-30 feet of the boat! An amazing time, both my 6-year old and I were thoroughly impressed :)

Best privately own business in Monterey. I have been on dozens of trips with them throughout the…read moreyears. Hands down the best. Every time, we have seen whales, enjoyed Risso dolphins, and had our questions a answered. I'm an old lady now, I went Monday. They helped me onto the boat. It was the #1 experience. I say that after being on dozens of times. with them and other companies. I highly recommend going. Oh and you get to be on the boat with people ALL over the world. The look on their faces, first time seeing a whale, priceless. 3 hour trip. WORTH every dollar.

2nd trip with this crew and it's my fave! Friendly and not over powering with to much talk. Being…read moretold where to look and left to just enjoy the sounds of the sea, splashes an excitement from others is the only thing I wanna hear while the whales are in our presence. 10/10!! On this boat you can hear the other boats just talking and talking and talking. Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh it's such a special moment haha The crew is great, the captain can DRIVE as I felt like part of the deadliest catch crew yesterday and our skipper was present and accommodating! Please TIP the CREW!! Orca trip 4/16 at 9am. Thank you guys, I'll see you soon