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!

It's at or an adventure operator that is a lot of fun during the summer time they've been part of…read morethe Bellingham seen for a while they run a great operation. The staff is really friendly and they can find something that's best suited for your family.

What a fabulous organization. We had a great adventure that was tailored exactly to our needs…read more Every part of our trip was customized. Sarah really knows Bellingham and has a fabulous relationship with all the vendors. The tours are enlightening and great fun.

I cannot explain how thankful I am that I chose Western Prince!! Prior to booking, I read that they…read moreallow you to come for a second viewing if whales were not spotted on your trip. We unfortunately saw no whales during our first outing (so many cute seals and eagles though!), but they were able to squeeze us in the next day for another chance at no additional cost. And on that second trip we were blessed to see multiple orca pods socializing together! They had a mic that they inserted into the water, and we got to listen to them socialize. I wasn't aware they had this and it was such a magical experience to hear them! Huge thanks to Ivan and the rest of the crew for this once in a lifetime experience, it was a dream come true!

Well-organized, comfortable, informative, and we spent most of our time looking AT whales, not…read morelooking FOR whales! Excellent experience!

We joined Kolby, one of the Good Time Girls, for the Sin and Gin tour in downtown Bellingham. It…read morewas a beautiful sunny day, and Kolby found all the shady spots for us to stand in while she shared her obviously well-researched stories about the fun local people have been getting up to since Whatcom was first founded. Kolby is an articulate, engaging weaver of tales, and her vintage costume added to the ambiance. She was armed with old photos of the buildings we discussed in our 1.5, one-ish mile tour. The photos were fascinating, because many of the buildings no longer exist, and the rest of them have been altered in the meantime. This was my second tour with Kolby, the first being a virtual tour of the Bayview Cemetery during Covid. My goal is to join all the tours at some point. The cost is well worth the value given, and it's a great thing to do when guests visit. Birthday present, anyone?

Cursing? Check. Cleavage? Check…read more Most people might expect a non-G-rated version of "Bellinghistory" from the Good Time Girls' Sin and Gin tours, especially when the tour description includes "explore the history of vice." But still, co-owner and guide Wren Urbigkit felt compelled to tell us that cursing and cleavage are key components of the tours. Because some people have missed that memo. Those who see Bellingham as a politically-correct college town may experience strong reactions when they hear how the town came to be. Without sharing too many of the tour's secrets, here are a few insights: Working girls were seen as a necessary evil by some wives, to keep bearded, flannel-sporting young men away from their daughters. And their bosses, madams, were seen by colleagues of many male entrepreneurs. And for those who think Bellingham is experiencing crazy growth now, wait until you hear about the late 1800s! The tour wraps up with adult beverages at Stones Throw Brewery, which has a parking spot dedicated to one of the afore-mentioned madams, Miss Annie.

Great experience. 4.5 hour wine and distillery tour for a birthday party. Highly recommend for a…read morespecial event, especially a surprise. Great experience. 4.5 hour wine and distillery tour for a birthday party. Highly recommend for a special event, especially a surprise.

Had reservations for the party bus for a Bachelorette Party. 5 weeks prior to the date of the…read moreparty we needed to cancel the reservation for unforeseen circumstances and were told that our deposit was non-refundable. When I told the lady that I was not made aware of that fact when I made the reservation, nor was I given a cancellation policy in writing, nor is that information on their website, she told me that "she didn't believe me because they tell everyone that the deposit is non-refundable when they make the reservations." All in all a terrible experience.

It was an amazing trip.The food was wonderful, and we saw whales. The tour of the san juan islands…read morewas a delight. We saw eagles and sea lions.

We went out we'll watching with Captain Drew Brooke and Dana and they were an outstanding crew…read more Plenty of interaction with the guests answering any questions. Made sure that we saw wildlife on land and aquatic wildlife. The boat was big and comfy and there was plenty of room upstairs or downstairs depending on your preference. We saw two orcas which they identified as part of a transient pod and kind of gave a backstory of how they're helping researchers with pictures and sightings because they can be another set of eyes out in nature.

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!

From the moment you step onto the Northwind, take in every single second you can!! Every…read moresecond--every peaceful moment, every sweet and savory bite Captain Jette serves, every bit of island trivia Captain Jon offers--as you sail calmly past thick green forests dotted with specks of white the resident bald eagles offer in the form of head and tail. This is truly an adventure awaiting! If you have ever wanted to sail but don't know how, just leave the sailing, cooking, and swabbing of the decks to Jette and Jon. They love to help make wonderful memories for all of us, and do so graciously and kindly. So stop wondering and take the leap (sail). You will have a blast

What an experience! So so happy to have seen some orcas All three of the staff on board were…read morefriendly and very knowledgeable. I will definitely be recommending them to others.

I've been whale watching off the California coast before, so I'm going to compare this experience…read moreto that. This ended up more of a pleasant boat ride than whale watching as we didn't get to see any orcas (such a bummer!) and only got to see one single, elusive Humpback whale name Victory. I can't fault the tour for that, but it definitely impacts the experience. It was still a nice boat ride, with friendly staff onboard and the fortunate luck of sitting at the back of the boat next to a conservationist-led tour group with a lot of knowledge shared. On the brighter side, the weather was beautiful and we got to see two kinds of puffin and some sea lions as well. Just wish we got to see whales, instead of just one.