Quick Details
Cruise on Monterey Bay
Discover the unforgettable adventure of whale watching on the two largest and finest vessels in the fleet. Your Monterey whale watching tour will take place on either the 100 ft. Princess Monterey, or 100 ft. Atlantis Monterey. You’ll enjoy a heated cabin, snack bar with both hot and cold beverages and snacks, and spacious seating around the boat. The Atlantis Monterey and The Princess have limited upper deck seating available at time of purchase for an additional fee. We will occasionally use our private charter vessel, the 75 ft. Sea Goddess.
FOR SAFETY REASONS WE DO NOT TAKE KIDS UNDER 3 YEARS OLD OR PREGNANT WOMEN ON OUR TRIPS.
During this fully narrated whale watching cruise, you have the opportunity to see:
- Gray Whale Migration (Dec – Apr): A few miles from the coast, the Gray Whale Highway runs along the third deepest submarine canyon in the world.
- Blue and Humpback Whales (Apr – Nov): Rich feeding areas are home to a variety of summer whales, such as fin whales, minke whales, orcas (killer whales), and mighty blue whales (the largest animal to inhabit the earth).
- Dolphins and Porpoises: (Year-round): Looking for food or just playing in the bay.
- Sea birds, Seals, Sea Lions, Sea Otters, and other marine life
- Every trip is different, so whether it’s your first time or you’re a veteran, come on out and see what creatures the magical Monterey Bay will reveal today!
What Is Not Included?
- Beverages and snacks are available on the boat from the snack bar but are not included in the price of the cruise (around $2 each). You are always welcome to bring any food or drinks of your own that you would like to enjoy along the way!
Meeting Location
- Fisherman’s Wharf (Monterey Bay, CA) (Exact meeting location details will be provided immediately upon purchase of tickets.)
Trip Preparation
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The great thing about our vessels is that every seat in the house has a great view of the water, but we also offer the option of upper deck verses lower deck seating. Things to consider:
- Upper Deck allows you to see further out and may have better visibility (great for photographers) while the lower deck is closer to the whales, especially if the whales are curious and decide to “mug” (visit) our boat.
- Lower Deck near the middle of the boat is better for people who may be prone to seasickness.
- Mother Nature and whales are somewhat unpredictable. They can show up on either side of the boat and even swim around it. Our vessels have a 360-degree walk-around deck but can also be seen from inside the temperature-controlled cabin through large windows…meaning every seat on the boat is a winner!
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Rule #1 in any season – layer!
We want your Monterey whale watching tour to be the most enjoyable experience possible! Monterey, California has a Mediterranean climate with dry warm summers and mild winters. However, it can still get quite cold on the water as the temperature over the water is 10-30 degrees lower, and the chill is magnified by wind and damp sea spray.
- Dress in layers and err on the side of being too warm instead of being too cold. Think hooded sweatshirts, windbreaker, long pants, wide-brimmed hat/winter hat, and even gloves.
- Closed-toe, flat-soled shoes.
- Sunglasses: Polarized lenses are best since they help with sun glare and allow you to see creatures more easily below the surface of the water.
- Sunblock & chapstick
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Things you may want to bring on your trip.
- Camera: Empty & extra memory cards, and batteries. Keep in mind that the average point-and-shoot camera might not deliver the speed and magnification needed to get the best pictures. If you have a 35mm camera, a 200-300mm lens provides the most zoom and stability for whale watching.
- Binoculars: Whales are usually close enough and it may be challenging to use binoculars on moving boat. Also, they have a narrow range and you may miss out on some spectacular whale behavior such as breaching. Binoculars are best used if you want to view the coastline, birds or sea otters.
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If you think you may be prone to seasickness on your whale watching cruise or are a first-time whale watcher, you may want to consider motion sickness medications.
- Over-the-counter medications or prescription through your doctor. Make sure to take one hour prior to boarding. If taken when you start feeling queasy, it is already too late.
- Eat a good breakfast, bland (no fried or fatty foods), with some carbohydrates. All these suggestions reduce stomach acid build-up and can prevent seasickness.
- Drink water and stay hydrated. Ginger ale is also a safe bet.
- Nibble on saltine crackers or ginger candies.
- Avoid alcohol the night or morning before heading out. Even if you don’t normally get seasick, alcohol may bring it on.
- Stay on the outside, lower deck facing forward. Fresh air can help a lot and the lower deck has less movement than up top.
- Try not to go into the bathroom or anywhere you can’t see the horizon.