Vancouver

Half-Day Whale Watching Adventure from Vancouver

Vancouver, Canada
Half Day Whale Watching Adventure from Vancouver

Overview

This whale-watching adventure from downtown Vancouver gives you the chance to see whales and other marine life. Hop aboard the 'Salish Sea Dream' our 80-foot flagship catamaran, and keep your eyes peeled from one of several viewing areas.. Learn about the local history and geology from knowledgeable crew on board, and soak up views of the Gulf Islands, San Juan Islands, and Howe Sound.
  • Half-day whale-watching tour from Vancouver
  • Board a comfortable vessel equipped with several viewing areas
  • Explore the waters for sightings of whales, seabirds and other marine life
  • Gain insight into the local geology and marine life from your crew
  • Enjoy beautiful views of the Gulf Islands, San Juan Islands and Howe Sound
  • Choose from several departure times to suit your schedule

What's Included

  • 95-passenger vessel featuring indoor, heated cabin with floor to ceiling windows and open air decks
  • Captain and expert crew of 3-4 guides/naturalists
  • Educational materials on board
  • Complementary tea, coffee & hot chocolate
  • Two washrooms
  • Lifetime Whale Sightings Guarantee - return tour from any of our locations until you see whales!
  • Free photo package of your trip & wildlife, with personal photos of you and your loved ones
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Gratuities
  • Excludes taxes and fees for Lifetime Whale Sighting Guarantee

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

  • 1666 Duranleau St, Vancouver, BC V6H 3Y1, Canada

    Please remember to check-in 30 minutes before your adventure, At 1666 Duranleau st on Granville Island behind Bridges restaurant. We will not hold the boat for late guests.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Fall in love with the beauty of the Gulf Islands, San Juan Islands and Howe Sound on this half-day whale-watching adventure. Informative crew will share their stories and knowledge about the history of the area, industry fun facts and of course, the marine wildlife.

The tour departs from Granville Island, near downtown Vancouver. Step aboard the Salish Sea Dream, a 80-foot catamaran built for whale watching and designed to minimize its ecological footprint.

Have your camera out and ready as you scan the waters for different species of whales, as well as an array of seabirds and other marine life.

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, an alternative or full refund will be offered
  • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
  • Infants must sit on laps
  • Most travelers can participate
  • Service animals allowed with proper documentation and life jacket
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 95 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
  • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

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Featured review
Sasa_G
Great experience. The Staff on board is very professional and knowledgeful. I can definitively recommend.

Reviews

5.0
3,086 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-10 of 3,086 reviews
Boat Ride + Whales!
Jen_D, Mar 2024
This was an amazing experience! We were able to see several whales and the staff was super passionate while telling us all about them.
Response from Host, Mar 2024
We are so glad that you enjoyed your whale watching experience with us! We are very passionate about marine life and conservation and we hope we helped you absorb some of our passion! Thankyou for recommending Prince of Whales and hopefully you'll be able to come out and see some of the ocean's most impressive creatures with us again!
Whale watching in style!
John_F, Dec 2023
Wonderful Whale watching trip! Was very comfortable, despite chilly temperatures. Was able to sit comfortably inside heated cabin until whales were sighted. Warmed up with coffee afterwards. Crew was highly knowledgeable.
Response from Host, Dec 2023
It's fantastic to hear that you had a wonderful time! We're glad the heated cabin kept you comfortable amidst the chill, and it's great to know you could warm up with some coffee after spotting the whales. It's also heartening to hear that our crew's knowledge added to your experience. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts, and we're looking forward to having you with us again in the future!
Great Experience!!
Dominika_N, Nov 2023
This whale-watching tour is a true gem! The staff (shout-out to Luke, Stephen, and Petra, as well as Karl and Roman!) are very experienced and well-informed and more than willing to share their knowledge on the wildlife you get to see. We were lucky and got to see humpback and killer whales, sea lions, and bald eagles, to name a few. The experience was unique. You also receive high-quality wildlife photographs taken by the staff during your trip, so no need to try to capture every sight with your smartphone. I highly recommend this tour!
Response from Host, Nov 2023
We're thrilled that you had a memorable experience and that our knowledgeable team contributed to your adventure. We're also pleased you enjoyed the photographs capturing those special moments. Your recommendation is greatly appreciated, and we look forward to welcoming you aboard again. Thank you for your review!
Great ship and crew - definitely do it
Noni_J, Nov 2023
A great trip. Well worth it. The staff were lovely. Proactive about finding whales, but kept it relaxed and enjoyable. Very entertaining with great stories whilst not over the top. Happy to interact but not in your face. Would recommend to family & friends I bought souvenir socks and enjoy the memories when I wear them Would go again.
Response from Host, Nov 2023
We're thrilled to hear that you had a great time with us and that our staff made your whale watching experience both memorable and enjoyable. It's always rewarding to know that our guests would recommend us to their loved ones. We can't wait to welcome you aboard again for another adventure on the water. Thank you for sharing your experience and for choosing us for your whale watching adventure!
fantastic day! the...
Lidija_P, Nov 2023
fantastic day! the organization is excellent. we also saw whales, sea lions and seals. beautiful day and a warm recommendation for everyone!
Response from Host, Nov 2023
So glad to hear you enjoyed the wildlife and had a great experience with us! Thank you for recommending us, and we can't wait to have you back for more memorable sightings.
It was a great day whaie watching
Dina_B, Oct 2023
we had a great experience. We saw plenty of whales. The staff was very knowledgeable. And helpful. They were funny. Overall it’s just a great day and great experience.
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Thank you for sharing your great experience with us! We're thrilled that you had a fantastic day and saw lots of whales. Our knowledgeable and helpful staff always aim to provide an enjoyable experience, and we're glad you found them funny as well. We appreciate your kind words and hope to see you again for more great adventures in the future!
Not to be missed
Ellen_L, Oct 2023
Our naturalist was very knowledgeable. She kept everyone involved and made a point to speak to everyone and welcome them. She was great! We were able to see many humpback whales and some Orcas!
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Thank you for leaving a review! We're thrilled to hear that you had a great experience with the naturalists on board your tour and that you got to see both humpback whales and orcas! We appreciate the kind words, and we hope to see you again soon!
A must do!
Kirsty_F, Oct 2023
What an amazing experience! We got to see humpback whales, seals, sea lions and harbour porpoises! Of course we would of loved to have seen orcas but nature doesn’t always play the game, and that’s what makes this trip real! The team on board were fantastic, special shout out to Wilma who was super knowledgable and friendly! We would do this again in a heartbeat! One tip, going in October it was really cold Once you got out on the open water. We had multiple layers on but could really have done with some gloves! Our own fault, so just sharing our errors. Tea, coffee and hot chocolate were free however so you can use these to warm up, and you could always go downstairs where it’s more protected … I was just obsessed by not missing any of the wildlife 😀
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Thank you so much for your review! We're happy that you got to see humpback whales and that you had tons of fun on your tour! It's definitely good advice to recommend bringing multiple layers and gloves, as it can feel much cooler on the water than on land. We appreciate the review, and we hope to see you again soon!
nice tour, good choice for the rainy day
Svetlana_E, Oct 2023
Well organized tour, team seems to know good places to see whales and seals; rain does not hinder; felt a smell of whale's exhaust, it's something :) whales are mostly in the distance, so you don't see much, therefore whale's tail up is an event :) have seen a seal devouring fish in the water near the small rock island good photos are matter of luck
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Thank you for your review and for your feedback. We're happy to hear that you found our tour to be well organized and nice! If there was anything we could have done to make this a five star experience, we would love to hear from you. Thank you again for the review, we appreciate it!
Fantastic
Michelle_M, Oct 2023
Fantastic trip, crew was polite and very informative. Saw Orca’s and humpback, would definitely do again in the future.
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Thank you very much for your five star review! It sounds like you had an incredible tour with us, and it's pretty lucky that you got to see both orcas and humpback whales on your tour! We appreciate the positive feedback, and we hope to see you again soon for another great adventure with Prince of Whales!
10/10 I recommend.
Abigail_T, Oct 2023
This was a breathtaking experience. My group and I traveled from Seattle to whale watch for a day and this trip was truly worth it. We were lost when we arrived at the harbor so we called for help, someone came and got us with a “sea turtle” we made it on time and started our journey out to open waters. We begin by seeing over 6 killer whales. We then saw some whales, we also got to see a huge group of sea lions. The sea lions smelled terrible, it made everyone get back inside (just a great laugh). We saw more whales and even a mom and baby waving at us. I had quite a great time and look forward to my next visit. It was quite cold but we were offered coffee and hot coco, but I recommend you pack some food and enjoy with your family. The trip was very comfortable. The staff were very knowledgeable and friendly.
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Abigail, thank you so much for sharing your experience. We are so glad you made the trip up to join us! It sounds like you had some incredible sightings and interactions with the whales, even a newborn! We hope the included photo package helps to immortalize these lasting memories. The sea lions are certainly silly. Yes, it is most definitely recommended to dress warmly and to even bring some food on board to enjoy during sailing. Thanks again for joining us, we hope to sea you again whale soon!
We got lucky.
Shawn_G, Oct 2023
We saw Orcas. With a 1 year old newborn. Given the low numbers in such a large area (Alaska to California) it is very likely you will not see them. We feel very fortunate. The presence of seals and sea lions, returning from a breeding period, really increased our chances, I think.
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Shawn, thanks for your review. It is wonderful that you had the opportunity to see orcas on your tour. How special that you got to see a newborn! We are lucky that in this region orcas grace us with their presence year-round. We hope you made some lasting memories and learned some new interesting facts. Best fishes, and sea you again whale soon!
Great day of whale watching.
RICHARD_P, Oct 2023
the naturalists were very knowledgeable and informative. enjoyed learning the fact that the whales were recognizable due to their tails. vessel was very comfortable. we were also able to see sea lions and bald eagles. highly recommend.
Response from Host, Oct 2023
We're delighted you had a good time and found the trip both educational and enjoyable. Happy to hear you felt comfortable on the vessel and that you also spotted some sea lions and bald eagles! Thanks for highly recommending us, and we look forward to having you back for another adventure!
Worth every bit of it!
Bradley_C, Oct 2023
The weather was rough but the accommodations and expertise of our staff were terrific on the Noon launch 10/16. Highly recommended to anyone to take the adventure and see theses magnificent creatures up close. Prince of Whales is a tremendous group to take advantage of that with!!
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Hi, Bradley, We're glad you had a great time despite the rough weather! Thanks for the kind words and recommendation. Hope to see you again soon for another whale watching adventure.
Beautiful and Fantastic Service!
Claire_L, Oct 2023
What a fantastic experience! We saw 3 humpbacks and 3 orca and the orca were hunting. The guides were so knowledgeable and I loved that they highlighted the environmental concerns that affect whales. Bets part was that I could leave my phone in my pocket and just soak up the tour because the pro photos were free and so much better quality!
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Hi Claire, We're delighted to hear you had a fantastic experience and enjoyed the sightings of both humpbacks and orcas! It's great to know that our guides' knowledge and focus on environmental issues resonated with you. We understand the value of being present in the moment, so we're pleased you took advantage of our free professional photos to capture the memories. Thank you for choosing us for your whale watching adventure!
Good whale tour in a large boat
Renee_R, Oct 2023
Lovely team and cool experience! The boat is huge so we couldn't as close to the whales, but we learned a lot about whales and the team was very helpful.
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Thank you very much for your review! We're glad to hear that you had a great time on your tour and that you got to see some whales! We do keep a distance of 100 metres from humpback whales and 200 metres from orcas, and these distances are mandatory for all members of the Pacific Whale Watch Association. Therefore, a smaller boat would be able to get just as close as our large catamaran can! We appreciate the kind words, and we hope to see you again soon!
Truly amazing! The guides...
Angela_D, Oct 2023
Truly amazing! The guides were knowledgeable and friendly. I would highly recommend this trip. Bring a jacket and gloves.
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Hi Angela! Thank you so much for your lovely 5 star review! We are thrilled that you had an amazing time with our passionate crew and thank you for coming out with us! You are also absolutely right about bringing extra warm clothes! The Salish Sea just always makes our tours slightly chilly! But I hope you could keep warm inside our heated cabin and with our complimentary hot drinks :)
It was lovely day trip....
Suri_L, Oct 2023
It was lovely day trip. The boat was nice, the crews were so friendly and had lots of knowledge. Great experience!
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Whale hello Suri! Thank you a lot for leaving us a 5 star review! We are thrilled that you had a lovely trip with our nice and knowledgable crew and hope you enjoyed seeing the whales with us!
Highly recommend
AnaLiza_Q, Oct 2023
There was such a high demand for the noon tour that I received excellent communication the week of, offering to switch to either a 8:30am or 2:00pm tour. I opted for the 8:30am tour which also sold out. The crew were friendly and knowledgeable about the area. Received a reminder call to dress in layers and warmly and with exact meeting location. There was complimentary coffee, tea, and hot chocolate but I didn't have any because I spent the majority of the 3.5 plus hours outside watching for whales, sea lions, bald eagles, etc. Luckily, we spotted 5 humpback whales at different locations. They were very social, circled our boat, swam underneath. The naturalists on the tour took amazing pictures, so I didn't have to save any of my own. They emailed each of us over 60 pictures within hours of the tour. This is exceptional for solo, couples, families (children loved seeing the whales).
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Whale hello AnaLiza! Thank you very much for leaving us a 5 star review and such detailed description of your experience! We appreciate your compliment on our communication since our Reservations and Guest Service team truly do their best to inform our customers as soon as possible about any changes to their bookings! We are thrilled that you had such an exciting turn out of Humpback Whales and and glad that you enjoy your complimentary pictures! Thank you for coming out with us and hopefully until another day!
Whale Watching
Joseph_L, Oct 2023
What an amazing trip. We got to see several whales and more. The tour guides we great and extremely helpful!
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Thank you Joseph for leaving us a 5 star review! We really appreciate it! We are glad you got to see several whales and other creatures of our Salish Sea and that you found our Naturalists knowledgable and helpful! Thank you for coming out with us!
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From $177.58

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

  • 5 hours
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

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