Prince of Whales - Whale & Marine Wildlife Adventures Vancouver

Here’s a polished compliment you can post as a review for your Prince of Whales half-day whale watching tour: --- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Fantastic Whale Watching Experience! We had an amazing half-day trip with Prince of Whales! The crew was friendly and professional, and the whole experience was unforgettable. A very special thank you to Luke, who went above and beyond as our photographer—he captured such wonderful moments for us and made sure we had memories to take home. Also, Wilma deserves special recognition as our naturalist—her passion and knowledge about whale behavior and the marine ecosystem made the trip so much more meaningful. She explained everything in detail, and I left with a much deeper appreciation of these incredible animals. Compliments as well to Captain Anthny, Sebastian and Jake for their great teamwork and making the trip safe and enjoyable. Highly recommend this tour—it was one of the highlights of our visit! 🐋💙

Wow, what an afternoon! We were lucky enough to see seals, sea lions, two three humpback whales (two up very close) and a bald eagle. Amazing! None of the above would have been possible without the knowledge and experience of this crew. We got so close to the humpback because they permitted us, the Captain took us to 100m away and when the whales came closer, the engines were cut until the whales left that radius. Appreciated the respect the animals were given. I want to shoutout to Ashley, one of the guides, who was not only so incredibly knowledgeable but also had the most infectious enthusiasm, and patience with questions. She was also so inclusive of managing people on the deck to ensure both safety and to ensure as many people as possible could see. She's an absolute gem. Thank you for an unforgettable afternoon!

We had an unforgettable adventure with Prince of Whales, and a big part of that was thanks to the fantastic crew — Karl, Stephen, Jake, Thomas, and the star naturalist Ashley! Captain Karl steered us like a true whale whisperer, finding incredible spots where humpback whales put on quite the show. We were even lucky enough to spot a majestic bald eagle, lazy sea lions, and some adorable harbour seals sunbathing like they owned the place. Ashley was an absolute gem. Her knowledge of the wildlife was top-notch, and her enthusiasm made everything more magical. But let’s talk about her animal impressions — her orca bit was spot-on, her sea lion bark had us giggling, and honestly, if the whales ever need a translator, she’s the one for the job. Now, a special shoutout to Jake — who told us his mom reads these reviews. So, hi Jake’s mom! You’ve raised a wonderful, helpful, and all-around delightful human being. He’s doing a fabulous job — give that guy a high five and maybe his favorite dessert! The vessel itself was clean, well maintained, and comfortable, making the whole journey smooth and enjoyable. Highly recommend this tour — just don’t be surprised if you leave convinced Ashley is auditioning for a role in Finding Nemo 3: The Voice of the Ocean.

We had an unforgettable experience on our whale watching tour! Our family of five, including three young children (a toddler and a baby), found the boat to be very comfortable and spacious, with plenty of room to enjoy the views once the whales were spotted. The complimentary drinks were a lovely touch. We felt incredibly lucky to witness a humpback whale breaching multiple times, as well as a stunning pod of orcas. A special thank you to deckhand Jake, who was so warm and welcoming. He took the time to answer all our questions and shared his knowledge about the whales, which made the trip even more enjoyable. Worth every penny and highly recommend if visiting Vancouver.

What an experience. All the crew were really lovely and told us all about the whales we saw. So much knowledge on that boat! Highly reccomend booking. I love that they send photos of the whales taken that day to you as well. Really special touch.

An incredible experience. Our naturalists were highly knowledgeable and provided so many cool details about the wildlife; I'm still entertained to know that when harbor seals move on land, the technical term is "galumphing". 😂 The naturalist on our deck, Jill, was fantastic with answering questions and keeping everyone engaged. Jill also knew when to step back and let the animals take center stage; she did an excellent job curating the experience. My phone pics couldn't do the wildlife justice, but the company provided photos from our trip afterwards, which made the journey even more worthwhile. The Canadian coastline is beautiful, and this excursion quickly became the highlight of the trip.

Amazing trip that lasted about 4.5 hours. The crew were professional, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about whales, especially orcas. The vessel was spotless, comfortable, and well equipped — even the bathroom was clean with soap, tissues, and a proper handwashing station. The indoor area downstairs was impressive, with almost 360° floor-to-ceiling glass windows offering spectacular views and a pleasant breeze that kept the temperature comfortable. The upstairs open-air deck had plenty of seating, though less comfortable than inside. The start was a little rough with big waves (I’d recommend not eating right before boarding), but after about 30 minutes the ride was much smoother. For a while, it seemed like we might not see anything — then, 2.5 hours in and while heading back, we encountered a group of four orcas and spent nearly an hour watching them. On the way back, we were lucky enough to spot another group briefly, including one orca that breached — an unforgettable sight! I would highly recommend Prince of Whales for anyone looking for a memorable, well-run whale-watching experience. Thank you to the crew for making it so special!

I was hesitant at first to book my tour because of the price, but let me tell you it was well worth every penny and this ended up being one of my favourite days during my vacation in Vancouver! 🐋☀️ I would love to go again one day. My biggest shout out goes to the crew on board of course! All the staff were extremely professional, very friendly and seemed to be very well organized and knowledgeable. ⭐️ Captain Jonathan did an excellent job sailing us while we waited to find the whales and kept us safe. Our naturalist Thomas was so lovely and knowledgeable - truly made my whole experience 10/10, so thank you to the crew for adding to such a magical experience! It’s very apparent that these folks care deeply about what they do and that they care about the animals. We got super lucky with the most beautiful weather conditions in the afternoon and we got to see two majestic humpback whales as well as some steller sea lions in action. 🦭 One major reason why this was such a worthwhile experience for me was not just to see these beautiful creatures, but the opportunity to get out on the water and see the gorgeous landscape up close all around you. What a wonderful way to see all the mountains and views that you just don’t get to see the same way from standing on land! The boat was also more than adequately sized to accommodate our group so it never felt crowded, and the boat itself appeared very well maintained and clean.

Had a great time whale watching! The naturalists (Roisin and Miranda) are incredibly knowledgeable, even being able to identify and share the names and stories of the local whales, and so clearly care about the wildlife. Whenever we spotted the whales (humpbacks on our trip), the captain made sure we were in good position to see them and we would linger long enough to fully experience them, but never too long (or too close) to be disruptive to the whales. We also went by an outlying island of Vancouver Island and saw a harem of sea lions and harbor seals as well! Sadly no orcas on this venture (it was noted that they haven't been seen in the area for weeks). They do have a nice policy that if you don't see whales on your trip, you can come back for a free trip anytime! We went in mid-August but it was quite chilly out on the water, particularly if you are sitting on the open air top deck, so would highly recommend bringing warm clothes. They have complimentary tea, coffee and hot chocolate on board as well as snacks for purchase. The catamaran is large and handles the water quite well. Thanks for a great time!

We saw so many whales on our trip! The staff were so informative! They were so knowledgeable and asked if we had any questions. They told us all about which whales we were looking at and we saw three different groups. The catamaran we were in cut through the waves like butter. Did not feel like we were rocking out in waves. I am so glad we did this tour over others we looked into. It did rain and we were prepared but it was so nice to come inside and sit and warm up. But it was worth standing in the rain for some of the video and pics I captured. Best! Would recommend. The staff were so nice and even sent us pictures they took to our email! Not "if you like this pic pay this much" they just sent them. The pic below was one I took. Such beautiful creatures. If you are wondering if it is worth it? It totally is!

Amazing tour. I would recommend going with them for your whale watching experience. This is my parents first time coming to Vancouver so I want to find an experienced where it's convenient in time and close by. POW has several time of day and we went with the 2:30 on Saturday for the half day. I went for a tour in August and it has been a lot of whale activities so we got to see so many pods of orca and 2 humpback whales. The differences between half day and sunset tour is the time. Sunset tour starts a bit later and might ends within 3hr and it will try to go straight to where earlier boats sighted whale. However the whales won't stay still so it won't guarantee seeing them again. If you have time, choose the half day and it's only little bit more expensive, but mote likely you can see the whales. This boats has 2 floors, the upper floor is in the open and often more busy but the lower floor is also really good. If your parents is worried about the cold and wind, the lower floor is the good options and gives you lots of view. They have tables in the lower floor so you can bring snack (crackers, cheese, fruits) and eats there with your family, just don't bring a big lunch. They provide tea, hot water and hot chocolate for free and other beverages to purchase. They also have people in several areas of the boat to explain when you see any whale or answer any questions that you have about whales. They also took professionals photos to share with you after for free and I love that! My parents can share it along with what they took from their photos. The company has been actively involve with ethical conduct of whale watching tour. So we did get to learn a bit more about whale conservation.

Best whale tour I've ever done (disclaimer we saw an unreasonable and highly atypical amount of whale action) Over 12 double breaches for a pair of humpbacks. Also saw another pair that was more relaxed but we heard them vocalizing. Scientists on board were going nuts. Aside from hitting the jackpot: highly educational and friendly. Easy to find and board but note most of the nearby parking is 3 hr limit. Plan ahead for that better than we did ! Most tours will take more than 3 hrs. All you can drink tea hot cocoa and endless ginger chews to shave off any motion sickness.

We had an amazing time out on the water with this crew. We were lucky with sighting six humpback whales, along with seals and sea lions. Our naturalist Jill was friendly and knowledgeable. Also appreciated the respect the company maintains to keep proper distance from the wildlife. And the vessel itself was extremely stable and impressive with its speed and cleanliness of restrooms. Definitely bring warm layers though the inside cabin was warm and the complimentary hot beverages a plus!

Who says you have to see dozens of whales in order for a trip to be a resounding success? Look, I love whale watching. However, on my trip, we only saw one juvenile humpback whale just logging and feeding, but that is okay. April is a tough time to see whales (and if you do, to see them do much of anything). The trip is beautifully planned out to where we saw plenty of other wildlife, like seals, sea lions, and even a few bald eagles soaring overhead ('Murica!) One of the naturalists, Wilma (just like the Flinstones), is a total pleasure. She is knowledgeable, patient, and very excited to be on the boat. Every day with her is a new adventure. She is like an Austrian Ellie Sattler meets Lara Croft. She is awesome. The trip is laid out so majestically that you truly feel you are in the Pacific Northwest, with its majestic mountains, gorges at every turn, the glistening bodies of water. You can really feel the power of this region, why the First Nations really treasure this as their home. Speaking of First Nations (the indigenous peoples of Canada), it was also amazing to hear stories about how they use the land and the flora and fauna surrounding it, especially the orcas (sadly, we did not see any, but again that is okay - April is just a bit too early for orcas). What makes it special is the wild is not SeaWorld, it is no zoo. These are wild animals and they will do whatever they please, whenever. There is nobody to command them to do anything, so when they do something cool, it really is a natural wonder. I highly recommend this business.

Really enjoyed our tour with Prince of Whales. The tour boat was comfortable and has plenty of room. You can sit on the top deck (what most chose to do) or sit in an enclosed lower deck. They served complimentary coffee and hot chocolate. The naturalists on board were very informative and my only critique there is our naturalist was very hard to hear and she didn't really move around so if you wanted to hear what she had to share you needed to be sitting close to the center where she stood. They had naturalists taking photos of the wildlife we encountered and we received the photos later that day and that made it much easier to sit back and enjoy the day rather than worry about trying to get good photos. One note: be careful with parking. In the lot in front of the store front it is free before a certain time but you will likely return after that time and they will give you a parking ticket. We paid up and still got a ticket we had to work to resolve so beware!

Had a great night out with the team -- Wilma, Maurice and Melinda were friendly and informative. And Captain Sean took us out on a perfect day - glassy water so we saw a dozen humpbacks, porpoises and bald eagles. Great trip!

Fantastic tour! Our captain Jake was knowledgeable and took great photos of our group that he shared afterwards. Very enjoyable experience!

We had a fabulous trip with some amazing whale sightings. The crew, Róisín, Jill, Micky, Bastien, and Roman were friendly and full of interesting facts to share. I would happily do this tour again!

We went with a group of five, followed the clear email instructions, and had a great time! Loved the free hot drinks, especially while sitting on that top open deck, and we enjoyed Wilma's commentary and educational explanations the whole way through. We were lucky to see the pacific white sided dolphins on our voyage, which have apparently not been sighted in that part of the ocean for years! Great experience, would highly recommend, and make sure to bring warm clothes if you're going in October.

This was a truly remarkable experience! The team on the cruise was exceedingly knowledgeable about not only the two types of whales we observed, but the myriad of other sea life -- the various types of birds and seals specifically -- we took in on this trip. This is a MUST DO when in Vancouver!

Truly an amazing experience! My wife and I went on the Half-Day whale watching adventure. Tom, Maurice and Petra were very knowledgeable on the wildlife we had seen on our excursion. We were very lucky to have a humpback whale swim right next to the boat. We also saw orcas, bald eagles, seals and deer! The staff had old photos of each whale we had seen that day and were able to tell the guests how they know the names of each whale based on the notches on their fins. Hot chocolate and tea were free which was nice. The company also sent us professional photos of the animals we had seen that day which really lets the guests enjoy watching the animals in the wild without having to attempt to take photos on their phone

Absolutely awesome! The viewing of the whales from the top of the catamaran was superb. The commentary from the staff was precise, knowledgeable, and humorous. The highlight was the orcas and the mugging by the humpbacks.

If you are trying to decide, just do it! You will be pleasantly surprised. Prince of Whales hires the best Marine Biologists and photographers and crew. Stephen enlightened us with whale facts with a touch of humor added in. There is no guarantee, but they absolutely do their best to make sure you see whales.

I booked this tour on my birthday and the captain and crew made the day an incredible one. There were a fair bit of waves and smaller vessels from other companies had to cancel their tours but I'm so happy I booked with Prince of Whales. Their catamaran handled it with ease and I barely noticed the waves (which I thought would make me seasick). We were told we'd only be seeing 2 humpback whales as the orcas had not been spotted all day but I was confident we'd be seeing both species. It was my birthday after all and I bought the tour as a gift to myself, and went alone. And the animals did not disappoint! In addition to the 2 humpbacks, we saw a pod of 8 orcas and were treated to some very special moments. I do encourage everyone to take your own photos with a proper camera (not cell phone) and don't rely on the staff to send pics as I was sad they didn't share the best ones that were taken. They did however, make my birthday very special by giving me a gift at the end of the tour of something I was admiring in the giftshop earlier. It was a spectacular birthday and I think I might make this my new bday tradition. What an amazing day and tour!!!

I did the sunset whale watching trip today, and it was such a great experience. I saw a pod of orcas in the wild for the time, and the staff/crew were excellent guides. I love that they knew so much about cetaceans. I love marine life, and have a decent background in biology, so it was refreshing to be guided by people with a knowledge and a respect for these intelligent and special mammals. It was especially cool to talk to one of the guides, Luke, about marine biology. He had a solid background and shared his knowledge and experience, super cool. There was an obvious and a deep respect for the ocean and wildlife among the workers, so lovely. We were on the water for a few hours, and hey, we had hot chocolate and coffee- always nice! I'd do this again.

Terrible customer service. Because of Gale Force winds the ferries are not sailing to Vancouver, so therefore we can not make our reservation with this company. They refuse to give a refund, yet you know darn well they will sell the tickets again now that I told them we can not make it. Absolutely disgraceful customer service when I phoned. She told me to go through my insurance company, lol. Oh well, what do you expect. These companies take advantage of tourists because it is not a repeat customer type of business.

Great Captain, crew, and a phenomenal vessel. They all worked hard to make it a great voyage. We saw a pod of orca hunting and harbor seals. The captain navigated away from rough waters to make the trip enjoyable for all. Well worth it. Thanks guys.

I went on this lovely tour in Oct. 2022 and it was spectacular. We saw three different pods of humpback whales. One pod swam under the boat and then stayed nearby feeding. The boat captain turned off the engine and it was magical to see them up close. We even felt their spray when they surfaced. The crew said this occurrence was unusual and made our trip extra special. The crew was highly knowledgeable and personable. They showed us photos of the usual whales in the area. Each whale has specific markings on the underside of its tail. On the way back we stopped near an outcropping of rocks and viewed sea lions sunning themselves. I'd book another trip with Prince of Whales.

What an amazing day with Captain Ian, Firstmate Sandra and Naturealists Amanda, Stephen and Sebastian! They did not disappoint and led us to not only a humpback whale, as well as sea lions, harbour seals, cormorants, a bald eagle and a small pod of orcas. A memory we will carry with us for a very long time. I would highly recommend Prince of Whales, for your amazing adventure.

We had a great time and on this tour. We saw a few humpbacks, but no orcas. The crew spent a lot of time looking so that was nice. Wilma was great to chat with and was helpful with all our questions. On the way back from the islands we were taken to one of the mouths of the Fraser River to see some eagles and seals.

Amazing trip with Prince of Whales! We saw not one but TWO pods of orcas! The captain spent over an hour following them as they moved up the coast. The guides on board were very knowledgeable and super friendly. Worth every penny and totally was the highlight of our trip to Vancouver.

For the most part, I'd give this tour 10/10 however .... 1 big ding against them. They say many many times that we don't need to take photos since they've just upgraded their camera equipment and would be taking all photos for us. This was explained in-person before I booked, on their website, before we boarded, and during the safety check once boarded. I trusted them and didn't take any photos myself so I could focus on the experience. We had a crazy tour where 2 whales were curious about the boat & repeatedly rubbed their bellies against our boat, staying close for ~30mins-1hr. Lots of times both surfacing together, rolling around, blowing together, etc. Very few official photos were shared after the tour - none including this unique behaviour. No photos shared with multiple whales. Just a few far away shots of tiny tales. Disappointed that I don't have anything to share with my family. So, long way to say - PROTIP: Ignore what they say. If you want photos, take your own. The ones they provide are not good.

The Prince of Whales crew was pleasant, fun and knowledgeable. I especially appreciated their crew visiting different groups on board to provide education about the trip and local wildlife. When we saw Orion the humpback, they were able to quickly tell us who the whale was. The free worm drinks and photography sent to all on board was a nice bonus that made the price well worthwhile. I will definitely be whale watching with Prince of Whales if I come to Vancouver again.

We did the half day whale watching adventure from Vancouver. We were lucky to see Big Momma, a famous whale in this area, and her calf. The calf was playing quite a big. It was an amazing experience. They both swam around the side and front of the boat. First mate Roman was awesome and helped us with where to look and what to expect from their behavior. The naturalists were great as well and made sure everyone had a personalized experience. I would have given 5 stars but I would skip the photo line in the beginning around the whale sculpture. At least turn it around and get the boat or skip it altogether. People seemed to like it but not our thing.

Billed as a 3-5 hour tour, the length depends on how quickly the crew can spot whales. In our case, we were only moderately successful spotting just a couple of whales in the distance. We did see sea lions, eagles and harbour seals on the way. At the end of a long day, they announced that because the tour didn't meet their high standards, they would give lifetime passes to everyone for a future tour. Great customer service. The boat is very clean and comfortable with lots of viewing vantage points and even a heated cabin. The crew was topnotch from Captain Anthony down to 1st mate Rohan and the crew of Stephen, Wilma, Akhila and Luke. Knowledgeable and helpful.

Super disappointed. I booked online and received confirmation of my tickets a few days before my husband and I were to take their tour. The day before I received an email saying there was a mess up on their end and that the tour I paid for was full and that they needed to cancel. I was a bit frustrated that I was emailed so close to the trip. I was also saddened, but I was willing to cut my losses and explore another option to explore the waters in Vancouver. I don't let these things sour me. However, the insult to injury came the next day after I had already secured another voyage elsewhere. They claimed that I should have showed up because a reservation was cancelled and that they had room for me after all. Then they said they wouldn't refund my money because they had room and I didn't show. I had to dispute with my credit card company the charges, which fortunately I got back. How can a company cancel on you (thankfully, I kept that email as proof to show my credit card company) and then blame you for not showing because they had a cancellation and room for you? It was so bizarre. Enough to say, I'm never booking with them again.

Brought us to the whales. Beautiful animals. If you want to see whales, they appear to deliver more often than not

Awesome adventure. Wilma & James as guides are knowledgeable, enthusiastic and go above and beyond to share information on the environment, species, history and of course conservation of the world life. Wilma made a point to go table to table to educate everyone on the whales and seals. My family walked away better people after this experience. As for the company, top notch with safety a main factor, gave out blankets, some free hot drinks and the captains, well, they got us 8 humpbacks and a calf! Thanks to all and if you are their boss, keep these people as they make your company what it is!!

Had a truly pleasant and enjoyable trip. Crew was very friendly. Whales appeared as if everything was planned. Other wildlife was great. They will also send photos so you don't have to be too concerned about taking your own. I recommend.

I can't really say much about the experience as we chose to cancel. I can say their cancellation policy is far too rigid. The weather was threatening and we were concerned about our comfort and safety. The company was not nearly as concerned and took 100% of our money and offered no consolation. I'd suggest they offer a 50/50 split for cancellations for safety concerns.

Wow, what a great experience! We saw Humpback whales for like 2:15 minutes of the tour. Such beautiful scenery. Highly recommended. Rick S

If you are considering whale watching or a boat ride from Vancouver to Victoria or vice versa, I highly recommend this company. The staff is very knowledgeable and friendly. They go out of their way to reach you about the magnificent creatures of the sea, and are exceptionally friendly and fun. We had MAR and JAMES as our guides and they we phenomenal. We did the day trip from Vancouver to Victoria. On the way there we saw seals, sea lions, a dolphin and bald eagles. Since we did not spot any whales, the crew went out of their way to try to find some on the way home. Can you believe we ended up seeing about 20 Orcas, including a calf or two, having a grand old time jumping and flapping their tails on the water? IT WAS SPECTACULAR! The crew was just as enthusiastic as the passengers...even though they do this every day. Our Prince of Whales excursion was by far the most memorable, educational and fun part of our Vancouver vacation. By the way, the boat is very comfortable. We had a cool day, but the first floor allows great views from large windows and was a nice temperature. Whenever we wanted to go upstairs or to the front of the boat to be outside and whale watch, that was our prerogative. They even passed out caps and blankets as needed.

My wife and I are celebrating our 25th anniversary. This trip was awesome. The crew were excellent and very attentive.

Capitaine Raphael took us on an awesome 90 minute tour of Vancouver Harbour. Informative and fun. Raphael went the extra mile to make it a memorable event. Highly recommended.

The magic of taking money I'm very disappointed. I lost 6 hours of my time and my money. I did not see a single whale. I was shown only goats and sea lions. but I did not pay for the goats and for the sea lions. I ask the company to return my money to me, since I do not have time for a second free tour. "Very nice". Bad situation for me. PS you told me that I signed an agreement that if there are no whales, you are not to blame. Yes, I signed it. but, you work in the most expensive and best city on the planet earth and can not install location systems to know in advance where the whales are located? Really? I see that business works for you, like 100 years ago. and tourists and their time and their money you do not respect. I lost my $ 180 and lost all loyalty and respect for you. I will tell all my friends that you are scammers. Answer: Thank you for honoring me with your response. I want to say that you have an excellent business where you are not responsible for anything, but take the money. I did not want to see goats and sea lions for $ 180. I saw it all for free millions of times in San Francisco, for example, and throughout the western coast of California. For me, these are not unique animals. Please do not tell me about them as a miracle. They are in any zoo in the world. For $ 5 a ticket. Answer one question: how many people do you really travel the second time? I am sure that there are a few, since you perfectly understand that 99% of tourists and they will not be able to give your company 6 hours for a non-promotional trip where there will not be whales. Do you seriously think that I have to pay $ 2,000 for a ticket, for a plane to fly again for 14,000 km to go free for a trip where there will not be whales? do not make me laugh. just give me my money back.

We had the most incredible time with this team! I wish I got all their names, one was Hannah, but everyone was amazing. We got to see Humpback whales, bald eagles, seals, and multiple ORCA pods! Being an animal lover it was an incredible moment. We would recommend to anyone time and time again.

This was probably the most professional and informative trip ever. The Captain and crew are interested in Whales and also in their customers. The provide hot drinks and also blankets, scarves and hats for your comfort. Not only did we see whales, we saw, sea lions, bald eagles, Harbour seals and the beautiful Vancouver shoreline. Forget the rest ( and book with the Prince of Whales. The experience will be unforgettable.

Went on 5.15.19 on the catamaran with my 7yo and saw a pod of 15 Orcas. We were the first tour boat to find them so we spent a good amount of time with them. Staff are all very professional and friendly. The catamarans are very kid friendly and we enjoyed staying inside. There is a lot of room outside and the boat ride is very smooth. I'm glad I chose Prince of Whales.

Our half day trip was a delight. We saw 5 or 6 humpback whales (moms with babies), seals, sea lions, a bald eagle and more. Our First Mate, Jen, was fun, knowledgeable and helpful in every way. I highly recommend this tour! It definitely exceeded my expectations.