Western Prince Whale Watching Adventures

Our experience with Western Prince was incredible! We knew going in there wasn’t a guarantee of seeing whales, but wow were our expectations exceeded. Our captain and guide were happy to show us other animals while we awaited a report of whales. We ended up seeing probably 9 orcas whales, all swimming and playing together! The scenery was breathtaking and the whales were amazing. With a smaller boat we all had a front row view of the whales, including our two children. We loved seeing 2 bald eagles as well. Truly a once in a lifetime experience and we are so happy we chose Western Prince!

This was one of the best things about our trip! The staff was so friendly and gave a great tour. We saw Orcas, harbor seals, as lions and lots of birds including a bald eagle. The views of the Salish Sea and islands we incredible and I will definitely come back again and book with this crew! I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Friday Harbor.

We had a wonderful experience with Western Prince Whale Watching. The staff was very experienced and knowledgeable, sharing and showing details about the area. A beautiful humpback whale was spotted and we got to enjoy its majestic presence as it swam around and breeched the water (multiple times). It was truly amazing!

This was truly the BEST experience of my life! We saw so many things!!!! Seals, eagles, harbor porpoises, sea birds and their babies, a humpback whale, and a family of 4 ORCAS!!! A dream come true!!! We were able to stay with these orcas for an hour! They were taking a relaxing swim and then suddenly they found some food! It was amazing! The staff was so friendly and knowledgeable! They provided everything you would need to have a great time; warm outerwear, binoculars, beanie, gloves! We noticed that our boat was more agile than the other whale watching boats around us. We were able to get to wildlife quicker and find them faster when they changed directions! Also, this boat was fast and wide open. You had a 360 view the whole time! Just what we wanted. We researched the other whale tours and this was one of the only places with a fast, smaller, open boat! Could not recommend this company and experience more. It was magical and I will cherish the memories for the rest of my life! ❤️ Thank you Western Prince for making my Free Willy dreams of seeing orcas in the wild finally come true!

The all female crew gave us an experience of a lifetime. We saw the historic T46 pod with T46C1 Tsunami, traveling with another pod. The staff is knowledgeable and the boat extremely comfortable. Tips: Wear closed-toed shoes, bring a gaiter and sunglasses for the wind in your face, bring ear protection for the coolness and wind from the boat. 100/10

From start to finish the experience was excellent! In the morning we had the orientation meeting so we could understand everything we needed to about the trip, what we were going to wear and what the plan was. The team is super nice and super professional. The boat is pretty awesome, it rides quite nicely at reasonable speed out in the open waters. There were Stellar Sea Lions on the way out, substantial critters! We were lucky that there was a pod of Orcas with one mother and three teenagers, quite a ways from Friday harbor. There were several boats that were also viewing, but everybody was very respectful of the Orcas and respectful of the other boats, it all went very well. Nice view of a baldy on the way in. We had a great time and would highly recommend them. (Please note that we were quite a distance from the Orcas as mandated by law - these pix were taken with a 300 mm lens).

Bucket List, Checked — An Unforgettable Orca Experience Seeing orcas in the wild has been a lifelong dream of mine, and Western Prince Whale Watching made that dream come true yesterday in the most incredible way. We were lucky enough to encounter not one, but two families of Bigg's killer whales. Watching them glide through the water against the backdrop of stunning scenery was simply breathtaking. We also spotted harbor seals, harbor dolphins, bald eagles, a ram, and even Sitka deer — the entire outing felt like a wildlife documentary unfolding in real time. Captain Bethany and Naturalist Alex were outstanding. They were not only incredibly knowledgeable, but also warm, attentive, and clearly passionate about the marine life and the region. Their excitement was contagious, and they made sure every guest on board felt welcome and engaged. A huge shoutout to the company as well — we missed our original ferry into town and they graciously moved our reservation at no extra charge. That kind of customer service is rare and deeply appreciated. The boat was comfortable, the group size was intimate, and the entire experience felt both safe and magical. If you're looking for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, I can't recommend this tour highly enough — especially for nature lovers, photographers, or anyone who's ever dreamed of seeing orcas in their natural habitat. Thank you, Western Prince, for a truly unforgettable day!

I had the most amazing experience whale watching with Western Prince! Chris and Ivan were wonderful guides! We saw a pod of orcas, Steller sea lions (largest sea lion in existence), and a humpback with her baby (the baby breached many times!). They’re such a lovely, family-run company who gave individualized attention to me and other guests. I highly recommend Western Prince and am looking forward to going on another adventure with them in the future!

What a day we had with Western Prince! We had to travel far but were able to see multiple pods of orcas, it was magical! The wonderful weather and guides were a plus too! They make sure you have anything you need to have a great experience. It's a fun adventure, even my tween/teens loved it. Highly recommend!

Great experience overall! The staff was very knowledgeable and the boat ride was really smooth.

Great experience. Very knowledgeable staff; took us all the way to the border of Canada to see a group of orcas. They also provided all trousers, jackets, gloves, hats, googles, binos to keep you warm. Would recommend wearing close toed shoes

Excellent adventure! The staff outfitted us in warm gear that we didn't fully appreciate until we were flying over the water. Our guide was very knowledgeable about whales and other ocean life which really added color and interest to the trip. We were very lucky to see 2 family packs of orcas who were active together with tail and fin splashing. Even luckier to see them breach the water more than once. This was the highlight of our San Juan island stay.

Great tour! Not only were we warm in our provided gear but were well taken care of with information and help along the way. We saw puffins, sea lions, harbor seals and a pod of 10 killer whales traveling together! Our boat was able to be more nimble and give us better and extended views of the whales as opposed to other vessels on the water. Would recommend!

It is right by the ferry terminal and I think it would be hard to beat. The boat is relatively small so you feel close to the Orcas. The gear was great so we stayed comfortable. Pretty much exactly what you want.

Lovely biologist and captain made us all comfortable on board and we were nice and warm in the padded jackets and salopettes they provided (you can also borrow woolen hats but bring your own sunglasses against the wind). Saw a pair of bald eagles, bighorn sheep, mouflons and goats on Oakley's private island, and after we crossed into Canadian waters our daughter spotted a humpback, which the captain stopped for and we were able to follow it spouting, diving and breaching for about half an hour. The crew were quick to acknowledge her find to the others and rewarded her when we got back with some whale lapel pins and a stuffed orca keychain, so she was proud of herself for finding the highlight of our trip.

Great tour both times !!! My family and I have used Western Prince Whale Watching two times both times have seen Orcas, and Minky whales sea lions harbor seals in Bald Eagle to name a few . I love the fact that they're a small business. Everyone seems to enjoy their job, and every interaction we've had with anyone so far company has been great and positive. Our first tour we were late getting to the tour due the ferry. They did call make sure we were OK and that we were going to make it. Which was is unheard of businesses these days doing that. This business has always been accommodating. I have used other tours in the past and this place has my business hands down for sure!! Thank you everyone at Western Prince see you again next time!!! Keep up the good work!!!

What an amazing, friendly, kind, and helpful company. My husband and I were gifted a certificate to spend a day exploring the San Juan islands. It included the Friday harbor sea plane & whale watching tour with western prince. It was absolutely magical. We were able to see orca whales and get so many wonderful pictures and videos. Chris at the front desk was so kind and let us charge our phones in the back room so we wouldn't run out of battery. Everyone was so helpful and made sure we had the best time. I highly recommend booking your whale watching tour through this family owned, amazing business. I'm already looking at ways I can get back and do it again.

This was truly the BEST experience of my life! We saw so many things!!!! Seals, eagles, harbor porpoises, sea birds and their babies, a humpback whale, and a family of 4 ORCAS!!! A dream come true!!! We were able to stay with these orcas for an hour! They were taking a relaxing swim and then suddenly they found some food! It was amazing! The staff was so friendly and knowledgeable! They provided everything you would need to have a great time; warm outerwear, binoculars, beanie, gloves! We noticed that our boat was more agile than the other whale watching boats around us. We were able to get to wildlife quicker and find them faster when they changed directions! Also, this boat was fast and wide open. You had a 360 view the whole time! Just what we wanted. We researched the other whale tours and this was one of the only places with a fast, smaller, open boat! Could not recommend this company and experience more. It was magical and I will cherish the memories for the rest of my life! Thank you Western Prince for making my Free Willy dreams of seeing orcas in the wild finally come true!

I had an incredible experience on my first-ever whale-watching tour with Western Prince at Friday Harbor! From start to finish, the entire trip was well-organized and exceeded my expectations. We went on a Friday morning around 11 AM, and our boat was only half full, which made the experience even more intimate and enjoyable. One thing to note: parking can be a bit tricky if you have a car. I recommend finding parking near the courthouse, where you can park for a longer duration--perfect for the length of the tour. Our guide, Bethany, was fantastic! She was incredibly knowledgeable and approachable, with both a bachelor's and a master's in marine biology (if I remember correctly). Her passion for the wildlife and the environment really shone through. She was always available to answer questions and share fascinating facts, making the experience even more enriching and fun. JB, the captain, was also great! The ride was smooth, and I didn't feel seasick at all (I was sitting somewhere in the middle of the boat). We were lucky enough to see two majestic humpback whales, and the highlight of the trip was watching two families of orcas hanging out together. Seeing these amazing creatures in their natural habitat was nothing short of magical. I also really appreciated the thoughtfulness that went into making sure everyone was comfortable. They provided waterproof overalls, floater jackets, gloves, and beanies to keep us warm. Once we were out in the boat and further from shore, it was supposedly about 20 degrees colder, so these extra layers made all the difference! They even had binoculars for us to use, which really enhanced the whale-watching experience. While there are marine toilets on board, you probably don't want to miss any part of the tour, so I'd highly recommend using the bathroom before you board. The only bathroom (not on the boat) is located on the dock next to the boat, so it's important to plan ahead, especially if you want to pick the row you want to sit in. If you're planning on taking photos, I recommend bringing a fancier camera rather than just your iPhone. We're required to stay quite far from the whales, and it was a bit difficult for my iPhone 13 mini to capture the whales we saw. If you're considering a whale-watching tour, I highly recommend Western Prince. It was an unforgettable experience that combined education, adventure, and respect for the marine environment.

Well organized trip. Made sure we stayed warm and dry with all the necessary gear including goggles and binoculars too. Expert staff was informative and knew where to go. We saw a Humpback whale, sea lions, harbor seals and two pods of Orcas come together. Amazing! Plus they have a nice gift shop!

We had such a fun day with the welcoming and knowledgeable crew. It was amazing to see the T75B pod and all the beautiful scenery was a bonus.

I absolutely loved this experience. We saw three families of orcas, a bald eagle and a whole gaggle of harbor seals! The crew and captain were amazing with answering all of our questions! I went on the 3pm tour and was so impressed! I plan on going back next month with my spouse!

Our captain and naturalist both were pretty awesome. They went over and beyond to show us wildlife

Experience of a lifetime. The captain/owner knew exactly where to go, and positioned the boat to provide for the best photos with majestic views of Mt Baker. Really professional crew.

I've done many whale watches but this was the best ever! They hooked us up with suits to keep us warm and dry which was great because it rained during a lot of the tour. The Captain found us 7 families of Orcas socializing... the most amazing thing I've ever seen. Highly recommend Western Prince.

All I can say is if you are planning to come to the San Juan you need to book a whale watching with The Western Prince. Our captain JB and Naturalist (sorry forgot name) was so personable. Made us feel like we knew them forever. They give you gear to wear to keep you warm and dry from the elements. They check on you throughout the trip... We seen different species and yes Orcas! I love every minute of this trip I didn't want it to end. Would book another one before we head back home but they are full. So if your thinking about it book ahead of time and with the Western Prince. Mahalo iā 'oe mālama pono. "Thank you very much, take care"

Amazing staff and crew, very knowledgeable, they keep the boat at a safe distance from the whales. It was a beautiful trip to be out in the sea too view these magnificent creatures! Boat is also so fun!

This is an excellent company to book for a whale watch tour. It is a small fast boat with an experienced and knowledgeable crew. They are respectful of the whales. They give you warmth suits that also are your life jackets. They have hats, gloves, and hand warmers you can use to keep you warm because it is cold out on the water. They also handout binoculars to every guest. We got to see 2 different groups of whales and Bethany (the naturalist on board) was fantastic on telling us the names and about the families of the whales. An experience my family will always remember. Highly recommended!

Awesome experience! First time seeing Orcas! Chris was an amazing, helpful and informative guide. They provided googles, Binoculars, outer wear and gloves. Highly recommend

OK well first, the communication was excellent. We were on island but the Ferry was late so our trip was delayed. we were contacted by the company and told of the delay so we weren't waiting at the shop. Bethany was our naturalist and was super knowledgeable, sweet, professional, with an easy going personality. JB was our captain. Between the two of them we were in great hands . The boat was very fast so we were able to cover enough ground to see both Humpback whales and two families of killer whales. I was able to capture a photo of a breaching 3 year old orca-Charlie. This trip was everything we needed it to be. I will definitely go with his company again with my family again. First rate class act! I would give it 10/5 stars if possible! thank you JB and Bethany!!! Kristine

I've been on many whale watching tours and this was by far the best ever. We observed a family of killer whales all the way down the coast of an island. Glad to see bald eagles and sea lions. Couldn't ask for a more beautiful day and a knowledgeable and experienced crew. Highly recommend this company

The boat was really comfortable it is custom-made she was really really quiet she got more than 900 hp, but you couldn't hear the engine. We didn't see wheels or orcas even though the skipper and the lady that works with him do their best and try and try we was lil upset so the management was really nice to give us voucher for free trip. I got to mention Ella in the front desk all ways with nice smile and willing to help for anything you need I believe that business thrive and succeed, if you've got people that working with all their hart Thanks for a beautiful experience and will see you next time .!

Well knowledge crew. Knows the WILD animals and explains them well and good idea where to see them. Loved the smaller size group and open boat. Let's fly!!!

The weather was not good for our scheduled trip with a steady rain the whole time, but Captain Ivan and Bethany did a great job with finding eagles, sea lions and harbor seals then we followed a killer whale for several miles. We were wet and cold by the end but I would still do it again even in these conditions!

We had a blast, learned a lot, and saw a pod of whales and lots of other wildlife on our tour with Ivan and Elah this week! I tend to get seasick but stayed comfortable on the open air deck, sitting in the back, with sea bands. Highly recommend this family-run business!

Our family had a great time with Bethany and Ivan, they were very knowledgeable and helpful with all our questions. We were able to watch a group of 9 orcas for over an hour!

Awesome tour and knowledgeable guides. We saw orcas, yah!!! Highly recommend this boat/company!

Fantastic experience! Our guide and captain were very knowledgeable and happy to answer questions. We enjoyed the small group and they were great with kids. It was also nice that they provide warm, waterproof clothing.

J.B. The boat driver was fun and friendly. Chris the naturalist on board was extremely knowledgeable about not only the whales, but other wildlife we saw and the local environment. The boat was comfortable and the views amazing! I would heartily recommend booking a tour with this seasoned first-class group!

Great experience! They are super friendly and knowledgeable. They prepare you really well to have an enjoyable experience. 10 out of 10, will do it again when I visit Friday Harbor.

Great experience - we saw killer whales hunting a sea lion - and super friendly knowledgeable staff.

Captain Ivan and naturalists Ayla and Bethany were super knowledgable and very friendly. They obviously love the area and the animals. I enjoyed the open air boat and small group size. They made sure everyone was comfortable and warm by loaning us jackets, pants, beanies, gloves, and binoculars. I'd definitely go with them again!

Amazing beautiful experience. Bethany was amazing and truly great at her job! The captain was very friendly and we enjoyed the whole experience. We saw beautiful orcas and watched them play and hunt!

We had an amazing time! From check in to the whale watching itself it was excellent. The staff, naturalist Chris and captain J.P. were knowledgeable and educational and super fun guides. We saw a family of 4 orcas, 4 bald eagles, various jellies and harbor seals. The intimate small boat made the experience wonderful. The speed boat was effective in travel time and a smooth ride for my sea sick friend. They also provide warm suits so it was super comfortable the entire time. Would recommend this company, it was with every penny and we had the most amazing time. I would do this tour again.

We enjoyed our trip. They provide all the warm gear and binoculars. Our boat was fully booked but there was still enough room for everyone to sit comfortably and get up and see wildlife. We did get to see orca, which was amazing. I often get motion sickness but I was ok on the boat. Another passenger wasn't but the crew had ginger chews and wrist bands available for anyone who needed it.

They are very efficient, knowledgeable and organized. The boat was clean and comfy. They provided waders (but didn't get wet at all!), heavy warm coats that have life vests in them, knit hats, warm gloves and hand warmers if you'd like. It was fast (33 miles per hr) but smooth. Could have sipped a mug of coffee while cruising. We saw humpbacks for an hour August 4, 2024. I'd go again!

Incredible experience! Friendly, knowledgeable staff! Captain was Ivan and Naturalist was Chris. Enjoyed the gear provided (didn't have to worry about packing or flying with the extra clothes) bibs, coat, gloves, & hats all included!! Loved the boat, not a bad seat on it. We saw a Orca mother and three calves hunting a little seal pup. Then moved on to find a Humpback mother and calf. Saw seals and sea lions, then back to the Orcas to watch them for awhile. It was amazing!!

Amazing tour! My wife and I had an awesome time and got to see a lot of wildlife. The staff was amazing and very professional and knowledgeable. Highly recommended and great value for the price.

Elah and JB were wonderful guides! They were both super knowledgeable about the areas we traveled to and the wildlife in them. I loved learning more about the different types of whales and families that have been in the area for many years! They communicated with other boats to ensure we were able to see whales on our tour, traveling to an area other boats had had sightings - and made it in time for our tour to have a great sighting for around 30 minutes. It was a lovely experience overall!

We did an afternoon tour with Chris and JB. Absolutely amazing. Had such an awesome time and cannot wait to go again next time we visit!

Best adventure yet! Zipping across the water to see so many animals, birds and whales. Saw humpback whales and a pod of Orcas with 2 baby killer whales. A dream come true.

Nice larger boat. Great staff and very friendly. I like that you can be in or outside on a cold or hot day. Food available to and cool shirts. Leaves from beautiful Friday Harbor (The heart of whale watching).

We had a spectacular time aboard the Western Prince, led by Captain JB, naturalist Elah, and off-duty naturalist and wildlife photographer Bethany. We were able to see a humpback whale, an Orca whale, Sea Lions, Seals, and a Bald Eagle. The trip was superb from start to finish. If you have never booked a whale tour, look no further because this crew and set up is top notch. They outfit you with high quality gear that I have not been offered on other tours that keeps you both warm and dry, provide additional items like hat, gloves, binoculars, and goggles should you want/need them, and they also went above and beyond to make sure we saw what we came to see. The captain told us that we logged 49 miles which is above average for any whale charter. This further speaks to their willingness to give back to the community of us who enjoy seeing whales. I would give them A+ superior for quality, comfort, knowledge, and overall experience. Could not speak more highly of this charter and crew. You get what you pay for, and these guys are worth every penny. Great Job Western Prince & crew!!!

Awesome day on the water with captain Ivan and wildlife expert Bethany. Highly recommend this service while on the island.

We had an amazing time on our whale watching tour! The naturalist guide was knowledgeable and amazing. If we had to do it all over again, we would 100% book with Western Prince.

Enjoy this tour yesterday at 11am with our captain JB! There we 8 of us with a wedding party and they put us in the back! So much fun! Saw 12 orcas and wow the tour was amazing and so beautiful! Thanks again for a great and fun time!

Such a great tour company! This was my first time on a whale watching tour and I can't wait to do it again! Captain JB was great! He got us out and back safely, and you can tell he cares about the wildlife in the area. Nina was nice and very informative about the wildlife we saw. They have suits for you to wear, it does get chilly on the water even though it's comfortable on shore. I will recommend them to everyone. Thanks to your team for a great tour!