Western Prince Whale Watching Adventures

Captain and mate were top notch. Ivan stayed tuned in all day and got us on two beautiful orca viewings. Chris in her amazing Australian accented voice called out great facts and features. The boat is great! Everyone has the best seat in the house. Second trip with them. We highly recommend them. Don’t forget to tip the staff.

Our tour was wonderful. Our naturalist Chris was very knowledgeable about the local wildlife both skilled and knowledgeable. I was impressed with her knowledge of the individual whales we saw and the anecdotes she shared between sightings made the time fly by. Our captain Bethany was very skilled, in particular her pacing with the whales kept them surfacing in about the same area off the boat which I only realized how easy it made watching, and how hard that must be, after we made it back to shore. The boat itself was a jet boat and was tons of fun to ride and I like that this company chose to use this type of craft in part to reduce the underwater noise and disruption for the animals. All in all an excellent experience and would've been even if we hadn't seen any whales thanks to the skilled crew and beautiful scenery.

There is no possible rating that would do my experience justice. I seriously had the best time! Everywhere Ive traveled to I book a whale watching tour. This is easily one of my favorites. Captain JB and naturalist Alex were great, not only were they educational but they were also kind and cracking jokes from the beginning. We saw two different pods of orcas, 2 Minke whales( which is apparently pretty rare. Only alex’s second time seeing them), porpoises, seals and Sea lions. Not once did they get too close to the animals, they have safe and ethical practices. Their gear is honestly so nice. You don’t think you’ll need it but even in August we were FREEZING once you get out there. Their gear keeps you nice and cozy! When we got back they even drew where we saw everything on their map for us.

Seeing orcas on San Juan Island is an unforgettable experience, and Western Prince is an agency with which you'll definitely enjoy the trip. They have jackets, gloves, visors, and hats to keep you warm, and they even have sizes for children. Alex and the captain were incredible in their treatment of all the passengers.

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.

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!

Absolutely the best whale watching from Friday Harbor! My dad and I took this tour and were completely blown away. Our guide was both hilarious and incredibly knowledgeable, and the captain was just as fantastic. Being right at water level with the orcas was unforgettable—an experience of a lifetime. No one does it like Western Prince!

We had a wonderful time. The entire trip was amazing— and we definitely saw whales! But for me, just being on the water and enjoying the beautiful surroundings was the larger joy.

Outstanding experience! Very stable ship with JB at the helm. Alison is a gifted naturalist with amazing stories to tell about the Orcas.

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!

We had an epic experience! The weather was all time and we saw incredible animals, including humpback whales and Orcas. JB and Chris were fun/friendly and made our experience truly memorable.

We had a great 3 hour whale watching tour with JB as our Captain and Chris as our guide. We saw lots of sea lions, three bald eagles and two orca brothers. It was educational and lots of fun! Thumbs up!

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.

The staff are amazing! Allison and Captain JB are both super friendly, fun, and knowledgeable. This was our first time looking for whales in the San Juan area, and with confidence I can say we were with the best. Saw some seals, a sea otter, and two separate Orca pods. It was amazing. We lucked out on the weather too. We will definitely be doing this tour again the next time we are in the area.

A perfect trip! We felt so lucky to have picked Western Prince Whale Watching this day for the speed of this boat and Captain Bethany for getting out to see 26 Orcas. Bethany was a flawless Captain and with our guide (amazing experience and Australian!), it was an experience I will never forget. Great family company that I would highly recommend if you are considering a trip to see wildlife as this boat is the fastest of the companies.

Excellent! Went the extra mile, well 52 miles to give us the whale experience I have dreamed of. Breaching, fin slapping, spy hopping! Just wow!!!

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.

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.

This was an amazing tour!! The guides were friendly and knowledgeable. We saw the most spectacular orcas and other wildlife. We will definitely do this again Western Prince Whale Watching Adventure.

What a wonderful experience! Highly recommend. Allison and JB made sure we had a memory forever! Saw orcas, birds and a humpback whale.

Super friendly, super helpful staff. Fast boat! Got us all the way up to Canada where the viewing happened to be best that day.

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!

What a terrific Whale Watching Tour we just had with Elah & Ivan! Everyone was very friendly and knowledgeable & the gear kept us nice and warm which was essential being on this super fast completely open boat. The small group meant we could easily shift from side to side to see all the action. Highly 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.

We heard great things about this company from friends who had toured with them. As the time for our excursion approached, it was raining and we were discouraged. But the crew here is so enthusiastic about nature, the animals and the islands, we hoped for the best. It turns out the rain did not dampen our experience at all! They provide everything from a jumpsuit, beanies, gloves to even goggles to help you stay comfortable in all weather. We followed a family of orcas for an hour, and of all the boats viewing them, we were the most prepared for the weather. Bethany and Chris were very professional and personable. They seemed as excited to see the whales as we were! I would definitely recommend them!

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.

We had a great day whale watching with Western Prince Whale Watching yesterday. The speed boat took us out to the far western side of the island and we saw a pod of orcas there. Wonderful experience!

Absolutely amazing! I go whale watching often on the east coast so humpbacks are mostly what I see. We are exploring Washington State for the first time and needed to do some whale watching in hopes of seeing Orcas and we were not disappointed! We chose western prince whale watching adventures because it looked more intimate and adventurous, which it was. Smaller boat meant less people and more attention from the crew. Captain JB and Naturalist Elah were so personable, had great jokes and incredibly knowledgeable about all the wildlife we saw (their parents should be proud!). If I lived on this side of the country, I would go often, just because of them! Thank you so much JB and Elah for an unforgettable time! Some tips: You may want to sit up front but right behind the captains chair is the best spot because it blocks the wind when we are going high speed and you get to chat with the captain the whole time. There is truly no bad spot to sit when it comes to viewing wildlife and the captain does an amazing job angling the boat so everyone can see and you get up and move around once the boat stops. What we saw: 2 groups of whales (and 2 breaches which are not common and something I always dreamed of seeing!) Deer Bald eagles Harbor seals Thank you Western Prince Whale Adventures (specifically JB and Elah) for helping to make my Ocra dreams come true

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"

Excellent tour! The guide and captain were so well-informed and I learned a lot about our resident orcas. Will do again, for sure!

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 .!

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

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!!!

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!

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.

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!

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

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.

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

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

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!

Amazing. Captain Ivan and Naturalist Elah were absolutely amazing! Not only did we see abundant wildlife (Orcas, Steller Sea Lions, etc.), the knowledge, professionalism, and the captivating enthusiasm of Elah were over the top! Look no further. This is the trip you want. Doug and Jeannie Spencer Post Falls, Idaho

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.

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!

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!