Reviews of Prince of Whales - Whale Watching Adventures (Travel Agency)

Naomi Hatton

Saw orcas and the staff were very knowledgeable. The ride was smooth.

Jenny Sharma

50mph in a zodiac, orcas, humpbacks, eagles, seals, clouds touching the water that looks like glass. Amazing trip! These folks know the names of the whales, and if they’re local. Highly recommend!

Jess Bacon

Had the best time on the zodiac tour! The boat ride itself is so much fun. Saw humpbacks and orcas. Our guide went over and above and kept us out late so we could track down the orcas when we were supposed to be heading back! All staff were super friendly, and exuded a passion for what they do. (They we’re also very helpful and accommodating as we had to change our trip dates multiple times due to COVID travel restrictions) Thank you for such an unforgettable experience :)

sanjai gs

We saw orcas. The crew went a long way out in the ocean to find a pod of orcas and it was worth it..!!

Judy Brown

My grandson is Salmon fishing up there and loves his job .

Mandy Wojcik

This was my best experience to date! The naturalist (Shaunee?) was incredible! Constantly teaching along the trip, I learned things I didn’t even know as the whale enthusiast I am! She even showed us the identification guide at the end and pointed out who we saw today. We saw about 15 whales, humpbacks and orcas, learned about humpback naps, saw them breach, fin wave and slap, saw transient orcas most likely hunting and a couple socializing and spy hopping. Saw an elephant seal, went to race rocks and saw sea lions, harbour seals and Ollie the otter all hangin’ out. Best day ever. Thankyou so much! Also big thanks to Tianna for the delicious complementary hot chocolate in the heated lower deck - we even saw a humpback diving as we passed by on the way home!

Joe Leung

We did the zodiac tour in the early morning and it was an amazing experience being on the water in a high-speed zodiac. I've done whale watching in a larger boat before but the zodiac puts you closer to the water and you feel much closer to the various marine life we encountered. Of course, it will vary with each day what marine life you may see but that's mother nature for you. She decides what you will see but the team at Prince of Whales seem to know where the best places are. Rush was our zodiac skipper and guide, he was awesome, laid back yet knowledgeable.

Clark Damon

These guys have the best whale watching experience. My 3.5 year old son and I just spent the afternoon on their big boat. We saw killer whales, 3 humpbacks, an eagle, sea otter, sea lions, and seals! Amazing. The staff was so nice and talkative. The best part is their new boat. You can be up front outside, outside in the back of the boat, or inside in a huge cabin with floor to ceiling windows to watch the whales from inside. The coffee and snacks are a nice touch. There is not a boat or operator that compares.

Ken Mclean

We celebrated our 20th on this sunset cruise, it was magnificent to see orcas near the active pass area.

E L

Kodos to the moustache man he was a pretty cool guy and knew lots about the area. The guide I was with was even taking a degree on the subject so he had plenty of knowledge of the area. Yes we saw whales a few times. Don't forget your sunscreen.

Jason Elder

Being a local I never thought I would even venture out on a whale watching tour in my home town. That said I sure am glad I did with a group of buddies that I grew up with. We took the zodiac out with the twin outboard motors which was extremely fun and wow those boats are fast. Just so happens that we hit the weather spot on and were got to see lots of whales. Humpbacks and Orcas. We saw at least 2 huge pods of transient orcas consisting of at least 8-10. Saw at least 6 different humpbacks. The captain we had was a younger guy, extremely knowledgable and a skilled captain in could tell. Staff was very friendly and informative. If you've never been on a whale watching your I highly recommend Prince of Whales if not just to get out on the water and have great day.

Danny B

My Wife and I were on one of the Kodiak boat tours last week with 'Mark' as our tour guide. he was very knowledgeable and you could obviously tell that this was his passion his life and not just a 'day job'. We had a great time and we spotted a family of Orca's and a couple of hump back whales on the way back. Only advice I will give other people is to put your mobile phones on airplane mode as you do enter the USA and I got stung with roaming charges. No fault of the tour, but something to bear in mind.

Jessica J

Really enjoyed our tour! Brittany was very informative and shared a lot of interesting facts throughout the trip. Recommendation: dress in layers (maybe even a warm hat!), it gets a lot chillier on the water than expected!

Tom Hickey

Never fails to deliver a fantastic experience. Our guide, Mark, really knew his stuff. Third time out this year and we FINALLY saw orcas - over 30 individuals for that matter. Finished with 2 humpbacks to tie off a great day. I would not consider going elsewhere for your whale watching ????

Thomas Cowan

Had an amazing long weekend with these guys. I go out every year and this year was one of the best, 31+ killer whales one day, and a hump back playing peek a boo the next. We were stopped watching hump backs in the distance when one came and popped up next to us, and just must have liked the ooo’s and awes of the crowd since it kept people watching. Super rare for this to happen but you don’t get the chance for the experience unless you get out there!

John Gannon

Outstanding tour with a fun and knowledgeable guide/pilot! Definitely will repeat this experience!

Amanda Fultz

Loved our experience. Saw tons of different humpback whales, even had one breach for us which was magical. Valerie our naturalist was full of interesting information about all the whales we were seeing. Highly recommend the cadamaran. It was comfortable and update on all covid 19 prodicals.

Jesper Glyb

Just fantastic.

Anika I

Booked a trip for my parents. They loved it. Got to see many whales.

Max Qiang

The boat ride on the small boat was fun and thrilling, and the staffs are all friendly and knowledgeable. Although we didn’t see any whales this time, we were promised a free tour any time in the future.

John Arella

Great experience and whale watching was super

Don Poynter

Great tour. Wonderful boat and successful sightings of whales. Knowledgeable and helpful staff. A good deal!

all time crazy

Ignore their whale guarantee. We paid for a trip, didn't see whales which is perfectly ok, its nature. However we have tried all week to go back out and been pushed off. There was an excursion going out at 1pm today which only had 2 people booked when we booked our 2 spots. We got a call saying we weren't allowed on because it filled with paying customers. WE ALREADY PAID. We chose you because of your guarantee. How disappointing to be lied to.

Chad Peterson

Amazing and Spectacular

Matthew West

Wonderful experience. While expensive I highly recommend. Worth every cent

Rhythmicon Sound

Amazing experience and top shelf team!

Lukas Nickels

Been there in early may, so kind of off season. Didnt see any whales but many other animals and had a great day on the ocean. Our naturalist guide Lily did a great job telling us about life of the animals and about history of the area. With there guarantee to see whales with the possibility to have as many extra tours as necessary to spot whales, even after years and without needing any voucher for that, we are defenitly coming back some day.

james kirkup

Excellent trip. Went on the (mostly) indoor boat. Beautiful views, saw three lots of whales (at a distance) and sea lions galore. Knowledgeable staff, comfy boat. Well worth doing.

Mal

If you have the disposition, take the zodiac to get closer to the ocean and feel the spray. Like anything with nature, it's all luck in the draw in seeing whales. 2nd time with them...there will be a third.

Willis Hoogenboom

This is legit whale watching. The boat was comfortable and clean. The crew was amazing especially Jen who took the time to answer our questions even to our party separately and was very helpful to the family next to us with small children keeping them entertained. They're sighting guarantee was unexpected and honored the next day. We were able to see orcas, seals and sea lions, and HUMPBACKS!

Anna Dox

This was amazing!!! But dress properly for it. It gets cold on the ocean

Terry Korte

Knowledgeable guide. Boat was super fast and comfortable. We took the covered one. ..

Hadden

Alex was a legend in telegraph cove. Was a great experience and we got to see a humpback calf jump out of the water twice on august 2nd! Whole crew was amazing. The driver was really cool I forget her name I think she is from Germany but she was amazing.

CrackerJack Flash

We have enjoyed the experience so much, we've been out three times, and each time I see and learn something different. Even Covid hasn't stopped us from venturing out to sea because we feel very safe on their big catamarans which have lots of space to social distance, not to mention all the other safety measures they have in place. Needless to say, I highly recommend Prince of Whales as one of the best adventures you can experience here in beautiful Victoria, BC. Bar none.

Kevin

Best experience of my life. Saw tons of whales everywhere we went. They are the best!

Christopher

Our guide, Jennifer was very knowledgeable.

Tomi Burgess

Loved the tour. Jennifer is enthusiastic, knowledgeable and humorous.

Christopher

Our guide, Jennifer was very knowledgeable.

Roxanne Greeson

I have immensely enjoyed each time I have been out with these folks (3 times). The first time out we had to turn back (freak rain storm). They truly do guarantee whale sightings and setting up our "make-up" voyage at their sister location was seemless. The second time out was spectacular. Whale sightings for sure! The boat, washrooms, COVID protocols, and crew were as advertised (always a plus in my book when things meet or exceed you expectations). The third trip was even better because the weather cooperated! Sunshine and again, excellent whale sightings!

Enprize

You WILL see whales! Great guides

Nithya Murali

Literally loved the experience???? we visited during the starting of winter and we were so lucky to watch humpback whales and orcas, and even more lucky enough to see olly the sea otter, enjoyed every moment of the trip despite the cold wind! Amazing crew , who were so eager to explain us every tiny details about whales and other animals on the sea. They made sure all our questions were answered! Enjoyed the trip to the whole! Had an amazing time in the sea!

Delroy D

Loved my recent trip. Got to see a family of orcas feed in the wild. The guide was very knowledgeable and passionate about his job. Highly recommended experience! Went back earlier this year, but didn't see any whales. However, they have a sightings guarantee which means you get to come back for free, and when I went back, we saw J Pod in action!

Devon Chipman

The tour was awesome, a great crew on the evening tour. The naturalists on board were very informative and made the sight seeing a lot more interesting.

Rodrigo De Vizcaya

We watched orcas and a humpback whale, it was an amazing experience

Thomas Dec

Jen, Emily, Lili and Captain Jeff were all terrific. We saw a humpback whale, seals, sea lions, a bald eagle, and a sea otter on our trip. We took the larger boat, which came with complimentary coffee, tea, and water. Highly recommend.

SUSAN TOMLINSON

Informative, saw whales, had fun interacting with crew. Nice day on the Salish Sea.

Chris Baker

Tour guide was really nice. Zodiac was clean and well maintained. Got to see orcas, humpbacks and sea lions.

James P

I was there in August and I did not see many whales, not even one orca!! It was very disappointing for someone who had to cross the ocean to get to Victoria. The whales I did see, it was from a distance. Comparing to another whale watching tour I did in cape cod it was too expensive and not satisfying. I know it’s not their fault but you should know: You do not always see whales that good or at all. It’s very cold in see even in the summer. The zodiac boat is very bumpy which is very fun and cool at first but you have to hold on jumping for three hours while the freezing wind is on your face. Be prepared or take the larger boat. Be patient and don’t expect much from the animals. They’re wild creatures with their own will.

Angela Kokes

Fantastic

Teresa Huffstuttler

Once in a lifetime experience! I’ve been wanting to do this for years, and was so excited to finally get a chance to check it off my bucket list! The guide explained that the ride would be more bumpy in the front of the zodiac, which I appreciated, but I chose to do so, really wanting the full experience. It was amazing. Literally, such a thrill, I wasn’t even worried that I didn’t see whales right away! The guide pointed out Bald Eagles, sea lions, brought us by islands that had sheep climbing almost vertical hillsides, and the experience of zipping through the water, feeling the spray on your face was everything they advertised. We looked all over, but as you would expect with wild animals, there was no guarantee they would jump up and perform as some people seem to expect lol. We were almost back to our starting point and our guide saw a pod of Orca’s! We were the first people that day to spot whales and it was thrilling! They were so beautiful, i couldn’t believe how lucky we were to be there, seeing them so close. Our guide didn’t rush off, even though our time had already been up, knowing everyone was so excited to have just found them. Admittedly I was a little sore the next day, but we had been warned and no more than if I had enjoyed a vigorous hike to see an amazing view. It was exciting and beautiful, thank you so so much for giving me this absolutely perfect day!

Anna Marie

Worth every penny. Would go everyday if I could.

Ahmadreza Rabbani

One of the most memorable experiences of my life. Not only because of the amazing ride and whale-watching tour, but also because of the extreme responsiveness of the company and staff. Absolute respect for this team and the people who work there. I lost my camera case in one of the red jackets’ pockets and left the province two days later. I emailed them and explained the situation. Brendon from the customer service went above and beyond and reached out to me to make arrangements for shipping it over to Ontario. Thank you Prince of Whales for this unforgettable experience and can’t wait to comeback there in summer!

Peter

Wow that tour was so special and amazing! We where a small group of four and then there where six orcas ????. And Google why cant i choose Videos right here writing that Post :-(

Lina Vallee

Had a great time! Brought my 2 and a half year old niece and she loved it. Staff was very friendly and helpful. I have mobility issues and they helped me on and off the boat and made sure I was able to see etc. Saw lots of humpback whales that day.

Deborah Kulchiski

This was an experience of a lifetime! Thank you @princeofwhales for the memorable day. The crew (Captain Tom, Seanie, Joe, Jennifer, Brendon) were the icing on the cake! I learned and observed so much and was so sad to have to head back to shore. You must include this whale watching experience next time you are in Victoria.

Marc Lemery

We had a great time on the 12 person zodiac! Our driver Mark was so cool. He took us out and made sure we saw whales, and did we ever see some. Saw 4 families and they came right by our boat. That was in part luck of course. He then gave us a roller coaster ride back... Lol. Fast and fun!

Diana Knowles

Love this whale trip /best and most friendly captian of our boat....we laughed alot!!

Dodged a Bullet

SUNSET TOUR: BE WARNED! HORRIBLE! Very irresponsible operation! Kid driving the boat was out to give us tourists a really rough ride so he could enjoy seeing us struggle to stay in the boat! I had my little 5 year old daughter with me and I was terrified I wouldn't be able to hold on to her to prevent her from flying out of the boat on one of the many hard bumps we took hitting the waves as we rushed out there! We both landed so very hard on a number of waves that we both injured our spines and had pain for weeks afterwards (for me...years!) from coming down so freaking hard on those crappy hard seats! It was very unpleasant..even though I screamed for him to slow down several times, it was like this douche didn't give a damn for our safety and barely reduced his speed. We had been required to sign a disclaimer removing all our rights if injured...so I guess that added to his sense of irresponsibility! We saw orca, of course, but this immature knucklehead really ruined it for us by terrifying us like that. He should have at the very least directed us to sit further towards the back of the boat so we wouldn't take such a hard pounding! I'd liked to have punched that idiot's lights out! Could have killed or gravely injured us, especially my little girl! BAD BUSINESS OPERATION! IRRESPONSIBLE! PS: I'm sure if they cause you injury you can still sue them regardless of the disclaimer they make you sign...they DESERVE TO BE SUED! HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE! Go with another company that shows concern for your safety! This one certainly does not!

Jeff Hirvonen

Friendly and outgoing staff. Great experience

Scott Van Achte

Several years ago my sister and I went out on a tour with Price of Whales and had a fantastic time (Would have loved to take my wife, but she is not much of a boat person). For our trip out we did not see any orca's, but did see a humpback (I think that's what it was?). Regardless we had a great time - the staff was incredibly friendly, the ride was great - any day out on the water is a great day. It would have been nice to see some killer whales, but we totally understand that you can't seem then 100% of the time. Would definitely go out with Prince of Whales again!

Michel Pham

What an amazing experience! I had high expectations but it went beyond! The communication with the staff was also perfect as our tour got postponed due to the strong wind. Mike, our tour guide, was so passionate about whales and wildlife, I could learn way more than expected with such a tour. I also recommend to book the Zodiac tour.

wade molitwenik

It was a fantastic day with Rush as our skipper. The boys went beyond to see the Orcas. Great Job guys, the school class had a blast.

Martin Robertson

About 90 minutes too long and should be more eager to offer a hot beverage.

Zen CaptureAll

You will see whales! (Bring a jacket)

Babylon Jasmine

So I wanted to watch the last of the resident orcas from a safe distance. I know they are dying and whale watching boats always being around them is a big part of why. I know Washington recently changed their laws to increase the distance boats need to keep. We were following a pod off Lopez island and all the other boats were illegally close and my monster of a captain drove right past them through the middle of the pod. Almost took out an orca with the boat prop.

Dennis

Do you like whale watching? Me too

Sam Walton

NB this refers to the Zodiac tours. The actual whale watching was brilliant - rather moving to see these graceful creatures in their natural habitat. The hour-long journeys there and back on the Zodiac boats, however, is awful: terrifying, physically extremely uncomfortable and completely relentless, it's like being beaten up for a solid hour and left my and other passengers' nerves completely shot. They bill the Zodiac tours as a way to get closer to the animals, but this did not seem the case - other normal boats got just as close - instead, they should mark these as for adrenaline junkies and extreme thrill-seekers only.

Dorothy Leslie

We sailed on the Ocean Magic on Sunday, Aug. 5/12 & were treated to 4 Humpback Whales, Sea Lions & Seals...Thank You to the very knowledgable crew & Captain...we loved it!!! (just too bad there were no Orca around)

Wish C

Nice adventure with Prince of Whales Watching! We have seen whales very close by and lots of humpback whales hanging out on the surface as well. We didn't see many Orca, hopefully next time we could see more.

Edwin W

Couldn't have been better. All star crew and excellent boats. The captain extended our tour by 30 minutes to ensure we had enough time with J Pod. A must do while in Victoria

Emily Alarcon

Really enjoyed the half day tour to see whales around Victoria. We saw a lot of Humpback ???? whales with a very respectful distance between these giant animals and us

Gengis Grenier

Nice tour! We saw few sea lions and whales with Captain Valerie! Fog was present at beginning but it disappeared after 20 min. The trip was nice and it worth it! Just make sure to not drink anything 1 hour before leaving and go to bathroom before departure ????

Melissa D

Lilly, Joe and Captain Bill were a fun crew. Joe spent most of his time scanning the water for whales. We could telk he was tehing hard to find them for us. Lilly taught us a lot about the sea life we encountered and the area. She was very informative. Captain Bill was very friendly and interacted with us when he could. We had a nice time, didn't see whales but saw many other things. Since we did not see whales we are welcome to return for a free trip. We had a wonderful time.

Barbara Rousseau (Barbosh47)

Great experience! The crew was very professional and passionate!

Colin Beatty

Pricey, but worth the trip. Prince of whales whale watching tours has the friendliest and most informative crews out there. I went on a whim one day when weather stopped some other plans, but even on short notice tickets were available and the boat sailed fine even in less than stellar weather. Big thumbs up to knottygirl, zephyr and captain Jeff for making it a great trip!

Lisaura Goossens

Our tour in December was amazing! Our guide went beyond the necessary to make our dream of seeing an Orca come true. Along the way we spotted 3 different types of whales: humpbacks (+-8 of them), a grey whale, and orcas (3, a male & a mother and her baby). Amazing time! It’s SUPER COLD in december tho, dress in LOTS OF LAYERS!!

Mike K

I'm so glad I can cross this off of my bucket list but I can say I'll want to do this again and again. Our downstairs shipmate was Jennifer,. OMG she's fantastic. Was so friendly and informative, so was everyone else. Great job, great experience. Could not think of a better way to celebrate my 50th birthday. Thank you.

Eleanor Sheekey

The tour I went on we got very lucky as we saw a whale breach multiple times. Obviously luck does come into it depdning on what tour you go on, but that besides the workers were very enthusiastic and clearly love their job which made the experience more enjoyable.

Amanda Doppenberg

Captain Rush was INCREDIBLE. We happened to have incredible weather so we were able to go quite far out. Got to see a huge humpback right beside our boat, and then about 8-9 killer whales porpoising out of the water, on the hunt. A little harbour seal came right up to our boat as the whales swam by him! Captain Rush also took us to Race Rocks to see (and hear!) all the big sea lions! Very awesome tour. Wish I could give more than 5 stars!

Robyn Fletcher

Great trip! Mark was THE BEST guide,very knowledgeable and knew where to find the whales. A breaching humpback and orcas swimming within 20 feet of the boat was so worth the price. A fabulous experience!

Steve Stai

Friendly, knowledgeable staff. Nice ship. Could have had a few more choices for snacks, but very nice trip. Didn't see any orca, but did get a nice long siting of a humpback.

Graham Cale

More expensive than I had expected, but a great experience.

Jean Michael Pirritano

Went on a trip and got to experience a pod of Orca's, Sea Lions hanging out on a mini island, a group of porpoises swimming along our boat having fun in our wake and a few humpback whales doing their thing. I honestly cannot believe the luck we had on our trip and me and my wife were amazed at the knowledge and friendliness of the staff during the entire experience. A big thank you to Captain Bob, First Mate Joe along with Lily and Valerie!

Chris Burke

The staff were knowledgeable, helpful and simply put wonderful !! A tip of my hat to all from the front end staff all the way up to the captain!!!! Thanks for the special treatment and the tour of the helm for the boys !!

Robin Deschambeau

The staff at the Prince of Whales - Whale Watching tour were outstanding however our tour ended up being a boat ride to see a handful of sealions and birds. The boat ride was also very choppy but can't blame them for the weather. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I guess we just didn't have luck on our side that day.

Stella M

We had a really great time. Rush was our host, very informative when we found Humpback Whales, Harbour Seals and a male "Transient" Orka The experience was awesome in the small 12 seat yellow zodiac..

Nayeon Hong

It was an amazing tour for me:). I went on Sep 1st, 2021 for a zodiac tour and fortunately, one humpback whale came close to the boat and kept around the boat. Excellent guide and staff. I also see some sea lions and sea otters too. Recommended tour!

Cory Schreyer

Worth the dollars spent. Great, knowledgeable staff. Safe boats. Whales!

Remco Jonker

Good tours, the zodiac tours are nice and personal. Bring a good camera, humpback whales only show their tails.

Rob Haile

Educational and fun

Ian Cockerline

I recommend the zodiac boat if you're up for some bouncing around and the weather looks favourable. It offers a much more exciting ride, and I'm sure a better view of the whales compared to the people we saw crowding on the edges of the larger boats. My only complaint is the price, there are cheaper options, but you have to pay for quality. The boats, survival jackets, and the building are all well maintained and everything runs smoothly at this operation. Very enjoyable.

Lisa Schmidt

Such an excellent experience! The boat is fantastic.

Joe J

Great experience! We saw about 20 humpback whales, a bald eagle and plenty of seals and sea lions. We were even given hot chocolate afterwards to warm up :)

John Roche

Great service. Knowledgeable staff.

Nikita Sokolsky

They've delivered a whale sighting as promised. Note that you don't get to see the whales super up close, as the boat is only allowed to approach them at 100m according to the law.

Husain Alashwak

We saw the whales. Very nice staff.

Vanessa L

Highly recommend this company for your whale watching tour in Victoria!!! The staff are so friendly, professional, and knowledgeable. We went on an afternoon zodiac ride and loved the adventure of being closer to the water (although this may not be the best option if you are prone to seasickness or have any physical injuries). We saw orcas, sea lions, seals, eagles, jellyfish, and river otters. Also highly enjoyed the Royal BC Museum, and especially its Orca pop-up exhibition, which we got free access to with our Prince of Whales ticket. If you’re thinking about going whale watching, go with this company - you won’t regret it!!!

Cassandra Slepian

A really great experience, 1st time whale watching. Boat was very comfortable out on the waves, the staff was very attentive. Shannon our naturaist was very smart, kind and informative. Great commentary and she answered everything she could for a couple of eager kids on board. We saw so many humpback whales and the crew was great about letting us view them while giving them their space. Perfect day. Also really love that they take high quality photos of the trip and share n/c. Lets you completely enjoy the experience no phone in sight. Highly recommend.

Chris Sampson

We really weren't sure whether this would be worth the price, but we went for it and took the Ocean Magic II tour. We saw a pod of orcas and had plenty of time to watch them. It was very special - totally worth it. Jen, our guide, was enthusiastic and knowledgeable and offered lots of opportunities for questions and conversation. She could tell us about the specific orcas we saw and also made sure the whale-free bits of the trip were enjoyable.

Elaine Potes

Very fun trip. We got to see Orcas and Jen was so knowledgeable. I learned a lot. She also talked one on one with people so we could easily ask questions.

Marcel Schubiger

We did the Vancouver-Victoria one-way trip, great scenic route, unfortunately only 2 humpback whales showed-up close to Victoria (actually passing Victoria). Next time we would probably rather book an early morning or late afternoon tour (starting from Victoria), maybe a higher chance for whale spotting??? However "Price of Whales" is definitely a recommendation, nice boats, nice people and good knowledge about details.

abby inglis

Easy check-in, fun red suits! Our guide Pat was excellent. Even in windy conditions he was entertaining, personable, and willing to help our group members. We saw a humpback whale which was well worth a bumpy ride. Thanks again Pat!

Roel van der Ark

The first trip we did on a rib-boat, but it was very foggy and we didn't spot any whales (not their fault of course). We got a second trip for free which we took the next day on the bigger boat. We saw a flock or killer whales on that trip. I would recommend the bigger boat because it's more stable and more comfortable. It's better to take pictures and the guides tell you a lot about the whales. The rib-boats are fun, but with 400 bhp not that fast.

Rhiney Maceachern

Had a good time.seen some whales. But was very long

Tom

What an awesome tour and staff. From the Captain to the counter staff. First class operation. Highly recommend going out for a tour. Absolutely loved it

Asim Khan

Amazing time, enjoyed the tour fully. We booked combo with botanical gardens. We saw a pair of Oracas hunting seals. They swam rif ht next to the boat which is apparently very rare.

Supreet Ranu Grewal

We were just walking around the harbour in Victoria, and saw board for whale watching and went in just to see more about it and bought our tickets for upcoming whale watching experience. We felt worth of doing that!! Such a wonderful experience of watching sea and the beautiful creatures in there such as Sea-Lions & Humpback whales. Whole Crew (Maia, Lily, Seanie & Captain Joe- Bill ) was really nice and was taking care of the sanitation procedures very well for customer’s safety! Pls note: Take your jackets with you as it gets really cold, We were not having those thts y ‘m mentioning, its a must have... ????????Go ahead and watch the ???? whales

Quentin Moine

My girlfriend and I had an amazing experience that day! We were maybe extremely lucky but one thing is sure, our zodiac skipper, Jasper, made everything he could to make the experience great! He is very professional, knows where to go and loves his job! We saw many spots of whales and then get the chance to see 2 whale killers from incredibly close, some seals and even an eagle!! We recommend you to take the tour at 2:30pm/3pm, the lights are beautiful and if it's the last tour of the day, it might last a bit longer...

Jason McBeath

An absolutely incredible experience. Friendly guides and getting up close with whales, sea lions, sea birds, and the beauty of the west coast is like no other. Highly recommended

FSG

Great family friendly tour! I went with my two young boys (8&10) and the guides (James & Amy) were very knowledgeable with the boys. The Captain Anthony got us respectfully close to the pods of orcas. My only wish is that I had a better camera but just enjoyed the beauty of the orcas!! The free hot chocolate helped fill the travel time with my boys too!!

Jeana Forthman

After 7 whale trips with other companies, where I saw no whales, I wasn't sure we would see anything. We did!!! It was awesome! The boat was nice, the crew were both informative and very engaging. I loved. This trip!!! I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

abby inglis

Easy check-in, fun red suits! Our guide Pat was excellent. Even in windy conditions he was entertaining, personable, and willing to help our group members. We saw a humpback whale which was well worth a bumpy ride. Thanks again Pat!

John Mychael

The tour was informative. The guides were friendly.

Dan Rodriguez

What a great experience. Even though it was cold, we had a great time and got to see some humpback whales (no killer whales unfortunately) and porpoises. Would recommend.

Oluwasina Alabi

Great experience

Joshua Ford

Went on the small boat. Had an incredibly time! The captain and guide were incredibly knowledgeable, and what's more is they made it very interesting! And we saw 2 pods of killer whales, and a humpback. Would go on another tour with them in a heartbeat, especially if I could have that same captain and guide (Mark and George)!

Cobi Rieger

We enjoyed an incredible whale watching tour with Prince of Whales. We were lucky to see two separate orca families, 14 orcas in total! We also enjoyed seeing seals, sea lions, birds, and the beautiful ocean scenery. Our guide Seanie was very informative, friendly, and funny; and was happy to answer all our questions and chat. Britney was very helpful and friendly when providing us tea in the lower cabin. This tour far exceeded our expectations of how many whales we would see and how much time we got to spend watching them, we would highly recommend the experience!

Bill Smithwick

Bad for the whales and the environment! Heard you also just crashed a boat into a humpback... seriously? Go exploit some other animal or resource...

Scott Angell

We took the Big Boat an where very comfortable on top deck. This boat included a snack bar and restrooms. Both where appreciated on a three hour ride. Our guide Emily was very knowledgeable and a real delight. We enjoyed close up views of humpback whales. Highly recommended.

Bruce Hood

Awesome tour today. Saw 2 pods of orcas, Steller's sea lions and the guide was excellent.

Harwinder bassi

It's expensive and no guarantee for whales. Bad experience

Craig Nicol

Whale watching rocks. 65 whales breaching and following the boat. #fb

SinKane

Stood in line for about 20 mins to inquire about the sunset whale watching, decided to call instead, left a message but never received a call back.

Gerry Reilly

Loved the tour. Great staff. Had a great time and saw whales.

Matthew Schmidt

Your was great and we defiantly got to see Orca. Rush our captain was very nice and informative. We will do it again…maybe up north

Adam Searles

Fantastic time. Cannot highly recommend. Beautiful day and saw some amazing views.

Dilip Lalwani

Great shows

Vicky Chowdhury

Saw one humpback whale! Patrick was very sweet and knowledgeable.

Julie K

We had so much fun!!! we saw whales & otters! Our guide was knowledgeable and friendly. They explain things so well with details; These guides definitely make your experience better! Even if it is nice out when you are walking around, once you go out to the sea it gets cold especially with the wind from the boat travelling fast. Wear warm clothes and a jacket!! They provide you complimentary coffee/tea/hot chocolate. They also have blankets too.

Ryan Kingston

Expensive, but knowledgeable about the whales and sea life in the area.

Bryan Vaughan

Top notch service from start to finish. We cruised yesterday 8/23/2018 . The equipment was clean and well maintained. The crew was informative. We spotted humpback whales on the morning run to Victoria but the best part was the return trip. Although we were were running a little behind schedule the captain took some extra time to follow some orcas. We certainly recieved our money's worth and from what I can tell at dockside this companies equipment is far superior to the competition.

Kimberly Faber

I had so much fun on this tour! Not only was the boat ride fun, but the guides were so smart! The staff were all friendly and made this a great experience. We saw so many whales! We got to watch the whales play for so long! Everyone not only had time to take wonderful pictures but sit and enjoy the whales. I would recommend this tour to everyone!

Elizabeth Gourd

I went on a tour with Prince of Whales and it was the best experience!! Our guide was extremely knowledgable about the local whale population, and we made some incredible sightings with great photos opportunities. Sea not too rough either, and boat not too crowded. Absolutely would recommend to anyone visiting Victoria—100% ????

Barbara Patterson-Smith

Great day out on the water. Saw two pods of orcas and a pod of humpbacks. Crew very professional and knowledgeable. Was colder on the water than I expected so dress in layers and take mitts, hat, scarf. Captain and crew make it a great adventure. Naturalists are full of information on the whales and other aquatic life. Lots to see and learn.

Jyotika Bhanot

We had Amazing experience with Prince of Whales team. We saw a hump whale ???? many fishes and birds and a spectacular sunset during our trip. Staff is very informative, polite and helpful. Completely worth the price

Rob S

Zodiac tours are good, staff is conscientious of environmental impact and safety of wildlife!

Robert Goodger

the best thing ever, I was taken on a whale tour on 12 june for my birthday captain Bill was a great operator the crew were fantastic,we had Lilli as our guide up on top deck she was great, very informative, we saw orca J pod, sea lions fighting and a hole lot more.I highly recommended this tour

kamran tirdad

We had a very bad experience. It was a windy day which apparently is common here and we had one of the zodiac boats (smaller boats). There were too many bumps for a really long time. We are on the adventurous side but this was not a fun bumpy ride. It was just annoying and constantly you have splashes of water in your face and given the boat speed, the splashes actually hurt. At the end of the ride all of our pants were wet and the suit was not waterproof. At the end we saw some whales from a fairly long distance for a short while and had to ride back which definitely doesn’t worth the bumpy ride. The only reason i am not giving it one star is because all the staff were super respectful and friendly

Mandy Baker

Amazing loved it saw loads whales beautiful trip will not forget

Jess Bacon

Had the best time on the zodiac tour! The boat ride itself is so much fun. Saw humpbacks and orcas. Our guide went over and above and kept us out late so we could track down the orcas when we were supposed to be heading back! All staff were super friendly, and exuded a passion for what they do. (They we’re also very helpful and accommodating as we had to change our trip dates multiple times due to COVID travel restrictions) Thank you for such an unforgettable experience :)

Jeff Crosier

Saw whales. Boat stayed afloat. All around good time. Friendly and knowledgeable staff.

Stephen Aston

Great experience and I highly recommend this company. Staff knows what they are talking about and are very friendly. The zodiak is the way to do it!

Cindy Rizzato

AWESOME fun!!! The staff is incredible!!! Whales and otters - need I say more? Can't wait to do it again!

Shawn Hood

We had a phenomenal family experience and saw two families of orcas, plus seals and sea lions. Our guide, Mark, was knowledgable and passionate (with 25 years of experience!). He really added a lot to the trip. Highly recommended!

Leiel Eden Lalo

Great guide, an amazing experience, I didn't think I would enjoy as much as I did

EV

Guys, you will save tons of papers if you use tablets with your terms and conditions which could be signed by a digital signature.

Elise Barrie

I had an extraordinary time with Prince of Whales! The staff were friendly and knowledgeable, the boat was comfortable and seemed well maintained, and we did see Orcas! Even though it was a long trip out to where the whales were that day the staff kept us entertained with information on the islands we were passing, pointing out other wildlife around us and giving us information about Orcas. It was quite a chilly day on the water so the free coffee and hot chocolate they offered was a nice bonus. My husband and I had a really lovely time and look forward to another tour with this company! Highly recommended!

Gouri Deshpande

My husband and I decided to do a last minute unplanned whale watching tour (Sun, July 7) on our long weekend visit to Victoria BC. We booked tickets online just a day earlier, and so glad we chose the Prince of Whales. We had Bill, Joe, Val, Maya & Laura as our crew members. It was an amazing experience. The weather was rough & so was the sea, but the crew was so kind to help everyone with clean & tidy blankets, hats, gloves for those who needed extra layers. Maya, Laura and Val made it extra special by sharing so many fun facts about the marine mammals we spotted. We saw the T34 and the T37 Orca pods near the Juan De Fuca straight. A young Orca was 'breaching' away to glory. (All this fancy terminology & meaning learned on the ferry from our educators). We spotted a whole bunch of humpback whales!! We spotted the famous Big Momma humpback 'lunge feeding' and showing off her summer moves! Spotted a steller sea lion & many harbor seals. All of this sighting was keeping in mind the legal regulations for Whale watching. We saw them from a distance. This means that you will not be able to see them up-close (don't have impractical expectations because of watching some documentaries from NatGeo by professionals) Good binoculars will certainly help. Dress in layers and a waterproof jacket would be great. Don't wear summer clothes any time of the year! If you do not know what to expect from a whale watching tour, you may not be pleased. We had the time of our lives, thoroughly enjoyed and truly appreciated this experience. Will definitely recommend this group to friends & family.

Randy

Great new boat and amazing crew!

Matt Fenlon

Superb experience and crew! Took the May 9th 12:15pm tour. I was travelling with my Mum and Grandmother who were visiting, both of whom can't walk that far so were in an electric wheelchair and a mobility scooter. I'd called ahead the day before to ensure that there would be somewhere we could put the "vehicles", was told it'd be no problem. The check-in staff (sorry didn't get your names!) were great, were expecting us with the wheelchair and scoot, gave us clear info about what to do and where to wait, and we were boarded first so my Mum and Grandmother could get a comfortable seat with a view, and helped them walk aboard. Jen led us down to the Ocean Magic II, and shore staff looked after the wheelchair and scoot whilst we were on the tour. We were also offered freshly laundered blankets, hats and gloves in case we hadn't brought our own as soon as we came aboard (grateful, as we'd underestimated how cold it'd be when the wind picked up!). I spent most of the time on the lower deck, where Lili gave us expert commentary on what we were seeing, what to expect to see, the history and backstory to the animals and places that we went to. Everything from the history of the leper colony, and William Head prison (and its drama programme!) to the latin name of the humpback whale we saw, differences between the sealion and seals, and the return of the humpbacks. Genuinely fascinating, and towards the end though we hadn't seen a whale yet, we all agreed it was a great experience anyway...but then, Rory brought word from Capt Bill that there had been a humpback sighting near Race Rocks, and if everyone was ok to extend the tour by half an hour or so we could go and see if we could spot it. All agreed, and we ripped back over to catch a glimpse! When we got there, we saw a number of resurfacings, blowing water, and a whale fluke as it dived down. I was moving between the upper and lower deck, and didn't feel that I missed out on anything as Jen upstairs, Rory out back and Lili downstairs were all giving equally engaging and educational commentary. They were clearly communicating at all times on their headsets to ensure nobody was missing out, great use of tech to make passengers experience better. The map roundup at the end was also really helpful to my relatives as they're not local, it really helped them to orientate themselves - I've not seen that before on a whale watching tour, great touch. Genuinely superb experience, and (having been on two other whale tours from a Victoria competitor and one in Tofino in past years) by far the best I've been on; the naturalists' passion for the marine wildlife really came across, and Capt Bill made it a smooth and expertly navigated ride. I'd also add that Rory makes a mean complimentary hot chocolate! Huge thanks to the crew for making my relatives' vacation!

Ilana Y

Classic tourist trap. $130+tax for seeing a whale show up for a second some 700 meters away. The crew was nice but couldn't help but feel disappointed. The boats in the photo were the ones who actually got close to it.

Sandy Teall

We had a great time on the sunset zodiac whale watching cruise. Saw at least 2 different pods of killer whales and followed them for quite awhile (at discrete distances). Captain Loren was informative and fun. This was a highlight of our trip to Victoria!

david simms

Fantastic time on the Zodiac with Lauren. Saw 4 pods of whales.

Nonda Petropoulos

Very knowledgeable guide, great location, easy online-booking. No issues here! Had a overall amazing time out there.

Izaak Koolman

Awesome! I've lived on the island most of my life and never saw a humpback whale before. We saw at least three, and we were close enough that the spray from them slapping their tails hit us. We also saw one leap, It felt like we were in a national geographic movie or on the set of an IMAX. I'll definitely go on this again. As well, they rent boats to groups, and were very understanding of two of our members having to cancel due to a scheduling conflict. Our boat person was very good, and asked us where we wanted to go and what we wanted to see.

Sue M

I had the greatest experience whale watching today, with Prince of Whales. On board the Ocean Magic 11 was a comfortable, incredible viewing experience sitting up top. Jeff our captain new exactly where to find us a fantastic viewing of a hand full of Orca Whales I believe not far from Race Rocks. Lindsy, one of the on board guides was extremely friendly and knowledgeable and kept us well in formed on what kinds of whales we watched. I would highly recommend choosing the Prince of Whales for your whale watching pleasure! It was nice to know this boat had restrooms and a snack bar... and a inner seating if it was too cold for outdoor viewing. If you want to remember your whale watching experience for a long time.. pick these folks !!!! Sue

Stephen Scherrer

Nice boat, and very friendly and knowledgeable crew. We were able to watch a humpback whale for quite a while. We also saw lots of sea lions and seals.

Norton Pigozzo

Amazing experience. Awesome crew

Farhana Abutalib

The sunset cruise is beautiful! The boat is very comfortable, the staff is so organized, very professional and versed in the local marine life. I would love to do this again!

Gary Mitts

Went whale watching and garden tour package. Saw 3 humpback whales, a sea otter, sea lions and seals. Staff is very knowledgeable. Definitely recommend it.

Arron Ferguson

Great time, would give a perfect 5/5 if the online web app for downloading photos worked. If you "select all" it only selects photos that are visible in the content pane of the browser (iPhone or PC), on PC there is no "download" button so you can't actually download any of the photos. Suggestion: fire your web developers, they aren't doing their job.

Manuel Schmelzer

I made the sunset zodiac tour. Not worth it, were 3h driving around like crazy, pumping over the waves. Result = no whales at all, if you like river rafting, its perfect They offered us all to go again on a tour, but still, next time i will book a different boat.

Nick Kay

I highly recommend this excursion to the San Juan/Gulf Islands to see the resident Orcas. We went on a flawless warm July day. We were introduced to members of J and L pods who treated us to a thrilling choreography of paired dives, spy-hoping, rolls, breeches, fin-flaps, tail flashes, and much frolicking, on a calm sea with majestic Mount Baker for a back-drop. We watched more than a dozen whales all around us for at least 90 minutes, at a distance that was not encroaching on their activities but was close enough to see it all. I fell in love with these graceful creatures and their home-turf. All the staff had deep knowledge of the geography of the region and the ecology and behavior of the Orcas, and they shared their passion for the well-being of this iconic Northwest species, including the main threats to their survival. They made me want to learn more about the whales and spawned a commitment to actively campaign for the end of their captivity in aquariums around the world and for measures that would protect their habitat in the Salish Sea. july 11, 2014

yong song

Fantastic experience! We had a whale watching trip 2 days ago. Excellent service and high responsibility. Strongly recommended!

Davy S.

Fantastic ride! Passionate people!

Wendy Schaump

We thought they were great ! Knowledgeable and personable all rolled into one. Really enjoyed the whole experience.

Caz Newman

Can not wait to take my grandkids next time.

AM Schmidt

Amazing Experience. Great Guide who studies the whales for over 25y. We saw 8 Orcas today and it was the best thing that could happen

Lisa Ess

It was interesting listening to the on board naturalist talk about the general behaviour of the Humpbacks in the area, and of course the Orcas. We went on the larger boat, as I was with my aging parents, but have been on the Zodiak boats and will say that they are definately much more exciting. One thing I would suggest they work on is to discuss the plight of the southern resident orcas, what's happening, what the known issues affecting them are, and what can be done to help. This is a delicate ecosystem, and the resident orcas have been going through a well publicised struggle for survival, so it's my opinion that the whale watching tours could be doing a better job of promoting their stewardship. That being said, in all of the times I have been with this company, they do mention that they don't want to chase the whales, and that they try to just be in the areas they frequent, and stay far enough away so as to not over crowd them.

Marsha Lucy

Went out on a tour Wed Aug 9, AMAZING doesn't accurately describe the time we had. Andrea was our downstairs ship mate and she did a fantastic job and was very informative. Loved her knowledge of not only the whales but the ocean and surrounding areas. Would highly recommend this company and I will definately go again.

Andrew Donaher

Great staff and wonderful excursion. Lots of whales and incredibly knowledgeable staff.

Tracey Boutall

Just wish we had gone on smaller boat . The smaller boat was getting closer

Ben Stevens

The staff goes out of their way to make you trip pleasurable. It's amazing the amount of knowledge these individuals have about the whales. I learned a ton. Watching a Killer Whale breach is something I will never forget.

A. Drury

Had a wonderful half day tour on the new Salish Sea Eclipse! Saw orcas and humpback whales, as well as seals and sea lions. The naturalist did an excellent job of providing fun and interesting information, including facts that I didn't know even as a local. I particularly enjoyed the whale photo identification book. The new boat was very comfortable, both on deck and inside, with great inside viewing windows going almost to sea level. Would be comfortable whale watching in any weather. The complimentary hot chocolate and coffee was a nice touch. Would recommend to any Victoria visitors, and to locals!

Johnson Kanagaraj

It is an institution which helps tourists in whale watching and has guided tours . You can choose any of the tours and book early to avoid disappointment. Before boarding the boat you will have to put on a special gadget orange in colour over our dress to protect us from the vagaries of the weather. Then we are allowed to board the boat. The boats are either covered or open. You are taken out in the boat by experienced crew and they provide you with your monies worth of enjoyment in seeing the whales and other creatures like the sealions etc.

James

Anyone who thinks Whale Watching isn't exciting hasn't experienced skipper Joe's soft baseball dads voice calmly say "ok folks now just gonna pick up a tiny bit of speed out of the harbor here" as he floors it with the zodiac out to sea. Great little tour, saw a bunch of humpback whales at a respectful distance and a lot of sea lions. Nature's pretty neat and the ride was great. Would recommend.

James

Anyone who thinks Whale Watching isn't exciting hasn't experienced skipper Joe's soft baseball dads voice calmly say "ok folks now just gonna pick up a tiny bit of speed out of the harbor here" as he floors it with the zodiac out to sea. Great little tour, saw a bunch of humpback whales at a respectful distance and a lot of sea lions. Nature's pretty neat and the ride was great. Would recommend.

Abdullah Imam

Prince of whales sunset whale watching tour IS THE BEST. Just an amazing time, getting to see the whales, otters, and sea lions. Captain Bill and crew were awesome. Thank you for a beautiful experience.

hairayzs PattiO

Shawny, Britney , Captian Tom and the first mate were absolutely excellent ???? ???? ???? Thank you for being great at your jobs!!!!

rick harper

The best. We saw 10 whales

Jan

We have seen the whales, so the trip was OK. But ask yourself - is it really worth $500 for a family to see a back fin in a distance? You can see and learn way more about sea mammals if you watch a movie on YouTube or go to aquarium. We have already attended way better animal encounter experiences elsewhere (and for less). I was also seriously concerned about impact of the powerful boat engine on whales, as I'm aware that scientific research shows sounds from ships' engines are major danger for whales worldwide. I've been told that it's safe because they don't go closer than 100 metres from the whales. It's for one not true (they cannot tell where the whale goes up to surface) and for two it's ridiculous if you know something about how sound spreads in water. So I ended up with bad feeling we paid high price for actually speeding up extinction of whales. Edit - answer: Thanks for an answer, I appreciate it. I'd just like to add that sometimes to follow the law is not enough. Other than that, I understand and respect your position.

Lyle Goossen

Tour guide was friendly and very knowledgeable of the whales we saw! Really enjoyed our tour! Thanks to the awesome crew!

Katie Culbertson

Amazing whale watching experience! We saw 3 or 4 different pods of orcas and the weather was very nice for march. Whatever month you go though, WEAR LAYERS. And when you think you have enough, put more on. They'll give you waterproof jackets and pants to put on and you'll be sweltering for a few minutes but once the boat picks up speed you'll be happy you wore everything. No point in bringing a bag or water bottle on ad you'll have to stow it and won't have access anyway (if you're taking the zodiac tour).

Shu Yang

It was a wonderful trip ???? Good service attitude towards customers.

Shahid Amlani

Amazing experience . Saw Orcas and humpbacks. Surely recommend at least once while you're in Victoria P.S - make sure you're fit / in good health for this .

Thamashi Hettege

We had an amazing time with our guide Rush. He was knowledgeable and respectful of the wildlife and ensured that everyone had a phenomenal experience. My group was fortunate in that we were able to see a pod of transient orcas close up. Would definitely recommend!

Clément Charon

Amazing experience today with Jasper on the Zodiac tour, we saw humpack whales and watched 3 playful orcas for more than 20 minutes ! We also saw a few dolphins and a sea lion. I recommend !

Canuck Cups

For a professional marine based organization the captains of their boats sure don't know how to read the giant "Dead Slow - NO WAKE" sign that clearly marks the entrance to Butchart Cove. I have called and logged complaints about the huge wake their large vessel puts off in this small cove when coming to dock three times this summer so far. Still I find broken glasses, damage to my vessel, and other casualties of the violent rocking their wake causes while motoring in way too fast into the small cove to dump their load of tourists at butchart gardens is a DAILY occurrence. Please respect the posted maritime signage and the vessels moored in the bay. I would prefer not to bash my knee as I unexpectedly get hit with a 2 foot wake that bounces off the shores for 3 minutes after the boat passes, and again as it leaves. They are clearly trying to keep some timeline, and not using safe or expected maritime best practices. I am upset and leaving this message so that you can take another tour company who does not do this. I have called and given them the opportunity to adress this issue three times and left my personal contact info. None of these calls has produced any call back or any apology. Thanks for showing off our wonderful coast in a completely arogant and disrespectful way.

Amy H

A great crew and wonderful boat ride! We were happy to see the Orca, but were then treated to viewing a humpback! Great time! We also saw these empressive specimens!

Kuljeet Prewal

This was absolutely amazing. I recommend this to everyone going to Victoria. The crew was fantastic and polite. The covid measures put in place made me feel safe. Shawnie did a phenomenal job educating everyone on the boat and stayed on top of people to ensure they kepttgeir mask on. It got very cold so I would recommend bringing a jacket. I have to give a shout out to lilly. She was great, she stayed with those who got cold inside the boat and provided us with great information and answered some of my questions. She even went around and wiped down the frequently touched surfaces several times throughout the tour. She then sat down with me near the end and provided me with great information about the whales we saw.

Linda Hayman

On a gray and slightly rainy day, our guide made sure everyone had a great ride. Only saw one humpback, but he put on a nice show for us. Zipping along in a Zodiac through 5 ft swells was exciting.

R Jamal

We had the sunset whale watching tour. It was a lovely experience, our first time whale watching. The crew was great, the captains did a good job of finding us three humpback whales, Lilly was a very passionate guide with plenty of fun facts, Shawnee had great energy and a smile that shined through her mask and Valerie was very sweet. They followed efficient Covid-19 procedures. All in all this was an incredible experience. Layer up, it gets cold and bring snacks.

Alejandra de Almeida

Amazing experience, highly recommend it! Lili, one of the naturalists, was very knowledgeable and nice! We saw whales, dall’s porpoises an sea lions.

Manisha T

Great experience as always. The last time we went, the weather was terrible and could not spot any whales but this time around , there were many active whales. Had the chance to see about 10 different ones. Would recommend again on a clear day

j v

Had a great time, the staff were very young but well educated on the Whales and did a great job making sure everyone was safe. Jasper and Lilli showed great patience with the family that brought two very small children on board. Not only kept these little ones calm when all they wanted to do was scream. But also spent more time then they could have keeping them safe while the parents couldn't be bothered to be mindful themselves. Great adventure, the trip out to sea was rough but we never felt unsafe. To the owners give these young people a raise for their professional and patient attitude towards ungrateful customers.

janice campbell

No stars. I am watching a PoW ship right now off Roberts Creek on the Sunshine Coast that is actually chasing a humpback whale at times getting too close. Shame on you. Leave the whale alone. Polluting water and air while chasing whales. Good business strategy.

Steve Divan

Fantastic experience! Saw eight humpbacks! Well worth the investment! Great crew, very nice and informative.

Grady Coolican

Had a wonderful experience on a zodiac with my 2 kids. Learned a lot about the ocean, sea and the life that lives in it. Best of all, we saw it all first hand - including lots of whales! Highly recommend

Whitney Miller

My grandmother and I had a wonderful time! Our captain, I think his name was Austin, was great. You can tell he really enjoyed his job and his excitement was contagious. We saw whales, seals, ollie the otter (who's backstory is my favorite thing ever), and even an eagle nest. Definitely worth it, I would do it again.

Robert Wilson

This was my first and last whale watching experience. The tour operator "professional" decided it was safe to run at full speed on 9 ft waves that literally ended up crushing our spines. After throwing down the emergency signal over the women screaming in the seat in front of me we all begged him to bring us back. Worst experience of my life, I hope this awful back pain doesn't last forever. Dangerous, negligent, unprofessional.

Alexis Ehrhardt

We went as a group and an amazing time! Mark was our guide and he was VERY knowledgeable about the community killer whales. In addition to seeing a pod of orcas, Mark took us to see seals, sea lions, a light house, and first nation’s islands.

G

Excellent time - Roya and James were spot on with Whale knowledge as well as making sure we were comfortable the entire time. We got to see many Killer Whales and learn a lot on the way. Very fun trip - make sure you book this for your next adventure!

Tim Muys

Amazing experience! Witnessed a double breach that soaked our zodiac!

Adam Thompson

The tour was fantastic, both the reception and our guide were great. The suggestions of wearing long pants, closed shoes, etc was very wise. we had to reread location, it isn't behind tourist booth it is underneath. The provided flotation suits were very warm. Huge variety of sizes, go to the bathroom first! It was hot onshore but the further out we went the cooler it got Mostly because of the wind from travelling. It was a tough ride in the zodiac, made for alot of laughs. We spent about 45 mins driving out to the location and the same back. Lots of times for whales. Apparently we were very fortunate to get a couple of whales that didn't want to leave. Must have breached 5 or 6 times. Very exciting. Extremely environmentally conscious. Stayed far enough away from whales to keep us safe and them comfortable. Very knowledgeable about the whales and environment. Thoroughly enjoyed, at first we had a hard time justifying the cost but felt it was a once in a lifetime chance. Have to say it was well worth it, didn't question the price at all when we were done.

Jennifer Marie

The staff was very knowlegable and the enclosed boat really makes a difference on windy days. I was ablw to get warm and comfortable and still able to see the whales from the windows.

Adrian Walton

Great tour, very knowledgeable skipper and we saw Orca, Humpback, sea lions, sea otters and seals. Two Orcas even swam right under the boat unexpectedly. Took the small rib 3hr trip with the family and it was a great experience that should be tried,

Charles Mur

Awesome tour! I highly recommend it, could be expensive for some tourists though, if it's your second time or third in Victoria, you can't loose it.

Dan Hall

All the staff are great , had a great time . Saw orcas up close and humpbacks from a distance

Elaina Ford

I have gone whale watching with many different local companies and considering how much money I paid, I was extremely disappointed with this experience and would not recommend or come back. Only 15 minutes was spent with the whale (out of a three hour trip) and there was not an observable effort to either find more whales in different areas or spend more time with them. I appreciate there is an unpredictability with whale watching, but every other company I have gone out with has made a greater effort to maximize the time and experience of actually seeing whales, which is what I hoped to see.

Paul Holmes

I've been 3 times, and seen Whales, Orcas, Sea Lion's, Porpoises... The staff is friendly and definitely knowledgeable. I'll be back a 4th time, as seeing a breaching Humpback is something I have yet to witness, and it's on my bucket list! ????

Calvin T

love their service. the trip was awesome. staffs were full of care and kindness.

Gordon Leckie

Was on the boat July 8. It was a great experience. Jennifer and Haley on the lower deck were great guides. And learned a lot of cool stuff about whales that day. Great job.

Chels R

We just went whale watching yesterday and had an Incredible experience! Lily and Valerie were the best tour guides, so energetic and enthusiastic about everything whales and oceans and very informative! The boat also offered blankets and hats and mitts which were great if you don’t come quite fully prepared. The boat also has washrooms and snacks onboard! I’d rate this 7/5 stars if I could and I hope one day we are able to do it again!

Chels R

We just went whale watching yesterday and had an Incredible experience! Lily and Valerie were the best tour guides, so energetic and enthusiastic about everything whales and oceans and very informative! The boat also offered blankets and hats and mitts which were great if you don’t come quite fully prepared. The boat also has washrooms and snacks onboard! I’d rate this 7/5 stars if I could and I hope one day we are able to do it again!

Helen Gilbert

Good fun and we saw whales

Cameron Veldkamp

Wonderful experience - great to see staff that care so much about the animals. We saw a pod of four Orca whales and they were able to identify, and give great details about the family.

Katrina Smulan

Yesterday was our 3rd time with this tour and they are always so fantastic and knowledgeable. Lili our first mate was so awesome and knowledgeable. This time we seen transient and resident orcas! Camt wait to go again thanks guys!

Diane Boleska

Saw lots of whales and checked that off the bucket list! Staff were friendly and knowledgeable. Thanks!

Mike Byers

Awesome day on the water. Saw killer and humpback whales . Our captain was fantastic and had lots of little tidbits to keep us informed. Will plan and book another trip soon

Anup Ghiraiya

The best in what's out there. You cannot go wrong with them...Initially was very hesitant to do the whale watching t our as my previous experience with another company was not good. I visited Victoria during the August long weekend in 2020 and with my wife and sister booked the sunset tour with Prince of Whales- adventures. Great people to help guide you at the desk. We had the day planned so we took the sunset tour and that was the best decision. On board it was well guided and all the safety measures keeping in mind Covid-19 was tremendous. The staff sanitized the place continuously from hand rails to washrooms and every place the over enthusiastic crowd walked around. I have to say it was a beautiful evening with a fabulous sunset amidst the Sea lions, whales, Orcas and the amazing view. To top it all of was the amazing crew who were so calm and nice to handle the crowd and provide so much information and hot beverages. I must thank them all Lili, Valerie, Seanie, Bill and Joe for a fabulous 3 hours. It is worth a trip with this crew as they are amazing and really care for everyone on board. I am definitely bringing my parents to next time I visit Victoria. I want to thank you all and the team on board and in the office for a fabulous evening.

saleshni lal

Amazing experience.. just unfortunate we did t get to see the whales as close.. but the girls were amazing so was the captain and his team..

Michael Cameron

A very fine excursion with lot of good info from Jennifer.

Will Runciman

Did the half-day whale watching tour aboard one of the new catamarans. We saw transient orcas, a humpback whale, California and stellar sea lions, seals, and harbour porpoises, and learned tons of fun facts about them from the onboard conservationist! The boat itself was beautiful, thoughtfully designed for wildlife viewing, and well-equipped (blankets, toques, complimentary hot chocolate, and snacks for purchase). Big shout-out to crew members Chris, Joe, Lili, Valerie, and Seanie for an amazing tour. Would definitely recommend!

Sharon Garcia

We were on a whale watching tour on Aug 9th. It was truly amazing. Jen was super interesting and very excited as we saw different whales. BlackBerry, Cappuccino and Lobo were the stars off the show. Jen explained how they can tell the whales apart by their markings. The boat ride was very good and we even saw some juvenile whales. The wind, sea air and beautiful islands everywhere made this trip the best ever. There was the lone wolf we saw on an island that is rarely seen. Cute sea lions on rocks. I was totally entranced. Jen even noticed she had the same ocean earrings as my friend. So cool. Hats off to all the crew. We loved it.

manas roy

We took vessel and it was total 3.5 hrs. Jason was the pilot and we saw 5 Orcas and were lucky to also see a Humpback.

Henry Coleman

I wouldn’t recommend this tour company. We recently took a took a tour from Vancouver to Victoria and we took the all day tour which included whale watching, Victoria/gardens and night cruise. It was about $250 dollars a piece. We spent the majority of the 4 hours searching for whales and we found some right at the end. We spent about 20 minutes near by and then headed to Victoria. We had lunch in Victoria and attempted to get on the 2pm bus to the gardens. Well, they partner with a another tour company and they had oversold tickets for the bus and we were not able to get on the bus. So we had to wait for the 3pm bus with a 40 minute ride to the gardens and a 4:15 departure we we had approximately 30 minutes to tour the gardens. It was such a waste of time and I felt like our trip was bust because they didn’t have enough buses to shuttle people around and the other company blamed prince of whales and prince of whales blamed the other tour company. They well know that summer is the busiest time of the year and they should have had a backup plan. They refunded some of the passengers and not others. My group was not refunded and we were given the run around. The night cruise was not really a night cruise. It’s a bit misleading and a clever way to jack up the price. We returned back to Vancouver at 7:15pm and it was no where near sunset. I believe that the actual sunset was schedule around 9:15. The tour is nothing but a complete let down and disappointment and since they don’t care about customer satisfaction then I cannot recommend this company. It’s very unfortunate because the crew worked really hard and you can tell that they are locals that care. We have price of whales the opportunity to address our concerns and they have not resolved our concerns. The tour was overhyped, over priced and a real let down. I would suggest to look elsewhere.

Paul Izzard

Horrible experience. Why are people writing good reviews? They must have low standards, This place is expensive and when you see a whale, way off in the distance, the boat goes in the other direction. They explain that they cannot get near the whales. Yet their advertising poster shows a whale and their boat side by side. There is no guarantee you'll even see a whale. While running away from the whale, at breakneck speed, the boat is hitting waves which feel like concrete. It's very painful. What they really want to show you is a small island of hundreds of seals. That's what you are really paying for and that's how they distract you from seeing whales. Crooks. Absolute crooks!!!

Kelly D

We had the best experience today with captain Bill and Lili. We had a wonderful ride. Lili was very informative.. and we got to see Orcas

Morgan O'Connor

Fantastic experience. Our guide was very knowledgeable and made the tour very enjoyable.

carolyn dorney

This was our third time out this year and it just gets better and better every time! We saw over 30 Killer whales and 2 humpbacks, along with sea lions and and eagle on our zodiac tour! Mark was absolutely amazing and his passion for the animals was astounding!

K

Excellent, informative, courteous and friendly staff! Travelled on their luxury catamaran and enjoyed every minute if it. Spotted the lone wolf on Chatham Island; wish had spotted more whales but that’s unpredictable. The ship was clean and comfortable. Will definitely visit again!

Betty Nicol

Went on the 12.15 boat trip on Friday 20th Sept. Fantastic trip saw so many species of birds and numerous Orcas. Then the highlight and we sailed to the hump backed whale area. Saw at least 20 to 25hump backs, honestly it was like watching a ballet and the fantastic commentary from our guide Seanie told us facts I or the rest of the party knew nothing about. I can not recommend more highly this fantastic trip and hope you get Seanie as your guide. You certainly are in for a treat.

Glenda Lapierre

We were in Victoria last week and had a wonderful time. We didn't see any whales so took advantage of the 100% guarantee. Went out again 2 days later. Got to go on the new bigger boat which was awsome! Rory and Lily were on both of these trips. They were so great! Knowledgeable and obviously love what they are doing. I look forward to doing this again next time we come out to your beautiful city! Thank you!

Julian W

Very discouraged to see this company following local endangered whales so closely. When I emailed them asking why, and offering pictures as proof, they didn't even respond. Update: and again today, June 28th, 2015 the Prince of Whales seen leapfrogging the orcas from mere metres away, so wrong. Please do not use this company!!!

Stephen Cornish

Amazing. Really lucked out with our tour. Saw Two pods of Orcas socializing and one younger whale came up to the boat. Be prepared to get wet. Ask questions. And realize that they try to locate whales ahead of time, but you may not be as lucky. Not a quick trip, 3.5 hours on the water.

Keith Perrott

Sept. 9/15 we had a glorious day on the water. Staff were knowledgeable, friendly and very inclusive. Saw a school of 5 orcas and they stayed with them for a good 20+ minutes, and later they were able to track a humpback. Got some exciting photos of the whales. Spectacular scenery and a worry-free way of enjoying it. Highly recommend this company, and Victoria.

Grace Harper

We attended a sunset cruise on July 10th and the crew was fantastic! The enthusiasm when we found whales was definitely contagious. Would highly recommend this company over any other whale watching business in Victoria.

C “Samhain4evr” Majik

My daughter & I took this trip few weeks before peek season (April 4, 2017) & we were both awed by the beauty of these majestic creatures. We saw two Orca whales a mother & son hunt for food, working together, sharing prey. Even greater we saw Big Mamma a 30 to 40 ton Humpback. Although she was shy on our trip we could see her enormous body & caught a glimpse of her tail. Our guide Mark was extremely knowledgeable about all things whale. He gave us historical, scientific, & statistical information about the area, wild life & the important work being done to record & preserve wildlife. I am certain our experience was as unique as Mark makes every trip he captains. I felt safe & well prepared at all times. The vessel a zodiac was fun to ride & even though it was a bit chilly we managed to stay warm & dry. We loved the waves. Well worth the price quality! This will be a treasured experience until I can do it again. We definitely will go watch the whales again w/ Prince of Wales, Mark & the crew.