Monterey Bay Whale Watch
Monterey Bay Whale Watch
4.5
7:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
7:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
7:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
7:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
7:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
7:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
7:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
7:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Full view
About
Monterey Bay Whale Watch is the only whale watch tour that is owned and operated by experienced Marine Biologists! We have been operating for almost 30 years. Nancy Black is the owner of MBWW and has been studying Monterey Bay's marine life for more than 30 years. We have experienced Marine Biologists on every tour who specialize in the marine life we see, natural history of the area, and are passionate about conservation and education. We are also dog friendly! We are located at 84 Fisherman's Wharf #1.
Monterey, United States
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2023
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Monterey Bay Whale Watch
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,592 reviews
Excellent
1,293
Very good
190
Average
57
Poor
32
Terrible
21
wkbtraveler
Jackson, MS132 contributions
Mar 2024 • Friends
Yes, the weather was perfect, but I believe this crew could make a bad day great. We were an adult bus tour and the crew was friendly, respectful, and helpful. No one got seasick and we saw over 20 whales, hundreds of dolphins and a few sea lions and otters for an hour. I have probably been on 20 whale watching trips in Alaska, Hawaii and most of the coastal states on both sides and never had this great an experience! We will definitely be back!
Written March 18, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael A
1 contribution
Mar 2024 • Couples
Second trip out with this company. Well-maintained craft crewed by knowledgeable, friendly, and competent folks. Always keen for the hunt, yet very honoring and respectful of the wildlife. Can't wait to go out with them again!
Written March 16, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Davos_Delight
Detroit, MI84 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
Great experience! Very knowledgeable naturalist!’
We did the sunset cruise on March 8 - fantastic experience! Saw so many whales! And the naturalist knew so much - she kept us super entertained with facts abt the whales and other wildlife!
We did the sunset cruise on March 8 - fantastic experience! Saw so many whales! And the naturalist knew so much - she kept us super entertained with facts abt the whales and other wildlife!
Written March 9, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for the great review!
Written March 13, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
shayandthecity
Atlanta, GA184 contributions
Feb 2024 • Friends
This tour was truly fantastic. The guides are Marine Biologists with a passion for what they do. We learned so much and had several whale sightings. Loved every moment of it.
Written February 27, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for the review! We hope to see you again!
Written March 3, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Discover766937
6 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
4 of us took the 12:30pm Princess Monterey whale watching trip and had a great time. Trip left on time and extra fee for upstairs viewing was worth the price. Comfortable boat and nice tour of Monterey peninsula with or without whale sightings. In our case we were out for 1 1/2 hours and were getting worried the trip was going to be a bust. the captain and crew kept looking and finally spotted 5 gray whales. As we headed their way one of them gave us a show with a full breach. Beautiful! Watched them for 30 minutes and had to head back. Great trip.
Written February 27, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We hope to see you again!
Written March 3, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Doris U
1 contribution
Jan 2024 • Couples
We had a great whale watching day and I will always be grateful! The check-in was relaxed, the boat very clean and the staff very friendly, competent and helpful. We enjoyed a wonderful blue-skied day with lots of sightings. Hund reds of dolphins (without exaggerating!) and at least two groups of gray whales, two very entertaining humpback whales which came pretty close and when we were on our way back four orcas showed up - I think they were young males - which was very unexpected and made us all feeling blessed! Spontaneously the crew decided to turning and following the orcas and gave us an “encore”.
It was a great day and a great trip and although I am aware how lucky we were with the sightings I can only highly recommend the Monterey Bay Whale Watch!
It was a great day and a great trip and although I am aware how lucky we were with the sightings I can only highly recommend the Monterey Bay Whale Watch!
Written January 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We are so happy to hear you had such an incredible trip and we look forward to you coming out with us again!
Written February 5, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
James P
Sunnyvale, CA11 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
We had an amazing time on this whale watching tour. The check-in process went smoothly and the boat guide was really knowledgable!
January proved to be a great time to go with multiple gray whale sightings (including a fluking!), sea lions leaping out of the water, and the occasional otter.
January proved to be a great time to go with multiple gray whale sightings (including a fluking!), sea lions leaping out of the water, and the occasional otter.
Written January 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for the great review! We hope to see you again!
Written January 24, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
nmtravelbug1224
Albuquerque, NM32 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
Great customer service and educational commentary. All the staff were concerned with making a positive experience for everyone and offered assistance to the “less sea-faring” customers. Very much appreciated all the compassionate service! Clean vessel, well stocked with drinks and snacks. Dress warm and Bring something waterproof to sit on since the seats may be damp when the tour starts.
Written January 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for the wonderful review!
Written January 17, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Daniel B
1 contribution
Jan 2024 • Couples
Such a great crew! Such a great trip! Astounding that there were 29 gray whales to see (and some bonus otters) during the morning launch on 01/12/2024! These folks are pros at looking for whales. And once a whale is found, aligning the boat so everyone can see them! Definitely got our money's worth with the opportunities, pictures, and education! This is company to use when booking your whale watching adventure!
Written January 13, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for the great review! We are so excited you had a fun trip and hope to see you again!
Written January 17, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Saralaura199
Seattle, WA43 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
My family and I have been on many whale watching excursions, from Alaska to San Diego (including one with Monterey Bay Whale Watch two years ago). In all those tours, we have never encountered a two-tiered system where there is a different ticket price for sitting on the upper deck. We missed this fact when booking and didn’t realize we would only be allowed on the lower deck, which was mostly inside. Had I realized we’d be stuck on the lower deck for four hours, we never would have spent the time or money.
After about three hours, we left an area where there was a whale “in order to look for more wildlife.” In fact, we just started heading back to shore at an incredibly slow pace. The staff went silent for the next hour and we felt like the boat was going as slowly as possible in order to make it a four-hour tour - instead of staying with that whale or looking for more wildlife for half an hour and then heading back to shore at a reasonable speed. It was strange.
We had gone whale watching with another Monterey company earlier in the week and the difference was striking. There was one ticket type for everyone, we could go anywhere on the boat, and the naturalist was very friendly and interacted with everyone throughout the entire trip, answering questions, etc.
The naturalist (Colleen) on Monterey Bay Whale Watch seemed very knowledgeable, although we didn’t get to ask questions because we were on the lower deck and she was mostly on the upper deck.
It would be really unfortunate if the two-tiered ticket system becomes a trend in the industry, but be aware of this when booking with Monterey Bay Whale Watch. .
After about three hours, we left an area where there was a whale “in order to look for more wildlife.” In fact, we just started heading back to shore at an incredibly slow pace. The staff went silent for the next hour and we felt like the boat was going as slowly as possible in order to make it a four-hour tour - instead of staying with that whale or looking for more wildlife for half an hour and then heading back to shore at a reasonable speed. It was strange.
We had gone whale watching with another Monterey company earlier in the week and the difference was striking. There was one ticket type for everyone, we could go anywhere on the boat, and the naturalist was very friendly and interacted with everyone throughout the entire trip, answering questions, etc.
The naturalist (Colleen) on Monterey Bay Whale Watch seemed very knowledgeable, although we didn’t get to ask questions because we were on the lower deck and she was mostly on the upper deck.
It would be really unfortunate if the two-tiered ticket system becomes a trend in the industry, but be aware of this when booking with Monterey Bay Whale Watch. .
Written January 1, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello, thank you for your review. We apologize that you did not know there were separate ticket prices, as we may have already been sold out on the upper deck when you booked, so the option would not have been available. We have seating on the lower deck all around the outside of the boat (enough seating outside for 40+ passengers). We always encourage everyone to sit outdoors to get the best views of the wildlife.
On this particular trip, we saw one whale during the first half, and then were searching for gray whales closer to shore, which is their normal traveling/migration area. We were searching for other wildlife that entire time, but unfortunately did not see any others.
We have spoken to the Naturalist about spending more time on both decks in order to be able to answer everyone's questions.
We really hope you will try coming out with us again!
Written January 6, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hoping to book for 21st October. How often are trips cancelled due to insufficient numbers this time of year.
Doris U
1 contribution
Hi Sheila,
sorry, but this I don’t know. The only thing that happened to me, was that the boat had been changed and I could not keep my booking for the upper deck. But the difference was refund immediately and everything else was just great.
occams-razor
Antioch, IL89 contributions
Many reviews talk about the rough waters and getting sick. Is this expected year round or are different times of the year different? We plan on going in summer.
Nancy B
Monterey, CA
Hello, we recommend taking seasick medicine any time you are planning to come out with us. Monterey bay is unique for it's diversity - and there are so many whales and dolphins here because of a process called upwelling, which involves many currents, swells, and moving water. There is always movement in Monterey Bay, so if you are not used to being on a boat, then we definitely recommend taking seasickness medication. The best way to do it is take one pill the night before and one pill an hour before your trip.
Dana B
Los Angeles, CA36 contributions
What is the difference between paying more for upper deck
Grace Carr L
SF Bay Area371 contributions
The upper deck is all open to the air. The lower deck has both indoor seating and outdoor seating/standing along the rail. I recommend the upper if you don't mind being outside the entire time and want a better view from up above. (It's easier to spot whales and other sealife from higher up.) If they end up not taking out the bigger boat, they will not charge you for the upper deck, of course.
I know you can bring your own drinks and snacks but are you allowed to drink alcoholic beverages?
Nancy B
Monterey, CA
Yes, you can bring alcoholic beverages!
Hows march 23rd in whale watching
Nancy B
Monterey, CA
Our trips are still going out daily. We are always at the subject to the wind and the waves but other than that we are in full operation.
Aniket
San Jose, CA
Hi, we're planning to visit on 5th January 2020 for whale watching. What time you will recommend ? Also, is January a good time visit or shall we visit somewhere close to May ?
Thanks !!!
Nancy B
Monterey, CA
Hello aniket012! January we expect to see migrating Gray Whales and maybe some Humpback Whales. There is always a chance of visiting Killer Whales. May does tend to be a little better in sightings and weather and the chance of Killer Whales are better. I hope that helps in your planning. Always plan to join us in the morning since the wind and waves are generally calmer. Safe travels!
Hi, we are planning to make a whale watching trip in last week of Dec. Would we have a chance to see some whales? Is morning trip better over afternoon trip or could we take either one? Thanks in advance!!
Nancy B
Monterey, CA
Good morning! We see whales year round. We strongly recommend the morning trips, not because of whale sightings, but because of the weather (wind and wave conditions). The afternoon trips have a higher chance of cancellation due to weather. You may visit our website, "Go Whales", to see our schedule. We go out everyday of the year except Christmas day. See you soon!
Veronika P
Kyiv, Ukraine15 contributions
Do we need to book this trip via website before it or we won't have any problems to buy tickets right at the same day of the trip? we're going to visit you 21st November 2019
Nancy B
Monterey, CA
Hi! We generally suggest booking your trip 3-4 days in advance, either on the website or by calling us directly. Looking forward to seeing you!