Had only heard good things about this whale-watching tour and I had been trying to go for a while. Finally a date worked out and we got tickets the same day, so happy it worked out. The boat itself is clean and has enough room to move around while you're riding out to where you'll see sea life. The crew has clearly been doing this for a very long time and is incredibly knowledgeable. We had perfect weather and saw many dolphins and even saw some whales! It's a group activity for the whole ship to keep an eye out for some movement but it's so exciting when you do spot a whale tail pop out of the water. The whales were very active and we saw a few different ones before the ship was starting to turn back to head toward Brooklyn. As we were heading home we saw a two whale breeches so the captain turned the ship back around so we could see as much as possible. I was able to ask whatever questions I had about the whales to the crew and they always had answers. You can bring food aboard, and I believe on the lower level there is a little concession stand (I sat up top and stayed up there the whole time). Highly recommend a jacket or sweater as once you're out on open water the breeze kicks in. read more

American Princess Cruises - Boat Charters Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Whale watching right in New York City? Of course! It's amazing to think you can do something so nautical and full of marine life from one of NYC's Boroughs, but it's true as American Princess Cruises offers up whale watching adventures right out of Brooklyn. My wife and I did this just the other day and it was absolutely awesome. Truth be told, this was actually our second outing with APC as we had already had a fantastic time with them back in 2019 searching for sea mammals. Knowing my wife (girlfriend at that '19 time) loved it, I went to see if American PC was still a thing (especially after Covid times) and they most certainly are! Their boat launch location is different (now in Sheapshead Bay as opposed to Breezy Point), but it still is the same great cruise line. What makes it great? Well the boat is of reasonable size that could fit about 100 folks. It has inside and outside seating as well as a small snack bar with some simple foods to nosh on and an array of drinks (including beer and wine) to partake in. You can also bring on some basic food (we did bagels) to eat if you would like. I will say the bathrooms might leave something to be desired, but find me a small boat with a luxurious bathroom (you won't be able to). What's really most important here is the actual whale watching experience with American Princess and their crew. The APC website boasts some pretty regular whale (and dolphin) viewing and it shows as these guys know how to spot and track whales. What's nice to know is they do everything under a "Whale Sense" program that trains them to ensure all watching and following happens under proper distances and laws. Naturalist Celia explained all this and much more about whales themselves throughout our 3 hour and change trip. She was incredibly informative and pretty friendly from start to finish as she was helpful in pointing things out on the water. Other crew members (including the captain) did the same which helped in keeping us looking in the right direction. Directions like time were important (they used the "o'clock" method) because we definitely needed them to point us in the correct location. Starting early in our trip we began spotting whales. There were 3 humpbacks total that were spotted as well as a minke whale (which I had never heard of) and is apparently rarer to see. The trip was finished off with a pod of about thirty dolphins jumping and playing around our boat which was super cool. Overall, I highly recommend whale watching with American Princess Cruises. If you thought you needed to go out of Long Island in Montauk or this was some kind of Nordic European thing you could only do then you thought wrong! American Princess Cruises gives you everything you need to safely and enjoyably watch some sea mammal life right from an NYC Borough. Who knew? I did! And now you do too. read more

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The naturalist knows a lot about whales and shares the information. We also saw at least 6 whales plus dolphins! Sheltered upper outdoor level plus spacious front of boat for customers who want to be on look out for whales and other animals! Friendly and helpful staff, eager to let you see whales, dolphins, and anything else in the ocean. I'm a native NYer and will go again, many times. read more

This pelagic bird and whale-watching/marine-life (12-hr-long) trip was the birthday present for our teenager son who is passionate (extremely passionate) about birding. Because he is still a minor, he had to have adults with him to go on this trip, which is very reasonable. So, we accompanied him as his parents, and did this for him even though we don't share this particular passion with our son and are both prone to motion sickness. Regardless, we can recognize a great organization when we see one. The boat is very well maintained and clean, the crew was very helpful, knowledgeable and friendly, and everything was professionally put together. Our son had a blast, and that's what matters. We thank the crew and the organizers for making it such a special birthday present for him. Highly recommend! read more

Im from south Brooklyn but never knew there were whale watching excursions from sheepshead bay. We were in the area last weekended and decided to go on a whim. It was such a fun experience! The tour guide narrating our excursion seemed to have a genuine passion for his job and was so knowledgeable. We ended up seeing dolphins and three humpback whales, one of which fully breached the water! Incredible experience. Definitely recommend. read more

Fantastic experience. The crew is very friendly and super knowledgeable. Highly recommend!

Excellent experience! A well spent 4 hours out on the open Atlantic viewing whales and dolphins. The only reason it is not a 5 star review is because our naturalist was not the best (I never understood a single word she said, except her name was Celia). Oh, and I got a little seasick towards the end of the trip because of the rough seas. Other than that, the trip was a resounding success, seeing two humpback whales (I thought we saw four), and 75 dolphins! At one point they both came so close to our boat (roughly 10 yards) that you could almost touch them! One of the whales even breached near us! I highly recommend. Who would have thought you would see these massive creatures so close to land? And come to think that we nearly hunted some of these species to extinction... read more

Not only did we not see a single whale or dolphin, but were nearly seriously injured by the unsecured chairs on their top deck. The boat captain had us sideways to the waves on the return trip causing major swaying and people to fly around the deck and nearly overboard. If I could I'd put negative stars since the only thing I gained was a new fear. read more

Super fun Brooklyn experience, I'm so glad I found this! If you easily get sea sick or don't like rocking boats I wouldn't recommend. We saw a ton of whales and many breached! Such a wonderful gem in Brooklyn and I'll definitely come back. read more

American Princess Cruises - Humpback whale breach - Boat Charters Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

This was our 2nd time on this great day trip. My mom, my husband and I absolutely loved seeing the whales and the dolphins. It's so much fun to see everyone so excited when the whales are spotted. I love that you have a snack bar and alcohol for whoever wants it. We will do this again. read more

American Princess Cruises - Boat Charters Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Pre-Yelp, Pre-Super Storm Sandy and Pre having a ton of time on my hands to explore new things. I suggested this Whale Watching Cruise to a few friends who were down to do something different. American Princess Cruises is easy to get to off the Belt Parkway, located In the Breezy Point section of Queens, that was horribly devastated by sea waters and fires created by hurricane Sandy in October 2012. At the time, I really didn't know what to expect of this cruise, but was all in for a great Whale adventure. Friendly and very knowledgeable crew, informing us over clear loudspeakers, the marine life that the boroughs of NYC has to offer. Who knew you didn't have to go all the way to Massachusetts to get an entire glimpse of these massive creatures? Be advised, on this three-four hour tours, there are no guarantees that you will actually see a whale, but these aquatic animal preservationist know a thing or two about their jobs and didn't disappoint. Our whale was ready for feeding time and made himself known for all of us to see. I am in awe of these wonderful creatures and grateful that our tour gave us exactly what we came for. After the cruise we did a little exploring of Breezy Point and had lunch and a drink at a beach bar, restaurant (don't recall the name), with some of the residents who were very accommodating. Glad we had the opportunity prior to the storm but feared for them after Sandy hit. It has been many years since experiencing this tour, and I'm happy to know they are still operating. I would definitely do this cruise again. Tip: Free parking available read more

It was one of my dreams to see a whale! And I actually did it! Although the company does not guarantee it. What it good: they have whale watching every day except for Mondays and Tuesdays, while others do it only on weekends. They are frequently seen on grupon. They provide some scientific information while on the boat although I was not able to hear half of it due to low sound quality and noise from the boat. What I didn't like is that they offer much cheaper tickets on the premises, but you have to pay in cash. Whales are not that big as I expected, and you will see them from really far. Anyway, this is a wonderful experience for active people looking for something unusual. read more

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Went on the whale watching sunset cruise and WOW! So much fun and such knowledgeable people that run the cruise! The cruise consisted for 3.5 hours of info about whales and the chance to see whales and dolphins. There were snacks and drinks (cash only) so bring a few bucks or pack your own! Over great experience and would recommend to anyone! read more

American Princess Cruises - Boat Charters Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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WHALE WATCHING IN NYC! Taking off from Brooklyn, we had the best four hour whale watching cruise! Nice boat, great staff, animal preversationalists, & knowledgeable. About our cruise, we were told it was the most whale & dolphin sightings in years: five humpback whales and 40 dolphins! The Captain was incredible balancing respect for the animals and providing us the best experience. More details: free/convenient parking, clean boat, FOUR HOURS on the water, interesting infor, indoor and outdoor seating available, and snacks/drinks for sale (cash only). Great location if you want to experience the rest of Brooklyn. I never knew this existed in NYC so if you're reading this, go! Reserve now! Great for Locals and Visitors! read more

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Just a fantastic evening on this cruise from Breezy Point up to the East Side of Manhattan, then... around to the west side of Manhattan up to the mid town area. We had the most perfect weather EVER. The boat was a comfortable size to hold our party of 75 and we had plenty of music and dancing on the top deck, a comfortable sitting area on the main deck and great views from anywhere on the boat. Before heading back to Breezy Point, the boat stopped for a while around the "Statue of Liberty." The beautiful night just made for the perfect place to be. It was an amazing NYC skyline that we had the opportunity to see in both the evening light and darkness. Just PERFECT!!! The crew was incredible team of helpful and friendly people who went out of their way to make sure everyone was comfortable. We had a great buffet dinner downstairs where there was plenty of seating for our group, though the food line does seem to get a bit overcrowded. I highly recommend this charter boat for any group looking to doing something a bit our of the ordinary. This boat also does a whale watching tour. read more

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An amazing experience. We have seen 2 whales during the cruise and we were able to make a lot of pictures. read more

American Princess Cruises - Whale - Boat Charters Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I just went on this cruise today and it was FANTASTIC! I had a wonderful time. The boat was clean and spacious, and there was a good mix of people - both tourists and native New Yorkers. There is a naturalist that is part of the crew and she did a great job describing the kind of marine life populating New York waters, the different kinds of whales, how they migrate and feed in Jamaica Bay, etc. It was pleasant and educational. We had a few whale sightings today, including one "teenage" whale who breached the water a few times right in front of the boat! He was showing off for us! Nothing but great things to say about the trip and about the staff and crew. The only points I would emphasize are the following: *Go to the bathroom before boarding, as the trip is LONG. Appr. 3.5 hrs *Don't eat too heavy before you go. The boat sways quite a bit if waters are choppy, and your stomach may feel unsettled. I was thankful I had not had much to eat beforehand. *This trip is an absolute no-go for people prone to sea sickness or dizziness. *Bring a scarf, a knit hat you can pull over your ears, and an extra jacket or sweater, because it gets COLD and WINDY out on the open water. There were a few people on board that hadn't brought extra layers, and you could see they felt it. If you remember those points, you'll have a great time. Most of the people wore a calm and gentle smile on them for the entirety of the trip because it was just so darn beautiful and majestic to be out in New York's Atlantic waters on this wonderful adventure. Everywhere you looked, people were just smiling, relaxing, enjoying the ocean mists, the sun glinting off the waves, the comfortable seating of the boat, the diving birds. Such a unique and beautiful experience, and an uncommon treat in this area of South Brooklyn. read more

If you want to see literally TONS of whales jumping out of the water in every direction from the boat you are traveling in, then these guys are the ones. Obviously, they didn't put the whales here - due to global warming, there has been tons of fish and plankton the whales feed on literally next to Rockaway Beach and Breezy Point - the boat hardly traveled any distance to start seeing tons of whales, one of which JUMPED STRAIGHT UP IN THE AIR, VERTICALLY, OUT OF THE DAMN WATER, ABOUT 25 FEET FROM THE FRONT OF THE BOAT - IT WAS BASICALLY THE MOST INCREDIBLE THING MY DAUGHTER AND I HAVE EVERY SEEN ! So - adult tickets for this are not cheap, and they can't guarantee that you will actually see whales, but in the past few years, that has def. not been an issue. I have been 2x, and def. plan on going again. Also - they have a VERY small snack bar - if you think you MAY get hungry being on a boat for 4 hours, BYO food/snacks ! read more

Took a shot at this whale watching experience and I have to say WOW. The staff was experienced, knowledgeable and very friendly. Why don't they advertise? Lived in Brooklyn my whole life and was very pleased. Extra points for free parking location right off the marine park bridge. I was able to see many whales and the boat was pleasurable. read more

This is my 6th trip with American Princess Cruises and once again, I was not disappointed. We saw 2 whales on this trip and I got some great pictures. The crew is friendly and provided great information about whales and dolphins. (We didn't see any dolphins on this trip, but we did see them the day before, along with 2 different whales than we saw today). The crew is also very sociable and takes the time to talk to the guests if you have questions. Some of the crew even remembered me from my trips last year. I highly recommend taking this adventure. read more

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It was a wonderful experience! The cruise was very well organized by polite and knowledgeable staffs. We had beautiful sighting of whales and dolphins. Some of them came by very close to the ship as it was driven slowly and gently, which maximized our encounters with the beautiful creatures without disturbing them. We highly recommend this leisure activity to all age groups. read more

American Princess Cruises - Humpback whale - Boat Charters Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

This is a 4 or 5 star review based on the fact that this is a safer trip in a clean boat with a good staff and sightings of whales and dolphins. Many whales and dolphin sightings, tales, bodies. I did not see any breached whales or any super close to the boat. Two stars because my own personal seasickness which ruined the trip. Not the fault of American Princess Cruises. I am writing this to help people take precaution. There were sick people on board and we forgot or were ill prepared this could happen. I am still sick from the sea sickness into the next day. I am writing this to help people, especially women to take precaution most of us do not have sea legs and the effects of sea sickness are intense. This is a long trip. Most of the women were affected by sea sickness on this trip, myself included. One woman extremely severe, I was actually concerned for her and so were many others, she was on the floor of the boat loudly groaning through most of the trip. This is what I encountered. 1. Most of us do not have sea legs, take some precautions and research what to bring to ward off sea sickness 2. Learn what to do on the boat. Stand, look to the horizon, breath. Do not sit down, look at your phone or put your head down. 3. Bring warm things, a winter hat, a jacket or sweater, I was freezing even with these items but the temperature was very cool on July 2, 2021 4. Bring water and snacks 5. There are whales and dolphins and plenty of sightings but if you are ill as I was, I didn't care anymore and all I thought about was getting to land. 6. I do not drink alcohol, nor did I eat after the trip yet I feel hungover from the sea sickness the next day. Think ahead, there is more to this than taking a boat trip and viewing whales and dolphins, your overall well being is impaired and I am not back to myself yet - the next day, my sleep was affected last night and I am working to regain my well being. I still feel weak. read more

WONDERFUL ! Clean, well kept comfortable boat with friendly helpful crew! Two members of Gotham Whale Watching org. were our audio/ and in person guides , able to enthusiastically feed information that was clear, understandable and were kind to field questions as we sought out whales! And we spent half our voyage near our whales! And only 20 miles south of NYC! Very Happy to recommend! We were there on a Friday afternoon and found the passengers as happy and pleased as we were to spend the better part of noon to almost 4 on the American Princess! read more

Had a great time abroad the American Princess. We bought a groupon for whale watching. Though we didn't see any marine animals during our day at sea, the experience was definitely worth it. The crew and captain were all very knowledgeable and friendly. Otherwise the boat is pretty runned down in need of a fix. Long wooden booth stretch the mid section of the bottom deck, with a simple concession stand offering snacks while on the boat. Top deck is open, offering 360 views of the waters. Had it not been for the stormy weather, I'm sure we would've seen something during the 3 hour long trip. read more

American Princess Cruises - On top deck, taking shot of the rockaways starting the day at sea. - Boat Charters Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

We took a 4 hr Whale/Dolphin watch trip on 07/05/2012. Crew was helping & informed - guiding/informing us of the various aspects of the sea life. There is a 50/50 possibility that you will be able to see whales/dolphins/sharks - only a few of these sea creatures are there in the vast bay area and you have to understand these creature are not very common in this part of the world. Rest assure that crew member will do every effort to find these mammals. So, my advice is to take it as an adventure trip and enjoy your stay inside the cruise. It will certainly be a bonus if you will be able to see these creatures. Good Luck!! For everyone looking for this place. Riis Landing is critical - Its not very obvious when you reach there. Will be on you right (an old building) while coming down the bridge. read more

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Wonderful afternoon cruise - we appreciated the outstanding commentary by the onboard naturalist and saw 4 humpback whales repeatedly over the afternoon. The crew was safety-minded and disinfected railings several times during the cruise and was mindful of our social distancing. Such a great time and so unexpected to be able to do this right from Brooklyn! read more

American Princess Cruises - humpback surfacing - Boat Charters Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

We did a whale and dolphin tour and got to see plenty of both. The boat left pretty much on time, the crew was informative and the cabin pleasant. read more

Just went on the Whale & Dolphin Watching Tour and it was wonderful! I found out about this place via Groupon, made the reservations online, showed up today and presented my phone and that was it. Getting on board was easy, especially showing up at the last minute we were still able to find nice seats outside. Halfway through the cruise, I was afraid we weren't going to see anything but the captain took us to a spot where they'd seen humpback whales the day before, and sure enough there they were! It was just so fun and relaxing, we really enjoyed ourselves. Tips: -Get there early and stand at the very front of the boat, you'll have the best view there as most times the captain is following the whales. -Find the Groupon! -Bring sandwiches, there's a small shop on board but it's mainly Cheetos and beer. -Binoculars. read more

American Princess Cruises - Free willy! - Boat Charters Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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The naturalist/host of the tour was very thorough and interesting. The staff was very accommodating. The weather was gorgeous. Plus we spotted four whales that could be identified as return visitors to NY harbor. After like ten minutes into the trip we our first sighting. there were two whales breaching. But it was very far off in the distance. I witnessed several whales blowing smoke, feeding and coming to the surface. I really wanted to have a breaching happen right in front of the ship but they were too hungry for playtime. Bring your own food unless you like hotdogs, chips and cookies. read more

My husband and I did this yesterday and had a great time. We meant to go last week, but I was too sick. We saw about 20 dolphins and one humpback whale. There were many opportunities to see the whale because the captain seemed to follow it around. The crew was great at pointing out where to look for sightings. It was an absolutely amazing experience in every aspect. I do wish I had looked further into the food options. I knew there was some available, but I did not know it was cash only. read more

We were hoping to see more but I guess that's the chance you take; there are no guarantees as far as sightings go. Very mere showing of a humpbacks tale a couple of times. On the way back we saw some dolphins..barely. Their backs as they came to the surface a bit. One suggestion is that they offer some healthy snacks/food- only chips, cookies and hot dogs over the course of 4 hours...so if you prefer to eat healthy or even somewhat healthy, bring your own food. Thankfully there was AC in the cabin and shade on top where needed. In my opinion; overpriced. read more

This was our second time and shocked that this time around was better than the first but it was! We had such a wonderful experience 3 years ago that we came back to see the whales and we saw SEVEN whales and 100 dolphins. Too good to be true but timing is everything! Loved the cruise and the crew! Thank u APC for extraordinary whale watching and moments we will cherish! read more

Ok, I don't WANT to write a 3-star review, i really don't. Cause I don't want these guys to go away. Going out on a boat for a day with the mere possibility of seeing whales is pretty cool. And, it dragged me to the Rockaways, which is pretty cool and landed me on an adventure of swimming and eating on the water. BUT, I have to write a review based on what actually happened. The staff and crew are awesome. They were helpful with reservations and directions and once on the boat. However, today the water was choppy and we were out for only an hour before people started to get sick. I've never been sea sick. My son hasn't ever spent time on a boat before. We were both sick to our stomachs. Four people threw up and the garbage was being passed around inside where people could get sick. Finally, we were told there would be no whales and we couldn't get to the spot they intended so they were heading back. We were given a free voucher for use this year or next. I'll be damned if I'll ever get my kid to agree to go again though. Bummer. I just wish they'd noted the conditions earlier to avoid so many sick passengers. read more

Experience of a life time! Bring lots food! Concession stand is expensive! Small coolers are allowed and back packs as well. You will enjoy the experience! read more

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You can rely on the staff at American Princess Cruises to try very hard to make sure that you see something. As a prior reviewer mentioned - there is a 50/50 chance that you will see a whale. Dolphins on the other hand are a lot easier. However rest assured that the staff will work hard to spot one and to make sure that you have a nice relaxing educational experience. There's a wonderful woman onboard who explains the different species found in this area. She gives a nice powerpoint presentation on whales and has a few sea creatures to show the kids. Overall we had a great time even though we only saw a few dolphins. read more

Very nice day on the water. Unfortunately, we did not see any whales; however, we saw a large pod of dolphins. The Atlantic bottle-nose dolphins were very friendly with our boat and had a calf in their group. The crew and guide tried their best to look for whales, which was appreciated. I think the water weather was not ideal for them. Perhaps they've already gone south. Nonetheless, was fairly satisfied. Cheers. read more

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I'd like to say that aside from the beautiful whales and dolphins, the American Princess staff and crew could not have been any nicer. The boat was very clean and frequently reminded the passengers about wearing their masks and social distancing. In addition to that the crew members went around and were disinfecting the railings. All in all I give them an A+ read more

What a wonderful day out in NYC!!! Imagine seeing whales (we saw 3) and dolphins (we saw 70-100) in NY waters!!!!!! The staff & crew of American Princess were lovely!!! Kind and extremely knowledgeable!!!! Naturalist Celia spoke with such love for these magnificent creatures- a true conservationist! We traveled with a baby - crew was so kind! We saw the crew talking and playing with other kids - answering questions & devoting time to them. Now, to address some negative reviews on here - seasickness can come on any time you are on the water. You cannot blame the crew, boat or the water. You must be prepared. Invest in Sea Bands - pressure point wrist bands. They are awesome!!! We brought our own lunches and had THE BEST DAY!! This is trip is a must!! We will do it again next summer for sure!!! read more

My kids and I went out on the AP yesterday. We had a great time. The crew was friendly and helpful. We were able to see a lot of marine life including whales. The ship itself was very clean, and was continuously cleaned as we sailed. This is a very kids friendly cruise. My advice is to get there early to get a good spot. I did have concerns over Covid. The ship was not overly crowded but you do come in close contact with people. My suggestion is that they take temperatures before you board. People were eating and drinking so masks were not worn for the duration of the trip. read more

There is not much to say apart from the fact that I truly fell in love with this mode of transport to get to Rockaway Beach. Ok, so they do only go to Jacob Riis Landing/Fort Tilden, but what better way to get really away from it all??? And I rather spend my time on an hour long boat ride out in the open than on the subway or the train to get to the beach. The round trip ticket for 30$ seems steep to some, but you get to see the city skyline and Coney Island like you have never seem before - it's an experience not to be missed! read more