Captain Christian is the absolute best...super welcoming and friendly.....I would highly recommend chartering with Bella on the Bay. He accommodated my family and paid extra attention to my elderly mother. Thank you for the awesome experience Captain, looking forward to more bookings in the future. read more

Captain Christian was the best! Contacted him a couple months before our trip to make reservations, he was quick to respond, very friendly. A week or so before our trip to Monterey our agenda has changed and we needed to switch our reservation to another day. A quick call to Captain Christian and he was able to accommodate our request. Very informative about his boat, the ocean and Monterey. Look forward to our next trip out here and will definitely be making reservations with Captain Christian. read more

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Sailing with Christian was, without a doubt, the highlight of our trip to Monterey, Carmel, and Big Sur!! Of all the activities we planned, this experience stood out the most. From the moment we booked with Christian, we knew we were in for an unforgettable day... Christian is warm, friendly, and a true expert in sailing. His boat is stunning & spacious. His knowledge of the area reflects his years of experience, and it's clear he knows the Bay like the back of his hand. He navigated the waters to ensure we had the best experience possible, keeping us in the sun & warning us when to expect a little bit of colder wind - he accommodated us with warm blankets & cups for our champagne! He made us feel completely safe throughout. We were blessed enough to spot a few whales, which made the views even more exciting. We were celebrating my boyfriend's 30th birthday, so we had an impromptu photo shoot. Christian captured beautiful photos of us that we cherish! All in all, He went above and beyond to make us comfortable and even teaching us a bit about sailing--a dream for both of us. He allowed us to connect our playlist to the speakers, or choose one on his Spotify, and enjoy. While he gave us plenty of private time to soak in the breathtaking scenery, we also loved chatting with him and hearing about his life during the tailend of the trip. This was an incredible experience, and we can't wait to sail with Christian again when we're back in the area. Don't hesitate to book this adventure--you won't regret it! read more

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I planned a trip for New Year 2024 on Bella on Monterey Bay, with my wife, who had never been sailing before. Needless to say, after the two stormy days prior to our trip, my wife was terrified of the sea! Hell, they had to close a road because waves were impacting traffic! Anyway, New Year's Day, today, the clouds miraculously vanished, the sun came out and it was a stunning day! Light winds 5-7 mph, calm seas and abundant wildlife! At this point, I was so excited! My wife, however, was really scared. We saw our boat backing up toward the dock. At nearly 50', she is quite a beautiful vessel with a familiar Seahawks Logo on the side. Blue hull, teak floorboards and whole top of the boat. A beautiful and comfortable salon and a helm, or cockpit, for complete control. Capt Christian, let us through a gate and down to the boat where we boarded and were taken downstairs into the inside of the boat to discuss safety and understanding where things were, I.e. bathroom, radio, storage, etc. After a five minute discussion our captain assembled pillows at the bow of the boat on the deck, with a blanket, for us to lay back on and enjoy in comfort while we took in the spectacular views of monterey bay! Captain Christian is a kind man with a heart of gold. He was so patient and kind with my wife Lu. He assured her that there was nothing to fear and that this was going to be a marvelous day. (He was absolutely right!) Lu was comfortable nearly immediately and enjoyed the 4 hours on the water. She even said she'd do it again! Yay!! If you want an intimate view of Monterey Bay, I highly suggest Captain Christian with his Bella On Monterey Bay. She is sleek, fast, elegant, smooth and clean and Capt Christian is a gem! If there are whales in the bay Capt will get you right close to them. If not, you will relish in and get lost in the views as they are many and stunning! Thank you so much for an unforgettable time on Monterey Bay Capt Christain! read more

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Captain Christian is a consummate host and deft sailor. We just returned from a 1 hour bay cruise to celebrate a birthday. From the time we first spoke to when we parted ways, he was friendly, fun and an all around great guy. After going over the boat and safety details , he told us to relax and enjoy. It was a beautiful sunny day to tour the Monterey Bay while the Captain pointed out various areas of interest and wildlife. His boat is beautiful, meticulously kept and smooth. Do yourself a favor and book some time with Captain Christian for an unforgettable experience. read more

Bella On The Bay Monterey - Captain Christian giving us a wave from the helm. - Boat Charters Near Me - Monterey, California

Had a fantastic day on the bay with Captain Christian. A great host and very experienced. It was a windy, choppy day. But the Captain knew exactly what to do. It was very enjoyable, relaxing and nice to see Monterey from a different view, the ocean. Plenty of wildlife to see and learned a thing or two about the sea life from Captain Christian. Just take the tour and know it will be the best thing you did for the day! Great for families. read more

Bella On The Bay Monterey - Captain Christian - Boat Charters Near Me - Monterey, California

One of the best activities in Monterey! Captain Christian's passion for sailing and enthusiasm for life is clearly felt on any sailing trip. We loved being snuggled in a bed at the front of the sailboat. It's BYOB and he served us our Champagne and snacks throughout their sail. He checked in with us consistently and his affable and easy going manner Made us so comfortable instantly! Our sail was a half say sail, Just my bestie and I, and we saw humpback whales, spinner dolphins and of course harbor seals. We also got to man the boat and assist in hoisting and letting down the sails. What a beautiful experience! Christian prepared us for everything, and the trip was worth every penny! read more

Incredible! Christian made this trip so enjoyable for my family as we tried something new and adventured in Monterey Bay, and we are so glad we did. As we greeted the ships Captain, he immediately displayed high passion for the sea, such a positive attitude and it was clear that all he wanted was for us to enjoy the water, the fresh air and experience nature's majesty! We got lucky and he has already scoped out just where the whales were feeding, we had just enough time to get there and back and he made that happen, and it was incredible! As he said, "You taste that guys? That's whales breath!!!" Thank you Christian for sharing your world with us! read more

Bella On The Bay Monterey - First whale encounter! - Boat Charters Near Me - Monterey, California

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What can I say, we had the time of our life with Captian Christian on his sailboat, the Bella, celebrating my stepson Adan's 18th birthday. Christian is one of the nicest and most down-to-earth people on the planet, a really good person, generous, good conversationalist, and a good Captain. The sailboat was clean and comfortable, we were allowed to go anywhere on the boat, and our tour of Monterey bay was exceptional. I hope to go again sometime soon, it was experience of a lifetime. Thanks Christian! read more

Bella On The Bay Monterey - Boat Charters Near Me - Monterey, California

Outstanding!! There has been great communication with Captain Christian throughout our entire process and up to our trip. He is a great guy, with a great personality, that makes you feel like you've known him and can easily welcome him into your own friends and family circle. I was looking for something to treat us girls to while the guys were out at the US Open, and we were not disappointed in spending a couple of hours with Christian. It was our first time on a sailboat, but he made us comfortable and made us laugh. I look forward to a future excursion, and keeping in touch with our new friend Cpt. Christian. read more

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If there's one thing you do in Monterey -- this should be it. Captain Christian is committed to an exceptional experience and is so fun to spend a day with. We even saw humpback whales on our two-hour long sail. Highly recommend; this was unanimously our group's favorite activity. read more

Bella On The Bay Monterey - So beautiful. - Boat Charters Near Me - Monterey, California

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My Mom visited to help while I was going to be in several surgeries from a work injury. We went with my best friends and had the very beat experience. Captain Chris has photos of his gorgeous family, brought us blankets and our snack food- and gave my Mom a great big hug. It was a blast! read more

We had a fantastic day with Christian. He is friendly, warm and genuine. I wouldn't sail with anyone else in Monterey. read more

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My wife and I had a wonderful time with Captain Christian on our sail yesterday. We can't say enough about how great of an experience this was. I had booked our trip for Sunday, but the weather was bad and there was no wind that day, so Captain Christian suggested that we cancel for that day. To be honest, he said, "I'll take you out if you want to go, but I don't think it will be fun at all." So we were kind of in a "play-it-by-ear" mode. Christian said he'd give us a call if he could set something up for Monday, and we could go out then. On Monday morning we got the call, and our trip was a go! We met up with a super neat family who graciously gave up their private trip so that we could go out with them. There were six of us on the boat for the trip, so the group was small and fun. One thing to note about Captain Christian... He really loves this sailing gig! It is fun to see someone enjoy what he is doing, and he really enjoys sailing and being out with people. He is a super friendly guy that you can't help but have a good time with. Once we we were underway, Christian noted that the winds were pretty calm. He talked on the radio to one of the whale-watching boats, and found out there were humpbacks in the area, so he said we would motor over and see what we could see. We saw them breaching, and there were lines of numerous spouts visible along the horizon. It ends up that we got really close to the whales; so close we could hear their spouts and feel their spray! It was awesome! And each time we saw one Christian would get so excited and cheer! It was a super fun experience. We're glad we did it! read more

Bella On The Bay Monterey - We're waiting for Captain Christian to come in, but the weather doesn't look good. There isn't a breath of wind. - Boat Charters Near Me - Monterey, California

You cannot go wrong with Captain Christian And that beautiful Italian boat. We booked two hours for my son and I to go out this beautiful day no wind, zero wind the entire time but we made the most of it. We went out and tried to find some wind he went straight out as far as we could go in the time permitted and put the sale up. Gave it a good run. In the end itdidn't matter, We had a great conversation great sunshine and you can't go wrong on the Monterey Bay really can't. Hats off to Christian for making great conversation also letting it just be quiet when you need to stare out at the ocean. read more

We had a beautiful 2 hour sail with Christian. He was very friendly, fun, knowledgeable and easy to talk to. The boat was comfortable and he made us feel at home. Would highly recommend! read more

Christian was an amazing host! I was looking for last minute activities and he was able to accommodate a party of four two days in advance. Christian is an experienced captain that made us feel very safe even when the water was rough. The rough waters and high winds made for an exhilarating two hour sail! I truly enjoyed our experience and Christian's charm and hospitality made it even better! I look forward to booking another trip when we're back in the area. read more

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What a nice way to spend the afternoon. We could not have had a prettier day for a sail. Super calm and smooth ride, fortunately because my 10yr old would have gotten sick if not. We didn't see whales or dolphins but did see some great seal action. It was just a sweet relaxing ride in the beautiful Monterey Bay! Thank you Captain Christian! read more

We had a wonderful afternoon with Captain Christian. He's a terrific captain and host. Luck was with us and we had the perfect weather and a lovely day on the bay. Thanks Captain! read more

Bella On The Bay Monterey - Point Pinos from the Bella. - Boat Charters Near Me - Monterey, California

Captian Christian is the very best. Me and my wife had a day that we will remember forever. His sailboat is beautiful and spotless. He fit us into his busy schedule and we are so happy he did, the sail was amazing and even though we saw some incredible sights including some whales it was Christians love for what he does that made it special. When you are in Monterey make sure you look him up. You not only will have an amazing time, you will gain a friend for life in Christian! Thank you again my friend! read more

The boat is pretty, the bay is gorgeous, and Captain Christian couldn't be more welcoming and helpful! Our family had an amazing time out on the water, relaxing, looking for whales, and soaking in the salty air and breathtaking views. Anyone who loves being on the water will have an amazing time at Bella Monterey Bay. Christian was funny and interesting to talk to and made the experience that much better. read more

Wow! Last minute trip. 3 couples. We had an awesome time. Captain Christian made us feel very welcomed. Very personable and proactive. Incredible attention to detail. Made sure everyone was comfortable end enjoying their favorite drink. To top it off it was a beautiful day in Monterey. Most definitely doing this again. Hands down 5 stars! read more

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We had the BEST time with captain Christian. From the moment I heard his voicemail to the funny banter we had back and forth while scheduling our sail I knew he was the best choice for a day on the water! He is super nice, knowledgeable, hospitable, and good at what he does. We did a two hour sail and enjoyed every single moment. We didn't want it to end. His boat is a beauty and he makes you feel right at home. My favorite part was when a huge wave came overboard and splashed us, we couldn't stop laughing and smiling and feeling so in the moment! My mom has the chance to pilot the boat and it's something we will all remember forever. Christian is someone you want to be friends with. His personality is so infectious. Thank you for the best day ever!! Can't wait to visit with you next year! read more

Bella On The Bay Monterey - Boat Charters Near Me - Monterey, California

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My friend and I had a memorable experience when Captain Christian took us out into beautiful Monterey Bay to scatter her parents' ashes. He is the very best! I highly recommend Christian for any type of sailboat excursion. Lilly Smith, Fresno, California read more

I cannot say enough about how amazing this vessel was. We did a 4 hour cruise with Christian, he was incredibly accommodating--providing top notch customer service. We followed several friendly humpback whales around, while sipping on wine and enjoying the view. If you're looking to charter a sail boat for any reason while in Monterey, Christian is your guy. read more

My family and I went on vacation in San Francisco a couple of months ago, and when we asked our two teen-age daughters what was the funnest thing we did there, they both said the cruise on Monterey Bay. I have to agree - it was amazing. Captain Christian was perfect - made us feel not only welcome, but like he was having fun WITH us, not just steering the boat. Okay, it's kind of hard not to feel a little sorry for him - poor guy, he has to ride around on a beautiful boat all the time . . . in Monterey, California . . . well, I guess not everyone can be as lucky as me, working in a cubicle for a lawyer. So if you are looking for a truly memorable day, you won't be wasting your money by going on this cruise. It was worth every penny! read more

Bella On The Bay Monterey - Boat Charters Near Me - Monterey, California

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Captain Christian and first mate Wes took us sailing around Monterey Bay at sunset. Simply awesome. Sure it was cold being the dead of winter, but man what an experience. I was lucky enough to find him via Trip Advisor as they rated his sailing experience above such staples as the Monterey Bay Aquarium and 17 Mile Drive. He's only been in business for like 5 months. Both Christian and Wes made sure we were comfy and happy and they even had my gf steer the boat when she got a wee bit on the seasick. They offered to show all 4 of us passengers to sail, but I thought I'd just enjoy the ride. Oh, by the way, it is the Monterey Bay, so make sure to bundle up. read more

Bella On The Bay Monterey - Sunset Sailing - Boat Charters Near Me - Monterey, California

Captain Christian is my to go when sailing to the sea! Such an awesome personality and definitely fun to hang out by the sea as well! Great knowledge of the sea as well! I love your boat! Thank you so much for your hospitality and your amazing experience on the sea! We had a blast!! Next time we are back to Monterey we are booking with you! Thank you!!! read more

Thank you so much for the wonderful afternoon. We had a super relaxing 2hour sailing excursion. The captain is friendly and engaging with positive energy. I Loved my boat ride. Thank you! read more

My wife and I took a two-hour cruise with Christian Hessten and it was amazing. Christian is a great guy and a great captain, and the cruise itself could not have been more perfect. We wanted to do a sunset cruise but he waved me off that, saying the fog at that time of year would preclude seeing the sunset (and he was right). He suggested a better time slot and it was perfect. Although it was not promoted as a whale-watch tour, we saw a bunch of humpbacks, as well as seals and even a couple of sharks. Considering what he charges for a two-hour tour, this has to be the best entertainment bargain on the Central Coast. 10/10, would book again. read more

Bella On The Bay Monterey - Liz C. 30 July 2018. A perfect afternoon on the water with Capt. Christian Hessten. - Boat Charters Near Me - Monterey, California

Captain Christian was fantastic! He was super helpful with setting everything up for the proposal, and was a great host during our ride. Would highly recommend, and look forward to booking another ride with him soon! read more

Bella On The Bay Monterey - Boat Charters Near Me - Monterey, California

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Capt. Christian was awesome. We went out on an absolute perfect day in Monterey. Got to sail, saw some dolphins, tons of sea otters and great service. I can't imagine why we even considered going out on a big whale watching boat when we had a beautiful 46' sail boat to ourselves (family of 5). Bring your own drinks and snacks and have a great time in the bay. read more

Bella On The Bay Monterey - Boat Charters Near Me - Monterey, California

We reserved a trip a few weeks out and ended up with a great adventure for the family. Christian is a first rate host and made sure the kids had fun, learned a bit of sailing and saw some whales. Hands down one of our best adventures from our family vacation this summer! read more

Bella On The Bay Monterey - We had an amazing adventure with Christian and the Bella on the Bay! - Boat Charters Near Me - Monterey, California

Captain Christian made this such a fun and amazing experience. He was a lot of fun, and really made our time at sea enjoyable. He took us around Monterey and even stopped to make sure we got to see some wildlife. The boat was very nice and made for a great day at sea. Would definitely recommend this experience to everyone read more

If you want a fun excursion with a great captain, this is your guy! My wife and I were on our honeymoon in Carmel and saw this opportunity to cruise Monterey bay on a yacht. We called and booked it. Captain Christian is a great guy! He was funny, had great stories, and was very safe. I would feel very comfortable taking my children next time. If you are in the area, do yourself a favor and take a trip with Captain Christian, you won't be sorry. read more

Perfect way to spend the day on Monterey Bay! Affordable, fun and not a commercial "tour" Our office team of 6 had an amazing time together and Captain Christian took us far enough out to sea we saw some whales. If you're looking for an intimate setting this is it. Thanks for making our day together one we will never forget Charlene and the Team read more

So much fun! I did this two years ago and never got around to write the review. Small group sailing, fun captain, memorable experience. I would totally do it again when in Monterey. BYOB they provide metal wine glasses! read more

Bella On The Bay Monterey - Cool wine glasses provided! - Boat Charters Near Me - Monterey, California

Do yourself a favor and book a sail with Captain Christian. I just realized I never posted my review from September 2018 as I was looking to book another trip with the Bella in the next month. Christian was super accommodating to my family, including my 3 year old son. I was more nervous having him on-board prior, but once we boarded and headed out I knew we were in great hands. My uncle was visiting from out of town for a week, and to this day our sail is his highlight of the trip. Not Big Sur, Cannery Row, or pristine golfing. Christian not only is a great captain, he's a great dude who I guarantee can talk to anybody on this planet like he's known you forever. I'll be calling ya soon Captain to book another trip. Cheers! read more

Booked this last minute trip! Called the captain & he said he had to 2 spots left This was by far the best boating experience we've had! Great music, clear skies, warm weather & the friendly captain made the experience even better. The 2 hr trip was definitely worth it! He also allows snack& beer/wine on board & kept making sure we didn't need any refills! Highly recommend!! read more

we went on a sightseeing tour on the power yacht with captain G and it was amazing! The boat was beautiful and captain G was great! He was incredibly accommodating to seasick guests and was very attentive! Captain G often checked to make sure we were okay and that the trip was going well. I will definitely be contacting captain G for another power yacht tour the next time I'm in Monterey-- except this time, we'll definitely book a longer yacht trip :) read more

Bella On The Bay Monterey - captain g on the power yacht - Boat Charters Near Me - Monterey, California