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    Captain John Boats

    3.9 (242 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 7:00 pm

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    Dave R.

    - Comfortable boat. - Great sound system (so you can easily hear the naturalist / marine biology tour guides) - Beautiful summer day - Lots of whales! (thanks to the knowledgable captain) What more can you ask for when going on a whale watch, right? Sorry about the lack of pics (I only have videos of the whales), but trust me. We had many great views of humpback whales enjoying the abundance of fresh baitfish and krill in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. We had a great time and would be very glad to ride with them again.

    Jovan R.

    From the start everyone that worked for Captain John Boats was well-informed and organized. They have your name on a list. They explained everything that was happening. They explained where we were headed to, what to see, asked everyone to be kind to one another and enjoy the star of the show and reason why we are all there...the whales! There were young people, old people, and everyone in between. People were very considerate and kind to one another. When we finally find the whales the naturalist explained everything that was transpiring. The captain did an incredible job ensuring BOTH sides of the boat were able to get ample views of the 2-3 whales we saw on this day. The way he was able to turn the boat around, get close to the whales without being intrusive AND make sure both sides of the boat got to see the whales was unbelievable. After spending a respectable amount of time tracking the 2-3 whales we saw on this day. We headed back to shore. I would definitely go again. You could see 2-3 whales or you could pick a great weekend and see 10,20,30. Bring snacks if you like. It is a 4 hour trip. I did get a parking ticket. However I think I just parked in the wrong place. I paid for 4 hours which was the max, and the trip was 4 hours. The parking attendants are EVERYWHERE. And will get you even if you are 3 minutes over!

    Christina A.

    We always have a great time on their whale watches. Park across the street at 130 water street- that is where the 10 hour parking is. Lots around the wharf are 4 hour maximums. Get their early to get in line- we personally like the front portion of the upper deck to get underneath a overhang and out of the sun. Guide gave a nice narrative on Plymouth harbor and related sites as we went out. Saw several whales - good sightings and explanation of the species. We brought water and snacks on board- they have a galley but it is pricey.

    Mike R.

    These folks are legit in every way. Booking to the trip of a lifetime! Thank you to all the absolutely kind people who work here. Saw a total of 35 to 40 whales on Saturday and loved it. The biologist on the tour was terrific, and the whole crew was kind and polite. This could be best 4 hours or so spent, in who knows how long. They know the spots, and taught a lot about whale behavior. The trip from Plymouth to Provincetown area and back, absolutely loved the boat ride. Am susceptible to motion sickness. Not one problem. In fact I decided to say to heck with it, and sat up at the front, oh the way back when the boat was moving quickly. Other than having fun no side effects. This is the whale watch you'll want to do. Family friendly fun!

    razzle dazzle special travel spent the afternoon. on the ocean watching whales on Captain John's Boat. it was amazing and so much fun Great staff and great Captain. Thanks again

    We had a great time at Captain John's Boats!Captain John's Whale Watch! This review is beng written Sept.2023. some of the hints are relevant for the specific season. First a few hints: *Bring layers or dress in layers - You never know when it's going to get chilly or hot- There's a lot of wind on the way out to the deep sea for whale watching...and there are times when the boat doesn't move much...if the weather is hot, you might want to bring a sweatshirt or jacket *Sun sensitive? Don't forget the sunblock. Or, hat, and sunglasses. * Get there early. Sometimes finding parking is easy; other times it can take a while. This would depend on the weather that day, the time of day for which you book your whale watch (easier to find parking early in the morning), and the time of year. *If you have a handicapped placard, parking is free in Plymouth municipal lots. *We got there early and had a hard time finding a breakfast place that wasn't too crowded... and then we found one right near the dock. Tavern on the Wharf serves brunch starting at ten. They have both indoor and outdoor seating, and the back of restaurant outdoor seating opens at ten. Front of restaurant outdoor seating opens at 11.and are steps from the Capt. John's dock. *It's a good idea to bring an extra plastic bag on the boat with you. These are light, can be easily packed, and come in handy if you decide to sit on the top deck and go downstairs for snacks. Having a bag in which to carry the drinks or snacks, allows you to buy beverages for your friends, too....Otherwise, walking up the steep stairs and holding the rail while carrying drinks, etc. can get wobbly. NOW FOR THE BOAT RIDE.... Beautiful as always...This was our second trip this summer! Although I know from experience that you don't always see a lot of whales each time, we did see many both times that we went out this summer. Yesterday we took the 12:00 boat . Earlier in the summer, we had taken a morning boat ride. Both boat rides were full, but the 12 o'clock was considerably more crowded. The naturalist, captain, and staff were excellent -- explaining the ground rules, asking people to be kind to each other on the boat, teaching about the whales, etc. The naturalist on the 12 o'clock boat was highly engaging, fun, etc. And sheexplained very clearly about the whales. We had a windy ride out to the deep water as we set out on our journey. Once we arrived, it was very fun to see the whales. The ocean, itself, is always beautiful... and it was simply fun and relaxing to be on the water. We would definitely do this again. Everybody did excellent, and I give it five stars. That said, I would like to make a few suggestions. One is that the naturalist sometimes missed announcing location of some of the whales. There were times, when they were whales being described on one side of the boat... And I could physically see whales on the other side of the boat. I think it would've been helpful for her to have done a quick announcement of "clock" location of all whales ...when this happened. Then she could've gone back to talking about the whales that she had been describing. She did excellent, though, and the trip definitely deserves five stars. I think that the captain was making an effort to show the whales to folks on both sides of the boat... this was a good idea, and I recommend continuing to turn the boat around so that both sides can see the whales.

    Whales breaching
    Thealouise L.

    Had such a blast on our whale watching tour, we were out and back right on time, and got to see a lot of whales, some very close to the boat. The tour leader was very knowledgeable and cared a lot for the well being of the whales.

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    9 months ago

    Ticket purchase was easy. Boarding was quick. The trip was great. Crew was helpful.

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    3 years ago

    10/10 recommend! Lovely boat ride and saw so many humpback whales. What an amazing experience.

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    2 years ago

    Had a great time and saw so many whales, dolphins, and seals. Thomas was our guide and he was great. Would definitely recommend

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    3 years ago

    Are very comfortable Bessel knowledgeable staff, who were very informative about the whales' past and present. We saw five humpback whales.

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    Page 1 of 7

    Ask the Community - Captain John Boats

    Do they sell food and drinks on boat? And what would you wear? We have kids, adults and seniors coming..thanks in advance

    Yes small snacks, and food like hot dogs etc., cash only, they serve beer and wine as well as soft drinks. It gets cool on the ocean when you're moving fast so bring a light jacket, hats will fly away. Wear whatever is comfortable, but bring… Read more

    What time does the 9:00 whale watching tour return?

    They are usually 3 or 4 hour trips.

    Can we bring a cooler with non-alcoholic beverages?

    Yes you can, we brought a cooler with food and drinks!

    Are the tours wheelchair accessible?

    Pilgrim Belle yes

    View All 5 Questions

    Review Highlights - Captain John Boats

    I thought that the staff was extremely knowledgeable and I learned quite a bit on the whale watch this week.

    Mentioned in 44 reviews

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