This experience was incredible! Courtney was super helpful and accommodating, and Taylor (our captain) was amazing! We saw tons of dolphins, some sea lions and a minke whale. We had the best time, I highly recommend this business and we'll be back! read more

East Meets West - Minke Whale - Boat Charters Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Are you interested in a thrilling trip across the sea to adventure and awesome natural wonders? From the moment we left the dock until we returned I was completely enthralled. The booking is easy, Captain Nick is a total pro. His presentation is knowledgeable and entertaining and he is funny! We saw whales dancing off the Newport Pier, we saw a massive pod of common dolphins. The spray in my face the wind in my hair! I loved every minute. I enthusiastically recommend this immersive ocean-going adventure! read more

Cannot recommend them enough! Although we didn't get to see whales we saw more than a lifetimes worth of dolphins literally inches from us. The advantage of a small boat (maximum 6 ppl but will allow kids under 5yo) is that it can get right into the dolphin pod, and boy do they love swimming with us! We also saw sea lions, and go CLOSE! The captain made an effort to learn all our names, and give us the most memorable adventure. Absolutely book these guys and you won't be disappointed! read more

East Meets West - Boat Charters Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Captain Nick was simply the Best! He is knowledgeable, friendly, and entertaining. We saw 3 whales, numerous dolphins and sea lions on our trip plus the boat ride was fun in itself. We will come back and I highly recommend you give Captain Nick a try. Avoid the large crowded vessels if at all possible. read more

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Captain Nick is beyond amazing. Our trip was absolutely spectacular. To begin with, Captain Nick has so much passion, excitement, knowledge, and wisdom- a genuine love for what he does. This was a birthday trip for my mom, and he made every moment special. He went out of his way to pause whenever he wanted to show us something cool! We got to see a giant pod of dolphins (he paused with them and we got to experience them leaping, playing, and swimming all around us!), a minke whale, and of course some adorable sea lions to end the trip! We left feeling so invigorated and we will definitely be back! read more

Captain Nick is knowledgeable and so chill. Our family of four with two kids (ages 3 and 10) paid for 2 hours to be on a 6-seater boat with Captain Nick. We didn't see any whales, but through communication with other captains, Captain Nick sped us to a pod of beautiful dolphins. It was awesome to be so close and surrounded by dolphins on a small boat versus a larger one. If we are in the area again we will definitely reserve a time with Captain Nick! Side notes: Parking is on residential streets and was fairly easy to find before 9am on a Sunday. There's a fruit and snack stand with delicious strawberries and good people across the path from the public restrooms! read more

East Meets West - Boat Charters Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Captain Nick was amazing. Have been in many dolphin and whale experiences. This was truly one of the best. Was lucky to locate a pod of about 200-300 dolphins traveling and feeding and he got right into it. The dolphins were literally jumping and swimming next to the boat in droves. It was surreal. The other large boats looked really jealous lol! The small private tour he offers is unbeatable. If you are going to spend the money, do it right! Great communication. Leaves off Balboa Island. Did not have trouble finding a few spots for parking on a Monday at noon. read more

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Just stop reading these reviews and book a whale watching tour with Captain Nick! I'll wait... Seriously, Captain Nick's ninja-like boating skills, relaxed, likable demeanor and pure STOKE for finding whales is the reason to hire East Meets West! I embarked on a morning tour with my parents, my husband and my toddler. It was cold, windy, and the waters were choppy. Captain Nick navigated some serious wind swell waves like a lithe professional ice skater gliding along in an ice rink and before we knew it, he got us right up on a fin whale! He yelled "We Got a WHALE!!!!" and we clung to his excited desire to show us the best fin whale show we could have ever hoped for! Thank you Captain Nick! Definitely will book again! read more

(Read below for edit/update) Please manage your company better - booked an excursion and you guys cancelled but never notified us nor the 3rd party we reserved through (Viator said they weren't aware). We called and were made aware that it was cancelled when we were standing on the dock after driving an hour down. Extremely unprofessional company, highly do NOT recommend wasting your time for anybody that reads this, people need to be held accountable for either laziness or incompetence. I will say they did process our refund very quickly which was nice, but also the bare minimum. EDIT: received a message from the owner apologizing for the issue and he offered us a complimentary voyage during our next trip. He definitely handled it as well as he could. If we can make it back to try again will definitely adjust this rating accordingly. read more

Capt Nick warned us that it might be a hard to find a whale. He exceeded our expectation above and beyond! We saw a Magnificat whale multiple times very close. The dolphins were spectacular and beautiful. I would recommend this tour over and over again! My family made a memory we will have for a lifetime. Thank you so much! The Ehmke's read more

Captain Nick is awesome! We went out and didn't have much luck at first but since the boat is smaller and faster we covered more ground and found dolphins. The experience was absolutely amazing! I know for 100%, without a doubt I'm booking more whale watching charters...many more. Thank you Captain Nick! read more

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What a fantastic journey. Captain Nick runs a smaller vessel, seating only 6 individuals, so everyone gets the full up close experience. He's working with other boats to track down the whales. And teaches the passengers how to help spot whale activity. Super friendly and very knowledgeable about the water, the marine life, what an amazing resource. I highly recommend Captain Nick's tour over those larger vessel options. Yes, it means you'll want to dress accordingly and will probably get wet, but it was worth it to be up close with the dolphins, and have a great view of the grey whales. It's an open air front bow where the 6 passengers sit. Bring a jacket and sunglasses. Fog in the bay equates to sprinkles in your face. You'll appreciate having an extra layer. Really personable. He even let the young boy drive the boat once we were back in the marina. Altogether such an awesome experience. I highly recommend taking the tour. read more

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fantastic time, spend almost half the trip interacting with the dolphins which was the coolest! captain nick was very informative about the subjects and found the places to be. I chartered it and highly reccomend this read more

5 beaming stars!!!! Such an amazing experience. I called Captain Nick a few times to ask him questions and he returned my calls promptly. The boat was small and intimate - just 6 seats! He was able to travel a really long way to search for whales due to the size and speed of the boat. We only saw one Minky whale but we saw two very large groups of Common and Bottlenose dolphins. He made sure we had a great experience and even created a few surf wakes so they'd jump out of the water. We were a bit behind because he kept stopping so we could enjoy the experience. I would 100% go again - especially if it was during whale season. read more

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Third trip with East Meets West Whale Watching. Each trip better than the last. Today we saw several fin whales, a blue whale, a pod of dolphins and sea lions. Captain Nick is knowledgeable, professional, and wonderful at what he does. The small boat is the way to go, getting us relatively close to the mammals without being too close to disturb them. It's also great fun to crash through the swells out to the open sea. The boat has special seats with shock absorbers so you don't feel like you're being tossed about with each wave. I still can't believe we saw a blue whale, so huge it boggles the mind. I can't wait to go again! read more

We really lucked out on our sunset excursion! We saw about 7-10 blue whales!! They were swimming circles around us. It was a spectacular sight and was, by far, the favorite experience of our vacation. The whole family can't stop talking about the whales! Funny enough, we only saw one lone dolphin as we exited the bay, and that was it. There were no dolphins to be found! But to be honest, we didn't care. WE SAW WHALES! LOTS OF WHALES! Captain Dan loves his work and it shows in his enthusiasm! He was very knowledgeable about the animals and answered all our questions. It's obvious he cares about the animals as he approached the whales with caution for fear of stressing them out. But the joke was on him when a couple whales came up about 20 yards in front of us! Giving us all an amazing show! Getting to the dock is easy, just follow the directions provided. Parking is free and there's a little market on the corner for water and snacks if you need. A little caution - the streets are quite narrow, so better to have a small vehicle, but with that said, we were able to find parking for our minivan without much hassle. And an FYI...call Captain Nick's before purchasing a Groupon. It did not state anywhere on the Groupon offer that it can't be used on a sunset cruise. It was a lot of frustration trying to book the excursion online before I gave up and had to call, only to find out that the Groupon was not good for the sunset cruise. It was a real pain having to get the Groupon voided. Other than that, the experience was top notch! read more

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Wanna sail with dolphins? Here is the place! We reserved for 5 out of 6 seats and got the entire boat just to ourselves. Captain Nick is very professional, knowledgeable and friendly. He memorized all our name right away We can feel that he's trying his best to make a unforgettable trip for us. He kept searching for Whales although no other boat has seen a Whales that day. Ended up we didn't get to see whales but we got to sail with over 50 dolphins for over half an hour. It feels as if we were part of their pod! We will be back to visit the Whales and Nick! read more

East Meets West - Boat Charters Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Me and kids did a tour with Captain Nick this August. The entire experience was flawless. From booking to the end, Captain Mick made everything easy. The tour itself was amazing. The boat was new, clean and fast. It also had the coolest suspension seats which soak up any bumps. We also saw amazing wildlife. Got a clear look at a WHALE. Even cooler we got to spend time with a pod of bottle nose dolphins. We had 10 minutes just surrounded by these creatures. They were jumping and leaping all around us. The water was so clear that you could see them even when they were under water. read more

We chartered Captain Nick's boat for our family and I'm so glad we did- it's a great boat, perfect for 6 people and you get to be so close to the animals. We got to see whales, dolphins, and seals it was really magical. It does get cold and wet out on the boat. I suggest you leave an extra pair of pants in the car (the seats get wet) and bring a change of clothes for the little ones. Also for those that get a little seasick, the boat is actually super comfortable but it can get choppy. Our 4 and 5 year olds did just fine. What I appreciated about captain Nick was that you can tell that he loves what he does. He was just as excited to find the whales as we were, really enjoyed this tour. Thank you! read more

We had a fantastic time with Captain Nick. Enjoyed a pod of dolphins and various harbor seals. Captain Nick was knowledgeable and engaging and a great guide. The boat is super comfortable and it was a lovely and relaxing day on the water - it's really nice to have a boat just for your family and get the personalized attention. read more

East Meets West - Sassy harbor seals on the way back in. - Boat Charters Near Me - Newport Beach, California

My brother and I wanted to do a small celebration for my parents' retirement. They didn't want a big party, and so after little research, we found this which my parents were super excited to go to. Communicating with Captain Nick was professional and easy. I was able to set up a great time and on the date I wanted without issue. I immediately received a handy confirmation via e-mail with reminders and helpful notes for where to go on the day of (sounds small, but was very nice to have!) The boat ride itself was a lot of fun! Once we were out of the harbor we almost immediately found hundreds of dolphins. They were at first having a feeding frenzy (even one sea lion was joining them). We kept going and the dolphins started to swim along with the boat. There were some that started to jump through the air and become playful. It was a lot of fun to watch! During this time we were encouraged to go on the hull of the boat. I was the only one who made it up there. It was admittedly a bit scary, but ok once I finally got there. I got some great photos and video from there, so I'm glad I did! After watching the dolphins for some time we decided to go look for a blue whale in the area. She was a little bit shy so we only saw her spout and the back peek out a couple times, but it was still amazing to see the sheer size! I think my parents enjoyed seeing the whale the most! We finally ended the tour by spotting some sea lions on a buoy on the way back to the harbor. They were all sleeping in piles on it, as they tend to do. It was so cute! I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone who wants to go dolphin and whale watching. The boat is smaller than commercial boats, so you can get closer to the sea life. Captain Nick is very knowledgeable about the animals we were seeing and gave little educational lessons while we were out there, as well. The price is very fair, and the memory is worth it! read more

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My husband and I have been whale watching with Captain Nick three times and each time has been amazing. The boat is safe, clean, and very comfortable. We've seen whales two out of the three times. On our most recent trip, we were lucky enough to see three blue whales - absolutely amazing. If you don't spot any whales, Captain Nick makes sure to locate a dolphin pod, which is also thrilling. I would highly recommend East Meets West. read more

My wife and I are from St Louis. We took the private sunset whale/dolphin tour for our anniversary, and it was a wonderful trip. Just being on the water at sunset would have been worth it, but we also got to see 3 whales, a bunch of dolphins and Sea Lions, and a huge grouping of diving Seagulls which was really fun to watch. Capt Nick was knowledgeable about the sea life, and he had a really sharp eye for spotting them. When he called out that there were dolphins ahead, I couldn't see a thing to indicate that there was anything ahead. However, 3 minutes later we were watching dolphins swim and play all around us. It was perfect timing also. We watched the dolphins and Sea Lions play as the sun set over the horizon. It was such a beautiful scene, and it couldn't have been more perfect. The tour made this anniversary the best one to date. read more

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Wow, what a day! My brother, his wife, and myself went on a great trip with Captain Brandon today (3pm) and saw dolphin pods, multiple times. We also lucked out and had the boat to ourselves so that elevated everything. We spotted a balloon and pulled it out of the ocean, some time later spotted another and retrieved it. Spotted a THIRD one and pulled that one out (this is why you don't let balloons go!!) so I'm glad it was important to the captain too. The boat is fun and wasn't too bumpy. I've been on many whale watching trips, and going on this trip with this boat size is so amazing. You won't regret it! Thank you Brandon for an awesome trip!! Captain Nick was really nice too! read more

Loved this tour! He was very friendly and nice. We had a blast specially my grandson he really enjoyed the dolphins. Unfortunately no luck on the whales read more

Woooow!!! Customer service meets adventures of a lifetime... and well deserving of 5+ stars! The boat held 6 guests + the captain, which made for such an intimate trip (truly a hidden gem of an excursion operator)! We saw a huge humpback whale, 2 pods of 50+ dolphins, and sea lions. To boot, it was high 78degrees, so it truly couldn't have been a better day on the water :) The dock is conveniently located on Balboa Island (Newport Beach) and was so easy to find & free parking was easy along the streets. I called with questions beforehand & Nick answered right away, which was a good sign bc he was so responsive (unlike the other excursion ops I was trying to reach). The booking process was super easy too (woohoo $10off with a yelp code emw10!) so that was a bonus... but the true bonus came aboard the small boat 5-8miles off the shore! Captain Nick was an incredible guide on a 2.5-hour journey to spot whales, dolphins, and sea lions. He was so laid back & welcoming to my mom & I! The waters were rough but Nick prepped us well and was super safe. When we were approaching the humpback whale sighting spot, he was cautious & slow to not scare the marine life - loved his etiquette toward animals & other boats in the area. Once the other boats left, he slowly moved around to stay near the whale, and we saw it 15+ times! We then moved to find dolphins & turned back to shore when the search didn't pan out, but on our way back, we saw 2 pods of dolphins! Even though it was close to the end of our 2hr time, Captain Nick didn't care bc we were having a blast :) then, he spotted the sea lions on the way into the NB harbor & spun around to give us good photo ops of those too! All in all, Captain Nick was on a mission to show us a good time on the seas, and he certainly went above & beyond yesterday to guarantee we had a good time. Definitely a trip of a lifetime with my mom :)Be sure to prioritize this on your list to do when you're in the OC - you won't regret it!!! read more

Our trip was freaking amazing! Captain Nick was easy-going and fun, and we saw two different kinds of dolphins, three humpback whales, including a mother/calf pair, as well as sea lions. The boat was the perfect size for us and we really liked being on a smaller vessel. Nick kept his eye on the weather and when it looked like our late afternoon excursion would be hampered by rough waters, he was able to accommodate us on an earlier outing. Can't recommend Captain Nick and East Meets West enough! read more

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INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE! I cannot even begin to explain how great this was without saying that this was the coolest whale watching excursion I have ever done. Captain Nick was awesome from start to finish. He was able to locate a beautiful, 80ft Blue Whale that we hung out with the entire time in its natural environment. Not only were we able to admire this gorgeous whale and the phenomenal show it put on for us but WE ALSO SAW IT FLUKE 6 TIMES!! Our jaws were literally dropping the entire time. Captain Nick had us so close yet a respectful distance away from the whale that we were able to really see just how huge and magnificent this whale is. On top of that, we saw an amazing show of bottlenose dolphins as they were feeding (we even saw baby dolphins!) and on the way back to the dock we saw the cutest sea lions hanging out. I booked a private charter for 4 on a Friday at 3pm (just yesterday). First off, THIS IS THE WAY TO GO. Don't waste your time and money on a huge boat with 120+ people all crammed together like sardines. Captain Nick knows these waters, he knows how to track the Krill which is where you will find the whales and most importantly he can give you the most intimate experience with the whales. We had the boat entirely to ourselves and we even had the whale to ourselves. No random person's head in my way, no kids blocking my path. Only the water was in-between the whale and myself! Keep in mind, these are wild animals and you won't always get as lucky. BUT I am thrilled that we were lucky enough to see such a sight with a friendly whale. Captain Nick was able to utilize his tools and strategies to find us a whale and sure enough, he did it. Captain Nick was extremely nice and made sure that we were all having a great time. What was really cool of him was that he made sure that we were able to see all angles of the whale. Myself being an amateur photographer, this was the best thing ever. I have the photos to prove it! I highly recommend booking with East Meets West Excursions. Seeing the boats with 120+ people on them made me feel really good about my decision. They literally looked like a can of sardines!! Not only that but with the size of the larger boats, you can't get as close to the whales. Not to mention the tight schedule they are on, I saw them hang around the whale for 10 minutes and then take off. With Captain Nick, you will be with that whale the entire time!! I suggest to book directly with Captain Nick either on the website or by calling the phone number. He made it extremely easy to reserve our time. The confirmation email lists the address as well as helpful tips for the trip and getting to the trip. We had no issue finding his dock. HIGHLY SUGGEST the private charter or even taking open seats on any others. The maximum capacity is 6 people, so no matter what you choose it will be awesome. Keep an open mind, don't come with expectations. These are wild animals. Who knows, maybe your good vibes will call out to the beautiful animals! Thank you Captain Nick, this was an experience of a lifetime! read more

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This was by far the best whale watching tour I've ever been on. Captain Nick was really nice and knowledgeable about all of the sea life. We were able to see a hump back whale, 3 different types of dolphins, and sea lions. The boat we were on was one of the smaller boats that had a maximum capacity of 6 people. Having a smaller boat means it travels faster, has the ability to go farther, and gives you a higher chance of seeing whales or dolphins up close. Captain Nick went over time and went out of his way to bring us to some bottlenose dolphins on our way back from the trip, which was the perfect ending against the sunset. I definitely recommend this company to everyone and will come back in the future. read more

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You cannot go wrong with booking excursions with this company. Captain Nick was awesome from booking to the end of the excursion. We had to reschedule for a later time in the day, and he was able to accommodate. We brought our 5-year old grandson, Cruz, for his first whale sighting. Captain Nick made him comfortable and had Cruz engaging in conversation and laughter. Captain Nick made sure that everyone aboard got their money's worth. We saw two humpback whales, and several pods of little dolphins. We will definitely be going back before the season is over. Thanks for a great and memorable time, Captain Nick! We'll see you in 2018! From, The Loober's and Captain Cruz . read more

We had a fabulous morning with Captain Nick! We were lucky to come across 2 blue whales, which were amazing to see in person. The smaller boat size was advantageous, Captain Nick was quickly able to go between sighting locations. It was definitely a more personalized and higher quality experience than being on a large boat. It was a beautiful day, so we cruised around the water and found 2 massive dolphin pods - very exciting! Captain Nick was knowledgeable and shared a bunch of interesting facts. If you're looking for a great time on the water, I highly recommend the East Meets West tour! read more

Are you looking for a personal experience with a friendly, knowledgeable, respectful of the animals in their natural element? Go with East Meets West Excursion. Captain Nick not only knows his stuff but he has a real passion for his work and the marine mammals. Because his boat is smaller, everyone has a 360 degree view and is it makes maneuvering easier and get to the whales and dolphin faster. Next time I'm around Newport Beach, I will be sure to do this excursion again. Thanks again Captain Nick! read more

Went today on a tour with Captain Dan. We had an awesome time. Took the wife and kid to hopefully see some nature and we were not disappointed as Captain Dan found Dolphins and Sea Lions for us. I would recommend this company to everyone!!!! Thanks captain and I'm sure we will see you again. read more

East Meets West - Boat Charters Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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I initially found EMW on Yelp and based on reviews concluded that the smaller boat option was going to justify the inconvenience of driving past Dana Point and finding a parking space on Balboa. It was all well worth it! Captain Nick provided the four of us with the experience of a life time - we came up very close with two whales, multiple types of dolphins, and seals. Kudos to the friendly crew of EMW and those amazing whales! read more

East Meets West - Boat Charters Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Booked the private boat (I think it was $50/person) for mother's day. Grand slam. My wife loved it. My mom loved it. And I loved it too! We took our 3-month-old son with us, and the accommodated it, no problem. We saw 4 grey whales and two blue whales along with 100 (or probably more) dolphins. So, so cool. I can't remember our boat driver's name, but he had an uncanny knack for finding whales. Overall just an amazing experience. For the price, it's unbeatable. I would recommend this to literally anyone. It's so worth it. I recommend going as early as you can in the morning since the water is the calmest. read more

Great speed boat, priceless adventure. An adventure with speed, waves, and sea life in their natural environment. Intentional, informative, and fun, Captain Nick calmly took us out of the harbor then at amazing speed found us in pod of bottle-nosed dolphins that chose to surround us as we slowed the boat, then frolicked and showed off. Then we sped off to find a gray whale. On the way, Nick slowed unexpectedly, sharing the sighting of a 20+ lb sunfish. YES we soon sighted and followed the spoutings of a gray whale heading. Thanks Captain Nick! read more

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I wanted to go whale watching with my fiancé for a date. Looking around there were a lot of larger tours but I was hoping for something more private and exclusive. Nick totally fulfilled on everything I expected and more. We travelled with a pod of dolphins that came right up to the boat. We also got to see a whale smacking fins and its tail. Nick did a great job keeping the boat close but at a safe distance. We were all able to get great photos and move around the boat when the whale was around. The ride was fun and everyone had a seat. Seeing the other large boats chug around with 100s onboard made us even more grateful to have our nimble boat with just 4 others. Well worth the trip and very reasonable pricing. It turned out to be a great date! read more

East Meets West - Boat Charters Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Capt Nick was very nice and very knowledgeable and knew exactly where to find the dolphins. We got to see a large pod of dolphins and a few rare risso dolphins. The risso dolphins was quite the treat as you don't find these guys very often. The family had a great time the kids really had a superb time. Kids really enjoyed Nick and said he was super cool. We saw a large Sunfish and few sea lions on the way back. We plan to go back in the near future. read more

We had a fantastic time whale watching on Captain Nick's boat. We saw a whale put on an amazing show, got up close with a pod of dolphins, and learned a lot along the way. Right now, due to the pandemic, you have to charter the whole boat for your small group (boat seats 6 people) and it was a really nice way to see the California coast from the sea. We felt safe and had a great time! read more

Booking is very easy, and Captain Nick is always ready to help if anything comes up. We were rebooked from our original booking, because of the weather free of charge. Captain Nick knows a lot about all the animals and knows where to find them. We sadly did not see any big whales, but that is always to expected as it is just luck. We saw a lot of bottlenose dolphins which interacted with the boat and had the best time ever. Would definitely book again and again! read more