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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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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!
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!
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.
2 months ago
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
1 year ago
4 years ago
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
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
11 months ago
4 years ago
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
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
4 years ago
5 years ago
3 years ago
4 years ago
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
8 years ago
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
5 years ago
4 years ago
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
2 years ago
8 years ago
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
8 years ago
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
3 years ago
5 years ago
8 years ago
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
5 years ago
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
4 years ago
8 years ago
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
5 years ago
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
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
9 years ago
7 years ago
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
4 years ago
7 years ago
8 years ago
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
7 years ago
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
4 years ago
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
9 years ago
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
8 years ago
10 years ago
We had a great time with Nick! Saw pods and pods of dolphins and 2 hump back whales. We liked the smaller boat feel as it was more intimate (6 people) experience than the larger vessels. Nick gave us the scoop on everything we were seeing and was caring when he saw me turn a bit green (take Dramamine!) while the waves caused a bit of motion sickness. Lol. Definitely recommend his services! read more
8 years ago
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Ask the Community - East Meets West
Is it safe for pregnant women in 2nd trimester?
Is there a trip looking specifically for blue whales?
Hello, I believe they look for whatever species of whale is migrating at a certain time. Best to call them and ask when blue whales are migrating. We found them to be very…
Would this be a safe ride for my one year old daughter?
So they provide any snack or drinks?
They provide bottled water, but when we went, we were welcome to bring our own stuff aboard.
How long is the excursion?
Amy, all whale watching trips are 2-2.5 hrs; And limited to 6 persons for your comfort, attention and personalization.
Review Highlights - East Meets West
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