Bucket List - Orca Jackpot!…read more Family of 13 (including 4 kids under 12) all really enjoyed the voyage aboard Odyssey. All were comfortable and plenty of room for a good view. The crew was amazing. Very knowledgeable, my grandkids loved learning about sea creatures and the Orca names of the two families we saw. This was a dream trip - bucket list!

Had the best trip out with Captain Pete!! The staff was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable…read more Would highly recommend for whale watching!

This was the first experience that my wife and I have had whale watching. We decided to arrange a…read moretrip with Western Prince and stay on San Juan Island for a couple of nights in conjunction with it. Our guide was Allison on the boat piloted by Captain Ivan. They offered gear for the trip, including weather bibs, jacket, gloves and knitted caps, which were definitely needed for the trip. Allison provided excellent information on the wildlife in the area, of which we saw (and heard in many cases) sea lions, a sea otter, a blue heron, bald eagle, and of course, whales. Captain Ivan provided a great deal of information to our tour also, describing the interface with other tours in the area, such as how they communicate sightings and limiting time in the area in concern for the wildlife. Several aspects of the experience stood out to me: -Everyone was very welcoming, making sure everyone was prepared for the trip (gear, preparation for limited restroom access, safety, etc.) -The boat is an open design, with nearly 360-degree views, with the seating being bench style seats for very comfortable for the approximate 3-hour tour. Viewing other tour boats in the area, I was glad we chose Western Prince if only for the boat environment/atmosphere alone. -The size of the tour was approximately 20 people, which made the tour more personal. -Captain Ivan demonstrated his experience with tracking the behavior of the pod that had been sighted, with the final surfacing of the family (Orcas) approximately 75 feet from the bow on the port side of the boat, which he had only minutes prior had killed the engine expecting them to show, which they did. He didn't "chase" the whales and location, he just acted on his knowledge of their behavior to position the tour accordingly. Also, a lone sea otter had been spotted in the area recently, and as we headed back to port, he recognized him playing near a buoy, and we slowed down to watch him for a little bit. It was very impressive. -Allison demonstrated her knowledge and experience describing the behavior and environment of the wildlife. Her longevity with the company demonstrated her commitment to share and inform others of this amazing area of the world. I really can't say enough good things about the experience.

Katy (our naturalist) and Bethany (our captain) were both extremely knowledgeable and attentative,…read moretaking time to take care of other passengers who were feeling a little under the weather, pointing out each animal with contagious enthusiasm. Our daughter was made to feel both special and grown-up. We got to see a number of whales pretry close-up while Katy described in detail their behaviors, habits, etc. Absolutely would book again.

Noah and Friday Harbor Boat Rentals (FHBR) were fantastic. I rented the Nordic Sun for an…read moreafternoon island cruise on 7/17/2024 to show my mom and wife more of the San Juan Islands. He is very professional as he sent me a text in the AM asking if we needed anything special to help us prepare etc...so first the Boat...Nordic Sun is a wonderfully restored tug that easily accommodates 6 so having 3 on the boat with Noah was very spacious...the boat is very clean and has a full head!!! Our tour was awesome and Noah added color and history as we cruised while giving us our space to enjoy the beauty and have a glass of wine!!! CAN'T RECOMMEND NOAH ENOUGH....oh and I thought the price for a 4 hour private cruise was very fair!!! we will us Noah and FHBR again!!! Tim B.

A wonderful day on the water with Captain Amio!…read more Since we were on Lopez Island, and the ferry to get back to Friday Harbor was so complicated, Amio picked us up where we were staying, and took us on a fabulous ride. The weather was perfect. We saw porpoise, heron, eagles and seals-as well as a host of beautiful boats The whales didn't make an appearance but we got to see a number of the different harbors through & around the different islands. . Captain Amio's knowledge of the area enhanced our journey. Great day on the water. Noah's communication made it easy to figure out everything. The boat was clean, had a bathroom and OUR 3 hour tour ended successfully. (It was supposed to be a 4 hour tour, but we sacrificed a half hour on each end since he picked us up on Lopez, we thought it was worth it).

Did the half day in the afternoon on Memorial Day (5/25/26). We went out from 3:30pm to 7:30pm and…read morewere able to see a few different kind of pods (T123's and T60's). Stanley from T123 is huge! We also saw some seals as well. It was definitely a "drive" going north west all the way up to Canada but it was totally worth it. Lots of good info and they were so nice.

OMG I could write a book extolling all the wonderful moments and experiences we had on our tour. We…read moresaw MANY MANY whales and hung out by ourselves for a LONG TIME. We got to ask questions, take pictures and absolutely cherish all our moments with a large group of whales. Alex knew who they were and shared insights in the family structure. IT WAS A LIFE LONG DREAM OF MINE. Y'all DID NOT DISAPPOINT! Thank you, thank you! LOVE LOVE LOVED THE EXPERIENCE!!

Amazing whale watching trip! Nate and Nat were awesome and full of knowledge! You can tell they…read morelove what they do! Highly recommend if you're in town to book a trip with them! Will be back for sure!!

I live in the Seattle area, and it was on my bucket list to go whale watching and see some orcas! I…read morehighly recommend deer harbor charters, especially if you live in the area. The first time we went out we didn't see any orcas, so we were able to go back out another time for free for a second chance! The naturalist and boat captain were amazing and knowledgeable on all kinds of facts, and you can ask any question, and the experience of seeing orcas was incredible! They also provide professional photographs taken on your outing after the trip

An absolutely perfect day; a perfect experience with wonderful guide. We can't give Brandon credit…read morefor the weather, but after such a breathtaking experience, we were praising him for the perfect weather, too. Booking was a breeze, advanced communication was timely and informative, check-in was friendly and easy, and even the drive across the island from Friday Harbor was engaged and informative. But the real magic happened on the water, where we started under mild, overcast skies, and ended with sunshine and perfect weather. Along the way we saw: 1 black fox, 2 harbor seals, 1 harbor porpoise, a rhinoceros auklet (unique diving sea bird), 13+ Bald Eagles, AND TWO HUMPBACK WHALES! The beach side lunch was fantastic... the best turkey sandwich I've ever had, made exceptional by the views and the company. The lack of an Orca sighting made this full day trip an eyelash shy of perfect, but we could not have otherwise been more thrilled with our experience on the water with Brandon and the Discovery Sea Kayak team. Thank you for a magical day on the island. PS - we paid half as much for a full day tour with Discovery as we did for a half day tour on Orcas Island, so this group gets our strongest recommendation!

Did a two day trip. The guide was fantastic. with knowledge of plants, animals, geology and…read moreislands in the area. And the food was excellent, thoughtfully prepared and sensitive to peoples food allergies. It was an amazing experience and I highly recommend. Also of note is that the equipment was good quality and well maintained, with the kayaks being stable and relatively easy to steer with an added rudder.

Not impressed with customer service. I have left several messages for the sales manager to initiate…read morea purchase.

The IMC on Fisherman Bay Road is the place to go for crab licenses, tide tables, ferry schedules,…read morecrab pots, bait boxes, plastic ties, rope, weights, buoys, anything and everything related to fishing and shellfishing -- you name it, they've probably got it, and if they don't they'll let you know where on the island you can find it. The staff is friendly and helpful. Complementary cup of coffee just inside the main door. A great place to stop by and pick up what you might be looking for, and the only place in town where you can buy a Beautiful Lopez Island license plate frame.

The team and vessel were exceptional! Traveling group also included a baby. Our team was…read moreaccommodating and did their best to ensure we saw humpback whales, seals, and eagles! Thank you Captain David and Josiah!

I highly recommend a sailing with Capt. David. We live in Friday Harbor and scheduled a sail with…read morethem to celebrate our 25th Anniversary. We met another couple celebrating their anniversary as well. It was a magical sail with a beautiful sunset and we were graced with Orcas. Capt. David is a great photographer too. He sent photos to our emails and he captured a great moment of my husband and I. I had his photo made into a metal print to always remember the moment. The bean bag chairs are super comfy and you can bring your own special bottle to enjoy a toast with. When the sun goes down it is quite chilly, Capt David came out with blankets for all of us. He even supplies binoculars. This is one of my favorite things to do on the island. Whether you are a local or a tourist you will enjoy this experience.

Absolutely fantastic three day kayaking experience! Our charming guide led us in tandem kayaks…read morewith all the necessary gear through the islands. Just dress for the weather and you will enjoy the best way to see the San Juan's. We had a great camping experience as part of the journey with plenty of great food. Hannah is a super guide and worked tirelessly to keep us both active and relaxed plus well fed. Appetizers and wine before hearty meals to keep us fueled! Can't wait to go again someday!

F..... amazing trip. Great recreational adventure when everywhere you look, no matter the direction…read moreis a screen saver or postcard setting. Eli & T-sizzle were amazing guides and very thorough in giving you a lifetime experience you will never forget. For me It took planes, trains, boats and automobiles to get there and I was coming in hot. But instantly I was brought to a serenity with nature I will never forget. Could have filmed my own NGC movie. Thank you Eli, T-sizzle and Outdoor Odyssey!