Beautiful boat! amazing staff, and the absolute gem of the day- Fran the owner. Safety was first, and I appreciated that, cuz I was a bit scared. This trip was on my bucket list. A boat ride in the ocean, looking for whales. It didn't disappoint- so much fun and an immense amount of knowledge- especially enjoyed the impromptu ukulele. Thank you guys for making turning 60 a fun time! read more

I had the most fun ever on this tour!! At the check in I got amazing customer service, I bought my tickets online and they also offer motion sickness relief and you can pre pay for snacks and soda/water. They have bathrooms before you board the boat so that was nice, when you board you find a seat in the cabin of the boat and they have a safety talk and explain everything, I got to go see the ocean but it wasn't safe to go all the way out so we went on the river instead i got to crab and see some jellyfish sea lions, seals and muscles and learn about that stuff and plankton that was neat, i learned a lot today so it was cool! overall i'd rate it a 14/10 read more

Marine Discovery Tours - Sea lions - Boating Near Me - Newport, Oregon

I went on the morning boat and it was terrific. The captain was very nice and the rest of the crew were friendly too. It was a gorgeous day and the boat was fun. read more

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Well I booked a tour for my wife's and I anniversary but couldn't make it because she caught Covid and it was for this weekend 9/28/24 and on their agreement they stated that there is no refunds for the week that your tour was for I called them and explained to them what happened and they did a full refund for us I will definitely book with them again read more

My friend and I went on a getaway and we had a whale tour canceled so I booked this trip morning of. We had so much fun even though my friend vomited (from the ocean, not from kissing a dead fish ). The tour guide was kind, fun, and informative and activities on board were very enjoyable. Just bring nausea meds! read more

Marine Discovery Tours - Boating Near Me - Newport, Oregon

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Absolutely fantastic! You can drive the boat, we chased whales, crabbing and so much more! We were not bored for one second on this tour. The free is so friendly and knowledgeable, the ship is big, clean and extremely well maintained! This is not for little kids, if there are 5 and under it is not going to be very enjoyable for them. We saw more whales on this one outing than I have in my entire life as an Oregonian, it was incredible! My husband has been pretty chicken about any boat activity but at one point his fist were in the air and he shouted "this is awesome, we have to come back!". Our kids are 13 and 16, typical teens and there were so many smiles, both said this has been the best trip of their lives so far. read more

What an amazing experience! I was a little nervous to go out in the ocean, I told one of the men as I got on board that this was the case and he was very reassuring. I went to the top and sat down on a bench and waited for the boat to take off. It was a very easy trip down the river, under the bridge and out past the Jetty and into the open sea. I had taken a dramamine as I am not sure if I would get sea sick or not... Once out on the ocean, the waves were fierce at times but it was FUN to go over them, I felt at one point like I was on one of those kiddie rides at the fair, like the scrambler or flying bobs? We found some whales, chased after them, found them again, chased after them, Thomas (one of the men who I wondered what his last name was because I have a cousin named Thomas who works on one of the boats that I have never met) was very informative about the types of whales we were chasing! Later we caught some crab which I was uncomfortable with but they announced that they would be released back into the Ocean which made me happy, I was able to pet one and then release it back into the water! I personally feel we should leave the Ocean alone and that includes the animals that live in and around it, they find themselves in their own element and then we think its ok to come in and take take take but I was very happy to see this! :) I am moving to the area and plan to do this on occasion, also the women in the gift shop where you check in were super nice, they waved to us as we all came back on shore, oh and yeah, I got a little light headed and was very grateful for the dramamine which I had taken earlier--Ps, there is a restroom on board, something I had wondered beforehand but I never ended up needing to use it. It was clean, comfortable, exciting, Go! Dont let your fears or concerns hold you back! read more

Used to be so much fun, we've been doing this for years but it just wasn't what it used to be. It's great for the kiddos but the pa was not working, the caption never talked, no whales it just seemed off. We scheduled for 9 they moved us to 10 then with no notice moved it to 1pm read more

We had a great time. The captain and the other gentleman were very friendly and helpful. The captain let my daughter drive the boat and the other guy let several kids be involved with pulling the crab pots and interacting with the crabs we caught. We did see a gray whale and many other points of interest. The sea was rougher than I anticipated, I was glad we all took Dramamine first. We spent a small fortune in the gift shop, they carry great stuff including shirts with the artwork of whimsical Alaskan artist Ray Troll. A lovely day, the highlight of our trip to Newport. read more

Marine Discovery Tours - The captain letting my daughter drive the boat. - Boating Near Me - Newport, Oregon

This was the funnest part of out trip to Newport. We were walking around the shops and came upon this place. Since it was a spur of the moment thing, I didn't think there would be room for the 4 if us... but there was. Both the captain and the guide were super friendly and informative. They covered everything from the first-aid measures and what each boat around us did, to the different sea creatures in the area and how to tell apart whale species. We saw a couple of grayback whales that were very close to the boat and we stayed with them for about an hour. It was very cool to be that close to the ginormous creatures! We set crab traps and the kids got to drive the boat. If you have the chance to do this - DO IT! It was a bucket list item for me and the highlight of my year. Well worth the money! read more

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I have never seen a whale in the wild and wanted today to be the day to change that. Never one to really enjoy a guided tour, it was this or rent a row boat. I opted for the ease of a tour. Pricing is reasonable at $36 per adult. The 3 year old was free (they realize most little people actually go to sleep on the boat.) 2 hours of touring with a route based on sea conditions. They have fun activities where you can actually drive the boat and the kiddies get to throw over some crab pots for a surprise on the trip back. The captain and crew narrate the trip and explain local coastal life. The crew actually cares about you. They are constantly checking everyone for seasickness to a.) keep vomit off the boat and b.) to make sure you have a great time. They have small snacks and drinks for a nominal fee if you forgot yours. A few tips: 1,) Dress warm. It's cold and windy on the ocean. You are not a badass just because you are too cool to bring a windbreaker. You will find your cool self sitting in the cabin if you can't bring yourself to wear a jacket. 2.) Dramamine is your friend if you get motion sickness. Don't be afraid to medicate. 3.) if you bring kids, be prepared to hang on tight! Unsupervised kids get hurt on boats. 4.) in addition to your coat, camera, and munchies, bring some tip money. The crew works hard to make sure you have fun. Show them how much fun you had! Oh, and before I forget, we had multiple whale sitings within 50 yards of the boat. Very nice since Mother Nature can be unpredictable. read more

This was an awesome whale watching trip. The crew was great, friendly and very interactive. For the price was a amazing. We threw out crap pots and found so many whales. read more

Marine Discovery Tours - Whale tail - Boating Near Me - Newport, Oregon

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This was an absolute blast!! The staff was super nice over the phone and in person. We saw migrating grey whales, but just going out on the water past the jetties was worth it. I don't get car sick unless I am reading as a passenger, and I did get pretty queasy during the middle of the ride- I only really felt it when we were holding still and the boat was rocking gently, the big waves didn't bother me at all. My tips: Dress warm, like include a base layer and a hat, possibly even gloves as you will be holding onto the railing and won't be able to pocket your hands. Buy some cheap Dramamine at the drug store just-in-case, they sell packages of 40 on site. Pack lightly, I kind of which I didn't have to haul my purse all over the deck. I've been to the Oregon coast aquarium before, but if I had to choose between the two, this boat experience totally wins out! read more

Marine Discovery Tours - Heading back in-land. - Boating Near Me - Newport, Oregon

Worth every penny! Amazing crew that is friendly, intelligent, and interesting. Beautiful boat and points of interest. read more

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Awesome well worth the money. Captain Dan and Delphi were awesome. Seen lots of whales ect... learned a lot up in wheel house and on deck.. read more

Marine Discovery Tours - Ocean things.... - Boating Near Me - Newport, Oregon

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Tour was great and informative for those that know very little about sea life. Kids were able to help their out the bouts and crab pots before we left the harbor. Slowly motored underneath the bridge and out of the bay. We headed north in some somewhat rough water looking for whales. We didn't see anything until we were heading back in. One young whale, way way off in the distance. Oh well, maybe next time. read more

Marine Discovery Tours - Boating Near Me - Newport, Oregon

I have been here three times now. And it gets better every time! My family and I got to see many interesting things and learned new information about the Newport area and the ocean. It was a very nice day to go out and explore and we had a great time! The hosts were very knowledgeable and made the experience much more fun. Totally recommend! read more

Kevin and Nick were great. We had a great time on our recent trip. We had gusty winds, so we couldn't spend much time on the ocean, but we still had so much fun... saw a whale, sea lion, caught crabs, and all the kids got to drive the boat. read more

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Terrific Sea Life Cruise! The kids got to drive the boat in the calmer part of the tour. Once out in the sea, we spotted 3-4 Grey Whales quite immediately. Great to just tag along and watch these big creatures! I could have stayed much longer. The trip also contained crab fishing and a part of education when it comes to the value of plankton to the global Eco system. We got out water sample, filtered the same and looked at the findings though a microscope beamed up on the screens in the boat. Very professional. Very friendly! We were given really good weather today, which probably added quite a bit to the experience. We are a family of 5, with kids ranging from 6-15. All had fun! read more

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Check-in process? Easy. No whales today, but it was foggy, and as with any wildlife, you're never "promised" sightings. Regardless, the 2-hour (yes, 2-hour!!) ride was great. Lots of kids -- which I'm not a fan of -- but they way the tour was set up? VERY kid-friendly. Neat activities. Crabbing. Plankton filtering (and viewed under a high-powered microscope). Kids could "drive" the boat. Very educational. As a former educator, that is enough for my vote. Choppy ocean today, though. Wow! Take your Dramamine! read more

I was expecting more whaley, in your face action, but it was still cool to cruise out to sea and get within 100yds of a big boy gray whale. Ole' notchy must hang out in the same spot all the time, b/c the cpt. knew just where to go. 1st mate Steven gave some educational talks about plankton and referenced the sponge bob character when he displayed a copepod on the video microscope screen. The kids ate it up. We caught some crab and saw some seals and sea lions. Very nice kids do the booking and information giving. A nice young man from Toledo, OR even valeted our car b/c we were running late and couldn't find parking in the crowded tourist area. read more

It's a little pricey but Capt. Bob and Annie did an incredible job. Both were very thoughtful, polite, and funny. We saw a couple of whales for about 30 minutes. They are very family friendly and let the kiddos deploy some crab pods which we picked up on the way back. It was very fun. Some of our kiddos were crying while out on open water so be prepared for that if you have little ones. We have a 19' lake boat we go out on all the time so we thought they would be fine but there are some decent swells that scared them. read more

The woman who described the wildlife and pointed out the whales, was very enthusiastic and great with details! We saw 4 whales and learned a lot about the crabs, whales, jellyfish, cormorants, and other wildlife that live here in Oregon. read more

So much fun!! We left at 9am and had a fabulous time. Morning waters not to choppy and only a slight breeze with beautiful views in every direction. Lots of sea lions, We even saw a couple of whales!! Worth every penny! Captain was friendly and welcoming, as well as the entire staff. We will definitely come back on our next trip!! read more

Marine Discovery Tours - Beautiful view from Marine Discovery Tours deck - Boating Near Me - Newport, Oregon

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This was GREAT! I know that there can not be two tours ever the same. The captain adjusted the tour when we spotted a whale, and the whales put on quite a show. The crew was very enthusiastic, and really got people involved. This was the absolute best ever. If you don't do anything else while in Newport, make sure you go see these people and learn a lot about the beautiful NW. read more

Marine Discovery Tours - My daughter checking out a Dungeness crab they caught on tour. - Boating Near Me - Newport, Oregon

Personable, informative, and comfortable. We've been on many wildlife and harbor cruises and this is one of the best. The crew was very personable, knowledgeable, and safety minded, and the boat was very comfortable. We especially enjoyed getting to hang out in the captain's cabin to warm up, ask questions, and drive the boat for a bit. There's a nice mix of outdoor and indoor space, and relaxation and interactive activities. We look forward to returning! read more

Fabulous!!!! We were going to take a less expensive whale tour in a different coastal town; however, weather and timing brought us to this little gem. We were going to visit the Wax Museum, Undersea Gardens, and the Ripley's Museum just to kill some time until our hotel was ready, but I'm so glad we didn't waste our money on that. Delpha was our biologist guide and Rick was our captain. They were amazing. We dropped crab pots in just after launch and checked them on the way back. Delpha taught us how to hold the crabs safely and about the different kinds of crab we caught. We were able to hold them before releasing them to the sea. My partner got to drive the boat and they answered any questions we had. We saw a whale and lots of seabirds. Also, if you spend all your time looking out for whales, you might miss all the jellyfish and other fish you can see just under the surface. Coffee and tea are complimentary on the boat, soda and bagged snacks are for sale. I would totally recommend this. read more

This was one of our favorite parts of our oregon adventure! The captain and guide were both so friendly and happy to have everyone along for a boat ride! The trip was two hours and was well worth the cost which was very reasonable. We saw whales and learned tons about sea life and the captain let our 8 year old drive the boat! Would definitely join them again for a trip on the bay!! read more

Beware: if the weather is at all bad, they will take your 30 bucks knowing full well they intend to not go out to sea to see whales; and instead give you a shitty harbor tour. They make you sign an agreement that you dont get your money back if they dont go out to sea. Bad Bad form. read more

Got on one of the educational tours with my wife and kids and it was by far the most fun we have ever had at the coast. The captain and crew were amazing and the crew at the front desk were the same. They had a huge group scheduled to go out but told us we could be on standby in case there was room. Even though we weren't officially on the tour yet they still treated us like we were. I have to say this is something you NEED to do if you never had because it is an absolute blast. read more

Went on the boat tour with my wife and son, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun two hour sight seeing outing. We didn't see whales this time, but saw lots of other sea life. They put out two crab pots on the way out and and pulled them in on the way back so any kids or adults could pick them up and learn about / get a picture holding them. Lots of interesting information during the tour about the docks, sea life, fishing operations, history of the area and other tidbits I'm probably forgetting. The crew was very friendly, family oriented, knowledgeable and competent. read more

Wish we could make it up again this year. What a great time on tour and learning so much about this area of the ocean. And with very knowledgeable crew. Thank you ALL! read more

The tour was incredible. Both the captain and our guide were kind and insightful, the boat ride was comfortable, the activities we did were enjoyable, and going out on the ocean was beautiful. I would absolutely recommend Marine Discovery Tours to anyone. read more

We took a "2 hour tour" with Captain Bob and Annie this morning. It was so amazing! We saw 2 whales, dropped crab cages, learned about birds, sea lions and other marine wild life. I felt like Captain Bob was totally capable and fantastic at trying to maneuver the boat to help us see the whales a bit easier. The boat itself was clean and nice and provided plenty of areas to view the wildlife. Annie was amazing! We had our 4 kids with us. Annie was so friendly with them, answered all of their questions, was very knowledgable (she had her degree in biology) and kept us all informed and safe. My 11 year old has some issues with anxiety and Annie noticed how nervous she was. She came over and talked to her about how safe the boat is, how experienced the captain was and really helped calm her fears. She checked back with her several times during our trip. It was a great morning and I'm so glad we chose to do this! read more