This was our first whale watching experience and it was wonderful. We did 8am Mother's Day morning and spent a little over 3 hours on the water. We seen 4 different species dolphins, 2 baby humpbacks near the harbor and a trio of full grown humpbacks further out. Chase was great and even let our little one go in steer the boat on the way back. We bought one of his framed photos before leaving and would for sure do this again. The smaller boat allowed them to get the dolphins to "surf" along the bow and that was a super fun experience. read more

What went well? Whales! I have been on The Sanctuary out of Moss Landing several times and it gets better each trip! Plus the whales are 5 minutes from the harbor. The Captain and marine biologist are really passionate about what they do and helping all the passenger get great views of the wildlife. And the boat is nice and never crowded. read more

We had an amazing experience with Sanctuary cruises, first thing it's a smaller boat so a lot less people and having to take photos with 20 people in front of you is pretty terrible. They are local and they are very experienced and know the bay very well, it was the beginning of the season and they find us a "show" that was just unforgettable, They went beyond the schedule time to be sure that we won't miss a thing.... We will be back soon for the full season! read more

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This is my fourth time using sanctuary to go whale watching. I have never been disappointed. Today we saw a lot of humpbacks and orcas! I love the crew highly recommend. read more

I have gone on many whale watching trips in this region, and today was honestly beyond wonderful. Sanctuary cruises does it all well! Brian was super helpful and kind with our booking and called us back promptly. The captain Joey knew right where the action was, allowing us to spend a whole hour watching two families of Bigg's Orca whales celebrate a successful hunt with breaches, tail slaps, and other incredible acrobatics. We also watched humpback whales put on a show and lunge feed off to the side of the boat! Naturalist Luke shared fascinating stories about these amazing creatures. I have regularly taken my science students out on this boat because they always provide personalized, phenomenal service, and make everyone feel at home and safe. You won't regret booking a trip with this outfit! read more

This was the most amazing whale watch I have ever been on!! The crew was so nice and knowledgeable and we had a female humpback with our boat for an hour and a half just looking at us and showing off.. it was so special! I would do this again in a heartbeat, as a matter fact, I might do it again next week! Super easy to book and a very small boat that is low to the water so you get a really great experience, I think the weekends are probably busy but I went on a Friday on the 11:30 AM and had a fantastic time ! We probably saw over 25 whales, and then of course the dolphins and all the wildlife and birds and sea lions and an otter too. 10 stars! read more

Sanctuary Cruises - Boat Charters Near Me - Moss Landing, California

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Got so up close to the great white sharks. Better than amazing! Captain was very nice and naturalist was very informative.

Late review, but I wanted to acknowledge a wonderful experience my family and I had back in February with Sanctuary Cruises. We had never gone whale watching before and decided to give a try on recent trip to Monterey. After doing a bit of research, we decided on Sanctuary for a couple of reasons. First off was while their boat is not as large as some more widely known tours in the area, they cater to a more intimate experience. I believe the boat is suitable for 40+ but they only book each tour for 20+. This allows for plenty of room to look and move around. This is extremely important when actually watching the sea life you encounter. Easy to move from front to back, left to right. Great for pictures, video, whatever. Next is where you dock from. Moss Landing is where the whales are. Docking from there allows you to get to and from the watch area faster. Those other Monterey tours spend significant time just getting to and from where the whales are. Less time to the whales...More time with the whales. The tour has a marine biologist aboard. He was great at providing info on the whales and dolphins we saw. The crew was polite and engaging. Boat was clean, and there is a restroom and small snack bar aboard. Whale watching in February can be a bit slow since it isn't prime watching season. We had a blast regardless. Spent about an hour with 3 Gray whales and another hour with about 100 dolphins. Whales surfaced repeatedly and the dolphins were just incredible. We were completely surrounded. On our way back we even encountered a small Humpback (not in season). Crew followed for a while even though we were on our return, and we got to see one tail slap. I'm not including any pictures because they don't do the experience any justice. You really got to see it with your own eyes. Tour lasted about 3.5 hours which is plenty. Added bonus is the Moss Landing area has a few shops and restaurants that are highly rated. Great for before and after meals/walking around. read more

We had a wonderful memorial cruise for our parents. Captain Chase was great, respecting our privacy while saying goodbye, but also friendly and informative during the rest of our cruise. Brian was fantastic and flexible with organizing the whole thing, which had to be rescheduled twice. Will totally go out with them again, hopefully on a less sad occasion. read more

Had a great experience whale watching on Mother's Day with my Wife and Son. Chase and Captain Joe were great and I would recommend. Heed the preparatory message about sea sickness if you (or your party) is not experienced. The wrist band is good for those that might be susceptible. read more

Found this cruise last minute due to holiday travel plans changing. We saw humpback whales and orcas! We found then both real fast and so we chased the orcas for a while and spent time with the humpbacks at the beginning and end. Only wish was maybe not chasing orcas because my nieces really wanted to see dolphins closer (bow riding) and bigger pods than orcas. It was an amazing trip and I'll definitely take any of my friends that come to visit. read more

We had such an amazing experience with Chase and Giancarlo. We booked a tour with them for Monday, 11/3 at 8 AM, and it was literally just my party of 3 and two others. Really awesome private tour we were fortunate to experience! Giancarlo and Chase worked so hard to spot the pods of whales, and it really paid off - we saw 30-40 whales. hurdles of sea lions, a few sooty shearwaters, and so many other creatures. Chase and Giancarlo spouted out so many whale facts, and the whole thing was just amazing! Dress warm and wear waterproof layers! Otherwise, it will be hard to enjoy! There was a gentleman aboard with us who had all the camera gear strapped. He said he'd been on 20+ tours with Chase and that they were the best! read more

Best whale watching experience I've had around Monterey Bay so far! Granted, I've only been twice before (both out of Monterey's Fisherman's Wharf), but this trip stood out. The boat was much smaller, yet surprisingly, no one got seasick--unlike my previous puke-filled tours. They're good about offering motion sickness remedies ($7 NASA astronaut motion sickness bracelet for rental). I took dramamine and felt fine. We saw a good number of whales up close--closer than on any other tour I've been on. And Captain Chase was informative, while still being able to keep my ADHD brain engaged. Would definitely recommend! One thing to note: we booked the night before and it seemed like the tour time had just changed before we booked. Not sure if those with existing bookings were notified last-minute, so keep an eye out for any updates if you book in advance. read more

We had an amazing day with Chase on our Sanctuary cruise! Chase and crew were knowledgeable, professional, and fun! They went out of their way to find us whales to view! It was incredible! We saw multiple whales and learned a lot about the wild life in Monterey Bay. My entire family highly recommends Sanctuary Cruises. We will be booking our next outing soon. Thank you to Chase and crew. read more

Grandson and I took the 11:30 cruise on a spectacularly beautiful day last week. We had a fine time. Joe and GC were friendly, energetic, and treated us to orca watching about 9 miles out at the edge of the Monterey canyon. I have been on other tours out of Monterey on boats stuffed with passengers, so I appreciated this boat with @20 people on it. We were able to walk around comfortably to see the animals and staff made sure we didn't miss a beat. I felt very safe, moving about was not an issue. Several professional photographers were on board so it was fun to see them do their thing. Also saw humpbacks, mats of sea lions, dolphins, and otters. The orcas had made a kill and were celebrating their "meal" so it was exciting. We will repeat with them in November. read more

Amazing!!!!!! captains, Joey, and John Carlo really love what they do I have been whale watching on the East Coast for many years, but what I got to see in Monterey Bay was just over the top When you come upon a large group of sea lions and sea birds just to see four or five humpback whales feeding thru the middle of it with great enthusiasm!!! yes I was completely hooked!!! I can't go back again next year and bring my niece! If you're anywhere near the Monterey Bay area, please please do yourself a favor and go whale watching with Sanctuary Cruises read more

I've been on two trips with these guys and they've both been absolutely amazing. I was fortunate enough to see a super pod of dolphins that was estimated in the thousands on the first trip along with some humpbacks and sea lions The second trip included a pod of transient killer whales, with a huge male named Hercules, as well as a baby Orca. There were also some humpbacks that put on an hour-plus breaching show for us. It. Was. Amazing. read more

Sanctuary Cruises - Humpback Whale - Boat Charters Near Me - Moss Landing, California

Great customer service.They were willing to work with us to accommodate our schedule. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. They answered our questions thoroughly. We saw about 20 humpback whales at fairly close range and several rafts of sea lions, as well as a few seals and Sea Otters as well as a sprinkling of sea birds. The sea sickness wristbands that you can rent. Worked beautifully and I am usually prone to sea sickness. There was a bathroom on board, but it is a very small vessel which is great, because it allows you to get close to the whales. We lucked out with some very active whales that day. It was just wonderful and I would definitely do it again. read more

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We had an amazing time, despite the freezing cold rain. Saw lots of humphack whales playing - slapping the water, waving with their fins, breaching half of their bodies out of water putting on a show - could have sworn they were on Santuary's payroll! read more

Sanctuary Cruises - Having a blast in Monterey Bay! - Boat Charters Near Me - Moss Landing, California

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Brian was very kind and flexible with booking. It's relatively easy to load wheelchairs on the boat and the owners were really helpful with that and nicely explaining whale facts. We sighted 8+ whales in our 3 hour tour from up close multiple times. We saw blowholes, orca hunts, humpback feeding, as well as orcas jumping out the water and humpbacks raising their head. We followed the animals very closely and always had a good view. read more

This is the HANDS DOWN best whale-watching ECO trip in the Monterey Bay Area! The boat is cozy but it's all you need! It's close to the water so when the whales come up, you SEE them up close and personal. Chase Dekker and Jackson are the best combo around. Chase is the best naturalist/photographer around and Jackson is the best captain. I have been on 2, almost 3 Photography centric cruises and whale watching several times and every single time was memorable!! I have been on other boats in Moss Landing and Monterey and I will never go on anything other than the Sanctuary! Do yourself a favor and book a trip! read more

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First time whale watchers we joined Sanctuary Cruises on 10/5. Tons of whales right away which makes sense because you're launching out of Moss Landing. The highlight of the trip was being able to seeing Aurora's killer whale pod! Other pros: - Chase & Jean Carlo were super friendly and dropped a bunch of facts during the trip - They offer motion sickness bands for renting - The boat has ample space for every person to get a front row seat. Isn't overcrowded I'm planning on booking again soon! read more

DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY! I booked a Friday whale watch for an 11:30 AM departure time. The Thursday prior with less than 12 hours notice I get a text message that they're moving the whale watch from 11:30 AM to 10 AM. I emailed and called the company twice and upon the second call got a man on the phone who didn't give his name. I told him about the text message I received and asked him what our options were. He told me our options were to do the whale watch at 10 AM because that's when it was leaving now, never offering a refund. No apology, just attitude. I then let him know that we are coming from two hours away and that was an issue for us. He then proceeded to tell me how much better it would be at 10 AM and when I reminded him that we don't live in Monterey, he began yelling at me on the phone. He began to yell some more when I asked for a refund. I let him know he was highly unprofessional and I will never be using this ratchet company and I hope you won't as well! Brian, your comment to my reply offers nothing but a poor excuse to your unprofessional and emotional reaction to a client asking for a refund which you never offered. You have absolutely no reason or right to start screaming at a client over the phone because they ask for a refund that you never offered and especially when you fail as a business to book enough tickets. NOT how you run a business. NOT how you speak to someone who needs customer service. read more

We go out on the Sanctuary several times a year. There's no better whale watching than Monterey Bay (and we've been to Bahia San Ignacio with the Gray Whales), and no better Monterey Bay whale watching company than Santucary Cruises. We lucked out and got on the first photo and drone workshop trip on their new board, the Meridian. It's a 50' luxury yacht and they limit it to 6 passengers. First time flying a drone and it was over a pod of Risso Dolphins and they Baird's Beaked Whales. Epic Trip. Great boat. Great crew. Great time. read more

Seriously, don't bother researching. I did all the research and landed on Sanctuary Cruises. I was right! LOL THE BEST whale watching boat and crew! Chase and Joe were as excited as we were to see these magnificent creatures in their ocean! I talked to a couple on our trip who have done whale watching with Sanctuary 17 times! They said they had done a few others before and Sanctuary is the best! read more

Sanctuary Cruises - 9-15-23 Humpback Whales lunging for food! - Boat Charters Near Me - Moss Landing, California

Love this company so so so much!!!!! Have been out many times with them... always enjoyable! Can not wait to go out again! read more

Sanctuary Cruises - Boat Charters Near Me - Moss Landing, California

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My husband and I took the morning whale watching tour back in September 2023 and we had an amazing time! We saw so many whales right out of the harbor, and even got to witness several huge feeding frenzy with thousands of sea lions jumping through the water, hunting with sea birds and humpback whales. It was truly spectacular! When I came back to Monterey with my mom this past week (we took the morning cruise on 4/11/24), I knew we had to go with Sanctuary Cruises again! Just like the first time, we had an amazing experience. The crew is super knowledgable, kind, and attentive, and they KNOW what they are doing! We were able to see tons of whales, including lots of up-close breaches, and several whales lunge feeding no more than 10 feet from the boat. I can't recommend Sanctuary Cruises enough! Definitely go with them! read more

This is hands down the best crew and boat for Whale Watching in Monterey Bay. I have been on 4 or 5 different boats and Sanctuary Cruises has the best Captain and Naturalists around! The owners are helpful and the process is to reserve and pay is excellent. Boat is safe and perfect size group so that you can see the whales and not feel over crowded with people. First class small business and I will continue to ride Sanctuary as often as I can! read more

Sanctuary Cruises - Grey Whales on 3/27/23 - Boat Charters Near Me - Moss Landing, California

went on Sanctuary cruises 2 trips today with Captain Joey and naturalist, photographer Chase Dekker. Both trips were different but amazing in their own right. We saw whales, dolphins, lunge feeding, bow riding, breaching whales, and mother and calf pairs. Plenty of room on the boat for everyone as they take less people than capacity. Both Joey and Chase grew up here in Monterey and are the best whale and dolphin finders. We always go to whales where something is going on and they go out of their way to give you the best ever experience. All the first time whale watchers are really lucky (or not so lucky) because they end up having the most incredible experience and they think it is normal which it is not. Ilive a few hours away and used to go to Monterrey for whale watching until I learned of Moss Landing 6 years ago, It is at the mouth of the canyon so for example today we went out of the harbor and there were 6 whales we watched. Monterrey whale boats have to come to Moss Landing by boat which takes time away from their whale experience. I am passionate about whales and it is important to me that l go out with the right people. They are knowledgeable, great with keeping you safe, caring, love their jobs and want you to have the best experience ever and make sure that happens. You will not be disappointed and you will be very nappy you read this review before booking your whale trip. If you can go on more than one trip |highly recommended it as each trip,is different. Do not go looking for a groupon or a cheap trip as you get what you pay for and you will not have the kind of fantastic, life changing, joy filled trip that I have on the Sanctuary. If this is a once in a lifetime thing you are doing save up to go with the best. The memories you and your family will receive are priceless. read more

Polite staff who were knowledgeable and also kindly chatted with us and answered questions. We saw a lot of whales and had a great experience overall! read more

Had such an amazing day whale watching with Captain Joey. Erin provided so much incredible information and Giancarlo was so fun and helpful. Cant wait to go back! read more

Sanctuary Cruises - Whales eating lunch - Boat Charters Near Me - Moss Landing, California

Our beach clean up group had an incredible time thanks to Erin and Mike sharing their knowledge and expertise. Very comfortable boat and we saw so many whales up close. read more

Chase Dekker (naturalist)/photographer) and Jackson (captain) are hands down the absolute best whale watching crew around. I would give them more stars if Yelp allowed it. I can say they are the best, without a doubt, because I have been on many others in the Moss Landing and Monterey Bay Area. I honestly think I have lost count as to how many trips my boyfriend and I have been on with this specific crew, that's how much we love it. We've gone on the morning trips, afternoon trips, and even were lucky enough to go on one of Chase Dekker's photo workshops and spent literally all day out on the water. This crew ALWAYS goes above and beyond in making sure that if something exciting is happening out in the water, Sanctuary is right there to witness and experience it. For example, last weekend we went out and there was "chatter" about a mega pod of dolphins several miles out West of where we were, captain Jackson booked it so that we would be able to witness this firsthand (even meaning we were 30 minutes past our scheduled tour time). Sanctuary Cruises is great for families and is great for beginners and experienced whale watching enthusiasts. You get to see so much wildlife, it's incredible. We've seen humpback whales, risso dolphins, northern right whale dolphins, pacific white sided dolphins, ocean sunfish (mola), sea otters, white footed albatross', fur seals, sea lions, seals, by-the-wind sailors, and so much more. Cool things specifically about Sanctuary Cruises: * Smaller boat, lowest railing of any whale watching boat (that I'm aware of) so you have the best views and are essentially as close as you can get to the whales without physically being in the water with them. * Intimate setting, they never book over 25 people even with a capacity to take about 40 people. They prioritize wanting to make sure everybody has prime viewing capability. * Chase Dekker is the boat's naturalist and a professional photographer, he has been published in National Geographic, ABC, BBC, Lonely Planet, Nature's Best Photography, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. One of his photos was even featured in the Smithsonian and another one of his photos went viral (humpback "swallowing" a seal). * Chase and Captain Jackson are the only born and raised crew out of Monterey, they have decades of experience and I feel like they know all there is to know. Important to know: 1. Bathroom and sink are available on the boat (cannot flush toilet paper, has to be thrown away in the trash) 2. Venmo QR code available for easy payments Most important things to bring (in my opinion): 1. Dramamine & water 2. Warm clothes (beanie, gloves, scarf, windbreaker/jacket) 3. Waterproof shoes (I like to wear my rain boots) 4. Sunglasses & sunscreen 5. Binoculars 6. Camera and/or phone 7. Extra battery pack/power bank with cord to charge your phone Things available for purchase prior to and on the boat: - Motion sickness vibrating bracelet - $7.00 - Snacks (candy, chips, granola bars, etc.) - $2.00 - Photos taken by Sanctuary's very own professional protographer- $20.00 + (dependent on size) The one thing that my boyfriend and I wish was different would be the cost (although you do get what you pay for). We absolutely love going out on these trips, but the cost limits our ability to go out as much as we would like to. It would be amazing if different discounts were offered, for example: $___ off when you refer a friend, book 3 trips and get the 4th free/discounted, or even some sort of annual pass would be absolutely amazing. read more

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We went on a cruise in early December. There weren't many other people that day so we had tons of space on the boat. Chase was great, shared tons of information about the wildlife we were seeing and the bay generally, he also answered many questions. Even before we got on the boat in the morning Chase and the boat captain had a plan for where to go based on what they'd heard from other boats. We spent a bunch of time with orcas (who came right up to the boat at one point) and then humpbacks. After confirming no one needed to get back to shore on time, we stayed out on the water for longer than scheduled to see more animals. What a great time! read more

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Amazing whale watching trips! 100% recommend! Best in the Monterey bay! Everything from sea otters, sea lions, humpback whales, to the killer whales! Fun for the whole family read more

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We saw so many whales and our tour guide Chase explained how to look for them and where they will jump out for food. We went very close to the whales! read more

On boat now! Captain Joey and Chase made the trip incredible. Saw lots of whales even in he fog had close encounters. They take-less people so lots-of room-for everyone-to Have great views. They make sure to find. The most active whales and always aim to please The boat is great and low enough to Feel you are with the whales. I come from 2 hours away and spend 4 days on the-boat all day as every day is an adventure and chance to-see something new. We had-breaching, pec slapping, mom and baby, tail slapping,lunge feeding 15 whales, birds sea lions all over . Always amazing. One of the best experiences in life not to be missed! They were both raised here so they are knowledgeable about all the area has to offer and know the waters well. read more

My friends and I booked a whale watching tour for 8/10. We had a spectacular time! The crew members are knowledgeable, constantly check-in on you, and direct you to the side of the boat you should look out for whales. This was our first whale watching tour and it will not be our last! We will continue to book with Sanctuary Cruises for future tours, we hope to catch some killer whales next time :) read more

Capt. Mike and Chase did an awesome job of putting us on the whales and sea lions. We saw over 10 humpback whales and hundreds of sea lions. The boat was comfortable and well maintained. We can't wait to come back and do their shark tour! read more

Sanctuary Cruises - Boat Charters Near Me - Moss Landing, California

We utilized Sanctuary for a memorial cruise. The staff was at the gate promptly, was very courteous and informative. The boat was perfect for our group of 18 people. The ride out was comfortable and they shut off the motor while we performed our memorial service so out was nice and quiet. The ride back was also comfortable. There is a small cabin for folks that got cold and a restroom. They left the dock a bit early and returned at the appointed time, so we got a little over an hour. I would utilize them again. read more