Vancouver Half-Day Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos
Recommended by 97% of travelers
Vancouver, Canada
+19
- 5 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
This half-day whale-watching adventure from downtown Vancouver gives you the chance to see whales and other marine life, all with minimal logistical hassle. Hop aboard your luxurious catamaran, complete with heated indoor space and outdoor decks, and set sail. You'll learn all about the local history and geology from your naturalist guides, and can soak up views of the Pacific Northwest scenery while looking out for whales, seals, eagles, and other wildlife.
- Board a comfortable vessel equipped with several viewing areas
- Learn more than you would on other tours from your naturalist guides
- Enjoy beautiful views of the region that many other visitors miss
- Coffee, tea, and hot chocolate help keep you toasty on board
What's Included
- Free Photo Package Featuring Wildlife!
- Educational materials on board
- Complimentary tea, coffee & hot chocolate
- Two washrooms
- Whale Sightings Guarantee—complimentary tours from all locations until you see whales (fees apply).
- 95-passenger vessel featuring indoor, heated cabin with floor to ceiling windows and open air decks
- Captain and expert crew of 3-4 guides/naturalists
- Digital Language Guides available (German, Dutch, Spanish, English, French) More coming soon...
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Gratuities
- Excludes taxes and fees for Lifetime Whale Sighting Guarantee
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 1666 Duranleau St, Vancouver, BC V6H 3Y1, Canada
Please remember to check-in 30 minutes before your adventure, At 1666 Duranleau st on Granville Island behind Bridges restaurant. We will not hold the boat for late guests.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
Fall in love with the beauty of Vancouver on this half-day whale-watching adventure.
The tour departs from Granville Island, near downtown Vancouver. Hop aboard your specially outfitted catamaran, built for whale-watching and designed to minimize its ecological footprint.
Have your camera out and ready as you scan the waters for different species of whales, as well as an array of seabirds and other marine life. You'll travel in comfort in the heated indoor cabins or can head outdoors for unobstructed views.
As you go, your naturalist guides will share their stories and knowledge about the area's geology, wildlife, and ecosystems.
Finally, after half a day on the water, return to your original departure point, where this tour ends.
The tour departs from Granville Island, near downtown Vancouver. Hop aboard your specially outfitted catamaran, built for whale-watching and designed to minimize its ecological footprint.
Have your camera out and ready as you scan the waters for different species of whales, as well as an array of seabirds and other marine life. You'll travel in comfort in the heated indoor cabins or can head outdoors for unobstructed views.
As you go, your naturalist guides will share their stories and knowledge about the area's geology, wildlife, and ecosystems.
Finally, after half a day on the water, return to your original departure point, where this tour ends.
1
Prince of Whales Whale Watching
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Most travelers can participate
- Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, an alternative or full refund will be offered
- Operates in most weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Service animals allowed with proper documentation and life jacket
- Check-in 30 minutes before departure time
- Prince of Whales reserves the right to ask that the credit card used in the booking be presented at check-in, and/or photo ID be presented.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 95 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
What an incredible trip! Not only did we see humpback whales, we saw them breaching at least 20 times. First time we have ever seen such beauty. But what also made this trip special, was the onboard guides. They were extremely friendly and knowledgeable, always smiling and talking to the passengers. In particular, I would like to mention Wilma. This isn’t just a job to her. You could tell she absolutely loves what she does and was so friendly and personably. I would not hesitate to recommend this trip. Fantastic.
Reviews
4.9
based on 5,608 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
All crew were friendly and you could tell they were passionate about what they were doing and very helpful and knowledgeable. We saw Orca & Humpback whales , seals & birds. A great trip.
Amazing experience travelers to know that when they didn’t go on this tour, the staff is amazing and you’ll have an amazing time
Operator found a group of humpback whales and he stayed with them until they left. Tried to find some orcas but none were found. Lucky to see a breaching humpback. The nature guides did a great job explaining the whales behavior. Pictures they took were great.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re so glad you enjoyed your time on the water and were lucky enough to witness a breaching humpback, that’s always a special sight! Our operators and nature guides work hard to provide memorable wildlife encounters and share insights into the animals’ behavior, so we’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed their expertise and the photos. While the orcas didn’t make an appearance this time, we hope you’ll join us again for another adventure and perhaps get to see them next time!
Unbelievable we saw so many whales and seals and orcas. It was so much fun. It was probably one hour too long. That’s my only criticism.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for joining us and sharing your experience! We’re thrilled to hear you had such a fantastic time! We also appreciate your honest feedback about the length of the tour. We’re always looking for ways to improve the experience for our guests. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure in the future!
It was a wonderful experience, the crew is very informative and gave us enough time to eniy watching the whales and orca
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re so glad to hear that you had a great experience and enjoyed the opportunity to spend plenty of time watching the wildlife. It’s also wonderful to know that our crew’s informative commentary added to your experience. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you aboard again for another memorable adventure.
Wonderful trip with beautiful views of the ocean. We did see whales, although not so many- and sea lions. Pow was very knowledgeable and gave us lots of interesting information about maritime life. Crew was friendly and helpful. I liked that they provided pictures of what we’ve seen that day.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We’re glad you enjoyed the beautiful ocean views, whale and sea lion sightings, and found our naturalists knowledge and commentary interesting and informative. We’re also happy to hear that our friendly and helpful crew contributed to your experience and that you appreciated the complimentary photos as a way to remember the wildlife you saw that day. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you aboard again for another memorable adventure.
I had a wonderful trip and we saw lots of fin whales as well as an Orca and sea lions. The crew were friendly and very knowledgeable - able to identify the individual animals by their markings. The crew literally went the extra mile(s) so we could see the whales and orca as close as possible. The colony of sea lions clinging to the data buoy was a real surprise. I really appreciated receiving the photos soon after I got home. Well done Captain Sean + Stephen, Dawson, Tobin and Fox!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for sharing such a fantastic review. We’re delighted to hear that you had a wonderful. It’s great to know that our crew’s knowledge and dedication helped make the experience special, and we’ll be sure to pass your kind words along to Captain Sean, Stephen, Dawson, Tobin, and Fox. We’re also glad you appreciated receiving the photos soon after your trip so you could relive those memorable moments. Thank you again for recommending us, and we hope to see you back on the water again soon.
I know the operator cannot control the weather, but it was poor viewing and we were not allowed on deck to see the whales.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that the weather affected your viewing experience and that you were disappointed about not being able to spend time on deck. Safety is always our top priority, and in certain weather and sea conditions, access to the outside deck may need to be restricted by the captain. While we can’t control the weather or wildlife activity, we understand how frustrating it can be when visibility is limited, and we appreciate your understanding. We hope you’ll consider joining us again on a calmer day for a better opportunity to enjoy the experience.
We really enjoyed our whale watching tour. The tour staff were very knowledgeable about whales and the wildlife in the area. We got to see about 3 different types of whales during the trip. The boat ride was comfortable and not too choppy. The free hot tea and hot cocoa on board was appreciated and helped us stay warm between sightings. The overall trip lasted about four and a half hours and was a nice way to spend the afternoon. I'd recommend for those who would like to see whales while learning about them.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the whale watching tour and appreciated our knowledgeable crew, comfortable boat, and the opportunity to see several different types of whales and wildlife. We’re also glad the hot tea and hot cocoa helped keep you warm between sightings. It’s wonderful to know that you found the experience both enjoyable and educational, and we truly appreciate your recommendation. We hope to welcome you aboard again for another memorable adventure.
This tour has a large boat and very spacious. Captain Sean and First Mate Stephen made sure we saw whales. Naturalists Dawson, Fox and Tobin were full of information! This was a fantastic trip. The 3pm trip in September allows for a low sun in the sky and a lot of spouts. At one point we were right near 6 humpback whales.
I picked this boat since I am prone to Sea Sickness. After taking Bonine I did not even feel queezy and we were warned about rough waters.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for sharing such a detailed review! We’re thrilled to hear you had a fantastic trip and enjoyed the beautiful September afternoon on the water. Seeing six humpback whales together, along with all those incredible spouts, must have been an unforgettable sight. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to Captain Sean, First Mate Stephen, and naturalists Dawson, Fox, and Tobin. We’re also glad you felt comfortable and well prepared throughout the trip, and we truly appreciate you choosing to join us!
An extremely well organised and informative tour.
Hot drinks are provided.
Its quite chilly and breezy on the water so bring layers - jacket, fleece, hat...
Brilliant professional photos are provided of the wildlife but not the views.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share such a thoughtful review! We’re so glad you found the tour well organized and informative, and that you appreciated the hot drinks and professional wildlife photos. You’re absolutely right that it can be chilly and breezy out on the water, so bringing plenty of layers is always a good idea. We really appreciate your feedback and hope you enjoyed the experience and the incredible wildlife sightings!
The team and sure we saw what we came for. Sean captain ansld Connor 1st mate. Belu was our guide and did great. Harbor seals, Orca and humpback. They had interesting facts shared. It really was worth the time and cost.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear you saw everything you came hoping for! We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to Sean, Connor, and Belu. We’re so glad they could make your trip both memorable and informative, and it means a lot to hear that you felt the experience was well worth the time and cost. We hope to welcome you back aboard again someday!
This was the best!!! We saw humpback whales, orcas, and sea lions! But the crew was absolutely amazing! We loved talking Jake throughout our trip he was so wonderful and knowledgeable — but truly the whole crew was fantastic!! Anthony, Luke, Tamsen, Ashley, and Jake! They are the best!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for the fantastic review and enthusiastic recommendation, Jessica! We are thrilled to hear you had such an amazing experience and got to see humpback whales, orcas, and sea lions. It is wonderful to know that Jake made your trip extra special with his knowledge and friendly personality. We will be sure to share your kind words with Jake, Anthony, Luke, Tamsen, and Ashley. We hope to have you back on the water for another unforgettable adventure!
We were very lucky and saw an Orca and several humpback whales. We went to a rock area that had seals. The guides are very informative and answer all questions.
They worked hard to locate the whales and kept us in the loop the entire time.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for the wonderful review! We are so glad you had such a fabulous adventure and were lucky enough to see an orca, several humpback whales, and seals. It is great to hear that our guides kept you informed throughout the trip, answered your questions, and worked hard to find the wildlife. We hope to welcome you back for another memorable day on the water!
This experience is worth the money. Many orca and humpback whales were spotted as well as sea lions.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for the great review, Antoinette! We are so glad to hear you felt the experience was worth it and that you had the chance to see so many incredible animals, including orcas, humpback whales, and sea lions. We hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable day on the water!
It was a great experience. Highly recommended. Ashley was enthusiastic, informative and entertaining throughout the cruise. We saw several Orcas, sea lions, bay seals, as well as numerous humpback whales.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for the wonderful review and recommendation! We are thrilled to hear you had such a great experience and got to see so much incredible wildlife, including orcas, sea lions, harbour seals, and numerous humpback whales. It is especially great to hear that Ashley made the trip so enjoyable with her enthusiasm, knowledge, and entertaining commentary. We will be sure to share your kind words with her. We hope to see you again for another whale of a tour!
Fantastic day viewing, got extremely lucky seeing Orcas, Humpback Whales, Sea Lions and Seals.
Crew, Jake for our section, extremely knowledgable and gave plenty of facts and information around the area and sea life.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for the fantastic review, Dale! We are so glad you had such a memorable day and got to see orcas, humpback whales, sea lions, and seals. It is wonderful to hear that Jake shared plenty of interesting facts about the area and local marine life. We will be sure to pass along your kind words to him. We hope to welcome you back for another wildlife adventure soon!
Dress warmly as temps out on the water is much colder especially with the wind. The hot beverages served are a must!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for sharing your experience and for the 5* review, Stephen! We are glad you had a fun time out on the water searching for whales and other wildlife. You are absolutely right that it can feel much colder on the water, especially with the wind, so dressing warmly is always a good idea. We are happy the hot beverages helped keep you comfortable. We hope to see you again on another adventure!
The whales gave us a real show and the biologists were great at giving pertinent information. Loved seeing the sea lions and cute harbor seals; such characters! We were happy to get the info about what to wear! Be warm!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We’re thrilled to hear the whales put on such a memorable show and that you enjoyed the insightful commentary from our naturalists. We’re glad our recommendations on what to wear helped you stay comfortable and warm throughout the trip. Thank you for joining us, and we hope to see you back on the water again soon!
Excellent tour, got to see Humpback and Orca Whales and Sea Lions and Seals. The crew were absolutely amazing, I highly recommend this tour if you are in Vancouver
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for the fantastic review and recommendation! We’re thrilled to hear you had an excellent tour. We’re especially glad our crew helped make your experience so enjoyable. We truly appreciate you joining us and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure on the water!
Awesome, enchanting experience. Captain Karl, Stephen, Caitlin, Ashley, and Dani are such a splendid crew. They took us to the perfect area to encounter these humpback whales. These humpbacks stayed around our boat for 45 minutes and entertained us with their playful performance. We witnessed some killer whales from a decent distance too. Hail to Prince of Whales!!!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear you had such an enchanting experience and were treated to an incredible 45-minute encounter with the humpback whales, along with a glimpse of the killer whales. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with Captain Karl, Stephen, Caitlin, Ashley, and Dani. It’s fantastic to know their expertise and enthusiasm helped make your time on the water so memorable. Thank you for choosing Prince of Whales, we hope to see you again for another unforgettable adventure!
Absolutely loved our experience! The naturalists were extremely knowledgeable and willing to share their experiences. Shoutout to the entire crew (Roman, Keegan, Wilma, Caitlin, and Belu) for being amazing :)
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for the fantastic review! We’re thrilled to hear you absolutely loved your experience and enjoyed learning from our knowledgeable naturalists. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with Roman, Keegan, Wilma, Caitlin, and Belu, they’ll be delighted to hear they helped make your trip so special. We truly appreciate you joining us and hope to see you again on the water soon!
Great guides, overall boat condition & value...we had close encounters with humpbacks (swam under boat) & also saw some orcas! The guides/captain seem to go out of their way to find the wildlife & spend plenty of time for observation & lots of pics, which was greatly appreciated! Definitely recommend!!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for the fantastic review and recommendation, Daniel! We are so glad you were riding in comfort with us, and enjoyed your time with our expert crew. What an amazing day on the water, seeing both humpback whales with a special close encounter as well as seeing orcas! We hope we can welcome you back again for another exciting excursion!
A beautiful day. We were lucky enough to see Noah a Kilter Whale surface for us. We were also fortunate to see several Humpback whales. Dani was very enthusiastic abd really loves her job.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for the wonderful review, Donna! We will be sure to pass on your kind words to Dani, we are delighted you enjoyed your time on board taking in all the knowledge she had to share! Noah is an iconic killer whale in these waters, and it is always so exciting to get to spot him on his adventures. The majestic humpback whales are always such a breathtaking sight. We hope we will get to welcome you back aboard for more enchanting adventures!
It was over the top! The staff were extra great and kind and knowledgeable! The complimentary hot drinks were awesome and we saw tons of whales. ALSO, the professional photos that arrive after the cruise were awesome! Never needed a camara!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for the fantastic review, Yvette! We’re so glad you had such an incredible experience and appreciated the kindness and knowledge of the crew. It’s wonderful to hear that you enjoyed the whale sightings, hot drinks, and complimentary wildlife photos. Thank you for joining us, and we hope to welcome you back for another adventure!
We had a fabulous time on the boat. The crew were so informative and receiving the additional photos was great. Would highly recommend
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for the wonderful review, Wendy! We’re so glad you had such a fabulous time and appreciated the knowledge shared by the crew. It’s great to hear that you enjoyed the complimentary wildlife photos as well. Thank you for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back for another adventure!
Our tour was incredible. The staff were super friendly, knowledgeable, and everything was on time. We saw several whales & witnessed one breech multiple times (rare). I highly recommend!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for the fantastic review, Maggie! We’re so glad you had such an incredible experience and appreciated the friendly and knowledgeable crew. It’s wonderful to hear that you enjoyed some amazing whale sightings, including multiple breaches! Thank you for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back for another adventure!
Absolutely worth every minute & dollar! The boat was comfortable & well equipped. But getting up close & personal with the whales & wildlife was priceless! Knowledgeable staff, experienced captain, & beautiful photos captured the adventure perfectly.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for the fantastic review, Nikki! We’re so glad you enjoyed the comfortable vessel, incredible wildlife encounters, and knowledge of the crew. It’s wonderful to hear that the complimentary photos captured the experience so well. Thank you for joining us, and we hope to welcome you back for another adventure!
Exciting and informative tour. Seeing so many humpbacks and watching one breach multiple times was amazing!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! It sounds like you had an incredible day on the water. Seeing so many humpbacks is special enough, but getting to watch one breach multiple times is truly unforgettable! We’re so glad you enjoyed both the wildlife and the experience, and we hope to welcome you aboard again someday.
We had a great time.. Staff was friendly and very knowledgeable! Loved the free hot chocolate as it was chilly and hot the spot! Saw humpbacks but no Orcas but we looked!! Recommend highly
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for the wonderful review, Mark! We’re so glad you had a great time and enjoyed the knowledge and friendliness of our crew. While the orcas kept us searching this time, we’re happy you got to spend some time with the humpbacks! And we agree, a hot chocolate definitely hits the spot on those chilly days out on the water. Thank you for recommending us!
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$179.87
per personWas $189.35(-5%)
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Vancouver Half-Day Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos
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