Can I upgrade my ticket to the VIP sky deck?
Yes, for an additional $20.00 per person, you can purchase an upgrade. If you would like to do so, please select the VIP Upper Deck option when purchasing your ticket. To see which boat is going out at a specific time, please check the box at the top of the page where dates and times are listed.

Do you guarantee that I'll see a whale on every trip?
While we can’t guarantee a whale sighting every trip, our experience has allowed us to maintain an unsurpassed record for success in the Monterey Bay area! If you do not see a whale and/or dolphin, you will receive a voucher to come back for another trip for free.

Am I likely to get seasick?
We can not predict when or who will get seasick. It depends on each individuals sensitivity to the motion. It is always a good idea to do something to prevent seasickness. Medication and Ginger products are available for purchase. We cannot officially advise you to take any medication, however.

Are the boats handicapped accessible?
We do not allow walkers or wheel chairs on our boats due to the safety of all passengers. Unfortunately, there are 14 steps down to our loading area and one large step onto the boat over the water that are not passable by a wheelchair. If you are mobile and able to navigate the steps, our friendly staff is always willing to assist you. If you need more information, please click on ""Contact MontereyWW"" on the left of the page.

Can you bring dogs?
As much as we love dogs we do not allow them on the boats. This is for your dogs comfort and safety. However, service animals are allowed on board, but not a therapy dog.

Are there age restrictions?
We do not take children under 3 years of age.

Can pregnant women attend the trip?
No, for safety reasons pregnant women are not allowed on the trips.

When is the best trip of the day?
Generally the morning trips are the calmer trips of the day, but that really depends on the weather for the day as well. However if the weather is fair the whale watching is good all day long!!

Which boat will I be on?
The 110 ft. Princess Monterey departs at 9am, 12:30 and 3:30. The 100ft Atlantis Monterey departs at 10am and 2:00pm and 5pm. Princess Monterey Whale Watching reserves the right to substitute one vessel for the other at any time without prior notice.

What kind of whales will I see?
The kinds of whales that you see depend on the time of year. During the winter (December through April), you’ll most likely see California Gray Whales, who generally travel only a few short miles from the coast. During the rest of the year (April through November), popular sightings include humpback whales, fin whales, minke whales, orcas (killer whales), and mighty blue whales (the largest animal to inhabit the earth).

What other marine life should I expect to see?
There is plenty of wildlife in the area, such as seals (including the Harbor seal and Northern Elephant Seal), sea lions (including the California Sea Lion, Stellar Sea Lion, and Northern Fur Seal), dolphins (including the Common Dolphin, Risso's Dolphin, Pacific White-sided Dolphin, Northern Right Whale Dolphin, and Bottlenose Dolphin), porpoises (including the Harbor Porpoise and Dall's Porpoise), Southern Sea Otters, Leatherback Sea Turtles, and various seabirds (including loons, grebes, black-footed albatross, shearwaters, pelicans, cormorants, phalaropes, jaegers, gulls, terns, and alcids), along with sharks, ocean sun fish, and jellyfish.

How long is the tour?
The cruise lasts between 2.5 to 3 hours, depending on how far/long we have to travel to locate where the whales are for that day (duration may also be impacted by the condition of the sea).

Do your trips depart on time?
Sometimes departures may be delayed up to 30 minutes due to weather, late returns previous trip, or other conditions determined by staff. Thank You for your patience if this were to happen.

How far do we have to travel to view whales?
Because the distribution of whales and dolphins in the Monterey Bay depends on their migration route or where their food is located, we may have to travel between 2 and 16 miles (3 and 26 km) from the harbor.

What happens in the event of bad weather?
Severe weather in this area of California is rare and cruises will proceed as scheduled in light rain and other mild weather conditions. Both our boats are enclosed with plenty of large windows, so your visibility shouldn't be impaired! In the rare event that a cruise for which you have purchased tickets is cancelled, you will have the opportunity to to reschedule your tickets (subject to availability), receive credit towards a future event, or receive a full refund.

Do I have to purchase tickets in advance?
Advanced purchase is strongly recommended, as cruises often sell out well in advance. To maximize your chances of getting the day and time you prefer, please book as far ahead of time as possible.

What if I want tickets for a future day not listed?
If the day and time you are looking for has not yet been added to the calendar, we encourage you to keep checking back on the website, as we extend our schedule regularly.

How close can we get?
We follow the federal whale watching guidelines; stopping the boat at least 300 ft (91 m) away from the whales and allowing the whales to approach us. The California coast offers a unique opportunity to observe whales and other marine wildlife year round. We offer a safe, fun, and educational trip for the whole family to enjoy.

How should we dress?
We recommend that you dress in warm layers, wear long pants, and a warm windproof jacket. A wide brimmed hat or baseball cap and a warm cap, along with flat-soled closed toed shoes are also a good idea. The Bay gets sunny, so bring sunglasses and don't forget sunblock and chapstick.

Can I bring my own food or drinks?
Both boats have a snack bar with snack and drinks including beer and wine for sale. You are welcome to bring your own food and non-alcoholic beverages onboard.

Can I bring alcohol on the cruise?
Beer and wine for sale in the snack bar. No outside alcohol is allowed on the boat.

Where does the trip end?
The cruise returns to the same pier from which it departed.

Are there restrooms on the boats?
Yes! Both boats are equipped with clean restrooms for your convenience.

Can I stow anything (eg, my briefcase) during the cruise?
There is some room on the boat where you may store your belongings. Please keep in mind that these areas are not guarded, so we cannot take responsibility for any broken, lost or missing items. But we have not had any problems with items being left on prior cruises.

How much does it cost to upgrade my ticket for the VIP upper deck?
For an additional $20.00 per person, you may upgrade your tickets to be allowed on the upper deck of ""The Atlantis"" or ""The Princess.""

Can I smoke on the boat?
No, the Princess Monterey and the Atlantis Monterey are completely non-smoking, including both the inside and the decks. This incudes vaping.

Are the boats safe?
Absolutely! Your safety is our number one concern. Both of our boats meet the latest United States Coast Guard regulations carrying life vests for all passengers and all other required safety equipment. All kids age 3 - 6 years of age must wear a life vest for the duration of the cruise (children under 3 are not allowed on the cruise). And our trained crew is always there to help!

Do you offer Princess Monterey Whale Watching merchandise?
Yes! You can visit our shop for great deals on hats, sweatshirts, jackets, and more!

How far are you from the major airports?
We are approximately 2.5 hours from either San Francisco and Oakland airports, and approximately 1.5 hours from San Jose International Airport. Whether you are coming from or heading to the airport, please note that traffic may be heavier at times, so allow yourself ample travel time.

Are the cruises conducted in English only?
Yes, our cruises are only conducted in English. However, our non-English speaking guests always enjoy the beauty of the area and the experience of watching exotic marine life. For by-appointment private charters, we can arrange for a translator to accompany the cruise. Please click on ""Contact MontereyWW"" on the left of the page for more information.

Can I purchase a gift cards?
Yes, gift cards are available and make perfect gifts for holidays, birthdays or any other occasion!

Can I book a private cruise?
Yes! We offer cruises for private charters, marine education field trips for school groups, conferences, corporate events, family outings, and much more - any size, any occasion, any time! We can accommodate a variety of special requests.

Refund/Rescheduling Policy

Non-refundable, cannot be rescheduled.
Once purchased, tickets cannot be refunded and cannot be rescheduled because your space is being guaranteed at the event.

Please note, we do not hold the boat for late passengers. We operate on a tight schedule, it may be possible to rebook your trip if you are late but please be on time as we can not guarantee availability for late passengers.

Children under 3 and pregnant women are not allowed on the trip.
For safety reasons due to the boat's inherent motion, pregnant women and children under the age of 3 are not allowed to attend the cruise.

Other Policies

Activity may be cancelled due to severe weather.
Activity usually runs in light rain and moderate weather, but the seller may cancel the activity up to an hour before start time in the event of severe or unsafe weather conditions. In the rare situation the seller must cancel the event prior to departure, ticket-holders will be allowed to reschedule tickets (subject to availability), receive credit for a future event, or receive a full refund.

Participants must sign a US Coast Guard passenger registry.
All participants are required to sign a US Coast Guard passenger registry before boarding the vessel. Parents or guardians must sign for children. This is required by law.