Prince of Whales - Whale & Marine Wildlife Adventures Vancouver — Attraction in Vancouver

We had an excellent experience on this very well-run tour, which was the highlight of our trip to Vancouver!

The boat is quite large, larger than most whale watching tour boats I have seen, and surprisingly powerful when the engines are at full blast. The size of the boat loses some of the intimate feeling but is an advantage both in providing a smooth ride and additional protection from the elements, particularly the cozy indoor cabin, which is quite helpful while cruising at 25+ knots in the brisk, windy surf. Our boat was about half full, probably due to the rainy, cold day, but the boat seemed to have plenty of room even if it had a full complement. As well, they serve free, and surprisingly good, hot chocolate, a solid variety of tea bags, and coffee which... well, it's free and has caffeine, so I can't complain! They also have minor snacks available for purchase. It is a luxury on such a tour but a nice one to have.

The best part is undoubtedly the crew. Naturalists Jill, Abby, and Maurice were extremely friendly and knowledgeable, providing extremely informative commentary on the wildlife we saw and ably fielding questions from all ages. They provided an outstanding level of service for a larger ship, making us feel welcomed and appreciated. Captain Anthony and first mate Stephen also did a fine job, though I did not interact with them as closely.

Additionally, a great feature on this tour was the on-board photographer. After the tour was over, they send the high-quality pictures (and we also had one video) to the guests for free, which takes a lot of pressure off the passengers to take pictures and helped us stay in the moment. It's a small detail but it made a huge difference. (I still couldn't help myself from taking pictures but it's the thought that counts!)

Obviously, there is nothing that can be done about the luck of what wildlife you see, but we were very lucky to see two humpbacks putting on a show and breaching repeatedly, along with another whale, seals and sea lions, and a bald eagle pair. Even there, however, some of the stress is taken out - if you do not see whales, you can book another tour for free. Another little touch to reduce stress and help guests focus on having a good time.

Overall, I'd highly recommend this to anyone interested in a whale watching tour in Vancouver. It is a very professional operation that does all the little things right, that all add up to a...

Our party of four cruised with Prince of Whales on the afternoon trip on July 21. What an amazing excursion! Captain Jonathan started out by telling us briefly about their business goals. One was to allow their guests to see and experience the trip through their eyes, not through their phone screens or cameras. For this reason, First Mate Stephen, would be responsible for capturing our amazing 4-hour tour on his high-end camera, and the best part was that all photos taken by Stephen would be provided electronically to each registered email address for that trip….FREE OF CHARGE! We were also encouraged to share the photos and stories with friends, family and potentially the entire internet! WOW! We’ve been on many whale watching trips before and never has any company offered their photos for zero cost or via email. It has always been a $29.95 thumb drive. This was amazing!

Now, onto the Naturalists. We had brief interactions with Miranda or Amanda only due to where we were sitting on the boat, but Roisin, from Dublin, was an absolute wealth of information as she shared details on Humpbacks along with specifics on the three we watched for a couple of hours; Orcas, Eagles, Harbour Seals, Cranes, birds, etc. Roisin was a ROCK STAR, as was everyone on the boat.

We loved the thought that Stephen, Miranda, Amanda & Roisin were students (or graduates) of Marine Biology-related/Ecology, etc. degrees. A friend asked Roisin about a whale she spotted in Juneau, Alaska, just a few days prior. Not only did Roisin know about this whale, but she showed us video on her phone of this whale slapping the water many times during their “meeting”. Captain Jonathan was 100% right. The crew has a GREAT passion for marine life and everything it encompasses.

Thanks for making the end of our vacation such a memorable one!

Dave, Michelle, Deb &...

My husband and I traveled from the United States East Coast to Vancouver to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary with a whale‑watching tour on August 24, 2025. Despite being told the boat was “fully booked,” the company assured us that there were two available spots on a departing 8:30 am vessel. We paid approximately $500 for both tickets.

Yet when we proceeded to board—even though the boat was still docked and clearly had space—the captain refused to let us on, stating the boat was already on. This was despite the ticket office having just sold us the tickets and guaranteed our spots only moments earlier.

In response, we were offered the next departure at 9:30 am—but only one seat was available. My husband was left behind, heartbroken, while I boarded. During the journey, the vessel was clearly not full, as the entire lower deck was completely empty. Compounding matters, the crew’s communication in English was poor, and several staff members appeared impaired, possibly by alcohol or drugs. The overall experience was deeply disappointing; we hardly saw any whales. To add insult to injury, the staff promised to send us pictures from previous tours instead of offering any tangible remedy. No refund was offered for my husband’s unused ticket.

I have since reported this matter to Canadian law enforcement, urging a full investigation into what I believe is a dangerous and deceptive operation. They advised us that the company clearly violated BCPA’s regulation to deliver services and BCPA section 55 due to failure to issue a refund for said undelivered services. Please, save yourself the anguish—avoid this company...