Long Island Whale and Seal Watching — Attraction in Town of Hempstead

Loved our experience overall and we were very happy we went. We brought binoculars 12x42's and had I known, I would go for higher magnification (just my personal tip ..go with those at a minimum or even higher). We thought the weather would be nice in April but we did encounter extreme sharp/cold winds so if I were to recommend another tip, is to dress in layers and to fully walk around the boat, to see all angles and views. Pay attention to the names of the boats, when you're going down those areas. We were entertained all around and very happy with our outcome of seal watching this week. There were over 40 of them, lounging on land and we even got to see a few jump in and out of the water but be aware, they are quick little buggers! lol .... By the time they announce a sighting, you have a split second to look. So, it was nice seeing them lounging because you can actually get great pictures and see them up close. The boats are not allowed to go closer than 100 feet away due to state animal protection laws so that's were the binoculars come in handy. Also, they have a small little store onboard, cash-only and serving snacks and non-alcoholic drinks for your convenience. I saw a few people eating thick pretzels too. You can ask questions and roam freely for the duration of the trip but there were seats for those who would rather enjoy staying seated the whole way. We were lucky that our whole 2 hours was smooth sailing (calm waters) and they were excellent at navigating and making the whole trip very comfortable and enjoyable. We had a bit of a delay with the bridge, as their was an accident and it pro-longed our trip by about 25 minutes, which we are not complaining about because it was a fantastic experience!! A few other things to mention, during April, there's a promo on their website so we saved 20 dollars, which was appreciative and we gave it back by tipping the crew at the end of the trip, as we were leaving, they held a container and made a little announcement that it was optional but much appreciated. Check your emails because you will be informed if the weather turns or something goes wrong, they call, text or email you to let you know if they have to postpone or change boat locations. Originally, we were scheduled to go with a different boat but then we were told to appear at a different address, which was just 1 minute from the original location. I was confused about parking but realized that they have both parking available right in front of the boat but also street parking as well. We did not have to pay for parking but the place does look like it fills up easily since it's a touristy part of the area, so I recommend getting there at least 30 minutes before you're scheduled to depart to allow for the delays. Restrooms are extremely basic and awkward onboard so if you have any difficulties, I would suggest you prep ahead of time and be aware that places all around require you to purchase something if you want to use their restrooms. Their prices are tourist traps too so be aware. Also, hand sanitizer, a little bottle of soap, wipes or a pack of tissue, might come in handy (just a little FYI on a few little extras you might want to throw in your bag). They are extremely small spaces so if you have kids, it can get complicating or frustrating, if you need to get in there with them.

Overall, go with the expectation that it's basic and very fun to do at least once in your lifetime. I highly recommend it and if you bring a few extras with you, it will make for a very fun couple of hours. Definitely bring a camera too!! I snapped away and had a blast. Thanks to everyone there and to the nice group of people who came along. Everyone was all smiles and happiness that day so, it truly was a...

Such an amazing crew! The captain was extremely knowledgeable and stayed out longer than the four hours we paid for just so that we would get to spend as much time as possible with the whales. We encountered about 5 whales on this trip and they have volunteers from the Long Island aquarium marine rehabilitation program that was walking around and happy to answer questions. One of the volunteers named Steve was on our trip, and he really added to the whole experience! He even came around on the trip back and gave us some more info on the specific whales we saw as they keep a database of the whales they’ve spotted. We were personally greeted when we got on board and were told a bit about what to expect and where we were going. There was plenty of space and benches, as well as a small snack bar. If you follow them on instagram or check their website they write up a little story about each trip and post the pictures they took! I went on a different whale watching cruise from Provincetown, MA and this was just as good of an experience! I was very pleasantly surprised and would highly highly recommend. Also make sure to look for promo codes online...

We had an amazing time whale watching! We saw lots of dolphins and humpbacks , I never knew they could be spotted so close to the Island. Parking was easy, but arrive early as the boat leaves exactly at 10AM. The Captain and crew were very friendly, there’s drinks on board and a bathroom. They really knew which spots to go to get a good view. It’s a 4 hour trip but it goes by quick when you’re having fun. I got binoculars from Walmart and they did a good job but just make sure your phone camera takes really good pictures lol it’s zoom. My phones a little old so the zoom pictures were a bit blurry. Or use a good digital camera. I’m not prone to sea sickness, when the boats going fast you don’t really feel the waves but when it stops to look for the whales you really feels the waves rock the boat, my mom had to put her head down. But by the time we went back she felt better. It was a great time I highly recommend it! Living on Long Island all my life and this was the first time I saw whales, it’s definitely a...