Half-Day Whale Watching - Prince of Whales Whale & Marine Wildlife Adventures

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Departing from downtown Victoria aboard a custom-built catamaran, this adventure will take you on a 3+ hour, fully-guided whale watching & marine wildlife viewing tour.

Starting at $130* CAD / Adult

*+ Conservation Fee & Tax

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Highlights & Inclusions

The perfect viewing platform and the only one of its kind on British Columbia coast. This 95 passenger catamaran was engineered and built in Canada with the safety of our beloved marine wildlife and our guests as priority number one.
Year-round Whale Sighting Guarantee. In the unlikely case that we do not see whales, you can join us on another whale watching tour for free.

Highlights & Inclusions

Fully-guided whale watching & marine wildlife tour. Opportunity to observe different species of whales in the wild, sea birds and other marine wildlife. Guided by 3-4 Transport Canada certified marine naturalists.
Complementary tea, coffee & hot chocolate on board. Light snacks (chips, cookies and chocolate bars) available for purchase.

Highlights & Inclusions

360 degree panoramic views from a 22 ft tall elevated viewing platform means all 95 guests will see further while we maintain a safe viewing distance from our beloved marine mammals.
Experience spectacular views through floor to ceiling windows. Only a few feet above the water these 10 ft tall glass windows offer unobstructed views of dramatic Salish Sea scenery.

Experience

Experience the majesty of the Salish Sea and its wildlife, from whales surfacing in unison to bald eagles soaring overhead. Cut through the Strait of Juan de Fuca’s currents in search of orcas and humpback whales, and listen to our marine mammal experts bring the animals stories to life (while you stay warm, dry and hydrated in its heated cabin, of course!) The quintessential whale watching experience for every adventurer.

Did you know? Bald eagles mate for life, like wolves (we have those, too!)

What To Bring

It gets cold out on the water (trust us!), so we recommend windbreaker jackets, sweaters, long pants, and closed-toe shoes. It’s also a good idea to bring sunglasses, sunscreen, a tight-fitting hat, a camera to capture some memorable moments and, above all, your sense of adventure!

Onboard snacks are available for purchase with CAD cash only (no credit/debit cards accepted) but please feel free to bring your own snacks if you wish.

Departure Location

Downtown Victoria Adventure Centre

812 Wharf St, Victoria, BC V8W 1T3, Canada

The Victoria Adventure Centre is located below the Visitor Information Centre, next to Milestones restaurant across the street from Fairmont Empress hotel.

Please remember to check-in 30 minutes before your adventure.

GET DIRECTIONS

Know Before You Book

The boat used for this adventure is not wheelchair accessible. If you require assistance, please call us to book.
Luggage can be stored safely in our office.

Reviews

Half Day Whale Watching Tour Beautiful day! We saw lots of nature and wildlife! Enjoyed the water and the crew were knowledgeable.

Stingingbuzzard in North Vancouver, Canada

Posted on 6/26/2019 via TripAdvisor
Reviews

Prince of Whales Whale Watching We had a great time on the Prince of Whales Whale Watching half day trip in Vancouver. We we saw orcas and my son saw the humpback whale!

Tim T in Reigate, United Kingdom

Posted on 7/14/2019 via TripAdvisor
Reviews

Nice day for whale watching! We enjoyed our trip on the Ocean Magic II, we saw killer whales, humpbacks, sealions, seal, eagles! The boat and the crew were great. If you ever get as far as Telegraph Cove, you should definitely go on this whale watching trip!

epel99 in North Brabant Province, The Netherlands

Posted on 6/17/2019 via TripAdvisor
Reviews

Fantastic experience. Totally enjoyed this tour. We were so lucky with our sightings. It was a beautiful day and we saw bald eagles, seals and several hump backs and some orcas. Even after we had seen some whales, the crew kept looking for more. The boat was not too big so everyone seemed to get to see the whales. It was quite cold on the top deck so hats, scarves and a warm coat are recommended. Staff were friendly and knowledgeable. If you don't see any whales, I believe you can have another tour free of charge. Having previously done a disappointing whale watching trip in Quebec, I was a bit wary of booking another. I needn't have worried!

Kazza99_R in Norwich, United Kingdom

Posted on 6/08/2019 via TripAdvisor
Reviews

Watched Whales! This is the best whale watching I have experienced! Orcas, Humpbacks and more. Great scenery too.
The naturalist Rebecca was friendly and had a vast knowledge of whales and wildlife. I learned much about The history of whales, and their behaviours.
In conclusion: Great sights, animals, and friendly staff. I will come again next year!
I rate this a 5/5 whale tails! 🐋

spinachman21

Posted on 8/22/2019 via TripAdvisor
Reviews

Whale of a time I took my friend who was visiting from the UK on this tour, we were both blown away. It was an incredibly windy morning and the water was turbulent but they made this very clear from the beginning and even offered you the chance to rebook. The rough seas only added to the experience for us. It was great fun.

We managed to find 2 groups of seal eating orca in the Howe Sound and watched then for some time.

Crew were fantastic from start to finish, you can really tell they have a love for their job and the whales they see on a daily basis.

I work in local tourism and will definitely be recommending this to my guests!!
Great job guys 😁

Leigh B

Posted on 7/18/2019 via TripAdvisor
Reviews

Great experience saw hump asks and orcas Staff very helpful and knowledgeable boat in excellent condition
on trip we saw humpbacks breaching water and orcas Playing and feeding

David L

Posted on 8/01/2019 via TripAdvisor
Reviews

Wow During our short stay in Victoria, whale watching was high on the list of things to do. We had two or three boat companies to choose from but the Prince of Whales boat stood out as it was larger than the others we saw and looked the business.
We weren’t disappointed as the crew were, friendly, knowledgeable and placing our safety high on their agenda.

During our 3 and half hours on the boat we saw several Orcas and a Humpback Whale which we viewed from the advised distance to prevent stress to the whales. As a result the whales performed beautifully for us.

We also saw seals and birds of prey. Wrap up warm as it gets really cold, the boat has blankets for all that asked for them.

We highly recommend the Prince of Whales for Whale watching and thank all the crew for giving us an experience we shall never forget.

ftl2015 in Northampton, United Kingdom

Posted on 6/11/2019 via TripAdvisor
Reviews

Amazing! Wonderful crew! We got to see two species of whale (orcas and a humpback). The whole crew (Wilma, Aaron, Aurora, and Rebecca) were amazing and so knowledgeable. Wilma was the naturalist I was sitting with and you could really see her passion for these animals. She knows so much about them and is so excited to share.

Sopriska83 in Atlanta, Georgia

Posted on 7/22/2019 via TripAdvisor
Reviews

Whale and Fly We enjoyed very much the tour on May 31, 2019. Fantastic program, very friendly and knowledgable crew and a very experienced and patient captain. We got to see whales in two separate locations, group of seals in an island and many birds on the cliffs. The captain got of his way and in one occasion went back to show us the whales (see the chart). The flight back from Victoria to downtown Vancouver was very scenic. The entire program was very memorable.

Yousef K

Posted on 5/31/2019 via TripAdvisor

FAQS

Do tours run in all types of weather?

Tours operate rain or shine! Safety is our priority and, in extreme weather conditions or high winds, adventures may be cancelled at the discretion of our qualified crew. We will be in touch should this be the case.

Will we really see whales?

Yes! There is a high chance of seeing orcas, humpbacks, and other types of whale on your tour. Our year-round whale sighting success rate is ~95% (averaged across all of our adventures) with chances being even higher during summer months.

What happens if we don’t see a whale?

This adventure is covered by our year-round Year-Round Whale Sighting Guarantee. In the unlikely case, we do not see whales on this adventure, you can join us on another whale watching tour. This guarantee is valid for a lifetime!

Are there bathrooms on the boat?

The boat we use for this tour is equipped with two airline-style washrooms.

Do passengers often feel seasick?

No, our boats are custom-built for whale watching with passengers in mind. Captain and crew will also do their best to minimize the impact of the sea. However, if you are prone to seasickness, we recommend you purchase non-drowsy Gravol from a pharmacy prior to your adventure with us.

Are there snacks or beverages on board?

Complementary tea, coffee & hot chocolate will be available on board. Light snacks (chips, cookies, chocolate bars) can be purchased with CAD cash. You can also bring your own snacks.

Do I need to make a reservation?

Reservations are definitely recommended. Adventures often sell out and we don’t want you to be disappointed.

Cancellation Policy

This adventure has a hassle-free 48-hour cancellation policy. Just contact us at least 48 hours prior to your adventure departure to cancel and receive a full refund, no questions asked. Groups of 10+ guests are subject to a 72-hour cancellation policy. Promotional (discounted) bookings are final sale.

We reserve the right to delay or cancel a departure if there are fewer than 20 guests reserved at the time of departure or in case of events beyond our control (adverse weather conditions, technical or mechanical issues etc.).

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End of Summer Sale

Half-Day Whale Watching
Victoria | March - November | Catamaran

Highlights & Inclusions

Highlights & Inclusions