ebandive Posted January 21, 2014 #1 Share Posted January 21, 2014 Hi All! We are stopping in Grand Turk in March and while browsing things to do I found that this is actually prime whale-watching season. Who knew!? I found that Crystal Seas does a 4 hour whale watching tour that runs $150 per person, and while that is steep for us, DH and I are celebrating our 10 year anniversary on this cruise and I think this would be an awesome surprise! However, I'm shocked that I'm not finding much on these boards about whale watching from Grand Turk. Anyone have any experience? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebandive Posted January 21, 2014 Author #2 Share Posted January 21, 2014 So, as an update, I emailed Crystal Seas and got the following information: You are here in the peak of whale season so we also have whale watching available. Our whale watching tour is 3.5- 4 hours. We cannot guarantee whales or the chance to be able to have a in water encounter, but we had whale sitings last season on 98% of our trips. We were able have "in water" snorkel encounters on about 40% of our trips. Our cost for whale watching is $150 per person. All snorkel gear ( child and adult) and bottled water is included with all tours/charters. We require a 50% despot to hold all bookings and take both visa and mastercard. We can take your deposit via phone or email. If your ship does cancel we will provide a full refund of the deposit minus 8% for credit card fees. With stats like that, I am planning on reserving it and hoping for an amazing whale encounter! :) Would love to hear feedback from anyone who has done this already, and if we do in fact go, I'll come back to update how it went. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitemare Posted January 21, 2014 #3 Share Posted January 21, 2014 I googled "whale watching Grand Turk" and got this. Might be worth a call to see if it's more reasonably priced. There were other "hits" to that search, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebandive Posted January 21, 2014 Author #4 Share Posted January 21, 2014 I googled "whale watching Grand Turk" and got this. Might be worth a call to see if it's more reasonably priced. There were other "hits" to that search, too. Thanks! I did see that but didn't bother calling as they list their time departing Grand Turk as 2:30 pm, and that would be too late for our 5:00 pm scheduled departure. Also, their tours are only 2 hours instead of 4. I'm good with the price knowing that it's a reputable company, I can pay through paypal so I know my money is secure if any issues arise, etc. Normally don't spend this much on excursions, but this will be our only one this cruise so I might as well make it count! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kayehall Posted January 23, 2014 #5 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Hi All! We are stopping in Grand Turk in March and while browsing things to do I found that this is actually prime whale-watching season. Who knew!? I found that Crystal Seas does a 4 hour whale watching tour that runs $150 per person, and while that is steep for us, DH and I are celebrating our 10 year anniversary on this cruise and I think this would be an awesome surprise! However, I'm shocked that I'm not finding much on these boards about whale watching from Grand Turk. Anyone have any experience? We are using them in February. If I can find this thread, I will let you know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebandive Posted January 23, 2014 Author #6 Share Posted January 23, 2014 We are using them in February. If I can find this thread, I will let you know. Great, thanks! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Boomers Posted January 26, 2014 #7 Share Posted January 26, 2014 Google Crystal Seas and check the reviews by customers via Trip Advisor. They had 50 + reviews, and EVERY review received a 5 out of 5 "excellent" rating. The two guys that own Crystal Seas (Tim and Dan) both were highly thought of by the guests. I have met Tim (Dunn) and he is very knowledgeable and personable. We will be visiting Grand Turk for the second time late March (we will be staying 8 days) and plan on the whaling adventure and visit Salt Cay. I believe you will be very satisfied with Crystal Seas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piper934 Posted January 28, 2014 #8 Share Posted January 28, 2014 (edited) Never thought of whale watching until I checked thus forum. Loved the small charter we did in alaska, may try this. We are there April 2nd. Obviously can't predict nature but folks familiar is that too late in the season? What time period is usually most active? Where the companies go see the whales will that area be visible from the cruise ship at any point? Lastly Bohio resort says you can view from there. Anyone do this before? Or know if they charter closer as well? Sent from my SPH-L720 using Forums mobile app Edited January 28, 2014 by Piper934 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imluvncruzn Posted February 3, 2014 #9 Share Posted February 3, 2014 We were just in Grand Turk last week via the Carnival Freedom and had two humpback sighting from the ship. Also one of the guys in our group went deep sea fishing via a carnival excursion and was able to see humpback breach! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kayehall Posted March 5, 2014 #10 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Back from Grand Turk. Went whale watching with Crystal Seas and the whales forgot to show up. ( Not Crystal Seas fault) The boat we were on held 10pp. We had 8. Some of us went snorkeling. FYI...no bathroom on boat. And request that they put ice on the drinks in the cooler. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mitsugirly Posted January 9, 2015 #11 Share Posted January 9, 2015 Hi All! We are stopping in Grand Turk in March and while browsing things to do I found that this is actually prime whale-watching season. Who knew!? I found that Crystal Seas does a 4 hour whale watching tour that runs $150 per person, and while that is steep for us, DH and I are celebrating our 10 year anniversary on this cruise and I think this would be an awesome surprise! However, I'm shocked that I'm not finding much on these boards about whale watching from Grand Turk. Anyone have any experience? So OP, did you end up going on this whale watching trip? Did you spot any whales? :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebandive Posted January 23, 2015 Author #12 Share Posted January 23, 2015 (edited) So OP, did you end up going on this whale watching trip? Did you spot any whales? :confused: Yes, we did, and it was amazing!! :D Not only did we spot them, on two different occasions we were able to jump in the water with them! Info, pictures, and review here! http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2006531 Edited January 23, 2015 by ebandive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mitsugirly Posted January 24, 2015 #13 Share Posted January 24, 2015 Yes, we did, and it was amazing!! :D Not only did we spot them, on two different occasions we were able to jump in the water with them! Info, pictures, and review here! http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2006531 That is awesome and thanks so much for sharing your pictures. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imluvncruzn Posted January 28, 2015 #14 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Yes, we did, and it was amazing!! :D Not only did we spot them, on two different occasions we were able to jump in the water with them! Info, pictures, and review here! http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2006531 That was simply amazing! We will be in Grand Turk next February and sure hope to be able to book this same tour. Thank you for posting the pics and video! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebandive Posted January 28, 2015 Author #15 Share Posted January 28, 2015 That is awesome and thanks so much for sharing your pictures. :) That was simply amazing! We will be in Grand Turk next February and sure hope to be able to book this same tour. Thank you for posting the pics and video! Glad you found it helpful! It was fun for me to be reminded and go back and watch the video again - you can hear the guide talking through the whole video giving us a good whale education, and all of our gasps as the whale was SO close - so few things in life truly take our breath away - to hear my gasp on camera as I watch the whale come up to us... I'm rambling, but yes, it was such an amazing experience and I'm so glad we did it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOJO351969 Posted February 9, 2015 #16 Share Posted February 9, 2015 I loved this review!!!! I think I might have missed the name of the company that you did the whale watching with. Can you please post the name of the company. My sister ,brother and I are going February 2016 and want to do that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mitsugirly Posted February 9, 2015 #17 Share Posted February 9, 2015 We are going to be there the very first week of April and I know whale season will almost be over. Has anyone ever spotted them from maybe your balcony on the ship in this area? Hopefully we might catch some from there pulling in or out of port in this area. I think it's probably a little late in the season to spend that kind of money with hopes that we "might" see them when we're there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOJO351969 Posted February 9, 2015 #18 Share Posted February 9, 2015 I think when we are there I will be willing to take the chance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOJO351969 Posted April 27, 2015 #19 Share Posted April 27, 2015 After reading this post and emailing back and forth we are going to go whale watching with the hope of getting in the water for a soft encounter. Rules are as long as the calf isn't to small and there aren't any signs of aggressiveness well and water conditions we can get in the water with the whales. No harassing the whales but wow what an amazing thing it would be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitemare Posted April 27, 2015 #20 Share Posted April 27, 2015 I hope we don't find out that JOJO is a nickname for Jonah! This doesn't sound like a good idea to me. Whales are huge and don't understand "play" with humans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOJO351969 Posted April 28, 2015 #21 Share Posted April 28, 2015 LOL when I told my sister and brother about it we didn't hesitate. We wanna do this. My brother said what a way to go if I am going to go. Lol. So ya we are going to go do this. Check is in the mail. Lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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