Whale watching tours

[CruzinNoony]

We are going to Hawaii in February on Princess. We have been there several times, but this time it is to see whales! We will be in Hilo, Maui, Kauai, and Honolulu. Any recommendations for private whale watching tours?:)

[CruiserBruce]

The "best" area for whale watching is off Lahaina, Maui or if you are coming ashore at Kahalui, Maui, you can sail out of Ma'aleaa Harbor. A search of the board will find many recommendations, for companies like Pacific Whale Foundation (large boat) or Capt Steve's (small boat, out of Mala Harbor?.

[Scrapnana]

We did the Pacific Whale Foundation tour out of Lahaina in February. Saw lots and lots of whales.

[PoohUnderstands]

How big was their boat? How many people on it? We have signed up to do this tour in March of 2015. Heard too much about bad behavior on the Princess tour and we will have a 4 year old with us. Princess runs about 150 to their boat. Were people "better behaved" on the Pacific Whale tour? Thanks for any information you can give me.

 

Pooh

[cb at sea]

In mid-April, as we were leaving the airport, there was a lagoon...and in the lagoon were 3 whales with their babies....we were NOT on a boat...we were in our car!

 

This time of year, you are likely to see them on any sort of boat...not just a "whale watching" trip.

[Keith1010]

It is a great time to see whales.

 

Keith

[Caribensun]

Highly recommend Pacific Whale Foundation! Small boats about 20 people -maybe. We did the raft - it is very safe and has bench seats in it and rails (really a boat). You will see many whales and up close and we got a poster with our tour. We were there in Feb., you will see lots of whales from the ship if you are up at daylight coming into Maui, but it was so neat to hear them and see them so close and you learn so much from the guides.

Pacific Whale states no children under 6 yrs old.

Seadeck2

Edited June 26, 2014 by seadeck2
Adding info

[CruzinNoony]

Thank you all very much. I will contact Pacific Whale Foundation. What about the other ports? Any recommendations? :rolleyes:

[PoohUnderstands]

Seadeck2:

 

Thanks for the information. We signed up for the boat, not the raft. They allow younger children on that one. My reservation even shows 4 adults and 1 child (3-6).

 

Pooh

[ksy8384]

How did you get from the port to the tour? I'm trying to figure out time between getting into the port and then getting to the tour. We get in at 10AM.

[CruiserBruce]

How did you get from the port to the tour? I'm trying to figure out time between getting into the port and then getting to the tour. We get in at 10AM.

 

This depends on which port you are referring to. There are about 5 or 6 possible on a Hawaii cruise. In Lahaina, for example, it is a very short walk from the tender dock to various venders for whale watch and other activities.

Edited June 30, 2014 by CruiserBruce

[Scrapnana]

How did you get from the port to the tour? I'm trying to figure out time between getting into the port and then getting to the tour. We get in at 10AM.

 

We walked from the tender port to their headquarters and then back to the dock for the boat ride.

 

This is the pontoon boat we went on.

[Love.II.Cruise]

There is great information in this thread! We definitely want to go whale watching in Maui.