We were not expecting to be awed by the 40 or so whales breaching while we watched. All ages were excited and surprisingly quiet after the first few minutes. I experience motion sickness, but Dramamine and sitting on the top deck worked for me. I heard you get a feeling of being closer to the whales from the lower deck, but I have no complaints. The staff walked around on the way out to the whales with stories and visuals about the area. We learned a great deal about what behaviors we were observing while we were among the whales. Finally, during the ride back, staff played with younger children giving parents a moment to rest. Parking right at wharf. Unforgettable few hours!