I want to start out by saying the 3 star review has nothing to do with the business as a business and had everything to do with mother nature not cooperating. The crew and staff were all extremely helpful, friendly, and professional! It was not their fault that the animals were scarce and the water was choppy.
That being said, I do have to give this 3 stars because as an experience that's what it was. I was really excited to see some whales and dolphins and unfortunately all that appeared was 1 Minke whale (which was amazing by the way!), some sealions (which are always cool to see), and a dolphin fin or two for a brief second.
So my recommendation is to take this tour, but manage your expectations. Do not get your hopes up too high. Do not go into it expecting that you will see lots and lots of cool animals. That way, if you don't see much, you won't be let down, like I was, and if you do see lots you'll be pleasantly surprised! Understand there is nothing the crew can do if the animals won't cooperate, but they really do try as hard as they can to let you see as many great animals as they can. (And the animals we did see were truly magnificent.)
My next recommendation is to take Dramamine if you even think you might be prone to sea sickness. My husband did, and while he still felt quite ill, he managed not to throw up from all the choppy water. (Quite a few others, particularly the kids were not so lucky.) Again, the crew did all they could to mitigate the conditions, they were not their fault, but just be prepared if you take this trip, that it could be nauseating.
Would I take this trip again? Probably not, especiallyy not for the price we paid, $65/pp which would have been a steal if we'd seen more animals - the facilities were excellent, the boat was beautiful, the crew and staff were great. But for what we saw, I feel let down (again not the business's fault). They do offer discounts for return visits, but we live across the country and are really unlikely to make it back here.
So, in sum, if you take this tour, it has the potential to be really really great-if the animals cooperate. But go into it expecting not to see much, be prepared for the possibility of sea sickness, and hopefully you'll be pleasantly surprised rather than let down, like I was.
Réponse de l'hôte
Jun 2018
Hi,
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I’m so sorry the dolphin and whale sightings did not meet your expectations. Nature definitely is unpredictable, and while we are lucky to have whales and dolphins off the coast of Dana Point year round, we never know what we will see each time. We believe that is part of what makes each trip special. I’m happy you had the chance to encounter a lovely Minke whale, as well as sea lions and wild dolphins! It can be breathtaking to view these amazing creatures in their own natural environment. I’m so glad you liked our boat, and were pleased with our crew. But I’m sorry your husband did not feel well during the tour. Ocean conditions are usually mild, and our catamaran offers extra stability with its twin hulls. However, for those concerned about motion sickness, we do have a few suggestions. Book a trip that departs early in the morning, when there is typically very little wind. Purchase a pressure-point wristband (we have them for sale if you forget). These wristbands can be used by adults and children without the drowsiness or other common side effects of over-the-counter seasickness medications. If you begin to feel sick during the trip, move to an area with lots of fresh air and a view of the horizon. And don't feel embarrassed about asking for assistance! Our crew is always happy to help as well if passengers mention that they don’t feel well. Is there anything we could do to improve and earn a 5-star review from you next time? We appreciate your recommendation, and hope you will consider coming out with us again in the future. Remember, as a returning guest you would be eligible for a special discount!