I'm so torn on how to rate our experience with this six-hour cruise. This was our big, touristy, high-dollar activity of our week in Alaska. Our party of seven was all so excited to go. Despite rainy weather, we were optimistic and looking forward to a great adventure.
It started off with them announcing "Today is a weather day. It's rough out there..." before we even received our boarding passes. Were given the option to cancel for a full refund, reschedule later in the week or, if the seas were too rough, the Captain would stay in the protected waters of Resurrection Bay for the four-hour tour instead and they would refund the difference. It was the end of our week in AK, we'd driven two hours to get there, we'd all taken Dramamine (or stronger) and my mother-in-law really wanted to see the whales. We said, "what the heck. How bad can it be?" Well...we were about to find out.
But first, the good: The boat was new, spacious, clean, safe and comfortable. Bathrooms were clean and adequate. The galley was well stocked. The chicken wrap meal was sufficient, though overly stuffed with lettuce. The crew were hard-working and absolutely phenomenal. The Captain was experienced, knowledgeable and very capable. The glaciers were beautiful: colorful, calving, amazing. We saw a couple seals and sea otters at the big glacier. Unfortunately that's where it ends.
Now the not so good: It was windy and rainy, which made being outside miserable while we were underway. As we left the protected waters of the bay, we were met with five-foot seas that rose to eight-footers by the time we returned. You wouldn't think it would have that much of an effect on a boat that big, but it did! Up, down, side to side, rise, fall, slam, bam. They were right...it WAS rough! If there were 100 people on that boat (just a guess), I'd say 20 of them were puking. The lower level looked like a sick ward: people lying on the floor, in the aisles, sprawled out on tables. The crew was busy going from person to person, handing out, then disposing of, barf bags. Ginger ale was on the house and flowing freely. Because the weather was so crappy, the sea lions weren't out; neither were the puffins. On the way back, I saw the fin of a large whale rolling out of the water a long ways off. I was so sick, I didn't even care. The Captain was working so hard to keep the boat on course, that he didn't bother trying to follow the pod, like he would have in calmer waters. It was the only whale anybody saw all day. The times we'd stop to see the glaciers was a welcome relief, but the bulk of the trip was not one bit enjoyable. It never felt dangerous. We were never in fear of tipping or sinking; just miserable. For. Six. Hours. Back in the harbor, I asked the Captain at what point they just say "No, we're not going out into the open water." His response? "Well, we won't go out if there are 15 or 16-footers. The boat is stout enough to take it, but I have to bury the bow into the waves and it isn't fun for anyone." What?!?! But you'll go out in 12 or 13-footers? I can't even imagine seas almost double what we went through.
I have no doubt that our experience would have been completely different under calmer conditions. I know people who have done this trip and had amazing wildlife encounters and beautiful seas. Unfortunately, you can't control the weather and you get what you get. This isn't the tour company's fault. I appreciate their willingness to give it a shot. The people on the boat who weren't afflicted with weak stomachs had a great time. (Though no good wildlife sightings.) I'm just relating our experience. It's nobody's fault. But when they warn you ahead of time that it's rough, you should take them very seriously. Of the seven people in our group, four puked, two wanted to puke (but couldn't), and one was fine. If you are at all prone to motion sickness, I'd highly recommend getting the refund or rescheduling. At the end of the day it was--of nobody's fault--a very disappointing experience.