The company did a great job splitting the 50 person 9am group into 2 small boats, so everyone had plenty of space and a great view. We saw 3 different types of dolphins and 2 blue whales on our trip. Eric was a marine biologist and great narrator about both the animals and local geography/history. Because the blue whales were giving us such a good show we stayed in the Carmel/Big Sur area to view them for a bit longer than the usual tour-if you want to prioritize seeing animals I would not make any plans for immediately afterwards so you don’t feel rushed trying to enjoy the beauty of nature. The boat is small and the swells can get large, so I would definitely recommend taking motion sickness tablets before the trip and warm layers and sunscreen for protection from the wind and intense sun. The guides did not advise binoculars because they can contribute to motion sickness, and you actually get a very good close view of all the animals anyway. They have drinks and snacks for purchase on board, and clean restrooms.