The whale-watching cruise departs daily in the months of June through September, but only on weekends in the month of May. The cruise travels from Bellingham Harbor to the San Juan Islands, with a two-hour stopover in Friday Harbor. Our day cruise departed from the Bellingham Cruise Terminal, which is located near Historic Fairhaven. (We stayed nearby at the Fairhaven Village Inn, and it was a quick 10-minute walk (1/2 mile) to the terminal.) We sailed on the Victoria Star, which can hold nearly 150 passengers. However, San Juan Cruises owns two other boats that also take passengers on whale watching cruises called the Viking Star and the Salish Sea (which each hold 50 to 60 passengers).
We were shocked at the number of passengers who were waiting to board the day cruise! From what we saw of the boat from the pier, it featured mostly indoor seating. We thought that passengers would be fighting to sit outside to get the best views, but that was not the case. On the day that we sailed (in the middle of the warmest part of the summer), although it was brilliantly sunny, it was still too chilly for many passengers to sit on deck for an extended time because of the speed with which the boat moved. (The cruise line advertises that their boats have heated interior cabins, which are probably necessary on many days, although not on the day that we sailed.)
The top deck of the Victoria Star contains four tables that seat at least four people each. Most of the seating is on bench-style banquettes, but a few movable chairs are available. The lower stern deck contains several movable seats, but it does not offer any tables. To ensure that they had outdoor seating, we saw a few passengers who brought their own chairs, the foldable kind that fit into a bag that you sling over your shoulder. The bow of the boat contains a lot of outdoor space. Although the bow offers no formal seating, a storage box seat two people, and the raised metal area beneath the wheelhouse (which is actually the raised roof of the galley) seat many people, some with their backs up against the boat, and others at the edge of the ledge. Passengers can also stand at the rail. Therefore, what looked like a nightmarish seating situation before we boarded the boat turned out to be adequate outdoor space for those who wanted it.
Two levels of indoor seating exist on the boat. You can sit on the lower deck in the cafe / bar area (in stationary booths). The lower deck contains the only two bathrooms on the boat. One of the bathrooms is large enough to fit a wheelchair, and it contains a baby-changing table. Alternatively, you can sit indoors on the upper deck, where the view is better and the seating looks more comfortable because you can move the chairs around.
Check-in occurs at 9:00 am, passengers board at 9:15 am, and the boat sails at 9:30 am. From 9:30 am to 12:30 pm, the boat cruises toward Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands. The scenery is spectacular on a clear day! We departed the Fairhaven / Bellingham Harbor and sailed past Squalicum Harbor (from which a competitor’s whale watch departs), Lummi Island, Portage Island (which is covered with water during the high tide), and other San Juan Islands like Orcas and Lopez.
Around 11:30 am, the crew set out the complimentary buffet lunch on the bar / counter on the lower deck. The plentiful meal (which is included in the ticket price) featured cole slaw, rice pilaf, barbecue chicken (both breasts and drumsticks), salmon, biscuits with honey butter, and brownies. The staff presented the food attractively; they even use real china plates and silverware. Water is the only beverage included with your lunch, and a water fountain is located on the bar. The lack of an additional (non-alcoholic) beverage was disappointing, considering the ticket price. (We suggest that the staff serves lemonade or iced tea with the meal.)
Additional food such as packaged chips and Otis Spunkmeyer muffins are available for purchase anytime. You can use credit cards for any purchase; no minimum purchase amount is required. Wine, beer, and hard alcohol cost approximately $7 per drink. You can also purchase juices, coffee, and soft drinks. The boat sells souvenir items such as T-shirts, several sizes of stuffed Orca whales, and key chains.
Concurrently, the captain spotted the first whales just as passengers began to eat their lunches. Because this was our first whale watch, we did not realize that for the first two+ hours of the trip, we had no chance to spot any whales. When the captain noticed the group of four whales, our boat remained stationary so that passengers could watch them (for 30+ minutes). A large number of boats anchored around the same whales, but the whales seemed unbothered. Prior to the whales, we stopped a few other times to look for seals, bald eagles, and other wildlife.
The cruise schedule allowed us two hours in Friday Harbor to walk around, shop, and eat. San Juan Cruises gives each passenger two tickets when at check-in. Passengers remit one ticket for the outbound journey, and the other ticket for the return trip. Guests do not have to schedule their outbound and return sailings for the same day if they choose to stay overnight on San Juan Island.
It took approximately two hours to cruise back from Friday Harbor to Fairhaven because no whale spotting was involved in that part of the trip.
The majority of the staff consisted primarily of young local kids. However, the captain was a bit older. He provided a commentary about whales and the local environment. Service was friendly and professional, except for the announcement the captain made prior to disembarking. He reminded passengers that gratuities were not included in the cruise fare. In addition, when we disembarked the boar, the crew stood holding the tip basket, which was a tasteless way to end an otherwise great day.
We enjoyed our whale-watching cruise with San Juan Cruises, and we were fortunate to have watched a pod of whales for as long as we did. It was a great day!
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