Maui Whale Watch through Princess

[FoghornLeghorn]

We've just booked our whale watch through Princess Excursions.

We'll be on the Golden in December.

 

1. Does Princess shuttle you to and from the boat, or is it close to the dock?

 

2. If they shuttle....about how long does it take?

 

3. Is the boat easy to board? (old worn out knees here)

 

4. Should you take water and a snack? or is something provided?

 

5. Is it rough? should I take a Bonine?

 

Any details would be much appreciated

 

Mahalo!

[West Maui]

We've just booked our whale watch through Princess Excursions.

We'll be on the Golden in December.

 

1. Does Princess shuttle you to and from the boat, or is it close to the dock?

 

2. If they shuttle....about how long does it take?

 

3. Is the boat easy to board? (old worn out knees here)

 

4. Should you take water and a snack? or is something provided?

 

5. Is it rough? should I take a Bonine?

 

Any details would be much appreciated

 

Mahalo!

 

Aloha,

 

I'm *assuming* you're docking in Lahaina? If so, you'd be tendered into Lahaina Harbor and catch an excursion from there.

 

Do you have the name of the excursion company? I can't help on most of your other q's without knowing which company you are booked with.

 

Early December is not prime Whale season yet. You may see whales and you may not. As to it being rough, that's up to Mother Nature! It could be lovely or rocky--but if you are prone to motion sickness I would have Bonine on hand, just in case. You should know by the day before if you will need it.

 

As an aside, a fisherman I know suffers from motion sickness (ouch, hard to make a living, huh?). Many years ago, he told me he takes Bonine the night before, and again in the morning. This way, he has some 'built up' in his system. I recommended this to people for years and many told me it worked very well.:)

[FoghornLeghorn]

Thanks West Maui!

 

Yes, we'll be tendering in.

Don't know the name of the tour.

I called Princess to ask if it was with the Pacific Whale Foundation and they didn't know.

 

I've heard that before that you should take Bonine the night before..I think I'll try it before the Whale Watch. The ship doesn't normally bother me..but a smaller one in rough waters could make me a little "green"

and I don't want to ruin my trip.

 

We're leaving San Pedro Dec 6 and I've invited any whales that want to, to join along side our ship on the way. Our whale watch is Dec 13 or 14, and I told them to bring as many friends as possible :D

[West Maui]

Hi Foghorn,

 

Sounds like a great offer to the whales--hope they take you up on it!

 

If you are on Pac Whale, their boats are pretty big.........and often crowded. No refreshments included, and they charge $$$$$$$$ for sodas, water, etc. In my day, they got very unhappy if someone brought their own supplies, but perhaps that's changed.

[NotWthOutablcony]

Hi West Maui, I too had a question about that, we're going with the Pacific Whale Foundation on our own in February, how is February for Whale watching? Also, are the tours very crowded if we do it independently and not on an organized tour from the ship? Their ticket stand is just a little ways down from where we dock and its only $20 pp so figured this is the way we'll go. What are your thoughts on this? THANKS!!!

[West Maui]

Hi West Maui, I too had a question about that, we're going with the Pacific Whale Foundation on our own in February, how is February for Whale watching? Also, are the tours very crowded if we do it independently and not on an organized tour from the ship? Their ticket stand is just a little ways down from where we dock and its only $20 pp so figured this is the way we'll go. What are your thoughts on this? THANKS!!!

 

February is about the best time, especially mid-end of the month. Typically, calving season is in February. There's nothing like watching a calf cavort around its mother and nursemaid/escorts.

 

Pac Whale can sell tours inexpensively because they sell every ticket possible. They also add taxes and fees to that ticket price you mention, and that is most likely only an hour and a half trip.

 

If you are going to rent a car or take the shuttle to Kaanapali, you could literally whale watch from the shore, at that time of year. Or, you could book one of the Kaanapali picnic snorkel trips, which would combine whale watching, food, drink, and snorkeling, all for one price and on some really nice catamarans (60 footers, or so, not little boats). Yes, these are more expensive............but you truly get a super experience.

 

I'll try not to be my normal blunt self about some other issues with Pac Whale. I will just say they aren't my fav, never were, and that I'm not alone in that opinion. No matter what you decide, have fun!!

[NotWthOutablcony]

February is about the best time, especially mid-end of the month. Typically, calving season is in February. There's nothing like watching a calf cavort around its mother and nursemaid/escorts.

 

Pac Whale can sell tours inexpensively because they sell every ticket possible. They also add taxes and fees to that ticket price you mention, and that is most likely only an hour and a half trip.

 

If you are going to rent a car or take the shuttle to Kaanapali, you could literally whale watch from the shore, at that time of year. Or, you could book one of the Kaanapali picnic snorkel trips, which would combine whale watching, food, drink, and snorkeling, all for one price and on some really nice catamarans (60 footers, or so, not little boats). Yes, these are more expensive............but you truly get a super experience.

 

I'll try not to be my normal blunt self about some other issues with Pac Whale. I will just say they aren't my fav, never were, and that I'm not alone in that opinion. No matter what you decide, have fun!!

 

Is that snorkeling trip available for on land purchase and not just through the ship? We were just talking about maybe planning some snorkeling in Maui as a back up in the event we don't get to dock in Kauai. I would be interested in why you prefer someone other than Pac Whale, all judgements aside I promise! It would just be funny if they are picky stuffy people because the person who referred it to us is, like that, and hard to please, but I don't want to get stuck with stuffy rude people. My only draw to the Pac Whale was the fact that its somewhat of a charity and highly beneficial to the whales, yep, I'm a PETA member:D but really if they're bad I'd really like to know and plan on booking elsewhere.

Yay we leave Feb. 26 so that shouod be a good time! How far from the ship in Kaanapali? Would it be best to take an excursion or is there snorkeling right off the beach?

[West Maui]

Is that snorkeling trip available for on land purchase and not just through the ship? We were just talking about maybe planning some snorkeling in Maui as a back up in the event we don't get to dock in Kauai. I would be interested in why you prefer someone other than Pac Whale, all judgements aside I promise! It would just be funny if they are picky stuffy people because the person who referred it to us is, like that, and hard to please, but I don't want to get stuck with stuffy rude people. My only draw to the Pac Whale was the fact that its somewhat of a charity and highly beneficial to the whales, yep, I'm a PETA member:D but really if they're bad I'd really like to know and plan on booking elsewhere.

Yay we leave Feb. 26 so that shouod be a good time! How far from the ship in Kaanapali? Would it be best to take an excursion or is there snorkeling right off the beach?

 

Aloha,

 

Well, now you've gone and done it......put me on 'da spot!;) I am going to decline a review of Pac Whale specifically, though. I will instead explain why I like the companies I do, and also recommend that anyone interested in ANY excursion or activity do three things:

1. check review sites, including frommer's, yelp, tripadvisor, etc., etc. for different views.

2. Try to determine if the reviewer has anything to compare the excursion with. In other words, if it's the first Luau or whale watch West Maui's been to, then it's hard to say that Flashdog's Boat is "THE BEST". (Phyllis, I just had to use you here, because you are so helpful and nice, hope you don't mind). Likewise, if Beachchick's Luau is uniformly rated the highest, ask why? (Beachchick, ditto on the comment I made to Phyllis, you are great to people on this board!).

3. Ask yourself what you want. Do you want the 'most bang for your buck', or do you want to pick and choose? It's like the discussions about helicopter tours, expensive, but most people are very, very happy they chose one. If you just want to see whales, do you want to even take a tour? Or do you want to shuttle up to Kaanapali and go to the beach instead, where you could swim, play, and watch whales for nearly no expense?

 

I'm a person who'd rather eat one really great meal once in a while than eat a lot of less expensive meals often. So, I would go with a whale watch or picnic snorkel trip on Gemini, Teralani, or Trilogy. Hope this helps!