Whale watching cruises depart from the Bellingham Cruise Terminal in the late morning and typically arrive back around 4-5pm, putting you in Historic Fairhaven Village just in time for dinner and/or drinks.
These exciting cruises offer lots of wildlife sightings, fascinating information about the islands’ history and geology, and a delicious lasagna lunch.
“We see orcas 97% of the time,” said Drew Schmidt, a captain with San Juan Cruises. “It’s pretty rare when we don’t see whales.”
If your whale watching trip is a bust, passengers will receive a “bummer card.” This card has no expiration date and is good for 50% off your next whale watching adventure.
In his 12 years with the company, Captain Jeff Drovdahl has been witness to some extraordinary orca sightings.
Even with regulations preventing boats from being within 200 yards to an orca whale, guests can still have a once-in-a-lifetime experience. “One time we had whales breach next to the boat and our guests were showered in whale snot,” said Drovdahl.
If you have a trip planned to Bellingham or Whatcom County soon, make sure you book a day with San Juan Cruises!
There's plenty to see when you're on a whale watching cruise. Here are a few common sightings!
Your whale watching trip with San Juan Cruises includes a complementary lasagna and salad lunch buffet, so you don't need to worry about packing food! The boat also has a bar where you can purchase drinks, snacks, and alcoholic beverages.
Though the boat has both indoor and outdoor seating, make sure to bring layers, as the weather can be unpredictable!
Here are a few other items to bring:
