the trip
The covered catamaran trip, from check-in to the last look back
What happens between the Granville Island check-in desk and the end of the cruise, stage by stage.
Reserve your whale tour ↗The trip, stage by stage
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Check-in | At the Adventure Centre on Granville Island |
| Departure | The covered catamaran leaves Granville Island |
| Open water | Live commentary on the area, its geology and its marine life |
| Sightings | Whales, porpoises, seals and seabirds, with no species promised |
| Views | The Gulf Islands, the San Juan Islands and Howe Sound |
| Photos and a hot drink | A photo package and coffee, tea or hot cocoa are included |
Checking in
The meeting point is the Prince of Whales Adventure Centre on Granville Island, beside the Kasandy "Locally Global" store and opposite the yellow building of Bridges Restaurant. Check-in happens there before you board. Wear warm clothing and closed-toe shoes, and leave baby strollers, drones and anything alcoholic behind.
Choosing where to stand
The boat is covered, with a heated cabin for warming up and outdoor viewing areas for the rail. Most people split their time. The cabin is where you wait out the first stretch of open water, and the outdoor areas, which are laid out for photographs, are where you want to be when someone calls a sighting.
Listening to the crew
Live commentary runs through the trip. The crew talks about the history of the area, the local geology and the marine life, so even a stretch of empty water carries something to learn. If you want to follow along in Spanish, French, German or Dutch, a downloadable guide is available.
When a whale shows
A sighting starts with a blow, a fin or a patch of disturbed water. Guests describe humpbacks surfacing close to the boat and orcas on the same trip, along with sea lions, seals and porpoises. None of that is scheduled, and the species you meet on your date is not something the tour can name in advance.
If you see none
The tour carries a whale sightings guarantee. If you see no whales on the first trip, you can join another tour. The guarantee is for whales rather than for a named species, and it is worth reading the rebooking terms on the booking page before you choose a date.
The way home
Allow three to five hours in total, because weather and whales set the length. The half-day cruise is the daytime option. The sunset option adds the hour when the sun goes down over the water, and the downtown skyline is the last thing in view as the boat turns back.