Published on Jan, 2025
The four of us understood that luck would play a part in what we were able to see, especially in midwinter, but the expertise of Captain Joe and the enthusiasm and knowledge of Sam and Tom, our guides, were exceptional. We were told before the cruise began what we might see at this time of year, and we were lucky enough to see everything on the list: orcas, a humpback whale, harbour porpoise, sealions (both California and stellar), harbour seals, and bald eagles, as well as many seabirds. To our great good fortune and appreciation, the humpback breached right in front of the boat, and circled around for a considerable time. Nothing felt rushed: we were guided on how to observe, and were able to take the time to enjoy the experience. All our questions were answered expertly. We agreed that it was an amazing experience. I have been on one whale-watching cruise previously (not in Victoria) and this one was superior in every way.