Dusty _ Sea

Review of San Juan Safaris-Whale Watchin...

TL;DR version = This is an incorrectly advertised ...

TL;DR version = This is an incorrectly advertised product! Truthful marketing would be to have it labelled "Sightseeing Tour" or as only a "Wildlife Tour" and completely leave out the word "whale".

Full review =
The reservations staff used phrases like "Bucket list experience" and "Once in a lifetime experience" to give the appearance that what is being sold has something to do with seeing whales. In regards to whales, though, this is a lottery ticket. That is all it is! The staff both on and off the boat were knowledgeable and very professional. The boat was also in good condition and well stocked with supplies. Plus, the reservations staff was great about keeping in contact. Despite the use of false marketing, I think they are trying their best as a business. However, it leaves a very sour taste that they don't offer any sort of return voucher or partial refund or even an apology when they fail to locate any whales for customers despite the hype. At least 6 guests on board voiced our disappointment directly to staff at the end of the tour, and were met with only a simple "We don't give any sort of whale guarantee unless it's July or August". The fact that the entire downtown area has images of orcas plastered on everything from t-shirts to business signs, and other tourists walking around town gush excitedly about the orcas and humpbacks they saw out-of-season, just rubs it in the face of all unlucky customers who paid money to this company to receive a losing ticket. It is a very pretty island with several worthwhile tourist sightseeing options. Paying $100 to take in the sights from the water IS actually a very worthwhile option as well, and this company is a solid choice to charter a boat with a naturalist for that. Just do NOT allow the orca photos and stories from the lucky holders of winning tickets to get your hopes up that YOU will also be able to see wild orcas in nature just because you travelled to San Juan Island and paid a company marketing themselves as a "whale" watching experience! Since the resident orca population is at a 30 year low due to starvation and pollution, it makes financial sense that this company is so completely unapologetic when customers don't see any whales during their "whale" marketed tours. They'd very quickly go out of business if they chose to issue refunds or return vouchers! From my experience with this company, I have learned my lesson as a consumer about the lottery scam called "whale watching tours" and I will not be making the same expensive mistake again in my future. I advise you not to fall for their false marketing as well. If you feel you must pay some company to attempt to see orcas in specific amongst the local wildlife, then at least do it with one of the companies on the island who will make amends to you after a failed "whale" tour. Several of the local businesses can tell you who those people are.

The experience has made me even more thankful for the existence of aquariums so that average income Americans have a guaranteed avenue to be able to see orcas in real life!!!