San Juan Cruises

San Juan Cruises The only whale watching tours out of Bellingham, Washington. With a variety of other summer cruises. All prepared fresh just before we start boarding passengers.
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Deluxe Whale Watching Adventure Cruise:

Welcome aboard the San Juan Islands best cruising adventure! Departing from the charming Fairhaven Historic District in Bellingham you will immediately enter the eastern edge of the 172 island San Juan Archipelago. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the incredible wildlife that abounds including; Bald Eagles, Seals and Sea lions, Porpoise, Seabirds and of cours

e – Orca Whales. After a morning of wildlife and pristine coastlines you'll enjoy a delicious Northwest salmon & chicken lunch, served with several side dishes and dessert. After your meal, we'll make a 2-hour stop in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. It's a chance to stretch your legs, stroll among the many shops and galleries or take in the Whale Museum. Soak in the afternoon sun on the cruise home, enjoying a beverage from our full bar stocked with a selection of Northwest beers & wines. Trip Overview:
• Fully narrated whale watching tour through the San Juan Islands.
• We are part of a local whale spotting network, helping us have one of the highest whale sighting success rates in the state.
• Guaranteed whales or your next tour is 50% off.
• Complimentary Northwest salmon / chicken lunch, with side dishes & dessert.
• 2 hour shore visit in Friday Harbor.
• Deluxe 100’ tour vessel with lots of indoor & outdoor seating.
• Onboard breakfast & lunch options.
• Full bar with Northwest wines, beers and cocktails.

2016 Schedule / Pricing:

Departing from Bellingham at 9:30 am returning at 5:30 pm

Low Season (May / June / September)
• $99.00 Adult ($5 off with advance booking)
• $49.50 Child (6-17)
• Under 6 Free! High Season (July / August)
• $109.00 Adult ($5 off with advance booking)
• $54.50 Child (6-17)
• Under 6 Free! May 7 - May 22 | Saturdays & Sundays Only
May 28 - September 25 | Daily

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Chuckanut Bay Cracked Crab Dinner Cruises:

A feast for the senses. Savor an old-fashioned cracked crab and baked chicken feast while enjoying a Bellingham Bay sunset after cruising along the beautiful Chuckanut Coast aboard the Victoria Star 2. Feast on the Northwest's finest Dungeness Crab served with Baked Chicken, our signature Broccoli Salad, Old-Fashioned Potato Salad, locally baked French Bread and dessert. The Victoria Star 2 offers a selection of Northwest wines, beer from local microbreweries, well drinks and unique cocktails, and a variety of juices and soft drinks, for an additional charge.

2016 Schedule/Pricing:

Fridays and Saturdays from June 10 through September 18 - 6:30pm to 9:00pm

• $59.00 Adult
• $29.50 Child (6-17)
• Under 6 Free! Reservations: (360) 738-8099 or 1-800-443-4552
Online: http://www.whales.com

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Bellingham Bay BREWS Cruise - Wednesday Beer Tasting Cruise Series

Stay cool this summer with our new series of beer tasting cruises on Wednesday evenings in July, August and early September aboard the Victoria Star. Each week Boundary Bay Brewery will serve a variety of their award-winning beers, joined by 2 other Northwest breweries serving up their best brews. Snacks that complement the beers will be available during the cruise. It's just $35/adult for this cruise, which includes tastings of 3 different beers from each brewery and snacks. These cruises will sell out quickly - you can reserve online, or by calling 1-800-443-4552 or (360) 738-8099.

6:30 - 8:00 pm

Adults - $35 (Must be 21 or older)

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unWINEd On The Bay - Thursday Wine Tasting Cruise Series

Join us this summer for one of our new "unWINEd On The Bay" wine tasting cruises aboard the Victoria Star 2. We'll be featuring wines from around the world, as well as locally produced wines from the Pacific Northwest. Tickets are available online, or by phone:l (360) 738-8099 or 1-800-443-4552

Local experts and representatives from participating wineries will join us on board to serve and discuss the featured wines. Snacks and hors d'oeuvres that complement the wines will also be served during the cruise. Make the middle of the week something to look forward to this summer with one of our wine tasting cruises.

6:30 - 8:00 pm

Adults - $35 (Must be 21 or older)

Photos from 6/3/26 by Leo Solomon when we saw members of T36A’s, T49A’s, T69D’s.
06/26/2026

Photos from 6/3/26 by Leo Solomon when we saw members of T36A’s, T49A’s, T69D’s.

An excellent week of lots of orcas, the T123's have continued enjoying hunting on the Nooksack Delta right in our back y...
06/25/2026

An excellent week of lots of orcas, the T123's have continued enjoying hunting on the Nooksack Delta right in our back yard, the T100's were in the northwest of the islands, and the T65's crossed paths with the "Alaska Brothers" out in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, pictured here. Full review at: whales.com/t2cs/

06/24/2026

T002C Tasu came up to us yesterday! Pronounced "TA-suh", this whale is a decendant of the famous T002 Florencia who was captured in Pedder Bay in 1970. Florencia, previously named Pointednose Cow, escaped, later giving birth to Pedder (1979) and Tasu (1989). Tasu was a unique grey color as a juvenile. She traveled with her mother til her presumed death in 2009. This unique individual usually sticks to areas further north, so this was a real treat for us. Thanks to our deckhand Claire for the video.

Bigg's killer whale calfs tend to "porpoise", or softly leap out of the water in order to catch up with their parents, a...
06/23/2026

Bigg's killer whale calfs tend to "porpoise", or softly leap out of the water in order to catch up with their parents, and just exhibiting their youthful energy. Which makes them fun to try to get shots of, when the adults are mostly resting. The young ones pictured are the T36B's Auk (2024) and Maple (2025), with T36 Flapjack (1970) and T36B Tattertip (1998), traveling with the other two T36B's. We saw this pod the same day we spotted Big Mama the humpback breach, so they got a little overshadowed.

Things ramp up quickly around here over the course of June. This week we add three more cruises to the schedule: Thursda...
06/15/2026

Things ramp up quickly around here over the course of June. This week we add three more cruises to the schedule: Thursday evening wine tasting cruises with appetizers included for $49; as well as birdwatching cruises to see the puffins at Smith Island also on Thursdays, or weekend shore trips to Sucia Island State Park with an optional tour of the fossils at Fossil Bay. Both with a picnic lunch included at $99.

The rest of the epic captures of the "Betsy the Seal" takedown right by our docked boat at the start of the whale watch ...
06/11/2026

The rest of the epic captures of the "Betsy the Seal" takedown right by our docked boat at the start of the whale watch cruise last week, by Naturalist Elliot. And the blog: whales.com/attack-right-off-the-dock/

A stunning drive from Bellingham is open super early this year. Makes a great add on to a visit with us
06/10/2026

A stunning drive from Bellingham is open super early this year. Makes a great add on to a visit with us

The WSDOTopened the road to Artist Point Wednesday, June 10, 2026. This is the earliest opening on record!*edit-2nd earliest* The road and parking areas are snow free, but there is still a lot of snow on the trails and around the parking lots at and above 4500’ elevation. There is limited directional signage above Heather Meadows Visitor Center, and none at Lake Ann Trailhead. Signs and maps will be added as the snow melts more.

Visitors need to be prepared for snow travel on slopes and route-finding for travel on Chain Lakes, Lake Ann, Ptarmigan Ridge, Table Mountain, upper Wild Goose, and Artist Ridge trails. Patches of snow, some large, remain on trails around the Heather Meadows Visitor Center and Bagley Lakes. There are some snow free picnic tables at the Austin Pass Picnic area, but Picture Lake is the only completely snow free trail.

The trailheads and sites in Heather Meadows are US Fee Areas. Recreation Passes must be displayed in all vehicles. Please note that the Washington State Discover Pass is only valid on land managed by Washington State and is not valid at US Fee Areas. If you display an annual pass, please make sure that our rangers can clearly see the expiration date on the pass. The Heather Meadows fee machine just past Picture Lake is in place and functional. Passes are also available at the Glacier Public Service Center and from Recreation.gov using Scan and Pay.

Heather Meadows Visitor Center is scheduled to open June 20. The Visitor Center will be open 10-4 daily and offers information, passes, books, maps, and souvenirs.

The bathrooms at Bagley Lakes Trailhead, Artist Point, and Heather Meadows Visitor Center are open and ready for use. There are garbage cans available throughout the area.

Camping is prohibited during summer and fall at all parking areas in Heather Meadows including Bagley Lakes Trailhead/Mt. Baker Ski Area. Camping is only allowed at designated sites on Chain Lakes Trail, on Lake Ann trail at least 2 miles from the trailhead, and on Ptarmigan Ridge Trail at least 1 mile from the junction with Chain Lakes. It is prohibited on all other trails accessed from the end of SR542. Campfires are prohibited in all locations.

Our signature cracked crab cruises are full steam ahead Wed-Sun all summer! Pick from lunch or dinner out of La Conner, ...
06/09/2026

Our signature cracked crab cruises are full steam ahead Wed-Sun all summer! Pick from lunch or dinner out of La Conner, Washington to Deception Pass, or dinners on Bellingham Bay. $79 gets you a Dungeness crab and Tuscan herb chicken buffet with delicious sides and dessert included with your ticket, and a full bar of drinks available for purchase. Visit whales.com for all the details and to book your cruise.

A scary moment for a seal. 👀 Right off of our dock yesterday. Captured by Elliot Shaughnessy-Lively.l.l.i.0.t
06/05/2026

A scary moment for a seal. 👀 Right off of our dock yesterday. Captured by Elliot Shaughnessy-Lively.
l.l.i.0.t

Address

355 Harris Avenue Ste 104
Bellingham, WA
98225

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm
Saturday 8am - 5pm
Sunday 8am - 5pm

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