This is an amazing adventure to see whales hunting for their food. It is an incredible show with so many whales for around 2 hours in a row, both in pairs and alone. If you want to observe closer, you can take binoculars with you; also take pictures, videos, and if you are lucky, you can see some whales next to the boat!You can get some food and drinks inside of the boat, people are very nice, and there are a lot of foreigners from South America and Europe.I think maybe the boat needs some maintenance because of the exhaust coming out the back of the boat at times, but the crew and the captain are amazing.
This was our first whale watching tour and it was awesome. We watched huge humpback whales from a really close distance and it was an amazing experience. The narrator was really informative and told us interesting facts and stories about specific whales. They took us very close to Mama whale training a baby calf, which even crossed us under the boat, that was a memorable experience. They do follow responsible whale watching and tried not to hurt whales in any way when getting really up close.Boarding process was smooth and on time. Booked tickets online. Parking is not included, we needed to do paid parking across the road near Plymouth visitor center.Boat is huge and have plenty of covered and open sitting area. The covered area gets unbearable with the smell of food in the second half of journey.
I mean what an experience. Highly recommend for anybody. We seen 8 Humpback whales some had babies and a Giant Fin Whale. It brought tears to our eyes Nile a wild Humpback but on the most amzing show the more we Cheered And Clap the more she preformed on her own free will. She came so close to Look at us with her giant eye. This was by far the best Company to do it and Capt Johns Crew are the best. I took all Video I only took a couple photos and you can see Nile waving in the background in 2 of them. Cant wait to go back and do it again.
Perfect day the whole family loved it. Managed to see 3 different humpback whales very close up. The only reason I am not giving this 5 stars was I bought a cheese burger on the boat. It was disgusting, it would be so much better if they just removed it from the menu. But the whale watching was just amazing. Crew were friendly and the day was awesome fun.
Fun and exciting trip. We were lucky enough to have multiple sightings of hump back and fin whales. Top deck is best IMO, mostly for the almost 365 view.The snacks on board (hotdogs, pizza, hamburgers, etc) are priced as you would expect and are typical concession food.The crew is really attentive and helpful. Only thing that might make it better is to have tour headsets to wear so you can hear the narrative and other instructions easier.
Nice crew boat is kept well maintained, they have a naturalist on board to talk about the whale and answer any questions if you want to.Its about a 4-Hour trip overall, we always take the 9:00 a.m. boat because we like being out in the water on the morning.Weve been going on Captain Johns boats for years and weve always seen whales in every trip. Sometimes you see less, sometimes you see more. Obviously no guarantees but weve never missed. They do a good job coordinating with other whale watch boats to share information about where the whales are.Bring your own water and a thermos, bring a few snacks, and we like this sit up top on the top deck so we have a raised vantage point.Highly recommended.
Amazing day of whale watching! After an HR or so ride, we made it to a beautiful area known to have whale activity and it did not disappoint! There is no telling where one might show up, but our captain did his very best to give each side of the boat a view! We even got to see 2 Sharks just under the surface, which doesnt happen too often! When we come back, 100% we will do it again!!
Boat was clean,crew was courteous while also informative and the trip was exciting. Cant ask for much more out of a 3hr tour. Looking forward to next time!
Excellent trip. This is second time for a trip with Captain John Boats. We had the thrill of seeing an 18 foot shark go after a dead whale. Nature happening. Would recommend trip to everyone. Also saw several live whales. So thrilling to watch these large mammals.
First thought we would be disappointed. Took a while to find the first whale. But... we came upon a dead whale floating in the water. There were research boats in the area examining the remains. Then we witnessed something very rare. We saw 2 great white sharks feeding on the remains! So incredible! The boat stayed in the area circling the site for at least a half an hour. The shark attacks were something even the boat crew had never seen. Moving on we were able to see @6 whale breaching. Wonderful experience all around.
Went a few days ago, amazing!! Tons of whales, the captain got the ship super close to them. No matter where you were on the ship, you got great views. Staff was very friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. Very clean.Im seeing negative reviews because people didnt read the instructions clearly to know its cash only for food and drinks. They allow you to bring your own food and drinks however.I highly recommend this tour
First whale watch and first time on a large boat...we had so much fun and werent disappointed. Four humpbacks- one even breached! The experience will not be forgotten and was one of the best of our lives.
Crew was awesome. Boat was shipshape. Caught some fish. Had a boat ride in cape cod Bay. Have to love it. Would go every week if I could. Little kids had a blast.Even the teenagers had fun
Captain John Boats does an excellent job with their Whale Watch tour. This is the second time Ive been on this tour and it was great both times.They will explain what is going on when departing from the horns blowing to describing the surrounding area.COVID Info - they require everyone, guests and staff, to wear face coverings the entire time. I wear glasses and it wasnt bad at all due to the constant breeze on the ocean. Staff walks around wiping down the handrails during the trip as well. They also reduce the capacity by about 50% so it is not crowded and social distancing can be maintained somewhat easily.Word of caution: note how the water sprays and blows in the wind when going out and coming back in. You can get wet if sitting at the bow or on the sides.Parking: download the Passport Parking app to pay for your parking. Lots are located all around the dock.
Fantastic! We saw 7 different whales! Since surfaced right next to the boat. All of the dolphin pods kept things exciting in-between and even during whale sightings. Will definitely go again.
After having our tour cancelled due to wind at another company, we turned our car around and headed to Captain John’s. I’m so glad our other plans were cancelled!!! We had an incredible afternoon. The crew was great. Though the waves were big, we felt safe the entire time. Because this was our first time we didn’t know what to expect. Lindsey, the marine biologist on board and our guide, went above and beyond anything we were expecting!!! We learned about the local area we passed as well as the whales. Go talk to her! We stopped to ask her a question and enjoyed learning from her for the next 15 minutes. Her wealth of knowledge and excitement made this trip go above and beyond. Despite the high seas we saw humpback and fin whales. Go to Captain John!! It is wonderful experience.
Absolutely wonderful crew, so nice and fantastic with the kids! Obviously they love their jobs! Great customer service planning and dealing with a weather situation. I can’t recommend highly enough. Thanks for the best day ever, as my granddaughter said!!
Took the ferry to Provincetown and it was amazing! We even got a small detour to see a whale feeding on the way back. The staff are so professional and polite, especially Kim and Delia . Both of them made the ride that much more enjoyable! I can’t say enough nice things about the whole crew, thank you all for an unforgettable day!
Captain John Boats are the absolute BEST! My family went to P-Town yesterday on the fast ferry from Plymouth with our (admittedly very large) Great Dane on one of the hottest days of the summer for Pride. Captain John (not the owner, but one of their captains who just-so-happens to be named John) and the whole crew were just incredible. As soon as we boarded we were given water for the dog, and Capt John let our dog sit in the Air Conditioned cabin for about 20 minutes to let him cool off along the way. On the way back, the winds had picked up and it was a choppy ride. Before we departed John came down to tell us where to sit to be safest with the weather turning, and at least 3 different crew members came and checked to see if the dog was scared during the ride and bring us more water. They even offered to carry our Great Dane off if we needed them to, if he couldn’t handle the stairs or ramp. I can’t say enough about that crew, they blew my mind. THANKS GUYS!
9/29- 2pm tourBoarding was smooth & organized. Prices are comparable to competitors. We loved that the boat had bench seating outdoors on the top deck and lots of seating outdoors as well as in doors below. We saw dolphins, a sunfish and lots of whales (logging, lazy diving, lots of blow, fin splashing). We got really close up to many of the whales. Its a really ship, so expect the boat to rock from side to side- made the experience really authentic! Excellent narration by the female crew member. Clean boat & bathrooms. Brought the following on board: food & drinks, jackets, sun block. Will bring next time: heavier & hooded jackets (hats do fly off) and Dramamine for sea sickness (just as a precaution- no accidents on board)! Amazing navigation by captain. We went out further due to reports of n sighting-captain wanted to be sure we saw whales and boy did we! My mom liked this over the one she normally does and shes hard to impress, so good on all of you at Captain Johns! See you next year!
We had an incredible experience on the whale watch. Buy your tickets on line and get there early to park and hop on line for a great seat. Snacks and drinks on board, staff takes your picture and is so informative.
The whale tour is exemplary. A Marine biologist accompanies the tour and you are guaranteed to see humpback whales as well as other species, which is rare. ONE WARNING: The area where the boat docks is located is a horrible tourist trap with absolutely no parking. Arrive at least an hour ahead of time and be very VERY careful where you park or you will get a hefty ticket if not towed. I gave Capt John a 4 star rating since it would be nice if their website warned people, especially from out of state, just how bad parking is around the dock. I got a very unfair ticket, for parking in an area which I was *told* to by a parking attendant, and there is no way to appeal since I am out-of-state.
We had the most amazing time (even with the rain) they were very informative and we got to see several different whale types. So excited about some of the other things they offer. Thank you.Monday June 14, 2021 2pm trip.
Fun experience unfortunately not whales but the refund our money for the next time and give us a free photo
Excellent! Seriously, perfect excursion that included close up sightings of several humpbacks! Want to return next season.
A pleasant boad ride out in the ocean to view whales. Each boat offers two floors for viewing, a small snack area and a small outside area for viewing as well.
The crew was amazing. Very informative about the whales and the surrounding islands. Was worth every penny.
The best part of this is that they take their boats to stellwagen sanctuary where youre almost guaranteed natural whale sightings in season. They also staff their tours with students of marine science, which is so insightful. Try it. You wont be disappointed.
My wife and I spent a week in Cape Cod for our 24th Anniversary. Whale watching was on my bucket list. We picked Captain John Boats and had a FABULOUS experience! Even though it was fairly overcast, we had lots of interesting interactions with these beautiful animals. The staff was incredible, and the captain put us in to great positions for photo opportunities. The whales were being kind of lazy that day (no breaches or major fluke displays). But we still got some nice photos and close encounters that we will never forget. Highly recommended!!!
There was about 50 fishermen and women on board and after we got to the fishing grounds it was on. We were fishing hadock. The whole boat was catching fish as fast as you could re-bait and drop your line.
Took my six year old daughter on an 8 hr fishing charter today. First time really doing any activities this year with covid going on. Said on the website, and in the email I got just yesterday that food and drinks would be sold on the boat during the trip. So when we didnt have time for breakfast in the morning with the hr trip it was to the boats for us, or to stop at the store on the way, we were very much looking forward to food and beverages on the boat. Little did we know that food and drinks were not going to be served at all during the whole 8 hr fishing charter. So had it not been for the real nice people on the trip, my 6 year old daughter and I would not have been able to eat or drink for atleast 8 hrs from when we got on the boat. I asked the eldest staff about it, he insisted that me and every other customer aboard today had been emailed in advance about it. Wen I searched me inbox for an email about it, i found none. I did however find a confirmation email from them from yesterday confirming our booking, and stating that food and drink were going to be available for purchase on our trip today. the staff lied and told me that he was mistaken, and clarified that it was clearly posted on the captain john website since covid outbreak that no food or drink would be served. Which it most certainly was not. Whenever I spokewith any of the phave a punishing attitude, like i was some sort of criminal. Was absolutely miserable for my daughter and myself. And they continued to make me feel like it was my fault. The crew was not very sociable at all, and both me and my daughter were dehydrated and starving by the end of thetrip. Do not recommend their services at all.Pretty messed up paying nearly 150$ for this. Staff couldnt have even been bothered doing anything after hearing my daughter whine and complain about being hungry the whole trip. They never even bothered offering to sell me any of the snacks or drinks on display behind the counter from their little shop onboard. Could have been an easyfix to make things right for me and my kid
What a great time great weather. The captain and the crew awesome
Had a great experience with my family on Sunday July 1 in the morning. We saw several species of whales and several individuals of each species. The crew was very attentive and information and had lots of learning materials about the various whales we might see. They also provided a lot of historical information about Plymouth and the waters surrounding Plymouth. Will definitely consider doing this again in the future!
This is an amazing tour! Go on the whale watching tour, and be sure to do the following: wear sunscreen, bring a light jacket or sweater, take Dramamine even if you don’t think you need it (you will), and don’t wear a dress or skirt. It will be super windy and rocky out on the open water but it’s amazing! It’s about 3-4 hour trip. If you want a drink or a snack, have one on the way out and ASAP. Once you get out there it will be too rocky to want to eat or drink or even walk up and down the stairs to the snack bar! Yes they serve beer. We saw so many whales and they did flips and slapped their tales and it was totally worth it. Highly recommend this tour!
This is the best place to go whale watching and so much more!!! The crew is so amazing and kind
Called at 11am for a 2pm trip weather didnt look good and had a long trip to get there and wanted to make sure before driving down it was a go. Emily from there stated it was still a go Got down there only to find 45 mins before hand they were canceling (Got to the morning trip coming back) just paid $25 for parking and used up gas for nothing thanks captain. You didnt make it happen BTW the craft advisory was up by 10 am today should have canceled then
Easily accessed on wharf. Boats hold 200+ people but with plenty of rail space for all to view the whales. Little over 1 hour to get to whales. During this time the crew act as tour guides around the harbour. Fun facts are continually spoken even after the whales appear. We had great luck with some whales playing but a very enjoyable 4 hour+ experience.
I love going on here. I tried grabbing tickets on line for Saturday, but unavailable to purchase anyone know if they sell at the shack stand in the morning still,? Trying to go Saturday while my cousin is up,???
Great tour. Staff had plenty of information. Saw plenty of whales
Saw dolphins on the way out. Saw a Fin whale. Saw 2 humpback whales and NOAA was in the process of tagging a whale! Very fun and exciting morning.
We had a great time on the Pilgrim Belle taking the Harbor Cruise. Beautiful weather and a nicely guided tour of Plymouth Harbour. Really liked the captains commentary.
Im giving them one star because I dont have the option of giving them zero stars. My mother has to travel around with her portable oxygen tanks, a 4hr whaie watch requires 4 tanks, she cant carry all 4, we asked to bring a small wagon on board to hold the other 3 tanks and were told no because they werent equipped to accommodate a wagon. However they are equipped for a wheelchair to move about the boat, same size as the wagon, but arent equipped for a stationary wagon because it wouldnt be fair to other people...
Great crew, didnt see a lot of whales but saw a couple including a Finback whale that came right by the boat! Great experience
Took a whale-watcher and a humpback was 15 yards (yahds up there) off the starboard beam. Naturalist (Lindsey) with her doctors, sat with us to explain even more and answer questions.Took the fast ferry Plymouth to Provincetown and crew and boat safe, professional and friendly. They will always be our choice in future.
Had a blast, really enjoyed myself. Boat wasnt too packed so could move around from side to side and such looking for whales.
Nice whale watching boat trip . The boat is big and fast, the captain is very skilled in spotting the best areas and the crew is friendly and knowledgeable.
Be sure to schedule your whale watching cruise with them early. Great time saw loads of whales. Very knowledgeable and friendly staff and you will have great memories! 4 hour cruise 20 miles out into the ocean on a huge boat. Absolutely loved it!
Great time. They are great at finding the whales.
If you are going on a paddleboat harbor cruise because you WANT TO go on a paddleboat, make sure the paddleboat is available as depicted in their advertisements. Ours was not - they put us on a regular prop boat. Trip was fun and informative and a value - but I question the mgmt ethics. You would of thought a discount, huh?
Nice haul to the whale grounds. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable. Boat was clean with professional staff. Lots information was given on whales and our interactions with them. Actually saw about a dozen different whales..though you have to be fast to get the picture.
The boats are not over crowded, and the crew is SUPER friendly!
OMG! if you have a chance to go see the whales, DO!! What an incredible experience!! Saw several whales and dolphins! Crew was great! Even if its a nice day, take a jacket, hat and gloves! We were there on April 24th and did not dress right!!Thanks captain John boats!!
Fun whale watching trip on this fun boat
I wouldn’t suggest you go on the boat for deep sea fishing, lines kept getting tangled with others, was out from 7-3:30pm and out of 50 people only two caught a fish. Not worth it especially since the price went from $65 to $95. The only reason I’m giving two stars is because the crew members worked extremely hard to make sure everyone was okay the whole trip . Should’ve at least offered some sort of discount for a future trip because it was not a good experience for anyone on that boat.
Bought our tickets on Groupon. Very affordable. The boat was clean and the staff were amazing and friendly. The kitchen had lots of delicious options and we saw several whales! The naturalist giving the tour was informative and funny and even came as round for a meet and greet and answered questions. We loved it and will definately go again!
A very pleasant morning. We saw three different types of whale.
What a fabulous day!The web site and purchasing tickets on line are super easy. You can pay for parking anywhere by the harbor, just make sure it is not for a limited time. I selected 6 hours. I had enough time before the excursion to walk to the Mayflower II and Plymouth Rock. The boat was clean and well maintained. The crew did an outstanding job, to include offering (cash only) food and drinks if you did not pack your own. The grand finale: Nine the humpback whale kept putting on a show for us. Go to the Facebook page for photos!! Afterwards, I purchased a fresh seafood dinner at the pier. I highly recommend this trip.*WARNING: waves can be rough getting to the whales. Bring something if you think you might get seasick.
Ive been on two whale watch trips and this was by far the best. I do not rate a whale watch trip based on the number of whales spotted but on the efforts of the captain, naturalist, and crew. All were great. That being said, we saw plenty of whales so my sons were kept interested the entire time. A great experience.
Was an excellent trip to PTown and back. Very friendly and professional crew.
Its started off slow but picked up very quick. The crew was on point with the help. Will def come again.
Best fishing i ever had. Caught so much fish. Over 30
Great day to spend on the water. People were able to see a breach, fluke, and a whale go under the boat!
One of the best boating and nature experiences of my life
Had an extremely good whale watching experience. With the captain knowing where the whales are, naturalists explaining detailed information, kind crew members, the trip was worth the price.
Our boat ride started at 2 PM. It was $60 for 4 hours trip. We have caught 6-8 whales. Be prepared to go with jacket on or a thick hoodie as you experience 10-15 degrees lower weather in mid of the ocean. The crew was amazing and they are sanitizing the boat frequently amid all this Covid pandemic. Also it’s good to see that they’re enforcing social distancing in the boat. The captain was super friendly. It was my first ride for whale watching and overall an amazing experience. Five stars for quality and cleanliness. Thanks for making my Saturday memorable!!
Love this place ppl so nice
Everyone would have great experience. Food is what it is. Fuel.
This is the best whale watch!! I have gone every year for the last 8 years.
Cannot thank Captain Johns enough, we had to change out plans at the last minute, they changed our pre booked trip to week earlier with no hesitation. The trip was something else, we saw a fin whale within 10 minutes on the way out, then countless humpbacks during the 3.5 hour trip. The onboard staff were great and the naturalist giving the commentary was awesome very knowledgeable and informative about some different things not just the whales. Will definitely use these guys again when I next visit.
Went on the 4 hour fishing trip and it was awesome! Caught some fish and had a great time. The boat is clean and big, and the crew is super friendly and helpful.
Initial day was cancelled due to rough seas. Was rescheduled. Crew is very helpful. They really clean and sanitize the boat constantly which was great/important. Was easy process for everything, saw lots of wales, dolphins, fun, informative. Were very helpful/accommodating with our Serv. Dog too. Keep doing what you are doing = Great Experience!!
Rough sea. Crew was very responsive.
Best trip ever! Seals dolphins whales! Most weve ever seen!!
Great experience. Very clean boat, information provided throughout the trip, friendly staff
I had always wanted to go whale watching and we finally got around to doing it this summer. We went in late August and the conditions were perfect for being out on a boat. As the trip was during COVID, having the option to stay outdoors was ideal. There was also staff that would frequently go around the boat and disinfect the rails.The crew was very knowledgeable of the different types of whales that were seen and also in explaining their behaviors as we observed a very rambunctious male teenage whale. The best part of the trip is that we saw 7 whales, two of those were a mom and baby humpback. We had two, 11 year olds with us and we all had a great time! We look forward to going back and spreading the word!
I had an absolutely amazing time!! No other words to describe it.
Amazing tour!!! We got so lucky today we seen so many whales, dolphins and there was a whale that unfortunately passed away and we watched as sharks ate away at it. Staff was extremely knowledgeable and friendly!
Excellent as always. Whales rock 😍😍😍
September 25th whale watching cruise was amazing. We saw a handful of whales as well as a blue shark and a Molamola.
Crew was really helpful. Really enjoyed our cruise, we got lucky to spot whales without wasting time for searching them.
- Address:10 Town Wharf #3848, Plymouth, MA 02360, United States
- Site:http://captjohn.com/
- Phone:+1 508-746-2643
- Whale watching tour agency
- Boat tour agency
- Cruise agency
- Ferry service
- Monday:8am–8pm
- Tuesday:8am–8pm
- Wednesday:8am–8pm
- Thursday:8am–8pm
- Friday:8am–8pm
- Saturday:8am–8pm
- Sunday:8am–8pm
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance:Yes
- Good for kids:Yes
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- PLYMOUTH CRUISES aboard Lobster Tales9 Town Wharf, Plymouth, MA 02360, United States
- Pilgrim Belle Cruises LLC77 Water St, Plymouth, MA 02360, United States
