All Reviews for Marine Wildlife Encounters

It was farther away than I had expected, but I'm glad I was able to see it safely. I felt like not being able to see the first half at all was part of the performance, though.

期待していたよりは遠距離からではありましたが、無事に見られてよかったです。前半全く見れなかったのは、演出のような気もしもしましたけど。

I arrived at the pickup location earlier than the scheduled time, but since it was just after 10 AM, it was extremely crowded. It was difficult to find our bus among the crowd. I think it would have been helpful if the staff had held a sign that said "Veltora," and it also took time to find the bus because it was parked a bit far away. Although I was told that the voucher was not needed, I was instructed to hand it to the staff member who came to pick us up.

The tour itself was very interesting, and I was thrilled when we spotted a whale. I was on the third deck of the boat, but the snacks were only available on the second deck, which was a hassle since I had to go down the stairs each time to get something. I think it would have been better if there were snack stations on both the upper and lower decks. I would have also liked some drinks other than water.

お迎え場所には時間より早く着いていたのですが、朝10時過ぎということもあり大変な混雑でした。その中から自分たちの乗るバスを見つけるというのは難しかったです。担当者がベルトラと書いた看板でも持っていてくれたら良かったと思いますし少し離れたところにバスが停まっていたせいもあり見つけるのに時間がかかりました。またバウチャーはいらないとの事でしたが迎えに来た担当者に渡すように言われました。
ツアー自体は大変おもしろくクジラが見えた瞬間には興奮しました。
船の中では3階にいたのですが、軽食が2階にしか置いてなくいちいち階段を降りて取りに行くのが面倒でした。上と下の２か所にあればよかったと思いました。水以外の飲み物も欲しかったです。

This is my third time participating. I always join when I go to Hawaii because I find healing with the dolphins and turtles. I was able to see the dolphins and turtles again this time, but since the schedule is tailored to them, the early morning pickup is tough (of course). If you plan to use this program, you need to adjust your schedule before and after to avoid getting unwell.

今回で3回目の参加です。
イルカとカメに癒されるのでハワイに行くときは必ず参加しています。
今回もイルカとカメに会えましたが、彼らに合わせたスケジュールなので、(もちろんなのですが)朝のピックアップが早いのが大変です。
このプランを利用する場合は前後のスケジュールを調整して臨まないと、体調を崩します。

It was a lovely afternoon on the boat where we saw and followed 2 pairs of whales-- one of which was a mama and a baby whale! The team was experienced and knowledgeable and also showed us other ocean wildlife while we were waiting for the whales to resurface. Excellent activity-- I would do again.

I used to get seasick and wasn't good at swimming in the ocean, but the beauty of the sea and sky made me forget my discomfort. I was thrilled to swim with sea turtles, which I had always dreamed of. I was also surprised by the pod of dolphins. I have come to love the ocean, which I once found difficult.

船酔いもするし、海で泳ぐことは苦手でしたが、海と空の綺麗さが酔いを忘れさせてくれました。
念願のウミガメと一緒に泳ぐことも出来て感動しました。イルカの群れにはビックリです。
苦手だった海が大好きになりました。

This time, I was a bit disappointed that I couldn't see the whales jumping from afar, but on the way to the whale watching spot, I encountered dolphins, which made me feel lucky. It was great that breakfast was included on the boat. The reservation through Veltra was the cheapest among the sites I checked.

今回はクジラが遠くジャンプも見れなかったので少しがっかりでしたがクジラスポットに向かう途中にイルカに遭遇し、得した気分でした。船内で朝食も付けれて良かったです。ベルトラからの予約が見たサイトの中では一番安かったです。

My child said they wanted to see whales, so we joined in. I was also looking forward to it since I had never seen them before. I felt reassured because it was mentioned that if we couldn't spot any whales, we would receive a free reboarding ticket.

There were about four announcements saying, "We see them now!" but most people missed the chance to see them. Although there were announcements, we didn't see any whales at all, so we couldn't reboard.

As for lunch, there wasn't much to eat, so I just snacked on potato chips. It's disappointing because encountering whales is also a matter of luck.

クジラを見たい！と子供が言うので一緒に参加しました。私も今までに
見た事がなかったので期待していました。
クジラの確認ができなかった場合は、再乗船できる無料乗船券を配布する
との記載もあるので安心していました。
「今、見えました！！」と４回ぐらいアナウンスがあったのですが
見るタイミングを逃した方がほとんどでした。
全く見えなかったけどアナウンスがあったので、再乗船は出来ません。。。
ランチはまともに食べれるものがなく、ポテトチップスをつまみました。
遭遇出来るかは運もありますが残念です。

I participated in this tour before and had a great experience, so I invited a friend to try it as well. The weather was nice, and the turtles were swimming comfortably, making me realize that I am currently in Oahu. The food was delicious, and I recommend it. It's safer to have motion sickness medication on hand.

このツアーは以前にも参加して良かったので友人を誘いましてトライしまし。
天気も良く、カメも気持ち良く泳いでいて、このツアーでオワフ今いるんだなと実感できます。
食事も美味しいのですすめです、船酔いの薬はあった方が安全ですね。

While looking at past experiences, I participated with a bit of worry, thinking that I might not be able to see any whales. In reality, I didn't feel any presence at all until the very end, but I was able to see the spouts (breath) and tails of two whales at the last moment. I was so happy! Also, the view of Oahu from the sea was very beautiful, and I was able to take some lovely photos. I managed to take some pictures of the whales as well, but since there was a distance, if you want impressive photos, it would be best to prepare a telephoto camera or purchase photos from the ship's dedicated photographer.

過去の体験談を見ていたら、くじらを見れないことも多いのかなと少し心配しならがら参加しました。実際途中まで全く気配を感じることもできませんでしたが、最後の最後に２頭のくじらの潮吹き(呼吸)や尾びれを見ることができました。うれしかったです。また海上から見るオアフ島はとてもきれいで素敵な写真を撮ることができました。くじらの写真もとりあえず撮ることができましたが、やはり距離があるので迫力ある写真がほしければ、望遠タイプのカメラを準備するか船の専属カメラマンの写真を購入するのが良さそうです。

I participated in a Japanese language guided tour starting at 10 AM, and not only was I able to enjoy the beautiful underwater scenery, but I also learned about the types of fish, the history of the reefs, and how colors appear underwater. It was a lot of fun!

10時からの日本語解説ツアーに参加したため、美しい海底の景色を眺めるだけでなく、魚の種類や漁礁の歴史や海底での色の見え方等の話が聞けて、とても楽しめました。

The weather was bad, and I couldn't see much because of the waves. By the time I noticed, I could only see the tail for a brief moment.

On the other hand, I was glad to see a beautiful rainbow. I ended up taking a lot of photos of the rainbow.

天気が悪かったのもありますが、波に隠れて
あまりよく見られませんでした。気づいた時には尾が少し見られたぐらいで、ほんの一瞬、、

そのかわりといってはなんですが、虹が綺麗に
見られて良かったです。虹の写真ばかり撮って
しましました

I was able to encounter many dolphins. The Japanese staff, local guides, and photographers all had a wonderful attitude towards entertaining the guests! I hope to enroll again!

多くのイルカ達と遭遇できました。日本人スタッフさんも、現地ガイドさんも、カメラマンさんも、ゲストを楽しませようとするスタンスが素敵でした！再入学希望です！

It was my first time in Hawaii and my first whale watching experience. Towards the end of the cruise, I finally saw a couple of small, cute spouts and just a glimpse of one tail. It seems some people missed the tail. During the cruise, they provided commentary about the whales and the scenery, which kept us entertained. We also got to see a big rainbow after a light rain, so that was a nice bonus.

初ハワイの初ホエールウォッチングでした。
クルーズ後半にやっと小さめの可愛らしい潮吹き(２匹のよう)と、１匹の尾びれだけチラッと見えました。尾びれは見逃した方もいたよう。クルーズ中は、鯨の生体や景色の事を放送し、退屈しないようしてくれてました。小雨後の大きな虹見れたのでとりあえず○

My first winter in Hawaii, and I was really looking forward to whale watching. It rained and was a bit cold for Hawaii, so at first, we could only catch glimpses of the whales. However, the captain extended our time a bit, and then, ta-da!!! From that point on, we were amazed as mother and baby whales leaped out of the water, making us feel like we were seeing dolphins! It was truly thrilling. We also learned hula dancing on the way back on the boat, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Hawaii! Next time, I want to go dolphin watching. Thank you!

初めての冬のハワイで、ずっと楽しみにしていたホエールウォッチング。
雨が降ったり、ハワイにしては寒かったりと、最初はクジラさんがちらちら見えるくらいでしたが、キャプテンが少し時間延長して下さり、そうすると、ジャーンプ！！！
もうそこからは、「え？イルカ？」と思うくらい、親子クジラが飛び跳ねてくれて、もう大感激でした。
フラダンスも帰路の船内で教えて頂き、もうハワイ大満喫でした！
今度はドルフィンウォッチングに行きたいです。
ありがとうございました！

I participated on January 28, 2019.
This boat didn't have a Japanese guide, so it was mostly foreigners, but in the end, this tour was great.
The pick-up was handled by a cheerful and friendly lady, and there were no particular issues. The boat was smaller compared to other whale-watching boats, which made it easier to see the whales.
There was a large cruise ship in a similar area, but it was crowded with people and far away, so a smaller boat is definitely more comfortable for viewing. Well, if you really want to see them up close, going to Maui would be the best option...
It might be a bit warmer when it's sunny, but since it was somewhat cloudy, it got cold if you were exposed to the wind for too long. Warm clothing is essential. Foreigners seemed to handle the cold well, even in short sleeves, but ordinary Japanese people would definitely need a thick jacket.
I took motion sickness medication just in case, but it was at a level where I thought it might be okay without it. However, this depends on the sea conditions, so I think it's better to have it just in case.
It seemed like there were 2 to 3 whales, and they occasionally showed themselves. They were found relatively quickly, which was a bit surprising. The timing might have been good as well; January to mid-February is said to be the best season. I hope this information is helpful for those planning to go.

2019.1.28に参加しました。
この船は日本語ガイドがないので外国の方ばかりでしたが、結果的にはこのツアーで良かったです。
送迎も明るく気さくなお姉さんで特に問題はなく、船は他のホエールウオッチング船に比べて小さめだったので鯨たちが見やすかったと思います。
似たような場所に大型客船がいましたが、人は鈴なりになっているし距離は遠いしで、小型の船の方が絶対快適に見れますね。まあ、本当に間近で見ようと思ったらマウイ島に行くのがベストでしょうが…
晴れているともう少し暖かいかもですが、やや雲っていたので長く風に吹かれていると寒いです。防寒着は必須です。外国の方は寒さに強いので半袖でも平気そうでしたが、普通の日本人は厚手の上着がないと無理だと思います。
酔い止めは念のため飲んで行きましたが、無くても大丈夫かな？という程度でした。でもこれは海の状態に寄るので、持っておいたほうがいいと思います。
鯨達は2〜3頭いるようで、時々姿を見せました。割とすぐに見つかったので、拍子抜けする位でした。時期も良かったのかもしれません。1月-2月中旬がベストシーズンだそうです。これから行かれる方の参考になれば嬉しいです。

The weather was cloudy, and it started to rain after we set sail, so I had given up on seeing whales. However, we were able to see them spouting water multiple times and even catch a glimpse of their tails. The weather gradually improved, allowing us to enjoy our time comfortably on the second and third decks.

Perhaps due to the family discount, there were many foreign families with children, creating a lively atmosphere that felt like being on a kindergarten field trip. After lunch, I noticed some adults who had been moved by the whale sightings were taking naps. Since we cruised from 11:30 AM until after 2 PM, it seemed some adults were getting bored.

We entered from the first floor and had to move between the second and third floors via stairs. When I asked about how wheelchair users would manage, I was told they would have to stay on the first floor. The lunch menu included ham, cheese, fruit, lettuce and tomato for mini hamburgers, and slices of roast beef. Cookies were also provided. Coffee was $1, and alcoholic drinks were $10.

天気が曇りで、出航してからは雨が降り出しましたので、クジラの出現は諦めていたのですが、何度も潮吹くのを見たり、尾びれも見ることが出来ました。
天気は徐々に回復して、２階や３階のデッキで気持ち良く過ごすことも出来ました。
ファミリー割引があるためか、外国人の子供連れが多く、幼稚園の遠足の中にいるような感じで、ものすごく賑やかでした。
ランチを頂いた後、何度かクジラの出現に感動していた大人の中には、昼寝に入っている人も見掛けました。
１１時半出航２時過ぎまでクルージングなので、大人の中には飽きる人もあるようです。
１階部分から入り、２階～３階への階段の移動があります。
車いすの人はどうするのか聞いたところ、１階のみで過ごすことになるとの事でした。
ランチメニューは、ハムやチーズ、フルーツ、ミニハンバーガー用に挟む、レタスやトマト、ローストビーフのスライス。クッキーなどが用意されていました。コーヒーは１ドル。お酒は１０ドルでした。

Unfortunately, I couldn't see any whales, and it was disappointing that I didn't receive any tickets afterward. However, I was glad to see a rainbow. I'm curious to know what the actual probability is.

鯨には残念ながら会えず、そのあとチケットもくれなくて残念でした。
ただ虹は見れたのでよかったです。実際どのくらいの確率が知りたいです。

I participated in the morning! It was very early, but thanks to Julie's conversation along the way, I arrived at the port without getting bored. One of the most impressive things she said was that we must find Mr. Dolphin!

It actually took about two hours to find him, and most of the boats had given up on seeing Mr. Dolphin, but I persevered and finally saw him! I’m not very comfortable in the ocean, and it was my first time snorkeling, but I managed! The longer I searched, the more I wanted to meet him again. I want to participate again!

I recommend not scheduling anything after the participation because it's nature, and sticking to the schedule can be tough.

On the day, I saw: 1) a manta ray, 2) a sea turtle, 3) two whales, and 4) Mr. Dolphin. I saw the whales more than Mr. Dolphin, probably because it was the season!

Also, for beginners, instead of bringing a camera and risking dropping it in the ocean, I think it's better to take pictures on the boat. The photographer will take pictures in the water, so relying on that is the best option! However, if you do bring a camera, make sure it’s waterproof! Use a waterproof camera or case, and keep your belongings in a waterproof bag! It was quite cold in the morning, so wearing an ultra-light down jacket was just right.

Since you’ll be on the boat for a long time, take precautions against seasickness! However, if you look far away, you won’t get seasick!

Please search hard!

Have a great trip!

わたしは午前に参加しました！朝がとても早かったですが、道中ジュリさんが話し通してくれたので飽きることなく港に到着。その中でイルカ先生を必ず見つける！というのが印象的な言葉でした
実際見つけるまでに２時間ほどかかりましたが、ほとんどの船がイルカ先生を見ることに諦めていましたがねばってやっと見れました！
わたしは海が苦手で、シュノーケリングも初めてでしたがなんとかなりました！
長く探せば探すほど先生に会いたくなります
また参加したいです！
オススメはその参加のとき、後ろに予定を入れないほうがいいとおもいます！自然相手なので時間通りはきついと思います
※私は当日会えたのは①マンタ②ウミガメ③クジラ２頭④イルカ先生
クジラはシーズンだったのかイルカ先生より会えました笑
　
あと、初心者の方は自分でイルカ撮るぞ！とカメラ持っていって海に落とすより、船内で写真を撮るイメージがいいとおもいます。カメラマンが海では撮ってくれるのでそれに頼るほうがベストだと思います笑
ただ、持っていくなら必ず防水対策を！！防水カメラや防水ケースに‥
荷物は防水袋に！！朝はかなり寒いのでウルトラライトダウンを着てちょうどよかったです。
だいぶ長く船にいるので船酔い対策を！ただ。遠くを観ていると酔いません！
一生懸命探してください！

それでは良い旅を！

Overall the was a great time! The crew was great and did an excellent job with the underwater photography. Great pics and video!

Would recommend this adventure to anyone.

Be sure to bring dry clothes and towels

We were very lucky to see whales throughout most of the tour. At least 10 sightings, usually with 2 whales at a time.

Food was delicious but it was hard to sit and enjoy your meal when you are looking for whales too. Every time someone shouted "WHALE!", everyone dropped everything but their cameras and ran towards the edge of the deck.

Luckily, there were a lot of whales out that day so I got to finish my food and saw plenty of whales.

Photos don't do justice for whale watch tours, it's better to watch with your own eyes. You don't want to be fussing over your camera because next thing you know, the whales have disappeared back underwater.

Wonderful experience, would love to go again!

The skies were grey and even with light drizzle the humpback whales were there along with the warm crew of the Star of Honolulu to greet us in Hawaii! I've never seen so many whales on one whale watch and it was my first time to see a turquoise color right next to the whale. Their white pectoral fins turns changes color underwater so it was easier to spot them this time around. The lunch on board was delicious...... The roast beef and those macadamia nut cookies keeps you going back for more. Thank you Star of Honolulu for a very stable ride and wonderful experience to see these enormous animals up so close!

I joined on January 24th (Thursday) because I wanted to see whales. Unfortunately, on this day, the whales only showed themselves briefly above the water. We were able to see them six times, but each time they only appeared for about 5 to 6 seconds after spouting water, revealing a bit of their backs, and finally showing their tails above the water before diving down. Like other reviews, I wasn't able to see them jump high.

Aside from the whales, dolphins jumped right next to the boat. They didn't perform the typical front flips you see at aquariums, but instead, they showed us two sideways twists like gymnast Kohei Uchimura.

After the boat left the port, it rained lightly for about ten minutes, and after taking shelter on the third deck, when we returned to the rooftop, a rainbow appeared across the sea, 180 degrees opposite the sun. Since we were on the water, there was nothing to obstruct the rainbow, creating a stunning view of vibrant colors from one side of the water to the other.

１月２４日（木曜日）　クジラを見たくて参加しました。
この日のクジラは、あいにく少ししか海上に姿を現しませんでした。回数では６回見ることができましたが、いずれも潮を噴き上げてから約５，６秒後に背中を少し現し、最後はテールを上（海上）に出して沈んで行きました。他の口コミ同様、大きくジャンプする姿を見ることはできませんでした。
クジラ以外ではイルカが船のすぐ横で海上をジャンプしてくれました。水族館で見せてくれるような前周りでは無く、体操の白井選手のような横ひねりを２回見せてくれました。
船が港を出港した後に１０分くらい小雨が降り、屋上デッキから３階へ避難した後に屋上に戻ってくると、太陽と反対側海上１８０度に渡り虹が姿を現しました。海上なので虹を遮るものが無く、水面から反対の水面まで七色にすばらしい光景を見せてくれました。

It seemed that there were strict distance regulations for approaching the whales, so we couldn't see them up close, but we did catch glimpses a few times. I took my 5-year-old child with me, but the whale sightings were brief and unpredictable, which made it a bit boring for them. We also saw a double rainbow.

クジラへの接近は距離が厳しく決まっていそうでしたので、それほど間近では見れませんが何度か見れました。
5歳の子供を連れて行ってましたが、クジラが見れても一瞬で、どこに出現するかもわからないので少し退屈しておりました。
あとダブルレインボーが見れました。

I experienced snorkeling with wild dolphins for the first time. I love snorkeling, but I was very scared of the deep water and couldn't jump in until the third round when it looked a bit shallower, so I gathered my courage and jumped in. Even though I was still scared, I swam, and I was moved to see a pod of dolphins swimming in the distance!

In the fourth round, I decided to watch from the boat, and to my surprise, a pod of about 30 to 40 dolphins lined up right below the boat (within reach!) and swam alongside us for a long distance! I was so amazed that I kept saying, "Incredible!!! Incredible!!!" The tour guide mentioned that they had been doing this for a year, but this was their first time experiencing something like this! They were also saying, "Incredible!!!" along with me!

I had my phone in the back of the boat, and I thought if I left the spot, the dolphins would swim away, so unfortunately, I couldn't take any pictures. But I had a wonderful and precious experience!!! Thank you very much!

初めての野生のイルカとシュノーケリングを体験しました。
私はシュノーケリングは大好きなのですが、深いところがとても怖く
2ラウンドまで怖くて飛び込めませんでしたが、3ラウンド目に少し浅瀬に見えたので、勇気を出して飛び込みました。それでも怖いながらもがんばって
泳いでいるとイルカの群れがが遠くの方で泳いでるのが見え感動でした！
4ラウンド目には船の上から見ることにして眺めていると
なんと！　30～40ぐらいのイルカの群れが船の私のいる真下の先頭に横一列になり（手が届きそうな距離）ずっと船頭してくれたのです！！！
結構な距離をずっとです！
感激過ぎてずっと　すごい！！！すごい！！！とゆうばかり！！！
ツアーの方も１年いますけど、こんな体験は初めてです！と言ってました。
その方も私と一緒にすごい！！！と言っていました！
舩の奥に携帯があったのでその場をたつとどこかへ行ってしまうと思い
写真は残念ながらとることができなかったのが残念です。
でも素晴らしい貴重な体験ができました！！！
ありがとうございました！

It was okay. I saw about five whales, but I was hoping to see them jump high, so I was a bit disappointed. Well! Since the subject is large and it's a living creature, I can't be too picky... I went with my 6-year-old daughter, but we didn't feel like saying, "Let's go again!"

まあまあかな。
5回ぐらいクジラは見えましたが、大きくジャンプする所を期待していたので、少しガッカリ感もありました。
まあ！対象物が大きいし、生物相手なのでワガママは言えませんが…
6歳の娘と行きましたが、また行こう！とはなりませんでした。

The blue sky and blue sea, Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head – we had a fantastic cruising experience in the best location! The interior of the boat is quite cold, so a jacket is essential. When you go out on deck, the sun is strong, so I recommend bringing a hat and sunglasses. The wind is strong, so be careful not to lose anything.

As for the whale watching, we did see some spouts from a distance. You can see them with the naked eye, but it's difficult to capture them in photos.

青い空に青い海、ワイキキビーチ、ダイヤモンドヘッドと最高のロケーションでクルージングが出来ました！
船内はとても冷えているので上着は必須です。デッキに出れば日差しが強いので帽子とサングラスがあれば良いかと思います。風は強いので飛ばないように。
目的のホエールウォッチングは見れたと言えば見れました。割と遠めに潮吹きが何度かあって、目視はできるけど、写真に収めるのは難しいです。

This time, we were able to see the whales almost immediately after departing. I wonder how many we saw ( 〃▽〃) !! It felt like they were running alongside the boat, and I was gazing at the sea from the deck the whole time.

今回もほぼ出発するとまもなくしてクジラ達を見ることが出来ました。
いったい何頭見れてたのでしょうか( 〃▽〃) ！！船と並走してるかのようでずっとデッキで海を眺めていました。

It was fun since it was my first time on a catamaran. The cabin with a roof, the open deck, and the net stretched over the water below allowed me to change my spot according to my mood, making it comfortable. The staff was friendly and kind. Drinks and snacks were free (alcoholic beverages required tips in the box). They would shout out if they spotted a whale, so you wouldn't miss it. Luckily, I was able to see them multiple times.

初めての双胴船なので楽しかった。ルーフがあるキャビン、オープンなデッキ、下は海面の双胴に渡したネットの上など気分で居場所を変えることができ快適。スタッフはフレンドリーで親切。ドリンク＆スナック菓子が無料(アルコール類はチップをボックスに)。クジラが見えたら大声で教えてくれるので見逃さない。運良く何回も見ることが出来た。

I didn't have high expectations since many people couldn't see them, but I was able to see them multiple times. The weather was nice, and even if you can't see the whales, you can enjoy the view of Waikiki from the sea. I watched from the third floor, but if you want to feel more of the impact, I think it's better to watch from the first floor.

It was a large boat, and the weather was good with calm seas, but it still rocked a bit. If you're not confident with rides, it might be a good idea to bring some medication.

見れない方も多かったので期待はしていませんでしたが何度も見れました。
お天気もよくたとえクジラが見れなくても海からのワイキキの景色を楽しめますよ。
3階から見ていましたがより迫力を感じたいなら1階から見る方がいいと思います。

大きな船だし天気もよく穏やかな海でしたがやはり揺れました。
乗り物に自信のない方は薬をもっていった方がいいかな。

I wanted to make my 6-year-old child happy, so I participated, but they started saying it was boring halfway through, which was tough. My 75-year-old mother was happy, so that was a relief. I've been to Hawaii nearly 20 times, but as a first-time participant, I was able to see what was going on in the ocean, and I enjoyed it quite a bit.

6歳の子供に喜んでもらいたくて、参加したのですが、
途中でつまらないと言い出してしまって参りました。
75歳の母は喜んでくれて一安心でした。
20回近くハワイに来ているのですが、初めて参加した私は海の中の様子がわかり、割と楽しめて
よかったです。