All Reviews for Marine Wildlife Encounters

The crew were very pleasant and helpful, somewhat informative. Drinks were available to anyone who wanted them that early in the morning, and there were many who did. Unfortunately,only a few tails sighted. Boat/captain only went about 3 miles out, where every other boat had gone to whale watch - and no one had any luck. I'm guessing a combination of too many boats, too much noise, and the slight delay in migration everyone talked about b/c of el Nino.

This was a great excursion. Saw lots of whales, food was great, fun activities, great crew.

3 whales about 100 yards away. I wish I could post some whale pictures.

We had a great day along with our 2 year old daughter
Saw whales quite a few times along with some calves
Even the boat ride was great to get in the views
Taking a camera is a must

I participated with the mindset that it was understandable not to see whales since they are wild creatures, but I was able to confirm several spouts and tails from a distance. What excited me the most was when a pod of dolphins appeared and swam alongside the boat for a long time. I was sitting at the best position at the bow, watching them up close! The staff members were also so engrossed in dolphin watching that they set their work aside—such a laid-back vibe in tropical Hawaii (laughs). I wonder if this is a really rare occurrence.

It felt like the dolphins and whales were welcoming me to Hawaii, and it made me feel so happy.

The Japanese guide's Japanese was quite questionable, though (laughs). At the hotel and restaurants, everyone spoke fluent Japanese, so it stood out even more (laughs). It might not have much meaning if the explanation isn't in Japanese. But I was very satisfied, so I give it ★5!

自然の生き物なのでクジラに会えなくても仕方ないと心づもりして参加しましたが、
遠目とはいえ、何度も潮吹きや尾びれを確認できました。
何といっても興奮したのはイルカの群れが現れ、ずっと船と並走してくれたこと。
ベストポジションの船首に座っていたので、かぶりつきで眺めていました～～
スタッフの人たちもお仕事そっちのけでイルカウォッチングしてて
さすがおおらかな南国ハワイ（笑）もしかしてすごく珍しいことなんでしょうか。

ハワイにようこそ！ってイルカやクジラたちに歓迎してもらったようで、
幸せな気分になりました。

日本語ガイドさんの日本語はかなり怪しかったですけどね（笑）
ホテルでもレストランでもみなさん流暢な日本語を駆使されるので
際立つ怪しさ（笑）解説が日本語でないとあまり意味がないかな。
でも大満足でしたので★５つ！

Due to regulations, you can only see from a farther distance than expected. However, I was able to see the spouts and tails. It would be nice to have binoculars, but since they are small, if you lean in to look, you might lose sight of them.

I accidentally watched from the lower deck the whole time, but I think I would have seen more if I had gone to the top. Even if you can't see whales, it's a pleasant cruise where you can enjoy the view of Waikiki from the clear sea.

Actually, on the dinner cruise, I happened to see whales, and they were closer there. It's all about luck.

By the way, I opted for the breakfast option, but it might be fine without it. The contents were lettuce, tomato, sausage, scrambled eggs, orange, and pineapple.

規定があるので、思ったより遠くからしか見られません。
でも、潮吹きや尾が見えました。双眼鏡があるといいですが、小さいので、覗きこんでいると、見失ってしまいます。
うっかり下のデッキからずっとそのまま見てしまいましたが、一番上に上がったらもっと見えたと思います。
クジラが見えなくても、晴れた海からワイキキを眺められて気持ちいいクルーズです。
実はディナークルーズでも、偶然クジラが見られて、そちらの方がクジラは近かったです。運次第ですね。
なお、朝食付きにしましたが、なしでもいいかも。
内容は、レタス･トマト･ソーセージ･スクランブルエッグ･オレンジ･パイナップル、以上でした。

My friend and I were completely freaking out before we went out on this tour, but afterwards, we just wanted to go again and again! There is nothing as strangely calming and thrilling than to be in the open ocean with what seems likes hundreds of sharks swimming below you.

With only six passengers, we all got lots of attention and assistance, and during the ride out, our safety guides told us all about the sharks and other creatures we would see as well as what to do while we are in the water. There was not a moment after I boarded the boat that I felt uneasy or unsafe. I knew that the captain and crew had not only our best interests at heart, but the sharks as well.

It was a humbling experience to be in the shark's home and it is something that I will treasure forever!

I participated this morning.

The description stating that there would be an explanation by a marine biology expert about whales in Japanese is completely false. All explanations on the Navatic were in English from the pickup bus. I wouldn't have chosen this tour if there was no Japanese explanation, so I would like a refund. I wonder why I compared various tours...

I feel like the experience has been ruined not just on the day of the tour, but from the preparation period leading up to it.

今日の午前中に参加しました。

クジラについての海洋生物専門家による解説（日本語）というのは、まったくの嘘の表記です。
ピックアップのバスから、ナバティック号での説明全てが英語です。
日本語の説明がないなら選ばなかったツアーなので、返金してほしいです。
何の為に色々なツアーを比較したのだか、、、

ツアー当日だけでなく、その前の準備期間から台無しになった気分です。

I participated in the 11 o'clock session at the end of January with my 2-year-old child.

Since we rented a car and there was no shuttle service, we arrived around 10 o'clock. At the entrance reception, we showed our voucher and received a wristband to confirm our participation.

By 11 o'clock, we had to buy a locker key at the souvenir shop located deep in the park, fill out a waiver, and change into our swimsuits, so it was quite hectic, so please be careful.

Including other families, the children were surprised by the size, height, and atmosphere of the pool, and some started crying or were reluctant. I had to carry my child and distract them with the dolphins to get in.

We entered the pool with the dolphins and took photos in three different poses, and we were able to touch their backs, bellies, and fins a lot. It was a great experience for my child, and I was satisfied.

In the back, there was a course where we could swim together, and it looked like fun. Once my child is a bit older, I would like to try the swimming course together.

1月末に2歳の子供と11時の回に参加してきました。

レンタカーで送迎無しなので、10時ごろ着いて、エントランスの受付でバウチャーを見せると参加者を証明するバンドをつけてくれます。

11時までにパーク奥にあるお土産屋さんのカウンターでロッカーの鍵を買い、誓約書を書いて、水着に着替えなければならず、結構バタバタなので、お気をつけください。

他の家族も含めて子供はプールの大きさ、高さ、雰囲気にビックリして、泣き出したり、嫌がったりしましたね。そこは抱っこして、イルカで気をそらしながら、入りました。

イルカと同じプールに入って写真を3パターン撮って、背中やお腹、ヒレなどたくさん、触る事が出来きました。子供にも良い経験になって、満足です。

奥では一緒に泳ぐコースをやっていて、楽しそうでした。もう少し大きくなったら、一緒に泳ぐコースをやってみたいです。

I was able to see it multiple times! Although we didn't get to see the upper body completely emerge, it was exciting to watch several whales, which appeared to be a mother and her calf, spouting water and floating on the waves with their tails out. Since we had a hotel pickup plan, it was smooth and we didn't have to worry about finding the boarding area.

何回も見ることができました！
上半身がザパーンと出るまでは行きませんでしたが
親子と思われる複数頭が潮吹きをしたり波に浮かんで尻尾を出したり、終始エキサイティングでした。
ホテルに送迎のプランだったので乗り場も迷うことなくスムーズでした。

Since it's near Honolulu, I thought it would be lucky if we got to see whales, and if not, we could enjoy the cruise, so I made a reservation. There are colorful fish in the harbor where the boat docks, so definitely check them out before boarding! The various sizes of yellow and blue fish really get you excited.

For those without meals included, we were guided to the third floor where we received explanations about the whales and the boat before departure, but everything was in English and honestly, it was content you could take or leave. Later, a file with explanations in Japanese was placed on the stage, which was sufficient. Since there was time, many people were having breakfast with the rice balls and bread they brought. Since it was early in the morning, having a meal here might be enough.

Once we set sail, we had free time, so I quickly went up to the observation floor on the fourth deck. About 30 minutes after departure, when we could see Ala Moana, dolphins started swimming alongside the boat!!! Everyone was super excited to see about 20 dolphins! They swam alongside the boat, jumped a little away, and then came back... just this alone felt worth the price, and I was already very satisfied.

After about 45 minutes, we arrived off Diamond Head and stopped. An announcement was made to look for whales. However, during the announcement, we already saw a spout, and when we focused our eyes, we spotted a large tail! It was a bit far, but we could see it perfectly! After that, we spent about an hour and a half moving and stopping while searching for whales, and we were able to see them more than 15 times, which was amazing! In the end, we even saw a mother and calf swimming leisurely about 50 meters from the boat, and I was grateful for the generous spirit of the whales.

After seeing the whales perfectly, we returned to the harbor and were thrilled to also see a turtle swimming smoothly beside the boat during the 4-hour trip!

By the way, I spoke with someone who booked a tour with meals included after disembarking, and they mentioned that during their meal, there was an announcement saying, "A whale has appeared over there," so they kept going back and forth and hardly got to eat, nor did they see the whales. Announcements are made after a whale has already appeared. I think it’s unlikely you’ll see them if you run over after hearing the announcement... it seems like you have a higher chance of spotting them by focusing your eyes on the spouts yourself. Also, I wouldn’t really recommend it for children. Since you can’t approach the whales (but it’s okay if they come close), the whales are far away, and I wonder if they understand when you say, "Over there!"... Many kids seemed to get bored and fussy.

It might be good to participate with the mindset of "If we see them, great; if not, we’ll cruise around Waikiki and Diamond Head." That said, it was fantastic as a cruise! Whether you see whales or not might be a matter of luck, but it was a fun experience worth more than the price♪ I highly recommend it for those going to Hawaii during whale season!

ホノルル近郊だし見れたらラッキーくらいで、見れなかったらクルージングとして楽しもうと予約。
船の停泊している港にはカラフルな魚がいるので乗船前にぜひ見てください！黄色や青の大小さまざまな魚でちょっとテンション上がります

食事無しの人達は３階へ誘導され出港前にクジラや船の説明をされますが、すべて英語だし特に聞いても聞かなくても…という内容。後ほど日本語で書かれた説明ファイルがステージに置かれるので、それで十分。時間があるので、持ってきたおむすびやパンで朝食をしている方が結構いました。朝も早いのでここで食事で十分かも

出港してしまえば自由行動なのでさっそく展望フロアの４階へ。出港して３０分、アラモアナが見えてきた頃船と並走するようにイルカが！！！
２０頭ほどのイルカにみんなで大興奮！！船と並走したりちょっと離れて飛んだりまた近づいてきたり・・・これだけで値段以上のいいものが見れた気がしてすでに大満足ｗ

45分ほどするとダイアモンドヘッド沖まで来て停泊。ここでクジラを探すとアナウンスが。
が、アナウンス中にすでに潮吹きが見れ、目を凝らしてると大きな尻尾！
ちょっと遠くでしたがバッチリ見れました！
そこからは１時間半ほど動いたり停まったりしながらクジラを探してましたが、１５回以上は見れて感動！最後には船から５０ｍ先くらいにのんびりと親子で泳ぐクジラまで見れ、サービス精神旺盛なクジラに感謝です

ばっちりクジラを見て港へ帰還中、船の横をすぃーっと泳ぐカメまで見れて感動の4時間でした！！

ちなみに下船後食事つきのツアーで申し込んだ方と話したのですが、食事してる時に「あっちにクジラが出た」とアナウンスがかかるため、見に行ったり戻ったりで食事もほぼ出来なかったし、クジラも見れなかったと。
クジラが出る度にアナウンスはかかるのですが、クジラが「出た」あとにかかります。アナウンスを聞いてからそっちへ走ってもほぼ見れないと思います…自分で目を凝らして潮吹きを探した方が確立高いような気がします。
あと、お子様にもあんまりおススメできないかも。クジラに近寄ってはいけない為（クジラが近寄ってくるのはOK）、クジラは遠くだし、「あそこあそこ！」と言ってもわかってるかなぁ・・・って感じです。結構飽きちゃってグズッてるお子様多数でした

「見れたらラッキー、見れなかったらワイキキやダイアモンドヘッドを巡るクルージング」として参加してみたらいいかな。
とは言え、クルージングとしても最高！見れるか見れないかは運かもしれないけど、お値段以上の楽しい体験でした♪
クジラのいる時期にハワイへ行く方にはかなり！おススメです！

- If you arrange for transportation, it will be $60 per person, so you can cover the rental car cost.
- We arrived in about an hour from Honolulu.
- We had the early morning plan and departed before sunrise.
- We were the second group, but just before entering the water, the sun rose and it got warm.
- We didn't encounter anything other than the sandbar shark.
- We were packed into a cage with six people, so there were a lot of us and we couldn't move freely.

・送迎を手配すると６０ドル×人なのでレンタカー代が捻出できます
・ホノルルから約１時間で到着しました
・朝イチのプランで日の出前の出港でした
・２組目でしたが、ちょうど入水前に日の出があり暖かくなりました
・イタチザメ以外には出会えませんでした
・ゲージに６人詰め込まれたので、人が多く自由に動けませんでした

The ship and crew are lovely and we saw a pod of 3 whales come up 3 times, but it felt too brief. We were in one location the whole time and before you knew it we were heading back. Maybe thats what all whale watching tours are like. If there was a longer option I'd do that next time.

This time, unfortunately, I couldn't encounter any whales, but I was surprised by the differences in the plan's content. Despite paying a bit more for a tour that was supposed to have Japanese guidance, there was only an English explanation. Additionally, even though iced tea was listed as a beverage, it wasn't available, and I was told that while there was Japanese tea, it would be at an extra charge. I almost want a refund because, in a way, it was a memorable tour.

今回、残念ながらホエールには遭遇出来なかったんですが、それよりプランの内容に違いがありビックリしました。少し高いお金を払い日本語案内があるものを選んだにも関わらず英語オンリーの解説しかなくしかも飲み物にアイスティーが記載されているにも関わらず用意がなく日本茶なら有料だがあるとの返答。料金を返金してもらいたいぐらいある意味心に残るツアーでした。

Great buffet lunch, accommodating service staff and siting a number of whales - what could be better?

I highly recommend this tour.

My daughter has always dreamed of swimming with dolphins, and although it was a bit pricey, I'm really glad we participated because she was so happy‼︎

Not only did we get to interact with dolphins, but we also had the chance to meet seals and many birds, making it a wonderful experience☆

The timing was just right too^_^

娘がイルカと一緒に泳ぐのが夢で、ちょっと高くて迷いましたが、娘がとても喜んでいたので、参加して本当に良かったです‼︎

イルカだけでなく、アシカやたくさんの鳥たちとも触れ合うことが出来て、とてもいい経験になりました☆

時間もちょうどよかったです^_^

The breakfast was decent, but I was very moved to see the whales. There were many announcements in English on the ship, but everyone moved in the direction of the whales, so I didn't have any particular difficulties.

朝食はそれなりですが、くじらを見られてとても感動しました。
船内の案内は英語が多いですが、くじらのいる方向にみなさん動くので、特に不自由ありませんでした

We saw a family of whales on our trip! It was a good day out although I think it would be better to see them on another island....

While being rocked by a small boat, we moved around on rubber tubes surrounding it. This turned out to be surprisingly challenging. The staff member was very energetic and kept the atmosphere lively throughout. When we spotted dolphins, we all jumped in at her signal! I recommend aiming to stay as close to her as possible. When you're near the dolphins, you can hear their sounds, and they swim around playfully, with some people even able to touch them. The staff member also worked hard to find sea turtles for us. We were truly healed by the dolphins and sea turtles! On the way back, we returned on the rocking boat while feeling tired. Let's make sure to get to bed early the night before.

小さな船にガンガン揺られながら、その船の周りにあるゴムチューブにまたがって移動します。これが、意外と大変でした。
お姉さんが、とっても元気で、終始、盛り上げてくれてました。
イルカを見つけたら、全員で、お姉さんの合図とともに、飛び込みます！
できるだけ、お姉さんの近くを目指すことをおすすめします。
イルカの近くにいると、鳴き声？も聞こえるし、クルクルまわってくれるし、人によっては触れることができそうな位置でイルカを見れます。
ウミガメも、お姉さんが、頑張って探してくれました。
イルカとウミガメに癒されます♪
帰りは、疲れているなか、ガンガンに揺れる船で戻ります。
前日は、早く寝ましょう。

Had a great time!! We were lucky to have lots of whale sightings, one even came up close to the ship!!

We had a very nice time on the tour. We actually had a whale come within 40 ft of the boat.
Most of the sightings of the whales were of their tail fins in the distance.
A bonus was when a group of spinner dolphins came right alongside of us swimming and performing.

I boarded the bus while battling sleepiness due to the early morning, but the weather on the day of the tour was fantastic, and the tour guide was lively and energetic, which quickly chased away my drowsiness. I was a bit concerned about spending the whole day at sea, so the half-day plan was just right for me. It was a very fulfilling plan that felt like a condensed version of Dolphin University, and I enjoyed every moment of it.

On the day of the tour, we were lucky enough to encounter a pod of wild dolphins as soon as we set sail from the port. Their high-pitched calls were clearly audible even underwater, which was truly moving. The sea was a stunning blue and transparent, like paint mixed with water, allowing me to experience the grandeur of nature not just visually but with my whole body.

I've been diving in beautiful places like Guam and Okinawa, but I was convinced that this was the sea of Hawaii. There were also elementary school children participating and having fun, so I can recommend this tour to people of all ages!

朝早かったために眠気と戦いながらバスに乗り込んだのですが、参加した日はとても天気が良く、ツアーガイドの方もはつらつとしていてテンションが高く、あっという間にそんな眠気も吹っ飛んでしまいました。一日中海にいるのは体力面で不安があったので、半日プランでちょうどよかったと思います。イルカ大学をぎゅっと凝縮したような非常に充実したプランで、余すところなく楽しめました。
当日は、運よく港から出航するとすぐに野生のイルカの群れに遭遇。きゅんきゅんと高い声で鳴いているのが水中でもよく聞こえ、感動しました。
海はまるで絵具を溶かしたかのように青く透明で、自然の雄大さを視覚だけでなく全身で味わうことができました。
グアムや沖縄など海がきれいなところで潜ったことがありますが、これがハワイの海かと納得しました。
小学生のお子さんも参加し楽しんでいたので、どんな年代の方にもおすすめできるツアーです！

Awesome Boat, great crew, good food, spent a lot of time watching whales.

I participated in the activity where you can touch and kiss dolphins. My English conversation level isn't very high, and my mother and children can't speak at all. However, we managed to complete it without any issues. There was only one other group of Japanese people with us; everyone else came from various places. I bought a photo as a souvenir to take home♪

イルカにタッチ&ｷｽのアクティビティに参加しました。
私の英会話レベルは高い方ではないし、母と子どもたちは全く話せません。ですが、難なく終えれました。
日本人は私たちと他一組だけで、あとはみなさんｱﾁｺﾁから来た方々でした。記念に写真を買って帰りました♪

While it was advertised as "swimming with dolphins," in reality, most of the time was spent having participants line up to touch the dolphins as they swam by or giving them kisses. The actual experience of swimming with the dolphins was just a brief moment, only a few meters. I felt that the price was too high for what was offered. The dolphin show in another pool at the facility was also underwhelming.

「イルカと泳ぐ」と銘打っていながら、実際は参加者を並ばせて側をイルカに泳がせて触らせたり、イルカとチューさせたり、でほとんどの時間を使い、イルカにつかまって泳ぐのはほんの一瞬、ほんの数メートルのみ。
その割には金額が高過ぎると感じた。
施設内の別プールのイルカショーもしょぼいものだった。

Since I have small children, I thought a dolphin swimming tour at the beach would be impossible, so I used this facility for the first time. However, I felt that the time spent interacting with the dolphins was short for the high price. There was a dolphin show within the facility that I was looking forward to, but I felt that the dolphin shows in Japan are more wonderful.

小さい子供がいるので、海でイルカを泳ぐツアーは無理だろうと、初めてこの施設を利用しましたが、高額の割にはイルカと接している時間は短いと感じました。
参加したプログラム以外に、施設内でイルカショーをしており、期待してましたが、
日本のイルカショーの方が素晴らしいと感じました

It felt like it started and ended somewhat aimlessly. It must be great for children and the elderly.

なんとなく始まりなんとなく終わった感じです。
お子さんとかお年寄りにはとてもいいんでしょうね。

The time was long, but I am satisfied. I just saw a lot of dolphins, and I wanted to see turtles as well, so I was a little disappointed.

時間は長かったですが、満足です。
ただイルカばっかりで、亀も見たかったので、少し残念です。

I was already feeling excited before the tour even started with the bus pickup around the hotels in Waikiki. The boat was larger than I expected and spacious, so I think it would be hard to get seasick unless the waves were really rough.

We had a meal on the boat, but I wouldn't get my hopes up about it. It was just ordinary local cuisine.

Inside the boat, they showed us pictures and explained things in English. It was labeled as having a Japanese guide, but there was none at all. I think they should revise that description.

When I went out on the deck, the weather was nice and the view was amazing. I felt like it was the right time to go out, but I wish they had informed us when we could go out.

Fortunately, we were able to see three whales swimming alongside us, and we got to see a lot of spouts. We even encountered one that was flipping its large tail while diving.

There were tourists from various countries on board, and everyone had their own way of enjoying the experience. I found myself having fun too, thanks to a lady who was joyfully shouting and celebrating.

ワイキキのホテルを回りながらのバスピックアップで、参加前から気分が高揚しました。
船は思っていたより大きくて、ゆったりしているので、よほど波が荒くなければ酔いにくいんじゃないかと思います。

船の中で食事を食べるのですが、これはあまり期待しない方がいいです。
ごく普通の現地料理。

船内で、写真を見せながら英語で説明をしてくれます。日本語ガイドと表記されていましたが、それは一切ありませんでした。これは表記は改めた方がいいと思います。

甲板に出ると、天候が良く素晴らしい景色でした。
これも、なんとなく今のタイミングだと思ってデッキに出たんですが、いつから出ていいのかは言ってほしいところですね。

運よく、3匹の鯨と並走で、潮吹きはたくさん見ることが出来まして、潜る際に大きく尾びれを回しているところにも遭遇できました。

色々な国から集まった観光客が乗り込んでいて、楽しみ方も様々。
大声で騒いで喜んでいるおばさまにつられて、こちらも楽しくなりました。

The tour was professionally organised and well run. The boat provided plenty of viewing opportunities for all onboard. The staff were helpful and knowledgeable. We found some whales but didn't get really close (which was the only downside).