Book your Monterey Bay tour today and get closer to whales, dolphins, and unforgettable ocean wildlife.
Small vessels, big adventure. Sanctuary and Meridian are run by experienced captains with 30+ years on Monterey Bay, focused on getting you the most wildlife action possible.
Guest count is set by each departure. The boat never feels crowded - there is always room to move and find your angle.
Every trip carries a working marine biologist as your guide. We never know what we will see, but our naturalists can tell you all about it.
Our 43-foot Delta sits close to the surface. You are eye-level with humpbacks, dolphins, and breaching orcas.
Our captains have 30+ years on Monterey Bay, making sure you see as much wildlife as possible on every trip.
Fresh wildlife reports from Monterey Bay, posted after recent trips.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Our afternoon trip aboard Sanctuary encountered twelve humpback whales and a massive pod of two thousand long-beaked common dolphins active in the choppy waters just outside the harbor mouth.
Read more →★★★★★
“Joey and Luke were incredibly welcoming and fun!! I'm glad our group chose this smaller boat rather than a larger option. We were able to see almost 30 sea lions and 8 humpback whales teaming up to catch anchovies and it was incredible!! Super unique to get to see this before our eyes! The sporty conditions made this experience even more exciting, we felt like we were on a rollercoaster! Thank you Joey for being an excellent captain, and Luke for your warmth and knowledge - plus he's an author! Crazy!”
— Google · Jul 16, 2026
“What an amazing experience! Our trip completely exceeded our expectations. The crew was fantastic and went above and beyond to make the day special. Instead of heading back to the dock like some boats would when time was running short, they took the extra time to take us out and see a mother whale breaching alongside her baby. Being on a smaller boat was perfect, as it gave us incredible, up-close views of the whales. We saw so many today and we would go again in a heartbeat if we come back to the area!”
— Google · Jun 25, 2026
“Incredible. Chat GPT told me that Sanctuary Cruises would be the best choice for our group. We had 4 adults and 4 kids. I cannot say enough good things. The boat isn't massive and they also don't fully book it so you have plenty of room to see. It's a more intimate experience. It felt like a personal tour. We saw sooooo many whales. They make sure everyone can see. It's amazing to have a boat captain who is a lifelong resident of the area and a marine biologist running the show. What a special life experience for our family.”
— Google · Jun 23, 2026
Reserve your seat aboard Sanctuary today. Whale season is now - and dates fill up fast.
