Check-in 30 minutes prior to your tour departure time. The check in office is located at 1119 Wharf St (at street level ¬t water level).
Description
Encounter majestic wildlife of the Salish Sea onboard our Ocean Cruiser departing from downtown Victoria's scenic inner harbour. No matter the time of day, be prepared for the adventure of a lifetime!
The 61-foot comfortable Ocean Cruiser - Marauder IV is fast, quiet, stable and suitable for all ages. Relax as you sit inside, outside, or on the top deck with the Captain – the viewing options are all terrific! Especially unique are the side decks running the whole length of the boat. There is lots of room to move around, view wildlife and take that perfect picture.
Your expert naturalists are on board to ensure a memorable and educational experience. Sit back and tune into our narration about wildlife and the natural history of the Vancouver Island Coast. Keep on the lookout for whales and other marine life like porpoises, elephant seals, harbour seals, sea lions and a variety of marine birds!
Schedule & prices
Runs
Every day
Start times
10:00 AM, 2:00 PM, 5:30 PM, and 6:00 PM
Next available
Thu, Oct 8
Adult (ages 19+)
$121
Youth (ages 13–18)
$107
Child (ages 3–12)
$100
Infant (ages 0–2)
Free
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
Out at sunset: the 5:30 PM departure is under way when the sun sets, around 6:15 PM in the coming weeks.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 7.
Tour Options
Victoria Whale Watch Tour
Itinerary
SpringTide Whale Watching & Charters
Admission included180 min
As you cruise, our experienced crew will help you spot a variety of whales and other marine wildlife that live in the Salish Sea, including orcas, humpback whales, sea lions, seal, otters and eagles.
Throughout the tour, our crew will share fascinating insights into the whales’ biology and their ocean habitat. Curious about something? Feel free to ask questions along the way!
If you start to feel chilly, step inside the spacious, heated cabin and warm up with a complimentary cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. You’ll still be able to enjoy the view through large windows as you continue your search for marine life.
Your adventure concludes back at Victoria's inner harbour.
What's included
Included
Expert marine naturalists
Complimentary coffee, tea & hot chocolate
Washroom
All Fees and Taxes
Photo package
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.8
574 reviews
5
505
4
41
3
13
2
6
1
9
How it compares in Victoria
No. 8 by number of reviews among 101 tours in Victoria
Starting price $121 is 47% above the typical $83 for tours of similar length in Victoria
Excurgo comparison of 101 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
For any additional information regarding accessibility, please contact us
Must meet minimum passenger requirements to confirm.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Victoria Whale Watch Tour take?
Victoria Whale Watch Tour lasts about 3 hours. The itinerary has 1 stop.
How much does Victoria Whale Watch Tour cost?
Prices start at $121 per person for this Victoria experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Victoria Whale Watch Tour run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 10:00 AM, 2:00 PM, 5:30 PM, and 6:00 PM.
How much does Victoria Whale Watch Tour cost for children?
Children aged 3–12 pay from $100, adults from $121. Infants go free.
Can I cancel Victoria Whale Watch Tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Check-in 30 minutes prior to your tour departure time. The check in office is located at 1119 Wharf St (at street level ¬t water level). Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Victoria Whale Watch Tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 65 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
For any additional information regarding accessibility, please contact us
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews(574)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
E
EnglishCanadian
September 26, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Whale of a time!
A solid three hours of education. Amanda and Katie the guides were excellent. Each has a degree in the Biology field, one a zoologist and the other a marine biologist and both involved in research in their fields. They were full of interesting information that enhanced the experience. Ian the pilot drove a steady, calm race and clearly knew where to find the whales.
I lost count of how many we saw but the girls through their research gave intimate details of the whales we saw. We also saw sea lions and many marine birds.
A thoroughly worthwhile trip that was great value for money. You also get access to photos that the guides took during the trip for free.
Operator response
Thank you so much for such a thoughtful review! We’re glad to hear that Amanda, Katie, and Ian helped make your time on the water such a memorable experience. Our crew love sharing their knowledge with guests, so it’s wonderful to hear that their insights added to your experience. Thank you for joining us, and we hope to see you back on the water again someday!
M
MarcH0326
September 25, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Fun whale watch
Had a wonderful whale watching trip. Saw many whales. Katie was a fantastic guide with so much information and enthusiasm. Jasper did a great job as our captain, getting us to great spots to see whales and sea lions. Overall, a great 3 hours.
A really nice feature is that Katie will upload her photos to a website so we could enjoy without worrying about getting the best shot.
Operator response
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We’re happy to hear you had such a great time on the water with us. We will be sure to pass along your kind words to both Jasper and Katie. Thank you for joining us, and we hope to welcome you back aboard again someday!
D
Dave_K
September 25, 2026 · via Viator
Great trip with fantastic knowledgeable team members
Great trip with knowledgeable team members. The fact that we’re able to identify members of an Orca family was amazing
Operator response
Thank you so much for joining us and for your kind review! We’re glad you enjoyed the trip and that our team could help bring the experience to life by sharing how we identify individual members of an orca family. We hope to welcome you back on the water again someday!
D
donnamG8123VP
September 22, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Whale watching in Victoria
We were very happy to see so many whales. The crew was very knowledgeable and friendly. We would definitely go again.
Operator response
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re glad to hear you had such a great time and were able to see whales. It’s great to know our crew helped make your experience enjoyable and memorable. We’d love to have you back on the water with us again someday!
J
Jodi_P
September 22, 2026 · via Viator
Book it!
Fantastic tour! Ian, Amanda and Morgan were great, and we saw so many humpbacks. We are so glad we chose this tour for our cruise stop in Victoria. Highly recommend!
Operator response
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We’re happy to hear you had such a fantastic time out on the water with Ian, Morgan and Amanda. We’re so glad you chose to spend your cruise stop with us in Victoria, and we really appreciate the recommendation. We hope to welcome you back on the water again someday!
C
Coastal17702184105
September 22, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Whale Watching Delight.
Well, what an experience!!
When we left Victoria Harbour, we weren't sure what we might see, so were prepared to go with the flow; and as the last two on the boat, we thought we might not have the best view; how wrong we were.
Upstairs, behind the Captain Jasper and 1st mate Nick from Wigan, (also a Captain), we were in an excellent location.
The rest of the staff were also welcoming, and professional, from booking in at the office, to the very end of the tour.
And what a tour; a beautiful day, sunny, calm waters and amazing scenery and that was just the start.
We are originally from England and Ireland, but live in Tasmania, Australia, so we have seen some very lovely scenery around the world. But what we saw on this tour was breathtaking and wonderous. The humpbacks and orcas, seals and sealions (2 different breeds); giant kelp, of an alternate species to our own, in addition to the stunning coastline, of which we had a close up, hoping to maybe see a bear, alas not to be.
The naturalist on board was knowledgeable and interesting, as well as keeping a close lookout for the spout,indicative of whale activity.
Borh captains were informative and we had great conversations with Nick, especially as he was originally from The UK.
It was a trip well worth the money, as we stayed out a little longer, to specifically spot orcas. Would highly recommend this.
Operator response
Thank you so much for such a thoughtful and wonderful review! It sounds like you had an incredible day on the water with Captain Jasper and Ian — I think you must mean Ian rather than Nick! We’re so glad you enjoyed the whales, wildlife, scenery, and conversations with the crew. It sounds like you had a truly special experience, and we really appreciate you choosing to spend part of your time in Victoria with us.
Thank you again for the lovely review and recommendation. We hope to welcome you back to the Salish Sea someday!
D
D8235PDand
September 22, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Fantastic day
Had a fantastic morning. Saw many whales that were really enjoying themselves and making great jumps, just haven't gotten the link for the photos yet.
Operator response
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re glad to hear you had such a fantastic morning on the water with us and enjoyed seeing the whales! If you’re having trouble accessing your photos, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at reservations@springtidecharters.com, and we’ll be happy to help.
Thank you again for joining us, and we hope to welcome you back on the water again someday!
S
Sheral_E
September 21, 2026 · via Viator
Never to use this company again
Trip was somehow booked for wrong day and the tour refuse to change the date, nor did they refund my money paid for 4 people. Very disappointed.
Operator response
Hi Sheral, we’re sorry to hear that you were disappointed with your experience. We would, however, like to clarify what happened with your booking.
We attempted to contact you after the booking was made to confirm your details. Had you responded at that time and let us know that you intended to book for a different day, we would have been happy to accommodate the change. Unfortunately, we did not hear from you, and you did not arrive for the scheduled 2 PM tour. When we contacted you at check-in to see where you were, we learned that you were not planning to attend that day.
As your booking was made within our applicable cancellation window, it was considered final sale and your reservation required us to schedule an extra staff member to meet our crewing requirements. We understand that plans can change, but we do require advance notice to make adjustments to bookings. Had we been informed earlier, our team would have done our absolute best to assist.
M
marywW9786CS
September 17, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Superb
The excursion was phenomenal! We were grateful to see as much as we did! We saw eight humpback whales, numerous sea lions and a family of orcas as we arrived back into the inner harbour. The crew were outstanding sharing their knowledge and excitement with us throughout the trip.
Thank you to the crew … Ian, Katie, Aly and Amanda! You made our experience an outstanding event!
Operator response
Thank you for your wonderful review! It sounds like you had an incredible day on the water, with humpbacks, sea lions, and orcas! We’ll be sure to share your kind words with Ian, Katie, Aly, and Amanda. We’re so glad our crew made your experience so memorable!
P
Paula_N
September 17, 2026 · via Viator
Whales and their secrets
We saw whales, loads of them!!both humpbacks doing their sneaky trap feeding and 6 orcas on our return into the harbour.
Everyone on the crew were super helpful and witn 2 Naturalists and a photographer on board, we felt like we'd hit the jackpot.
Complimentary photos from our journey to access too.
Operator response
Thank you for your fantastic review! We're happy you got to witness both humpbacks and a pod of orcas on your return to the harbour. It sounds like you had an incredible day on the water! We're so glad our crew helped make the experience even more special. We hope to see you again soon!
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