Island of Hawaii Tours
Wake Up With the Whales Cruise
5

Wake Up With the Whales Cruise

By Ocean Sports Cruises
Recommended by 98% of travelers
98% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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About
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 0-99, max of 49 per group
Duration: 1h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Live guide: English
More


  • Light refreshments
  • Beers, Wines and Soft Drinks
  • Live commentary on board
What's not included
  • Gratuities


Start:
  • ʻAnaehoʻomalu Beach, 69-275 Waikōloa Beach Dr, Waikoloa Village, HI 96738, USA
    Check in at the Ocean Sports Beach Hut at Anaeho'omalu Bay.. We'll send directions via Viator,
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Wheelchair accessible
    • Stroller accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    • Infant seats available
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 5134P13

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Children must be accompanied by an adult
    • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
    • Most travelers can participate
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 49 travelers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 5134P13

    From
    $125.00
    per adult
    Select date and travelers

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    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Ocean Sports Cruises
      234
      Waikoloa, Hawaii
      Joined in September 2011
    • loreliem49
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Glass bottom boat
      It was great. We were the only passengers on the trip. The only problem was finding the office. We scouted it out the day before and after2 hours we finally found it. There were no signs. I sat on the beach, saw the boat, checked the shore and finally saw where we could park, drove over and talked to personel. There were still no signs They checked us in and were ready for us yesterday.
      Written October 6, 2024
    • Roving41635801771
      0 contributions
      1.0 of 5 bubbles
      Waste of money
      Waste of money seen more fish on the shore. Didn’t see very many fish at all. Save your money and just go snorkeling on the side of the beach. Very disappointed will never do this again.
      Written September 27, 2024
    • FrequentFlier534652
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Beautiful Views
      If you are looking for a relaxing sunset cruise definitely book this one. We had a great time. The crew was nice and attentive.
      Written September 5, 2024
    • dalehK140XK
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Looking into the coral reef
      Great way to see corals and fish in the bay without swimming out into the bay Operators were very nice. Explained about the fish and coral
      Written August 21, 2024
    • LaraT684
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Beautiful and relaxing
      Beautiful and relaxing tour. Our guides were friendly and knowledgeable about the sea and geography. It was nice to see what was under the sea right outside our resort.
      Written June 28, 2024
    • erikg984
      0 contributions
      3.0 of 5 bubbles
      Short changed
      Guides were friendly and knowledgeable. We had anticipated a ride of about 90 minutes but only spent about 30 minutes on the boat. A little disappointed.
      Written June 18, 2024
    • cfavr59
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Beautiful Sunset, Great Crew
      Beautiful scenery and we had a perfect night fir the sunset. Crew was fantastic, Kai and Moani very friendly and attentive! Highly recommend this cruise !
      Written June 2, 2024
    • ohkarybary
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fantastic Pau Hana sunset cruise
      Had an amazing experience on this cruise! The booking was easy, the greeter gal the captain and crew were outstanding and the cocktails and pupus were perfect! Would highly recommend this company to anyone! Thank you
      Written May 23, 2024
    • rrandc1999
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing Sunset
      Captain Sam and crew were amazing and attentive and entertaining. Our daughter’s engagement happened that evening and it made for a wonderful experience. Thanks to the crew for being so attentive.
      Written May 15, 2024
    • KarenJoy_10
      0 contributions
      3.0 of 5 bubbles
      Anniversary Trip
      The trip on the Seasmoke promised to be perfect. Beautiful day, smaller catamaran, really nice crew, good pupu platter. The water/wind was choppy, yet we kept going further out, where it got worse. It was next to impossible to walk around and most stayed rooted to a seat they could slide into. As the boat turned, the view of the sunset did too, meaning a poor view, or moving around trying not to plow into something or someone! Two passengers got seasick off the stern. I’m giving it a three, because we left disappointed. If we had kept closer to land, for a smoother sail, it would have been better. All else was very nice and I’d definitely recommend.
      Written May 8, 2024
    • MalcolmMcK
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Pleasant and relaxing ride
      Beautiful views, a smooth and sedate ride, and a very well informed but modest crew made for a relaxing half hour out of and back into the bay. No roller coaster but definitely a pleasant way to while away a beautiful day in Hawai’i.
      Written May 4, 2024
    • carolfK3018CP
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Excellent Snorkeling Experience!
      Fantastic snorkeling excursion with Captain Sam and his crew. They did a great job. Some of the best points: 1. We saw plenty of fish in a beautiful underwater reef setting. 2. Extremely convenient starting location for us since we were staying near Waikoloa. 3. Entire crew was friendly, knowledgeable and capable. 4. Lunch was good quality and tasty. 5. Snorkel equipment worked well and the Seasmoke catamaran was a pleasure to ride and snorkel from. Extra credit: Even though our group was unusually small, Ocean Sports went through with it and didn’t cancel at the last minute. Nice!
      Written April 29, 2024
    • 36carola
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great fun!
      This was so much fun, and an easy going boat ride, over the coral reef, where we saw so many colorful fish, big and small. The guides are super nice and enjoyable and full of fun facts . Definitely recommend this.
      Written April 14, 2024
    • Gina B
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A great snorkeling trip!
      This was a wonderful snorkeling trip! We did it with our adult children and we all had a great time! The snorkeling was very good, with clear water and excellent visibility! We saw several whales! The crew was excellent!!! DJ gave a wonderful lecture on the types of sea life we could see while snorkeling! The captain was also wonderful and tried really hard to find whales! Sara and the other crew member were also great! It was a fantastic snorkeling trip! We would definitely do it again!
      Written March 30, 2024
    • Beth W
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Mama and Baby Whale Playtime
      Excellent experience… organized and courteous… saw Mama and Baby Whale Breach and Play… comfortable boat plenty of seating… drinks and snacks provided… knowledgeable naturalist on board… heard underwater whales singing… Highly recommended!!
      Written March 22, 2024
    See all 234 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

    Popular mentions

    5.0
    5.0 of 5 bubbles51 reviews
    Excellent
    49
    Very good
    1
    Average
    0
    Poor
    0
    Terrible
    1

    Dawn W
    Juneau, AK4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2021 • Family
    We chose the Wake up with Whales from A-Bay. Wonderful tour even during Covid. The Catamaran Seasmoke is licensed for 49 people, during Covid their max capacity is 24. We were a trip of 19 and there was plenty of space to social distance out doors. Crew was knowledgeable with accurate whale facts. The morning is a great time to go, generally calmer seas, and plenty of whale activity. We own a whale watching company in Alaska and we enjoyed this company and tour!
    Written January 11, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Aloha, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide the Tripadvisor community (and us) with feedback about your Whale Watch Cruise. We're so happy to read that you enjoyed the trip, the information provided by the crew, and most importantly, got to see plenty of Humpbacks (we hope you recognized at least one of them from Alaskan waters)! We know that right now, travel and activity participation is quite challenging, so we're honored you chose to spend part of your trip with us. We hope we'll get to share more adventures with you and your family the next time you're in "our neighborhood". Mahalo
    Written January 12, 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Lisa P
    Nashville, TN5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2021 • Family
    Our first whale trip was pretty anticlimactic as the whales were extremely far away. We asked about possible returning for another complimentary trip and they were extremely accommodating! We were a group of 8 and they were able to rebook 5 of us later in the week! On the second trip we saw several whales and lots of tails! The crew members were extremely friendly and chatty. You got morning mimosas or bloody Mary’s complimentary as well, along with snacks!! It was a really great experience and we learned a ton about whales! My 5 year old loved the guide, Mike, and asked him to be the first person to sign his arm cast!!
    Written December 30, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Aloha, Thanks so much for taking the time to review your experiences with Ocean Sports for the Viator community (and us). We're happy to read that despite the first "anticlimactic" Whale Watch Cruise, that many of your group were able to join us again (for no charge) and got to see more Humpbacks! We also appreciate your kind words about our crew (and please tell your son for us that Mike was honored to sign his arm cast)! We hope we'll get to share more adventures with you and your family the next time you're in "our neighborhood". Mahalo and a hui hou!
    Written January 2, 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    sassibassi
    San Mateo, CA214 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2021
    Enjoyed this trip very much. We saw a few whales from a distance (200-300 yards). The boat crew were very good about spotting the whales.
    The entire crew was very nice and made the trip enjoyable but the whale expert Mike was exceptionally helpful in providing all kinds of information about the whales and answering all questions.
    It was also very cool to hear the whales with the underwater microphone in addition to seeing them.
    Lots of refreshments provided on the boat.
    Written January 5, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Aloha, Thanks for taking the time to provide feedback about your Whale Watch Cruise. We're so happy to read that you enjoyed the trip, the service and information provided by the crew...and most of all, got to see and listen to the Humpbacks! We know there are a lot of activity providers on the island and we're honored you chose to join us for part of your day. Mahalo and a hui hou
    Written January 6, 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Keith C
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2020
    wonderful trip. well worth doing. although we didn't see breaching activity up close (we did at a distance). but we did get very close to the whales including a touching moment with mama whale and baby whale. the boat captains were very informative and entertaining. the service was excellent.
    Written January 29, 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Aloha, Thanks for taking the time to provide the TripAdvisor Community (and us) with feedback about your Whale Watch Cruise. We're so happy to read that you enjoyed the trip, and the service and information provided by the crew. Most importantly, we're really glad you got to "meet" the Humpbacks! We know there are a lot of activities to choose from when you're on the Big Island, and we're honored you chose to spend part of your vacation with us! Mahalo
    Written January 30, 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Bryan
    Long Grove, IL39 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    One word to describe it - AWESOME. early morning so seas were calm. Even if we didn’t see whales it would have been fun But we saw many whales Double breach - WOW. Tails - lINCREDIBLE. Lots of cool info Bout the whales and a mimosa to start the day. Worth getting up early You get to see whales and then have whole day for other fun
    Written December 31, 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Aloha, Thanks for taking the time to review your Whale Watch Cruise for the Trip Advisor Community (and us). We're delighted to read that you enjoyed seeing the Humpbacks (and getting to see a double breach -- wow)! We know there are a lot of activities to choose from when you're on the island, and we're honored you chose to get up early on a vacation day to spend a couple of hours with us. We look forward to sharing more adventures with the next time you're in "our neighborhood". Mahalo
    Written January 20, 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    takemeaway23
    Texas436 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    This was a great way to start off the morning. We went on Monday, March 15th and saw lots of whales and even some spinner dolphins. A whale went right in front of our boat. I have a great video! The crew was friendly and knowledgeable. Would definitely do this again.
    Written March 17, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Aloha, Thanks for taking the time to review your Wake Up with the Whales Cruise. We're so happy to read that you enjoyed the cruise and the information and service provided by the crew. We're also happy you were able to capture the "whale crossing" on video...what a great memento! We know that making the decision to participate in activities right now can be challenging, and we're honored you chose to spend part of your morning with us. A hui hou and Mahalo!
    Written March 18, 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Ashley Y
    5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Apr 2021 • Couples
    We did the wake up with the whales cruise on Monday April 5. They had warned us we may not see any whales do to it being end of season and had mentioned if that happens you can cruise again for free. However, after about 20 minutes we saw one whale very briefly and tried to chase it, to see it again. But it did not resurface. Shortly after we started to see several whales! We had almost given up, but we saw so many. Even several breaching! It was incredible, we were supposed to return to the harbor at 9:30, but we ended up staying out on the water til about 10:30 because there were so many whales! Absolutely incredible experience. The crew was great and made the experience. Very knowledgeable and willing to answer any and all questions! Thank you Ocean Sports!
    Written April 8, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Aloha, Thanks for taking the time to provide feedback about your Ocean Sports Whale Watch Cruise. We're so happy to read that you enjoyed the trip, the service and information provided by the crew, and most importantly, got to see all those Humpbacks! Sightings on our late season Whale Watch Cruises are always difficult to predict, but the last whales to migrate from Hawaii are Moms with their calves, and Humpbacks who still haven't mated -- which can make for some great cruises! We know that the decision to participate in activities right now can be a challenging one to make, and we're honored you chose to join us aboard! Mahalo and a hui hou
    Written April 9, 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Kaitlin Goedeke
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Apr 2021 • Family
    The friendly Ocean Sports crew made our whale watching experience incredible! We were able to see whales during the final stretch they are in the area. The tour was safe and all crew were very knowledgeable; the snacks and drinks were an added bonus for the kids. Highly recommend this adventure!
    Written April 15, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Aloha, Thanks for taking the time to provide feedback about your Whale Watch Cruise. We're so happy to read that you enjoyed the trip, the onboard amenities, the service and information provided by the crew, and most importantly, got to see Humpbacks! We know that the decision to participate in activities right now can be a challenging one to make and we're honored you chose to spend part of your day with us. Mahalo and a hui hou
    Written April 16, 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Claire C
    Portland, OR36 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Took the early morning Whale Watching cruise.
    Fantastic. Crew helpful, knowledgeable and provided a great experience. Ease of transfer
    from the glass bottom boat onto the Seasmoke.
    Being 70, appreciated the crew’s assistance.
    Loved being on James Arness’s boat and learning the history.
    Juice, water and other beverages were provided as well as a energy snack. Then, it was all about whales. Mothers and babies with escorts. Got to hear communications via hydrophone. Leaned so much about whales and habitats. The 1.5 hrs went by too quickly. My husband and I highly recommend this experience with Ocean Sports and definitely will
    tour again with them.
    Written February 18, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Aloha, Thanks for taking the time to provide feedback about your Whale Watch Cruise. We're so happy to read that you and your husband enjoyed the trip, our boat, and the service and information provided by our crew. Most importantly, we're happy you got to see and listen to so many Humpbacks! We know there are a lot of activity providers on the island and we're honored you chose to spend part of your morning with us and that we've earned your recommendation. Mahalo and A Hui Hou
    Written February 22, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Jennifer R
    5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2024 • Family
    We went in the late part of the season but still saw many whales, including a mama and calf. It was absolutely amazing. Once the hydromic was dropped we heard so many vocalizations. A wonderful experience 100% recommend. The crew were awesome, full of information.
    Written March 30, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Aloha, Thanks for taking the time to provide feedback about your Whale Watch Cruise. We're so happy to read that you enjoyed the trip and your interactions with our crew. Most importantly, we're glad you got a chance to see and listen to the Humpbacks. We know there are a lot of activity providers on the Big Island and we're honored you chose to join us for your Whale Watch Cruise and that we've earned your recommendation. Mahalo and A Hui Hou
    Written April 6, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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