Thundercat Dolphin Watch
Thundercat Dolphin Watch
5
Boat ToursSightseeing ToursDolphin & Whale WatchingNature & Wildlife ToursDay Trips
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Full view
About
Wildwood Crest, New Jersey
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Thundercat Dolphin Watch
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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
1,469 reviews
Excellent
1,404
Very good
38
Average
13
Poor
7
Terrible
7
cmi113
Scotch Plains, NJ170 contributions
Aug 2020
Really enjoyed this tour. We took the 1 hour early bird at 8 am, which was discounted. The captain and crew member were friendly and provided some history. We saw many dolphins and it was beautiful. they frolic in the wake of the boat. It gets breezy, but aside from some mist, you won't get wet. Reserve online early as they book up fast.
Written August 20, 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.
Thank you for coming on the Thunder Cat Dolphin watch. We sure hope to see you again🐬🐬
Written August 21, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kimura-sensei
NYC21 contributions
Sep 2020
Absolutely top notch. The very last row is for kids but not for toddlers. 2nd to last row is for the early birds who arrive 1 hour before departure. You want the row closest to the end of the boat as possible, the dolphins will leap out of the water 10-15 feet away. Worth every penny. If you have concerns, no, you won't get wet at all on this boat even though we brought jackets and 2nd pair of clothes just in case. The boat does rock a bit when it stops but not enough to get sea sick.
Although the ride is 90 mins, the boat is quick enough that you'll start seeing dolphins within 20 mins from departure unlike the Cape May Whale Watcher that took us 1hr and 20 mins to start seeing dolphins that are 50-75 feet away but we also saw humpback whales by 2hrs 15 mins and more than 100 feet away. No, you won't see whales on this ride but that's not it's purpose. My kids had a great time seeing the dolphins so up close but they were bored as hell on the whale watch trip. We will be going back to this boat again next year!
Although the ride is 90 mins, the boat is quick enough that you'll start seeing dolphins within 20 mins from departure unlike the Cape May Whale Watcher that took us 1hr and 20 mins to start seeing dolphins that are 50-75 feet away but we also saw humpback whales by 2hrs 15 mins and more than 100 feet away. No, you won't see whales on this ride but that's not it's purpose. My kids had a great time seeing the dolphins so up close but they were bored as hell on the whale watch trip. We will be going back to this boat again next year!
Written September 9, 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.
Thank you Kimura we are glad that you had a great time on our Thunder Cat Dolphin watch. Hope to see you again next season🐬
Written September 10, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Babybaby1116
Stamford, CT45 contributions
Jul 2021 • Family
Went on the Thindercat dolphin tour out of Wildwood Crest with our family of 10 - ages ranging from 8-80. It was the highlight of our vacation. Had a fun and witty tour guide along with Captain Al who made sure the dolphins gave us a great show by taking us to places with hundreds of dolphins who jumped and flipped alongside the boat. The pictures say it all. 90 minutes was the perfect amount of time to enjoy this experience and we all felt very safe and in good hands. Thank you again for making this so memorable Captain Al & crew!
Written July 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.
I love that The Thundercat Dolphin Watch was the highlight of your vacation. We couldn’t ask for a better complement. Thank you🐬🐬
Written August 5, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Heather
2 contributions
Jun 2020
My boyfriend and I, along with our best friend couple went on the Thundercat. It was our first experience for a dolphin tour for him and I. My best friend and her husband have been on dolphin tours before, but not the Thundercat. We really enjoyed this tour! We saw so many dolphins and the captins were so knowledgeable with the history and areas of the tour. The captins also had a great sense of humor. We planned to take our kids to Ocean City Maryland, but after our experience in Wildwood and with the Thundercat tour, we decided to go back to Wildwood and will be booking another trip on the Thundercat to experience with our children. Thank you for a great first time experience of a dolphin tour. Can't wait to come back in August to experience it with our kids!
I also told my cousin about the Thundercat and she just took the tour this past week with her daughter and two of her daughter's friends. She said they had a blast and enjoyed the tour themselves. She loved the recommendation.
I also told my cousin about the Thundercat and she just took the tour this past week with her daughter and two of her daughter's friends. She said they had a blast and enjoyed the tour themselves. She loved the recommendation.
Written June 24, 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.
Wow this is such a high compliment to change your vacation to Wildwood because of the Thunder Cat. Thank you so much🐬🐬💥💥
Written June 26, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Laura L
3 contributions
Jul 2021 • Family
We had a great time on our ride. We called ahead two days prior and made reservations for a group of five; 3 kids and 2 adults. We arrived at 10:30 for our 11:00 ride as directed and had an easy check in. Signs were posted for lining up and boarding instructions were clearly announced with one family entering the boat at a time. Capt John was entertaining and gave tidbits and historical facts throughout the ride. Kids were seated in the back row for easier viewing. They obviously know where to go and how to get the dolphins engaged as we saw numerous ones along the way to Cape May. Snacks and drinks were available for purchase on the boat (no outside food allowed) halfway thru the trip. Everything was very pleasant and we all enjoyed the trip. Definitely recommend!
Written July 28, 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.
🐬🐬Thank you for your recommendation. Have a wonderful rest of your summer.
Written August 5, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sarah D
4 contributions
Sep 2020
The ride took us out along the Jersey shore and we loved the way the dolphins swam and jumped alongside and behind us in the waves created by the boat. The trip was worth the money to see the dolphins but we didn’t appreciate being packed in so tightly during times of Covid or the fact that the boat left 10 minutes late (which was not made up at the end). The boat was rammed full of people and masks were not a requirement, even for the crew. They ran out of seating rows for each family so the parents of the last family were told to squish in the back row (which was supposed to be for the kids and offered the best view). Our two eldest kids, who had been sitting there with the other children, felt uncomfortable in such close proximity with the unmasked adults and came to squeeze on the row with us and our youngest child instead, sacrificing the excellent view they would have had. It didn’t really matter in the end as we could all stand up and see the dolphins but it felt like they were putting profit ahead of safety by allowing so many families on the boat. We were not allowed to bring our own food and drinks on board and then they pushed the sale of snacks and drinks from the boat. They were also very explicit about the expectation of receiving tips and had a tip jar that made dolphin noises when you opened it. The crew were knowledgeable and told us some of the history of Wildwood and some other facts about what we could see in the distance along the shore. We were a little disappointed we didn’t cruise round the Cape May beaches (as we were expecting based on the website narrative) but we DID see four playful dolphins so mission accomplished. I was also pleased that sea sickness was not an issue on this trip. I would recommend the trip if seeing dolphins is your main priority.
Written September 13, 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.
Stephanie D
1 contribution
Jul 2022
10 out of 10. My family of 7 booked the 8am trip and it was well worth the early wake up. We saw dozens of dolphins and the crew was amazing. The ride was smooth, comfortable and fun. I would recommend arriving by 7:15am to be first in line so that you can sit in the back where you will get the best views. We had a great experience and would recommend this for all.
Written July 29, 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.
We are so glad you had an amazing experience! We hope to see you again soon!🐬
Written August 10, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jenn Dolphin
Dunmore, PA26 contributions
Aug 2020 • Friends
What an experience!!!! Watching the dolphins jump through the waves while chasing after the Thundercat with Capt Al at the helm was TRULY MAGNIFICENT! The best part was the dolphins wanted to take part in this. It wasn't at some zoo or animal kingdom, it was in their natural habit. John knew so much about the history of the landscape and would tell us about the area as Capt. Al drove us around, and he was also keeping us entertained! We took the 9 am boat trip and thought it was the perfect time, not too hot not too cool. To sum this experience up, if you head to Cape May, you simple must check out Thundercat guys and their tour! Worth every single penny!!!! Xoxoxo thanks for the memories The Dolphin 🐬 Family
Written August 21, 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.
Jennifer I am so glad we did not disappoint. The Dolphins are fantastic in their own environment nothing is better. Thank you 😊
Written August 25, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lydia D
2 contributions
Jul 2020 • Family
Beautiful time! The guide was funny and informative and the captain knew exactly what to do for the dolphins to put on a show! They ride the waves at the back of the boat and they are so close. We saw so many dolphins and it was incredible. You get to see the beaches of Cape May. 10 out of 10 recommend.
Written July 4, 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.
Thank you for taking time to write this review. You think the Thunder Cat is a 10 out of 10 and we think you are a 10 out of 10 customer!
Written July 9, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Laura C
New Jersey86 contributions
Jul 2020 • Couples
We had the best time on this ThunderCat B Dolphin Watch Boat Rose. Two captains of the Boat were awesome they made the trip very interesting (apologies we don’t know there name and they deserve applause ) Many 🐬 Dolphins and so worth it. My husband and I had a great time. If the water is a-little rough you will get wet depending on what side of the boat your on. We Loved It 👏🏻👏🏻🐬
Written July 17, 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.
Thank you Laura and Jeff if you loved it on a rough day imagine it on a flat day💥💥
Written July 18, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Do they practice any social distancing on the boat to protect people from the possibility of spreading Covid or is it business as usual?
Written July 11, 2020
No. Please wear a mask if you have concerns. Same as my grand daughter did. Lots of wind!
Written July 14, 2020
Any seasickness-prone folks have problems on this ride?
Written August 15, 2019
We just did this last week. Both my husband and 12 year old daughter get motion & sea sickness. They didn’t get sick but it did really upset their stomachs when the boat was still while looking at the dolphins. I would recommend some anti nausea medicine just in case!
Written August 20, 2019
Will I still be able to get a good view of dolphins if I’m sitting in the front row and short in height if everyone behind me standing up to watch the dolphins that come from the back? Thanks
Written August 1, 2019
Honestly.....this trip is worth every penny!! You won't be disappointed by any means!!
Written July 18, 2019
Any time of the day is a good time to ride the Thundercat. but
as a wildlife photographer I prefer the morning hours....the lighting is better for me
Written August 16, 2019
Hi - is this boat safe to have a 2 year old on it?
Written July 8, 2019
Yes it is safe for a 2 yr old. You have the option of changing your seat to an inside seat if you don't want to sit near the water. Please keep in mind it's 1.5 hrs- to a 2 yr old this will seem like a lifetime (I'm a Mom of 3 kids) and honestly- don't do it just for the 2 yr old to experience. They won't appreciate it as much as an older kid, say like 5 and up, would.. And also, know your child and do the considerate thing. An impatient fidgety crying kid won't be fun for anyone and you'll feel like you (and other sightseers) wasted money and a great experience.
Written August 19, 2019
Is there a better time of day to go in terms of the number of dolphins you see?
Written July 3, 2019
I don’t think so. 99% of the dolphins in New Jersey live off the coast of Cape May. You can see them all day long from the beach. The captains know how to find them. I like the morning because it’s not as hot. This is a great tour!
Written July 7, 2019
Do you wear life vests? Are there life vests on board?
Written August 2, 2018
You do not need to wear a lifejacket on the boat. They do have plenty of lifejackets on board if needed. There is a good safety briefing by the captain before leaving the dock.
Written August 3, 2018
Is there a better time of day to see the dolphins? Are mornings the best?
Written July 9, 2018
thundercatdolphin
Wildwood Crest, New Jersey
Every trip honesty is great for dolphins. We see them regardless of time of day. However, our morning trips are most popular with customers.
Written July 11, 2018
It is $32 however you can get coupons in the wildwood bucks book or on line.
Written July 12, 2018
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.