Take a Clipper to see the orcas??
 

I want to take my kids to the San Juan Islands primarily so they can see sealife (oracs specifically). The Clipper seems like an easy way to do this from Seattle. Has anyone done the sealife cruise? What do you think? Would you do it again?

I'm also a bit worried about being on a boat for so many hours. My kids are 7 and 10, so I'm not worried about them being bored too much, I just hope that it is a fairly smooth ride (the only boats they've been on are large ferries).

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Well, I'm not sure I'm an objective reviewer, as I'm from the midwest and am definitely not a boat person, but if it's anything like the Victoria Clipper, be sure to take some heavy-duty seasickness pills before you leave!

I took the Victoria Clipper a few years back, and the ride was so rough that virtually everyone got sick. Needless to say, it wasn't pretty!

I was looking forward to having a meal at the Empress Hotel, but by the time I survived this voyage from Hell, the only thing I could tolerate was dry toast.

I was so determined not to take it back that I got the last seat on a little charter plane that flew right into Seattle harbor (this was pre- 9/11, mind you)!

P.S. I heard from several people that the Clipper has a nickname -- the "vomit comet."

I haven't taken the sea life cruise. I would suggest you compare it with the other whale watching tours of the San Juan Islands. You can find them by searching on-line. They leave from Anacortes and Friday Harbor. Anacortes is an easy drive from Seattle.

From the photos, I'm thinking the Clipper used for whale watching might be a slightly larger boat than some of the other whale watching boats (but smaller than their boats that go longer range). On the internet they say they are less expensive. Can you get their boat at Friday Harbor or do you have to take the cruise up from Seattle? I imagine the trip up from Seattle plus the whale watching is more expensive than driving to Anacortes and picking up a boat there.

The Clipper to Victoria, at least, is a very fast boat. I'm sure it could be rockier than a big fat ferry. That said, I think LT's experience, miserable though it was, is not the norm. We took the Clipper to Victoria and it was smooth all the way.

If you are worried about sea sickness, call and ask the Clipper and other outfits about their experiences. Ask the Clipper if they take the boat on the west or the east side of Whidbey Island en route to the San Juans. The east side is almost always calm, even when there is a gale on the west side. However, it takes longer to get to the San Juans from the east side, so they might not ever take that route. Ask which route they take and if they go on the east side if there is bad weather or seas.

How early in advance do you need to book? If you can wait until the last couple of days, or pick up a boat at the Anacortes marina, check the marine forecast before you check in.

The waters are generally protected and smooth around the San Juan Islands. There could be swells in certain straits, but they usually don't cause sea sickness.

ttt...

Orcas ~ Thanks for your suggestions. It looks like they do travel on the west side of Whidbey. Customer service assures me that the ride is pretty smooth, in general, during the summer months. Just in case, Dramamine is available on the boat though!

We are booked for tomorrow. I hope it's fabulous and the kids see lots of sea life!

Any other feedback?

Today was beautiful weather. I think you will be fine. Check out the marine forecast for Admiralty Inlet, which is where Puget Sound meets the Strait of Juan de Fuca. It says wind waves 1 to 3 feet tomorrow, picking up a little in the afternoon. That is very good. I don't think you will have a problem at all.

Let us know how it goes. Take your sunscreen! Also, take warm clothes just in case, as it can get cool on the water.

...checking in one last time before morning.
Orcas, thanks again for your comments. I looked at the marine forecast, but didn't really know what to make of it. You have reassured me!

Here's a big PS. Taking dramamine could make you tired, so, I'd say, don't take it unless you get motion sickness very easily. Chances are, you won't need it. Even if things are a bit rough at Admiralty inlet or one of the straits in the San Juans (the ones that connect the big bodies of water more directly tend to have more waves), the waters vary from place to place, and most of the waters will be calm, so if you can hold out, better waters will lie ahead and you will feel better in short order.

That said, if you get too violently seasick all of a sudden, it will be too late for the dramamine, as you won't be able to hold it down. Obviously, if the captain suggests you take it or if people start barfing, take it while you have a chance.

Let us know how your trip goes!

So how was it? I think I saw your boat coming in around 8 PM last night when we were at Elliot Bay. What a gorgious day!!!

Wow! What a great experience!

As for the trip itself, we left from Elliot Bay and went on the east side of Whidbey Island and through Deception Pass (we came home on the opposite side of the island). Deception Pass was the only somewhat rough ride - otherwise it was not bad at all.
We saw many bald eagles, some in the trees (which were hard to spot), and others that were on small "islands" along the route and were very close up and wonderful to view. When there was a good opportunity to view them, the captain stopped the boat and let us watch & take pictures.
The ride would have been more spectacular had it not been for the marine layer that provided lots of fog. The crew even joked about it as they pointed out scenery that we might have seen on a clear morning.
By the time we arrived at the San Juans though, it was gorgeous out!
Some passengers got off the boat and then those that remained went on the sealife search. We found a pod of orcas and watched them for quite awhile. It was terrific to watch them and learn about them (there was a naturalist onboard during the entire day pointing things out to all aboard).
We returned to Friday Harbor for about 2 hours before heading back to Seattle.
The waters we traveled on the way home were less protected (rougher!). At times, it felt a bit like a roller coaster ride for the first hour. The captain stopped the boat at a wonderful little rocky island (I forget the name) and gave us a break while we watched more bald eagles, saw their huge nests, and watched harbor seals in the water.
Though the trip home was rougher, I did not take any Dramamine and I was just fine - never a problem.
Thanks for all the help. I would definitely do this trip again and highly recommend it.
It would be great to spend more time in Friday Harbor though! The San Juans are beautiful.

ttt for takemethere