San Juan Cruises
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San Juan Cruises
There are many ways to get on the water with us - whale watching tours, trips to Friday Harbor, crab dinner cruises on Chuckanut Bay, beer & wine tasting cruises and private charters. Come aboard for an adventure in the San Juan Islands or a fun and relaxing evening on Bellingham Bay! Our classic San Juan Islands whale watching tour, including a comprehensive narrated tour and free lasagna lunch buffet.

A glass of wine, the gentle sway of the boat, a beautiful sunset - a truly unique wine tasting experience. Tours that give enthusiasts a chance to see puffins, gulls, auklets, eagles & others off Smith Island. Depart La Conner and cruise through Deceptions pass while enjoying a Dungeness Crab Lunch or Dinner.
Services
San Juan Cruises is a Bellingham, WA based company that operates four deluxe tour vessels: Victoria Star, Chinook, Salish Express and Salish Sea. We started back in 1987 as Gray Line Cruises, operating from the Semiahmoo Resort in Blaine, WA. In 1989 the company moved to the newly-opened Alaska Ferry Terminal, located in the historic Fairhaven District in Bellingham.
Fully narrated whale watching tour through the scenic San Juan Islands (Guaranteed whale sightings or your next cruise is 1/2 off). Includes a complimentary lunch on board, with freshly baked lasagna, Caesar salad, fresh bread and dessert. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the incredible marine wildlife that live in the scenic San Juan Islands.
Come relax with us on this un-matched crab dinner cruise experience around Bellingham and Chuckanut Bays. Dine on the Northwest's finest Dungeness crab, as well as Tuscan herbed chicken, delectable side dishes, salads and dessert. NEW IN 2020 - Crab dinner cruises are now Wednesdays through Sundays throughout the summer!.
Narrated by our knowledgeable captain, who will talk about the history of the San Juan Island archipelago. Enjoy a narrated tour to Friday Harbor aboard the Salish Express, the newest addition to our fleet of vessels. On Saturdays and Sundays we'll depart the historic Fairhaven District in Bellingham and wind our way through the heart of the San Juan Islands, with a chance of seeing wildlife along the way.
Stay cool this summer with our popular series of beer tasting cruises on Wednesday evenings in May through September aboard the Victoria Star 2. Each week Boundary Bay Brewery will be joined by other local breweries to feature their delicious ales and lagers. It's just $39/adult for this cruise around Bellingham Bay & Chuckanut Bay, which includes beer tastings and snacks.
Reviews (28)
Ac Smith
Ac Smith
Oct 21, 2021
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We were on the last cruise for the season. Really cold wind! Saw one whale. Go in summer!
Laura Beard
Laura Beard
Oct 03, 2021
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Always a good time...the crew and staff work to make sure everyone has a great time. We were just on our third October cruise and we have enjoyed the crab feed dinner cruise as well. See you next year!
Holly Young
Holly Young
Sep 20, 2021
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Amazing staff and crew ~ every tour we’ve been on has been wonderful!
Kathy Stolle
Kathy Stolle
Sep 06, 2021
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Such a fun experience. Captain and Staff, knowledgeable, helpful and friendly Definitely worth the trip from Virginia to Bellingham for this experience ❤️
Melinda Campbell
Melinda Campbell
Aug 27, 2021
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We had so much fun. Great cruise. I will bring my own snacks next time...
Sam H.
Sam H.
Aug 27, 2021
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Really nice cruise, the food was great, and they got us as close to the whales as possible. Really great experience
Eric Creitz
Eric Creitz
Aug 20, 2021
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Positive: Professionalism, Quality
Had a great whale watching experience with San Juan Cruises, saw multiple whales breaching and beautiful scenery.
Michelle Vonderau
Michelle Vonderau
Aug 20, 2021
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They offer appetizers and wine on the cruise. You can buy some hard alcohol drinks. The views are amazing! This was my first time on the cruise, and definitely going to be back!
Michael Harmon
Michael Harmon
Aug 19, 2021
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Great whale watching day cruise out of Bellingham. Lunch was served on the boat and was very tasty and plentiful. We had several humpback sightings but were hoping for some Orcas. The Cruise line gave everyone 50% discounts for the next trip so a reasonably priced trip is now a real bargain.
Denise Freeman
Denise Freeman
Aug 17, 2021
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We went on the dinner cruise last Sunday night. VERY DISAPPOINTED in the dinner. We were allowed 1/2 a crab the 1st time thru and if there was any left after that we would be able to get a 2nd half. Well when we returned there was a few rolls, about a cup of the broccoli raisen salad(yes that's all that was in this salad-it was so dry it was… terrible), 1 pc chicken and no crab. Also the only beverage included is water-no coffee or tea.$70 per person for this dinner cruise is totally overpriced. I called Monday morning to let them know how we felt. I was told ppl always told them how happy
Cindy Piccolo
Cindy Piccolo
Aug 10, 2021
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We had my brothers in law 80th birthday party on the Salish Sea, going out of La Connor. The crew were awesome, friendly and top notch giving us great customer service. The crab was superb, salad and rice delicious. The captain did a great job at the helm and she gave us a history lesson about the area. Deception pass bridge was a sight to see from… the water. A shout out to Katie who went out of her way to help my sis in law bring in the birthday cake from her car. A shout to Quincy the food well done. It was a banner of a day for the whole family. We would do this again.👍
Vicki Rockey Griffin
Vicki Rockey Griffin
Jul 31, 2021
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Our lunch whale watching cruise was unforgettable! The lunch was amazing the captain and crew were friendly and informative too! The whales oh the whales, seeing them took my breath away! Gods amazing creatures and they showed off too! Thank you San Juan cruises for a day I won’t forget!
R. Todd O.
R. Todd O.
Jul 04, 2021
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The Bellingham to Friday Harbor trip takes 2 hours one way. Allowed 3 hours at Friday Harbor. If you are by the speakers you can listen to the Captain talk about locations along the route. Inside seating was hard to hear because passengers talking and kids yelling. On the top out side sit next to or under the roof to hear him.
Schin Haakenson
Schin Haakenson
Jun 05, 2021
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The captain was conscious of not upsetting or getting too close to the whales while still providing a premium experience. We were able to spend about 2.5 hours with the whales and in-between the captain was able to share his extensive knowledge of the area and history of various areas and islands. It was fun, educational and awe inspiring. Well worth the cost.
You may notice that some of these pictures are very close. This is because when the captain noticed that the whales we're heading in our direction and already too close to the minimum distance required. The captain was so conscientious of
Monique F.
Monique F.
Sep 07, 2020
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Wonderful sunset dinner cruise. Handling COVID well. Good space between tables and limited passengers. Really a nice experience not having so many people on the craft. Not great for them though I'm sure. Dinner was good and portioned well. The broccoli salad was a big surprise and the dessert was fabulous too. Hopefully I can add the sunset photo Just stunning.
Mariah F.
Mariah F.
Sep 01, 2020
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We've probably been in every cruise they offer. They are well organized and a joy to experience. The meals are gourmet even better than a restaurant. Great cruises to take our out-of-town relatives and friends. They're very accommodating and easy to do business with. I would recommend them instantly.
Vicky S.
Vicky S.
Aug 01, 2020
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We have done several cruises through San Juans Cruises including whale watching with and without stops in Friday Harbor and most recently for. Cracked crab dinner cruise. They are always fun excursions and a great thing to do for a celebration or when friends and family visit from out of state! They have limited their guest numbers and are handling the covid situation very well with masks, separate tables for party groups, serving meals by the table to avoid crowds and everyone must wear a mask when inside and not at the table as well as outside if you cannot be 6 feet apart. In normal times it
Sarah P.
Sarah P.
Jul 25, 2020
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The captain and narrator was enjoyable today. He only spoke occasionally and only spoke and gave interesting facts when necessary. Unfortunately no orcas today but saw some humpback whales and beautiful scenery. The lunch was also good.
Sarah J.
Sarah J.
Oct 05, 2019
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My husband and I had a great day with San Juan Cruises in late September. Enjoyed the lunch, history of the area, and the boat. Friday Harbor was a fun stop and seeing resident Orcas and a Humpback feed on our tour was a once in a lifetime experience. Fantastic day!
Holly O.
Holly O.
Sep 21, 2019
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I went on two cruises recently, the Deluxe Whale Watching Cruise to Friday Harbor on September 10 and the Cracked Crab Dinner Cruise on September 20.

I had a wonderful time on both. We saw humpback whales both times. The captain and crew were warm and friendly and went out of their way to make sure we had a great time. Beer, wine, and snacks were available for a reasonable price.

Both meals were great. The cracked crab on the latter cruise was excellent and tasted very good!

The captain shared the interesting history of the San Juan Islands and the Salish Sea. He also had a good knowledge
Karen C.
Karen C.
Sep 05, 2019
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So my husband surprised me for my birthday with Whale Watching and it went surprisingly well! Surprising because I'm 100% wheelchair bound and this company worked with us every step of the way!

Between the piers and docks and ramps to get on board the boat - most whale watching cruises aren't accessible. San Juan Cruises worked!

The pier ramp and onto the boat was sturdy and safe. The handicap bathroom was great! I could get out into the bottom deck and see everything anyone else could. Customer service was amazing!

Friday Harbor was terrible for a wheelchair and I couldn&apos
Tye S.
Tye S.
Aug 25, 2018
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Our group of 7 from Seattle set sail on Thursday the 16th of August. This was a special trip with grandparents who had traveled in from Iowa. It was very easy to locate the terminal and the boarding process is extremely simple. We pulled away from the dock promptly at 4pm and before we knew it, were enjoying the sights and sounds of Bellingham Bay. The ship configuration made it easy to sit altogether on the main deck and see both port and starboard sights. The upper deck is the open-air sight seeing area, which provides an incredible opportunity to see everything with the added breeze in your
Casey K.
Casey K.
May 30, 2017
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We booked a cruise from Bellingham to Friday Harbor and back over Memorial Day Weekend with a few friends. We ran a little late boarding, but the staff was courteous and understanding. While en route to Friday Harbor, the captain shared some interesting stories and facts about the islands and state parks. We arrived at Friday Harbor with two hours to explore. Then, back on board, lunch was prepared and waiting for us. Buffet style, they had BBQ chicken, seasoned baked salmon, rice pilaf, biscuits, brownies, and beverages. They also had an open bar with wine, beer, and spirits. On the way back from
Melody K.
Melody K.
Oct 08, 2016
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Living in our glorious maritime town has it's benefits, namely the availability of multiple sailing excursion companies. My favorite is San Juan Cruises. They offer so many choices. I've been on their Brews Cruise, Sunset Crab Dinner Cruise and most recently, the Oktoberfest Cruise.
Each of these cruises was aboard the Viking Star. The ship itself is a basically a sea going party house and there's a lively crew of young mates to keep the party going! The Brews Cruise was especially fun, so many local breweries were represented along with delicious appetizers. There's an ongoing
Sarah C.
Sarah C.
Jul 03, 2016
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Marvelous! I went once on a 4th of July cruise and once for a fundraising event for Whatcom Humane Society.

Pros?
Pricing is reasonable
Lots of diverse seating
Friendly staff
Clean boats
Safe but not overly controlled environment
Good food and beverages on trips

Cons?
It can get a little crowded on the boat in different areas
Jennifer J.
Jennifer J.
Jul 03, 2016
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It was one of those picture-perfect June evenings in the Ham. Blue skies, calm winds, and the temperature was approaching 65 so everyone was in their shorts and tank tops. But still - perhaps the result of several years of surprise spring blizzards combined with too much childhood exposure to Gilligan's Island reruns - we packed a large duffel containing hats, gloves, parkas, and mukluks "just in case." Luckily, when we arrived at the Cruise Terminal to board our San Juan Cruise we were not the only guests who had planned accordingly and were not laughed off the boat.

The event
Pam A.
Pam A.
Sep 17, 2014
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I recently went on the Chuckanut Craked Crab Dinner Cruise. There wasn't much to see in terms of animals, but the coastlines were beautful.

There is a bar on the boat, which can be a good or bad thing. Some of the guests got pretty loud after having a drink or two. We ended up not being able to hear anything over the speakers.

We spent most of the time just talking to each other and others who sat at our table. The seats are first come first served. Some people lined up early at the gate to board so they could get first dibs on the deck seating.

For the actual dinner it is a buffet style
Susan W.
Susan W.
Sep 13, 2014
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Went on a whale watch trip to Friday Harbor yesterday. What an amazing day!!! Made our reservation online so we saved $5 off each ticket. Pickup/checkin was smooth & fast.

Since it was a Friday at the end of the season I think there were only 25 people total on the boat that is certified for 147. Plenty of room & space for everyone. 2 interior cabins, one upstairs & one downstairs that seat about 60 people each. Outside decks on both levels too.

Excellent lunch. Better than I expected. Chicken, salmon, rice pilaf, coleslaw, biscuits & brownies. Boundary Bay IPA was on tap