Puget Sound Express is the family-run alternative on the Washington side of the Salish Sea. Three generations of the Hanke family run five boats out of three ports — Edmonds just north of Seattle, Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula, and Port Angeles at the gateway to Olympic National Park — and the company claims a 99% sighting rate with a voucher that never expires if it misses.
The Edmonds half day is also the most expensive in the region at $155 for an adult, though the same company sells the Port Townsend trip for $125. What the money buys is the equipment.
What it actually is
A single family business that has built its own boats rather than converting someone else's. The Swiftsure and the Saratoga are catamarans with two asymmetrical semi-planing hulls and an articulated hydrofoil, driven by water jets rather than propellers. The company says all four Scania engines on each have waterlift mufflers, carbon-fiber driveshafts and dedicated soundproofing, and that the design keeps underwater noise to a minimum while cruising at 35 knots.
That is not an idle detail in these waters. Vessel noise is one of the documented pressures on Southern Resident killer whales, and a quiet boat is the one design choice a whale-watch operator can actually make. The company's own summary is that the Saratoga and Swiftsure are soundproofed, propeller-free hydrofoil jet boats and "the quietest vessels in the whale watch fleet" — its claim, not a measured figure, but an unusually specific one to put in writing. Puget Sound Express is also a member of the Pacific Whale Watch Association, the regional body that sets voluntary viewing standards on both sides of the border.
Boats, ports and seasons
Five vessels cover the three ports. Swiftsure, the newest, seats 149 with a wraparound viewing deck, restrooms, galley and seven screens for naturalist presentations, and works mainly out of Edmonds. Saratoga, seating 120, is its sister and runs from Port Townsend, with the Red Head — 56 feet, 40 seats, a hydrophone aboard — taking over there in the fall. Glacier Spirit seats 60 in booth-style seating at Port Angeles. Chilkat Express is a fast jet catamaran with tiered bow viewing, cruising at 40 mph on four Caterpillar jets.
Seasons and lengths both differ by port. Half days run February to December from Edmonds at four to five hours, March to November from Port Townsend at three to four, and May to October from Port Angeles, also three to four. Full-day San Juan Island tours run May to September from Edmonds and Port Townsend, with a two-hour lunch stop in Friday Harbor. In spring and autumn the same boats run puffin and bird migration cruises with the Port Townsend Marine Science Center.
The ports themselves decide the day. Edmonds is about twenty minutes north of downtown Seattle; Port Townsend is roughly two hours west and Port Angeles three, which is why the company pitches the last of the three at people already heading for Olympic National Park. It also says the westerly position on the Strait of Juan de Fuca means Port Angeles trips typically see more humpbacks than the other two.
What it costs and what the guarantee covers
Direct adult fares run $155 from Edmonds, $145 from Port Angeles and $125 from Port Townsend, with children 2 to 10 at $125, $115 and $95 and infants free — all before taxes and fees. Box lunches come from a named local kitchen at each port and must be ordered by 15:00 the day before. Prices are checked regularly. There is no GetYourGuide listing for this operator, so the partner comparison below covers the rest of the region.
Price check · GetYourGuide
Live prices, per person, checked regularly. Sorted from lowest.
| Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anacortes: Whale and Orca Boat Tour near Seattle | $119 Lowest | 3.5 h | ★ 4.8 (625) | Check dates |
| Orcas Island: Whale and Orca Guided Speedboat Tour | $119 | 3.5 h | ★ 4.8 (70) | Check dates |
| Anacortes: Whale Watching Adventure Tour Near Seattle | $149 | 3.5 h | ★ 4.8 (75) | Check dates |
| Seattle: Wildlife and Whale Watching Cruise | $150.35 | 4 h | ★ 4.5 (690) | Check dates |
| Seattle: Indigenous-Led Whale Watching Tour with Tea Tasting | $150.35 | 4 h | ★ 4.7 (3) | Check dates |
| British Columbia: Whale Watching Eco-Adventure Tour | $213.87 | 3 h | ★ 4.4 (5) | Check dates |
Sighting guarantee
A voucher for a later cruise, with no expiry — but not for a species and not for cash.
- Wording
- "If you don't see whales on your whale watching tour, we will gladly give you a voucher for a cruise on a later date – no questions, no hassles, no expiration"
- Exclusions
- "Guarantee is not valid for split trips, specific whale species, or cash back"
- Claimed rate
- The company says it sees whales on 99% of trips; all three ports carry the same guarantee
- Weather cancellation
- Full refund if the company cancels for wind or sea conditions
A species-specific hope — orcas, say — is explicitly outside the guarantee. If the boat finds a minke, the trip counts.
The rules the boat works to
Washington regulates whale watching harder than any other US state, and it is worth knowing what the crew is obeying when the engines cut. Federal law (50 CFR 224.103) bars any vessel from approaching within 200 yards of a killer whale in Washington's inland waters, or positioning itself in a whale's path within 400 yards, and the rule explicitly covers motorised and non-motorised craft alike. State law goes further: RCW 77.15.740 requires every vessel to stay 1,000 yards from a Southern Resident orca, to keep under seven knots within that distance and to disengage the transmission if one comes within 400 yards. Commercial whale-watch boats are not exempt.
That is why Puget Sound Express describes its viewing range as 100 to 400 meters by species rather than quoting one number, and why the propeller-free design matters more here than it would anywhere else. It also explains the company's photography advice: shoot for that range, and switch to a phone on the rare occasion a curious whale closes in on a stopped boat.
Before you book
This is the trip's weak flank: the boats are not wheelchair accessible, and pets and emotional support animals are not carried at all. If mobility is a factor, call the office before booking so they can arrange pre-boarding.
Check in no later than 30 minutes before sailing; boarding closes 15 minutes out and late arrivals forfeit the fare. Dress in layers for water 10 to 15 degrees cooler than shore, in soft-soled shoes. Tripods are not allowed on board — the company suggests a monopod and a stabilised 200 to 400mm lens instead. The galley serves snacks, hot drinks and the company's blueberry buckle; you may bring your own food but not alcohol.
How it compares
Island Adventures out of Anacortes is the direct rival: $119 against the $155 Edmonds fare, one 98-foot catamaran instead of five boats, and a guarantee spelled out tour by tour. FRS Clipper is the downtown Seattle option, leaving Pier 69 on the Emerald Clipper, and the only one of the three that is wheelchair accessible. Across the border, Orca Spirit works the same whales from Victoria, British Columbia.
Our call
The thinking traveler's Salish Sea trip
Soundproofed, propeller-free hydrofoil catamarans the company calls the quietest vessels in the whale-watch fleet, three ports to suit your route, naturalists who take questions, and a voucher that never expires.
Skip it if If you use a wheelchair or travel with a service animal. If you want the cheapest seat, Anacortes undercuts the Edmonds fare by $36.
Compare Seattle tripsQuestions people ask
Which departure port should I pick?
All three carry the same guarantee. Edmonds is the choice from Seattle — a short drive or commuter-rail ride north of downtown. Port Townsend suits the Olympic Peninsula and has the full-day San Juan Islands trip. Port Angeles is the one to use if you are visiting Olympic National Park and Hurricane Ridge.
How much is a trip?
It depends on the port. The Edmonds half day is $155 adult and $125 for children 2 to 10; Port Angeles is $145 and $115; Port Townsend is $125 and $95. Infants are free and all fares are before taxes and fees. Paid parking at the Port of Edmonds can be added as a booking extra.
What whales will I see?
Bigg's (transient) orcas live in the Salish Sea year-round. The company puts gray whales February to May, humpbacks arriving in late spring and peaking August to October, and minke whales in the mix, with summer offering the widest variety.
How close does the boat get?
The company says 100 to 400 meters depending on the species, and that curious whales sometimes approach a boat with its engines off. That reflects Washington law, which is stricter than the federal rule: 1,000 yards from Southern Resident killer whales, 200 yards from other orcas.
Is the boat wheelchair accessible?
No. The company says Coast Guard requirements including raised door thresholds mean the vessel is not wheelchair accessible, though it will bring a foldable chair to the dock and arrange pre-boarding if someone in your group can assist.
Can I bring a service animal?
No. Puget Sound Express states that pets of any kind, including emotional support animals, are not allowed on its vessels, and asks that you call the office when booking if you have a service animal.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancel 48 hours or more before departure for a full refund less a $10 fee. Inside 48 hours there are no refunds, including on tours booked online within that window. Rescheduling inside the window is standby and subject to a $10 per person fee.
Official sources
- Puget Sound Express – frequently asked questions and guarantee
- Puget Sound Express – our vessels
- Puget Sound Express – Seattle (Edmonds) half-day whale watching tour
- Puget Sound Express – terms, conditions and cancellation policy
- Puget Sound Express – which departure location should I choose
- Puget Sound Express – Port Townsend half-day whale watching tour
- Puget Sound Express – Port Angeles half-day whale watching tour
Updated September 17, 2026 · partner prices refreshed October 6, 2026
