-
October 2025 by menghui zhang
Amazing experience! Barbara and David are so nice! We had a great day seeing Orcas and enjoyed great views.
-
September 2025 by Kaity Kirby
This was the highlight of our trip to Washington state! Seeing Friday Harbor and the San Juan Islands is amazing, but then getting such an incredible view of all the wildlife was truly awe-inspiring. Captains David and Barbara were so knowledgeable, and we learned so much from them. It was neat to hear about so many animals and nautical terms that we didn't know about. They are great captains, kind people, and provided a truly unforgettable experience!
-
September 2025 by Sheri Helmuth
David is AWESOME! Had a great afternoon sailing. Going out again tomorrow for the sunset cruise!
-
September 2025 by Mana Kay
This was such a fun and relaxing way to spend a day! We only got to see one orca on our half day adventure, but we went into the day knowing that whale sightings are unpredictable, so we were not disappointed and the overall experience was totally worth it! By being on a sailboat with so few passengers, we never had to fight for views and everyone was so friendly. In addition to the orca, we saw an adorable sea otter, harbor seals, porpoise, eagles, and blue herons, and all of it was accompanied by the expertise of our guides who answered all of questions about the wildlife, water, and islands. We highly recommend this tour!!
-
September 2025 by Maureen Wright
We were celebrating our 38th anniversary and this was our first trip to the San Juan islands. We knew that “sailing” was the only way to fully appreciate this beautiful area. We were not disappointed. The vessel, the Captain and Co-Captain were great, We loved the great bean bag chairs and had a fabulous view of so many great sights.
We did a full day which still didn’t feel like enough time but we have sailed a little bit and knew how different this travel is. Sailing is like nothing else.
Enjoy!!!!
-
September 2025 by Julie D
Best whale watching your! This is a wonderful experience. Very comfortable. Not standing on a crowded boat hoping to see something around people. This is a family owned and operated business. They give it the personal touch. We saw Orcas, a loon, harbor seals, rhinoceros Aukler, harbor porpoises and an Eagle. Highly recommend this tour over any other. Crew is very knowledgeable about the area and wildlife.
-
August 2025 by Hiram
Beautiful & comfortable 5 hour half day sail. The crew was friendly, helpful, and very knowledgeable about the wildlife that we saw. Comfortable bean bag chairs on the deck with blankets. Thanks for a great time!
-
August 2025 by Ivette Valdovinos
The team and vessel were exceptional! Traveling group also included a baby. Our team was accommodating and did their best to ensure we saw humpback whales, seals, and eagles!
Thank you Captain David and Josiah!
-
August 2025 by Sarah Beard
Absolutely incredible!
-
August 2025 by Elliott Beard
I cannot say enough good things about this experience. David was an incredible captain and guide and went out of his way to make the experience memorable. This was by far the highlight of our stay.
-
July 2025 by Halie Powell
I booked an 8-hour sailboat trip with my son and we had a truly unforgettable experience! We started the day by following a family of orcas and later spent time watching humpback whales—it was absolutely magical. Captain David was fantastic with my son, even letting him take the wheel and teaching him some sailing basics along the way. His wife, Barbara, was incredibly informative and shared so much knowledge throughout the trip. The boat was super comfortable, with cozy beanbag chairs and blankets that made the experience even more enjoyable. Highly recommend this trip for anyone looking to learn, relax, and experience nature up close!
-
July 2025 by Melissa McClung
I don't know how to express how absolutely perfect my day with All Aboard Sailing was. Peaceful, relaxing, inspiring, educational, exciting... all of this in one trip!
The Howitts were friendly and helpful from the very first communication, and their attention to every detail showed a clear commitment to their guests having a wonderful experience. I cannot imagine returning to San Juan Islands without sailing with them again!
-
July 2025 by Jenice A
My friend and I had the pleasure to sail with David, Barbara and Skye and we cannot recommend this excursion highly enough. The only downside was that we did this our first day up in the islands and every day after was compared to that one. They are so welcoming and clearly do their best to try to help their passengers see Orcas. It was such an enjoyable trip that we would have been happy even if we missed the Orcas. But we caught them just before we headed back to Friday Harbor, which ended up setting us up with good luck for the rest of the trip I think. We also saw a bald eagle and an eaglet, a harbor porpoise and lots of seals along the way though. Their knowledge of whales and sea life really helped complete the experience. You can tell that they are passionate about conservation and protecting these animals.
We shared the trip with two other dups and it could not have been a better group I don’t think. Being on the water with strangers for 8 hours can be kind of intimidating for an introvert but it’s such a special experience I think everyone wants it to be enjoyable. You can bring your own snacks, I suggest grabbing supplies at Market Chef the day before. And I was so wrapped up in seeing the Orcas I didn’t get many pics, but they sent us some of their professional shots which was way better than my camera anyway. Being on a smaller boat with fewer people and more time to see whales is so worth the price. When I go back I’d probably book multiple days.
-
May 2025 by Jeannette Lee
My mom and I had an incredible full day sail with All Aboard in early May. David, Barbara and Skye were so welcoming and informative, we honestly left their vessel feeling like we had gained extended family. Whale watching was our primary goal (orcas have been a favorite of mine since I was a child), so we were thrilled to learn that there was a group vocalizing on the SW side of San Juan Island! We got to sail wing on wing in their direction while Barbara (and Skye) told us all about the islands we were passing, recounting history, and pointing out any other other animals we could spot along the way. All of this while listening to the orca chatter on the Lime Kiln and Orca Sound hydrophones. The binoculars and blankets offered were very helpful through out the trip. We were even offered extra beanies and whale guides to check out. Luckily, the orcas (virtually) stayed put and we were able to catch up to them near Vancouver Island. The unforgettable encounter lasted for at least an hour, made even more special by the continued vocalizations heard over Peniel's hydrophone. Once the orcas hung a right toward Victoria, we departed and continued our journey around the island. David and Barbara hit up all of the important wildlife spots, so by the end of our journey we had seen orcas, porpoises, seals, sea lions and many different kinds of birds (bald eagles, oyster catchers, cormorants and a common loon). What made all of this even more incredible was the shared joy and wonder at each sighting. It was clear that the Howitt's did not take these opportunities for granted and were just as appreciative. The following day, we received an email from our new friends summarizing the trip, including a route map of the sail and almost 80 photos of all that we had seen. I cannot tell you how nice it was to be able to put down my phone and enjoy our time, knowing they were documenting everything along the way with a much better camera and eye! I cannot recommend All Aboard Sailing more. They were incredible people who have spent a significant amount of time and energy ensuring you have the best experience possible. Also, Skye is my new favorite human. Thank you, Howitt's!
-
May 2025 by Caleb Vesely
We feel incredible fortunate to have found David and this adventure. He was wonderful to spend the day with, his wife is incredibly kind and knowledgeable. I’m not sure if they always bring their daughter as well but you’d also be very fortunate to have her along. We had an amazing day. They were great. I highly recommend. Best part of our trip!
