Frequently Asked Questions
- Where are you located?
Our main office, The Captain Lou VII & The Starstream VIII, are located at 31 Woodcleft Ave, Freeport, NY 11520
The Atlantic Pearl is located at 111 Woodcleft Ave, Freeport, NY 11520.
Please visit our directions page for more information.
- What are your office hours?
Our office staff at Long Island Whale & Seal Watching are available seven days a week from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Please feel free to Contact Us with any inquiries you may have.
Will I see Whales and Seals on the same Cruise?
Unfortunately, they are separate cruises that run at different times of the year. So no, you will not see any Whales on a Seal Watching Cruise, and you will not see any Seals on a Whale Watching Cruise.
Seal Watching Cruises occur in the winter to spring months, while Whale Watching Cruises occur in the summer to fall months.
What is the cost of your Seal Watching Cruises?
If you check out our calendar page and click on whatever date you are looking to book, it will show you the pricing for that date.
- What is the cost of your Whale Watching Cruises?
If you check out our calendar page and click on whatever date you are looking to book, it will show you the pricing for that date.
How long are your Seal Watching Cruises?
A Seal Watching Cruise is 2 hours long.
- How long are your Whale Watching Cruises?
A Whale Watching Cruise is 4 hours long.
- Why is my trip canceled?
Long Island Whale & Seal Watching or the Captain Lou Fleet would only cancel a cruise for severe weather conditions. We pride ourselves in keeping our customers safe if a Captain feels that a trip is unsafe to sail due to extreme weather conditions, you will be notified right away.
- How do I know if my trip has been canceled?
The captain or a representative from Long Island Whale & Seal Watching will contact you by phone or email. If you have any questions about your trip contact us by calling (516) 544-6698 or by Email office@liwhaleandsealwatching.com
- Is there parking?
The Captain Lou VII is located at 31 Woodcleft Ave. There is a parking lot right across the street and street parking.
The Atlantic Pearl is located at 111 Woodcleft Ave. There is street parking in front of the boat and a municipal parking lot located just a short walk away from where we dock.
- Am I guaranteed to see whales or seals every trip?
Unfortunately, we can never guarantee you see any marine life on any of our trips.
All of the animals you would be viewing on any of our trips are wild animals living in their natural habitat. They are all protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. In addition, we follow all guidelines set by the government and other organizations such as SENSE to view these animals without disturbing them in any way.
- Do I get a refund if I do not see a whale or a seal on one of your trips?
No, we do not give refunds if we do not see any whales or seals. Unfortunately, we can never guarantee you see any marine life on any of our trips.
All of the animals you would be viewing on any of our trips are wild animals living in their natural habitat. They are all protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. In addition, we follow all guidelines set by the government and other organizations such as SENSE to view these animals without disturbing them in any way.
- Is there food or drinks on board and can I bring my own food and drink?
We have a fully stocked galley on board! Filled with snacks of all kinds, including hotdogs, chips, candy, and other goodies. In addition, we have water, soda, beers, and cocktails! The snack bar, aka galley, is CASH ONLY. You may bring your own food however, we do not allow any outside beverages, alcohol, or alcoholic beverages.
- Am I allowed to bring my own alcohol or alcoholic beverages?
On the Seal Watching Cruises, yes, you can.
Unfortunately, on the Whale Watching Cruises, we do not allow any outside alcohol or alcoholic beverages. We have a fully stocked galley (CASH ONLY) that sells alcohol & alcoholic beverages.
- How do I purchase my tickets?
Tickets are purchased online only. You can visit our calendar to view the dates of trips and book your tickets there. If you have any issues booking through our online calendar Contact us by calling (516) 544-6698 or by Email office@liwhaleandsealwatching.com
- Do I need to make a reservation?
Yes! If you do not purchase your tickets in advance, we can not guarantee that you will be able to board if the cruise you would like to attend is sold out.
Booking in advance also lets us know that there will be people on the boat for the trip and gives us the information we need to prepare for the cruise you will be attending. It makes for a better experience if we are prepared for the number of people we will be carrying for the day.
If you would like to pay in cash at the time of the trip, you can do so, but again we can not guarantee that you will get a spot on the cruise if the boat is already full from reservations.
- Can I make a phone reservation?
We ask that you use our online booking system on our calendar page to book any available cruises, but if you need assistance booking, please call 516-544-6698 or email office@liwhaleandsealwatching.com.
ALL CRUISES SHOULD BE BOOKED IN ADVANCE.
- Do you offer a group discount?
No, but we run promo codes almost always that you can enter at checkout to get a discount on your ticket no matter what size your group is.
- Can I get a refund?
We do not accept any refunds or transfers on these trips. Think of it as buying a ticket for a concert or sporting event. If you wish to re-sell your ticket you are free to do so. Please see our Terms and Conditions page for more information.
- Can I transfer or get a refund for my tickets if a trip is not canceled by Long Island Whale & Seal Watching and it is raining/windy?
No, we sail rain or shine. If the trip you have purchased a ticket for is still sailing, you can not get a refund or transfer for your tickets even if there is rain. You can choose not to go on the trip, but we will not give out any refunds unless the trip has been canceled by Long Island Whale & Seal Watching directly.
- I purchased a gift card can I get a refund?
Gift Cards are non-refundable. Please visit our Terms and Conditions page for more information.
- How do I cancel my trip?
We do not refund any of the Whale and Seal watching cruise tickets. You can cancel by contacting us at (516) 544-6698 or by Email office@liwhaleandsealwatching.com, but you will not receive a refund unless the trip has been canceled by Long Island Whale & Seal Watching.
- What the best way to contact us?
Contact us by calling (516) 544-6698 or by Email office@liwhaleandsealwatching.com
- I went to Groupon and can not find any tickets?
Due to limited room on each trip, we have suspended our 2021 Groupon special.
- How old should my child be to join on a whale or seal watching trip?
For our Seal Watching Cruises, we ask that children are at least one year of age or older.
For our Whale Watching Cruises, we Do Not Allow Children Under 3 Years of Age as these trips take place exclusively in the ocean. - What do you consider a child's fare?
Children 12 and under are eligible for a child fare.
- Can I bring my dog on the boat with me?
Unfortunately, unless you can show proper documentation that the dog is a licensed therapy or guide dog, we can not allow any animals on the boat for these trips. However, The Captain Lou Fleet does have special dog cruises during the summer months.
- Does my child need a life vest?
No, your child does not need to wear a life vest. All of our boats have high solid sides, along with a metal railing along the top that goes around the entire perimeter of the boat. Please note that we have sufficient life vests for all passengers should the need arise in an emergency.
- Can I bring a drone aboard?
Unfortunately, we can not allow the use of drones on any of our trips. This decision is made to ensure all passengers' safety and so that we abide by all regulations regarding the protection and safety of the marine wildlife we observe.
- Is the boat handicap accessible?
Unfortunately, while our boats are large vessels, they are not easily handicapped accessible. The entryways into the cabin have steps, and some areas have narrow walkways. Also, as some of our trips go into the ocean, it can raise safety concerns during inclement weather.
- Do we use any equipment or techniques to attract seals/whales?
We do not use any equipment or techniques to attract seals/whales for our cruises. It would violate the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which we must strictly abide by. We are also a member of Whale SENSE, responsible whale watching.
- What should I bring?
We recommend everyone always bring a jacket (temperatures are 10 degrees colder on water or more), binoculars, a camera (higher the zoom, the better), and cash for Snack Bar / Drinks.
- Are you part of the Captain Lou Fleet?
Yes! All of the trips for Whale and Seal watching are aboard one of The Captain Lou Fleet vessels.
