We took the ferry back and forth for a day trip on Santa Cruz Island. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful to those who got sea sick. I was so sad that we only saw a pod of dolphins - they made it sound like we would see more, but I know it's not always a guarantee. I had a bit of an issue with booking, as I wanted to book far out due to the size of our group and got different answers on when the bookings would be available, but it all worked out.

First let me explain that the company is fine. The reason for the 3 Stars is as follows:We boarded the boat to Anacapa on Saturday November 9th 2024 for a day trip. Our scheduled departure was 9:30, and arrival time was 11:15. On the way to the island the boat made every effort to get close to the sea life, which is fine, but the driver would turn the boat completely around for long periods and even stopped for a 15 minute period so people could get a distant view of a whale. As a result we arrived at Anacapa 35 minutes late, and the crew was adamant that we be back on the dock by 3:30 or they would leave us behind. There was other people on the boat who where there for a sea trip in the area, and that’s fine, but Island Packers should be more aware of everyone on the boat, including those who are going to the island. They could have dropped us off on time and then spent the next 2 hours looking for a whale, instead we had our day cut short and that was inconsiderate. The lady speaking to us on the boat even mentioned, sometimes we never even get to the island! which did nothing to calm our nerves. If there was another company which transported people to Channel Islands, I would go with them the next time.

This is a good way to visit the Channel Islands National Park. The boat, the Vanguard is large enough for groups but even when full, doesn't feel crowded. The crew is helpful and friendly and the price is very reasonable. Some passengers get off and can backpack/camp on the main island, but most of us just went along for the ride and a tour of the islands. We saw lots of wildlife: dolphins, seals, birds, etc. but no whales (this is not a whale watching trip -- there are other tours that specialize in that). The ocean water offshore means there is a good amount of motion even on a relatively calm day, so if you're prone to seasickness, take some meds beforehand. Be careful: They have two locations: one in Ventura and one in Oxnard 15 minutes away. I went to the wrong one and almost missed my tour. I had to rush to the other site and just barely made it.