Our Vessels
Meet the Sanctuary Cruises fleet — purpose-built boats for whale watching, photography, and small-group adventures on Monterey Bay.
Meet the Sanctuary Cruises fleet — Sanctuary, Meridian, and Ocean Spirit dedicated vessels for whale watching, photography, and small-group adventures on Monterey Bay.
Sanctuary
Capacity and smoothness for great daily trips — groups up to 28 with a heated cabin and plenty of deck space.
Built for the bay
Sanctuary is a 43-foot Delta Marine twin-engine vessel, hand-built in the Pacific Northwest. Delta hulls are legendary for their seakeeping in big water — rock-stable, fast, and dry. She has a heated indoor cabin with upholstered bench seating, a marine head, covered and uncovered deck space, and a low freeboard that puts you eye-level with the wildlife.
Twin Cummins diesels burn pure biodiesel — the cleanest fuel available for marine engines. Guest count is set by departure so there is always room to move, find the right angle for a photo, and feel close to the action.
Meridian
Luxury and privacy on a 50-foot motor yacht — premium comfort, multiple decks, and small-group space.
Built for comfort and angles
Meridian is a very stable 50′ luxury motor yacht with all the amenities. Relax in the main salon with complimentary refreshments and snacks while we find the animals and put you in the spot for professional-level photographs and video.
Multiple deck levels offer unique shooting angles, including a large railed swim step for kayak-level perspectives. Twin turbo diesel engines push her along at 18+ knots when conditions call for it.
Ocean Spirit
Fast and low, getting you closer to the bay’s wildlife than any other boat — a high-speed RHIB for up to 6.
Built for speed and intimacy
Ocean Spirit is our high-speed Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) — purpose-built for intimate small-group wildlife encounters on Monterey Bay. With a maximum of 6 passengers, every seat is a front-row seat. The RHIB’s low freeboard puts you eye-level with the water, giving you angles on whales, dolphins, and sea otters that simply aren’t possible from a larger vessel.
Ocean Spirit’s speed and agility let us cover more of the bay in 2.5 hours than you’d think possible — racing to surface activity, repositioning quickly, and staying with fast-moving dolphins and feeding whales. It’s an open-air, exhilarating adventure that’s perfect for wildlife photographers and anyone who wants the most action-packed whale watch on the bay.