FRS Clipper (Clipper Vacations)

Fantastic experience: Water was calm...very smooth ride.

Fantastic experience: It was smooth sailing today, and the best part was, we saw Orcas!

Positive experience: Smooth trip once we got going. We slowed down when the captain saw whales, which was a great opportunity for photos.

Positive experience: The Clipper is a good way for travelling from Victoria for the weekend. Its a fairly long ride (just under 3 hours), but it is possible to upgrade seats to have access to the upper deck which has a bit better room and amenities. Generally a smooth ride over on a fast cat with potential views of passing cruise ships or tankers and rarely whales. Gets you from downtown Victoria to Downtown Seattle and can usually be coupled with hotel reservations for a weekend away. We like to get the better seats up top and try and get to the front so we can gaze out the windows.

Fantastic experience: Great service. Super easy way to get through customs and into the US.

Fantastic experience: Friendly crew, very impressive ship, efficient service. Great option for traveling to Seattle and beyond.

Fantastic experience: What an amazing experience and most professional, friendly staff! A must do! The easiest way to travel country to country!

Positive experience: Great and easy way to get from downtown Victoria to downtown Seattle. Weirdly they pass you at the custom once you arrive, not when you leave like airplane!! Anyhow, it went smooth and relatively fast, 3hr sailing time. We saw some whale on the way, and it was mostly comfortable, much more than airplane nowadays. The food was mediocre at best,bring your own food. VC

Fantastic experience: The clipper is a sweet ride. Super convenient but keep in mind it will take longer than the sailing time, with a border check on both sides. There is a little kiosk with snacks, beer and coffee.

Fantastic experience: Really beautiful ride and smooth sailing.

Positive experience: This was a successful trip lots of whale sitings. I would just say the snack bar was closed for long portions of the 4 hour trip. Many people wanted to purchase things, but it was closed while whales are visible. I would think someone could just work the snack bar and not leave post.

Negative experience: Cash not accepted on the boat, and everything is charged in US dollars, so Canadians are forced to eat foreign transaction fees. The coho has a way to pay Canadian funds, and they take cash. Considering how much this boat costs to take you'd think they'd join thr 21st century and get wifi.

Positive experience: Unbeknownst to me, I booked the last trip of the season but still had a decent time with a few sightings. I purchased a luxury seat which was super comfortable and on the main deck so I didn't have to walk far for refreshments. They open the front deck on this floor too so you'll get to go outside for photos. Crew were nice and you can purchase a hard drive of the photos they captured on the trip. You can also rent binoculars for $10 which was great since I forgot mine.

Fantastic experience: Great tour. Fast boat. Managed to see an Orca !!

Fantastic experience: I went from Victoria to Seattle and had a great experience. Was a bit nervous travelling alone in my wheelchair, but accessibility is impressive. I was boarded first and was walked from the terminal to the ferry. Had the option to either stay in my chair (looks like they remove a seat) or transfer. I chose to transfer since it was my first time and I wanted a window. Staff were amazing helping me and parking my chair safely. There is also a private accessible bathroom on board, which I definitely didn't expect, but I was pleased. This company has the protocol for disabled passengers down-pat. And thanks to the staff member Collette for her help when we arrived in Seattle. She walked with me into the terminal, helped me up and down ramps, grabbed my bag while I went through customs, then carried my bag and walked me to the spot where my ride would pick me up. She even suggested a less crowded spot to wait and she was right. She didn't have to do all that, as I'm sure she wanted to get home, but it was greatly appreciated. Awesome employee and person.

Fantastic experience: Whale watching was amazing! So much fun. Knowledgeable and friendly crew.

Fantastic experience: My only complaint is that they want you there an hour early and then you get crammed into a tight room with a couple hundred other people. Other than that, entirely satisfactory. And Victoria the dock is about a 15-minute walk to the inner Harbor and the Empress. They depart Seattle at 8:00 in the morning, so it was necessary to find a hotel for the night before. On the return to Seattle I was able to get to the airport the same day and fly out. Read the schedules carefully - on at least one day a week they leave Victoria early. Connecting to Victoria by air added as much to the flight cost as the Clipper and the stay in Seattle. "Comfort Class" is worth it.

Negative experience: Literally had a flight delay, completely out of our control, and missed the departure. Wasn't even offered a partial refund. Nothing. Not a penny. Cannot reschedule and was very rude about it. Just lost $300+.. horrible customer service.

Fantastic experience: A must have experience when you visit Seattle. The crew was amazing, the views breathtaking, and the wildlife exposure was wonderful. Depending on when you go, you may want a jacket, as it can be windy.

Fantastic experience: What a fantastic trip! Booking the Clipper was a snap. The on-board experience was great, lots of room, freedom of movement, good selection of food and drinks. Overall a very pleasant experience. Would highly recommend.

Fantastic experience: The reservation process (by phone) was excellent with all questions answered. The package made it so simple for us to enjoy a short vacation. Thank you, Clipper Vacations.

Fantastic experience: A nice relaxing ride to watch the sea wildlife. Good food on board also.

Negative experience: The experience itself was great. But the seats were something to be desired. We booked the VIP comfort seats to enjoy the view from higher up and in front of us. There were front row seats available on the outside portion of the ship so I chose those. There was no disclaimer about the fact the seats were facing the opposite direction from the rest of the boat. When we boarded the boat and got to our seats, they were facing away from the front of the boat and we were facing two strangers. The seats were spacious and we had windows to view the water but again, we were facing backward. There were only two sets of seats like this in this section and everyone else was facing forward. it was disappointing to say the least. Not what I had paid for. It would have been beneficial if there had been a disclaimer about the seats when purchased as this was the sole reason for getting the comfort VIP, for the view.

Fantastic experience: We took the whale watching tour today, and it was Fantastic!! As an Individual in a power chair, I was trepidatious about the trip. Michael and Crew took very good care of me/us, and the boat was spacious enough to accommodate my personal comfort. The scenics, whales, sea lions, and porpoise were beautiful!!!! Thank you, again!!!

Fantastic experience: Great way to travel from Seattle to Victoria, British Columbia. Onboarding went smooth, seats were comfortable, and voyage was relaxing. Service was also very good. Both the Seattle and Victoria ports are located at great locations. Victoria port is within 10 minutes walking distance for many lodging, dining, and shopping locations.

Positive experience: Vista class today round-trip Seattle to Victoria. Clean. Good staff, good experience overall. Not a 5. It's rigid and like sitting in coach in the plane when you're in window seat pairs. If the couple in front of you recline their seats, you'll struggle getting in or out. The seats are ok otherwise. Little storage. But you can get up and down and move around. You can go out on the rear deck, but it's windy and chilly.. Food choices and quality are a 3. Alcohol was better. (I had a wine 1-way). Everything is pricey like everybody seems to want to overcompensate since the pandemic, except our consumer wallets. The duty-free gift stuff, meh. We did this ferry once. It was a bucket list. Won't be a do-over. Victoria was beautiful and highly walkable and clean. Everything is close. We would come here again, just not on this ferry. Its pricey. Clearing customs and immigration was pretty simple and organized on both ends. The trip is about 3 hrs each way. We did a day trip. It was a 5 hour layover for us. Experience and the boat were pretty smooth. Pics are Victoria except the window snap.

Fantastic experience: Brilliant experience! 5 hours out on the boat and we were lucky enough to see orcas, porpoises, ospreys, a brown heron and even a humpback whale! Staff were friendly and really informative about the wildlife we were seeing! Well worth it!

Fantastic experience: Had a great experience on the ferry between Seattle and Victoria. We were lucky with good weather and the views were excellent. No issues getting on or off and through customs. Staff were very friendly and helpful.

Fantastic experience: Was a beautiful ride .. worth waiting to book a higher class as the upgrade to Comfort on the boat was very reasonable

Fantastic experience: First time traveling on a passenger ferry, Clippers did not disappoint. The draw back was the custom checks on and off the ferry was tedious, and the un-boarding was cumbersome. I was was in comfort class as economy class was booked. The spacious and comfortable seats were a plus. Clipper offered on board service and clean lavatory. Overall I will definitely travel with Clippers again. I may try economy and VIP.

Fantastic experience: The staff was friendly and the trip was gorgeous

Fantastic experience: Assigned seating. You don't have to leave your seat for concessions. The amazing staff comes by to take orders and brings it to you. You can even order from the gift shop. We had the pleasure of having the same staff on both of our sailings. They were so funny and friendly. The sailing we had during the day was very informative. They talked about the different places, islands, and even notified everyone of the orca over the speakers.

Positive experience: Really nice. I suggest trying to get the window seats. The middle ones are uncomfortable for anyone over 5'8"

Fantastic experience: Took the Victoria Clipper ferry for travel to and from Victoria/Seattle. It is around 3 hours total each way (going back to Seattle felt faster). We paid extra for Comfort class which allowed you to check in earlier (Seattle side only), check a piece of luggage for free, priority to board and free access to certain drinks and snacks. Overall I felt it was worth paying extra. Once you get seated there is set staff for the group that provided complementary champagne and then table service. For the morning ferry we also bought a yogurt parfait and fruit/cheese platter. Complementary snacks included hot drinks, water bottles, soda, juice, chips, pretzels, cookies and nuts/trailmix. After the boat moves you can walk around the ferry. On the back of the top deck you can also go outside. It is very breezy and loud back there, but great if you need fresh air. Sometimes you can see cool ships and dolphins/orcas. The boat doesn't rock heavily, however if you get seasick it might help to take motion sickness medicine prior (bags are available too). Customs wasn't too bad and I'd say give yourself an additional 30min to 1 hour each way.

Fantastic experience: We did the Clipper trip RT from Seattle to Victoria and came away impressed. To go right for the pun, they "ran a tight ship." IE, the check in process was smooth, all the staff was super nice and helpful, signage was good, things were easy to find, the vessel was nice, etc. They do a really good job of tiering the seating as well (we went for Vista level, but center seats with a table). Great job all around.

Negative experience: I felt like they did not care if we saw whales or not. After our boat got to a certain distance we just literally idled there for about 10 minutes...I had not idea when we did not go further into the water since the vessel experience we paid for advertised going as far up as BC (though was not going to obviously dock) but we didn't even get close and we were literally just sitting there...such little effort put into the experience and on top of that we did not see any whales...even without seeing whales it just stuck that the effort was barely even made.

Positive experience: Good way to cross back and forth from Seattle. Smooth process. Drop off in Seattle is an ideal location. The company also offers tour options (including the gardens the day of arrival) of Victoria.

Negative experience: Ferry was fine but how do they only sell sandwiches with bacon and ham? Very culturally insensitive they don’t have any non-pork options. Rude.

Fantastic experience: WOW!! We got lucky to see a pod of orcas hunting harbor seals. I'm still talking about this whale watch after a month. One of the highlights of our Seattle vacation. Everything else was great, too. The ship, the naturalist, all the employees we had any interaction with, the food and drink selection, the gifts and souvenirs, all top notch! Highly recommend.

Fantastic experience: Love riding the clipper! Be sure to book early as Sunday return tickets can go pretty quickly! They had great snacks/ drinks on board to make the trip go quick.

Negative experience: We sold the bag of goods we barely saw whales from very far away, and it was more like dorsal fence. We were ripped off. I want my money back.

Fantastic experience: Was skeptical at first given the price point of the whale tour. But it was well worth it and then some! Saw orcas, sea lions, all kinds of birds and porpoises! Even saw a pack of orcas take down a porpoise (violent but cool to see!) Won’t hesitate to book them again on my next Seattle trip! Also highly recommend buying the flash drive they sell at the end of the trip rather than worrying about trying to take your own pictures. That way you can truly enjoy the experience! The included pictures are from the USB I purchased which had over 150 high quality pictures.

Fantastic experience: Enjoy and relax while on FRS Clipper. Easy booking, instant confirmation, helpful reminders to help facilitate check-in and custom check. Pricey for 1 way ticket.

Negative experience: We booked in April for Aug 10th, the afternoon trip. One week before it got rescheduled to the morning ferry and reserved seats got changed and double booked. I wouldn't even let my dog go with this garbage service. Not worth the expensive comfort bookings at all.

Negative experience: We are local to Seattle and took the ferry to Victoria and back to Seattle. Had high expectations given the price of the ferry was more than air travel. In the end it was not worth it. The ferry doesn’t have much of an open area to stand. The boarding process is long. Our ferry arrived late in Victoria on the return trip. The bathrooms were filthy on our way back to Seattle - there was barely any time for crew to cleanup between the trips. We liked the idea of not driving to port Angeles but in the end we think that’s better option. Blackball ferry cost fraction of the cost compared to clipper and probably faster as well including the drive time. The parking lot had really bad reviews and we were worried but luckily we didn’t have any issue.

Fantastic experience: Great Tour, seen both Whales and Killer whales on our Tour today. Quan the Assistant, is a Very knowledgeable Employee who gave me Great advice, on Sat for our Trip on Sunday. Even gave Me some Great places to go on Saturday, directions were Very easy and all his Recommendations were Top Notch !!!!! Hard to Find, Employess like Quan, I Really Appreciate All that You did for us. !!!!!!! Please don’t Hesitate, to book this Tour and See Quan if You need any Advice or want to Find the Beat Local Spots !!!!!! Tell Him Robert sent You !!!!!! Thanks Quan your the Man !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fantastic experience: Amazing whale watching! Our naturalist, Lauren, was super knowledgeable and made the experience a delight. The seats were comfortable and so great to have restroom and galley for food and beverages. Whale watching in style! We saw humpback whales, gray whales, seals, harbor porpoises, and orca! Truly an unforgettable day and cannot recommend this company enough.

Fantastic experience: Great whale watch, and the only one out of downtown Seattle! We've gone a couple of times and had so much fun. We've seen multiple kinds of whales each time, and the naturalist on board is very good. There's also a decent selection for food and a bar. Especially appreciate that they can be flexible with time to give you the best experience -- for instance, orcas having moved further north while we watched a humpback, and rather than turn around and miss them, the captain brought us back a bit later so we could still see the orcas. (That also means don't book something directly after just in case something comes up.) Will definitely go again!

Positive experience: Went on a wildlife boat tour. Saw a Humpback whale and two Grey whales. Kids got a little bored but did ok. Crew was very helpful and knowledgeable.

Fantastic experience: Great cruise. We saw 2 types of whales. They are very informed and the tour is educational. The tour guide has a degree in zoology. Everyone was friendly. Loved it. Do yourself a favor. Keep your phone in your pocket and buy the pics. They have a way better camera than you. It's just annoying ....

Fantastic experience: It was one of the best experiences! I went to Seattle, and found out that I had time to travel to Canada as well. It was worth every penny! Staff was wonderful. I took a day trip. That is a nice option. Do be sure to have your passport.

Positive experience: Pretty good whale watching tour! Been here twice and it was better the first time because the weather was great! The 2nd time I went was rainy. I was able to see whales and sea lions but no orcas on both times. The staff is great about getting close to the marine animals while keeping enough distance to give them their personal space! Assigned seating is a little awkward if you're in the middle seats. However, the roof deck doesn't have assigned seating so it's pretty much a first come first serve! Tickets are expensive so try to go when they have discounts if you can. Also, highly recommend going on a nice day!

Negative experience: Reserved our seats nearly 90 days in advance. Upon check in we were given boarding passes for our seats as reserved. However When we got to our seats another family had boarding passes for the same seats. Getting anyone to make an explanation or fix was impossible

Negative experience: The ferry ride itself was fine but on their website it says that the Seattle terminal has luggage storage while you see the sights and when I arrived and asked was told no. My whole trip was planned around not having to drag my luggage everywhere downtown so just don’t trust the website.

Fantastic experience: Great for whale watching comfortable and reserved seating good food options we saw a lot of orca whales, gray whales, sealions must try experience

Negative experience: The San Juan clipper is the name of the boat not the destination. We went to Whidbey island and back to Seattle. They told us “whales spotted at orcas island, this is too far for us”. We spent a lot of time watching sea lions. We were able to see one small humpback whale. But the majority of the time was birds and sea lions. Total let down based on tricky marketing

Positive experience: Terrible seating layout - some seats face forward and some face each other so you’re sitting face to face with strangers for 3 hours while part of your party is behind you-this is not indicated when you are choosing seats. Luggage of all sizes is carried on so don’t waste your money checking bags…another instance where following posted rules costs you.

Negative experience: Booking a whale watching tour was a big splurge that we had to plan ahead and save for. We are a family of 6 and in all ended up spending around $750 for this tour today. I would not recommend it. Look elsewhere for something smaller and more private if you want to actually SEE the whales. I don’t even think the boat was fully booked but with the amount of people onboard actually SEEING the whales much less taking a picture was nearly impossible. The few pictures I managed to snap had peoples phones and heads in them and I gave up quickly. It’s no wonder they sell pictures because they know you won’t get any good ones. People do not have common courtesy and it’s never suggested over the intercom to allow everyone a chance to view the whales and take pictures. So 2 hours to get to the whales, less than an hour there and 2 hours back. My kids hated it, being short it was very difficult for them to see much of anything and they ended up retreating to their seats and going to sleep. A total disapointment. One thing that really infuriated me was the onboard photographer for the tour. What a prick that guy was. When you walk out there is an area for standing/viewing and an area for getting from the steps to the viewing area outside. They are color coded. Well there was a gentleman that was clearly in the STANDING section balancing himself on the rail trying to see and the photographer was behind him with his massive camera. This man had the AUDACITY to tell the gentleman in the most condescending disrespectful tone, “Yeah mate, that’s not going to work” and motioned for him to move elsewhere(behind a group and unable to see a single thing) so he could get pictures. So a paying customer doesn’t get a front row view but the guy who works there and sees these creatures everyday does. Makes total sense. All in all, a complete waste of A LOT of money.

Fantastic experience: Nice clean ferry, staff very friendly! Smooth ride to Victoria & the Captain was kind to point out places of interest along the way. If you can, spend the bit of extra $ for Comfort Class, nice seats and INCLUDES staff service for food/drinks, complimentary Presecco and 1 piece of luggage per person!

Negative experience: **STRANDED IN VICTORIA WITH NO WAY HOME // cancelled return trip 6/8/24** Approximately one month ago, my mother and I embarked on a trip to Victoria, BC for a weekend getaway, only to find ourselves abandoned by the FRS Clipper. Despite the enjoyable time spent in Victoria itself, the entire experience was ruined by the utter failure of the FRS Clipper team to communicate effectively and take responsibility for stranding us. The night before our scheduled return, our hotel displayed a Victoria Clipper advisory indicating a sailing advisory was in effect. The concierge vaguely mentioned technical issues without providing further details, raising immediate concerns. We hoped these would be resolved by morning. Regrettably, they were not. At 9:30 AM, hours before our scheduled 6 PM departure, my mother received an email (which apparently not all passengers received) informing us that our return trip was canceled. Shockingly, the email offered no alternatives for getting back to Seattle, focusing solely on only refunding the boat fare. Consequently, our final vacation day was consumed by stress and wasted time as we scrambled to find a way home. We even had a high-tea reservation at the Empress that was also tainted, since we spent the entire hour looking at viable options to get home. Ultimately, the most direct and less time consuming option we found was an $800 flight back to Seattle, plus the additional expense of an Uber to reach Victoria Airport. Upon our return, our attempts to engage with FRS Clipper for empathy or accountability were met with further disappointment. The company showed no willingness to reimburse us or any other affected customers for the substantial extra costs incurred due to their cancellation. Had the initial email from the Clipper provided viable return options (such as bus routes, ferry alternatives, etc.), we could have salvaged the remainder of our trip and adjusted our plans accordingly. Once again, the flagrant lack of accountability, communication, and customer service displayed by this company was utterly disgraceful. While Victoria remains a charming destination, I strongly advise exploring alternative travel methods such as driving, or carefully considering other routes. Otherwise, you risk being stranded and forced to shell out hundreds of dollars unexpectedly—funds that could have been better spent elsewhere.

Negative experience: Don’t do it. Worse than an airplane. It takes an extra hour on both ends with customs. Very rough process. Cabin ac didn’t work the whole time and we had to wait 20 minutes to start the unloading process in 80 degree + heat inside the boat. And we left 30 minutes late and arrived late + time for customs twice on the way back.

Positive experience: We got lucky and saw 3 families of orcas! It can get crowded outside, making views difficult. The staff is very friendly and the boat is comfortable.

Fantastic experience: Worked great and made it easy to get a reservation for tea time at the empress!

Positive experience: Did a whale watching tour with them. Nice boat with decent food and drinks available. Bathrooms were clean. Wish there was more information spoken about the sights that can be seen along the way.

Fantastic experience: Pleasant ride, good snacks, and courtesy meclizine made for a great experience. Easy checkin and customs lines.

Negative experience: My husband and I moved to the Seattle area a little bit ago and our apartment complex offered a discount for this specific tour. Because we’d never done something like this before we decided to book the whale watching tour. I paid for upgraded seats so we could be by the window. Imagine my surprise when we found our seats and we were sat facing another couple. This would not be a huge problem if they weren’t only 1-ish feet away from us, our feet touching theirs. It also wouldn’t have been such an issue if when choosing our seats this was shown in the seat seating chart. If it had been, I would’ve avoided these seats altogether. I went up to one of the employees and explained my situation to her and she kindly gave us different seating, but since all window seats were booked we couldn’t move to an upgraded spot. Of course I understood this, but was disappointed nonetheless. I realize most people wanted to sit on the top outdoor deck so this was filled almost immediately. My husband and I went to the lower back deck and stood out there. We were out there for most of the trip, wanting to see everything we could since the tickets were still very expensive, even with the discount. Needless to say, standing for hours became tiresome and we got bombarded with other people on the boat crowding us to take selfies with Mt Rainier in the background. After awhile we tried going up to the upper observation deck where there was actual seating. We noticed most people were putting backpacks and different articles of clothing in their “spot” on the upper deck and then going down to their assigned seating to eat lunch, etc, leaving no opportunity for others to have a turn there, even though they left the spot empty. Since we moved from our upgraded spot, I know the couple sitting across from us got their money’s worth but we really felt like we didn’t. Knowing what I know now, I wish we would’ve chosen another activity for our day off and saved the money and disappointment.

Fantastic experience: Everything was great. Truly the best way to get to Victoria and see some of the best excursions.

Fantastic experience: Nice experience for us from Seattle to Victoria. The staff is great and the boat very clean and comfortable.

Fantastic experience: Staff was so helpful with our mother, who has mobility issues. Jack was especially helpful and professional. Thank you so much for making our trip to Victoria so easy .

Negative experience: Last Friday I took the Seattle Clipper to Victoria. During the trip they had mechanical problems, but we were able to dock in Victoria. The company did nit contact those with return tickets to let them know immediately that there would be cancelations. I was returning on Sunday and they called me Sunday morning at 10am with two options: cancel and getaway refund for the return trip (with no guidance how to get back to Seattle) or wait until the boat was fixed. We had to take the ferry to Port Angeles, WA and the. Make our own way back to Seattle on a bus. I am apauled by the customer service! I would not recommend the Victpria Clipper. You are better off taking a nice drive to Port Angeles, WA and taking the Blackball ferry. They are much more concerned about their patrons. Even the Customs agent ask why isn't the Clipper chartering a bus to get their passengers home.

Positive experience: This was my first trip on the Clipper, and I bought a round trip ticket from Seattle. The ride over was beautiful. Unfortunately, after spending 3 days in beautiful Victoria, the Clipper ride home was canceled. (It was Saturday, and they said it wouldn't be back up running until Monday evening.) 2-Uber rides, a ferry ride to Vancouver, another Uber ride to the border, a 2-mile walk across the border and $300 later, we were back in the U.S. Thanks to a good friend who picked us up, we got home at a decent time.

Fantastic experience: Was lucky enough to walk-in and secure tickets to see the sea-life on a Saturday morning in May and was even luckier to be able to spot whales on the trip out! The ticketing experience was a little hectic at the counter but on the boat it was all smooth sailing. The crew and naturalists were very knowledgeable and kind enough to share all the details about the whales and seals you ever want to ask. They even showed us a specimen of a whale tooth (also known as baleen)! Food and drinks can be bought on the boat and the cabins are cozy. Because of the design of the windows, it's easy to catch a glimpse of the sea mammals without having to step out into the cold. Overall a wonderful experience and I would highly recommend this for anyone visiting Seattle!

Fantastic experience: On time, comfortable, speedy...what a great way to get to Victoria and back to Seattle for a few days. Clipper has this down as far as whisking you through check-in, customs. You depart in the heart of Victoria ready to go. Their parking arrangement with the Bell St Garage is also perfect with a short walk between the two. Cool TV's showing the exact location of the ship through the Puget Sound/Straight of Juan de Fuca passage.

Positive experience: Convenient way to get to / from Victoria / Seattle. Even the cheap seats are comfortable. I took away one star because they misdelivered our luggage. They quickly got it back though and upgraded us for the return home.

Fantastic experience: Beautiful ride, comfortable seats in the Vista area, smooth ride, good cinnamon rolls,

Positive experience: Have taken Clipper a few times to/from Victoria. It's a very convenient and relaxing way to get between the 2 cities. Ferry drops off right in city for a car free day or weekend trip. Cost of ticket is $$$ but views are great and you aren't driving so you can enjoy it.

Fantastic experience: Whale watching went very smoothly. Friendly service. We saw sea lions, gray whales and humpback whales!

Fantastic experience: Wonderful experience. Saw some Grey Whales, two species of Orca Whales, two orca family brothers, and some beautiful scenery. Nice boat with multiple viewing levels. On board food & drink available on board. Friendly and informative crew.

Fantastic experience: Fab 3 hour ride! Pro and comfy!

Fantastic experience: Took the ferry to/from Victoria BC from Seattle WA. Easy on and off - it’s not a car ferry- people and bikes only. Extra $20 for large luggage bags - but that was convenient. There is coffee, drinks, food and snacks available. Plenty of space - and great views off the Puget Sound and San Juan Islands.

Positive experience: Had a wonderful weekend getaway to Victoria BC for Mother's Day! Through Clipper Vacations, we booked a package for 3 that included 2 nights at The Inn at Laurel Point Hotel, an excursion to Butchart Gardens, and Afternoon Tea at the Empress Hotel. The hotel we stayed in had beautiful views of the harbor from both rooms. We also had great seats on the Clipper each way and were able to take advantage of pre-boarding to allow my mom a little extra time to get aboard without feeling rushed. On the return, we were told that we HAD to check our carry on luggage because it was a sold out trip and the boat would be "very full". Luggage 20lbs or less could be checked for free, but my sister's carry on weighed in at 27lbs, so she had to pay $25 to check it. Rip-off! Once we got on board, not only was the boat NOT full, but there was plenty of space on the on-board luggage racks where she could have stored her bag for free. Other than that, all crew members were very friendly, courteous, and accommodating. Everything else went as expected, and we would definitely travel on the Clipper again. We even talked about doing it again next year! Few things to note: there are luggage racks on board to store your carry-on, so it's not advisable to check these, especially if required to pay a fee. Secondly, checking luggage requires additional time to go through customs, so you will disembark in the 2nd group and go through customs last, so plan on not getting out of the terminal right away. Also, rest rooms on the boat offer about as much space as an airplane bathroom, so it's not advisable to take your carry-on with you. Finally, steps up to the upper seating area are very narrow and will take time to navigate. You must also use the luggage racks on the main level, as there is no storage available upstairs. Upstairs definitely offers better views than the main level!

Negative experience: Your website is terrible on a mobile! Consider creating an app. In addition please remember that not all your passengers are tourists and a lot of local folks use this as a form of transportation to contact family members including the elderly. Please consider a senior discount for the elderly population who are most often on a limited budget and lonely.

Positive experience: OK experience overall. But the day before we left home FRS notified me of a schedule change that meant we’d depart Victoria at 5pm instead of the 11:30am itinerary I had booked 6 weeks prior. This blew up my schedule and had to book a night in Seattle instead of catching Amtrak home same day. No offer from FRS for this inconvenience other than full refund and cancellation of the trip. Highly disappointed that they chose not to run a lightly booked trip and instead cancelled that sailing and screwed me over with late notice. Do not recommend unless your travel plans are very flexible

Fantastic experience: Absolutely incredible experience, would highly recommend to anyone spending time in Seattle! The boat goes from right in the centre to Puget Sound, giving you spectacular views of the Seattle skyline and its surrounding nature. We got to see an incredible array of wildlife, including bald eagles, stella sealions, grey whales and orca! The captain stayed at each for the right amount of time to enjoy each wildlife encounter, while also allowing to see as much as possible in the time. Not only that, but throughout the onboard marine experts were giving valuable and interesting commentary on the nature, and also brought round things to touch and interact with to make the whole experience more educational. If you can afford it, the premium seating at the edge of the boat gives great views when you want to sit inside so would recommend, but if its a nice day you can go on the top deck/front deck which makes the viewing experience so special. It does get cold though as the boat drives quite fast so bring jumpers/coats! There is also food/drinks on board, but I would recommend bringing a sandwich or something, as there wasn't too much available and you don't want to miss anything while you're queuing! It is on the pricey end, but thoroughly worth the cost.

Negative experience: I've been a traveler on the Clipper for 30+ years and have been shocked by the decrease in the quality of their customer service in recent years. Most recently, I cancelled a trip and was given a voucher code for $151 to be used at a later date. At the time I appreciated that they had made an exception because I was cancelling just after the cutoff for travel changes. But when I called to book travel using the code a few months later, I was informed they had changed their mind regarding issuing the credit at all and that it was no longer valid. While Consumer Protection BC outlines that store or business credit can expire (unlike a gift card), I was attempting to use the credit before the end of year, at which point he had previously informed me it would expire. FRS has a captive audience and monopoly on foot passenger travel from Victoria and Seattle and their customer service attitude has come to reflect this. I would urge them to do better.

Fantastic experience: First time booking a trip on the Clipper, it was great! Checking in, customs, all that stuff was a breeze. Staff are all super kind and professional, and the ferry ride was nice. No Wi-Fi on board, so just use your phone signal and hotspot if you have to have Internet.

Fantastic experience: I ride the clipper every month or so since I have loved ones in Canada and it is the easiest way to get from the greater Seattle area to Victoria and the island as a whole! I would say the boarding process is very easy and almost always allows for an on time arrival

Fantastic experience: You've got to make this trip! It is fast and fun! I wouldn't do it any other way unless I got the VIP seats on the top. I don't know what the coach people do, but we got great service. Great service by the entire crew. This is a fun way to blast your way over to Victoria, Vancouver Island!

Fantastic experience: The bay was beautiful, we saw some nice orcas and grey whales

Negative experience: None of the confirmation documentation we received when we first booked states to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to departure. Everything stated departure at 11:00 am. We arrived 5 minutes before 11 and the boat was already leaving. Then, we were told it’s non-refundable. It would be really nice if the booking confirmation emails provided information about boarding starting 45 minutes prior to departure and arrival at least 15 minutes before. We were so disappointed and will book another tour with a different company next time we visit.

Negative experience: If I could give it a -5 stars, I would. We booked this trip last minute while on the last day of our vacation. NO WHERE was it stated that you had to board 30 plus minutes ahead. We got stuck in traffic on the way there, and we were unfortunately delayed. They refused to give us a refund or credit. Would not recommend. Terrific way to throw $100 down the drain!! Yayyyy!

Fantastic experience: Very kind team! Easy to schedule and locate. Crew knows what they are doing. Very knowledgeable and experienced. I had a very positive and successful whale watching experience with them. I would highly recommend!

Fantastic experience: Great for a day trip to Victoria. Comfort class is worth it with complimentary coffee, juices, Prosecco, and snacks. Great views for the ride. Staff was nice and helpful. Thanks to Rosie for going through the map with me. I did the add on Kayak tour with ocean rivers and it was fantastic. 8 am ferry didn’t start boarding until 7:30am from Seattle. Victoria Ferry was boarding after 4. Highly recommend.

Positive experience: Smooth check-in in Seattle and give me a pre-boarding for my service animal however when check-in in Victoria to board the ferry with service animal, the older woman agent almost gave me a hard time by saying I was bringing more than one bag because one is my dog's carrier and no pre-boarding for me, than gave me a weird look that made me uncomfortable!!

Fantastic experience: Really convenient for transport in this case, to Victoria. Personnel is overall helpful and skilled. Amenities are good and sufficient. Views are great

Negative experience: Great staff and service, HORRIBLE schedule for people in Victoria especially on sports event days. Seahawks, Kraken, Mariners (especially when they play the Blue Jays) Whoever makes the schedule, PLEASE after game days depart back to Victoria later than 8am some time reasonable like 11am or noon. 8am is far to early especially for a night game. There could be a reason for this that I am not aware of but the clipper always seems full so why not run the boat 3 times in a day. Depart Seattle 8am gets to Victoria 11am then sits there until 5pm why not turn around go back to Seattle at 1pm get in at 4pm then head back to Victoria at 6pm? I understand that there would be more people likely going to Victoria from Seattle to visit ext but on game days I'm sure it's the other way around. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE change your schedule on game days.

Negative experience: VIP Comfort Class is a Rip-Off! Also, beware their package deals. We traveled from Victoria to Seattle in their top-of-the-line seats. The staff was great. BUT, the seats and "snacks" were awful. The seats had tables fixed in place that made it awkward to get in and out of the seat. We could not stand in front of the seat because of the table. Unless you had a window or front row seat, you didn't get a view. (Window and front row seats had great views!) The next class down was less crowded and the window seats got pretty much the same view as window seats in the front. Plus it was not as crowded and there were tray tables in the seat backs, so it was much more spacious. The seating area really could have been cleaner, too. The "snacks" were packaged junk food and bad coffee, etc. Yuck! As for the package deals, we spent a great deal of time during transit listening to the staff discussing a ticket snafu with the folks across the aisle from us. It seems they'd purchased a package of tickets to top sights in Victoria but one of the venues had no record of this. When they arrived, they had to splash out for a 2nd set of tickets. Also, some of the time they could -- should! -- have spend seeing the sights was spent hassling with the ticket snafu. What's more, instead of relaxing on the ferry that evening they had to hassle with the staff to attempt to get a refund for the 2nd set of tickets they bought. While the staff was apologetic and helpful, just overhearing it was frustrating. Thank goodness it wasn't me.

Negative experience: This company cancelled our reservation the day off stating a mechanical issue , this is unacceptable. People travel from long distances and plan their vacations cancelling the tours will mess up their schedules and plans. We travelled all the way from Canada , booked a room near to this location just to be on time. We lost our time and money on travel arrangements .

Positive experience: Well-organized, but pricey. The "economy seats" were narrow and the arm rest between the seats was immovable making for an uncomfortable 3 hours. Upgrades to wider seats cost $60 round trip.

Fantastic experience: Love taking the clipper. My second trip to Victoria this way. I got on their email list after the first trip, and am taking this trip because of a screaming deal for practically free hotel rooms if traveling by September 21… so here we are. If you buy comfort class tickets you have a shorter boarding queue on the Seattle side, forward view from you cushioned seat, and there’s free coffee, tea, chips, other assorted snacks, and did I mention super comfy seats?