Jersey Shore Whale Watch Cancellation, Weather & Whale Sighting Guarantee Policy

Thank you for choosing Jersey Shore Whale Watch. Operating a U.S. Coast Guard-inspected passenger vessel requires advance scheduling of crew, fuel, dockage, insurance, and other operating expenses. Please review the following policies before purchasing your tickets.

By purchasing tickets, you agree to the following terms and conditions.

Guest Cancellation & Date Change Policy

All reservations are non-refundable.

If you are unable to attend your scheduled trip, you may request a date change by notifying us at least seven (7) days before your scheduled departure.

A $20 administrative fee per reservation (not per ticket) applies to all voluntary date changes.

Requests received within seven (7) days of departure will be considered at the sole discretion of management. If we are able to resell your seats, we may approve a one-time exchange to another available trip.

No credit card refunds will be issued within seven (7) days of departure for any guest-initiated cancellation or request to change dates.

Reservations may be transferred to another person at no charge by contacting our office before departure.

Guests who fail to arrive for their scheduled trip are considered no-shows and are not eligible for a refund, exchange, or credit.

Weather & Safety Cancellations

Whale watching takes place on the open ocean where weather and sea conditions can change rapidly. Passenger safety is always our highest priority.

Trips operate rain or shine. Light rain, cloudy skies, or cool temperatures generally do not affect our schedule.

Trips may be delayed, postponed, or canceled due to, but not limited to:

• High winds
• Rough seas
• Dense fog
• Dangerous marine conditions
• Coast Guard restrictions
• Weather-related bridge closures or failures
• Other weather-related conditions that make operation unsafe

The Captain has the sole authority to determine whether conditions are safe to operate.

If Jersey Shore Whale Watch cancels a trip because of weather or other safety conditions beyond our control, your reservation will automatically be transferred to another available trip.

If you are unable or choose not to reschedule:

• Guests whose residence is more than 200 driving miles from Belmar Marina are eligible for a 100% refund.
• Guests whose residence is 200 driving miles or less from Belmar Marina may request an 80% refund to their original form of payment.

Guests requesting a 100% refund based on residence must provide proof of residence with a valid, current government-issued photo ID. Eligibility will be determined using the address shown on the ID.

Mechanical Cancellations

If Jersey Shore Whale Watch cancels your trip because the Jersey Girl is unavailable due to mechanical failure or another operational issue within our control, you may choose either:

• A 100% refund, or
• A transfer to another available trip at no additional charge.

Whale Sighting Guarantee

Whales are wild animals, and sightings can never be guaranteed. Our experienced crew uses the latest whale sightings, marine reports, and local knowledge to maximize your opportunity to observe whales.

If no whales are seen during your qualifying whale watching trip, your return trip tickets are free.

A $20 administrative rebooking fee per reservation (not per ticket) applies when redeeming your Whale Sighting Guarantee.

Whale Sighting Guarantee Terms

• Your complimentary return trip must be used during the same whale watching season as your original trip.
• If your original trip takes place after September 1, your guarantee may be redeemed through May 7 of the following year to complete that same whale watching season.
• The Whale Sighting Guarantee is not valid for future seasons and may not be carried over as a complimentary trip in a later year.
• The guarantee applies only to qualifying whale watching trips.
• The guarantee is subject to seat availability.
• The guarantee has no cash value and is non-transferable.

Jersey Shore Whale Watch is proud to be one of the few whale watching companies to offer a Whale Sighting Guarantee. Although wildlife can never be guaranteed, we believe you deserve another opportunity to experience these amazing animals if no whales are seen. Even on trips where whales are not observe, we still incur the full costs of operating the vessel, including crew wages, fuel, insurance, dockage, maintenance, and other operating expenses. Limiting the guarantee to the same whale watching season allows us to continue offering this unique benefit while keeping the program fair and sustainable for all guests.

Contact Us

Jersey Shore Whale Watch

732-592-6400

[email protected]