I caution anyone to be careful when booking with Kaua?i Sea Tours as they may not honor your reservation, even if you have booking confirmation! We have been vacationing on Kaua?i for 20 years and have used Kaua?i Sea Tours several times. In fact, the last time we went whale watching, we were on the island with 16 friends and all of us went on a tour together with Kaua?i Sea Tours. I must say that we have been pleased with past service, but our experience on our last trip shows us that they are not the same quality company they have been.
On Sunday, Feb 27, 2011 we called Kaua?i Sea Tours to book a whale watching tour, for four adults, and were able to get on a tour scheduled for Tuesday March 1st. We received confirmation emails and were at the office, waiting in the check-in line at 7:15 am. When we got to the desk, we were told that a group checking in ahead of us had made reservations for 10 people but had arrived with 14 people. We were told that since we were the last people making reservations for that day, we would be ?bumped? but that we were guaranteed seats on the Wednesday tour and that because of the inconvenience, we would be charged 2 for 1. Needless to say, we were not thrilled, but we had other things we could do, so we completely rearranged our schedule and made the best of the situation. On Wednesday, we again got up at 5:30 a.m. in order to make it to Port Allen by 7:15 am. At check-in, we were told that we would be charged for 3 guests, not 2 as had been promised the day before. My husband told the person waiting on us what had happened the previous day and that we were to receive 2 free seats and we were told ?no, you were not told that and we will only give you one free seat.? With that we left to find another charter group.
I would like to recommend the new charter group we toured with ? HoLo HoLo Charters. We found out, after our tour, that they are one of most highly recommended charter groups on Kaua?i and we now know why. The staff in the office was very helpful and the crew on the boat was nothing short of awesome. The tour was the best we have ever taken ? snorkeling (with gear provided by HoLo HoLo), continental breakfast, deli-style lunch, complimentary water, soda, beer and wine, great commentary on island history, coastline and, of course, the whales, spinner dolphins, turtles, fish and birds! We couldn?t be happier that we were literally ?thrown off the boat? by Kaua?i Sea Tours because we have found a new tour group that we will use again (at a discounted price offered to all returning clients) and recommend to everyone going to Kaua?i.
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