Born-and-raised Sitkans, Captain Gary, Koali, and Nico welcome you aboard Morning Glory, their purpose-built, 16-passenger vessel designed for comfort in any weather. Decades on these waters let them read the tides like a map, gui...
Born-and-raised Sitkans, Captain Gary, Koali, and Nico welcome you aboard Morning Glory, their purpose-built, 16-passenger vessel designed for comfort in any weather. Decades on these waters let them read the tides like a map, gui...
Captain Gary clearly knows these waters inside and out, and his genuine passion for sharing Sitka's wildlife makes every trip special. Guests consistently rave about spotting humpback whales (often multiple sightings), plus sea lions, otters, eagles, and occasionally bears. His guides Ryan, Riley, and Abigail get equally enthusiastic praise for their knowledge and friendly approach. What stands out is how personable the experience feels—Captain Gary treats guests like family, frequently checks in on everyone's comfort, and takes time to answer questions. His small group tours on the Morning Glory create an intimate atmosphere that feels worlds apart from being herded around on larger cruise excursions. The full-day "Best of Sitka" tour combines morning whale watching with afternoon land excursions to places like the raptor center, bear rescue, and totem poles at the state park. Communication is reportedly excellent, with detailed information provided before tours. The boat itself gets consistent compliments for being clean, comfortable, and well-maintained. Families particularly appreciate how accommodating Captain Gary is with different ages and abilities, making everyone feel safe and included throughout the adventure.
We had an incredible day out on the water with Gary for his first outing of the season in early March. He was very communicative throughout the week leading up to our outing to check in with us regarding weather and wind, as we had some snowstorms and high winds blow through and nobody else had their boats on the water this early. We made it out, and ended up having a great day—we saw around 10 humpback whales or so, maybe more. It seemed like there were spouts popping up in every direction! We got to see a few half breaches and lots of flukes. Gary helped us to ID one of the whales from her tail scars. His deep knowledge of the area and passion for the water and local wildlife made for a really enjoyable experience. The boat was cozy and warm which was lovely on such a cold and snowy day. Would choose his company again in a heartbeat. Highly recommend!
Danielle Kuykendall
March 10, 2026
We had an incredible day out on the water with Gary for his first outing of the season in early March. He was very communicative throughout the week leading up to our outing to check in with us regarding weather and wind, as we had some snowstorms and high winds blow through and nobody else had their boats on the water this early. We made it out, and ended up having a great day—we saw around 10 humpback whales or so, maybe more. It seemed like there were spouts popping up in every direction! We got to see a few half breaches and lots of flukes. Gary helped us to ID one of the whales from her tail scars. His deep knowledge of the area and passion for the water and local wildlife made for a really enjoyable experience. The boat was cozy and warm which was lovely on such a cold and snowy day. Would choose his company again in a heartbeat. Highly recommend!
Danielle Kuykendall
March 10, 2026