2007 Testimonials
Your trip was undoubtedly the highlight of our holiday.
Roy Trevelyan – Worsley, Manchester ENGLAND
Your tour certainly was the highlight of all our days in Alaska, from both weather, education and overall great time!
Ed Sobel – Milton, Massachusetts
Scott & I both wanted to thank you again for the best day of our vacation, by far. I can tell you that I was sitting up on deck as our cruise ship pulled away, with tears rolling down my face. I still get weepy thinking about Sitka...there must be some magic there! The part of Sitka that we were lucky enough to see was spectacular, and we look forward to coming back for a longer stay next year, with our boys.
Trisha Cleary – Seymour, Connecticut
My friend Teri and I really enjoyed our tour with you. Keep up the good work educating people about the beautiful marine flora and fauna!
Margaret (P.J.) Webb - Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council – Cambria, California
Capt Davey!! He ROCKS!! The best excursion I had, hands down! He's lived there 25 years and you can tell he truly cares about the area and the animals. Do yourself a HUGE favor and book him if you get the chance! You won't regret it. Thanks for the INCREDIBLE trip. I'll be highly recommending you as much as possible.
Nathan Frye - Henderson, Nevada
Just wanted to let you know how much my family enjoyed our recent trip with you. The views and wildlife were amazing, with the highlight being watching the humpback surface feed. I've attached a couple of photos. Thanks for the memories! Please also thank your wife for the excellent cookies
Hope to see you again one day if our travels take us back your way...
Lisa, Larry, Tyler and Lauren Kimmons - New Orleans, Louisiana
Thank you for a wonderful day. One that none of us will ever forget. (day of the fin whale sighting)
Beth and Jerry Thorpe - Oviedo, Florida
Connie and I wanted you to know that the 4-hour trip we took with you on our recent Alaskan cruise was the highlight of our trip. Your knowledge of the Alaskan ecosystem and wildlife can only be characterized as SUPERB! Seeing the whales and other native animals in their natural environment while cruising through the untouched beauty of the land and sea was certainly something the two of us will always treasure. Thanks for making us feel very comfortable on board your fine boat and for displaying a personality that made for a most memorable trip. For people coming to Sitka, they would be well served by booking a tour with you and I'll do my part to encourage others that going out on the Esther G is a great decision that won't disappoint.
Phil and Connie Beck - Lawton, OK
[Yours] was one of my favorite memories of our trip and the praise to you is so over-due (2006 Carnival Spirit). Jeanne and I are so glad we did not take the regular cruise excursion and always tell people who are thinking about an Alaskan cruise to look you up if stopping in Sitka, always adding they will not be disappointed. We have all talked about another Alaska cruise for 2010. I am in hope we can all come together again and be sure, when stopping in Sitka, we will book with you again. Thanks for the smiles.
Ray Czenszak - Wading River, New York
Arnie and I have not stopped talking about how beautiful Sitka is, especially from the deck of the speedy, agile Esther G. Your skill at piloting the boat close enough to hear the whales and see the sea otter babies was breathtaking. And your enthusiasm for family life in Sitka gave us an authentic introduction to why people in the "lower 48" might choose to live up there. Thanks for being such a wonderful guide.
Judy Brier – St. Paul, Minnesota
Just wanted to let you know what a great experience we had being on the Esther G on Friday, June 15. We were your last tour that day (3:30,) and you were kind and gracious enough to let us know that the sea was getting rough and that we’d probably not see the animals that were usually seen on your tour. We decided to take the abbreviated tour of the islands and saw otters and a few bald eagles. I was captivated by the beauty of the land around Sitka and was more than thrilled that we got the chance to see it with you as our guide. However, what an unexpected surprise (and the highlight of our Alaskan Cruise) when those two humpbacks rose out of the water like twin pillars with their exposed baleen, filled with herring. I was so shocked that I didn’t get the picture taken soon enough :-), but that memory is forever seared in my wife’s and my memories! Thought you’d like to know how appreciated you are.
Ray Curtis – Tucson, Arizona
One of the most unique and wonderful experiences we had on our Alaska trip. The Esther G was the perfect boat for sightseeing and Davey shared a vast knowledge of Sitka's wildlife with our small group. We experienced close-up encounters with gray whales, otters, sea lions, puffins, eagles, starfish and a variety of sea birds on St. Lazaria Island. Davey was one of the most awesome guides we've ever had and this tour is definitely a must if you are visiting Sitka. We can't wait to share the great wildlife photos we got that day with family and friends.
Joe and Maria Bennett - Chino Hills, California
We had such a great time on the wildlife tour! Thank you so much for making sure that everyone on your boat had a great time! It was definitely a highlight of our vacation. The tour felt very much like it was just a bunch of friends out on a boat for the afternoon--you have a great way about you that made us feel right at home! Sitka Sound was beautiful and we loved seeing all the wildlife--I've never seen so many whale flukes on any whale watching tour I've ever taken. If--or I should say when--we return to Sitka, we'll definitely be booking with you again. And, the cookies would pretty good too!
Jayne May – Portland, Oregon
Just wanted to say we had a great time on our outing with you last week. And I got some great photos. We’ve talked about you and the great time we had on your boat. It was THE highlight of our trip to Alaska.
Jerry Brown – Englewood, Colorado
Just wanted to let you know how much I LOVED the whale-watching trip! It was so much fun. I am so bummed to be back at work today! You really made the trip so much better than it already was. It was great meeting you. Can't wait to come back to ALASKA!!
Sherry Hows - Nashville, Tennessee
I just wanted to thank you for such a wonderful trip. We all had a wonderful time. You were great with the kids and the whales put on quite a show for us. I can tell that you truly love your job by the excitement that you showed throughout our morning. I will highly recommend you to everyone traveling to Sitka.
Megan Hersh and family – Jacksonville, Florida
You took me, my mom, and some of my relatives on a whale watching tour July 7th. I wanted to thank you for the amazing trip that you gave us! You were very knowledgeable about all the wildlife we saw, and we just had an awesome time! Thanks again for your hospitality. My mom and I basically fell in love with Alaska and we would love to get back soon.
Kelly Mathews – Boulder, Colorado
My mom, sister, wife and I had a great time on your boat. Laura and I have been to Alaska on three different occasions and your tour stands out as the best we have taken and will remain a fond memory for years. Your knowledge and love of the area is habit forming to the passengers on your boat and your wife's cookies are the best.
Tom Van Dusen - Centennial, Colorado
We still talk about our whale-watch (from 2003) with anyone who is interested in going to Alaska. We have a photo of a whale's tail hanging in our kitchen that I took from your boat. I just finished passing your name on to some people that will be visiting Alaska in the next few months.
Ralph Willard - Braintree, MA
We talk about the whale-watching trip to anyone who will listen. We had so much fun that day!
Frank and Beth Wilhelm – Atlanta, Georgia
I have to say that this was one of the best of our excursions of the entire trip. Captain Davey’s love of this area is evident and he made sure we were getting our money’s worth from him and his boat.
Therese Duval - Loranger, Louisiana
I wanted to say thank you again for the wonderful trip we had with you. You made me still have faith in people after all the specialties you do for your customers. I just thought you needed to know that we really enjoyed our time together. I will recommend you to everyone headed to Sitka and I sincerely mean that. I hope you never change and stay small and enjoy life up in God's country. If we ever get back, I will look you up and we can do it again.
Harry & Debbie Loukatos - La Quinta California
All six of us loved our time on the water with you in your Esther G in August. Your obvious love for and skill at getting around in Sitka Sound was remarkable. Even though we only met when we boarded, we soon felt like part of your extended family. We know there are several others who offer the same kind of service but can’t imagine anyone who does it as well as you. Thank you for a fantastic afternoon!
Judy Luffman– Lee’s Summit, Missouri
I wanted to thank you for the most amazing excursion! Out of the 16 cruises my husband and I have been on, your tour was one of our BEST! I didn't think it was possible to see that many whales in one tour. I swear at one point in time we had 5 whales around us! But that was just the tip of the iceberg.....you just kept finding more and more! How many people can say they've smelled actual whale breath!?! I especially loved seeing the Gray Whale......just magical! We had such a fun time learning about the wildlife you have such knowledge and passion for! You truly live in God's country and you are one of its voices. On behalf of my husband, my Mother and myself........Thank you truly for a trip of a lifetime! You're the BEST!
Diana Petisca - Houston, Texas
…………..you made it the most enjoyable excursion on our cruise. We learned a lot about the local wildlife and even smelled whale breath. I have given your website to everyone who inquires and will in the future. I even tell them that you hand out homemade cookies. Any way thanks again and we will book with you in 09 when we cruise Alaska again.
Bob Heathcote - Phoenix, Arizona
Thanks so much for our adventure on your Esther G. We will always remember you and your beautiful Alaska. The cookies, the sailing, songs and your knowledge and humor will always be a part of our wonderful vacation.
Dr. Ralph and Connie Sampson – Wellsboro, PA
Frank Corey and Michelle Sampson – New Hampshire
We wanted to thank you again for such a great time, your trip was the highlight our vacation!!!
Ryan and Jean Smith
We did thoroughly enjoy the time with you and felt it was the highlight of what will undoubtedly be our last Alaskan adventure. It will be our fondest memory of Alaska.
Bob and Bettye Kennedy - Belton, Texas