2009 Testimonials
There are a few experiences in a person’s life which remain firmly etched in memory. My afternoon of whale-watching on your boat was one of those moments....... right up there with watching the sunrise over the Grand Canyon or seeing Paris for the first time. Thank you so much for a wonderful afternoon.
Donna Bruhl - Minneapolis, MN
This was a wonderful vacation for Larry and myself to visit your grand state of Alaska! On this vacation we went on quite a bit of varied excursions at different ports of call: so with that, it is my hope you see and receive this heartfelt compliment... what you do by sharing your love, skill, passion, enthusiasm, respect of nature to others is quite special. It is your genuine enthusiasm that delivers your entire message. Your excellence is noted! Please let my message reach your heart and feed your soul. I can imagine after time, sailing the seas, you can feel very small. So I tell you this...your contribution to this planet by showing it respect and teaching others through your message is bigger than you know or could imagine. You are a HUGE CONTRIBUTOR and you make this planet a better place (and make Mother Nature smile!)What a fabulous tour you gave us. We are STILL talking about the fun we had. You are AWESOME at what you do and your passion and love for the sea is so organic! I will never forget this experience on the Esther G. God Bless You and Your Family crew! When in Sitka, we will book again."
Barbara and Larry Goldstein - Fountain Hills, AZ
Captain Davey's enthusiasm for Alaska's land, sea and wildlife is demonstrated in his gentle, respectful attitude toward nature. Rarely have we encountered an excursion led by a person as knowledgeable and pleasant as Captain Davey. It was a rare treat to be shepherded around his special part of Alaska, whether simply listening to the utter silence of the rain forest in a quiet bay as a humpback whale cruised by, creeping past sea otters resting in bull kelp or learning about what makes Alaska so unique. Book with Captain Davey and the Esther G Sea Taxi for a worthwhile, unforgettable Alaskan experience.
Mark and Gina Ruttle - Palos Park, Illinois
There are no words to describe the beauty of the area in which you live - having said that, Sitka, and the trip that you gave us was undoubtedly the highlight of our entire trip. Your enthusiasm and genuine love of the area was infectious and we thoroughly enjoyed every second of the time we spent with you. We are so glad that we decided to find our 'own' tour in Sitka and not one of the more commercialised and less authentic ones that were offered on the cruise.
Richard and Lydia Shakenovsky - Sydney, Australia
Thanks for the wonderful tour for the four of us in Sep 09. We had such a great time that we just had to share our tour experience with others on Tripadvisor: Click Here. Thank you!
Sow Fung, Laurence, Joscelyne and KC - Singapore
I was with David, Kathryn and Rachael Christensen on one of your amazing wildlife tours this summer. I had such a wonderful time and seeing the whale so close was a major life moment for me. To say the least..I was deeply moved. My absolute favorite moments of the whole trip....cruise and all other ports of call.....was the time I spent in Sitka. Your tour and the lovely community of Sitka defined Alaska for me. In a separate email I sent a series of shots I managed to get before I was totally mesmerized by that beautiful moment. Thanks so much.
Mary Priest - Jacksonville, FL
I wanted to thank you so much for the lovely day that we all had in Sitka; it was definitely a highlight of our Alaskan cruise. The weather was outstanding; we were so lucky! Your passion for Sitka was evident, and we could all understand why. We couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend our time in Sitka! Many thanks for a great day!
Susan Clayton - Vancouver, BC Canada
We just wanted to thank you again for a spectacular day on the Esther G. The marine life and scenery we saw were awesome!! I also appreciate your concern and remedy for the queasiness I experienced. Once again, thanks for a wonderful trip, you helped to make Sitka one of our favorite stops on our Alaska trip. And, we share your appreciation of the great Teddy Roosevelt for his accomplishments in the areas of conservation and preservation of the great outdoors!
Helaine Fraser and Norm Alvy - Syosset, NY
WOW!!! Thank you for the AWESOME experience with you and Louie! Your 4 hour tour was one of the highlights of our Alaskan Cruise! We were thrilled to see the whales bubble net feeding, smell the breath of the whales!!, hear the trumpeting, observe your wildlife biologist friend on her raft taking photos, watching Louie ( and hanging onto Louie!) as he listened and watched for the whales, and of course eating the yummy Esther G sea Taxi Signature cookies! You did an amazing job and we highly recommend your excellent service to all who have the opportunity to visit Sitka, Alaska! THANKS DAVEY --- YOU ARE TERRIFIC!
Dave, Denette, Taylor, Tanna, and Kaylee Becker - Pierre, South Dakota
Thanks for giving us such a superb exposure to southeastern Alaska’s wildlife, worth every dollar we paid. When other folks staying at the B&B where we stayed while visiting Sitka praised you to the hilt for making their day and a half’s wildlife photo shoot such a success, we knew we had to sign on. And the 3 hours with you on the Esther G met our every expectation. The combination of all the wildlife -- watching the purse seine with 8,000 pounds of salmon pulled into one of Sitka’s commercial salmon boats was an unexpected bonus -- and your commentary about what we were seeing was wonderful. And the Esther G provided a very comfortable ride. We highly recommend that people visiting Sitka make a booking with you. We wish you continued success.
Steve and Deb Schmal -- Chevy Chase, Maryland
Sam and I just wanted to tell you how fantastic our excursion was with you. We had a great time. We learned a lot about "Sitka by the Sea" and your love for it. Thank you for taking the time to give us one of many highlights of our Alaska vacation. One of my dreams was to get a whale-tail photo of my own. Thanks to you, I got one! PS The cookies were a Hit TOO!!
Sam and Judy Richman - Huntley, Nebraska
Thank you for the wonderful trip you took me, my son and daughter-in-law on July 23rd. We all enjoyed it immensely. Thanks again for the happy day you gave us.
Betty DeCicco - Sitka, Alaska
I just wanted to thank you again for a wonderful tour for me & my family on July 27th. We had so much fun, saw such much wildlife & your enthusiasm for Sitka really made the tour fantastic. Sitka was my favorite port on our 2 week Alaskan adventure! Even in the rain/mist & rough waves!Thanks again for a great time!
Nicole Herman and family from the windy city of Chicago
Thanks a million for the personalized, fantastic tour. As you can imagine, it was absolutely the highlight of the week. The pictures came out great, but still don't reflect the beauty.
Kate Tower-Ludwig Paxton, MA
Just wanted to send a note to thank you for the wonderful experience onboard the Esther G II with yourself and Louie the dog! I knew when I booked this tour that it would be good, as I'd read many reviews and had done a lot of research, but it far exceeded our expectations. You are so personable and very knowledgeable about the local marine life and your beautiful town of Sitka. It was our favourite stop on the cruise! Being able to see so many sea otters and bubble-net feeding humpbacks made our trip totally amazing. St. Lazaria Island was fabulous also! Thank you again for the amazing tour! It's not something we will soon forget. We have told everyone we meet about your tour and that if they are ever in Alaska to do it!
Beth, Randy and Alexandra Vegso - London, Ontario, Canada
My wife and I enjoyed your once in a lifetime tour in late July. As promised, here are some whale flukes. Please let us know a bit about these whales if you can. We hope to return and enjoy another tour from you one day (maybe in a year?).
Jonathan and April Kraut - Santa Clarita, California
Our amazing boat trip in June was truly the highlight of our Alaskan adventure. Thank you for making it so special. Your knowledge and enthusiasm for the wildlife really was infectious. You created a lifetime of memories for us in just 3 hours! The cookies weren't bad either.Please enjoy the attached “Smilebox”. Click the full screen button in the upper right hand corner and make sure you have the sound turned up. The music is an original composition that 10 year old Spencer wrote and played.
Tracy Short and family - Clearwater, Florida.
We really had a blast in Sitka and can’t wait to come back. Kruzoff was just great with excellent views from the top of Edgecumbe. Thanks again!
Kevin Midkiff, Teresa Dobson and kids - Calgary, Alberta Canada
Thanks for a wonderful experience on July 7th and 9th. Quentin and I had so much fun. What a wonderful experience! My mom, Carolyn, and Quentin & I all think that you have a wonderful business sense. We were all very impressed with the fact that you took us out for a second trip because you weren't satisfied with the amount of wildlife we got to see on Tuesday. We got some really good pictures and I look forward to another trip in a few years. We will definitely be back to Sitka down the road and I most definitely want to go out on another tour with you.
Heather Meyer - Boise, Idaho
I just wanted to send you a quick note saying thank you for taking Jarrett and me out last week while we were in Sitka. Your trip was a great way to start off our excursions. The small group size and your personal knowledge really put it above the rest. When Jarrett and I revisited our excursions at the end of the week, I was still coming back to yours as the highlight!
Sam Karp - Millwaukee, Wisconsin
To anyone considering a tour with Captain Davey while in Sitka I can tell you without a doubt "DO IT!". Our four hour trip was amazing. To start with he makes you feel very safe and secure. He is a true teacher and his love for wildlife and the sea shines through him. I will never forget that day, it was magical! The trip was worth every cent, plus some more! We had a 9 year old with us and she was thrilled and happy most of the trip. We worried over the potty issue but never had a problem with it, he has one and its private with a great view:) Seeing the puffins, seals, and otters was huge but even bigger than that was seeing the whales. When that gray whale came up to the boat and we could almost touch it(no we didn't try) it was like a dream. I feel honored to have gotten to experience this tour and hope that you will get the chance as well. If you have any questions or concerns he will always help you and if you want to talk to a customer you are free to email me at eek40@aol.com. Davey...thank you from the bottom of our hearts for a day that we will never forget.
Aimee McCracken - Yukon, Oklahoma
We just got home from our Alaskan vacation and I wanted to thank you for the perfect outing we had with you on July 3. What a gift for my family. I cannot thank you enough for such a memorable day in Sitka. Seeing the whales so close, seeing the bubble net feeding, smelling whale breath and hearing the whales immediately before their surfacing will forever be our favorite memory of our family visit to Alaska. I didn’t realize until later in the day that Justin even captured several of our encounters with the whales on his cell phone video. I am still in awe of our experiences that day. It was perfect and you were such a delight to spend the morning with. The homemade cookies and Alaskan beer were a wonderful touch to our outing. Seeing the see otters, puffins and eagles was also very special, but without a doubt, our whale sightings have touched all of us. Thanks again for what has become our family’s most treasured and favorite day ever that we have shared together. You helped us create that memory and I will be forever grateful. Keep up the fantastic work. We will definitely contact you again for a private tour in the event we ever travel to Alaska again.
Elaine Carneavale - East Norriton, PA
I was in Sitka on June 13, 2009. I also booked an excursion in Juneau and one in Ketchikan. All the excursions were very good, but by far, yours was the best! Your knowledge of the area and the wildlife was amazing. You knew exactly where to take us for the best possible viewing of whales. The size of the group allowed for a relaxed atmosphere and provided opportunities to ask questions throughout the tour. I would highly recommend your tour to anyone visiting Sitka. Thank you for a wonderful experience.
Anne Arkfeld - Chandler, Arizona
Words cannot do justice to the marvelous trip you gave us. The wildlife and sea creatures and beauty are humbling. Sitka in particular had a magical quality for us. We hope to get back there in the future. Meeting you made the day perfect. Our heartfelt thanks for sharing your obviously loved special nooks and crannies on the sea.
Priscilla and Michael Herzoff - Hendersonville, North Carolina
List of animals I saw on your trip:
Otters
Grizzly sow and clubs
Seals
Fish
Gulls, rails, terns, cormorants, ducks
Eagles
Eagles
Eagles
Eagles
Seals
Old man otter
Old man otter
Old man otter
Old man otter
Old man otter
Old man otter
Old man otter
He just kept sleeping and I kept taking pictures.
A dingy
Thanks again!
Rene' P. Katsinas - Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Our cruise to Alaska is once again over and Ralf and I are reflecting on the past week. When we left you and the Esther G we were both at a loss for words. Our time in Sitka with you was the most magical and wonderful time we could ever have imagined! Those 4 1/2 hours passed like a minute. We could not have imagined a more perfect day, more perfect company or a better tour guide. We have left of piece of our heart with you and we will return! We cannot thank you enough for your kindness.
Ralf and Karen Willruth - Huntington Beach, California
I just wanted to thank you again for the wonderful tour Rachel and I had last week (and for the great cookies!). This truly was one of the highlights of our trip!
Lynda Tenbusch - North Port, Florida
We wanted you to know your tour on the Esther G II was the TOP highlight of our Alaska cruise! We have completed many excursions on 5 cruises to Alaska, but yours BY FAR was the absolute best! We took a helicopter tour one cruise, did a glacier landing on the Taku in Juneau and a 2 hour flight-seeing tour on another cruise, to Misty Fiords in Ketchikan. We both agree yours was outstanding to even those tours. You really love Sitka and Alaska (so do we) and it comes beaming through on your excursions. We work hard to save for our Alaska cruises and usually can only afford one really great excursion per cruise. We are so happy we selected yours! We WILL be back for another tour with you, hopefully next year! We will also tell friends and relatives! P.S. Your daughters cookies ROCK!!
Teri and Carlos Barker - Walla Walla, Washington
We had a fabulous day, and we will never forget our experience with you. Enjoy!
Theresa Gregory - Dallas, Texas
Thank you again so much for the beautiful afternoon on your ship! I had an amazing time and it has truly been a once in a lifetime treat for me! Almost a year after I met you and spent a few hours sharing the amazing wildlife and gorgeous scenery on your boat, this excursion with you remains the strongest and most beautiful moments of my trip to Alaska! The waves, the smell of the sea, the cup of sweet tea we had when we stopped in the little creek, and your knowledge of the fauna and surroundings made it the perfect little extravagance that made my trip!
Sarah Trépanier - Quebec city, Canada
Thanks so much for the great tour early July. We felt so fortunate to be “mugged” again by humpbacks. Got some great pic’s!
Anne and Kevin Pistawka and kids - Kelowna, BC Canada
I want to thank you for this wonderful adventure you took us on and wish you the best in all you do. It was so nice to have finally met you.
Connie and David Lewis - Rock Hill, South Carolina
Thank you so much for taking Nate and I out on your boat last December. The whole time in Sitka was amazing and you provided us with memories that will last a lifetime, seriously!! Hope to see you again sometime soon.
Paul and Nate Welcomer - Lafayette, California