Tikapa Moana: Whales, Dolphins and Islands Cruise

Posted by Quan from New Zealand on24 Apr 2026

arrow_back Tikapa Moana: Whales, Dolphins and Islands Cruise

Quan said... To the Management of Tikapa Moana Whale & Dolphin Watch, I am writing to share my honest feedback following a very unfortunate experience during our recent trip with your company. I joined the tour with my mother and my son. We were all very excited and had been looking forward to this journey for a long time. Unfortunately, the trip turned into a frightening and disappointing experience. The main problem happened due to a lack of clear guidance from your staff. I mistakenly did not board the return boat at the correct time. I saw many people walking toward the wharf, and I followed, thinking that was the right time to leave. There was no reminder or announcement from any crew member to check who was re-boarding. As a result, we were left behind on the island for six hours. During that time, we felt extremely scared and helpless. We did not see any staff member or tour representative to help us. It was only after I called your company that your team realized we were still on the island. My mother, my son, and I all felt terrified and abandoned. To be honest, I also felt that we might have been treated differently because we are Asian. I hope that is not true, but the lack of attention and care made me feel that way. I believe that when people book a tour with your company, especially families with children and elderly, you have a responsibility to ensure their safety and provide basic supervision. A simple headcount or reminder before departure could have prevented this whole situation. I do not want this to happen to anyone else. I hope you will take this seriously and improve your safety procedures. A tour should not be just about collecting money. It should also be about caring for the people who trust you with their time and their loved ones. Despite everything, I still love nature and marine life. I truly hope to join your tour again one day, but only if I can be sure that such an incident will not happen again. Thank you for taking the time to read my letter. I look forward to seeing positive changes. Sincerely, Sally Quan