Puget Sound Express - Edmonds

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the moms and mother figures out there!

This Mother’s Day, we’re excited that one of our most famous mothers has made her way back into the Salish Sea — Big Mama (BCY0324) is back! After the outlawing of whaling, Big Mama was one of the first humpbacks to return to our area, marking the start of what we fondly refer to as the “humpback comeback,” and has since returned nearly every year, often with a calf in tow. Big Mama isn’t just a mother, though; she’s also a grandmother and a great-grandmother! In fact, over 20 humpbacks can trace their lineage directly to Big Mama 🐋

📸: Naturalist Brooke on May 9, 2026

Tomorrow, we’re saying “Good Morning, America!” If you saw our Story yesterday, you may have noticed that we hosted a film crew aboard the Swiftsure… Well, we’re excited to announce that it was a production team from Good Morning America! Premiering tomorrow at 7am PST, you can tune in to a live broadcast from a Washington State Ferries boat, which also includes a segment filmed with us! We’re so excited to have been selected to showcase Puget Sound Express and the Hanke family’s 41-year legacy, while also highlighting the wonderful waters that we call home!

P.S., we understand if 7am is an early start — don’t worry, we’ll also share a recorded version after the fact for night owls and overseas friends!

We’ve compiled some of our favorite photos captured by guests on our trips so far this year — there’s nothing we love more than seeing our tours through your eyes and camera lens! If you’re planning to join us on a future trip, don’t forget to tag us in photos that you upload to social media. As always, we thank you for choosing to adventure with us!

📸 Photo 1: .deal
📸 Photo 2: .medge
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