This was better than i expected. First off, the boat is the perfect size. There is plenty of space inside and outside. You can get close to the water (which was important for us when we started to have dolphins leading the boat uber the bow!), you can go in the upper deck fore and aft, and there’s cozy and comfortable interior space with great viewing.
Second, I was expecting to just cruise in a long loop through the Sound, but we saw dolphins, seals and even caught sight of the penguins along the rocky shore.
Third, the staff (Thomas) was helpful and friendly. The captain was very informative over the speakers. The boat was clean. (Thomas even vacuumed up a bit during the trip. The coffee was hot, the cookies were good.
I highly recommend this operator and this cruise/boat for Milford. Enjoy!
PS We made the drive on our own from Te Anau. Beautiful drive!