Boston Whale Watching Opportunities
Boston whale watching is something you don't want to miss! Whales are so prevalent around the Boston area that most tour operators offer sighting guarantees. You'll witness a good assortment of humpback, minke and finback whales, as well as white-sided dolphins on your adventures from April through October. On your trip, be sure to wear sneakers, jeans, a t-shirt, a sweater, a raincoat, gloves and a hat, since it's always colder out on the water. In this article, you'll learn about some of the many harbor cruise whale watching opportunities in and around the Boston area.
A lot of opportunities to go on a whale watching trip are available 40 minutes north of Boston in Gloucester, Massachusetts. However, Boston Harbor Cruises offer a popular three-hour whale watching cruise from Long Wharf (one block from Faneuil Hall). Each trip features narration from whale research professionals from the Whale Center of New England, the region's foremost authority on whale populations, so you'll be sure to learn all about the behavioral and migratory patterns of the whales. Each Boston whale watching tour takes place aboard a high-speed catamaran so most of your time will be spent watching the whales, rather than getting out to sea. The boat features three outdoor decks, a climate-controlled cabin with cushioned seating, a state-of-the-art video system and free Wi-Fi, as well as a galley with food or beverages. You may see humpbacks, minkes and finback Whales, as well as white-sided dolphins. Tickets are $39.95 for adults, $35.95 for seniors and $31.95 for children ages 4 to 12. For more information, visit www.bostonharborcruises.com.
In addition to the Boston whale watching cruise, you might want to take a whale watching trip 40 minutes north in Gloucester, Massachusetts, which is conveniently situated between two major whale feeding grounds. The 7 Seas Whale Watch Company has been featured in National Geographic Magazine and the Discovery Channel, not to mention rated the "#1 Attraction in Gloucester," according to www.tripadvisor.com. As one of the leading whale watching tour operators in the state, 7 Seas has been operating for more than 27 years and guarantees sightings with every trip. In addition to seeing the usual humpback, minke and finback whales, travelers on these harbor cruise whale watching excursions have also seen beluga, sperm, right, sei, pilot and blue whales. The "Privateer IV" is a massive 108-foot sailing vessel with both inner and outer viewing decks. Tickets for the 3.5 hour trip are $45 for adults, $39 for seniors and $29 for kids 3 to 16. For more info, visit www.7seas-whalewatch.com.
If you want to get away from the more popular Boston whale watching cruise experience and see something a little more remote, then you can take a pleasant 40 minute drive north to Gloucester. Here, you are conveniently situated between two prime feeding grounds; Stellwagen's Bay and Jeffrey's Ledge. Down in Stellwagen, you're likely to see humpbacks, minke and finback whales, as well as white-sided dolphins. At Jeffrey's Ledge, you may see sei whales, northern right whales and harbor seals. Captain Bill and Sons is a family owned and operated Boston whale watching tour company currently in their fiftieth season. You'll travel for 3.5 hours on a comfortable 100-foot sailing vessel with both inner and outer decks. Tickets are $45 for adults, $38 for seniors, $28 for children under 16 and free for babies under 3 years of age. For more information, visit www.captbillandsons.com.
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The Best Places For Massachusetts Whale Watching
Its close proximity to the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary makes the Provincetown port the best place for Massachusetts whale watching. Most of the Boston tours spend 45 minutes or so cruising down to whale territory, but visitors to Provincetown can often see the gentle giants breeching from the beach. On your whale watching cruise, you may see humpback, finback, right and minke whales, as well as marine birds, dolphins and sea turtles.
Top Picks For A Whale Watching Cruise
The worldwide whale watch industry brings in roughly $1.25 billion dollars each year. According to outspoken Canadian animal rights activist Paul Watson, "Back in 1980, whale watching surpassed whaling as an industry.
Alaska Whale Watching Is Unforgettable
Alaska whale watching is one of the main draws to the region, along with the stunning glaciers and national parks. The season for whale watching extends year-round for the area's resident killer whales, as they are willing to brave the icy waters to get the best selection of prey. On a late-summer whale watching excursion, you'll be privy to many more species of whales that are just gearing up for their massive 10,000-mile migration to warmer waters.