Tips For Whale Watch Trips
One thing about whale watch trips is that there are no guarantees. Even though you feel as though you're paying for the adventure of a lifetime, it could come to pass that you're only privy to a fin here or a far-off sighting there. Unlike places like Sea World, where the animals are on a set schedule, there's no predicting just what the pods of blue, humpback or killer whales will do, necessarily. You may also not plan on throwing up or getting spewed with blowhole slime on your trip, which could be a real disaster if you're not prepared. Here are some tips to ensure you get the most out of your whale watching excursion.
Veteran cruiser Bob Messina of Georgia recalls one horrific experience in February of 2007. After 11 days aboard the MSC Lirica, he and his wife decided to book passage aboard a whale watching boat for $71 out of Samana, Dominican Republic. The passengers boarded a 24-foot open-air boat with 30 seats, no bathroom and no cover. Despite the 6-8 foot swells, the tour operators handed out seasickness pills and assured them everything would be fine. Two women seated next to Messina started throwing up within minutes. "For the next hour and a half, we experienced rough seas and what we called 'whale chasing,' not whale watching," he explains. Five boats in the prime watch area would wait to see a spout and take off at full-speed to get a closer look, despite regulations mandating that whale watching boats stay at least 100 feet away. Messina recalls, "After about two hours, people started barfing everywhere, due to the rough sea conditions. Most of the passengers wanted to go back to the ship, but the operator said he needed to stay out for at least three hours."
Travelers usually expect to see something on their whale watch trips and tour operators desperately want to make that magic happen, and at any cost. Once the initial seasickness had subsided, the boat arrived at the prime whale watching area, along with five other boats full of eager tourists armed with cameras. In this distance, a couple humpback whales leapt out of the water. The tour operators fired up the engines and began pounding over the surf in pursuit of the majestic giants. The travelers were hanging on for dear life, fighting seasickness and trying to catch a glimpse of anything besides the walls of water before them. "Then the guy behind us puked all over us," Bob Messina recalls. "My wife almost joined in! At this point, everyone was yelling 'take us back to the ship!' The boat turned back finally, but halfway there, they shut down the engines and offered us some coke or water. They again said that they needed to stay out for at least three hours to get paid. I guess the lesson is don't count on the cruise line to watch out for your safety; all they want is the mighty buck."
To get the most out of whale watch trips, be sure you do your research first. Find out what whales can be expected at what time of the year. Look at the weather and the tide schedule to pick the calmest day. Go early to get the most sightings, since whales tend to be most active in the mornings. Take your seasickness medication, eat a carbohydrates-filled breakfast, grab your ginger ale and dress up in warm layers (even if it seems like a nice day). Do bring your camera, but make sure you have a strap around your neck and a covering to protect it from possible water damage. Make sure all your batteries are fully charged. Remember, patience is a virtue. Waiting for humpbacks or blue whales to come up closer to the whale watching boat is probably worth your while, since the more you zoom in, the grainier your photo will be and the jerkier your video recording will be. Lastly, there is no guarantee you'll spot anything, so don't let one bad whale watching cruise ruin your opinion. Next time, try a different day, a different spot or a different operator and you just may be pleasantly surprised!
Related topics about Whale Watch Trips
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.
Whale Watching Cruises FAQ
Some whales are more commonly seen during certain months. That is when they come closer to shore and it is easier to see them. If you want to see California Gray Whales then you need to take a whale watching cruise during the months of December through April.
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.