Where to go · USA WHALE WATCHING TOURS
Three coasts, three seasons and three different animals. These 15 cover the Alaskan summer, the Hawaiian winter and the California migration, with prices, sailing months and how far offshore each one goes.
See humpback whales from Juneau on a 3.5-hour Alaska Tales cruise with harbor transfers, heated cabins, outdoor decks, snacks, and a whale guarantee.
“What’s a whale watching adventure after the whales migrate out of the area? It’s a little boat ride out. It’s a little boat ride back. Fortunately for us, it was a beautiful day. And the crew was delightful.”
Review of Juneau’s Mendenhall Glacier and whale-watching tour, with timing, value, wildlife odds, transport tips, and what to expect.
“We enjoyed both the Mendenhall Glacier and Whale Watching, the shuttle driver was very knowledgeable and informative. Whale watching with Michelle, Ash and Taylor was great we saw many whales from a distance and had three come up very close to our boat.”
See humpback, fin, and minke whales from Boston Harbor with New England Aquarium naturalists, outdoor decks, and comfortable indoor seating.
“Absolutely brilliant- whales breaching for fun all around! Basking shark following our boat for ages and highly informative guide. Best tour we have been on!”
Review of Gloucester’s Cape Ann whale watch: a fast catamaran, naturalist guides, Stellwagen Bank, wildlife tips, price, and practical advice.
“Definitely go again ‼️ beautiful, scenic boat ride , Glouster is such a fun area to visit and the campground was nice!”
Review of Boston’s 3.5-hour high-speed whale watch to Stellwagen Bank, with practical advice on sightings, comfort, weather, price, and booking.
“The whale watching tour was okay but not really worth the money. While we did see some whales, there were way too many people on board, which made it hard to get a good view. The constant movement of people going in and out from the deck to indoors was also a bit frustrating. That said, the guide was very knowledgeable and shared a lot of great information about the wildlife”
Review of Maui Eco-Raft Tour from Lahaina, with whale and dolphin seasons, raft comfort, guide quality, pricing, and booking tips.
“We had a memorable time seeing the whales & some babies. The highlight was hearing the whale songs. Description of beverages on board is a little misleading; only water was offered upon request.”
Sail San Diego’s historic America replica for a four-hour whale cruise with gray whales, dolphins, Navy sights, snacks, and free rebooking.
“Very professional crew. Grandson helped hoist the sails! Saw a few whales and lots of dolphins. Dress warmly! Blankets, soft drinks, snacks (chips, etc.) provided. Bring some lunch.”
Review of Monterey Bay whale watching with Discovery Whale Watch, including wildlife, seasons, boat tips, cost, timing, and what to expect.
“We had a fantastic afternoon. Too many whales to see all at once! A hoard of sea lions cavorting with them. Perfect weather. The boat was comfortable and the crew was helpful and knowledgeable. Enjoyed chatting with Isiah, who helped us understand what we were seeing. The trip greatly exceeded our expectations. Just wonderful.”
Review of 7 Seas Whale Watch from Gloucester, with whale sightings, boat details, costs, timing, practical tips, and who should book.
“It was awesome. I would do it over and over again and I was left all my good.How awesome it was you're awesome awesome , awesome”
Review of Oahu’s affordable two-hour whale watch from Waikiki, with boat details, whale season tips, value, logistics, and honest drawbacks.
“The staff were amazing and knowledgeable! They were so kind, funny, and caring the entire time. It was a 2 hour ride, but they have a stand for snacks and motion sickness medicine on the boat. Me and my boyfriend went on January 2nd and had a great experience because there was a handful of whale sightings! We would definitely book again if we come back during whale season💕”
See whales, dolphins, sea lions, and seabirds on a three-hour Monterey Bay cruise with an English-speaking guide and small-boat views.
“A fantastic 3 hours with an excellent guide (Kevin?). Boat felt safe, spent about 45 mins with a humpback cow and her calf, a few minutes with dolphin playing near boat and a great trip around to Carmel and back. Very informative on all things marine and bird related. Highly recommend.”
Review of San Diego’s 2 to 3 hour whale and dolphin cruise, with practical advice on sightings, parking, clothing, cost, and value.
“It was a beautiful tour. We saw tons of dolphins but no whales. Would recommend this tour to everyone.”
Review of Maui’s Quicksilver whale watching cruise from Maalaea, with tips on seating, whales, price, motion, parking, and what to expect.
“Very expensive for the experience you get and they stop very far from the whales and we can hardly see them.”
A practical review of Newport Beach’s $27 whale-watching cruise, with seasonal wildlife tips, parking advice, itinerary details, and honest value notes.
“Super well run, and the guide/announcer was great -- she sang songs that were fun, told interesting data, got wxcited when we spotted pods of dolphin. She made it more fun for everyone.”
Review of Juneau’s small-group whale tour, with a 20-person catamaran, wildlife viewing, pickup tips, pricing, and booking advice.
“This is singularly great tour! Love Cedar’s chat on the bus. Loved TJ and Andrew show was great but the mic needs to go up. I could only hear every second word. We saw so many whales it was rediculous! It was amazing to be out on the sea! Note, they need to mention that tips are encouraged for the staff because I had none and I hate not having a tip.”
Pick a coast, a season or a boat.
