Where to go · WHALE WATCHING AND WILDLIFE CRUISES IN THE USA
Local boats, local seasons. These 15 whale watching and wildlife cruises in the USA are compared on price, sailing length and how close the encounters usually get.
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.”
Review of Ketchikan’s 2.5-hour whale and wildlife cruise, with practical tips on wildlife sightings, meeting points, weather, value, and crew.
“Great staff. Very friendly and accommodating. They worked hard to make our experience wonderful. The boat was clean and well maintained.”
Review of Seattle’s whale watching cruise, with orca sightings, wildlife, onboard naturalists, practical tips, costs, and honest drawbacks.
“Not only did we see Orca, we saw a family pod of Biggs Transients. We even got to see them hunt! Our captains, support staff, and naturalist guide were incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. 10/10 would go again!”
Review of Seattle’s Pier 69 whale-watching cruise, with orcas, humpbacks, onboard naturalists, seating tips, pricing, and practical advice.
“Outstanding experience! There’s always a chance the wildlife will not cooperate but we got lucky! Wonderful crew and the onboard naturalist was very knowledgeable.”
See whales, sea otters, and harbor seals near Hoonah on a small-group boat tour with family-run Glacier Wind Charters.
“Fantastic experience. Family run operation. Clean boat, great guides, great experience for our family! 100% recommend!”
Review of Juneau’s 3.5-hour whale watching cruise, with heated boats, local guides, mountain views, snacks, and strong wildlife sightings.
“The bus ride to the port with Leon was excellent, well narrated and felt safe. Upon arrival, we were greeted by Ryltt and Ashley who walked us to the boat. Captain Larry was very friendly and led us to SEVERAL spots where we saw upwards of 6 or 7 whales, including fluke slapping. Highly recommend.”
Review of the Icy Strait Whale & Wildlife Endeavor, a six-person cruise-port tour with whales, orcas, bears, and a whale-sighting refund.
“Seth is a wonderful host and captain and gave us a fabulous tour. He first picked us up at the cruise port and drove us to the marina in Hoonah which was about a 10 minute ride. The boat was clean and had hot drinks, water and snacks although we were so busy watching for whales we didn't need the drinks. The boat also has a restroom. Seth was so knowledgeable and friendly and took us to see Orcas, humpback, sea otters and eagles. It was an amazing adventure and a highlight of our Alaska trip. Seth will not disappoint you!”
Review of Sitka’s small-group whale watching tour, with practical advice on wildlife, guides, boats, price, pickup, weather, and value.
“Worth every penny. Small group so much better than the larger boats. Mike the guide was concerned about weather and our fun. We saw Salmon. Bears. Sea Otters. And WHALES!!!!!”
Review of Sitka Sound Tours whale watching, with small groups, local guides, wildlife sightings, pricing, logistics, and honest drawbacks.
“Captain Rick was nice but unless you’re sitting right up front next to him, it is nothing more than a super expensive boat ride. He didn’t talk to anyone other than the couple sitting up front with him. Barely any commentary on Sitka or what we were seeing. Saw a whale and a couple of sea lions on a buoy but even when we slowed down to look at those animals, Captain Rick didn’t volunteer any information. Definitely did not feel the trip was worth the money.”
Review of Sitka’s 2-hour private whale watching cruise, with humpbacks, sea lions, otters, guides, pricing, weather tips, and booking advice.
“Tad is an amazing Captain. He went out of his way to make sure we had an experience beyond our wildest dreams. We saw whales with their calves, sea lions, eagles, otters, and a mama brown bear with her 2 cubs. All along, Tad informed us about the local culture, history, and the importance of the local ecosystem. Very approachable, Tad made this a wonderful experience beyond our expectations. We recommend Tad highly and without hesitation.”
Review of Ketchikan’s private five-hour salmon and halibut charter with whale watching, wildlife, scenic stops, and catch shipping.
“Capt. Luke took my family out for a fantastic day of fishing..we tagged out in less than 2 hours…Great boat and equipment …I would highly recommend this charter!”
Review of Cape May’s 3-hour whale, dolphin, and bird cruise, with marine biologists, touch tanks, pricing, sightings, and booking tips.
“Whale watching trips are dependent on whales “showing up”. This particular cruise was loaded with sightings of whales, dolphins, birds, and even a bald eagle. The real benefit of the cruise were the naturalists on board who gave information about the animals - whether we saw them or not. It was an educational, well organized, and well worth our time trip.”
Review of Ketchikan’s 150-minute whale-watching cruise, with wildlife, hot drinks, blankets, practical tips, and honest value advice.
“The captain and the guide were awesome. Knowledgeable and fun to be around.”
Review of Sitka’s small-group whale watching cruise, with wildlife, Mount Edgecumbe views, pricing, logistics, value, and booking tips.
“Amazing tour! Rick has a spotless boat. My family was very comfortable and loved that he had heat and snacks. We saw whales, otters, sea lions and eagles. It absolutely met all of our expectations and more.”
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