Environmentally friendly and interactive, whale-watching cruises cast off from locations around the globe, including Boston, Reykjavik, Oahu, San Diego, Hermanus, Sydney and Los Cabos.
You can take to the water in a kayak, sailboat or Zodiac raft, or combine the experience with a relaxing lunch cruise aboard a luxury yacht with panoramic 360-degree views. And if you fail to spot a whale, most operators guarantee a complimentary repeat cruise.
As well as humpbacks, southern rights, minkes and orcas, you might spot spinner dolphins, porpoises, seabirds, seals and turtles. To enhance the experience, an onboard marine expert will share informative facts about the wildlife swimming by, answer questions and provide essential background to the area’s coastal environment.
Whale-watching tours operate seasonally. For example, they depart from July to November for whale-watching trips to Hermanus from Cape Town, or May to October for the Australian Whale Sanctuary near Brisbane.
Whale-watching cruises can be combined with complementary activities. Add a whale-watching cruise to your Boston day trip, combine wildlife spotting with a hot springs tour in Iceland, or include a cruise along the Gold Coast’s canals from Brisbane in Queensland.
To get the most from your whale-watching tour, come equipped with a weatherproof jacket, flat shoes, sunscreen, your camera and a pair of binoculars. Most cruises provide drinks and snacks.
Latest Replies
Reply by Viator, May 2013
Doing what: Sydney Eco Whale Watching Small Group Cruise
We saw the first whales in this year!!:) It was too cold but Tony gave us jackets and it was ok:) We didn't see how whales jump, we saw just one lazy jump:)) but in any case it was great experiance!! U have to be patiant when u do the tour like that:)
Reply by Viator, May 2013
Doing what: Whale Watching & Wildlife Eco Tour from San Francisco
Very good experience. Good guide, good captain. Viator could have said up front that there was no food provided and that there were snacks to buy on board and what kind. Viator people weren't helpful with retreaving my confirmation number but the actual staff on the boat were stellar.
Reply by Viator, May 2013
Doing what: Maui Whale Watch Cruise
We had three choices for times for this tour and I booked the 7:30am thinking we could get it in and have the rest of the day but when we showed up at 7:10 as asked we were told that since it's the end of the season and they didn't have a lot of response for the early time they had cancelled and we could try to get in the 9:30 am or 12:30 noon tour. Needless to say, it might have been a good idea to get hold of me and let us know so we weren't sitting around for several hours. Once we got on the boat I thought it would be great it we could see something but realizing it was the end of the season didn't expect much. As we approached another whaling boat, the skipper put it in idle and within two minutes about 100 yards away an adult whale came about 80% out of the water and breeched just like the picture with this review(except better). Amazing!! There were four or five groups of whales including one baby who was jumping all the time. Fantastic tour!!! Highly recommended!
