Table Of Content
Cape Ann Whale Watch's boat, "The Hurricane II," boasts 115 feet of length with over 400 ft of whale watching room from the railings of the upper and lower observation decks. There is a heated, furnished indoor cabin with a full service galley serving hot meals, snacks and cold beverages (and a fully stocked bar for the adults). On the ride to and from the location of the whales, on-board educators provide hands-on learning tools for kids and adults to learn more about the whales and conservation. Teaching tools include a cool 3D model of Stellwagen Bank, whale baleen and teeth, and recordings of whale songs.
Interaction With Researchers
Boats are prohibited from approaching them, so whale-watching tours focus on the other three species that allow for close encounters. We booked the $74 per person tour through Get Your Guide's website. Their email confirmation instructed us to arrive 30 minutes before departure and to pick up physical tickets at the Boston Harbor City Cruises kiosk.
What To Expect on a Whale-Watching Tour from Boston
Regardless, the tour set a new high mark for me regarding what to expect on a whale-watching tour. Fin whales are easily recognizable by their distinctive coloring, dark back and white underbelly, and a unique asymmetrical coloration on their lower jaw. They're often seen gracefully gliding through the water, occasionally showing their dorsal fin and blowing a tall spout of water into the air. Humpbacks are known for their long migrations, traveling thousands of miles between their feeding grounds in the cold waters off Boston and their breeding grounds in warmer climates. The opportunity to see a friend get married in Boston led to one of the best whale-watching tours of my life.
Preschools & Schools Guide
Yes, visitors are not only allowed but encouraged to take photographs on the cruise. Almost all catamarans these days come with a climate-controlled interior cabin, cushy suits, and a snack counter. Visitors are advised to arrive 15 minutes before their chosen time slot. Visitors can choose between four tours starting between 10 am to 2.30 pm, depending on their preferences.
Boston Harbor Cruises offers Boston’s only three-hour whale watch, which gets you to and from the whales in less time and gives you more time to watch. Researchers from the Whale Center of New England, the foremost authority on the region’s whale population, narrate all of the trips. The three kinds of whales you're likely to see when whale watching from Boston are humpback whales, fin whales (finback whales), and minke whales. Atlantic white-sided dolphins may also be seen along with them in these waters. While the majority of whales we saw were humpbacks, I'd like to introduce you to all three.
They’re here! Whale watch group captures video of shark devouring seal off Cape Cod - Boston 25 News
They’re here! Whale watch group captures video of shark devouring seal off Cape Cod.
Posted: Mon, 22 May 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Some companies offer a whale sighting guarantee and if you don’t see any whales on your trip, you will be given some sort of compensation like a ticket for another trip. Then with time to visit various feeding spots and the return trip, your entire voyage will be between 3 and 4 hours long. To reach the prime locations to see whales, you will have to travel on the boat for about an hour.
We spent about 35 minutes in the presence of many whales, some of which came incredibly close to our vessel. The guide, speaking with us the whole time, sounded legitimately impressed by the numbers. The 50-foot-long, 70-ton North Atlantic right whale also visits the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary but is critically endangered.
Passengers can bring personal items like cameras, sunscreen, and hats. Food restrictions prohibit bringing outside food, but snacks and beverages are available for purchase. Baggage limitations include a recommendation to bring only necessary items for comfort. Heather Tourgee has served as an editorial intern for Yankee Magazine and the Old Farmer's Almanac. She is a junior Environmental Nonfiction major at Middlebury College with a minor in German. When she isn't working in Dublin, you can find her on the rugby pitch, traveling, or enjoying the outdoors.
Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises
Have a chance to encounter magnificent Humpbacks, agile Finbacks, petite Minkes, and other critically endangered whales that you may have never seen or heard of before. The high-speed catamaran provides quick hop-on and hop-off service. If you do want to be inside at a table, this group member (who also loved the tour) advises getting to the cruise very early.
See Boston’s top 4 attractions, handpicked and packaged together at a 45% savings, with CityPASS®. Visit the attractions at your own pace, in any order, over 9-days. One easy purchase and mobile ticket delivery saves you time and money. Sentiments from community members eager to provide a resilient and inclusive waterfront will be on display as part of the Voices of the Waterfront photo exhibition. Here are some questions visitors usually ask before booking tickets for the Boston Whale Watching Tour. We recommend dressing up for the whale-watching tour, depending on the season.
On TripAdvisor, 7 Seas Whale Watch is the top tour out of 27 tours in Gloucester. Operating since 1983, 7 Seas is home to three generations of sea captains. Additionally, Cape Ann sells seasickness pills on board for those with weaker stomachs for just $1. Guests report that the interior cabins are very comfortable and the three decks provide optimum viewing opportunity.
It’s a pretty popular activity which is why I wrote this post about whale-watching season in Boston and tours you can take from both Boston and nearby Gloucester. By comparison, my low mark was set on a whale-watching trip from Reykjavik, Iceland. We didn't see any whales (only dolphins), though I was visiting at the tail end of the season (April to September). Passengers may see Humpback, Finback, and Minke Whales and other marine life during the 4 to 4.5 hour trip.
As a tour guide and resident of the Boston area, I’ve had the pleasure of going on a few whale-watching excursions over the years. While a limited number of tickets are available on-site every day when we open, the Aquarium frequently sells out. It's hard to know whether our experience was indicative of all July whale-watching trips or whether we were fortunate.
These services often run deals on at least a few whale-watching tours, allowing you to save some money on tickets. You’ll be guided by a naturalist from the Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation who will share insight on whale spotting. The tour guides receive high praise for their abundance of knowledge and desire to answer questions.
Newburyport Whale Watch also offers six-hour birding trips in partnership with Mass Audubon. But beyond mere observation lies an opportunity for a deeper connection with the ocean’s giants. Stay tuned to discover how this immersive experience blends adventure and education seamlessly, leaving participants with lasting memories and a newfound appreciation for marine life.
Their experience in whale behavior allows for educational commentary during the cruise, enhancing the opportunity for guests to witness captivating marine life sightings. One review even highlighted a particularly positive experience of spotting 5 humpback whales during the tour, emphasizing the exceptional tour experience provided. Participants praised the informative and engaging nature of the tour, which included the opportunity to interact with researchers from the Whale Center of New England. The most commonly sighted whales on the tour are humpback whales, but visitors may also see fin whales, minke whales, and pilot whales. This period corresponds to the prime whale watching season when whales migrate to the waters near Boston.
No comments:
Post a Comment