4 Unmissable Private Whale Watching Charters in the USA

1.Private 2hr Supreme Whale/Dolphin Watching Tour, Newport Beach CA

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 161 reviews Our pick

Set out from Newport Harbor with Captain Nick or another USCG licensed captain on a private two-hour whale and dolphin trip. The small twin-engine catamaran carries up to six people, giving you a quick, personal ride toward local wildlife. Expect harbor views, naturalist commentary, and possible dolphins, whales, and sea lions.

“We went on a Dolphin/Whale watching excursion with Nick from East Meets West yesterday morning. It was honestly the trip of a lifetime! Nick was our captain and is extremely knowledgeable about marine life. We learned alRead more”

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2.Private Luxury Whale Watch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 139 reviews · 4 hours (approx.)

Meet your captain and naturalist after pickup from your ship or hotel, then ride to Auke Bay and board a private yacht. Over about four hours, watch for humpback whales, orcas, sea lions, seals, eagles, and bears. Champagne, beer, wine, soft drinks, coffee, tea, and snacks are included.

“So incredible! Our crew was super informative and an overall great time. We felt comfortable as soon as we got on the yacht thanks to Mallory and Captain Pete's awesome efforts! Saw bubble feeding and breaching! 10/10”

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3.Private Family Whale & Dolphin Adventure in San Diego

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 98 reviews · from $179Best value

Take a private three-hour boat trip from Mission Bay with Captain Rich of Tailwalker Whale & Dolphin Adventures. Your group of up to six has the whole boat, including an enclosed cabin, observation tower, restroom, safety gear, and bottled water. Look for dolphins, gray, humpback, fin, and blue whales, plus sea lions and other marine life.

“We enjoyed the experience of going out to see the Fin Whales, and are happy we did this excursion. But, in the future it might be a good idea to put more information on the description. We had difficulties finding the boat as the ‘Mission Bay Read more”

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4.Private Ketchikan Fishing Combo & Whale Watching/ Wildlife 5 HR

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 70 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $700

Spend five private hours with a Ketchikan captain such as Tony, Lukas, or Grayson, fishing for salmon, halibut, cod, and rockfish. Your trip includes gear, bait, water, snacks, wildlife viewing, possible whale sightings, and coastal scenery. No fishing experience is needed, and your catch can be processed and shipped home.

“Absolutely amazing experience! I had the best time on this charter. The captain really knows his stuff—tons of fishing experience and insider knowledge. He took us to all the right spots and had all the tricks to help us reel in a great catch.”

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