Best of · WHALE WATCHING CRUISES IN THE USA

15 Standout Whale Watching Cruises in the USA

26 tours  ·  from $30 a head

Good whale watching cruises in the USA sell out weeks ahead in season and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.

Boston: City Cruises Whale Watching Cruise - The 1.5-hour search at Stellwagen Bank
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Boston: City Cruises Whale Watching Cruise

1.City Cruises Whale Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 4,710 reviews · 3h 30m · from $85Our pick

Join Boston Harbor City Cruises at Long Wharf for a 3.5 to 4-hour whale watch toward Stellwagen Bank. Naturalists from the New England Aquarium explain the wildlife as you search for humpback, fin, and minke whales, plus dolphins. The high-speed boat has outdoor decks, warm indoor seating, restrooms, and snacks for purchase.

“A fantastic trip and as promised we saw whales in the wild. Lucky we had great weather but do take a jacket even if it’s a warm day.”

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City Cruises Boston Whale Watching Cruise by High-Speed Boat - Why Stellwagen Bank matters
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City Cruises Boston Whale Watching Cruise by High-Speed Boat

2.City Cruises Boston Whale Watching Cruise by High-Speed Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3,115 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $85

Board a high-speed catamaran at Boston’s Long Wharf for about 3.5 hours on the water. A naturalist, including guides such as Colin on some sailings, explains whale behavior and conservation as you search Stellwagen Bank for humpbacks, fin whales, minkes, dolphins, and seabirds. The boat has outdoor decks, an indoor cabin, restrooms, and a snack bar.

“OMG, what am amazing experience! Colin was a great guide with lots of fun facts, and the captain was able to find great spots for sightings of the humpback whales. AH-MAZING. So, so glad we diid this excursion.”

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San Diego: Whale Watching Cruise - What you might see during the 2.5-hour to 3-hour cruise
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San Diego Whale Watching Cruise

3.San Diego Whale Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,317 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $85Top rated

Board the sailing schooner America at Shelter Island for a 4 to 4.5-hour whale-watching cruise. Guides such as Fathom share facts about gray whales, dolphins, sea lions, and San Diego’s waterfront. The trip includes snacks, non-alcoholic drinks, free parking, a whale sighting guarantee, and a no-seasickness promise.

“I was a little skeptical when there weren’t many traditional seats and we sat on deck boxes. However we had a great experience. The ride was smooth and we had a great view. We were able to find 2 groups of gray whales and a pod of 150 dolphins. We even got to see them stampede. A bucket list event for sure! The crew was knowledgeable and very helpful. Highly recommend this tour. (And we were glad we brought coats!)”

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San Diego Whale Watching & Dolphin Cruise - Ten minutes to the Pacific
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San Diego Whale Watching & Dolphin Cruise

4.San Diego Whale Watching & Dolphin Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,588 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $71

Leave Mission Bay and reach the open Pacific in about 10 minutes. A captain and onboard naturalists help you spot whales, dolphins, sea lions, and porpoises while explaining their behavior. Look for commentary from guides such as Allison or Jennifer, and bring layers because the ocean can feel 10 to 15 degrees cooler than the bay.

“It was an awesome experience! The crew was all very nice. We saw lots of whales and they got close to the boat! Highly recommended!”

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Whale Watching Cruise from Newport Beach - What you might see on the water
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Whale-Watching Cruise from Newport Beach

5.Whale-Watching Cruise from Newport Beach

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 927 reviews · 2 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $31

Cruise from Newport Harbor for about 2 hours and 15 minutes aboard a 65-foot boat, watching for whales, dolphins, seals, and sea lions. Captains and guides such as Dani, Jill, Harrison, and Addison explain the marine life and help spot animals. Bring warm layers, sunscreen, and patience: sightings are never guaranteed.

“Our experience was so excellent! Dani, our captain, and Jill, our guide, made this whale watching cruise unforgettable. We saw ridiculously scenic coastline views, which added to the magic of thr trip. While we only saw bottlenose dolphins (tons of them), the cruise was still spectacular and definitely worth the ticket price. Plus, due to a last minute change on their end we happened to get upgraded to the higher end smaller boat with less people. There were lots of moments of sheer joy (we geeked out pretty hard) at getting to visit the dolphins up close in their natural environment. Others around us expressed feeling similarly. What also set…”

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Maui: Whale Watching Cruise with Open Bar from Ka'anapali Beach - What the naturalist commentary adds
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Maui: Whale Watching Cruise with Open Bar from Ka’anapali Beach

6.Whale Watching Cruise with Open Bar from Ka’anapali Beach

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 802 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $115

Set out from Ka’anapali Beach on Sea Maui’s 42-passenger catamaran for about two hours of humpback whale watching. Naturalists explain migration and behavior while you watch from regular seats or open bow nets. Snacks, unlimited drinks for adults 21 and older, parking validation, and return transport to the beach are included.

“This was so much fun! The whale watching was incredible and the crew members were so knowledgeable and a BLAST! Would definitely recommend!!”

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Alaska Whale Watching Cruise w/ 3 HOURS on the water - From your cruise ship to Auke Bay
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Alaska Whale Watching Cruise w/ 3 HOURS on the water

7.Alaska Whale Watching Cruise w/ 3 HOURS on the water

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 801 reviews · 4 hours 5 minutes (approx.) · from $159

Ride a courtesy shuttle from your Juneau cruise dock to Auke Bay, then spend three hours on the water with Harv and Marvs naturalists and captain. Look for humpbacks, orcas, sea lions, bald eagles, and other wildlife from a double-decker boat with indoor cabins, restrooms, snacks, and wide viewing decks. Mendenhall Glacier viewing depends on weather.

“We took the whale watching tour with glacier viewing. The day we were there was rainy and foggy so we didn’t go to the glacier. We don’t miss that at all. We went out and the team found a spot where a mama and baby humpback whale were playing. They breached multiple times, put their tails and fins in the air, and put on a full show! We couldn’t believe what we were seeing. The crew was just as excited as we were! After they moved on we drove further north and got to see a couple orcas too! Even with the rain, it was an incredible trip that we…”

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Whale and Dolphin Watching Cruise from Cape May - What happens during the three-hour search
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Whale and Dolphin Watching Cruise from Cape May

8.Whale and Dolphin Watching Cruise from Cape May

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 693 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $45

Sail from Miss Chris Marina aboard the Cape May Whale Watcher for up to three hours of dolphin, whale, porpoise, and seabird watching. A captain and certified naturalist provide live commentary on local wildlife and Cape May’s maritime past. The large boat has restrooms, indoor seating, and a snack bar, but whale sightings are never certain.

“Bringing loved ones on this nice journey is something that everyone would really enjoy. Me and my boyfriend had went and he’s never done anything like this so it was so nice to see how happy and excited he was about all the dolphins we saw❤️”

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San Diego: Whale Watching Cruise - What you might see during the 2.5-hour to 3-hour cruise
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San Diego Whale Watching Cruise

9.San Diego Whale Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 663 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $54

Spend about 3.5 hours cruising from San Diego’s waterfront in search of gray, humpback, or fin whales, plus dolphins, sea lions, and seabirds. A naturalist explains migration and ocean life, while indoor and outdoor seating lets you choose your comfort level. Morning and afternoon trips cost $54 per person, with a rain check or refund if weather cancels the cruise.

“Unfortunately no whales but the cruise was lovely. Nice large boat with plenty of room to walk around and see the views.”

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Monterey: Sunset Whale Watching Cruise with A Guide - Meeting the boat at Fisherman’s Wharf
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Monterey: Sunset Whale Watching Cruise with A Guide

10.Sunset Whale Watching Cruise with A Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 519 reviews · 3 hours · from $75

Meet Discovery Whale Watch at Monterey’s Fisherman’s Wharf for a three-hour sunset cruise. A marine biologist or naturalist, including guides such as Isaiah, Andrew, Kevin, or Maddie, explains whale behavior, migration, and conservation while the crew searches for humpbacks, gray and blue whales, dolphins, sea lions, otters, and sometimes orcas.

“This is great. Izaih and Matt are great. We were very lucky and saw 7 humpbacks!! However, sunset is best to do this aesthetically, but wrap up warm!!”

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Maui Premium Sunset Dinner Cruise & Whale Watch - Whale watching with a naturalist on board
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Maui Premium Sunset Dinner Cruise & Whale Watch

11.Maui Premium Sunset Dinner Cruise & Whale Watch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 504 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $189

Cruise from Maalaea Harbor for about three hours, with a four-course dinner, alcoholic drinks, sunset views, and a chance to see migrating humpback whales. A naturalist explains whale behavior, and some trips use a hydrophone to let you hear whale song. Lana‘i, Moloka‘i, and McGregor Point add to the view.

“We loved seeing all the whales! We had a great time wit our family. We would definitely do the tour again. Captain Andrew was great and so was the crew.”

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Long Beach: Whale and Dolphin Watching Cruise - A catamaran designed for watching wildlife
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Long Beach: Whale and Dolphin Watching Cruise

12.Whale and Dolphin Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 488 reviews · 2h 30m · from $45

Spend about 150 minutes aboard Harbor Breeze’s stable catamaran, guided by Aquarium of the Pacific educators and an experienced crew. Cruise past Long Beach, the Queen Mary, the Carnival terminal, and San Pedro Breakwater while looking for humpback, fin, and minke whales, dolphins, seals, sea lions, and seabirds. Bring warm layers and keep expectations flexible.

“I enjoyed the whole experience. The guides and captains were fantastic!”

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From Juneau: Whale Watching Cruise with Snacks - Meeting below the Mt. Roberts Tramway
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From Juneau: Whale Watching Cruise with Snacks

13.Whale Watching Cruise with Snacks

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 427 reviews · 3 hours · from $154

Join Dolphin Jet Boat Tours for a 25-minute ride from downtown Juneau to Auke Bay, then spend two hours searching Favorite Channel, Stephens Passage, Lynn Canal, or Saginaw Channel. Naturalists such as Nia, Derek, Rio, or Mia share whale facts while the captain handles the boat. Binoculars, hot drinks, water, and snacks are included.

“Captain Perry and Rio were awesome! The boat ride was very smooth and informative! We saw quite a few whales and sea lions!”

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Newport Beach: Whale and Dolphin-Watching Cruise - From 309 Palm Street to the Balboa Pavilion
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Newport Beach: Whale and Dolphin-Watching Cruise

14.Whale and Dolphin-Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 415 reviews · 2h 30m · from $30Best value

Cruise from Newport Beach for 150 minutes with an English-speaking captain and crew who explain local marine life. Look for dolphins, sea lions, gray whales, blue whales, humpbacks, fin whales, and more. The boat follows the Newport Coast toward Laguna Beach, with calm water, ocean views, and a reported 96% chance of seeing whales or dolphins.

“We didn’t spot any whales but what we did see was very special to share as a family”

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Seattle: Half-Day Wildlife and Whale Watching Cruise - The boat ride through the Salish Sea
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Seattle: Half-Day Wildlife and Whale Watching Cruise

15.Half-Day Wildlife and Whale Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 378 reviews · 4 hours · from $148

From Pier 69, cruise the Salish Sea for 3 to 5 hours with an English-speaking naturalist. Look for orcas, humpback, gray, and minke whales, plus seals, sea lions, porpoises, and bald eagles. The boat is wheelchair accessible, with food, drinks, binocular rentals, and optional window-seat upgrades available.

“Fun trip, friendly crew. The trip was not to long and we did see plenty windlijfe.”

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