Water activity

Boston: Whale Watching Catamaran Cruise

Water activity

Boston: Whale Watching Catamaran Cruise

Activity provider:Boston Harbor City Cruises
Likely to sell out

From US$ 74.21 per person

Likely to sell out

Join this whale watching cruise to spot many whale and dolphin breeds off the coast of Boston. See these magnificent creatures close up from the deck of your ship with a professional, knowledgeable guide.

About this activity

Cancellation policy
This activity is non-refundable
Duration 3.5 hours
Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide
English

What customers loved

Experience

Highlights
  • See whales in their natural habitat
  • Talk with researchers from the Whale Center of New England
  • Enjoy a 3-hour cruise
  • Spot White Sided Dolphins
Full description

Go whale watching off the coast of Boston on a comfortable, high-speed catamaran with maximized outdoor and indoor viewing capacity. Look out for humpback, finback, and minke whales, as well as white-sided dolphins on this adventure cruise.

Benefit from the best-guided experience, with professional researchers from the Whale Center of New England, the region's foremost authority on whale populations, on-hand to provide you with expert commentary.

After you find your crew at the dock, board the high-speed catamaran that offers the fastest, most comfortable way to explore the Atlantic. 

Make the most of the 3 outside viewing decks, climate-controlled cabin space with cushioned seating, tables, state-of-the-art sound and video systems, and a galley offering snacks and beverages for purchase. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for: 

Humpback whales

The humpback’s name comes from the way its back arches out of the water when preparing for a deep dive. “Megaptera” is its true scientific name, which means “large-winged,” in reference to its long flippers.

Finback whales

Finbacks are second only to Blue Whales in overall size, measuring in at 45-70 feet in length and weighing approximately 40 tons as full-grown adults.

Minke whales

A sleek, small dolphin-like baleen whale, Minkes are the most abundant whale in the world today with a population numbering well over 1 million worldwide.

White-sided dolphins

Found only in the North Atlantic, in waters just south of New England and north to Norway, these playful mammals feed on single prey such as squid, unlike whales, who feast on large numbers of small fish.

Includes
  • 3-hour cruise
  • Whale and dolphin sighting
  • Comfortable catamaran including outside decks
  • Climate-controlled cabin space
  • Cushioned seating and tables
  • State-of-the-art sound and video systems
  • On-board bar (purchases at own expense)
  • Professional, knowledgeable guide
  • Discussion with researchers from Whale Center of New England
  • Local taxes and fees
  • Food and Drink (available for purchase)
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Tips

Select participants and date

Participants

Date

Meeting point

Your tour departs from One Long Wharf, located between the Long Wharf Marriott Hotel and the New England Aquarium. Upon arrival, please proceed to the boarding location of your cruise, where you will present your voucher for scanning and exchange for a boarding pass.

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Important information

What to bring

  • Comfortable shoes
  • Sunglasses
  • Sun hat
  • Camera
  • Sunscreen
  • Jacket
  • Weather-appropriate clothing
  • Binoculars

Know before you go

  •  Infants are free, however, make sure you select the free infant ticket option to ensure admittance on the cruise
  • The location of the whales may require more travel time, extending the trip beyond 3 hours. Please allow for additional time in your schedule
  • The average trip is 3.5 to 4 hours in duration
  • Departure times are subject to change and so your departure time may have changed. Phone and email contact details will be on your voucher
  • Please visit the local partner’s website directly for information regarding CoVid restrictions and inclement weather. Cancellations will be posted on the main page of the website the night before each departure
  • Local taxes and fees are included
  • Food, drinks, and gratuities are not included
Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.6 /5

based on 1467 reviews

Review summary

  • Guide
    4.8/5
  • Transportation
    4.7/5
  • Service
    4.5/5
  • Organization
    4.6/5

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I enjoyed the wheel watching ride, but was a bit disappointed that we didn't see more whales. We only saw two tails and 10 whales total. The people who ran the boat were very friendly and shared a tremendous amount of good information. They should change the arrival time in the fall months, we ended up waiting for 40+minutes to board.

November 10, 2022

What an incredible experience! The entire crew was so kind, and very informative! We saw 2 groups of humpbacks and learned so much about them from our guide. You can tell this group is very passionate about what they do. Such a cool experience- highly recommend!

October 31, 2022

Turned up at the wharf to see a small group of people sitting waiting for the boat to turn up. Had 45 minutes until the tour so decided to explore around the wharf. When we got back, the line was huge. Convinced that this must be about three ships worth of people, we were shocked to learn that all of these people were going with us. That being said, once you got on the boat, there was plenty of room to pitch up at your preferred spot, either inside or out on deck. I would recommend taking a drink/flask with you as the line for the servers was very long at times. If you struggle to stand, you may want to arrive early to get the start of the line to secure a seat but that will hinder your view as they are not around the side rails and that’s where the majority of people stand to see the action.

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October 28, 2022

Product ID: 7101