Sightseeing Cruises

Boston Whale Watching Cruise by New England Aquarium

Duration

3 hrs 30 mins

Free cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience

Book now, pay later

Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.

4.8/5(257)

Fumika O

Family

Verified booking

2 weeks ago

We were so lucky to see two pairs of mother and calf humpback whales! Both pairs swam peacefully alongside our boat, giving us plenty of time to watch them closely. Seeing their tails dive into the ocean was beautiful, but we were especially amazed when a calf rolled over, slapped its body with its flippers a few times, and made a vocal sound! By the end of the tour, my two elementary school-aged sons had completely fallen in love with whales. This became an unforgettable memory for our family.

Natali R

Group

Verified booking

2 weeks ago

Seeing the whales was absolutely magical and unforgettable! It was an incredible experience to watch these amazing animals up close. The service on the boat was outstanding—everything was very well organized, the narration was informative and engaging, and the boat was spotless. The entire crew did a fantastic job, making the trip enjoyable from start to finish. I highly recommend this experience to anyone!

Tina E

Couple

Verified booking

6 days ago

The crew, boat and onsite experience was exceptional. The booking/refund admin experience, not so much. We had one person drop out and instead of refunding one ticket, we had to cancel and rebook for all of us, meaning that we couldn't get the same day/time originally planned. They certainly need to fix their booking issues but the event staff was on point in every way. Def worth every penny spent.

Robert H

Couple

Verified booking

6 days ago

Very pleasant boat ride on an extremely hot day, at first we weren't sure we would see any whales and then we were surrounded by up to 25-30 humpbacks - amazing. There were also Minkie whales about. The Aquarium staff were very good at telling us about the whales, only slight drawback was audio system at back of ship very difficult to understand.

Set sail on a 3 to 4-hour whale watching cruise, led by naturalists from the New England Aquarium—one of the world’s leading marine conservation and research institutions.

Spot varieties—humpback, fin, & minke whales and even dolphins, all in their natural habitats at Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary.

Step out onto the spacious outdoor viewing decks or sit comfortably inside, taking in panoramic views through large glass windows.

Ask the expert naturalists questions you may have about all that you see—marine life, their behaviours, and habitats.

3 to 4 hour cruise

Knowledgeable naturalist from the New England Aquarium on board

Comfortable high-speed catamaran with outdoor observation decks

Climate-controlled cabin with large windows

Cushioned seats

State-of-the-art audio and video systems

Food & beverages from the snack bar

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

257 reviews
How do we collect reviews?
These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
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Guests from United Kingdom, Canada, Italy and over 21 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Fumika O
Family
Verified booking
2 weeks ago
We were so lucky to see two pairs of mother and calf humpback whales! Both pairs swam peacefully alongside our boat, giving us plenty of time to watch them closely. Seeing their tails dive into the ocean was beautiful, but we were especially amazed when a calf rolled over, slapped its body with its flippers a few times, and made a vocal sound! By the end of the tour, my two elementary school-aged sons had completely fallen in love with whales. This became an unforgettable memory for our family.
Alison M
Couple
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
The whale watching cruise was amazing. We saw so many whales while also being taught great information by the naturalist. It takes around an hour to get to the area where whales can be found, but then you spend at least an hour viewing whales. We saw 8 known adult whales and 2 calves. We watched whales tail and full body breach, flipper slap and fluke dive. The boat is clean and has snacks and drinks available for purchase. The crew was friendly.
Morgen B
Solo
Verified booking
2 weeks ago
The amount of information provided about the whales including the whales names and how they got their names. Of course I really enjoyed the amount of whale sightings.
Manfred H
Couple
Verified booking
2 weeks ago
What a fantatic Trip! Never had had such a whale expiriennce. Was much more than i expected. Personal very nice and explained very good. A must do in Boston
Rick H
Couple
Verified booking
2 weeks ago
The crew new where to go to find the whale's, Seen 20 humpback and 5 seals. The captain stayed a little longer, said he was having fun watching also.

Getting started

Meet your crew at the boarding point mentioned on your ticket. After a quick security scan, head to the high-speed catamaran. Departure is from One Long Wharf, located between the Long Wharf Marriott Hotel and the New England Aquarium.

What to expect

Enjoy the luxuries of the boat—spacious outdoor observation decks and climate-controlled indoor cabins furnished with big windows, cushioned seats, tables, state-of-the-art audio and video systems, and a snack counter where you can purchase snacks and drinks.

Features

Live guide: The tour is led by a naturalist from the New England Aquarium, who will answer all your (relevant) questions and help you better understand & appreciate the marine ecosystem.

Boston harbor views: As you speed across the Massachusetts coastal waters, you can spot landmarks such as Castle Island and Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park before reaching your destination—Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary.

Marine life: Spot a variety of whales such as humpback, fin, and minke whales; white-sided dolphins, and more. The sanctuary is a rich feeding ground for marine life.

What to bring

Visitors who are prone to motion sickness are advised to take medication before boarding the boat.

What's not allowed

Smoking is strictly prohibited.

Accessibility

The cruise is wheelchair accessible.

Additional information

Infant tickets must be purchased onboard.

If you're prone to motion sickness, we recommend taking preventive medication before boarding to ensure a comfortable experience.

The cruise timings may vary due to the unpredictability of sightings, so be prepared to accommodate any delays.

Food and beverages are available for purchase onboard.

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the boarding point

Please arrive at the boarding point 30 mins before the scheduled time of your cruise to avoid any delays.

Boarding point

Board your cruise at Boston Harbor City Cruises - Long Wharf.

Address: 1 Long Wharf, Boston, MA 02210.

Landmark: Located between the Long Wharf Marriott Hotel and the New England Aquarium.

Get directions to the boarding point