The Bucket-List Whale-Watching Tours to Book Now

Taking a whale-watching tour should be on everyone’s bucket list. Seeing these majestic, awe-inspiring creatures in their native habitats is unforgettable. From humpback whales to orcas, the United States has some top-tier whale-watching spots and tours worth experiencing.

These are some of the most highly recommended and informative American whale-watching tours, as well as everything you can expect should you choose to embark.

American Whale-Watching Tours: What to Expect

There are a variety of whale-watching tours in America. Some offer affordable excursions that only last a few hours, ideal if you’re only seeking a day trip. Others are all-inclusive cruises with overnight accommodations and informative tour guides to help you spot wildlife along your journey.

Regardless of the style of tour you choose, it’s important to expect one thing: sighting whales is never a guarantee. While the time of year you choose to cruise will help your odds of spotting these powerful creatures, it’s important to stay realistic. Whales are wild animals and may not be present on your tour, no matter how likely it appears.

Speaking of time of year, be sure to plan your American whale-watching tour around the migration patterns and dates of these whales.

The Best Time of Year to Take an American Whale-Watching Tour (Plus the Types of Whales You May See)

Multiple whale species migrate or are more active during specific times of year. It’s highly recommended to base your whale-watching tour around these seasonal shifts. This is especially true if you’re hoping to see one type of whale more than others.

These are the most commonly sighted whales on whale-watching tours, where you are most likely to see them, and when to book your trip:

• Humpback whales are common sights on whale-watching tours in Alaska and the West Coast. They feed in Alaskan waters from May to September before traveling south during the months of September to November. Humpbacks can also be seen dotting the East Coast.
• Orcas reside in and around the San Juan Islands of Washington as well as the rest of the West Coast. April-October are ideal times to spot them as they migrate and breed.
• Gray whales head for Mexico in December-February, making their way past most coastal towns on the West Coast. Oregon is a great state to visit if you’re hoping to spot this whale.
• Fin whales don’t swim terribly close to shore, but their peak season is from July to September. They can be seen best in California and some locations on the East Coast.
• Blue whales are extremely rare sightings; take this news story about the first sighting in Massachusetts after 20 years into consideration if you’re hoping to spot one. These enormous wonders venture from Alaska to Mexico during the months of April to September.

These Are the American Whale-Watching Tours You Should Book

If you’re ready to traverse the seas and marvel at the diverse wildlife of our oceans, check out these American whale-watching tours to find your perfect fit. Remember to book your cruise with whale migration times in mind!

All-Inclusive Cruise: Royal Caribbean’s 7-Night Alaska Experience

• Getting there: Depart from Seattle; return to Seattle 7 days later
• Accommodation options: Multiple cabins and inclusive meals through Royal Caribbean
• Wildlife typically seen: Harbor seals, Stellar sea lions, Dahl’s porpoises, humpback whales, orcas, sea otters, various bird species, including raptors
• Cost of tour: Starts at $818 per person, dependent on room type

Royal Caribbean offers numerous Alaskan cruises, but their 7-Night Alaska Experience cruise is one of the best for whale-watching. Not only will you have the opportunity to explore some of Alaska’s best National Parks and cities, but you’ll also have the option to take multiple whale-watching excursions.

Royal Caribbean offers cruisegoers guided whale-watching onboard a custom safari vessel as well as intimate kayak tours. Both include binoculars, naturalist guides, and even the opportunity to listen to whale calls using a hydrophone.

Plenty of Wildlife: Monterey Bay Whale Watch Trips

• Getting there: Located on Monterey Bay, CA’s Fisherman’s Wharf
• Accommodation options: Large boats with room for just over 100
• Wildlife typically seen: Orcas, blue whales, gray whales, dolphins, humpback whales, sea otters, mola mola, seals, sea lions, seabirds
• Cost of tour: $20-$210, depending on guest’s age and length of tour

It’s no secret that Monterey Bay is home to countless marine wildlife species. The infamous Monterey Bay Aquarium and its research centers are based here, as are multiple whale-watching tours. The Monterey Bay Whale Watch Trips is a fantastic company to check out for wildlife sightings in this spectacular area.

Offering exclusively day tours, this company has varying trip lengths. You can head out to sea for a brief four-hour trip or extend your time to a whopping 12 hours of potential whale sightings. Monterey has plenty of wildlife to see besides whales and you have a great chance of spotting these species year-round. 

Affordable and Informative: Dockside Charters Depoe Bay

• Getting there: Departs for up to two hours from Depoe Bay, OR
• Accommodation options: Comfortable and clean 50’ chartered vessel
• Wildlife typically seen: Gray whales, humpback whales, blue whales, seals, sea lions, seabirds
• Cost of tour: $20-$50, depending on age and length of tour

Located on the central Oregon coast, Depoe Bay is known as the whale-watching capital of Oregon. Pods of gray whales live off the shores of Depoe Bay from spring through fall, giving visitors flexibility when they choose to book. Dockside Charters Depoe Bay is informative, affordable, and convenient for spotting multiple whale species.

While tours given by this company are shorter than average, Dockside Charters is a family-owned business backed by decades of experience. Gray whales are frequently spotted alongside humpbacks, blue whales, and other wildlife species. Many guests aboard this tour see whales breach or spyhop, an action where whales pop their heads completely out of the water.

Best of the West Coast: Island Adventures

• Getting there: Find the boat along the docks of Cap Sante Marina in Anacortes, WA
• Accommodation options: 100’ vessel with three viewing decks and plush, heated interior
• Wildlife typically seen: Orcas, salmon, gray whales, blue whales, eagles, Stellar sea lions, sea otters, seabirds, seals
• Cost of tour: $79-$119, depending on age and departure season

There’s a reason there are so many different whales in and amongst the San Juan Islands in Washington. Fish and other favorite whale meals find themselves funneled through the unique channels of this string of islands. Based in Anacortes, Island Adventures has learned how to take advantage of these hungry whales.

An upscale and comfortable vessel takes whale-watching hopefuls on tours varying in length. You could enjoy the beauty and wildlife of this area for up to 12 hours, which may interest you considering just how many different whales you might see. In business since 1996, Island Adventures boasts a 97% likelihood of tour guests seeing whales.

Family-Friendly: Star of Honolulu Whale-Watching Tour

• Getting there: Departs from the Aloha Tower Marketplace, 15 minutes away from Waikiki, HI
• Accommodation options: Comfortable and large boat with multiple walking decks and an observation tower
• Wildlife typically seen: Humpback whales, pilot whales, sea turtles, dolphins, seabirds, flying fish, manta rays
• Cost of tour: $40-70 on early bird special; infants under 2 are free

Migrating whales are often sighted around Hawaii’s impossible islands, making whale-watching a luxurious and popular activity. The Star of Honolulu offers whale-watching tours during the winter months, namely January through March. They also ensure rebooking for free should your specific tour not see any whales.

It’s an ideal cruise to take with the kiddos as the vessel is large, electronically stabilized, includes informative, friendly staff, and even offers complimentary refreshments. Plus, Hawaii has a very different range of wildlife to spot compared to every other location on this list. You may see sea turtles, manta rays, and pilot whales on this cruise!

Best of the East Coast: Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co.

• Getting there: Located in downtown Bar Harbor, ME, near Acadia National Park
• Accommodation options: Free buses to the vessel; refreshments available onboard
• Wildlife typically seen: Fin whales, humpback whales, dolphins, sharks, seabirds, seals, mola mola
• Cost of tour: $32-$78, depending on age and season

The East Coast may not be as popular a destination for whale watching, but Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co. wants to change that. The Gulf of Maine near Acadia National Park boasts multiple species of whale depending on the time of year. It’s also a gorgeous locale to spot other wildlife such as sharks, dolphins, and many land-dwellers within Acadia National Park.

Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co. offers tours from late May to early October, with flexible trip durations of 3-5 hours. If you enjoy their whale-watching tour, be sure to book an additional exploration of Maine’s lighthouses, puffin population, or take an offshore cruise and go lobster fishing!

Multiple Types of Whales: American Cruise Lines’s Puget Sound & San Juan Islands Cruise

• Getting there: Departs from Seattle, WA; returns to Seattle 8 days later
• Accommodation options: Brand new vessels for up to 150; includes fine dining and multiple guest lounges alongside balcony suites
• Wildlife typically seen: Orcas, humpback whales, gray whales, blue whales, fin whales, eagles, seabirds, seals
• Cost of tour: Starts at $5,425, dependent on room type

American Cruise Lines has a San Juan Islands tour that is equal parts luxurious and wild. Departing from Seattle for an 8-day excursion, this cruise gives its guests plenty of whale-watching opportunities from the comfort of their balcony suites. There are multiple on-shore excursions as well as whale-watching options, including kayak tours.

Dining and drinks are included aboard this trip, as well as countless complimentary entertainment options. Visiting the Whale Museum in Friday Harbor is free as well, a perfect end to your whale-watching day.