Massachusetts > Boston > Scenic & Sunset Cruises Experiences

Whale Watching

Boston, MA

From: $72

Item #: CRU-BOS-0003

(26 Reviews)

Whale Spotting During Boston Whale Watching

Boat Used for Whale Watching Boat in Boston

Experience the ride of a lifetime on a high speed catamaran during this Boston Whale Watching experience!

Family owned and operated tour with over 80 years experience
Get up-close and personal with Humpback whales, Fin whales or Minke whales
Enjoy a first-class experience aboard a high-speed catamaran with 3 outdoor viewing decks and a climate-controlled cabin
Great experience for locals or tourists alike!

From: $72

Option & Pricing:

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Instant eVoucher Delivery (Sample)

30 Days Returns on eVouchers

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Overview

Experience the ride of a lifetime on a high speed catamaran during this Boston Whale Watching experience!

Family owned and operated tour with over 80 years experience
Get up-close and personal with Humpback whales, Fin whales or Minke whales
Enjoy a first-class experience aboard a high-speed catamaran with 3 outdoor viewing decks and a climate-controlled cabin
Great experience for locals or tourists alike!

Full Description

Availability

When Do I Choose A Date?

If giving as a gift, your recipient can choose a date at their convenience; otherwise, you can choose one after checkout.

April - October:
Daily - Select Times

Option & Pricing:

Please select an option above.

Important Details

Essential Information

Whale-sighting is guaranteed (otherwise, you will receive a ticket for a free future trip)
Catamaran has 3 outside decks as well as climate-controlled indoor, cushioned seating
Food and beverages are available for purchase: sandwiches, pretzels, popcorn, chips, nutritional bars, fruit juice, tea and more
Alcohol beverages for purchase include a full bar of beer, wine and top-shelf cocktails
Average trip duration is between 3.5 to 4 hours. The location of the whales may require more travel time, extending the trip beyond 3 hours. Please allow for additional time in your schedule.

Duration

Average trip is between 3.5 to 4 hours.

Experience Provider Info

Complete information for your Experience Provider, including contact information, will be included on your booking confirmation email once you or your gift recipient have scheduled the experience. Our Product Management team handpicks top-rated experience providers, removing the guesswork for you and ensuring your peace of mind.

Maximum Participants

Up to 400 viewers per catamaran

Spectators

Only booked participants on the boat will enjoy this whale watching experience!

Weather Dependent

This experience is weather dependent. Always contact the experience provider with any questions regarding weather conditions.

What To Wear

Please dress appropriately for expected weather and bring extra layers in case it gets windy. Sunscreen is recommended.

FAQs

What should I bring?

We recommend wearing comfortable shoes or sneakers and bringing along a light sweater or jacket. Sunscreen and sunglasses are a must, and don't forget your camera or binoculars.

When is the best time to go whale watching?

April through October is great for whale watching. The time of day makes no difference in whale sightings or activity; it is just a matter of convenience for you.

What happens if I go on a whale watch, but we don't see any whales?

If there are no whale sightings on your trip, you will receive a free ticket for a future whale watch.

Is there food on board?

A full line of appetizing food and drink is offered aboard the vessel, offering a terrific selection of breakfast and lunch sandwiches, tasty snacks such as hot pretzels, popcorn, chips, nutritional bars, fresh fruit, nuts and cereals. There's also a wide menu of fruit juices, teas, sports drinks and other beverages including a full bar serving beer, wine and top-shelf cocktails.

Returns, Exchanges & Cancellations

Returns
Experience Vouchers that have not been redeemed can be returned hassle-free within 30 days. All refunds will be made to the original purchaser.
Exchanges
Experience Vouchers that have not been redeemed can be exchanged for anything else in our marketplace at any time. If you choose to exchange for an experience that costs more, you'll simply have to pay the difference. If you choose to exchange for an experience that costs less, you'll have a credit towards your next booking with Virgin Experience Gifts.

Cancellation Policy

Once you have received a booking confirmation, cancellations and reschedule are allowed up to 14 days prior to the experience. Failure to appear on your booked date or to cancel and reschedule at least 14 days prior to your booked date will result in the loss of the value of your experience.

Other Boston Experiences

Customer Reviews

This experience has a customer rating of 4.5
based on 26 reviews.

View More Reviews:

1st time out of Boston for Whale Watching. It was nice but we enjoy Gloucester whale watching on the 7sea better. The process was more difficult than my son & I thought it would have been. If Virgin Experience would have Gloucester whale watching where we could use I discount that would be nice.

— Sue A | Aug 13, 2022

Response from Virgin Experience Gifts

Hi there Stephen, Thank you for taking the time to let us know your thoughts. I am sorry to hear of the difficulties that you encountered. We strive to make every process smooth and seamless from start to finish. Regardless, I am happy to hear that you were able to enjoy the Whales, even if the location was unknown to you. Thank you for trying something new! That is a great suggestion. I will pass it along to my team! We hope that you will come back to embark on a new adventure with us! Regards, Kayleen

Had a great time. Saw some whales. I was expecting to be a little closer to them but thats hit or miss. I wish there will a bit less people on the boat. Being short I had a hard time seeing over people. Overall it was a good time.

— FARRAH R | Aug 16, 2022

the staff was very informative and professional. we had so much fun! Food and drink is available for purchase. The trip was about 4 hours long, and we saw at least 20 whales.

— Margaret P | Jul 27, 2022

Great crew and great experience! We got so lucky and had a beautiful day and saw so many whales!! It was amazing and we were so happy we went!

— Hannah B | Apr 25, 2022

Response from Virgin Experience Gifts

Hello Hannah, I'm happy to hear you had a great experience on the Catamaran and had a great crew to work with. I can't even imagine all the sights you got to see with the whales and glad it was a beautiful day for you. Glad you found us and happy we got you on an amazing adventure. Thanks, Ryan

That was a Birthday gift from my wife and fortunately we had a chance to experience the activity together during our weekend trip to Boston, MA. The weather was perfect, we saw a few big whales pretty close (and a sunfish as a bonus!), the overall organization by Boston Harbor City Cruises was very good! I A truly memorable experience!

— Oleksandr P | Aug 18, 2021

Response from Virgin Experience Gifts

Hi there! Thank you for taking the time to share your Whale Watching experience! We are thrilled that we could help you use this amazing birthday gift to get out and see the magnificent whales and beauty on the water. It truly sounds like a perfect birthday weekend, and we are thrilled you have everlasting memories from your time out at sea. Cheers to a great day! Best, Brianna

Saw whales, even 3 together! Very knowledgable guide/naturalist. Loved her tips about ways to protect whales/be more environmentally friendly! Wish I had brought sunscreen. Highly recommend!

— Heidi A | Aug 12, 2021

Response from Virgin Experience Gifts

Hi Heidi, We are thrilled that you could see so many whales while out on your adventure! We greatly appreciate your recommendation for this adventure, and it is so great to hear that you had a very knowledgeable guide who could add to your experience. Very excited to hear that this experience is whale worth it! Best, Brianna

We saw so many whales. It was awesome.

— Cynthia R | Jul 12, 2021

Response from Virgin Experience Gifts

Hi there, Cynthia, Whale, whale, whale.. What do you know?! I'm thrilled to hear that there was a good turn out for the sea creatures on your adventure! Sounds like it was a great time on the water. Thank you so much for sharing! Best, Sophia

Such an amazing experience! We saw 5 whales and 2 of them jumped completely out of the water!!

— Shelly M | Jul 12, 2021

Response from Virgin Experience Gifts

Hi there! I am so delighted that your Whale Watching adventure did not disappoint! I can't even imagine how exciting it must have been to see 5 whales AND have 2 jump out of the water. This truly sounds like a day to remember! Kind Regards, Brianna

Incredible day out - Highly recommend!

— Jon C | May 17, 2021

Response from Virgin Experience Gifts

Hi there Jon! Thank you so much for writing in and sharing your incredible experience with us! We are over the moon you had such a wonderful day out on the Whale Watching experience. Cheers, Chandi

Both experiences i used through cloud9 was amazing. I will br using again

— BRANDON O | Apr 12, 2021

Response from Virgin Experience Gifts

Hi there Brandon, Wow! Thanks for the awesome review. That is so great to hear you had such a wonderful experience with us! We are beyond thrilled you enjoyed your unique experiences and we can't wait to see which adventure you discover next! Cheers to you, Chandi,

Fabulous time. Loved every minute. Be sure to print confirmation and check in to get your tickets prior to boarding. Masks were required at all times on the boat. Bring a jacket for traveling on boat to viewing spot. It got a little cold outside because the boat clip long quite fast. We saw lots of whales. Staff were great. We would go again in a heart beat.

— Lynn M | Aug 10, 2020

Response from Virgin Experience Gifts

Hi there Lynn, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with us! We are over the moon happy to hear everything went well and you were able to see lots of whales - how amazing is that! We appreciate you sharing your tips and tricks for customers who are looking to get out on this experience. We truly appreciate you and would be honored to have you back for another 5-star experience in the future! Cheers, Chandi

Couldn't be happier with customer service from Cloud9 Living or with the Boston Harbor Cruises whale watch! We booked last-minute since weather was exceptionally good for this time of year and everything went off without a hitch. We saw more whales, porpoises, mola mola and other sea life than we expected and right next to the boat. It was a great day all around! Thank you!!!

— Valerie A | Sep 26, 2019

Response from Virgin Experience Gifts

Hello Valerie! We could not be happier to hear you had such an incredible time! It is our goal to get you out on fantastic experiences with ease, I am so glad to hear that this was just the case. The wildlife really pulled out all the stops for your adventure! Being able to catch a glimpse of such wonderful and diverse creatures certainly adds a bit of magic to time spent out on the water. We are eager to get you out on another adventure! Let us know next time the weather is begging for a spontaneity! Very Best, Sophia

great

— Molly S | Sep 23, 2019

The actual whale watching was wonderful. The crew members very helpful. Getting the actual tickets were rather stressful. First tickets printed were for the Wednesday before our experience. Getting that fixed was a bit of a challenge and I wasn’t sure we were going to get to go. All in all wonderful. Just make sure you check the date on your ticket before leaving the ticket booth

— Sue L | Jul 15, 2018

Wonderful excursion! Crew was knowledgeable and we saw quite a few whales. Rude was great and we had a wonderful experience.

— Carol M | Jul 23, 2018

The whales were amazing. The summer camp kids screaming and puking in the cabins wasn’t great. Over 20 kids were sick and they didn’t make it to the rail. Maybe book summer camps their own tour next time.

— Adrienne A | Jul 10, 2018

This was a unique experience, however there were so many people on the whale watch that it was hard for me to see as much as others - I am short and could not get a spot near the rails while there were active whales to look at, so I spent a lot of time trying to see over peoples' heads and using my phone to record what was happening through small spaces between people. I do not have a solution about how to make things more equitable for all viewers, but hope that someone might think of an idea to help everyone have the best viewing experience as possible.

— Laura W | Jun 04, 2018

Had a great time, sea calm, swell ok, staff informative and helpful but most of all had a fantastic whale experience seeing minke, right, humpback and Sei whales. Amazing experience and very lucky to see so many whales.

— Andrew M | Apr 29, 2018

Response from Virgin Experience Gifts

Hi Tim, Wow! How awesome to see so many different whales! Hopefully you were able to get some pictures of them. Sounds like it was the perfect time to be out on the water whale watching. Thanks for writing in! Have a wonderful day! Best, Brooke

It was a cold early Spring morning, so it was cold and windy on the boat. The whales were more difficult to see than I had imagined, but we did see several whales. The ride back to Boston was rough due to a change in weather, so the boat was rocking more than on the way out

— Jana L | Apr 05, 2018

Response from Virgin Experience Gifts

Hey Jana, Thanks for taking the time to write to us! I'm happy to hear that despite the chilly temperatures, you both were able to see several whales and, hopefully, had an enjoyable experience. Sounds like you were also lucky to get back when you did before the weather really changed. Thanks again and have a wonderful weekend! Best, Brooke

The ride in the boat went well and the weather was perfect, we even saw a couple of whales.

— MICHAEL S | Aug 31, 2015

Brilliant!!!

— Megan M | Aug 27, 2014

I thought our guide Orika, was very knowledgeable and very nice., she was very helpful in making sure we got to see the whale and spent adequate time viewing it and learning about it,and as a result, the trip ended up being almost 5 hours, which was fine with us, we also saw dolphins!.....I felt there were too many people on the boat...not enough seating to accommodate outside for the number of people that were on, altho many were inside, but I felt like there were maybe 25 people too many on board., maybe more comfortable with less. Overall, we enjoyed it very much.

— Diane P | Sep 02, 2013

The only issue we had was that the experience description listed light snacks included, however they were only for purchase by cash on the boat. We were disappointed that we didn't bring cash so we could not eat for the duration of the four hour tour.

— Adrienne W | Oct 15, 2012

My wife and I had an excellent whale watch experience. The boat was smooth an quick. The captain was able to maneuver the boat quite close to the surfacing whales. The marine biologist on board was knowledgeable and friendly. The 5:30 tour returns to a picturesque sunset behind the Boston skyline. We couldn't have asked for a better trip.

— Eric M | Jul 01, 2012

My one complaint was I did not get the email with three days to confirm my booking. The staff were extremely helpful after I called in to notify them. Staff was very friendly and helpfuk

— David R | Aug 11, 2011

Gorgeous day for whale watching, what a wonderful experience!

— Stefanie H | Jul 06, 2010

Whale Watching