It doesn’t have to be 85 degrees with the sun beating down on your head to hop on a boat with the hope of catching a glimpse of a whale off the Massachusetts coast. Springtime whale watching is a thing, too — just bundle up.
Whale watching tours are starting up in April out of the Bay State — one of the top destinations in the world for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the majestic giants up close, according to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Association.
And while Cape Cod might come first to mind for the sightseeing, tour groups dot the entirety of the state’s 1,500 miles of Atlantic Ocean coastline up to the North Shore. The stretch of federally-protected waters east of Boston, between Cape Ann and Cape Cod, is called the Stellwagen National Marine Sanctuary.
It’s home to five whale species you could see on your tour, including the critically-endangered North Atlantic right whale and endangered Sei whale.
You’ll have better chances of spotting humpback (also an endangered species), fin and Minke whales as they all start to migrate in the spring through the warming waters, the NOAA said. If you’re lucky, you might also see dolphins, seals, turtles or a shark, and various fish.
Here’s 11 public and private whale watching tour groups where you can book your trip. Tours generally run until October.
Opening date: April 20
Cost: $60 for adults; $55 for seniors; $50 for AAA members, military or students; $45 for children; $10 for infants
What to expect: The Gloucester tour group boasts an “over 99% sightings record” on its website, though calling each trip “unique” and “impossible to predict” what might be seen on each trip. It’s been in operation since 1983, led by three generations of career captains at the same dock.
“We have a love and respect for the marine environment and a passion for providing the best possible customer experience for you and your family,” the 7 Seas site reads.
Tickets can be reserved online here, or by calling the sales office at 978-283-1776.
Opening date: April 27
Cost: $65 for adults; $60 for seniors, AAA members, military or students; $50 for children aged 4-16; $10 for children aged 3 and under
What to expect: “We go where the whales go,” is the motto for this Gloucester group in its 45th season. Sightseers will board a 115-foot boat with upper and lower observation decks, which also include full service galleries with food, drinks and alcohol beverages, and heated indoor galleries.
“We provide the best whale watching in New England as it’s an awe-inspiring experience which every human being should have the opportunity to appreciate. We make it a very special event,” the Cape Ann group said.
Tickets can be reserved online here.
Opening date: April 16 in Plymouth; July in Provincetown
Cost for Plymouth: $73 for adults; $63 for seniors; $53 for children; $3 for infants
Cost for Provincetown: $70 for adults; $45 for children; $3 for infants
What to expect: You’ve got the choice of Plymouth or Provincetown when touring with Captain John Boats, which opens its whale watching tours on the Cape in the height of the summer season. Professional marine biologists are onboard to answer questions and talk about the animals seen, along with a cash-only bar for food, alcohol and regular beverages.
The marine biologist program has “proven to be of such outstanding educational value that it now serves as part of the science curriculum in many schools,” read the Provincetown page.
“Imagine yourself within feet of some of the rarest, most graceful mammals in the world,” the Plymouth tour page read.
Tickets for Plymouth can be reserved online here. Tickets for Provincetown can be reserved online here.
Opening date: Contact company for best time to tour and reservations
Cost: $650 for 6-person full boat charter
What to expect: If you’re looking for an option away from the crowds and with optimal viewing, this is one of a few on the list for you. This Chatham trip from the Cape’s outer elbow rounds the tip of South Monomoy Island, then heads east to feeding grounds in Crab Ledge.
Though it’s an area outside of Stellwagen Sanctuary, the site said besides whales, “you never know what you and your family will find offshore, Mola Mola (ocean sunfish), sea turtles and even some white sided dolphins.”
Reservations are required, and can be made by calling 774-722-1336.
Opening date: April 13
Cost: $75 adults; $65 seniors; $50 children; free for children 4 years and under
What to expect: The Dolphin Fleet Whale Watch out of Provincetown was named “Best Whale Watch: Flukes Down” by Rolling Stone Magazine, according to its site, and is the self-proclaimed “New England’s first and finest whale watch.” It guarantees you will see a whale during the trip and if you don’t, you’ll be issued a new pass for future trips.
“Our sighting percentage is very high regardless of the time of day or month! See our sighting guarantee! Each whale watch is a unique experience and the best time to see the whales is the time that works best with your schedule!” the site reads.
Tickets can be reserved online here, or by calling 800-826-9300.
Opening date: May 16
Cost: $75 for adults; $62 for seniors; $55 for children; $3 for infants
What to expect: The trip out of Hyannis will take you up to the Stellwagen Sanctuary for a 3.5-4 hour long cruise, led by captains and narrated by naturalists. The organization has a sighting rate of 99% and 30 years of experience under its belt.
“Now is a great time to visit the shores of Massachusetts in hopes of catching a glimpse of the North Atlantic right whale – keep an eye out for the blow or the tips of their head as they skim feed around the coasts of Massachusetts and Cape Cod Bays!” the site reads.
Tickets can be reserved online here.
Opening date: Contact company for best time to tour and for reservations.
Cost: $850 for full boat charter
What to expect: This option for a private charter tour out of Scituate was purported to be unlike any experience a public tour can offer and can show “what life is really like for the whales.” It’s a six-hour trip on the Massachusetts Bay, and the charter company said “sometimes we even run into killer (orca) whales!” on its site.
“Our boat offers customers the opportunity to whale watch at eye level, unlike other whale watching boats that are 15′ above the bay,” the site read.
Tickets can be reserved online here, or by calling 508-498-4716.
Opening date: May 16
Cost: $70 for adults; $62 for seniors; $50 for children; $5 for children under 2 years
What to expect: Right next to the New England Aquarium is the kickoff for this whale-watching tour through the Stellwagen Sanctuary. Naturalists will be onboard the massive catamaran boats to answer questions about the “truly magnificent mammals.” Sightings are guaranteed — and from inside the “cushy” cabin or out on the deck.
Tickets can be reserved online here.
Opening date: May 11
Cost: $67 for adults; $57 for seniors, military, AAA and teachers; $10 for infants. Offers family discounts.
What to expect: Even from the top of the North Shore in Newburyport, you can find plenty of whales. The tour group regularly updates its Facebook page throughout the season with pictures of the massive animals breaching out of the water or otherwise spotted from the boats, showcasing whales of all ages and types.
The tour group has been family owned out of Plum Island for 40 years, its site reads, and tours offer food, drinks and alcohol onboard.
Tickets can be reserved online here, or by calling 800-848-1111.
Opening date: Starting in April. Contact company for best time to tour and reservations.
Cost: 6 person maximum. $170 per hour, 5 hours minimum (total $875 for 5 hours)
What to expect: Another private option for unobstructed views out of Plymouth, there’s a five-hour minimum for this tour. The charter company promises to take you to where the whales are feeding and allows you to add extra hours, if desired.
“See these majestic mammals up close! It’s common to see Right, Humpback, Pilot, & Minke Whales. We also [see] dolphins, Sharks and the occasional Sea Turtle,” the company said on its site.
Reservations can be made online here.
Opening date: Starting in April. Contact company for best time to tour and reservations.
Cost: $175 per person for shared charter; $775 for private charter up to 6 people
What to expect: A different take on private tours, you can rent this boat out of Provincetown for your own group — but if you’ve got four people or less, you can take a shared charter, pay individually and “make new Whale Watching friends,” the site reads. The boat is smaller than the whales at 28-feet, giving sightseers a truly up-close experience.
Tickets can be reserved online here.
