City Cruises Boston Whale Watching Cruise by High-Speed Boat
Boston, USA
- 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Experience the best of New England’s marine wildlife on this guided whale-watching cruise around the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Hop on a high-speed boat in Boston that gets to and from the whales in the least amount of time possible. Look out for humpback and fin whales, plus Atlantic white-sided dolphins, with the help of a naturalist guide. The on-board galley offers food and beverages for purchase during the trip.
- Maximize your sightseeing time aboard a high-speed vessel
- Have the best chance of spotting whales, dolphins, and more
- Discover a side of the region that many other Boston visitors miss
- Learn insider facts and stories from your on-board naturalist guide
What's Included
- Whale Watch Cruise aboard Catamaran
- See a variety of whales, including Humpbacks, Finbacks, and Minkes.
- Visit Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary, a rich feeding ground for whales other marine creatures
- Narrated by a New England Aquarium Naturalist as your Guide
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Restroom (on board)
- Food and drinks (available to purchase on board)
- GratuitiesOptional.
- Sea sickness medication (for guests prone to motion sickness)
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 1 Long Wharf, Boston, MA 02110, USA
The Ticket Center is located at 1 Long Wharf, Boston, MA 02110, next to the Marriott Hotel, with a statue of a Humpback whale on its roof.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
Beginning at Long Wharf in Boston, hop aboard a high-speed boat and embark on a whale-watching cruise to Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. This stretch of open water at the mouth of Massachusetts Bay serves as a rich feeding ground for whales, dolphins, sea birds, and many other marine creatures.
Look out for humpback, finback, and minke whales, with the help of a naturalist from the New England Aquarium. They share their knowledge about the animals’ behaviors, conservation status, scientific tracking, and more.
In between whale sightings, relax in the comfortable, climate-controlled indoor cabin, which also features a galley offering food and beverages for purchase. The location of the whales may require more travel time, extending the trip beyond the allotted time. Please allow for additional time in your schedule.
After half a day of exploring, your tour ends back at Long Wharf.
Look out for humpback, finback, and minke whales, with the help of a naturalist from the New England Aquarium. They share their knowledge about the animals’ behaviors, conservation status, scientific tracking, and more.
In between whale sightings, relax in the comfortable, climate-controlled indoor cabin, which also features a galley offering food and beverages for purchase. The location of the whales may require more travel time, extending the trip beyond the allotted time. Please allow for additional time in your schedule.
After half a day of exploring, your tour ends back at Long Wharf.
1
Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Remember sunscreen and sunglasses
- Boarding begins 30 minutes prior to departure. Guests must arrive early, as late arrivals will miss the boat.
- Bring a light sweater or jacket, as well as sunscreen and sunglasses.
- Not recommended for guests prone to motion sickness
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 350 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Landis_S
Was an incredible experience! Would absolutely do this again anytime! Was such a beautiful time. The crew were awesome!!
Reviews
4.4
based on 3,132 reviews
Beth_J, May 2026
Wow is the word for this tour. The boat ride was 60 minutes going out to see the whales. We saw 5 whales for about an hour. They were showing us all their tricks. We got a ton of videos. There were snacks and drinks on the boat. I highly recommend this tour. The speaker giving us the whale details was fantastic.
Maureen_O, May 2026
The 25 plus whales were very much putting on a performance for us -commentary good etc etc MOST r enjoyable trip
Rebecca_R, May 2026
Excellent knowledge by crew. The crew were very friendly. We had an exceptional trip and saw 6 whales and seals. The crew this was phenomenal!
Alex_S, May 2026
Exceeded my expectations. Host was very knowledgeable. Don't be shy to move around the boat for better or more views of the whales.
Brittany_B, May 2026
We saw atleast 10 humpbacks they came so close to the boat! The crew gave us so much knowledge about the whales and answered any questions we had. Such a memorable experience
Julia_W, May 2026
Always keep scanning the horizon for wildlife because there was so many things to see. It was 100% worth it. It definitely was bumpy getting out to the feeding grounds but it was a fun ride. The staff was so knowledgeable and friendly through the whole experience. We saw at least 10 humpbacks and a few seals on our trip.
Nancy_W, May 2026
It can get windy sitting outside. It gets a little competitive at the beginning as everybody's crowding the edge to see the whales. Be patient and pick a spot and stay there. Eventually the whales will show up and also people eventually go back down to their sitting area. if you hang out long enough, there aren't that many people left and you can get a nice viewing spot.
Jerome_L, May 2026
Saw the whales we were looking for. The boat was sturdy and safe. The staff were extremely nice and professional.
Victor_G, May 2026
The experience was great seeing the whales and the tour guide was wonderful
It was a great way to spend our wedding anniversary
Christine_R, May 2026
Had a great day on the water. Spent 1 1/2 hours with the whales. The conservationist who narrated the trip was fun and knowledgeable. The entire staff on board was very friendly and very attentive. They came around often to check on anyone who needed help with being sea sick. Be sure to bring a jacket, sun screen, and water!
Jenna_H, May 2026
This was a fantastic adventure! The naturalist on board were very informative. We were able to see at least 10 humpback whales and they were able to tell us who they were and told us about their environment and history. Definitely recommend!!
Jacque_L, May 2026
We really enjoyed this cruise. It was easy to find where we were supposed to be. We knew what to expect and dressed warm for our excursion as it was cold and windy out in the water. The MA skyline was breath taking. We did get lucky and see one humpback whale and followed it for awhile. It wasn’t exactly the excursion I expected but pretty neat none the less.
Brian_M, May 2026
this was a great tour , they knew exactly where to look . We saw multiple whales and we even saw a baby it was an unforgettable experience. I would definitely recommend this tour.
Nadezhda_T, Dec 2025
Great guids, nice vibe, informative excursion. Whales are amazing...
Would love to see these amazing animals again😉
Aaron_M, Nov 2025
The whale watching tour was Amazing. The guides were as excited as I was to see the wildlife. They also were very knowledgeable.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you for the wonderful review! We’re so glad you enjoyed the whale-watching tour and that our guides’ enthusiasm and knowledge helped make it special. We hope to welcome you back for another amazing experience!
NikkiS, Nov 2025
What an amazing experience, we were so lucky to have 2 whales right up alongside the boat. All the crew members were fantastic and great at sharing knowledge and answering questions. Just incredible.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you for the amazing review! Having two whales right alongside the boat is truly special, and we’re thrilled our crew helped make the experience even more memorable with their knowledge and kindness. We hope to see you again for another incredible trip!
Sreenivasulu_R, Nov 2025
The Tour operator suddenly canceled the tour, all the way we came from India due to cancellation our schedule was disturbed. Very bad experience .
Response from Host, Nov 2025
We’re very sorry for the cancellation and the inconvenience it caused during your trip. We understand your disappointment and truly appreciate your feedback. Please contact us directly so we can assist you further.
Holly_M, Nov 2025
The crew was knowledgeable and professional. It was a sunny day, moderate wind and a pretty smooth ride. Saw a lot of dolphins! Two humpbacks close enough to the boat for some nice views, shots and videos. The city and sunset views were gorgeous! Will definitely do this again! Went in early November, wasn’t crowed at all.
Jessica_A, Nov 2025
What a whale watch, saw 5 whales plus dolphins! Staff kind and very knowledgeable about all things whales.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Wow, what an incredible sighting! Thank you for sharing your experience. We’re thrilled you enjoyed seeing the whales and dolphins, and that our staff made the trip even more memorable with their knowledge and kindness. Hope to see you on another adventure soon!
Kat_F, Nov 2025
A great experience! Saw 8-10 whales! The crew was friendly & I formative! A great day with my Navy sister❤️
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you for the wonderful review! We’re thrilled you and your Navy sister had a great day and enjoyed seeing so many whales. We’re glad our friendly and informative crew made the experience special!
Margo_C, Nov 2025
Great time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well worth it. Very educational and interesting!!!!!!!!!!
HectorF_V, Nov 2025
My girfriend and I, had a great time observing whales diving and resting nest to the boat. We were able to see more than 10 whales in about 45 - 60 minutes period.
Cordula_C, Oct 2025
This was well worth it. Would do it again. Once we were in “whale-territory” they took their time letting us observe the whales, while explaining what the whales were doing and then searching for and finding more whales to appear. On the way back we had the opportunity to ask more questions.
Bethany_M, Oct 2025
INCREDIBLE experience!!! Highly recommend if you’re traveling to Boston - I went solo but would be so fun with friends/family too. After reading reviews about people getting seasick, I came prepared with motion sickness wristbands, an ear patch, and Dramamine just to be overly cautious. With all of that, I felt great the whole trip! I went toward the end of October & stayed on the top deck the whole time - it got very cold while we were heading out to the feeding ground so definitely bundle up! The staff and crew were incredible and very informative. We got SO lucky and saw 6 whales!!! We left the dock around 9am and returned just before 1pm. Truly a breathtaking experience.
Barb_C, Oct 2025
This was an incredible experience!!! Saw many whales swimming and flapping their fins! The crew was fantastic at pointing out animals.
Geraint_T, Oct 2025
A slightly strange review - the trip was curtailed due to another passenger being injured but the operator handled everything really well and announced refunds for all passengers with no questions asked.
Dolores_S, Oct 2025
Our trip was a bit unconventional. There was a medical emergency which required our excursion to be. It short as we dropped off the person in another community.
However the staff was purely professional, communicative and went around individually to see if anyone needed help.
It was still a fun event on the water.
Hilary_F, Oct 2025
Had an absolute fantastic trip. Informative, and we were lucky with so many sightings! A really good option for a Boston experience! There is always a chance you won’t see whales, but the ride out was is great. Bring something to contain your hair if it is long and a jacket. Even if warm, the wind can be chilly. 10/10 experience.
Timothy_A, Oct 2025
Great whale watching in late October. Saw 10 to 12 whales . Good boat. Good crew. Easy online transaction.
Rachelle_S, Oct 2025
Outstanding! Crew was friendly, engaging and knowledgeable. Whales did their part and put on a show! Highly recommend
From $85.56
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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City Cruises Boston Whale Watching Cruise by High-Speed Boat
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3 hours 30 minutes
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