Seattle: Half-Day Wildlife and Whale Watching Cruise
Badge of Excellence
Seattle, USA
+8
- 3 to 5 hours (approx.)
- Offered in: English
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Overview
You don’t have to venture into the San Juan Islands to see whales in their natural habitat—with this tour, you can board a whale-watching cruise right in downtown Seattle. Spend several hours onboard, looking for whales and learning about the area’s ecosystem from an expert naturalist. Food and beverages are available for purchase onboard.
- Take a whale-watching cruise straight from downtown's Pier 69
- Learn about whales from an onboard naturalist
- Food and drink available for purchase onboard
- Choose from two departure times to fit your schedule
What's Included
- Exhilarating 3 to 5 hour whale watching tour with an expert onboard naturalist
- Includes all applicable taxes and surcharges
- Food and Beverage for purchase
- Gratuities appreciated but not mandatory
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 2701 Alaskan Wy, Seattle, WA 98121, USA
Please arrive at the FRS Clipper Terminal, located on Seattle's waterfront at Pier 69, 45 minutes prior to scheduled departure time.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Ticket Redemption Point
2701 Alaskan Wy, Seattle, WA 98121, USA
Itinerary
Pike Place Market (Pass By)
Space Needle (Pass By)
1
Salish Sea
3 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Seattle Aquarium (Pass By)
Seattle Waterfront (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 150 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Michael_S
It is a most relaxing way to spend an afternoon looking for whales and wild life. The boat is spacious, clean and comfortable. The crew is very knowledgeable and shares their experiences. We highly recommend this trip.
Reviews
4.3
based on 370 reviews
Sort by: Most recent
Deborah_M, Sep 2026
Really nice boat. Comfortable, modern, well kept. Knowledgeable crew. Follow up pictures were way better than what we took.
Marcia_M, Aug 2026
Great trip leader with excellent knowledge of the whales. Love the pictures that she shared with everyone on the boat.
Sonya_L, Aug 2026
Although the boat had not departed and they would not allow us to board. Tried to contact Viator got no response.
Chelsey_H, Aug 2026
This was an amazing experience and so worth the money/time! Not only was it a great boat ride and our crew was fantastic, but we also saw so much wildlife! I would 100% do this tour again if ever coming back to Seattle!
Susie, Aug 2026
It was a nice day out on the water. Clean boat, friendly , knowledgeable staff. We saw a pod of Orcas and some harbor seals. Seeing an orca was on my bucket list, so that was exciting!
Paul_M, Aug 2026
The crew were great and friendly and vey knowledgeable. This was one of the best tours we have ever done. We saw seals and sea lions and orcas and gray whales. The boat was new and comfortable and cut through the water smoothly.
Meagan_R, Aug 2026
We saw so many whales and Ali was an amazing guide. She gave us so much information. I would highly recommend!
duxburym, Aug 2026
Excellent trip! Saw seal, grey whale, and killer whale pod. They take pictures for you. Great boat, new, bathrooms, comfortable seats.
Daniel_D, Aug 2026
Amazing experience, we saw 6 whales and received great professional photos from the sightings. Great boat and education from the naturalist. Highly recommend!
Lay_K, Aug 2026
Joining the group is definitely worthy, save lots of time and money. With their high technology cruise, they have better chances of finding the whales or killer whales.there are many Seal too.
Rita_W, Aug 2026
We saw at least 7 orcas. The naturalist was was well educated, easy to listen too and very personable. I'd go again! I'd go again for sure!
Dana_L, Aug 2026
This was a very well run company. Everything went smoothly. The boat is brand new. The food was good. The photos they provide for free afterwards are also amazing. Highly recommend. We saw a pot of orcas consistently for probably a good hour.
Shani_L, Aug 2026
The tour was excellent. We got great opportunities to view wildlife throughout trip. There were some other small craft in the area pursuing and agitating the whales and it was great to see our boat crew doing their best to discourage the illegal behavior. We appreciate how seriously they take their role in protecting these beautiful creatures. The crew was warm and engaging and the entire experience was very well run.
Would definitely recommend!
Abeeha_B, Aug 2026
This was an awesome tour! Really well organized, the boat left on time and the naturalist on board, Xack, was so extremely passionate and knowledgeable about the orcas and humpback whales! We saw so many pods of orcas and 2 different humpback whales. I'd highly recommend this tour - worth the money!
Clarissa_W, Aug 2026
Amazing trip! We were starting to get a bit discouraged not finding whales but the crew and Zach went out of their way and extended the trip in order to get to a spot with confirmed sightings.
Pamela_C, Aug 2026
It was well worth the money. We saw Orcas, Sea Lions and a Humpback Whale. The staff were great. I would do this again.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We appreciate your feedback, Pamela! It sounds like you had an incredible time seeing all the wildlife, and we're glad our staff made your experience even better. We can't wait to have you with us again!
Jonathan_P, Aug 2026
A fantastic time! The staff is wonderful, the boat is excellent (and brand new!)
The pier is very easy to get to.
The staff let us know exactly what in store and how long to get there.
We found Orcas right where they said they were going to be!
We spent at least an hour with the Orcas and left only because we needed to get back.
I highly recommend this tour!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We truly appreciate your kind words, Jonathan! It's great to know that you had such an amazing experience on our tour. Thank you for recommending us!
Thomas_B, Aug 2026
The boat is quite large and was very smooth - no one in our party of five (including 2 teens) had any motion sickness. The naturalist on board was informative and gave us interesting information about the area, whales, and other animals we saw. The captain did a great job locating the Orca and a humpback whale. All the crew and staff we met were friendly and professional.
Two Tips: : 1) It’s suggested to arrive early and we agree that’s a good idea because you’re assigned a boarding group number based on arrival time. The earlier you board the more seating options you have. (That said it’s not a big deal if you board later because no matter where you sit to travel out, you are able to get up and move around and go outside during the excursion; we spent much of our time outside.) 2) it truly does get cold and windy outside, especially as the boat travels. A coat and perhaps a hat with a neck string makes that part of the experience more comfortable! (And we were there in August with land temps in the 80s - out on the water it is chilly!)
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you so much for your fantastic review, Thomas! We hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon!
Ann_R, Aug 2026
Totally worthwhile. We had an excellent tour of the Sounds while the team searched for whales. They didn't give up and even delayed our return to ensure that we had plenty of time to watch the orcas. It was just magic. The crew then sent us pictures that are outstanding to remember our visit. Great trip.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Ann! We appreciate your kind words about our team and are glad they could capture those special moments for you!
Nelaka_G, Aug 2026
We had an amazing experience with this tour. It was well worth it! We saw two pods of orcas mingling within 20 min of leaving the port, it was about 10 orcas at the same time! This was followed by a gray whale sighting later on with an added bonus of a sealion feeding sighting. We spent ample mount of time with the wildlife, giving everyone the chance to observe and take pictures. Nothing felt rushed. Whole tour took about 4 hours. The crew was amazing, communicated well. The naturalist on board, Zack, was amazing. He was very informative, took the time to answer everyone's questions, and interacted with kids really well. The vessel was quite new, spacious, and well maintained. It was also very clean, including the restrooms. Highly recommend for everyone. Including kids!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We greatly appreciate your feedback! We are so glad that you enjoyed your time on the cruise and that Zack was able to enhance your experience with his knowledge and friendliness. Thank you for recommending us!
Heather_L, Aug 2026
The whales were elusive so the captain took the boat further into the sound to find them! Amazing experience, wonderful crew, nice boat, and beautiful scenery and wildlife.
Yenari_C, Aug 2026
This was the highlight of Seattle trip for me. The operation was smooth and the staff were kind and knowledgeable. We saw so many killer whales and 1 humpback. I could see the naturalist how excited he was and love what he is doing. The ride was so calm and great view in everywhere. I did tour with my daughter and she enjoyed as well.
Kimberly_L, Aug 2026
Definitely bring layers! I was peeling them off while we were stopped and putting them back on when were were crusing!
The Conservationist was excellent and very personable! Many of us were outside with him asking questions and he readily answered. Very knowledgeable! I learned a good deal! Very worth ever penny I paid. We saw 3 pods of Orcas, and a humpback whale. We also witnessed an Orca pod hunt down and attack a porpoise.
Kathryn_J, Aug 2026
Very comfortable and well organized trip. A lot of fun and a great way to experience Seattle! Very informative on whales. Lauren was fabulous. We saw orcas, gray whales and humpback whales! Worth it!
CATHARINE_P, Jul 2026
Enjoy being on the water, the views, etc. if you see large mammals be happy. It’s a 50/50 chance you’ll have an amazing encounter.
Charles_S, Jul 2026
The guide was very knowledgable and helped show us when we could see whales. But we were not able to get close per rules she told us.
Daniel_M, Jul 2026
Enjoyed the excursion with family. The ship was very comfortable and modern. The snacks offered were delicious. It was nice being in the water for a hot day!!!
James_L, Jul 2026
You may not see whales fully. Wear appropriately warm clothing, as the trip out to the whale viewing sites is windy.
Rita_K, Jul 2026
Amazing and thoughtful tour. Clean boat. Very knowledgeable whale expert. Beautiful views. Timely tour and easy access to pier.
Karim_E, Jul 2026
This was my first-ever whale watching trip. We were fortunate enough to spot a baby orca multiple times throughout the tour. Whale watching requires patience, attention, and quick reactions, as you need to be ready to look in the right direction the moment the guide spots a whale surfacing. It is not as easy as it seems, but that is part of what makes the experience so exciting.
Overall, it was a fantastic trip with a professional crew, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for an unforgettable wildlife experience.
From $154.97
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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