City Cruises Boston Whale Watching Cruise by High-Speed Boat

4.45

4.5(3,202 reviews)

3 hours 30 minutes

English

Mobile ticket

Show all 16 photos

Overview

Available languages

English

3 hours 30 minutes

Mobile ticket

Set sail with us for the whale watch experience of a lifetime on the New England Aquarium Whale Watch Cruise. Our destination: Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary, a rich feeding ground for whales, dolphins, sea birds, and other marine creatures. Stellwagen is home to many species of large whales, including humpbacks, finbacks, and minkes.

New England Aquarium naturalists will share knowledge, answer your questions, and explain the fascinating behaviors of these truly magnificent mammals on the sea life cruise experience.

The location of the whales may require more travel time, extending the trip beyond three hours. Please allow for additional time in your schedule. The average trip is between 3 to 4 hours.

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

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

What To Expect

Each Boston Whale Watching Cruise is narrated and guided by a naturalist from the New England Aquarium. One of the whales you're likely to spot during a Boston Whale Watching Cruise is the humpback. These Northern hemisphere humpbacks reach an average length of 50 feet, and a weight of about 37 tons! With the data collected on each cruise, the NEAQ is able to further their understanding of whales and their world. And, their presence on board ensures that your whale watch will be an exciting and educational trip! The catamarans feature outside decks for optimum viewing capability. Inside you will find climate controlled cabin space with cushioned seating, tables, state-of-the-art audio-visual, and a galley offering snacks and beverages for purchase.

Options

Whale Watching Cruise

What‘s Included

Restroom (on board)

Visit Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary, a rich feeding ground for whales other marine creatures

Whale Watch Cruise aboard Catamaran

Air-conditioned vehicle

See a variety of whales, including Humpbacks, Finbacks, and Minkes.

Narrated by a New England Aquarium Naturalist as your Guide

Food and drinks (available to purchase on board)

Optional.

Sea sickness medication (for guests prone to motion sickness)

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Reviews

4.45

3,202 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

2375

377

167

194

Amazing trip
F1387APsusanb,Jun 29, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We saw multiple humpback whales including a momma and her calf. We saw whales breaching and flipper slapping. It was amazing!
Whales!
amandau760,Jun 29, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Great experience, knowledgeable guides, beautiful day in spite of concerning fog to start. Don't forget sunscreen, water bottle, and a jacket if it's overcast - gets a little chilly at spped
This was an informative...
Charles L,Jun 28, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
This was an informative and entertaining trip. The tour does everything to find whales in an ethical and environmentally safe manner. Dress appropriately because it was a little chilly on the ride out.
Whales are cool. The boat...
Valeriia T,Jun 28, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00
Whales are cool. The boat was overbooked. Not everyone was able to grab a seat inside. Sitting outside was windy and cold.
Disappointing Customer Service
Annabella C,Jun 27, 2026
- Review from Viator
1.00
I was very disappointed with how our situation was handled. We had booked our whale watching tour for Wednesday, June 24, but due to an unexpected inconvenience, I contacted customer support in advance to ask if we could either reschedule our tour or receive a refund. The representative told us they would do their best to accommodate our request, which gave us hope. Unfortunately, our request was ultimately denied without the accommodation we had been led to expect. The communication was misleading, and we felt disappointed after relying on what customer support had told us. A clearer explanation from the beginning would have helped us make other arrangements. Overall, the lack of flexibility and poor customer service left us with a very negative experience.
A most- go!
GLORIA G,Jun 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had a beautiful time! The whales were definitely out, putting on a great show for us. The tour guides were very informative and entertaining, to say the least. I never would have thought to visit whales in Boston, especially living in Florida, but it's definitely a must-go! I have more videos than pictures because pictures didn't do the tour much justice.
Top trip!
Mrsmith2828,Jun 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Fantastic trip, we were lucky and saw 15 whales which I believe is an unusually high number. Crew were helpful and the commentary by this lovely guy was thoughtful, sensitive and pitch perfect. Highly recommended!!
Overall Amazing Experience
kelseywM1357KF,Jun 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This experience was amazing! We did the 10am tour, promptly boarded the catamaran. The tour ended at 2:15. We spent extra time out in the Stellwagen Bank Feeding Grounds because we saw so many whales! We saw so many we couldn’t keep count! We also saw a bottle-nosed dolphin which the crew boasted that this was a rare sight to see. The whales showed their flukes and even breaching the water so many times! (See pictures) The crew was very knowledgeable, pointing out whale sightings and being able to identify several of the whales by name.
Best Boston experience!
Kim R,Jun 25, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Wow! We’d never been whale watching and what we witnessed was amazing. We followed a group of 3 whales for over an hour and enjoyed close up activity. Further out we saw two whales breach. It was my favorite experience of our week long trip. Guide was knowledgeable and entertaining.
Breathtaking
Amanda W,Jun 25, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Stunning tour. Everyone was so friendly and knowledgeable. We got a brief introduction on the Boston Harbor on the way out. We saw a lot of whales, a few dolphins, even a mom/baby whale (they did say this was rare).

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Related Experiences

Operated by Boston Harbor City Cruises

City Cruises Boston Whale Watching Cruise by High-Speed Boat

4.45

4.5(3,202 reviews)

3 hours 30 minutes

English

Mobile ticket

Show all 16 photos

Overview

Available languages

English

3 hours 30 minutes

Mobile ticket

New England Aquarium naturalists will share knowledge, answer your questions, and explain the fascinating behaviors of these truly magnificent mammals on the sea life cruise experience.

The location of the whales may require more travel time, extending the trip beyond three hours. Please allow for additional time in your schedule. The average trip is between 3 to 4 hours.

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

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

What To Expect

Options

Whale Watching Cruise

What‘s Included

Restroom (on board)

Visit Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary, a rich feeding ground for whales other marine creatures

Whale Watch Cruise aboard Catamaran

Air-conditioned vehicle

See a variety of whales, including Humpbacks, Finbacks, and Minkes.

Narrated by a New England Aquarium Naturalist as your Guide

Food and drinks (available to purchase on board)

Optional.

Sea sickness medication (for guests prone to motion sickness)

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Reviews

4.45

3,202 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

2375

377

167

194

Amazing trip
F1387APsusanb,Jun 29, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We saw multiple humpback whales including a momma and her calf. We saw whales breaching and flipper slapping. It was amazing!
Whales!
amandau760,Jun 29, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Great experience, knowledgeable guides, beautiful day in spite of concerning fog to start. Don't forget sunscreen, water bottle, and a jacket if it's overcast - gets a little chilly at spped
This was an informative...
Charles L,Jun 28, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
This was an informative and entertaining trip. The tour does everything to find whales in an ethical and environmentally safe manner. Dress appropriately because it was a little chilly on the ride out.
Whales are cool. The boat...
Valeriia T,Jun 28, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00
Whales are cool. The boat was overbooked. Not everyone was able to grab a seat inside. Sitting outside was windy and cold.
Disappointing Customer Service
Annabella C,Jun 27, 2026
- Review from Viator
1.00
I was very disappointed with how our situation was handled. We had booked our whale watching tour for Wednesday, June 24, but due to an unexpected inconvenience, I contacted customer support in advance to ask if we could either reschedule our tour or receive a refund. The representative told us they would do their best to accommodate our request, which gave us hope. Unfortunately, our request was ultimately denied without the accommodation we had been led to expect. The communication was misleading, and we felt disappointed after relying on what customer support had told us. A clearer explanation from the beginning would have helped us make other arrangements. Overall, the lack of flexibility and poor customer service left us with a very negative experience.
A most- go!
GLORIA G,Jun 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had a beautiful time! The whales were definitely out, putting on a great show for us. The tour guides were very informative and entertaining, to say the least. I never would have thought to visit whales in Boston, especially living in Florida, but it's definitely a must-go! I have more videos than pictures because pictures didn't do the tour much justice.
Top trip!
Mrsmith2828,Jun 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Fantastic trip, we were lucky and saw 15 whales which I believe is an unusually high number. Crew were helpful and the commentary by this lovely guy was thoughtful, sensitive and pitch perfect. Highly recommended!!
Overall Amazing Experience
kelseywM1357KF,Jun 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This experience was amazing! We did the 10am tour, promptly boarded the catamaran. The tour ended at 2:15. We spent extra time out in the Stellwagen Bank Feeding Grounds because we saw so many whales! We saw so many we couldn’t keep count! We also saw a bottle-nosed dolphin which the crew boasted that this was a rare sight to see. The whales showed their flukes and even breaching the water so many times! (See pictures) The crew was very knowledgeable, pointing out whale sightings and being able to identify several of the whales by name.
Best Boston experience!
Kim R,Jun 25, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Wow! We’d never been whale watching and what we witnessed was amazing. We followed a group of 3 whales for over an hour and enjoyed close up activity. Further out we saw two whales breach. It was my favorite experience of our week long trip. Guide was knowledgeable and entertaining.
Breathtaking
Amanda W,Jun 25, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Stunning tour. Everyone was so friendly and knowledgeable. We got a brief introduction on the Boston Harbor on the way out. We saw a lot of whales, a few dolphins, even a mom/baby whale (they did say this was rare).