Whale Dolphin and Bird Watching Ecotour Cruise
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
Start off this Cape May whale watching cruise along the shoreline searching for Coastal Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins before heading offshore in search of migratory Baleen Whales. Join the research team as your onboard marine biologist and naturalist leads the cruise with a science-based educational experience that separates us from others. Research interns from around the world lead a hands-on touch-tank featuring live local sea creatures.This cruise typically heads 3-15 miles offshore.
Possible sightings include:
Coastal and Transient Bottlenose Dolphins
Humpback, Fin, Minke or critically endangered Right Whale
Bird Life: Wilsons Storm Petrels, Jaegers, Shearwaters, American Bald Eagles, Osprey, American Oystercatchers, Brown Pelicans, Cormorants and other seasonal species
Sharks: Hammerhead, Dusky, Spinner, or Great White
Sea Turtles: Loggerhead, Leatherback, or Green * Oceanic Sunfish or Mola mola
Stingrays: Cow-nosed, Manta ray
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
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Cape May
Start off this Cape May whale watching cruise along the shoreline searching for Coastal Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins before heading offshore in search of migratory Baleen Whales.
What‘s Included
Marine Biologist guided tour
Hands-on scientific educational interaction
Interactive touch tank experience with live local sea creatures
Guaranteed marine mammal sightings
Parking Fees
Gratuities
Food/Drinks (Full galley, bar, and gift shop available that accepts cash or credit card)
Options
Whale Dolphin and Bird Watching Ecotour Cruise
Reviews
41 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
A fantastic 12 hours on the sea surrounded by wildlife!
68bethm,Mar 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I live in NY, so I usually go whale watching there, but when I saw that Cape May Whale Watch was doing a 12-hour pelagic trip in late March, I jumped at the chance to get out on the water in a different location than I'm used to. It was a great trip for birders and marine mammal people alike! Before the sun was even fully up, we had a flock of Northern Gannets soaring over the boat, followed by a few glimpses of a minke whale. Later in the morning we found a large gathering of gannets, which offered some great close looks (and my best ever photo of one). Then we were in a bit of "whale soup," with 2 humpbacks in tandem hanging out close to the boat for quite a while. While we were watching them, there were more spouts spotted further away, and that turned out to be another humpback off our starboard side and a fin whale dead ahead that we got some nice looks at (including a beautiful "rainblow"!). Later in the day there were some more exciting bird sightings, including a sooty shearwater (I am not a birder, but I heard talk that this was an uncommon sighting at this time of the year), and then one of my highlights of the day: an Atlantic Puffin! I've never seen one, though I have been on boats where they have been spotted. It was sitting on the surface amidst the waves-- really just a black speck on the water. But I did get some photos, and it was really so cool to see it! There were a few others spotted as well, but I didn't get a look at them. The other highlight of the day for me was in the late afternoon, when a large pod of short-beaked common dolphins appeared seemingly out of nowhere (as they often do), in numbers that seemed to multiply by the minute (as they often do). They were riding our bow waves, zipping back and forth under the boat, and returning again and again-- to everyone's delight! You never really know what you're going to see on an extended pelagic trip in the waters off NJ and NY. These longer boat trips are not really for people who haven't been out on the ocean before-- it's a very long day, and as we were still in March, it was cold and windy and the sea was not flat calm. And there was some downtime between sightings as well. But we saw and observed a terrific variety of marine mammals and seabirds, and it was just wonderful to be out on a boat in the sunshine after this dreadful winter! I'm so glad I made the (long) journey to Cape May!
A successful tour!
Sue B,Jan 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We thoroughly enjoyed our wildlife tour and saw 3 different individual whales. Our tour host taught us what signs of whale presence to look for and gave us the impression they were out there! What a cool experience! We also saw dolphins, birds, and other fish. It was a lovely cruise!
Whales whales everywhere!
terripR5745LR,Dec 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Well we did join the trip thinking we would NOT see any animals in the middle of December. Then we learned of it being a guaranteed trip for mammals and being a research trip it would be even more scientific than the usual tourist trap. So we said, Ok we are just going to see dolphins, which is OK. However, we saw more than twenty humpback whale sightings and we were pleasantly surprised and pleased to see so many. A fabulous trip which warrants another in Spring for sure! I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone wanting to see whales and less than five miles off shore. Who would have known we could see whales only hours from our home and NOT in Alaska! Thanks again!
Awsome Guides
L2140TMluisc,Nov 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent knowledgeable guides, great atmosphere. If they are not in the air they are in the water, wonderful experience.
Successful sightings!
Journey50238332749,Oct 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an exciting time on our cruise! We spotted three different whales and multiple spouts, flukes (tails), a dorsal fin slap, and surfacing of the whales, many playful dolphins, brown pelican and too many to recall the names. The boat is clean, spacious and has 4 flushable bathrooms. Quality focus on wildlife and education. Highly recommend this tour.
Wonderful tour!
R2474CSkathleenw,Oct 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The staff were so knowledgeable! We had two sightings of Humpbacks and two pods of dolphins. We had a marvelous time! They serve beverages and snacks. My High Noon rolled overboard. We had a laugh and they gave me a new one without charging us!
Time well spent
Jon R,Oct 26, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Whale watching trips are dependent on whales “showing up”. This particular cruise was loaded with sightings of whales, dolphins, birds, and even a bald eagle. The real benefit of the cruise were the naturalists on board who gave information about the animals - whether we saw them or not. It was an educational, well organized, and well worth our time trip.
Wonderful afternoon surrounded by dolphins!
Marge27,Oct 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A gorgeous day on smooth ocean waters and SOOOOOOOOOO many dolphins!! At least 100 - right beside our boat. Kirby was a friendly and knowledgeable guide, the boat had plenty of room for everyone to see the water, and it moved slowly enough that no one got seasick. You know it’s a good tour when you give them all the stars even though the whales were uncooperative. We even got to see a bald eagle! ❤️🤍💙
Fantastic educational experience
Linda D,Sep 15, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Great. We saw an incredible amount of dolphins and learned so much about them.Great visual and learning experience
Whale watching tour
Susan B,Sep 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Saw a good amount of wildlife including several dolphins 2 whales pelicans ospreys and a bald eagle. Narration was great and informative. Spent a good amount of time at each dolphin and whale sighting so all could see and photograph. Excellent overall.
From US$50.00
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Operated by Cape May Whale Watch & Research Center