Sightseeing Cruises

Boston Whale Watching Cruise by New England Aquarium

Guests enjoying a whale watching cruise on an England Aquarium tour.

Guides on England Aquarium Whale Watching Cruise pointing at sea.

Humpback whale breaching in ocean waters.

Dolphins swimming in the ocean during England Aquarium Whale Watching Cruise.

Duration

3 hrs 30 mins

Free cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience

Book now, pay later

Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.

4.8/5(208)

Lesly G

Group

Verified booking

Jun 2026

The crew members on the boat are very nice and consistently implemented passenger safety protocols. However, beware as you head towards deeper into the ocean approaching the destination, the seasickness is horrific. My teenage boys were sea sick and the staff kindly informed passengers who were sick to head towards the back of the boat. It was amusing to see manybpassengers clustered together in the back feeling sick to their stomach :). Coming back, it was great, I believe its because we were going along the waves. Would I do this again? 99% chance, no, lol. The staff and departure arrangement is 100% star service.

Kevin O

Couple

Verified booking

Last week

I run a tour company that sells whale watching in Panama. As a guide, I have taken people whale watching in Alaska, Vancouver/BC, Baja Mexico and I persoanlly have been in New Zealands and probably a few other places and TODAY was the best wahale watching tour I have ever done or even heard of! We have so many photos and videos to go through, I havent had time to review them all yet.. maybe I can add them later! THANK YOU SO MUCH Kevin (BarefootPanama Tours) PS. I am from Boston and this was my 1st time doing this tour! Why did I wait so long..

Alison M

Couple

Verified booking

Last week

The whale watching cruise was amazing. We saw so many whales while also being taught great information by the naturalist. It takes around an hour to get to the area where whales can be found, but then you spend at least an hour viewing whales. We saw 8 known adult whales and 2 calves. We watched whales tail and full body breach, flipper slap and fluke dive. The boat is clean and has snacks and drinks available for purchase. The crew was friendly.

Kristina R

Group

Verified booking

2 weeks ago

Amazing trip!!! Saw so many whales. Weather was great, lots of seating options. You can sit inside or outside on top or bottom levels. I was worried about getting cold and that didn't happen, some people put on light jackets but I brought them and didn't need any. They have food and drinks for sale and great crew, very knowledgeable.

Katherine S

Solo

Verified booking

Jun 2026

Wonderful trip. Beautiful calm day on the water. Best of all saw 11 whales and a calf. Some close enough to the boat to hear there breathing. The boat was super comfortable. The naturalist who spoke was knowlegable and interesting and the sound system excellent. One could hear her over the sound of the engine. Highly recomend!

Gloria C

Couple

Verified booking

Last week

The cruise tour was well organized. Even thought that there were more than a hundred people, the boarding process was fast and the sitting acomodations were good. We were locky to sighted around eight whales. The tour guide provided very interesting facts about the whales and birds that were around us.

Set sail on a 3 to 4-hour whale watching cruise, led by naturalists from the New England Aquarium—one of the world’s leading marine conservation and research institutions.

Spot varieties—humpback, fin, & minke whales and even dolphins, all in their natural habitats at Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary.

Step out onto the spacious outdoor viewing decks or sit comfortably inside, taking in panoramic views through large glass windows.

Ask the expert naturalists questions you may have about all that you see—marine life, their behaviours, and habitats.

3 to 4 hour cruise

Knowledgeable naturalist from the New England Aquarium on board

Comfortable high-speed catamaran with outdoor observation decks

Climate-controlled cabin with large windows

Cushioned seats

State-of-the-art audio and video systems

Food & beverages from the snack bar

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

208 reviews
How do we collect reviews?
These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
186
13
4
1
4
Guests from United Kingdom, Canada, Netherlands and over 17 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Lesly G
Group
Verified booking
Jun 2026
The crew members on the boat are very nice and consistently implemented passenger safety protocols. However, beware as you head towards deeper into the ocean approaching the destination, the seasickness is horrific. My teenage boys were sea sick and the staff kindly informed passengers who were sick to head towards the back of the boat. It was amusing to see manybpassengers clustered together in the back feeling sick to their stomach :). Coming back, it was great, I believe its because we were going along the waves. Would I do this again? 99% chance, no, lol. The staff and departure arrangement is 100% star service.
Kevin O
Couple
Verified booking
Last week
I run a tour company that sells whale watching in Panama. As a guide, I have taken people whale watching in Alaska, Vancouver/BC, Baja Mexico and I persoanlly have been in New Zealands and probably a few other places and TODAY was the best wahale watching tour I have ever done or even heard of! We have so many photos and videos to go through, I havent had time to review them all yet.. maybe I can add them later! THANK YOU SO MUCH Kevin (BarefootPanama Tours) PS. I am from Boston and this was my 1st time doing this tour! Why did I wait so long..
Alison M
Couple
Verified booking
Last week
The whale watching cruise was amazing. We saw so many whales while also being taught great information by the naturalist. It takes around an hour to get to the area where whales can be found, but then you spend at least an hour viewing whales. We saw 8 known adult whales and 2 calves. We watched whales tail and full body breach, flipper slap and fluke dive. The boat is clean and has snacks and drinks available for purchase. The crew was friendly.
Kristina R
Group
Verified booking
2 weeks ago
Amazing trip!!! Saw so many whales. Weather was great, lots of seating options. You can sit inside or outside on top or bottom levels. I was worried about getting cold and that didn't happen, some people put on light jackets but I brought them and didn't need any. They have food and drinks for sale and great crew, very knowledgeable.
Katherine S
Solo
Verified booking
Jun 2026
Wonderful trip. Beautiful calm day on the water. Best of all saw 11 whales and a calf. Some close enough to the boat to hear there breathing. The boat was super comfortable. The naturalist who spoke was knowlegable and interesting and the sound system excellent. One could hear her over the sound of the engine. Highly recomend!

Getting started

Meet your crew at the boarding point mentioned on your ticket. After a quick security scan, head to the high-speed catamaran. Departure is from One Long Wharf, located between the Long Wharf Marriott Hotel and the New England Aquarium.

What to expect

Enjoy the luxuries of the boat—spacious outdoor observation decks and climate-controlled indoor cabins furnished with big windows, cushioned seats, tables, state-of-the-art audio and video systems, and a snack counter where you can purchase snacks and drinks.

Features

Live guide: The tour is led by a naturalist from the New England Aquarium, who will answer all your (relevant) questions and help you better understand & appreciate the marine ecosystem.

Boston harbor views: As you speed across the Massachusetts coastal waters, you can spot landmarks such as Castle Island and Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park before reaching your destination—Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary.

Marine life: Spot a variety of whales such as humpback, fin, and minke whales; white-sided dolphins, and more. The sanctuary is a rich feeding ground for marine life.

What to bring

Visitors who are prone to motion sickness are advised to take medication before boarding the boat.

What's not allowed

Smoking is strictly prohibited.

Accessibility

The cruise is wheelchair accessible.

Additional information

Infant tickets must be purchased onboard.

If you're prone to motion sickness, we recommend taking preventive medication before boarding to ensure a comfortable experience.

The cruise timings may vary due to the unpredictability of sightings, so be prepared to accommodate any delays.

Food and beverages are available for purchase onboard.

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the boarding point

Please arrive at the boarding point 30 mins before the scheduled time of your cruise to avoid any delays.

Boarding point

Board your cruise at Boston Harbor City Cruises - Long Wharf.

Address: 1 Long Wharf, Boston, MA 02210.

Landmark: Located between the Long Wharf Marriott Hotel and the New England Aquarium.

Get directions to the boarding point