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Bar Harbor Whale Watch

3.5 (256 reviews)
Closed 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Updated a few days ago

Bar Harbor Whale Watch Photos

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Whales
Laurie R.

I took my two kids on the whale watching tour out of Bar Harbor. We signed up for the 8:330 morning tour, and I was a little worried because it was still pretty foggy and the seas were still pretty rough leaving that early. It might've been a little bit smoother of a ride if we would have waited for the afternoon tour. We got there about 45 minutes early and had pre-booked everything online ahead of time. There was already a pretty good line of people. waiting to get on the boat. We had our QR codes on our phone so we didn't need to check in or do anything ahead of time. We are also able to find paid parking in the parking lot right outside the office. It did cost about $25 for the day but that is pretty typical in Bar Harbor to park. Once we boarded the boat, we were able to find some of the last spots outside on the front of the boat. There was plenty of sitting inside, but lots of people were trying to get the outside seats. They also made an announcement that the seas were gonna be pretty rough and if anyone wanted to get off, they would fully refund your ticket which I thought was pretty nice that they made that offer. We decided to stick it out. It was definitely super rough on the way out and we ended up having to go about 50 miles out to try to find some whales. . They also had warned us that it may be a long ride out. My daughter did end up getting seasick along with many other people on the boat. The people working were on top of it and made sure everyone had barf bags and moved all the people who were sick to the back of the boat and kept things very, very clean. I was impressed with how attentive they were. But after searching for quite a bit, we found three humpback whales and we're able to sit and watch them for a good 30 minutes. They made sure to get us as close as possible without being too close to the whales. The fog had cleared up and it ended up being a beautiful day and the ride back was very smooth. Overall, I was very happy with the experience and they delivered on everything That they had promised.

Whale
Andrea S.

I was nervous to book, but I'm so glad that I did! We were able to see so many whales! I was surprised! We took some nice photos of their flukes and the narrator even told us many facts about the whales. We were so excited to see pods of common dolphins! Schedule Overall, we started standing in line at 10:15am and I recommend doing that so you can get a nice spot at the top front of the boat. That's where you'll get to spot the most whales since they face directly towards the whales as they look for them. At 11:05am we set off and saw some eagles flying in the sky. At about 1pm, we started to see whales and dolphins. At about 2:30pm we started to head back. I recommend going downstairs to stay warm on the way back. We reached Bar Harbor around 4:45pm. Definitely bring warm layers, beanies, and gloves, it's very windy and cold. We had a sunny day with clear skies in mid-October, but it was still very cold!

outside ticket office
Winny L.

Went whale watching twice here...1st time here we didn't see any whales except a dead right whale...so we got to come back again within 3 years as part of the guarantee (if no whales were seen on the tour). Also, the guarantee covers inclimate weather as well. We had sunny days both times. We heard whales do come out more during the rain...but rather not be soaked going whale watching. Purchase tickets in advance and show up ahead of boarding time. Make sure to dress warm as it does get very windy and cold out in the sea. They have barf bags for anyone who feels sick. Get ready for the 3 hour tour... j/k :) One can choose to sit upstairs or on the lower level inside (especially if too cold). Restrooms on the lower level. Good educational tour while heading out to sea and back. Saw some seals and puffins along with 2 whales - Daffodil and Gunslinger on our second time. The tour guides stop and give both sides of the boat ample opportunity to take pictures once whales are spotting. They also ask for participation if anyone spots a whale - especially if you see the spout of water... One small boat was very lucky to have both whales come so close to them. Good tour if one has never gone before...

Heather B.

A wonderful 2 hour trip out on the water and back. We saw seals, an eagle, other birds, landmarks fishing vessels ect. The staff was wonderful. Ruth did an amazing job speaking. She is certainly a wealth of knowledge. The boat was large and very clean. The bathrooms were immaculate... locked myself in though. Ha! Decently priced as well. I recommend! Tips: Arrive early! Park early! Sit in the cafe area, especially if you are a photographer. You can get from one side of the boat to another to take photos, even go up front. Sitting up high got us no where fast. Bring a sweater or something to keep you warm, weather changes quick out there. Charge those batteries and place your phone on airplane mode to preserve the battery. Bring peppermint oil if yoI get a little sour stomach. I wore my mask the entire time and dabbed a few drops in the inside... game changer!

Whale tail
Vicky B.

Went for the afternoon whale watching cruise and we saw several appearances of the same 6 whales! I didn't know what to expect with whale watching, I guess I thought they were going to roll over and jump out of water? Lol. Instead we saw a lot of blowing, backs, and a few tail flips. What it's like: The ride out there was really long, almost 2 hours each way. Part of that is narrated. Bring something to do if you get bored easily. You can sit either outside or inside. If inside you are mandated to wear a mask (as of July 2021). You can open the window though. We sat inside and glad that we did because the views were still great. The ride out there had 2 foot waves which we rode most of the way. It wasn't too bumpy but you could definitely feel them. The way home was completely smooth, no waves at all. The naturalist on board was very informative and interesting to listen to. She provided some information on other animals too. On the way out and back, we didn't see too much other than sun fish, gulls, another type of bird, and there was one puffin and one seal visible from the other side of the boat. What to bring: It's a lot colder on the water than on land, so bring a jacket either way. If sitting outside, bring gloves and a warm hat too (even in summer). You can bring your own food and drink onboard, but there's also drinks and light snacks for sale. There are also bathrooms onboard. Bring binoculars if you want to see animals other than whales, or else you can rent them onboard. I didn't use them at all since the whales were close enough to the boat to see very easily. Overall: Unique opportunity to see whales in their natural environment and learn all about them from people who truly care.

You can't miss it - Bar Harbor Whale Watch
Deirdre B.

Even though we had a very foggy day, this trip was amazing. This company is top notch; thorough; keeps you updated through email; and provides you with all the information you need to make your trip successful. The employees were awesome; one person was nicer than the next. The snacks onboard were fairly priced and fresh. Since it definitely was a foggy day, the captain of the ship stuck with it until we got to see a few whales. Everyone on the boat was thrilled, but because we didn't get to see more whales the company gave the entire boat additional tickets to come again (that were in our email by the time we got back to our hotel). Can you believe it!?!

Melissa R.

What a wonderful experience! Captain Matt found a pair male humpback whales pretty quickly. We were able to spend an hour and a half watching these majestic animals. Our Naturalist, Julie, was great and very knowledgeable Side note: there is always a possibility that the cruise could be canceled due to weather/ water conditions. I would suggest using the ap to pay for 1 hour of parking and then extend the time when you are certain your trip is a go. We had been scheduled to go a different day, and it was canceled and had already put in $24 for parking and there doesn't seem to be a way to get a refund.

Nikita K.

Highlight of our day in bar harbor! We did the nature cruise and it was great. We saw so much wildlife, beautiful views and the naturalist was so insightful and knowledgeable. Really organized, accommodating to disabled people, and even had a beer or two to choose from. Will be back!

Kendra F.

This place is legit. They took us on a LONG tour and we saw so many different whales and sea life. It was honestly incredible. The ship was clean, the staff were very knowledgeable. The only downside is that there were not seats for everyone and the seats on the outside of the ship were a tad small. (Looking at all of my plus size folks, they did have metal armrests that couldn't move.) BUT the seats inside the boat were bigger and padded! I suggest going early and grabbing a few of those seats. And don't forget your sweatshirt! It got chilly.

Whale

Saw many whales!! Excellent experience!! The staff and naturalist were very helpful and knowledgeable. I give them many thumbs

Whale spray in the distance

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11 months ago

Hugo more like huGOAT. he found 12 whales for us. Also a seal .

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Ask the Community - Bar Harbor Whale Watch

If you did an afternoon cruise, did you still see a lot of whales? Trying to decide between booking at 2:30 on a Thursday or 8:30 AM on a Saturday.

Allison, 8:30am by far is best time to go Whale Watching! I had researched and early am is best!… Read more

Where's parking near bar Harbor Whale Watch?

Parking nearby is very tough. Many lots fill up fast. Your best option is to arrive at least a half hour before boarding so you can find a spot and plan to walk.

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Review Highlights - Bar Harbor Whale Watch

When we came up to Egg Rock we got to see plenty of seals and even a bald eagle.

Mentioned in 4 reviews

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Oli's Trolley - Photo stop in Acadia National Park

Oli's Trolley

4.5(206 reviews)
0.1 mi

A must when visiting Bar Harbor!…read more Everything about Oli's is top notch. Ordering our tours was super easy online. Friendly reminders via email were so helpful. We arrived for our first tour super early as we wanted to secure a parking spot (not easy to do in Bar Harbor) and the woman at the Trolley was so kind and make a suggestion to us for how to spend the time before boarding. Our amazing tour guide and driver, Jim, was super personable and interesting, and even helped us find blueberries and took several pictures of my husband and I with the beautiful backdrops of Cadillac Mountain and Jordan's Pond. We had a great bunch on the tour, and can say that this tour was the highlight of our trip. Jim even recommended a great place to eat, and it was so good, we went back again for dinner! But the icing on the cake was again customer service. We booked a second tour for the next day, and woke up to crummy weather, so we decided to head home and skip our tour. As we had passed the cancellation policy time of 24 hours notice, I did not request my money back, but did call and leave a message to let them know we would not be attending, so they wouldn't wait for us. Imaging my surprise when I looked in my email to find they had refunded my money! We would (and will) be touring with them again, and highly recommend them to anyone.

Oli's is a prominent and reliable tour operator in Bar Harbor, and gives narrated tours of Acadia…read moreNational Park and downtown Bar Harbor. We chose the trolley for its old fashioned charm and a more open view, over taking another popular tour by bus given by a different company. I booked a 2.5-hour tour for my family during our cruise stop - the boarding location was super convenient (55 West St.), right by the tendor port at Town Pier, and the check-in process was organized and a breeze. This tour includes 15-minute stops at three of the most popular sites in the park: Thunder Hole, Jordan Pond, and top of Cadillac Mountain. The stops are too brief for anything other than a quick walk-through to take some photos, but that was enough for my sight-seeing family. The park is huge so most of the time is spent driving and taking in the occasional breathtaking views along the coastline. The first time I visited this park (a much more thorough and extensive, multi-day trip where we camped inside the park and hiked all the most difficult trails that rewarded us with the most stunning views), the majesty of the landscape continuously awed me. There were fewer such moments on the tour due to the route and time crunch, but we were entertained by the excellent narration and stories about the park and the town by our driver Jim, a very knowledgeable local who's quippy to boot. They also offer a 4-hour tour that includes an extra site (Sieur de Monts Spring), with 30-minute stops at each location instead of 15, and is for age 12+ only. If you want to see Acadia park but are limited on time, don't have a car, don't want to deal with the logistics of planning a park itinerary, are mobility-challenged or don't wish to walk/hike too much, or simply like to enjoy the ride and casually explore the park while listening to some informative stories, I heartily recommend Oli's Trolley for your excursion! They're very professional and well run. Be sure to also check out their excellent gift shop nearby (1 West St.) which has a cute and well-curated selection of merchandise that are reasonably priced. Tickets often sell out early - especially during high tourist season and on days when cruise passengers land - so definitely book well in advance!

Photos
Oli's Trolley - Oil's Trolley ticket booth

Oil's Trolley ticket booth

Oli's Trolley - Thunder Hole, Acadia Park

Thunder Hole, Acadia Park

Oli's Trolley - Top of Cadillac Mountain

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Top of Cadillac Mountain

Coastal Kayaking Tours

Coastal Kayaking Tours

4.3(75 reviews)
0.2 mi

We were staying in the area and wanted to do some activities unique to Maine and booked a sea kayak…read moretour. We've kayaked in Florida and MN a few times but this was the first time in open sea. Our guide was fantastic. She provided instruction and the necessary safety info accurately and got us on our way quickly. We kayaked around one of the porcupine islands. We had to watch for large boats through the main channels. One side of the island provided choppy paddling conditions which was 'fun' and unique. The other side of the island was much calmer and relaxed. Our guide provided interesting tidbits of info about the island as we progressed. I kind of wished we would have had a few designated photo ops areas. I didn't really feel like I could take my time to get my camera out as I needed to keep up or didn't want to miss what she was saying. As a result, no one in our group really took any pics. The kayaks were in good condition. We wore splash suits to minimize getting wet. If you are tall, the kayaks will likely be a bit uncomfortable for you (hard to adjust the foot rests). Nice morning on the water.

My wife booked a tour for us to spend some time together as a family. The weather was awesome and…read morewe We did the sunset tour with Brandon. What a great tour guide, super nice guy. Our family had such an awesome time together. They provide dry bags for your phones and stuff. I wished I had brought some cash with me to tip him after the tour. We would definitely do this again.

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Coastal Kayaking Tours - Sunset kayak & 9 year old/adult

Sunset kayak & 9 year old/adult

Coastal Kayaking Tours - Sunset kayak & group

Sunset kayak & group

Coastal Kayaking Tours

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Bar Harbor Whale Watch - whalewatchingtours - Updated May 2026

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