For my birthday, we joined a whale watching tour in the Gulf of Maine.  We honestly weren't sure what to expect but were blown away by getting to see 3 different types of whales (Humpback, Minke, Finback), with multiples of each type and also two blue sharks. The people that led our tour were knowledgeable and friendly and I also appreciated they had food and drinks onboard for sale (and single serve dramamine). We had a hot dog, their ocean gin drink, and a blueberry harbor ale and couldn't have had a better time. Make sure to get there early as the most in demand seats on top of the boat were full after they let the people waiting in line early on the boat. I'd say we got there 30 minutes earlier than needed and got some of the best seats but there weren't many left. There is a shop with good coffee close so you can have one person hold your spot in line while others do that. Dress warmer than you think you need: we ended up wearing long sleeve shirts and pants with jackets and beanies and it wasn't a rough or especially cold day at sea and closer to 70 degrees on land. . read more

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Spent the July 4th weekend in Bar Harbor and we booked this company for the whale watching as well as for the fireworks on the water. I will start by saying that the staff is absolutely wonderful! Super attentive and polite and was constantly checking on all of the riders. The ride was long but we went to two locations before we finally got a glimpse of one humpback whale- Anthur. The captain did his best to get us as close to the whale as possible without disrupting it and also tried to make sure both sides of the boat got ample time to view. The narrator on the boat had a ton of information to provide which was really cool. It wasn't just about whales, we learned about other sea life and productivity and sustainability as well as about the harbor and Acadia park. It was an experience for sure. I do tend to get a little motion sickness which thankfully I was spared on this trip- but unfortunately it seemed like it was happening all around us where people were just losing it. The staff was quick to react and accommodate those riders with bags, drinks and food. Prepare for the cold because even though it was 80 degrees on land, it was extremely windy and freezing out of the water. They do provide hot chocolate and coffee and snacks on board for purchase, you can also bring food on board as well. We went back out again in the evening for the fireworks- they do a trip out towards the lighthouse and the porcupine islands and again provide lots of information about the islands, sea life, and about the earlier settlers. That part was great- the fireworks (out of their control) was eh. Everyone said Bar Harbor has some of the best fireworks and unfortunately they were super underwhelming. Would I do it again..... probably not, but it was an experience that we enjoyed and have stories to tell. read more

Bar Harbor Whale Watch - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

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This was a wonderful boat and enthusiastic Naturalist guide~ Courtney. If you get there before 8am, (it won't let you reserve at the kiosk before 8am) just scan/ download the parking kiosk to get the app. Know your license number and the Kiosk number. Check-in was quick and efficient. From a former whale watch trip, I recommend no greasy breakfasts or anything with dairy before the trip. You may bring your own food/snacks. If you are prone to motion sickness~ take the Dramamine 1 hr before you set sail. Take along Ginger candy or ginger ale for any upset tummies. If you sit anywhere in the exterior, bundle up in layers. It's very windy heading out to the spot and coming back in to port. We were able to secure an inside Main Deck booth and headed around the boat when there was a sighting. Everyone was kind in sharing photo ops. The top is great as our guide sat upstairs (bundle up and wear layers) with the view of the bow or starboard sighting of the whales. We were fortunate to see humpback and fin whales, dolphins, porpoises and variety of birds. The galley is cash only. They also provide emesis bags. Please use them if you feel like vomiting. I was unfortunate to be below a deck from the top and a fluid with blueberry chunks came dripping below. Otherwise, it was a memorable excursion with great sightings. Make sure to have a quick shutter camera with lens to get a great shot of the blowhole, back and tail of the whales. read more

Bar Harbor Whale Watch - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

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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. read more

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Whole experience was a thrill. The Crew boarding, safety, education all very smooth and good. If you want to be warm bring hats, gloves, face protection wind & mist. Several layers of jackets and waterproof windbreaker. know it's Cold. It was June 23 and out at sea boat going wind fog moisture Be ready. Exciting though, Saw Juvenile Hump Back! Thrilling. Glad we did the trip. read more

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! read more

Bar Harbor Whale Watch - Whale - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

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I was extremely disappointed. Packed in like sardines - object was to get somewhere as fast as possible and then back to pier so they could reload next group. $$$$$ Unable to hear educational feed over PA. Ship moving so fast that wind chill was awful. Since I couldn't run to opposite sides of ship to see what was being spotted I saw nothing. read more

This was the worst experience of my entire stay in Acadia. The whale watching operator canceled four days in a row, even on the last two days when the conditions were good. The most frustrating part was that they always canceled at the very last minute, which made it hard to manage the disappointment for my child. To make matters worse, we later found out that other companies were still going out to sea. My mistake was trusting this operator for four days without checking alternatives. I do not recommend them -- if you truly want to see whales, look for a more reliable company. read more

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

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... read more

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We had the perfect weather day. It did get cold once you got out. Out guide Ruth, was so knowledgeable. I love hearing her excitement as she described some of what we saw. Felt a little long after awhile watching the whales but did really enjoy it. read more

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! read more

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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. read more

Bar Harbor Whale Watch - Whale tail - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

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!?! read more

Bar Harbor Whale Watch - You can't miss it - Bar Harbor Whale Watch - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

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. read more

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It's a pretty amazing experience once in a lifetime. It is so beautiful I saw so many whales at least 30 they were popping up everywhere I saw The seats are very comfy to sit on or you can go near the edge of the boat and this is my opinion. It is the best spot read more

What an amazing way to spend the afternoon! Very educational, very entertaining, and super fun to watch these amazing animals in their habitats. Believe them when they say it is cold out there. It was close to 90° when we left shore and I had regrets about only bringing a fleece and a hat, and not a winter jacket on this trip. We had a great time and will definitely go again next time we're in town. read more

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! read more

Bar Harbor Whale Watch - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

The worst trip ever!!!! Freezing inside and outside and we thought that inside has the heater on, NOT! Long trip for nothing. Save your money and avoid going on this trip. We took a whale watching trip in Boston in a little ten people boat and what they do is send ahead of time another small boat to feed the whales. When we arrived all the whales surrounded our boat and we almost touched them. It was an extraordinary experience. So, unless it's a small boat DON'T take the trip. To tge management: turn on the heater. read more

There should be some disclaimer of sorts for people with abdominal/gyno medical history. The length and rockiness of the boat ride sent my girlfriend to the ER for half of our stay in Acadia. My girlfriend has had ruptured ovarian cysts and the motion sickness from this boat ride ruptured another one of her cysts. It was fun seeing whales in real life, but the length of the boat ride meant we got back to bar harbor when most of the shops and bars were closed. Plan accordingly and definitely reconsider if you have loved ones with gyno/abdominal problems. read more

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. read more

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

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First time to see a whale and the cruise was so much fun! It was easy to board, a smooth ride, great weather, and we saw 2 lighthouses, several islands, 8 whales, dolphins, a seal and lots of birds. The crew was very attentive, made sure everyone was feeling okay and asked if we needed anything. Our cetologist was very informative and shared lots of fun facts! If you prefer to sit on the back deck or top, you should arrive early. We sat on the front and it was great! You should dress in layers and wear a hat or hood that won't blow off. Highly recommend! read more

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I took a trip with my family early in June with the Whale Watch Company in Bar Harbor, and it was an amazing experience. We saw five whales, with two of them breaching non-stop and playing in the water. The trip was a bit long, about 3 1/2 to 4 hours, but it was totally worth it. We enjoyed every second on the water. The naturalist was very knowledgeable and shared some really cool information about sea life. The next day, we did a nature cruise and saw a bunch of seals and a couple of eagles. Don't listen to people who complain and say it's not worth it--we loved it. I highly recommend it. read more

We booked this and the weather did not cooperate. Which we understand, however the dock reps, were not helpful. When we tried to rebook for something else , they were just making excuses. One person called and we were told, "we don't know where the captain is" . Surprisingly unorganized read more

Save your money. Don't recommend this experience. Half of the people on the boat had seasick including myself. This was in the beginning of the boat ride too. We didn't see any whales due to the seasickness's. read more

BORING LONG Only saw 2 whales after 5 hours of freezing. Would never do again. Couldn't hear announcements read more

We went on the 8:30 am whale watching tour. It started out foggy, chilly and choppy. The fog cleared up and the wildlife appeared! Our tour guide, (I can't remember her name) has worked for the company for 17 years and she was knowledgeable and fabulous. She gave interesting facts about the whales without boring us with too many details. We saw hump back, fin back whales and minke whales. Grey seals and dolphins also entertained us. Dress warmly - no kidding! We went in August and I had on several layers. I recommend this trip read more

Bar Harbor Whale Watch - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

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Did an afternoon whale watch. Ride was smooth and fairly scenic with the crew pointing out sights along the way. Saw a number of humpback whales. They came close enough to the boat to get some good videos and pictures. If I ever visit Bar Harbor again I'll go on another whale watch. read more

This review is based on first-hand experience. This company offers very pleasant and informative scenic and nature cruises in and around Bar Harbor. The Sunset Happy Hour cruise was great fun. The correct name for this listing should be... Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co. Not really much difference, except Yelp almost always gets some detail wrong since they rely on crowd sourced info and usually don't check the facts. read more

Bar Harbor Whale Watch - Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co. - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

Took the lighthouse and harbor tour. Three hours long, very enjoyable. They have a naturalist talking the entire time. About $50 per person. Tour boat is comfortable and clean. You'll need to wear a mask if inside the boat. We saw eagles, ducks, porpoise, harbor seals and Gannets. read more

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We read SO many reviews before biting the bullet and buying tickets. We'd just visited New Bedford, Mass to learn alllll about whaling in the 1800s and early 1900s, this was the icing on the cake. We toured with another family and grandparents and all are greatly enthralled with the ocean and wildlife and all things nature. Another couple in our group opted out and to hike instead because they were not willing to pay the big bucks for whale tails. That's what it is, really. We rode an hour out into whale waters and spent 1.5 hours getting within a respectful distance from 2 groups of whales, a total of 5! We saw lots of blowing, tails up when they went to dive, and some of them moving around the surface ... but the whales didn't jump or come play, the naturalist explained their behavior at the time indicated they were likely hunting/eating. We visited August 1st which is the height of whale season. The trip out is beautiful looking at the cliff sides and mansions and islands. The boat is kept very clean and nice all throughout with fair pricing on all their concessions and a flexible policy allowing visitors to bring their own food aboard except hard coolers, glass bottles, etc. Our large group took 2 tables on the main cabin and felt concerned at first when everyone booked it for the top. They might have had a good spot to view the whales once we got there but BRRRRR!!!! The wind really gets to ya. And if there are big waves, you feel it most up top! On the way back when lots of travelers were hungry and cold, they moved down to the main cabin and sat around on the floor or stood up against a wall... then we were really glad we opted for the tables from beginning! We brought activity books for the kids and they happily passed the time with those and snacks when we weren't out watching whales. We were able to snag pictures with our iPhones and a monocular (Gosky Piper Monocular Telescope https://a.co/d/eUzkQAQ) that attaches - highly recommend! Oh, and because we are in peak season, I imagine it made the trip an average amount of time. We boarded at 2 after getting in line at 1:30, left dock at 2:30 and we're back again by 6:05. Not bad! Their shop is great and you get a discount with proof of ticket purchase! read more

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The actual experience of traveling around to see lighthouseswas good.... Kept to the 2:30 hours... boat was in great shape and inside seating was comfortable. I dropped a star because of the pricing. Given how many people they loaded on the ship times the price gave a hefty chunk of change. Then the implication was the crew wasn't getting much of the fees and we should donate/tip. I don't have a problem to tip (they have good service) but thinking Management may not pay the crew a good portion bothered me. read more

What a great experience! We know we got lucky with calmer waters & breaching whales, because that doesn't happen every time. But Abigail's excitement of spotting wildlife & her knowledge was fantastic! So worth it! read more

I would strongly recommend this tour! It was amazing! We had two humpback whales play so close it felt like you could reach out and touch them! Very educational as well! read more

Bar Harbor Whale Watch - Humpback Whale! - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

So so disappointed. I understand why they would cancel due to fog. They want you to have a good experience. They even refund completely. BUT they didn't cancel till right before and we wasted money on parking and wasted time waiting because they request you get there early. We did this twice!!! So if there is even the slightest bit of fog...don't waste your time. Just call and cancel. We just wished they would have cancelled earlier or came and told us to not wait in the heat with our children and that they were considering cancelling. read more

The cruise was wonderful! Ruth, the guide did an outstanding job explaining everything we saw. Breathtaking scenery . read more

Bar Harbor Whale Watch - Bar Harbor area - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

It was great. Our guide was super helpful and made the trip interesting. Take coats and winter clothes, and take your Dramamine even if you do tend to have motion sickness. read more

We went for late morning 1 hr 45 mins lobster fishing and seal watching trip. It was a lot of fun for my daughters, and I liked it too. It was not "wow, but good and educational experience. The guide and the captain were both quite good and knowledgeable, I found it slightly overpriced, but otherwise, highly recommend one of their tours. Unfortunately, we couldn't go for 5 hours whale watching cruise, simply didn't have time, and I think 5 hour tour is too long anyway (especially for younger kids). read more

The boat is comfortable and lots of options for where to sit. You may need to move around to see the whales. Lots of cool things to see. read more

Bar Harbor Whale Watch - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine