We were visiting friends in the area and decided to sign on for Captain Rick's Hingham Picnic…read moreCharter. It turned out to be the highlight of our vacation!! Our kids had such a great time swimming while we were at anchor near a place called Worlds End. We had a cruise around the Boston Harbor islands while Captain Rick shared his extensive knowledge of the area. Fantastic! So great to learn from a local expert. His boat was also a perfect size for our needs with plenty of room for onboard picnicking. I can tell you that the day exceeded our expectations and we look forward to one of his charters on our next trip to Boston!

From the owner: Captain Rick brings his love of boating to picnic and swimming charter customers with personalized…read moreafternoons on the waters between Hingham and the Boston Harbor Islands.

Worth it! My husband was hesitant about spending money on whale watching, but it ended up being our…read morefavorite experience in Boston. Seeing whales up close was awe-inspiring and put into perspective how small we are. It is something we still talk about, years later.

Driving from Hull...an hour away. We left about an 1.5hrs. due to maybe traffic's: Figured that…read morewould be enough time to at least board on. Because of traffic and didn't know just parking would take a minute we ran to the dock and the boat was leaving. We were a minute late... literally. So no 5 minutes grace period or even 1 min. w/ the amount we paid for those tickets-$86 a piece! Tried to get a refund or at least transfer the fees to another boat trip cruise which was cheaper $54 for an hour trip. No transfer No refund...Nothing!! Me and my gf just ate $172 because there was no grace period for 1 minute! Ridiculous and a Rip off! Liz

I thought that the staff was extremely knowledgeable and I learned quite a bit on the whale watch…read morethis week. I appreciated the care that the team took to give the whales some space while they were doing their essential feeding. I do recommend bringing some anti-nausea measures with you.

Our whale watching experience here was absolutely fantastic! The crew on the boat were a pleasure…read moreto be around and they made the experience educational and fun. Our reservation time got changed due to the location of the whales, but they informed us early enough to make reasonable accommodations and it worked out even better for us. We got to see so many animals, and we even saw a fin whale and her calf. The food on board was surprisingly good as well, although if you want to save a couple bucks, you can always bring snacks with you. I highly recommend giving Captain John Boats a shot if you're interested in seeing whales

The staff were amazing and the whale sightings were spectacular! Highly recommend!!! Everything was…read moreperfect from start to finish!

This was an amazing experience from start to finish. I have been on many whale watchers and, while…read moreit is always great to see a whale, there are certainly other things that make the overall experience great. Tickets were reasonably priced. We used Groupon and had no issues. The ticket booth was clearly marked and they had a cute photo area for before boarding. The website has great directions for parking, what to wear, and other helpful tips. The naturalist on board was fantastic and talked for the majority of the trip, sharing so much information about the wildlife and the surrounding area. We loved the historical facts about the region. There were snacks and drinks on board. I was pleasantly surprised to be able to have a Sam Adams Oktoberfest. We could also use a card to pay which was great because we forgot cash The crew on board was fantastic and super attentive to guests. There were a few people on board who were a tad sea sick and the crew was there to help! I thought this was a really nice to touch that they tried to provide support and tips for easing that woozy feeling. We saw whales! There were approximately 5 separate whales and two species. Before we left the dock we saw a seal in the harbor.

One of the best whale watch tours I've ever been on! Cape Ann Whale Watch was an incredible…read moreexperience from start to finish. The staff were so knowledgeable, friendly, and clearly passionate about what they do -- they made the whole trip fun and informative. We saw at least ten whales and even a pod of dolphins! It was absolutely amazing to see these animals up close in their natural habitat. The crew made sure everyone had great views and shared lots of interesting facts along the way. Highly recommend Cape Ann Whale Watch -- unforgettable experience and a fantastic team!

A fantastic experience in all ways educational and scenic. This is probably one of the best boat…read moretours I have ever taken! We were in the water for at least 2.5 hours or more! You can tell they really wanted us to see as much as could so they chartered all over the waters and we saw 6 whales. They knew so much about all the whales and taught us a lot of facts. In addition, the cost is very reasonable. I cannot recommend this experience enough!

Had a blast on the Schooner on the 4th. There is some historical information provided and a little…read morebit of story telling without taking away from the scenery. There was a nice breeze on the water on the day I went and we were able to use the sails for pretty much the entire cruise. Capt Mike is great, as is his crew although I forgot their names. I passed on the refreshments as they seemed overpriced based on those around me that did get them, but otherwise it was blast. Been on a handful of cruises in the area, and this is the first one that fired a cannon, so that was a fun experience.

I had mentioned to hubby that I wanted to take a local cruise on a sailing ship. Not too long…read moreafter that, he noticed the ticket booth for Fame right on Pickering Wharf. They were closed, but he noted the website, and we checked it out. Not long after they opened for the season, he went to talk to Melissa at the ticket booth, who told him all about it. We were in! I booked us on a sunset cruise for June 24. We kept watching the weather during the day, and there were showers and downpours even as we ate dinner at Sea Level Oyster Bar. Fortune favored us, however, as the skies cleared just before the 5:00 cruise returned. We boarded with about ten other people, and we set off from the dock right on schedule. The Captain and crew told us about the Fame of Salem and the boatyard where she was built. The views were amazing, and once we got away from the dock, the crew asked for volunteers to help hoist sails! Hubby and I each helped, and the feel of the wind in my hair, as we started to pick up speed was awesome! Another couple on board got engaged during the cannon fire ceremony. It was sooo cool to be a part of that moment with them. Drinks and snacks are available on board, and paying was easy (we used Venmo.) The sunset views were breathtaking. There were great views around the harbor of homes and other boats. We will definitely do this again and are looking into doing a private charter for the end of the season!

All I can say is amazing... just amazing. We saw loads of…read moreaction. One of the hump back whales breached the water 7 times and that was just on our side of the vessel. If you plan on going in the future make sure you arrive early, area is very congested and parking tight. Be aware parking is an extra charge of $15.00. Also make sure you bring some warm outerwear it will get much cooler on the water

What a fantastic day on the water this was my 4th trip out with them and they don't disappoint. We…read moresaw whales and dolphins it was a blast. Great informative talks too

My family had an amazing time with Captain Don and his first mate. They were so kind and patient…read morewith the kids. My son got nervous with the rough water and Captain Don quickly calmed him and let him help drive the boat. We could not have asked for a better experience. Lots of fish caught, great company, and laughs!!! Thank you!!!

I can't say enough great things about our experience fishing with Captain Don and his First Mate,…read moreMike but would like to share why booking a trip with Labrador Fishing Charters was so fantastic for myself and my 10 year old son. The guys were great with my son and made us both feel welcome. They're both great with kids! I booked 3 hours (more than enough time) and we departed from Scituate at 4pm. In no time, he caught 2 big bluefish, and we ended up with 6. He also had a fun time hauling in lobster pots and driving the boat. We took two lobsters home for dinner, along with some fish. The ride back was awesome as well. I told him, "this is the type of day you'll always remember". I know I will, and that this is going to be something we do for years with Labrador. Thanks, Doug and Mike!

I've been on two w whale watches in last two years. My first experience in 2024 was amazing with…read moreprivilege of viewing multiple whales breaches. We also viewed at least a dozen whales on voyage. They have a whale specialist to identify and provide more detail on the various species. Great for kids. The second trip in 2025 did not have as many opportunities to view a whales but they went out of their way to locate whales. Boat is very comfortable and offers food and beverages. Alcoholic if interested.

We dicided to go out for an afternoon whale watch, as I have never been. Its 3 hours - 1 hour out,…read more1 hour to watch, and another hour back. We saw so many whales and we were so close to shore. It was very cool. All humpback whales and we saw like 65+ and quite close (but not too close ). Very knowledgebale staff that narrate the trip with all kinds of tidbits of information.

I found Hocus Pocus Tours while seeking things to do in Salem on Yelp and TripAdvisor. Fellow…read moreYelpers' rave reviews did not disappoint! In messaging Hocus Pocus Tours with a couple questions about the tour and travel to and from Salem, the owner Susan replied immediately and suggested that I call her. This led to a one hour phone conversation where Susan was so gracious with her time, knowledge, and suggestions, not just about how to make the most of the tour, but how to appreciate a day in Salem. I can see why those who had the opportunity to take the in-person tour with Susan really enjoyed it. Covid changed the business model and Hocus Pocus now offers a self-guided tour by purchasing one of two tour apps. I opted for the $19.99 grand tour and it was well worth it. It has 37 points of interest. The app is user friendly and well designed. It provides a map of all stops, tracks where you are, and guides you to the next stop that you select on the tour. When you get to your stop, you can confirm you're at the right spot by comparing a photo of the site with what you see. Then you click on a 2-3 minute audio recording that provides a great snapshot of the significance of the site. As Susan had pointed out to me, there is much more to Salem than the historic witchcraft trials. It includes author Nathaniel Hawthorne's The House of Seven Gables, America's oldest candy company, and other interesting sites. Of everything I visited, I experienced a very deep emotional connection with the 1692 Witchcraft Memorial with 20 stones dedicated to each of the victims of the witchcraft trial. The tour includes brief descriptions of some of the victims including those written about in Arthur Miller's The Crucible. If you plan to visit Salem, I highly recommend this tour. All sites can be visited on the outside and some on the inside at no charge. Some sites, such as The House of Seven Gables, charge separate admission fees. If you want to travel to Salem and don't have a car, the ferry from Boston offers a nice, scenic, and entertaining 50 minute ride. The commuter trains run more frequently and can come in handy if the ferry schedule coming or going doesn't meet your needs. There are plenty of good places to dine at to break up the tour. We had lunch at FINZ and really enjoyed it (I'll post separately about that).

This was legit SO much fun! The name Hocus Pocus kinda throws you off because you may be thinking…read moreabout the movie, but this tour really is amazing. Start off with the tour guides, extremely friendly and beyond knowledgeable. They really know their history for Salem. The tour itself was a few hours and you walk to all of the sites in Salem with historical significance. There is so much to learn from Salem. So much history and heartbreak. It really is eye opening to hear the stories oof the witch trials and how the witch trials began and who all was wrongly persecuted. The tour guides were so nice and explained everything with such great details. This tour was definitely the highlight of our trip in Salem. I highly highly recommend Hocus Pocus Tours, I learned so much regarding Salem, the witch trials, the history behind the two, and a little bit of Hocus Pocus and Bewitched. So much fun!