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    Cape Ann Whale Watch

    4.6 (424 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 7:00 pm

    Services - Cape Ann Whale Watch

    Boat charters

    Cape Ann Whale Watch Photos

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    Jessica M.

    Great time whale watching with the Cape Ann crew! They tracked down some beautiful whales and made sure to maneuver so everyone on board could get a good look. The crew was also very knowledgeable about which whales we were looking at and their habits which made for a wonderfully personalized experience.

    Whale tale
    Barbara C.

    What a great day on the water with Capt John and Tina and the crew.. we opted for the early morning cruise and it did not disappoint. We had a smooth ride out to Jeffreys Ledge and got a great show by a mother-daughter pair of humpback whales and another who 'purred".for us. We were also fortunate enough to spot a whole pod of dolphins frolicking . The Capt and crew provided a great whale watching experience with just enough information and respectful space for the wildlife. I would recommend them to anyone looking for a quality experience. It was simple from buying tickets to parking to boarding.

    Shane T.

    Amazing Experience! Incredibly informative information provided throughout, and truly a blessing to be able to see this magnificent creatures up close.

    My family with one 'never seen a whale'-er.
    Todd H.

    A fantastic whale watching experience with a world-class team and staff. I was particularly impressed with how the team went out of their way to answer questions for first-time whale watchers.

    Whale sighting
    Apex S.

    We decided last minute to add a whale watching expedition to our vacation after coming across Groupons for Cape Ann Whale Watch. The groupings definitely helped us make the decision to go, for this party of four, because it considerably reduced our total costs. It was easy to redeem the Groupons for a weekday excursion. It was also nice that they had a dedicated parking lot so that you could park your car easily for the duration of the tour, which can easily stretch 4+ hours. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. The boat was comfortable. We sat inside the main cabin for most of the ride while a lot of folks sat outside. Once the boat leaves the harbor and picks up speed, it can get pretty cool if you're outside on the deck. It takes about 1.5 hours to reach the whale watching location and the boat spends am hour or so in their "playground". We saw many humpback whales and a mother-calf pair. It was so exciting to see them splash and dive. Thrilling! You can also buy snacks on the boat. We got a coffee and while the taste was ok, it did warm us up. There are restrooms on board but we never visited them. Definitely worth a visit if you've never been. Be patient, the ride to and fro can be long but worth the whale watching!

    Emma T.

    Wonderful experience. Great and friendly staff both on the boat and on the phone when we called several times to change our reservation or ask questions. Saw many whales and got a lot of great info! Groupon deals for this place are the way to go

    I had such a fun, exciting time! We had to go way out to finally see the whales, but once we saw one, we saw four! We saw Clamp do her signature "waggle" tail move! I love how the crew got as excited as we did! Unfortunately we didn't see any breaches...bummer. Maybe next time. This was my first time using CAWW, but it definitely won't be my last. Thanks so much for a whale of a time!!

    Whale breach

    I rated 4 stars due to the trip was cut short of an hour. I've been going on these trips since the 1980's as I love whale watching. This was the first time out of all my trips we docked just before 11:30 am. It was a awesome trip otherwise. Saw lots of whale activity and dolphins.

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    2 days ago

    fantastic! we must have seen 8 whales including a mother and calf. Boat crew were terrific. worth every penny.

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    9 months ago

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    6 months ago

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    1 month ago

    Great trips. Many years ago now but enjoyed all the whales and naturalist input. If Gloucester were closer I'd go every year.

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    10 months ago

    We had great time and we saw many whales and we even had little owl join us Very informative crew. We will do again in a heartbeat!

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    8 months ago

    I 100% recommend this company!! They were top notch, experienced, kind, knowledgeable, friendly, and the overall trip was amazing!!

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    1 year ago

    Great experience every time with this educated, friendly staff and crew. Ample free parking. Worth the ticket price!

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    Page 1 of 11

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    Review Highlights - Cape Ann Whale Watch

    We saw a large pod of dolphins (about 12-18) and 5 humpback whales (PB and J, Joy and 2 unidentified ones).

    Mentioned in 34 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Windfish Private Tours and Fishing Charters

    Windfish Private Tours and Fishing Charters

    (1 review)

    Captain Dan took us out for a half day fishing trip. He did an awesome job. And I don't say that…read morejust because we caught fish but because he made the whole experience special, like we were family! First, the three of us in the trip were seniors and one had mobility difficulties that made getting in and out of the boat dufficult.. Capt. Dan found solutions and make accommodations that made it easy as possible. Thank you! Once in the boat, Capt.Dan quickly adapted to what we wanted to do. He clearly loves fishing and being on the water. He knows the area around Gloucester, near shore and out a ways so he could quickly adapt to sea conditions and ensure our best chances for catching fish. He let us set our level of involvement, whether just sitting back as he trolled, with rods in the holders, or holding the rod and actively fishing. He used both live bait (mackerel that we actually fished for) and trolling lures. On this trip we caught a couple of the biggest fish I've ever caught! A 32 inch bluefish that really put the word sport into sport fishing! And a 42 inch striper that easily weighed 30 pounds. Both were caught near shore in protected areas with minimal chop (one of our party surprisingly got seasick..a first for her and to which he adapted immediately). We even cast a couple of lines as we tied up at the dock and he cleaned our fish. We almost caught another striper! Like I said Captain Dan went above and beyond for our party, ensuring we had a great day on the water. He made us feel like family! I highly recommend this charter!

    From the owner: Windfish Private Tours and Fishing Charters offer fun-filled adventures for all ages. We are happy…read moreto offer a range of charters, including bass fishing, striper fishing, haddock fishing, whale watching, and many others. Join us for a day on the water by scheduling your tour with us today!

    First Chance Whale Watch

    First Chance Whale Watch

    (102 reviews)

    We enjoyed a good lobster boat tour with First Chance. The cruise is on a pretty large boat that…read morehas both covered and open seating. They pack about 40 people on each run, but we had plenty of room to walk around and view everything. Our guide was very funny and kept us all engaged during the tour. The captain did a good job of keeping us on track. You get to see a whole lot of Kennebunkport on this tour. The boat passes the Bush compound for some cool shots along with many other huge estates. The pace is comfortable and you have plenty of time to take pictures or ask questions. Two lobster traps are picked up and we got like 7 lobsters on our tour. They are rubber banded and we are allowed to play with / photograph them. It is a very cool experience and you learn a lot about the laws and rules in place to sustain the lobster population. Very good tour at a good value. Check it out!

    Of course, no whales are *promised* on this cruise, but we did happen to see a few mini-breaches…read morewhen we were the farthest out we could really go. The drawbacks are that it's a hike to get to Kennebunkport. Its a tourist town and crowded AF in the summer... all the things I don't like. That comes with the territory. The vessel, while not overly crowded, does not have the best seating in the world. If you have a bad back, as I do, there is limited seating that has adequate back support. All the demanding hags will claim as many of the seats as they can for non-present family members. Advise you to get there as early as you can, get in the queue, and push all the Karens out of the way so you can get your claim to the best possible seat. Lots of little scamps running around (in the summer) too. That being said, the whales do not have scheduled showing on certain sides of the boat. We were lucky to see the first breach on our side... but in total the number and scale of the breaches was a little underwhelming. The commute for the vessel in/out of the harbour and to/from the farthest point was major sleepy time. I would not do it again. They do offer vouchers that are (supposedly) infinitely good to come back if there were no whale sightings. The price is not so bad though. If you want to experience a lengthy boat ride, then this is for you.

    Newburyport Whale Watch - Photo by Georgia Fanthorpe

    Newburyport Whale Watch

    (44 reviews)

    We recently spent an afternoon with the folks at Newburyport Whale Watch for a trip in the gulf of…read moreMaine searching for and watching some of the most amazing creatures in the ocean. The reservation process on line was straight forward and easy to use. The tickers were added to my iPhone wallet which would have been easy enough to board, but the staff had names available to check off which was even easier than fumbling with your phone or the internet access. For those who showed up on site to purchase tickets, those were available on site. Staff was young and friendly from greeting to service in the bar section with light food, snacks and beverages. The staff providing updates on the actual whales we did see was fascinating to hear. They were able to identify the two whales we did watch and made the experience all the better and personable. PSA - the staff works on tips similar to your waitstaff at a restaurant, so please be prepared to show your appreciation for their service, as warranted. While spotting whales is not guaranteed, we did see a couple of them, but not without a lot of travel. We were out almost a couple of hours to find them which also meant that after watching for about an hour, it was an equal trip back to the harbor. Keep that in mind. I am sure we all wish the trip was more like a 3 hour tour (with a happier ending than those on Gilligan's Island) but be prepared for spending 6 hours on the boat, especially if you are bringing young children who can become bored very easily especially in tight quarters. As a result, we returned to the dock at 6PM, 30 mins after the planned 5:30PM arrival while boarding the boat at 12:45PM for a scheduled 1:30PM departure. It should be noted that we did leave almost 20 mins late despite the booking warning that they will not wait for any passengers (but we did for 4 people...but I won't tell if you don't tell). The boat itself was clean and had plenty of seating inside and outside depending on your preference on the first two decks. They also have 2 bathrooms on the boat. I do not know why the top deck was not open as that would provide the best view of whales IMHO. Unfortunately, parking is a hassle in the area as most lots nearby only allow a 3 hour reservation via app or kiosk while you may be on the boat 6 hours. So, you run the risk of paying for 3 hours and then getting a ticket from the police which are located next door and cruise the lots steadily. Be warned.

    We've had two great trips with Newburyport Whale Watch. Booking is straightforward, as are the…read moreinstructions on how to get there, though definitely leave ample time to park as the car park can be a little competitive! The boat isn't overcrowded and the staff are great, they are very enthusiastic, knowledgeable and kind, and it's obvious they love what they do - we enjoyed chatting to the on-board naturalist. The boat has two outdoor viewing decks and an enclosed sitting area by the snack bar. We preferred being outside but even in mid-June we had to wear coats and several layers because it gets chilly out at sea. We saw an acrobatic male humpback who breached multiple times - it was an experience of a lifetime!

    Cape Ann Whale Watch - boatcharters - Updated May 2026

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