I guess we got lucky. Flat seas. We saw a lot of whales for about 45 minutes. We saw them make bubbles in a ring to force up the fish. Then the whales would surface with open mouths and feed on the fish. And we saw this four or five times! Also saw them coming out of the water and diving down many times. The boat wasn't crowded. The captain would steer the boat left and right so that everyone on board got an even amount of time seeing the whales. The naturalist who guided the tour was very informative. Overall a great experience. read more

After the first two hours of our whale watch, we had our doubts. We only saw water and a few dive-bombing birds. But once Captain Bill found the whales, we were treated to a non-stop thrill exhibition of fireworks in the water, from below the water, and majestically hurtling out of the water. Five stars for sure. My Sweet Lord, we saw it all. We had a ton of sightings, pods of four whales at a time, three magnificent full breaches and a dozen majestic flukes. Our guide/naturalist Rebeca added quite a bit to the experience with some expert commentary on the whales and the state of international whaling. One cool thing we learned was that whales spend their winters in the warm waters of the Dominican Republic and live off their blubber. Sounds like a good career path to me. Rebeca knew the names of the whales by their fluke markings, and she knew which whale babies belonged to which whale mommas. She was terrific. Just be warned, the ride to the whales is two hours out and two hours back to Gloucester. Our ride back was choppy and the barf-bag inventory was seriously depleted after our run. But this goes with the territory, it's a hazard for doing something like this. So if you have a weak stomache, take some pills or something . I was 100% satisfied with how this spectacular excursion played out. Well done, Captain Bill! read more

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Best whale watch in Gloucester. Best customer service from booking to boarding to departure to return. Environmentalists. Care about the sanctuary and the creatures in it. Enjoy many whales without feeling like you are endangering or crowding them. Plenty of room on boat. Not overbooked. Plenty of parking. Very knowledgable staff aboard. Shout out to Beth our narrator and to our lady first mate. A+. Don't Litter. read more

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Labor Day September 3,2018 I bought a Groupon for $30 instead of the usual $48 tour. It was worth every penny even without the Groupon. There is the public parking lot right next door for $.50/hr. I boarded the 9:00 am tour and we left promptly at 9. The ocean was just slightly wavy, not quite choppy. It was going to be a hot one but very nice on the water, not a cloud in the sky. The crew were fast and efficient in casting off. Victoria was great prepping us before the trip. She also pointed out local landmarks on the journey out. We saw a large group of Atlantic White sided dolphins as soon as we left the shelter of the breakwater. They were playful and very close. After 20 minutes of the dolphins we went a little further and saw 5 humpback whales! They dove for short feedings of 5-8 minutes and came very close to the boat. Capt Dan did a great job navigating safely near these beautiful mammals. The trip back was swift and cool. We saw many boats, schooners and a huge yacht. Go now! And every year! read more

Excellent whale watch! I have taken a whale watch before with Boston Harbor Cruises, and I must say that this one was my favorite. The crew was very friendly, and the guide knew a lot about not only whales, but also birds that were flying alongside the boat. This was part of my wife's birthday present, and it did not disappoint! She even won a free whale watch by filling out the survey! Needless to say, we will be taking this whale watch again! FYI, they do allow bags and small coolers on board, so you can bring snacks for the trip. They also serve snacks, beverages, and adult beverages from their snack bar on the first level of the boat. If you get seasick easily, I would suggest laying off the snacks, and eating well in advance of the whale watch. They request that you arrive about an hour early to check in, but boarding usually takes place ten minutes prior to disembarking. read more

This was such a great experience. I went with some friends on the whale watching tour, it was our first time ever doing something like that and we got to see about 10 different whales! The boat ride out to go where the whale are was about 2 hrs then they spent about 30 mins ( it was more then enough time to take picture and stuff) then another 2 hrs ride back. They had food and snacks, which btw they only take cash. I would recommend to take a motion sickness pill before you go out if your a prone to getting sea sick because a lot of people were getting sick. Other then that the whole experience was amazing I plan on going back with my boyfriend in a few months. OH last thing take a sweater or something to cover up because it can get pretty cold when ride out in the sea even when the sun is shining. read more

Capt Bill & Sons Whale Watch - Boat Charters Near Me - Gloucester, Massachusetts

Friends of mine take a yearly trip with Capt Bill's, and when the opportunity came up to take the boy and his mom on a trip to see the whales, I gave my friends' glowing review of this company and hoped I wouldn't be eating my words. Lucky for me - and you - the only thing I ate was a pack of chips for the long journey! This is one of the more incredible groups I've gone on a boat ride with to view whales. The staff teams up with a conservation group who is extremely knowledgeable about the whales and knows them all by name (other groups I've been with take wild guesses). I even learned a little bit about whale behavior that I didn't know before, and I consider myself to know quite a bit about whales! All of the staff onboard was nice and helpful, and took us out to see 14 humpbacks and 5 minke whales. The boats get as close as possible without disturbing the whales or cutting them off, and when some jerk in a fishing boat kept cutting through the whale bubble nets - on purpose! - endangering their lives and the whales', our captain made sure to give them a proper scolding and ran them off from the preserve. Now that's a good conservation group! I can't recommend this group enough if you're able to come during whale season. It's also one of the cheapest tours I've done on the eastern seaboard, so please skip the tours out of Boston and come to Gloucester for the whale fix - you will be far from disappointed. Hint: If you're prone to seasickness or, like me, the wind whipping your ear disorients you from time to time, the top of the boat is a much better, less windier place to be. read more

I had taken whale watches out of Boston and Plymouth, but never Gloucester before. I bought a pretty good deal on Groupon, and was easily able to book the day/time I wanted a few days ahead. It seems they have 2 daily departure times, 8am and 2pm. I knew I'd never be able to make the 8am, so I went with the afternoon. I am not sure if it is typical, as iffy weather was projected on the day I booked, but it was definitely not as crowded on this charter as most any other I have ever been on, which was a huge plus! The naturalists did a nice job of educating about the whales, and were quite familiar with the ones we saw (we saw 3 whales, all humpbacks). Gloucester harbor is beautiful, and it's also still very much a "working" harbor. Great way to spend a few hours in the summer. If you plan on eating/drinking on board, bring cash, as that is all that is accepted. Even if it is a hot day, definitely bring a sweatshirt or hoodie, it gets really cold on the ocean. There is nothing worse than being freezing cold, totally puts a damper on the fun, and don't forget sunblock! When you get back to port, they have a cool little gift shop! Private parking lot, so you don't have to feed the meter. read more

I'll keep this simple. There are lots of whale tours. Captain Bill & Son's does it right. We've done several tours out of Boston, but we spend more time on the water GETTING to the watching spot, than watching. So, we took a gamble on taking a train North, thus more time WATCHING the whales on the water. Our gamble was spot on. We saw 8 Humpback whales, and over 30 breeches. 1 whale literally came up so close I could have touched it. My camera lens was wet from the water blow. Very memorable and certainly worth it. Crossed that one off our bucket list with a lifetime memory. Thanks B&S! :) read more

I went on an incredible whale watch with Capt Bill's Whale Watching. The ride took just over an hour to reach whales but the crew were determined that we would see whales. And see whales we did!! At one point, you could look in any direction and see whales-breaching, blowing, diving. It was incredible. I saw one other boat crew out (not sure which company) but they didn't seem to be in the thick of things as we were. I would certainly recommend this company as they aim to ensure a good whale watching experience. read more

THE BEST WHALE WATCH IN NEW ENGLAND! No competition. The boat is very clean and offers an upper deck with covered and open seating available. There is open air and indoor seating on the lower deck. They allow smoking on the stern (back of boat) and you are allowed to bring a cooler (no alcohol or glass) on board. There is a galley where refreshments and light snacks are served. The staff are very freindly and knowledgeable. Naturalists that study the whales are your guides, so they are as interested as you are to see the whales up close. They are really great about teaching you about the whales, their behaviors, etc. They go above and beyond to get you close to the whales. Great pictures can be obtained without even zooming. The boat ride out there is really nice too. Bring a sweatshirt (no matter how hot it is on land), and plan for at LEAST 5 hours. They let us stay out longer once because of such great sightings. Take dramamine. If you get sick- you are out there for 5+ hours. it doesn't hurt if you take it and don't need it. WAAAAAYYYY better than the Boston boats and not nearly as crowded. really a great day trip. This whale watch has become an annual tradition for my family and I wouldn't go with any other company now! read more

A great experience. The crew of the boat were friendly and informed. The naturalist who is on board has been performing an ongoing scientific study of the whales in the area and knows all of them by site (distinguishing markings on the tail fin). Our trip was about 5 hours in length. Most of that time is spent cruising 30 miles out to the area where the whales are. We two dozen whales and were all wowed by the experience. I would definitely go again. read more

Family and everyone super nice. Huge bonus of cheap food and booze on boat. Ride is kind of long, but this place is perfect, if you are staying in salem Ma to sight see! read more

We absolutely loved our experience with capt. Bill and Sons. Parking in the area seemed like it would be difficult but was actually quite easy. They are located directly beside a meter lot which has a max of 10 hours; plenty of time to get lunch and go on your whale watch and get back before running out. The boat ride out to stellwagon was nice and scenic and seeing whales was amazing. Great experience all around. read more

Capt Bill & Sons Whale Watch - Info poster on wall in covered area of boat - Boat Charters Near Me - Gloucester, Massachusetts

This whale watch couldn't have been better. The crew on this boat are very knowledge, smart, funny, and make sure the trip is a good time. I don't know if we were lucky or if this was normal, but on the day we went we saw over 15 different whales. We saw a mother with a calf, we saw a whale breach, we got to see the underside of the whale, it was just spectacular. The naturalists on board are very knowledgeable and make sure that they tell you why a whale is doing a particular movement, they know which whale is which and they explain how they can tell the difference. I preferred this smaller fishing boat to the large commercial boat that usually leaves from Boston. There were less people, and it was easier to move from one side of the boat to the other when looking at the whales. Also, because we left from Gloucester, I felt that we spent a lot less time getting to the destination than you do when you leave from Boston. We spent almost 2 hours just looking at the whales. It was breathtaking. We were able to get discount tickets through Groupon, but it would be worth it even if we had paid the full price. Some tips - bring a sweater or jacket, it gets cool the further out you go. Pack snacks and water - there is a place to buy snacks and food on the boat (CASH ONLY!) and it is surprisingly not too expensive, but you will definitely need something to munch on because it is a long trip. They even have beer and wine, although I didn't partake because we were on the 8:30am trip! If you are able to climb up the ladder, sit on the top of the boat. Great job Capt Bills! read more

We had a great time even though it got a little rainy towards the end on the way back (not that they should be held responsible for the weather). It's a large boat with plenty of space, but I was surprised how crowded it got. The scientist on board that describes the whales and their biology was really great. These guys know where the whales are and how to find them so you will not be disappointed. I also really enjoyed some of the environmentalist comments about preserving our oceans! She mentioned the continent sized trash piles in our oceans, which I doubt most people even know exists. Have fun! read more

Excellent tour, it was an amazing experience watching the whales come so close to the boat. Captain bill is an expert and knew exactly where to go, I am glad we choose you for our whale watching trip. read more

Capt Bill & Sons Whale Watch - Boat Charters Near Me - Gloucester, Massachusetts

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As good as it gets, no really, Capt. Bill's was really awesome. A random decision to go on a whale-watching trip led us to Gloucester's Capt. Bill's. As if we were destined for it, we were just in time for the last two tickets remaining for the 2.30pm trip. Very friendly staff at the ticket office as well. The entire journey was almost about 6 hours and was extremely impressive with a large ferry that takes passengers into the feeding grounds almost 2 hours into the Atlantic, where the actual whales are spotted roaming around. The two naturalists on board were very knowledgeable and offered a lot of information about each whale we came across on the trip. We saw a few minkes and many humpbacks, all of which they had named. It was entirely surreal being surrounded by literally miles and miles of water and nothing else, save for the occasional 1 or 2 small boats that passed by. The whales, Ganesh, Venom and their calves also greeted us by flapping their fins and showing off their acrobatics as we inched slowly towards them and around them, following their tracks. These creatures are just so gorgeous in person. The experience is unforgettable and is worth much more than the $45 admission. The drive to Gloucester is really scenic too and the last MBTA commuter train leaves for Boston around 10 pm, so there's ample time to grab a meal after. I would say, go to Gloucester and mainly on the Capt Bill's very well-organized whale-watching trip, it's 5 or 6 hours of your day really well-spent. 1 additional (invisible) star for flexibility. read more

I had an amazing time! The staff is so knowledgeable and friendly! We saw whales and white belly dolphins. It is a nice, large boat, that serves food and drinks on it. The seas can be upsetting, lol, we had a few people not watching whales, because they were sick, so you might want to take some medicine if you get sick. Also wear sunscreen and dress warm! It's a great time and I can't wait to come back up and do it again! read more

My family and I took this whale watch after getting our tickets through groupon. The deal was great, but honestly-- it was worth paying full price if we had to. They have a nice little gift shop where you get your tickets or redeem your vouchers for your tickets. The woman at the counter was appropriately salty and sweet. There is also a cool museum room. There aren't a lot of bathrooms, so plan accordingly. Parking was interesting, every spot had a meter, but we took our tour on a Sunday, so the meters were free. I'm not sure if you would need to pay for parking on a different day. The boat tour itself was amazing. One side of the boat is almost always in the shadow of itself, so plan to bring a sweatshirt, even in the summer. The whales came right up to us! The tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and told everyone where to go to see whales. This was truly an amazing experience. The tour lasted from about 9 am- 1 pm. Wear sun screen and bring a sweatshirt and a camera and you will have an amazing time!! read more

This was my first whale watch and the experience was incredible! The staff was incredibky knowledgeable and kind. The boat ride was fun and comfortable. read more

Capt Bill & Sons Whale Watch - Boat Charters Near Me - Gloucester, Massachusetts

Amazing day! My Mom found a Groupon for a whale watch so I tagged along and am so glad I did. Everyone was super friendly and knowledgable. We saw about 12 different humpback whales. What absolutely magnificent creatures. Watching them right next to the boat was breathtaking. We even got to see them half breech out of the water in the distance which is unusual for these whales. I highly recommend Captain Bill and Sons. read more

Capt Bill & Sons Whale Watch - Whales! - Boat Charters Near Me - Gloucester, Massachusetts

Was there this Wednesday and saw pod of dolphins, humpbacks, minkes, fin whale and few seals. I had no problem using the voucher bought online, and they even called me beforehand to inform the schedule change, which was really nice of them. Magnificent sightings but only wish we saw more of them. Riding the ship out and coming back is easily 3-4hrs, while the sightings are pretty short lived, happening occasionally. Overall a pleasant experience! read more

I've done the tour 3 times in 4 years. Always spectacular. Love that the boat is never busy and the people always nice. Thank you so much again. * Much nicer to be on a fish boat looking like compared to the huge commercial one from New England Aquarium. * Have a hoodie, food and water with you. read more

Wow!! What an amazing Whale Watching cruise!! We picked up a Groupon deal for two adults, Thursday 11am! The weather couldn't have been better! The staff was awesome! From the moment we pulled up to Harbor Loop, we were guided to the Parking lot, check in office, free whale exhibition, where to board and they were on time! The ship was very clean, crew on board were very friendly and knowledgeable. They were all willing to answer any questions you may have. Restrooms on board!! Snack bar and alcoholic drinks on board ...they take Cash Only! A bit pricey but you get what you pay for in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean! You can bring your own food and snacks/beverages if you want!! Sightings are Guaranteed or your next cruise is FREE!!! We had a blast! Will definitely do it again and recommend to anyone! read more

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These folks are incredible. They worked hard to put us on multiple groups of whales. The tour guide had the heart of a teacher and loved her job. I can't recommend them highly enough. read more

Capt Bill & Sons Whale Watch - Fantastic tour! - Boat Charters Near Me - Gloucester, Massachusetts

Went whale watching with Captain Bill & Sons on Sat. May 19, 2012 and had an amazing time. This has been the highlight of our 3 days Boston trip! The staff was very friendly and the boat was very aggressive at getting us close to the whales. Other boats just drift by but our boat was very active and they really do care for us to see the whales up close & person. I highly recommend Captain Bill & Sons. They are an amazing company! Make sure to bring your sea sickness medication and it was extremely useful even if the weather is nice :) read more

I LOVE Whale Watches. I have been out of Plymouth, Boston and Provincetown numerous times, but this is the first time I went through Gloucester. Honestly, I chose Capt Bill's because they had best discount ($10 off with mention of the Yelp ad). It definitely didn't disappoint. Normally the boats I've been on go to Stellwagen Bank, but this time we went out to Jeffrey's Ledge. The ride out there was only about 40 minutes or so, which means we had MUCH more time to hang out looking for whales. We saw a good number of humpback whales (even a mother and calf!) and we were close close close. These creatures are truly amazing. I could watch them all day. Lea, our naturalist, was the most knowledgeable and friendly one I have ever had on a whale watch. Not only did she talk for the entire trip, but she came around afterwards for any additional questions. There wasn't a lot of parking available, but there's a lot next to the office where they park cars in. This is great because you have a place to put your car, but you're kind of rolling the dice when you disembark because you don't know when everyone will be leaving. Also, I'm used to a specific time set to get on the boat, and this seemed like it was a free for all. It's entirely possible we just missed that loading time, but that kind of information would be helpful on their website. I never thought about going out of Gloucester because I'm in Boston, but the commuter rail is within walking distance so I am most definitely coming back to Capt Bills! read more

My husband and I decided to buy a Groupon for a whale watch since I had never been on one. The staff in the office were helpful and the naturalist guide on the way out into the open waters was definitely knowledgeable and gave us a lot of information about whales and the territory. It was a hazy day and visibility got less and less as we got further from land. I wasn't too worried since they told us they had seen whales earlier in the day and were getting reports of whales, as well. They also told us that if we didn't see any whales today, we would get a "rain check". We joined up with two other boats and spent time circling two humpback whales. It was awesome! The naturalist gave us information and narrated what the captain was doing without talking the entire time thus giving us the opportunity to really just enjoy the view. It was great, even though we saw a dead harbor seal floating alongside the boat. Everything went well for the actual whale watching portion. This is when things took an ugly turn. One our way back to the mainland, my husband and I were sitting on the outside of the boat. We saw a woman (whom we had seen around the boat earlier with 2 small children in tow) come running out of the inner area and barf over the side. "Poor lady", we said quietly to ourselves. She then went back inside and came running back out with her young daughter who was crying and throwing up at the same time. It was a pitiful sight. The girl was crying and trying to throw up over the side of the railing. At this point, a large, burly crew member, whom we had heard swearing as we pushed off from the dock earlier in the day, came walking over and said, " You've got to be f***ing sh**ing me!", and demanded them to "Get to the back of the boat!!". Later on he then tried to stop this woman from getting back into the inner area. When she told him her son was in there he acquiesced and let her enter with an audible sigh This experience pretty much ruined the entire trip for me. The insensitivity, lack of respect and all around rudeness of this man is appalling. Listen, buddy, I get it no one wants to have clean up puke. But you can't tell me that a seasoned crewman hasn't somehow come to terms with the fact that some days you're going to have to mop barf over the side of the boat. It wasn't like a rowdy 20-something had too many beers and was being a jerk. Rather a CHILD got seasick and was still trying her damnedest to puke OVER the railing! That jerk should consider himself lucky; if it had been me or my child, I would have directed the flow of vomit all over this bastard. Captain Bill - we enjoyed our whale watch, but think your crew could use a bit of a reminder about respect for passengers. read more

Amazing, 5 star experience. Friendly staff. We weren't so lucky in the first spot with whales, so they drove out of their scheduled area to find another spot on the stellwagon bank to show us whales. We ended up coming back an hour late, but it was well worth it. The staff is extremely knowledgable, and their pricing policy is not predatory like 7seas. Highly recommended read more

I am ONLY giving this review 3 stars because the whales stole the show. They were MAGNIFICENT when I went. It was one of those days where whales were 15ft from the boat and you see right into their mouths and they fed on schools of fish. I will never forget how special it really is to have seen whales so close. (The 700 photos me and my other half took are just another reminder!) While the staff on the boat were fine, the folks in charge of the tickets were beyond frustrating. We had purchased a voucher through an online offer. We made a reservation and were not told that if we were unable to make reservation (regardless of the situation) that we would be charged full-priced tickets on our credit card. I understand there needs to be policies around this matter BUT please inform customers so they can prepare to have nearly $100 charged on their accounts. After several conversations with a ticket salesperson, we were "gifted" the full priced tickets we had just purchased as a result of the reservation mishap, which we were told we could only use during weekdays or the earliest whale watching tour. We were now stuck with 4 whale watching tickets instead of 2 discounted tickets bringing the total to just under $150. A friendly reminder, it is chilly on the boat so bring a sweat shirt. If you get motion sick bring meds. If you are smoker, smoke before getting on the boat AND you will spend at least 3 hours in the sun, bring sun screen. It's New England, the land of the lobster, but looking like one is NOT cute. read more

Tremendous experience. Amazing staff, very knowledgable and connected to research efforts and an awesome captain. We saw multiple, incredible whale moments at different sites, including an estimated 2-year-old humpback whale that just decided that day to play at the surface on its back by our boat and swing its fins back and forth for what seemed like endless minutes. We were so close and it was one of the greatest things we've ever seen. The captain even had to deal with some very rude and reckless boat drivers coming out of the harbor as we headed in and dealt with it all so well. I felt safe and overjoyed throughout the whole experience. Just incredible. Thank you Capt. Bill & Sons Whale Watch!!!! read more

Capt. Bill & Sons Whale Watch is the best whale watch I have ever been on. We saw a ton of whales this morning. They were breaching, swimming in sync, and swimming near the boat! It was just incredible! I highly recommend this whale watch. read more

Capt Bill & Sons Whale Watch - Beautiful whale! - Boat Charters Near Me - Gloucester, Massachusetts

Excellent experience. We made a reservation a week in advance and they were already almost at capacity. However, I was pleased to see that when it was time to depart, the boat wasn't stuffed and overcrowded. They do an excellent job making sure the tour is full with a comfortable amount of people. I've been on whale watches in the past where it's just way too crowded. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful ride, we saw some cool marine life included a huge pod of dolphins! The tour guides (Hannah and co.) were very friendly and it was obvious they really loved their jobs. The kicker here is that it was a great experience and we didn't even see a whale! Toward the end of the tour we briefly saw a blow hole and a speck of a whale dive, but it was quick and far away. The company decided it was worth it to give everyone a voucher to come back another time, as a courtesy for not really seeing a whale during the tour. I thought that was such a generous business move on their part. I would recommend this company to anyone interested in doing a whale watch out of Gloucester. They do not overcrowd the boat and it was a great time! read more

I've never been on a whale watching excursion before, and didn't really know what to expect. What I received absolutely exceeded my expectations. Ordering tickets and making reservations over the phone was super easy, and the lady I spoke with was very friendly. Once we boarded our clean and well appointed boat, we were some interesting facts and stories about whales, dolphins and other nearby marine life. Just a few miles from shore, we encountered a large pod of dolphins, who played around our boat for a long while. What an added bonus! By the time our boat reached Stellwagen Bay, we came upon a group of about a dozen whales, mostly mothers and their calves. The mothers seemed unconcerned about our presence, and continued feeding around and under our boat. The calves were curious though, and seemed to enjoy the attention they were receiving from us. They played about for nearly half an hour, before it was time for us to head back to shore. This was a great experience, one that I will repeat on my next trip to Boston and Gloucester. I highly recommend Captain Bill and Sons, for a great adventure of whale watching. read more

We had a fantastic tour. This whale watching company is unique because they are partnered with scientists that actively do research on the whales. In fact, the scientists narrate the whale watching tour--which is great because they teach you about the whale's behavior and identify the whales by name. You will learn a lot (but don't worry, it's not too dense) On our tour, we had a fantastic showing of a humpback whale calf breaching the water. It was a spectacular show and we were quite lucky to see it since that behavior is rare. They have some lunch options and snacks below. It was a little chilly and so the coffee was a nice touch. I recommend wearing sneakers or comfortable shoes- especially if you plan on climbing upstairs. It's very narrow. We even won the raffle for a free whale watching trip which was exciting. read more

Our tour with Captain Bill & Sons was great! The water was very choppy on the day we went but we still had a fantastic trip. The staff on board are very knowledgeable and were great at finding the whales and getting up close to them. There were a few other boats nearby and I'm very glad I was with ours. The other tours were way over packed, especially the ones I saw out of Boston. Ours was small enough that you could easily run from one side of the boat to the other depending on where the whales were. We ended up seeing 10 humpbacks and one minke whale breaching. Motion sickness pills, water, snacks etc are available on board for purchase which was a plus. Would definitely recommend! read more

Decided to take the 2pm trip at the last minute. I wasn't really thinking about asking questions before I paid but I did after lucky me. From what I had read in previous reviews was the trip was 3.5 - 4 hours our trip was taking off at 2 and not getting back in till 7pm?!?! We were told it was further out to get where the whales were. The staff was friendly but it was a very long ride and unfortunately it wasnt worth it. Now dont get me wrong the crew doesnt have control over nature it's a hit or miss. We did see whales I just wish it was more. The water was so unbelievably choppy we sat outside boy what a mistake we got soakedddddd. As we were standing outside a swell came over the side of the boat and drenched us everyone went running inside my partner got pushed in by the crowd while I got hit with swell after swell. I was saturated from head to toe and it was freezing. When that happened I was done and wanted to go back again not the crews fault they dont control the ocean. I was besides myself on the way home freezing wet just miserable. A few things to adhere by dress WARMLY sweats/sweatshirt/sneakers, take something for sea sickness and after 5 hrs take another (10pm last night I still felt like I was on the boat) sit inside you can easily walk outside people are constantly moving once all the inside seats are taken thats it for the entire trip, absolutely wear sunscreen and bring towels or blankets. I got some sunburn but more wind burn on my arms and hands. They have food, snacks, drinks, wine & beer. Unfortunately I got to see a girl seasick and even though the crew repeatedly told the crowd throw up outside she threw up in the garbage. I would do it again IF it was only an hour trip out and back and I would make sure I sat inside. read more

Capt Bill & Sons Whale Watch - Leaving the harbor at 2pm - Boat Charters Near Me - Gloucester, Massachusetts

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Was on my wishlist and loved it. Saw 6 whales with a trio of humpbacks hanging with some dolphins. Just the cruise and scenery was enough taken day. The naturalist guiding the tour was an absolute joy. Tip - bring a good sunscreen and hat. read more

Hands down BEST whale watching tour in the area. I had originally book with another company that decided they weren't taking any more Groupon reservations. So I called Captain Bill's last minute and not only did they honor their Groupon price they were friendly about it. On the trip they were knowledgeable and friendly to all the passengers. We were lucky and saw some whales. What a great trip. read more