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    Granite State Whale Watch

    4.8 (32 reviews)

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    Jennifer A.

    Used them to go whale watching back in August with my daughter on a mommy daughter trip. Apparently these warm months are the best to see these beautiful creatures since they feed on the algae in the waters. We ordered our tickets in advance and was told there was a $5 day parking (cash only) when arrive at the site. I paid a total of $71 for an adult ($42) and child ($29). No taxes. We arrived 30 mins early since that's what they told us and the boat began to board 15 mins before. We checked in when we arrived to the spot and had our vouchers on the phone. They left promptly when it was time to go. There was an upper and lower deck. There was a bathroom for emergency purposes and food and snacks were allowed on. The trip was about 4/5 hrs long. We sat on top and was lucky to see so many whales! Some even in groups (which we were told they normally eat solo). I could give you the background information to the whales but once on board there is a specialist who provides all sort of fascinating information about these beauties. Met a couple on board and they told me this was the best spot since they come every year and have been on on tour guides. Apparently this one never (very rarely) misses a whale Sighting when out on tour. Definitely a must do for a bucket list! Will come here again!

    Sara S.

    A fantastic adventure! Remember to bundle up and anticipate the refreshing sea breeze by wearing layers. It truly is an incredible experience.

    A baby dolphin.

    This was absolutely the best trip I have ever been on. Saw 14 different whales of the Fin and Humpback species. A huge pod of over 100 Atlantic Bottlenose dolphin, two basking sharks, two sunfish, a couple of harbor seals and a ton of birds. The expert Marine Biologist working with the captain of the boat got us into close contact with these wonderful animals and there were two interns circulating the boat answering questions. Five Stars!

    I spot a whale
    Diana G.

    This was my first time whale watching and it was great. We saw several whales within 45 minutes of starting the trip. We were closer to the whales than I expected we were going to be. I liked that this boat was small and it wasn't packed with too many people. It made it easy to be able to get to the side of the boat where the whales were at. We also saw an interesting fish floating around sun bathing. The staff was great and gave us good information regarding the marine animals we saw. You are allowed to take snacks and drinks (non alcoholic) on board. They also sell snacks and drinks inside the cabin. They have bathrooms available. Take a sweater because it can get cool out there. Most people wore jeans and T-shirt's and that worked well. Btw, I didn't get motion sickness, but it you have a tendency to do so, take something before your trip. There's no smoking on board and you will be out there at least 4 hours. Parking is available on site. If you want a hardier meal before or after your trip, there's two small restaurants next to the ticket office selling seafood.

    S B.

    great time. knowledgeable. got us to the whales. nice little snack bar on boat. well worth the money.

    Nice lighthouse on the shoals on the way back to Portsmouth, New Hampshire after seeing fin whales, minke whales, and dolphins.
    Timothy S.

    Oh yeah! This place is the bomb! Reasonable prices, plenty of room on the comfortable boat, decent galley, and they found tons (literally) of whales and dolphins. We were the boat getting to the whales first, radioing the other companies, then they were lining up to bring their passengers by a few nautical miles behind us. I'd recommend the first tour of the morning in the summer because there's a brief shoals route by a really neat lighthouse on the way back, so it's a lot of time in the sun. The huge fin whales to the baby dolphin calves really made this a standout part of the New England vacation for the family.

    Perfect first whale watching experience with this company! The naturalist on board who narrates the trip was very knowledgeable and gave lots of interesting facts about the area and the marine life. We saw so many whales- 5 humpbacks and several minke. Two of them got very close to the boat for a while. We also saw a couple of schools of dolphins. The captain made sure to position the boat so that people on both sides could take turns with the best views. Super fun experience. Definitely bring layers. It's colder on the sea with the wind. I wore pants and a sweatshirt and probably could have used another layer and a hat or gloves.

    Roxanna S.

    The price was great, We did the first tour in the morning to beat the rain, so glad we did, the boat was a perfect size, not over crowded. The crew was very helpful, we seen 3 different types of whales, one decided that it was a good idea to come up close and personal, then under the boat after we seen his full size and fin. An experience I will never forget. I highly recommend this trip.

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    Ask the Community - Granite State Whale Watch

    Review Highlights - Granite State Whale Watch

    We almost didn't see whales but at the last minute, they spotted one humpback which we followed for a while.

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    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!

    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.

    Granite State Whale Watch - whalewatchingtours - Updated May 2026

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