This was the best experience ever. Living in Southern California, I go whale watching frequently. So when I say this was the best, I'm ranking it among hundreds of trips. There was no expectation to even see any whales, because I know there are never guarantees with nature.. But it was a very special trip with our children and our neighbor from California who recently lost his spouse. I called after 10 AM when I saw there was a 1 PM opening for a private charter, Chad immediately called me back and even though it took me quite a while to rally the troops, he held this spot for us. He definitely went over and above. Then Captain Jesse I told him I'd write a Cell was the icing on the cake by his kindness, knowledge, excitement, and so much more. Oh, and by the way, we saw at least a dozen different whales. There was tail slapping breaching spy, hopping.... And since we were in a small boat, we were able to zip around to see everything. It is well worth the money to do this. Big boats are fine, but this was something that will be embedded in our hearts forever. read more

SeaSalt Charters - Tours Near Me - Provincetown, Massachusetts

By far one of the best whale watching cruises we've ever been on. Saw so many and they were showing off for us!

The trip was wonderful, and felt very intimate. The captain was friendly and incredibly knowledgeable, but given the COVID situation, he kept his distance and remained mostly in the cabin speaking to us with a microphone that kept cutting in and out. We didn't hear some of what he said, but it was a terrific experience nevertheless. We loved the long ride out to the whale territory, and were thrilled to see dolphins leaping in the water as well! What a treat. We saw at least a dozen whales too, flashing their tails in and out of the waves as the fiery sunset streaked across the horizon... just gorgeous, unforgettable. It was well worth the cost for a private sunset cruise in Provincetown Harbor, and indelible views of whales, dolphins, and aquamarine splendor. The reason we didn't give SeaSalt Charters 4 or 5 stars is because of the restroom situation on-board. We weren't able to use it and were pretty uncomfortable for a good portion of the trip. It would have been helpful for the captain to let us know about the limitations of the boat before it was too late, especially because we were traveling with a 5-year old. Definitely made the experience feel less luxurious. But our discomfort could easily be avoided had we been properly advised by the cruise company before our trip; or by the captain when we boarded the small boat. Overall we had a great experience and would highly recommend SeaSalt Charters! We would simply advise other potential guests to use the restroom before getting on the boat; and the captains guiding the cruises to let customers know about the bathroom situation right away. read more

Excellent food, and the best drag brunch. If ever back in the area, will definitely go again.

We were not disappointed. Even though most of the trips leaving from the McMillan Pier last 3ish hours, this boat gets you out to the action a solid 30 minutes ahead of the others. We were down next to the water rather than fighting for the rail on a bigger ship. It was so quiet that we could hear the exhale of the whale and the inhalation. It was beautiful. No way we could count the whales we saw today. They were all around us and came incredibly close. The boat capt was laid back, respectful of the animals and did not chase them around. We did see a private sailboat go right into the feeding pods. Not cool. Everyone on all the boats around us, large and small, got quite a show. But we were very happy with the charter tour from Salt Water. I would only recommend that you take your own soft drink and put that in the cooler for the trip. He had water and that was fine. Highly highly recommend!!! read more

SeaSalt Charters - So close we were hit with the spray from the blow holes. - Tours Near Me - Provincetown, Massachusetts

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There are not enough words to describe how amazing this trip was! There were six of us and we were the only ones on the boat and we literally had whales swimming underneath our boat! We saw so many humpback whales and even a baby! Our captain Jesse was super cool and very knowledgeable about whales and the entire area. It was a highlight of the trip and a highlight in all of our life adventures! When I saw the biggest giant boat out there whale watching I was so so so glad we spent the extra money for our own little charter! Jesse has a cooler on the boat so bring your own drinks! If you're wondering which one to do... This is the one!!! read more

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Hands down the BEST private whale watching trip off Provincetown, Cape Cod. Captain Chad Avellar grew up whale watching and knows the whales better than anyone. His vast experience, knowledge of marine life and love for the whales shines through on every trip we've taken (three of them and counting!). We highly recommend this charter to anyone really wanting to see whales up close and personal. The fishing is awesome too! read more

What an amazing time! This was certainly a highlight during my vacation to Provincetown this past summer. I was literally left speechless when we saw our first whale and was in awe of what I was seeing so close-by. Chad is the man. He is very chill and you can tell he has a true passion for his business. While we were out, we saw 3 different kinds of whales: humpback, minke, and finback. The private charter is worth every penny because it's more personal and you can maneuver much quicker than the larger boats where people fight for space. Chad could spot a whale a football field's distance away and sprint up to the spot, and bam, the whale would surface minutes later. There is a large cooler in the back of the boat where you are welcome to store any food or drinks. Great time, would definitely go again! read more

We decided to go out on this smaller, less crowded boat this past weekend rather than the larger Whale watching cruises we've taken in the past. What we found is that while less crowded, the crew on the larger boats are more engaged both in explaining what was happening as well as more adept at rearranging the views to suit their customers. You also get better views of the whales from the taller ships. read more

Fantastic! Good prices. Very well educated Marine Biologist giving the tour. We saw three types of whales, and Basking Sharks! The whales were super active. Tons of them! But, our highlight was the extremely large, very hungry large mouthed Basking Sharks. They were so cool. The excitement was high and it is totally worth it. read more

SeaSalt Charters - Tours Near Me - Provincetown, Massachusetts

At the peak of whale watching season in Cape Cod Bay, we knew we wanted to go for the private charter. The bigger ships are less expensive, but we wanted to be closer to the water and have ample opportunity for some great sea level photos. Boy were we happy about our choice. Chad was an incredible guide, has extensive knowledge of whales and Cape marine life (and fishing, I might add) and respects and protects his surroundings. Within minutes of getting out into the bay, Chad had located a female humpback whale, and her very playful calf. They were beautiful and active. And they were equally as curious as we were... staying with our boat for nearly 2 hours. I couldn't be happier with SeaSalt Charters... easily the best experience I have had since we started coming to the outer cape. If you love whales, stop thinking about it and just get out there. read more

Awesome morning! Small fishing boat, which makes it maneuverable, and intimate. Jesse was great- we had6 on our trip, we all kept eye out for the blow of the whales. Followed a humpback who was feeding. Great day. read more

I didn't realize when booking my whale watch with SeaSalt that they employed a fishing boat for their charters. I'm not sure how I missed that, but I'll blame the early happy hours during my vacation. Anyhow, was it ever a great "mistake." I love being on the water, so a fishing boat was much preferred over the huge whale watch boats with scores of people. This was hands-down the best whale watch trip of my life. Captain Chad was knowledgeable, friendly, funny, and best of all he brought us to the whales. And, did we ever see whales! LOTS of whales. Whales breaching, whales feeding, whales diving. It was phenomenal! If you're in PTown or near PTown, I highly recommend this trip! read more

I have been going out on whale watching trips for over 15 years - always on the big boats until 3 summers ago when I took my first trip with Chad and Sea Salt Charters. Now I can't bring myself to go on the big boats because of the unbelievable experience of being on Sea Salt Charters. Last year we were so close to the whales that we could have touched them. I am so spoiled!! I live in Georgia and didn't have to do too much convincing to friends about the experience that 5 of them are going out with me on a trip in August. I wanted to jump on a plane every time Chad posted pictures throughout the summer last year. So this year I will be on the Cape in July and again in August and have booked 3 trips. Can't wait - You will thank yourself for the experience. read more

Our family of six had a wonderful time. Captain Avellar was very good at making us feel at home on his boat. The boat was clean and in very good shape. We saw lots of whales and most of them were very close to the boat. We got some excellent photographs of the whales feeding. Ask for Irene (Whale Naturalist) - She accompanied us and shared with us a wealth of information about the whales. She was as excited as we were when we spotted them. We also got to do a little fishing on the trip back to PTown. It was a very relaxing way to spend 4 hours. read more

For the past 30 years or so, whale watches have been a regular part of our summer activities, and going out with SeaSalt is simply the best way to see whales. On Chad's boat, you basically have it all to yourself (six people max), you can watch the whales for a longer time because his boat gets to them quicker, and you can see whales that are further away than what the big boats can reach. And on top of all that, his boat is closer to the water so you really get an unbeatable perspective of the ocean. It often feels like you could just reach out your arm and touch a whale as it glides past. It is *so* worth the extra money (compared to the big whale watch boats), and we've started doing trips with both SeaSalt and the Dolphin Fleet as much we can! read more

If you want an up-close, and truly personal experience with whales by a Captain who literally grew up with them, this is the company to go with. Captain Chad is third generation of the family that started whale watching on the East coast. His instincts are second to none. He can find whales where no one else can, and he knows many of them by name. The passengers in this boat are also practically eye-to-eye with the whales. Captain Chad can also explain to novices what they are seeing, and make them want to come back again. I have been whale watching for over 30 yrs, and have known Captain Chad since he was a barefoot little boy. He is barefoot man now, and just as enthusiastic as ever. Go Go Go!!! read more

This was our first whale watching trip. We couldn't decide between the large boats with hundreds of people or the small one with six people. We definitely made the right choice in going small. There was plenty of whale activity. The Captain, Jessie (?) did a great job. Would definitely go again. read more

We had a WONDERFUL time aboard sea salt charters. Going on a private whale watch is a once in a lifetime experience. You are able to enjoy the whales up close and they come very close to the boat. You dont have to fight with the crowds to take a picture and it is very peaceful and traquil.Chad is knowledgable, patient and very experienced. We could not have asked for a better captain! He is devoted to making sure that the trip is worth while and has a sixth sense when finding the whales. He can even tell you where they will pop up next! I would highly recommend seal salt charters. It will be an experience you will never forget!!! read more

I've literally gone to the end of the world to see whales (in Antarctica), and this whale-watching tour off the coast of PTown was hands down the best I've ever experienced! My friend and I went on a 5:00 pm sunset cruise with Sea Salt Charters and Captain Jesse, plus two other passengers. After a nice 30ish-minute boat ride off the coast, we were met with no less than two dozen humpback whales: families, babies, and most incredibly, one giant acrobatic whale that entertained us with breaches and backflips for nearly an hour!! Truly one of the most incredible experiences of my life - and one that I don't think we'd have had had we not gone with Sea Salt. Sure, Provincetown has no shortage of whale watching tours on giant boats with lots of people (ie: Dolphin Fleets.) The advantage of taking a smaller, nimbler charter boat like Sea Salt is that you're able to go wherever the small group wants to go (impossible with a ship of 100+ people), change course as fast as the whales do, and keep up with them, too. Plus, with a max of 6 people on board, you're guaranteed a great view of the action - no crowds to fight through, no heads or shoulders getting in your shot. Every seat is a front row seat to all the action. Captain Jesse was a knowledgeable naturalist and guide, answering any and every question we threw at him. He was so dedicated to showing us as much wildlife as possible. Even on the way back to port, he stopped at Race Point to show us the seals and try to get a glimpse at some of the recent shark action. Though the Sea Salt is a fraction of the size of the larger fleets, it's still quite comfortable. There's a bathroom on board and a cooler full of free bottled water! Just be sure to bring a hair tie to keep your hair back, and a good camera to catch all the action. read more

whale watching was the best! It was a perfect day off provincetown, and the whales were jumping and feeding right near the boat. best whale watching experience of my life. great boat too - i can't wait to go on a fishing charter. read more

Our family of 4 had a great experience with SeaSalt Charter. We fished and whale watched during our trip and we will cherish the memories we created for years to come. The captain and his mate were very courteous and clearly knew the waters incredibly well. They were also kind enough to filet the fish we caught and we cooked it for lunch the following day. I highly recommend SeaSalt Charter to anyone who wants a great nautical experience! read more

We decided to book a private whale watch as a special treat during our P-town vacation. The morning of our scheduled watch was foggy and grey. Captain Chad Avellar told us not many boats were going out due to the weather. We set out for a spot off of Race Point Beach, but there were no whales. He told us we could travel further out, but it would be about 45 minutes further and he couldn't guarantee that we would find whales. The ride was choppy, but WELL worth the time. We came to a spot where there were probably 20 whales -- they were feeding and very active. It was an unbelievable experience; we were so close to the whales we could nearly touch them! They swam around, and even under, the boat and Captain Chad described the various behaviors while we captured the whales on film. No bustling to get a good "spot" for picture taking as we had plenty of room on the boat. We stayed out in that spot for over an hour as the whales fed all around us. I would definitely recommend Captain Chad and SeaSalt Charters for your private whale watch-- we had an absolutely incredible experience! read more