a couple of questions

[Travel Lover]

Okay, I am sure these have been asked many times but here I go. Do many people actually see whales from the cruise ship? If I were to book a tour where is the best spot to do that? Juneau or Victoria? I am going the end of May/early June are they even out at that time?

 

Thank you so much !!!

[cruisergrandma]

We sailed out of Vancouver on an Inside Passage in May, 2004. They were spotting whales from the ship - but, they were so far away you had to have very powerful binoculars. I just gave up watching. The last full day on the cruise we did see a pod of Orca whales close enough to the ship to photograph and to see without biniculars.

 

We sailed round trip out of Seattle in September 2006 and saw no whales at all from the ship.

 

The first trip we did whale watching with Capt. Larry in Juneau. It was wonderful!! I HIGHLY recommend them.

[Budget Queen]

IF whales are a priority- take a whale watch tour. Juneau will be a given for humpbacks, Victoria- orcas. I go on these tours every time I'm in these towns. :)

 

Most people see nothing from their ship. I always do, but also spend all my time out on a front deck with a good pair of wide angle binoculars. I am also happy with a 2 minute view staying out for hours. :)

 

Round trip Vancouver sails Alert Bay in daylight on the southbound, I've had good luck with orca sightings here.

[MGilly]

On our first Alaskan cruise (#2 will be next May!), we sat with a family who had paid a fortune to go on a whale-watching excursion. That night, we were late to dinner, because when we'd gone back to the cabin so DH could change his slacks, I was out on the balcony. While there, we saw a group of three whales really close to the ship, and one of them breeched! The entire side of the ship was cheering! When we got to dinner the family was not happy - they hadn't seen more than one or two whales, and they were really far away. We just smiled.

[MacDuff]

I would also agree that you need to take a tour to really see whales. We have seen whales from the ship, but generally they are far away and nothing like being up close.

[Yukon]

On our first Alaskan cruise (#2 will be next May!), we sat with a family who had paid a fortune to go on a whale-watching excursion. That night, we were late to dinner, because when we'd gone back to the cabin so DH could change his slacks, I was out on the balcony. While there, we saw a group of three whales really close to the ship, and one of them breeched! The entire side of the ship was cheering! When we got to dinner the family was not happy - they hadn't seen more than one or two whales, and they were really far away. We just smiled.

 

Like people who get good weather in September, you just got lucky - the odds are heavily against getting good sightings fom the cruise ship.

 

Murray

[Toyz711]

i spent a lot of time, on the balcony, watching for these pesky creatures. watched and watched and watched. went to meet some family members in the casino, they said they had seen a breach (they think, it was far away) on the other side of the ship.

as we left glacier bay, there was a mother and baby..again very far away.

we did see some small whales right under the balcony, had a nice view for 10 mins. but they were not ocras or humpbacks. only about 50 people from the 2000 passenagers saw them.

on the whale watch tour, i saw a full 3hours of whales. 2 of them stayed right with the boat and gave us a great show. i do recommend going with a local company for the whale watching, stay away from the ship's excursions.

[Budget Queen]

The KEY point people need to remember- usual sightings of whales are blows, backs and tails- NOTHING more, they are mostly in the water. People expect "pony shows" and looks like in the grossly enhanced cruise brochures. This is rare. I've been whale watching several times per year for about 20 years. I've gotten plenty of wonderful sightings, but most often the "usual" looks described above.

 

It takes a lot of time to watch from a ship for a chance of a brief view. It greatly helps to know areas- which a ship naturalist can be valuable for. I've had good luck requesting timing of areas from the bridge, so also a consideration.

[agabbymama]

Another thing to keep in mind is if you suffer from motion sickness at all, watching the water for whales is going to make you really sick. I have been totally satisfied with the sightings from the cruise ship. When the ship naturalist has announced to look port or starboard, that's what I do. On the Alaska cruise, did not see a full breach, but we did see a Minke whale really close to the ship, it came up and blew, then arched it's back and dove back down. Did this a number of times, putting on quite a show. And then did the tail thing almost like it was waving to us. Talk about a show.

 

Then on the New England/Canada cruise, at the mouth of the Saguenay River, we saw Beluga whales (white) at quite a distance. We were on the balcony looking for them, when I spied something in the water right below our balcony. About then the river pilot (local) came on and announced to look on the port side, there was a pod of whales (don't remember their names), but they put on a show, breaching, diving, blowing, we saw it all right under our balcony. It was like they were actually performing for US.

 

My sightings of whales have been absolutely awesome, but can't say I'd want to be in a smaller boat getting any closer to them. They are wild animals and while the boat's captain may be local and know the area, they can't predict what a wild animal will do.

 

Have fun whatever you decide to do.:p

[Yukon]

My sightings of whales have been absolutely awesome, but can't say I'd want to be in a smaller boat getting any closer to them. They are wild animals and while the boat's captain may be local and know the area, they can't predict what a wild animal will do.

 

Your odds of getting hurt by a whale while in a small boat are a great deal less than the odds of getting hit by lightning or of winning a $40million lottery. :D

 

Murray

[Toyz711]

to me, if the boat is too big..you lose the natural feel of watching these great creatures. the local tour operators know their stuff and how to keep their customers safe. many have expensive boats that they don't want damaged either..they take great care to keep eveyone safe and to protect the whales. plus, by law they have to stay a certain distant away from the whales. but nothing says the whales can't come closer on their own.:D

[agabbymama]

Your odds of getting hurt by a whale while in a small boat are a great deal less than the odds of getting hit by lightning or of winning a $40million lottery. :D

 

Murray

 

Yukon,

 

I'm sure you are probably right. Just call me chicken. I would be terrified in a smaller craft whether there was a whale around or not, then add their size to the mix. NO THANKS!:eek:

[qiangf2]

Okay, I am sure these have been asked many times but here I go. Do many people actually see whales from the cruise ship? If I were to book a tour where is the best spot to do that? Juneau or Victoria? I am going the end of May/early June are they even out at that time?

 

Thank you so much !!!

 

Last time, we saw about 50 whales on the cruiseship two hours after leaving Tracy Arm and heading toward Ketchikan. Some of them are as close as 100 feet from us.. I think we were just plain lucky

[MacTosh]

Okay, I am sure these have been asked many times but here I go. Do many people actually see whales from the cruise ship? If I were to book a tour where is the best spot to do that? Juneau or Victoria? I am going the end of May/early June are they even out at that time?

 

Thank you so much !!!

We paid big bucks for a whale-watching excursion at Icy Strait, while cruising with RCCL, this past Sept. Even though we only saw a very few whale & only one breeching, beware of "human whales" who hog viewing spaces. We arrived very early, found appropriate seating outside in the elements; only to have last minute passengers position themselves between us and the boat railing ~thus spoiling our viewing position. Some people just don't use common courtesy and clearly "stake" their positions smack in front of those who are seated. Just go prepared to jockey for viewing/photography positions and elbow your way through those who think their ticket bought them special privileges! At least cruise ships have plenty of viewing space ~ a clear advantage over small excursion boats! The high-point of our trip was the Taku Lodge/float plane excursion, with the salmon dinner included ~ fabulous and I don't even like salmon! Enjoy ~ B.