Had such a great day. Very informative, saw lots of whales . Arrive early,sit in front!

Our family of four had a great time with Cape Ann Whale Watch! Of course there is never a guarantee that you will see whales, or that the weather will be good. That being said, we got lucky on both counts. As far as the things Cape Ann had control over, they did a wonderful job. Purchasing the tickets was easy and personal. I purchased using a Groupon and managed to mess up the dates. When I called to straighten it out, the woman answering the phone adjusted the tickets so I could use my preferred date, even though she did not have to, for which I was very grateful. Picking up the boarding pass was very quick and hassle-free, as was the boarding process. Social distancing was very doable as the boat was at 35% capacity due to Covid. This is also the reason everyone was able to get a great view at the whales we spotted. The ladies keeping us informed during the trip were clearly knowledgeable and personally invested in the experience, which made the trip feel personal, unique, and exciting. We were able to ask questions and get great answers. There were snacks and drink available for purchase, and the bathrooms were clean. Would definitely use them again! read more

Cape Ann Whale Watch - Boat Charters Near Me - Gloucester, Massachusetts

My family has made it a summer tradition to go on a whale watch with Cape Ann Whale Watch. This is our 11th year and my "kids" (now 16 and 18) still look forward to going. But with the current pandemic, I was hesitant to book a trip on a potentially crowded boat. There have been times in the past when these trips are standing room only so I was concerned about being too close to other groups. In addition, a week prior to our trip, a friend of mine took his family on a whale watch out of Plymouth and he informed me that the boat was packed and masks were not being enforced. However, after reading a few reviews I got the impression that Cape Ann Whale Watch was being safe and responsible so I went ahead and booked it. I am happy to report that Cape Ann Whale Watch is going above and beyond to keep their passengers safe and happy! They are only boarding at 35% capacity (lower than they are required too) and they are enforcing (nicely) wearing masks when moving around the boat. It was also evident that frequent cleaning was happening. I felt very safe and comfortable on this trip. Now for the fun part: There were whales everywhere! I lost track of how many sightings we had but it was virtually non-stop often with multiple sightings at a time. The crew was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. While being amazed by these massive mammals, I also learned a lot about them. Even though I've been on many whale watches, I still learn something new every time. I highly recommend booking your next whale watch with Cape Ann Whale Watch in Gloucester! read more

Cape Ann Whale Watch - Boat Charters Near Me - Gloucester, Massachusetts

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This is a smaller boat with an amazing, energetic crew. We absolutely loved our whale watching trip, and had many whale sightings on our four hour trip. Took some incredible pictures, too. Well worth it! read more

Absolutely amazing. Tina is intelligent and you can feel they really care about these amazing animals. So much respect for the environment and Drauss (the whale we saw many times) I love Drauss! A mother, a survivor and an absolute goddess read more

We were able to get tickets last minute. It was an easy process, had no issues. The trip was great, we were able to see tqo humpback whales. The crew was professional, loved the boxer. My favorite part was the education that was provided. Will go with this company of we ever male back up this way. read more

Great experience on this Whale Watch. The crew & educators were very knowledgeable. Spoon and her nursing calf put on a show for us. The entire day was awesome! read more

Great day! Ship was sound and comfortable. They galley have a spacious place to get out of the wind and eat. Their food/drinks were actually very good for basic ball park type fare. Crew was friendly and captain did his utmost to give everyone a chance to see whales no matter what side of the boat you were on. We saw plenty of whales. For those who go on their first whale watching cruise a bit of info, the whales generally do not swim up to your ship or allow you to get too close. They are not pets nor have they been conditioned to come to the ships! Still it is a very impressive sight to watch them. read more

The most amazing whale watching experience. We saw over 20 whales. Truly a rare and remarkable opportunity for us. Hump back whales, blue whales, minke whales. Our guide Jamie took photos which blew my photos away. The reservation was easy and the boat ride was smooth and enjoyable. We highly recommend this boat and captain! read more

I had a great time , the crew was great! We got y to I see whales! My only suggestion is, I would not mind paying more money and have Half the amount of people. I was super crowded. Maybe you can run a superior cruise twice a week or something and charge more money. read more

Very good time the crew was very good as well ........ we saw multiple whales...............a good time

This tour deserves 5 star but I am giving it 4 just because of of the disgusting food served on board. I purchased a Groupon worth $50 which included the entry for two. Do check Groupon before making a direct purchase on their website. 1. Parking: There is a lot of parking space with gas station right in front of the location so if you are driving from far, you don't have to worry about finding the gas station. 2. Boarding: They start boarding the vessel 30 minutes before the departure but you can enter even at the last minute. If you are late you will miss the instructions which are important especially if this is your first time on a vessel sailing in ocean. Do take a med in case you feel sea sickness. 3. Vessel capacity: There is enough space in the vessel to accommodate everyone and you will end up moving from one end to another to look for whales. So don't worry about seating space. There are washrooms available on vessel. 4. Crew- The crew members are educated and super polite. They really made our tour pleasant with all their additional information and instructions. Love the crew. 5. Tour: we started at 1 pm and were back by 4 pm. It takes approximately 45 to sail to destination. Make sure that you check the weather before you schedule the ticket. For us it was a cloudy day so sea was rough than usual and it was gloomy. But It was a good experience. It got a bit cold and fortunately we had our jackets. Make sure you carry a jacket with you. 6. FOOD: Do not buy anything to eat in the vessel. Its obvious that they will charge 4-5 times the cost. Even then the food is total TRASH. I am not sure how the person selling this garbage continues to look into the mirror everyday after serving trash to his customers. They can surely replace that guy with a vending machine. We purchased mac and cheese and that was awful. I realized something is horribly wrong when i took my first bite. I felt like puking. So don't buy anything to eat on board. Instead bring something to eat so you will not only save money but can make sure that you are eating right. In case you still plan to buy have some cash since they don't take cards as a form of payment. Tour- Great Crew: Awesome. Don't forget to TIP them since they are doing an awesome job. Food- Horrible Overall experience- Good read more

Trip was amazing. The crew were friendly and knowledgeable. This was my first time whale watching and did not disappoint. We were lucky that we saw a number of whales along with a pod of dolphins. But my family and I went into this knowing that seeing whales (or anything else) would be based on any number of possibilities. Definitely would recommend this company to anyone considering going. read more

We enjoyed a great day on the water 26 miles out from Gloucester to see two humpback whales, Dross and Etch-a-Sketch. The team was amazing and knowledgeable about the whales and their relatives. Amazing day!! Thank you Cape Ann Whale Watch!! read more

Cape Ann Whale Watch is certainly the company to go with, especially in today's COVID-19 environment. Safety of passengers and crew was great. Masks are required when walking around, viewing the whales, and getting on and off the boat. Our first scheduled trip was cancelled due to high seas. Safety first! They sent a text and Email early. They also called within an hour to reschedule. They made it so easy and the first date I was interested in was available. I've read that they have a quarantine that you see a whale or you come back for fee until you do. We certainly didn't need to use that. Now to the actually whale watch. You couldn't pick a better company to go with. The crew is experienced and will take time to answer your questions. They know their whales, by name! We saw a group of four whales playing together. Lots of tails out of the water. Whales waves to us as well. We also saw whales that were traveling with dolphins. One whale breached as we were leaving and we turned back to see if they would do it again. I will definitely go again and only choose Cape Ann Whale Watch. Thank you for sharing your education and providing a safe opportunity to see the whales. Can't wait to go again. read more

We've been going for three years now - both morning and afternoon trips . Every trip out has been beautiful ! We went yesterday-5 different whales , pod of dolphins and a seal . The staff is so courteous and Jaime is such a we of knowledge. They really DO love their job - they love these animals and it shows in every trip . We won't go anywhere else ! read more

It was amazing! Such a fun day! So well organized, filled with lots of information and whale facts! The staff was so knowledgeable and knew a ton of the whales in the area! 10/10 would recommend!! read more

This was my third whale watch trip; Boston, Provincetown, now Gloucester. In one word - WOW! Crew was great! Trip was a total success! Multiple whales (3 different species), a blue shark, an ocean sunfish, and a superpod of hundred of dolphins! My 5 granddaughters and I had a truly memorable day! read more

The team is great, it was not very cold in a summer weekend, 30Aug2020. We did the morning trip and we loved it, we were lucky to see waves swimming and jumping and waving as a good bye. read more

I've been on at least 5 whale watches, this is one of the best. Of course we saw several whales. That is pretty easy in early July. We were blessed with a wonderful sunny afternoon which made it very enjoyable. I booked the day before through groupon, to make sure I got a day with good weather and a good bargain. The naturist on board clearly loves her work and is enthusiastic about sharing what she knows about each whale seen, making it very personal along with the usual scientific facts. I don't think she spent quite as much time as Captain Bill's explaining the difference between humpback, minke, fin, and other types of local whales. They don't have anything fancier than a fish finder and a radio network of local fishermen and other whale watching boats to find the locations of whales. If I remember correctly, a whale watch from a different company had a microphone or played back whale songs. The boat keeps a respectful distance from the whales, but at least one came up very close to the boat. They explain why they are moving away from one whale and towards another further away. They explain the whale behaviors and how they track them. The boat is in good condition and has a full galley. The food and drinks are a bit pricey, $4.50 for 5 inch wide bowl of nachos, but not excessive. On the way back the interns hand out toy whales to the kids on the upper deck so a large play circle formed with the kids having a blast playing make believe. Earlier in the trip they were walking around with a chunk of baleen to touch. The crew keeps a close eye on folks and gently makes sure they don't do anything dangerous, like standing on the benches. It is the most kid friendly cruise I've been on. There was enough free parking on site, but the cars are packed nose to tail 4 deep, so getting out required some patience. It was a very good value for the money. The interns work for tips, so bring a bit of extra cash for their bucket at the end. I would go with Cape Ann Whale Watch again. read more

It was my girlfriends first time on a whale watch. We both had an amazing experience and would recommend this business to anyone!!

We went on the whale watch because I noticed it on Groupon. Took my out of state relatives on it. We all enjoyed it very much. The lady that that wax telling us about the whales was very knowledgeable and really loves what she is doing. I definitely would take others on this activity. read more

Great, knowledgeable staff! Actually got to see a whale breech which is not very common. Such a great experience!

This was such a fun family day trip! They practiced social distancing and we had to wear masks when not sitting. Also it was so nice with fewer people (only 35% capacity) We saw mom whales and their babies in multiple spots. The crew was informative and knowledgeable about the whales and the area. Overall a fantastic experience! (Book a reservation in advance!) read more

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Amazing tour with excellent narration throughout! We saw multiple humpback whales, and learned about their habitat and migration patterns. The captain maneuvered the boat to allow everyone to get a glimpse of the whales. There were snacks and whale-themed activities on the boat, great for kids. read more

Cape Ann Whale Watch - Whale tail - Boat Charters Near Me - Gloucester, Massachusetts

Great trip, the scientist and deck hands were very knowledgeable. We definitely would go again. Boat wasn't too overcrowded, just enough. Can't wait to go again read more

The first time we went, it was in 2017 when hurricane Irma was coming thru. It hadn't reached this area, but the effects were obvious - the captain turned us back after about 30 minutes because the water was too rough. We were given passes for another cruise. July 2023, for my daughter's birthday, we Called for reservations, didn't have any issue with how long it had been. Because they did say these passes were no expiration. I can say that we saw twenty Whales that day that continued to breach and show off how beautiful they were. The crew was incredible! I had no idea that they were going to narrate each moment of seeing each individual whale, The history of each whale, the names of each whale! It was amazing!! They kept the safety of the passengers and the whales in mind the entire time. I can't say enough how wonderful this whole experience was read more

We are from R.I and decided to make a day trip to do some whale watching. This was our second time going through Cape Ann and it was not disappointing! Just being out on the large boat feeling the ocean breeze was really nice! We saw a ton of minke whales from afar and a few up closer. We also saw a sunfish and a few humpback whales. It's so cool to see these creatures in their natural habitat. The guides were very informative as well. You definitely get what you pay for; our trip from start to finish lasted about 4 hours. It takes about an hour to get to the feeding grounds but the ride is nice. I also appreciate the captain turning the boat once they find a whale so that everyone can see. ( you can easily travel to the other side of the boat but for those who have mobility issues this is appreciated). We purchased our tickets through Groupon and would definitely return next summer. Every trip is different!! read more

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Amazing staff. Very informative and entertaining, even for children. Strongly recommended!

The boat we were on, the hurricane II, I believe, was spacious and comfortable for the ride out to the viewing spots. The staff was kind and knowledgeable. The naturalist (Jamie if I'm remembering correctly) really seemed to love her job and all things whale! I enjoyed the information she offered us, as well as her encouragement to just quietly take in the moments with the whales. Having a snack bar and cocktails on board was a nice plus! We had an awesome time. read more

Cape Ann Whale Watch - Boat Charters Near Me - Gloucester, Massachusetts

Happy I took this Cape Anne boat! I saw other boats from different points of origin and they were very overcrowded. The tour guide was excellent. It was a cloudy spitting rainy day but the Hump Back Whales entertained us and we forgot about the weather. Bring a warm windbreaker and your sea legs. Parking easy. Just follow the directions they send out. The gift shop had cute souvenirs. For 5 stars I would say get a new speaker...too buzzy and I could not always hear the announcements. Warn us that you will blow the horn. The guide and captain must have been Bow Starboard....Front Right because that was the side that got 80% of the viewing and action. With Covid still lurking I didn't want to crowd up to people. Porta Potties were clean. read more

Felt comfortable with the boat, very clean. The crew couldn't have been nicer. It wasn't just about watching whales, it was being educated about whales and there habitat. read more

I can't say enough positive things about CAWW! We've been out with them a handful of times over the years and we've loved each trip. The Captain and crew are personable, knowledgeable and approachable. The naturalists come around and interact with kids and groups 1:1. They educate about the whales, the environment and the importance of our oceans. I also like that they are respectful to the whales and environment. I'd recommend them to anyone! read more

Great experience! Everything on time, clean, organized, and we were able to see several whales!

I absolutely love the idea of cruising out to see the whales. The staff is very nice & knowledgeable. I do think the boat is too full ~ I think if they reduced the guests by 15-20 people it would be much more enjoyable. The boat is too packed with people making seating difficult &awkward. But I have gone 3 times and have enjoyed the whales each time. read more

Amazing experience! We were quite delighted to see a mother and calf Humpback duo, Minke whales, and two Fin whales on our journey today. All the staff members were exceptionally courteous and knowledgeable. Strongly recommend this tour agency! We're definitely looking forward to our next journey with them. P.S.-- on-site parking is free read more

This was on my bucket list and it was a very nice experience. Every crew member was courteous and welcoming. I love that they had an expert on board to explain and educate us about the whales and marine life. They were really thorough in making sure that everyone had a chance to view the whales no matter where you sat on the boat. The crew was super fast with clean up and sanitizing when someone got seasick. A word of advice don't sit on the top deck if you're prone to seasickness. It was much rockier than the lower deck. If you want to get wet sit in the front. We saw lots of whales, a pod of dolphins and a sun fish. I took plenty of videos but no pics. Lol read more

What a great time on the water! We got to see more whales feeding, breaching going for a deep dives with their tails in there and other activities. We got on this for this adventure and it was well worth every cent. Staff was knowledgeable and friendly. They answered everyone's questions. We spent every time going from whale to whale and they went to the left side in the right Side so that everyone had a chance to see the whales. I am definitely doing this adventure again. I highly recommend it. read more

Cape Ann Whale Watch - Whale tail. - Boat Charters Near Me - Gloucester, Massachusetts

The staff was very friendly offering to teach us all a little more about the whales in NE. At the end of the trip staff brought out toys to keep the little kids entertained. There was also a bar and food served. It was also the best whale watching experience I've had since we came across 3 humpback whales and a calf who was giving us a bit of a show. I give credit to the captain and just being lucky! read more

A man vomited on me and my family, and the staff rudely forced us to the back of the boat when we started vomiting due to that. They gave us a trash bag, and forced us to the back of the boat, even though they did not reprimand the man who vomited on us to begin with. They did not offer a refund at all, and treated us as if we were the culprit. I would never do service with them again. read more