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Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises
Cape Cod's Finest Whale Watching

Your Autumn Whale Watch Awaits!

Fall whale watching is in full effect, with the crisp air, migrating birds, and plentiful whale sightings. September and October days create a beautiful backdrop for the diversity of wildlife still remaining to be seen, and the relaxed pace and smaller crowds afford extra room aboard the Whale Watcher. Bundle up and pack your binoculars- we’d love to bring you to see our whales!

Plan ahead! Purchase tickets now for your whale watch adventure.

 

Specialty Whale Watching Excursions

Calling all adventure-loving whale watchers! Our Extended Whale Watch is a 6-hour deep-sea experience crafted for those who crave more. With extra time on the water, we’ll explore beyond the usual routes—possibly venturing along Cape Cod’s stunning eastern coastline, including the wildlife-rich waters near Chatham. The whales will be our guide! Weather and sightings permitting, you’ll have the chance to spot elusive ocean wonders like seabirds, sea turtles, and even sharks!

This special voyage goes beyond whale watching! Our team of expert naturalists will be joined by field specialists who will share fascinating insights on seabirds, marine wildlife, maritime heritage, and local history. Plus, a professional photographer will be onboard, offering a hands-on Wildlife Photography Workshop—perfect for capturing jaw-dropping moments and improving your photography skills.

To keep you fueled, our full galley will be stocked with breakfast and lunch options, ensuring you stay energized for all the adventure. And for your comfort, we’re limiting capacity, so you’ll have plenty of space to soak in the views.

Ready for an unforgettable marine adventure? Book your spot on our Extended Whale Watch and make memories you’ll treasure forever!

Some whales may live nearly twice as long as believed—if we let them

From our friends at science.org:

Among mammals, whales are the longevity champs. Members of several species have lived past age 100, and one bowhead whale reached its 211th birthday. But estimates of whale longevity often require scarce tissue samples and can rely on techniques that are difficult to interpret.

A study published today in Science Advances may have found a better way. By combining decades long photo records with the same statistical approach companies use to set life insurance rates, scientists have deduced that at least one species of whale survives almost twice as long as researchers expected. Other whales may beat longevity predictions, too, the work suggests.

“What the authors have done here is quite impressive,” says marine mammal biologist C. Scott Baker of Oregon State University, who wasn’t connected to the study. “They make a good case for the plausibility of their results.”

For the full story, visit science.org here:

2025 Tickets are Now Available!

Order tickets online any time, without leaving home or picking up the phone. Save time, see what’s available and remember, e-tickets never get lost.  Simply keep them on your smartphone!

2024 Tripadvisors Travellers Choice Award

Whale Watch Gift Certificates

Looking for a unique gift for friends near or far? How about a gift certificate for a Whale Watching adventure out of picturesque Barnstable Harbor. The promise of adventure — the wonder of whales and dolphins – wild and free — the exhilaration of sunshine and salt air.

Our gift certificates are easy to order and a cinch to wrap! Gift Certificates are available by flat rate dollar amounts ($100, $125, $150, $175, $200 or $225) or by guests in the party $75 (adults), $65 (seniors – 62+) and $55 (kids – 4 to 12). Order online now and we can even email your gift for you!

WhaleSENSE

WhaleSENSE is a collaborative, voluntary program recognizing commercial whale watching companies committed to a higher standard of whale watching. Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises is committed to the principles of WhaleSENSE on all of our cruises. Our vessel operates in compliance with NOAA’s Northeast Whale Watching Guidelines and are active WhaleSENSE participants. Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises is a proud supporter of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, the world’s most active charity dedicated to the conservation and welfare of all whales, dolphins and porpoises.

Cape Cod Life "Best of" Badge for 2024

Best of the Cape & Islands

Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises has been selected Best of the Cape & Islands – Land and Sea Excursions – Mid-Cape by Cape Cod Life magazine each year since 2014.

This is a readers’ choice award voted on annually by the magazine’s readers and subscribers. Cape Cod Life is the region’s premier lifestyle magazine showcasing the stunning natural beauty and historic charm of Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket since 1979. Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises is proud to receive this award for another season!

Don't Miss Out!

The latest news and events from the Hyannis Whale Watcher team.

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The first week of September brought spectacular weather and equally breathtaking wildlife viewing. Finn whales and humpback wheels continue to be the stars of our daily trips, while our Extended Whale Watcher also included minke whales and offshore bottlenose dolphins!Seabirds have been plentiful, both on their own, as well as feeding nearby with the whales. We’ve also seen quite a few ocean sunfish and had an interesting observation with logging humpbacks who seemed to be startled, or agitated, by a great white shark. With the cooler temperatures comes crisp, clear air- bundle up and join us in this beautiful season for whale watching!📸: Kali Palmer, Laura Lilly As a proud member of Whale Sense (whalesense.org), we are committed to responsible whale watching practices. All photos were taken in compliance with established guidelines and regulations. HWWC proudly contributes its data to the GOM Humpback Whale Catalog curated by Center for Coastal Studies. #whales #capecod #visitma #ocean #nature #naturelover #whalewatching #wildlife #mola #humpback #dolphins ... See MoreSee Less
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2 weeks ago

Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises
We are ONE WEEK away from our fourth and final Extended Whale Watch and we are really looking forward to this one! Not only will we have the day to look for all kinda of wildlife, but we’ve been starting to see signs of fall whale watching, which often often brings:💠 Migrating seabirds, such as phalaropes, northern gannets, northern fulmars, scoters, and more💠 Less common cetacean species such as Atlantic white sided and common dolphins (with a rare chance of bottlenose or Risso’s!) 💠 Fishy critters like ocean sunfish and white sharks💠 The final big bloom and push for humpbacks to bulk up before their migration southAnd of course, we will be joined by our friends @kengrillephotography , @stellwagenbanknms , and Maritime Archaeologist Calvin Mires who will present about the shipwrecks we will pass by! Capacity for this trip is limited for comfort and ample room for viewing and photography.We’d love to have you join us! Tickets are available at www.whales.net or by calling 1-800-287-0374. With the long range forecast looking spectacular, we are sure to have an unforgettable day offshore!#capecod #whales #whalewatching #wildlife #naturephotography #bird #birding #nature #ocean #offshore @visitma @capecodtimes @guidebookcapecod ... See MoreSee Less
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Whales are back on Stellwagen Bank! After spending most of our season south of the plateau itself, we’ve found ourselves in some familiar territory once again. The reason for the change? Well, we can’t really be sure but we do know that whales and many other animals that we see offshore are quite transient. This means that they’ll travel to areas that have the highest abundance of food available. Things can change quite quickly in the natural world, so we truly never know for sure exactly where we’ll find ourselves on each trip.We’ve been lucky enough to see several breaches lately, a few rounds of surface feeding, and a variety of species…Humpbacks and fin whales continue as the top-sighted whale species, although we did enjoy another curious approach from a minke. Atlantic white sided dolphins and harbor porpoise afforded us rare views of whales that have teeth… But the real showstoppers have been a juvenile (great) white shark and a sea turtle! Their surprise appearances had the whole boat buzzing with excitement.The upcoming stretch of weather is the pick of the SEASON, with the crisp fall air arriving and leaving sightings conditions unmatched. We’d love to have you join our daily trips or our ✨Extended Whale Watch ✨on 9/6!As a proud member of Whale Sense (whalesense.org), we are committed to responsible whale watching practices. All photos were taken in compliance with established guidelines and regulations. HWWC proudly contributes its data to the GOM Humpback Whale Catalog curated by Center for Coastal Studies. #capecod #massachusetts #whalewatching #seaturtle #shark #greatwhite #whales #wildlife #naturephotography #ocean ... See MoreSee Less
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