Jamie Lafferty

Istock.com/niknikon

Mike Unwin

Mike Louagie

Mike Unwin

Mark Stratton

Mike Unwin

Rosie B Wild

Whale watching

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Whale Watching

Whale watching is a captivating activity where travellers have the chance to observe cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises) in their natural habitat.

It has become such an essential part of expedition and small-ship adventure cruises for two reasons. The first is the opportunity to have up-close experiences with these magnificent creatures in remote environments like the Arctic, Antarctic and various coastal waters such as Baja California.

Humans also connect with cetaceans due to their intelligence, social behaviors, and complex emotions, which resonate with us deeper than other connections we make with wildlife. Observing their social interactions and communication in the wild can invoke a sense of kinship, fostering a desire to understand and protect these sentient beings and their habitats. This connection inspires conservation efforts and a greater appreciation for the oceans and the diverse life they support.

One such example is the Citizen Science project, Happywhale. Happywhale leverages ecotourism for scientific research. It enables travellers on expedition ships to become citizen scientists by submitting whale photos from their travels via a mobile phone app. This data contributes to a global understanding of whale movements, helping with conservation efforts. For more information, visit Happywhale.

Whale Watching allows travellers to witness these giants of the ocean in their natural settings alongside expert guides, making it a highlight for nature enthusiasts and wildlife photographers. You may experience Whale Watching from a Zodiac Tour or the ship’s deck, where experts will offer education about whale behavior, conservation, and the ecosystem. The experience of seeing whales breach, spout, and interact in the wild is both thrilling and memorable, making it a highlight for many travellers.

One of the ExplorEarth team recently embarked on a Weddell Sea cruise from Ushuaia in Argentina, and spotted three whales within 30 minutes of leaving port.

Whale Watching Photography

Rosie B Wild

Humpback Tales

Humpback Whale tales are used to identify them for citizen science project, the tail details act like a forensic fingerprint and passengers photograph tails to upload to global databases and whale tracking.

Istock.com/niknikon

Humpback Breaches

A Humpback Whale breaches off the coast of warm-water expedition destination, Baja California in Mexico

Mike Louagie

Whale Tales in Antarctica

This is an iconic photo you will often see in Antarctic photography: a solitary Humpback Whale's tail. Identifying specific whales is possible through their tails, often as part of Citizen Science programs onboard.

Jamie Lafferty

Zodiac Whale Encounters

The way to get closest to cetaceans is on zodiac tours, it can be an incredible experience. Here we see a Minke Whale curiously swimming alongside a zodiac in Antarctica.

Mike Unwin

Whale Spotting from deck

This was taken in Svalbard and shows how close you can get to whales from the ship itself.

Billy Heaney

Orca

An Orca circles an expedition vessel

Activity Considerations

Medical Considerations

We recommend that you have good mobility to participate in whale watching excursions due to the length of time that may be spent standing and moving around the vessel.

Price Considerations

The cost of this experience will vary between cruise lines. Some cruise lines may offer whale watching as an included option.

Equipment & Clothing Considerations

Dress warmly in waterproof gear, as conditions can be wet and cold in the Polar regions. Tours are carefully planned for safety and environmental respect, offering unique perspectives and photography opportunities, but make sure your equipment is protected from the weather. Some operators will provide a warm waterproof suit and goggles, but it’s best to go prepared with your own kit.

Image by Jean van der Meulen from Pixabay