Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises

This was literally so amazing and the best way to spend half a day. Parking and boarding are seamless. Have your $15 cash ready. They started boarding the 45 minutes early. So we got to get on and get top deck seats. Snack bar is well staffed and service is really quick. The narration science research people were awesome and they come around periodically and talk to kids. They are very knowledgeable and professional. We saw so many whales and ended up in the middle of a feeding frenzy. There were like 3 types of whales all showing themselves and herding the bait fish up. We saw a cute little sunfish too. Bring a sunhat for when you're out and a lightweight jacket when you head back in. 10/10 will do this again next summer. We're locals anyway

Great experience on this whale watching cruise. The boat was large and comfortable. There was a galley that had plenty of snacks and even meals available. The indoor seating was extremely comfortable and a great spot to hangout as we made our way out to the spot we would be whale watching and the ride back. Tickets were easy to purchase online ahead of time, but I discovered there was also a ticket booth on-site. I’d recommend getting here 45 minutes before your cruise is set to leave (or even sooner) for parking and to get in line to board the ship. We got there about two hours before our cruise started and grabbed a bite to eat at the restaurant next to the parking lot. It was convenient so we could eat beforehand without worrying about being late to board. I would absolutely take another tour with them in the future. And as a bonus, you’ll be able to see Sandy Neck Lighthouse from the water.

Great experience! The boat was a bit too crowded hence I took one star off. We actually saw a few sightings of whales and it was so much fun. I didn't like the parking- not only we had to pay $15, they parked cars double so we had to wait for the other car to leave before we could.

An awesome experience! I’m always worried when I go on a tour to see something in the wild because you never know what might happen or if you’ll even see what you came to see and they didn’t disappoint! You can tell the naturalists here are very knowledgeable and were able to find us some whales and other cool creatures to see. The captains were also great and got us in as close as they could and maneuvered with great skill, it was wonderful! Overall I would recommend this whale watching tour over others based of my fantastic experience!

Excellent excursion. The whales were beautiful, the boat is immaculate and fast, and the staff are very nice. $75 pp is a bargain. Definitely worth your 4 hrs!

INCREDIBLE whale watching experience. Very knowledgeable and friendly staff. Lots of great, natural whale encounters. We saw one jump right up out of the water. So gorgeous and great for the whole family (ages 2-82!)

My first time seeing whales! Tour was fun. Lady speaker was cool and knowledgeable, captain was also amazing. We saw three different whales. The whole tour took 4 hours so bring sunscreen, snacks and water.

I went on this cruise with my lab mates, and the whole group of 45 in a conference to cape cod. Did not expect to see a single whale. But boy, was I wrong. We saw at least 20 whales, very close up. It was such an great experience to see all these humpback 🐋 whales. As a bonus, we saw also some gray seals poking their head out of the water. Isn't that the cutest thing. Highly recommended. Totally worth the price.

All I can say is amazing... just amazing. We saw loads of action. One of the hump back whales breached the water 7 times and that was just on our side of the vessel. If you plan on going in the future make sure you arrive early, area is very congested and parking tight. Be aware parking is an extra charge of $15.00. Also make sure you bring some warm outerwear it will get much cooler on the water

Such an awesome time on this Whale watching cruise!! They have this cruise only at 10am every day. It was so convenient for us staying in Yarmouth. The boat is clean and the staff is very friendly and informative. We were lucky to have seen several whales. Also a pod of dolphins kept swimming with the boat! Just a perfect day!

Absolutely worth the price! A 4 hour roundtrip journey with the most amazing views and most incredibly knowledgeable team of professionals! Would highly recommend!

Had a nice trip with great people on the ship (crew and passengers alike). Of course, like all whale watches (this is our second), you have to have a lot of patience and luck. We hit jackpot early on the way out and the 2 whales we saw were active and doing more than just breathe and dive. Unfortunately, my family didn't get to see it at all. Not sure why but they kept pointing the bow of the ship towards the whales so the people on the sides couldn't really see anything. I was lucky as I had been up front enjoying the view anyway when we happened on them but couldn't lose my spot to get my family as everyone else had come up by then too. I got great videos of the activities but my family only got to see some of that pair and then the others later who were close and beautiful but not as interesting with their activities. So the kids got a bit tired and bored by the end sadly. Would recommend it but if anyone from the company is reading this please remind your captains to rotate the boat more so people can see!

Not crazy about how they handled the seating. From the start, people took up spaces and put their carryons on the seat eliminating room for others to sit down. The staff should come around and politely ask them to put their belongings on the floor in front of them. Loads of people ended up standing for a good hour or so while we drove to the whale area. It was really unnecessary. And really rude of the general public. Then to ask for tips when we get off the boat, come on. We all paid huge money to go on this trip and to stand for the entire 4-5 hour trip sucked. And I'm handicapped. It was nonsense. I won't go again.

October is not as crowded as the summer cruises tend to be so we had seat choices inside and/or outside. It takes about an hour to cruise out to where the whales are. Once out in the protected waters of the designated "whale park" the hunt for whales began. Not many in October, so it took a while for a couple to swim into the area. Very cool. One swam very close to our boat and right under another cruise boat as if to say "Hi". Fun and educational.

A very memorable experience. The cruise is approximately 3 1/2 hours. It takes you way out beyond the Cape. The wildlife is amazing and abundant. The captain always makes a special effort to make sure that both sides of the ship are able to observe whales and other wildlife. The crew is very informative about ecosystem and the animals in and around the area, it made learning extremely enjoyable. We are fortunate enough to see many humpback whales, and one in particular that breached through the water. What an amazing experience definitely, give this business a try he won't be disappointed.

Brought my 11 month old and 3 year old. It was a BLAST! The boat was clean, smooth waters and we had beautiful weather the day we went. We saw so many whales and even. Sea turtle! Highly recommend.

We had a wonderful experience on our cruise. Kathy did a terrific job spotting whales and dolphins and providing very informative commentary. It was our lucky day as we saw a huge pod of nursing dolphins. The pod was estimated to be more than 100. We encountered three species of whales: Humpbacks, Fin Whales, and a third species I can't recall. We saw more whales than is typical on a cruise so we were very lucky. Hoping you'll have good luck too.

Overall a great experience with Hyannis Whale Watch. the boat was modern,clean,and spacious. Parking was accessible and affordable for the cape $15 for 4.5 hours. The staff were friendly and very knowledgeable about the Whales and locations we were in. My only negative which was out of the tours control was the amount of recreational boaters interfering with the whales natural habitat. the smaller boats agitate and disorient the whales.

We had an amazing time on this trip last week. We saw least 4-5 different humpback whales and also a pod of dolphins of over 100! All encounters were quite close to the boat so it was very easy to see and experience and made for excellent video and pictures. The boat crew were all very friendly and helpful and knowledgeable. We loved the information they shared both over the speaker system and in person as they came around in person. I recommend you bring a deck of cards or something to do for the boat ride to and from the viewing area of Stellwagen Bank. Some snacks would be good to have too, though the snack bar is available. Consider buying the video package the professional videographer on the boat has for sale. It's reasonably priced at 45$ and it will look better than your pics and video on your phone. Enjoy the trip. Highly recommend.

Incredible crew, incredible experience!!! We highly recommend this cruise. We saw so many whales and even dolphins on our way back to the dock.

Clean, jet propelled boat. Friendly, knowledgeable staff are eager to please. Entertaining and educational narration. Overall, a very well-run operation and enjoyable experience. Also, we saw dozens upon dozens of whales Highly recommend!

Had an amazing time! The crew was excellent and the captain knew exactly where to take us - although they said the morning trip didn't get to see any. We saw over a dozen whales. We saw so many that we lost track of time and had to head back. Everyone was fascinated. Just perfect! They have a parking lot, it's $15. Food (hot dogs, hamburgers, pretzels, chips, ice cream, candy, cookies) and drinks (alcoholic and non) on board. Our boat was 75% capacity so had more than enough space-at least we did. We sat at the very front of the boat and got to see everything! Would definitely recommend this sighting company!

Went in September. Great opportunity to see the whales feeding. Quite a surprise to see so many.

OMG You could not image all the whales that were out there on Friday Aug 5th. The captain took us to be in the middle of dozens of humpbacks. Water spouts all around the boat! Fabulous crew! Would definitely recommend

Highly recommended this excursion, at first I thought the price was a little too expensive but after the trip I deemed it well worth it. None the less a reason to boat out into sea. Don't forget your sunscreen and a hat, oh and a hair tie or clip for the windy weather when the boat is going fast. Guides very educational throughout the trip, we learned valuable information about sea life. There are 3 levels to the boat; we sat on the 3rd level which was 18+ only. Slightly more windy on the 3rd level but less loud without the children. We saw multiple Humpback whales, and a few other creatures. Beautiful day for whale watching out at sea.

This whale watch was the best I have ever been on. Very clean boat, lots of information on the trip out to sea and so much to see! We saw whales and dolphins. They did a wonderful job with parking and getting us on and off the boat efficiently and safely! I'll be heading back to Barnstable next year to go on another whale watch next year!

Simply put......it was worth 5 times the money that we paid. Nothing has brought me to tears like this gem. The majestic magnitude of these spectacular creatures is lovingly close to the Hyannis crew. It's obvious how much love and care go into making sure not only the guest but, the whales are at comfort and ease. Bravo.

Amazing experience! Smooth parking which only costed $15 checking in was a breeze too! All staff was pleasant and helpful! At the end walked around to see if anyone had any questions. Saw a TONs of whales! Highly recommend!

Amazing trip! Can't even count how Many whales we say. Captain and entire crew were very knowledgeable. Best day of vacation!

Had heard great things about this whale watch and was extremely disapointed!! Captain Mike said as they find a whale he would turn the boat so everyone would get to see it. They explained how they would point out like a clock where the whales were, so we are on the port side which means we get the 9 10 11 o'clock you get the picture, but the whales keep coming up at 1 & 2 o'clock. So finally we all got frustrated and started moving over to the other side of the boat and a crew member comes down and said there are to many people on this side please go back to where you were. We will be turning the boat so everyone can see. They never did WE GOT TO SEE 1 MINKE WHALE on our side and 1HUMPBACK. While the other side got all the whales!! Thanks Captain Mike - what a lousy trip!

Very clean, comfortable and a nice ship. Great staff as everyone was pleasant and professional. Not much to complain about with this experience. Of course locating amazing whales was the best part. Kudos to captain and crew. The speaker during the cruise was knowledgeable and had good humor. Family fun for all. Felt safe entire time. Will return !

I don't do good on boats, but I had an amazing time! The captain was informational and the people I met on the cruise were friendly. I won't go again only because boats and I do not mix. However, it's a great time especially with family! Check it out if you're in the area.

Although we enjoyed the whale watch, it was also very frustrating. Everyone told us to not worry about what side of the boat you are on because the captain will turn the boat around so everyone can see. Well, that didn't happen on our boat last Wednesday at 2:30. If I heard her say at 2 o'clock, at 1 o'clock, at 1 o'clock, at 2 o'clock over and over again. I kept thinking, surely they will eventually turn the boat. Nope! When we finally had a whale at 11 o'clock that that left side of the boat could see, the captain turned the boat so 1 o'clock people could see. I kind you not! It was extremely frustrating. We finally were able to make it to the front of the boat and caught the last group of whales go by. We didn't want to move because we thought they would eventually show the 7-11 o'clock people something. You couldn't see anything if we did go to the other side because they were 2 people deep. You would think if you hear the lady announcing over and over and over again the same area, the captain would turn the boat to provide a good experience for all participants. We were happy to see the last group and many whales off in the distance. We also saw lots of dolphins on our side. We didn't come for the dolphins though, even though they were awesome. We also enjoyed the boat ride out and in to harbor.

This was an absolutely amazing experience for our group of 7. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable of the different whales we were fortunate enough to see. This was a first time experience for all of us and it did not disappoint! The cruise was even extended as the crew knew of a second location to possibly find additional species of whales. This was my future daughter-in-law's wish and we are so happy we were along for the ride!

exceeded expectations! amenities are superb. everything is in perfect condition. food and beverages were outstanding. staff was superb, friendly, helpful, knowledgeable!! Captain Mike went above and beyond to provide us an unforgettable experience! we saw tons of whales and loads of dolphins. I would gladly go again and would highly recommended!! AAAAA+++++ well worth the price!!

We've joined the Hyannis Whale Watch Cruise for three years now and our experience has equally been as great every time. I've learned new facts each time I've gone.The staff is super friendly and knowledgeable. When they find sea animals, they are clear where to find them so everyone knows where to look. But what I genuinely love about my experience today was how much of an advocate John and staff are for the animals. When we went by fishermen who had their lines out too far with whales around, they said something to the fishermen and explained why it was an issue. I already loved whale watching with this company before today but their advocacy efforts really solidified a five star rating from me. I hope you join them on their whale watch and that you enjoy your experience !

Had a wonderful time on this cruise! Lucked out to whales galore!! We decided to take the morning cruise, would highly recommend, had calmer waters and lower temperatures. On our cruise we encountered 10-12 whales feeding, whales even got close up to the boat! Took about an hour after departure to arrive at the location, and spent 1-2hrs whale watching. This was the highlight of our stay, excellent job!

In person and the real thing! Having seen Nine (mom) and her baby Bubbles was the most amazing that happened to me. That was a Happy Birthday to me indeed!

This was an experience of a lifetime!! There's not enough superlatives to describe it!! Feeling blessed to witness this miracle!!

Wonderful crew, saw so many dolphins and whales! Such a great time out on the water with HWWC! They gave us an education and looked out for these beautiful creatures in the water. Loved it!

Great Trip!! We saw 5 different whales but at a safe distance, and the guide was very interesting and educated!

Saw dozens of whales. Guides on the boat were highly informative. Definitely plan to go again next summer

This was a "bucket list" item for my wife and me. As a result, our expectations were pretty high and this trip didn't disappoint. My advice is to get there early and get a seat outside towards the front of the boat (dress warm). When the boat starts to slow down, get a standing spot up front for a good view of the whales. This will also allow you to view them from either side. We saw around 15 whales, many if them so close we could literally smell them. The captain did a great job of positioning the boat so we could get some great photos of the whales. Also, the naturalist on board was incredibly knowledgeable about all of the sea life. He also knew from the behavior of the whales exactly when they were going to dive giving you a "tale shot". We sat with a lady who has been all over the world photographing whales and this was her 7th time on this particular whale watch. She said it was the 2nd best whale watch she's ever been on anywhere in the world and told us the captain is one of the best at getting you close to the whales safely. I'd highly recommend this company!

So glad we were able to do this tour. I thought they did a great job directing everyone to social distance. The cost was at 40% capacity. They had green and red tape on the rails, directing people where to stand. Not everyone was following the rules, unfortunately. Most people were wearing masks most of the time. We saw a ton of whales, and dolphins. The narration was interesting. This was my birthday gift to myself, and I was so happy!

They just opened back up this past week and went on a Tuesday. While social distancing was being enforced, it was a challenging with folks finding seating initially and trying to get a better view when the whales came out. The concession stand didn't have everything on their menu, so you might want to consider bringing food with you. They have indoor seating and I found that was a lot more comfortable, especially since it gets windy and cold when the ship is moving. While not cheap, felt this was worth the price, though I did find the $15 parking a little annoying. Only plus is that there are two restaurants there and you can walk over to Millway Beach, which is residents only, if you want to get a little sand.

This isn't any blubber when i tell you that we saw so many whales yesterday. Great tour. Great crew. So clean. All social distancing protocols taken. Best day everrrrrrrrr.

Very nice operation. Top notch staff. Beautiful boat. We saw all kinds of whales. Very educational staff as well. Highly recommend.

We had a great time. The crew was very friendly and knowledgeable. We saw lots of whales. Boat was clean. I highly recommend this company!

Wonderful experience!! So worth the money. Great staff aboard and very friendly. Guy behind the bar made an effort to make conversation with me. Boat was very clean and spacious. We saw about 11 whales. It was very interactive and I was thoroughly impressed. I will definitely be returning!!!

We had a great time whale watching with Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises in Oct 2020. We saw about a dozen whales and even a full whale breach! Only issue we had was that there was no staff going around asking people to pull their masks up. It was mentioned at the beginning that everyone over the age of 4 needed to have a mask on. But there was no one going around checking so many people did not comply with the rules.

We had an AWESOME time on the Whale Watcher! One of the larger boats out on the Cape and specifically designed for whale watching with her 5 diesel engines and water jets. No propellers on this boat means less risk of harming the whales. The Whale Watcher can get you out to the Bay and easily keep pace with the fastest whale on the water, the finback. They are the only whale watching boat on the lower Cape besides the ones up in Provincetown, but because they are this far south, they have a longer trip to make to get out to the Bay or to the Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary. Early in the season (pre-Memorial Day) when the whales enter the Bay to feed, boats are limited to speeds of 10 knots to avoid collisions with these massive animals that are almost the size of the boat (how the whales know when it's Memorial Day is beyond me). It does get chilly out on the water, so dress in layers. The naturalists on board do a very good job of spotting the whales by their spouts, directing your attention to the best views and educating you on whale biology & behaviors. On this trip, we saw a dozen Finbacks, a Minke, some harbor porpoises, a rare Sei whale and an endangered Northern Right whale. The whole trip lasts 3.5-4 hours. If you go out later in the season, the boat can go a lot faster and farther out to deeper waters to see other species like Humpbacks and if you're really lucky, the biggest of them all, the Blue Whale. On-line ticketing was a snap and I was even able to find a coupon code to knock off a couple of bucks. Just remember to print out hard copies of your tickets to hand to the staff as you board because they don't do QR-code scanning. If you have your reservation number, but forgot to print them, just stop in at the ticket counter and they will gladly print them for you (just have your reservation code from your e-mail). And of course, get your t-shirt and refrigerator magnets at the gift shop on your return to shore.

I'm so glad i talked my group into going whale watching here. It was four hours on a boat, the captain found us two humpback whales and made sure to keep changing direction so people on both sides of the boat could view the whales. We came up pretty close to them and they seemed very happy, waving their fins, flapping their tails & breaching for us. We saw a lighthouse on the way out to see and were given a lil history of the island we saw. I did go downstairs on the way back which gave me sea legs. I got a pretzel and ginger ale on the boat which was pretty reasonably priced compared to some of the other options they had. I highly recommend taking the time to go whale watching here.

We had a great time on the water today! The ship was clean and the crew was very nice and knowledgeable.

The absolute BEST of the BEST- hands down!! Our extended family (of 10) thoroughly enjoyed our time out in May aboard their lovely boat! From their highly professional staff in the ticket office, gift shop and boat- we wish we could give an even HIGHER rating than 5 stars!! We marveled at the true LOVE our tour guide had for the area, her knowledge of the whales and other marine mammals we encountered, her insights and knowledge of the Cape Cod area... all in all a wonderful trip for our entire group!! We have gone on MANY Whale & Dolphin tours from Alaska to Florida, Cape Cod to Cape May... and this one is BY FAR the best, in every area!! HIGHLY recommended!

First ever whale watching cruise and I was very impressed. The volunteers (ours was Jackie) made sure all the passengers got a chance to learn about the whales that could be seen during the trip. During the cruise we encountered strong winds and waves which significantly rocked the boat. The crew ensured everyone's safety and helped several folks who hadn't quite adapted to the rolling seas. During the trip four whales and over 25 dolphins were seen. A rocky ride but definitely enjoyable. I'll definitely be back.

It was kind of long trip to get to the whales feeding place but it was soooo worth it!!!! There was so many of them. Joanne, marine biologist - superb. Definitely once in a life time experience. Sunscreen, sunglasses, cap, warm jacket needed (the boat reaches 35 mph speed)

This was our first whale watcher cruise ever, and it is safe to say that it exceeded our expectations. We knew the cruise would last between 3-4 hours. About 75 minutes into our cruise, we saw two whales - a mother and her calf - from a relatively close distance. It was a lovely and moving sight. Considering the time of the siting, we thought the cruise was over and we would be returning, but the naturalist said there was reported activity a few miles away. They kicked up the speed of the boat until we reached the area - and amazement upon amazement was right before us. We saw whales feeding in groups over and over all around the boat. The naturalist was very knowledgeable explaining what we were seeing and the significance of different aspects of the whale behavior and the coloring of the water. He reported that there were at least 50 whales in this area who were feeding at this time. Being novice whale watchers, we would have been happy seeing two whales and returning to port. Talking with others on this cruise, we found out that seeing one or two is very normal but seeing what we saw is very atypical. I was impressed at how the staff handled this outing. We could have turned around after seeing the first two whales. Choosing to extend the trip gave us the outing of a lifetime! We spent so much time at the second area that we were late returning. I'm sure no one complained. I said earlier that this was our first whale watching excursion, but we may need to make it our last because anything short of what we witnessed will leave us feeling underwhelmed. This cruise set the bar so high!