Whale
Watching in Massachusetts Bay
Call us Ishmael! (to borrow
a quote from Moby Dick).
Scouting out whales is more
popular than ever, especially since the
whale population off the coast of
Massachusetts is larger than it has been
in decades. Scientists aren't sure why,
but there are so many whales in the area
that your chances of seeing them on a
whale watch cruise is better now than it
has been in years.
Whale watch cruises leave
from several port cities, including
Newburyport, Gloucester, Salem, Boston,
Plymouth, and Cape Code. All head for
Jeffrey's Ledge or Stellwagen Bank, two
of the prime fishing grounds in
Massachusetts Bay where the whales spend
their summers eating and playing.
Choosing a Cruise
We tried several different
cruises and here are our favorites, with
links to their web sites so you can click
over to the latest hours and price
information:
- The East India
Cruise Company, 57 Wharf Street, Salem. Whale
sightings are guaranteed, or your
next trip is free. This
had the added feature of on-board
exhibits to help the kids (and
adults) pass the time.
- The New England
Aquarium, Central Wharf,
Boston. These cruises are planned
with children in mind and have
underwater video cameras for a
below-the-surface dimension.
These are the most popular
cruises -- make your reservations
early! Note that the cruising
distance to where the whales can
be found is longer than for the
North Shore cruises.
This year, you don't even
have to leave the sight of land to see
whales. We could see the distant shores
of Gloucester, and the misty skyscrapers
of Boston throughout our entire trip.
The animals most commonly
seen in Massachusetts Bay are minke,
finback, and humpback whales. This year
we saw tons (literally!) of humpback
whales. These beautiful creatures weigh
up to 45 tons, and eat up to 2000 pounds
of food each day. They are baleen
(non-toothed) whales that feed by
straining krill and small bait fish
through their baleen, a kind of stiff
filter in their mouths.
Whale Experts
The boats all have
naturalists on board, who provide
commentary, record information about the
whales, and answer questions. We found
our naturalists to be enthusiastic and
informative about whale behavior.
Over the course of an hour
and a half, we watched the whales breach
(that is, jump out of the water), spout
(thar she blows!), and pilot (stick their
noses in the air). We learned to watch
just under the surface for the bubbles
that indicated a whale is nearby. We also
received a lesson on how the marine
biologists identify individual animals by
the patterns on their tails.
The highlight of one trip
was when a humpback whale passed right
underneath the ship's bow. His (or her)
giant jaws were less than 10 feet from us
-- what a magnificent sight! It is easy
to feel a sense of community with the
whales -- they appear so playful as they
move sleekly through the water, and they
really seem to enjoy the attention of the
boats.
Insider Tips
4-1/2 hours is a
long time to be on a boat, and about 3
hours of that time is spent just getting
to the prime whale-watching spot and
back. If you are traveling with children,
bring something to occupy their time
while the boat travels back and forth.
All boats have a galley
stocked with basic food (hot dogs, chips,
candy) and drinks (soda, beer, wine). The
prices are a bit steep, however, so you
may want to bring your own snacks along.
Don't forget sunscreen and
warm clothes; even on a hot day you will
appreciate a sweater while steaming along
at 23 knots! You might also want to bring
a cushion because the bench seats get
uncomfortable quickly.
Make reservations a day or
two in advance, if possible, and adhere
to the suggested check-in time. We
watched some people with reservations be
turned away at the dock because they were
late and standbys had taken their places.
Companies that do not take credit card
reservations may overbook.
You may be so impressed that
you want to preserve the experience on
film to share later with family and
friends. But don't get so caught up in
the camcorder and camera frenzy that you
forget to enjoy looking at these
beautiful leviathans of the deep! Also,
remember that most cameras don't really
capture the event well unless you use a
powerful zoom lens.
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Choose from
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