How often do you see whales?
While every season varies slightly, we sight whales on an average of 99% of our trips. Sometimes weather can be a factor; it is a bit more difficult to sight whales in the fog or on a rough day. However, some of our best trips have come on those difficult days, so we generally will go whale watching in all conditions, as long as safety is not an issue.
What kinds of whales do you see?
There are four main whale species sighted on our trips. Humpback, Finback and Minke Whales as well as Atlantic White Sided Dolphins. Less common species that we sight occasionally are Harbor Porpoise, Sei Whales, Pilot Whales, Right Whales and Blue Whales (very rare.)
How close do you get to the whales?
While we never will intentionally approach a whale closer than 100 feet (it’s against the law!) they are allowed to approach us if they feel like it. Whales have come close enough to touch (don’t do that-it’s against the law too!) plenty of times, but it is entirely up to them. Whales are wild animals and behave differently every day but generally we do get excellent looks while operating our vessel responsibly.
How far out do you go? Where do you go to see the whales?
We travel 12-25 miles from Rye Harbor on the average whale watch. Generally, we travel to an area called Jeffreys Ledge which is a very productive area in terms of whale sightings. We also occasionally travel to the northern area of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. We are in contact with many local fishing and whale watching boats and try to head to the area which gives us the best chance of sightings.
How long does the trip last?
Our whale watches last between four and five hours, depending on where the whales are located. If the whales are a little further away than usual, we will add some extra time to the trip so we can spend enough quality time with the whales.
What is the best time of the year to see whales?
It is really impossible to say when the whale watching is going to be the best. The whales are in our area before our season starts, and after it ends. In our area the whales are here to feed, not migrating, so they move in unpredictable patterns which differ from year to year. The only thing that remains the same from year to year is that we sight whales an average of 99% of the time each year.
What do we see on the trip besides whales and dolphins?
We often sight a large variety of pelagic bird species, as well as harbor seals, sharks, tuna, and sunfish. Depending on the direction we travel out to the whale watching grounds you may get a good view of the Isles of Shoals, Boon Island, Cape Ann MA, and sometimes even Mount Washington!
Is the whale watch boat handicapped accessible?
There are handicapped parking spaces near the dock at the harbor, and there is a long ramp to access the dock. In order to board the actual boat, there is a small staircase of five steps up, then it’s another two steps down to the deck (so the boat itself can’t be accessed via a ramp). The staircase has a railing on one side and our crew is happy to assist you. Once on board, there is an open area on the lower deck at the stern of the boat that is partially covered and has side-to-side access with room for a wheelchair or walker.
Is the Whale Watch narrated?
Yes. All of our trips are professionally narrated by one of our staff naturalists who are affiliates of the Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation. Our naturalists are all graduates of zoology and marine biology programs and are very experienced and enthusiastic.
What can/can’t we bring on the boat?
Feel free to bring food and drinks along. We do have a galley onboard serving hot dogs, soft pretzels, candy, chips, soda, soups and beer. Since we do have an alcohol license, you cannot bring any alcoholic beverages onboard. Small strollers are allowed onboard, but cannot be left in aisles, on the bow (front) of the boat or on the upper deck. Other things that you might want to bring are a camera, sunscreen, and binoculars.
How should we prepare for our trip?
It is usually at least 10-15 degrees cooler offshore than it is on land, so it is better to dress in layers, and bring one more layer than you think you need. Even on a hot summer’s day on land, people are glad they brought along a sweatshirt or fleece jacket once we’re offshore. If you are prone to motion sickness it is best to take medication before departure. The boat does move even on calm days, so soft soled shoes are a good idea, heels are not.
What happens if we don’t see whales?
If no whales or dolphins are sighted during your trip, we will give you a pass good for two years for a free trip back with us. We cannot give refunds.
Is it possible to sight whales on an Isles of Shoals tour?
Sightings of the larger whale species are extremely rare between Rye Harbor and the Isles of Shoals. They are almost always further offshore. We have a better chance of seeing Harbor Seals, Harbor Porpoise, and Ocean Sunfish.
Do I need reservations, and what happens if my trip is cancelled for bad weather?
We strongly recommend reservations. Our trips often sell out, so calling ahead or booking online is a very good idea. If you call us to make a reservation, we also take your phone number so that if we have to cancel your trip due to poor weather, we will let you know as soon as that decision has been made. If you’ve booked online and your trip is cancelled because of weather, you’ll have the option of rescheduling to a different day or receiving a refund. If your plans change and you need to reschedule or cancel any reservation, please just let us know as far in advance as possible.
Do you allow smoking on the boats?
No, smoking is not allowed on either our whale watch or island tour boats at any time.
Are there bathrooms on the boat?
Yes! The “Granite State” has two bathrooms and our Isles of Shoals boat, the “Uncle Oscar”, has one bathroom.
Nice staff! I called several whale watch agency around and I think they are the only dog friendly one. Highly recommended!
Our trip with Granite State Whale Watch was a great experience. We were thrilled to see a Minke whale, a Humpback whale named Football, and two Finback whales during our excursion. The highlight was Football, the Humpback whale, who spent a lot of time swimming around our boat, giving us the perfect opportunity to capture numerous photos and videos.The staff were friendly and knowledgeable. We particularly enjoyed the staff member who came around with educational materials and answered all our questions, making the trip both fun and informative.We definitely recommend Granite State Whale watch!
My family had a great time! The crew knew their stuff. Saw a humpback whale, a fin whale, a minke whale, dolphins and even a tuna!
The whale watching tour was great! You get an awesome tour for price. Parking $5 owned by city. Word of advice the porty pot on the city lot was the most absolutely disgusting one I have ever seen. It's totally full to the top. This was not owned by the whale watching tour but by the city. Maybe they should take the parking money and add another pot. Would totally do another tour.
Great price for the experience! Multiple sightings of whales, dolphins, and a shark. Very clean boat and excellent staff! Snacks and drinks too! Had an amazing time, highly recommended !!
This is our second experience whale watching and it exceeded the first one back in Maine.The booking process was super easy, they had to cancel the day before due to tornado warning and made it very easy to reschedule to the day and time of our choice. The check in process was smooth and seamless, within minutes we were on the boat with great seats and we left right on time. There was a whole crew on the boat coming around to explain to us all the different whales, dolphins and birds we could potentially sea. We saw 5 fin whales, lots of playful dolphins that hung around for a while, and to top it off we saw two humpback whales that came up multiple times and showed their tails. No breach but still an amazing time seeing them come up for air and feeding. All throughout, the marine biologist gave us information and told us where to look etc, everything came through very clearly. We cannot wait to come back and repeat the experience.
One of the best experiences of my life. The guides were very clear and constantly gave us valuable information about the whales and the ocean…. I recommend bringing snacks and drinks since the tour can last up to 5 hours, in any case you will find a store inside with hot dogs, snacks and drinks at a very good price. We stayed on the first floor and on a sunny day ☀️ like the one we had it was a good idea, since we could rest in the shade.
Fantastic! We got to see Minkes and Humpbacks breach. We saw Fin whales too. We saw a pair of mamas with their curious calves who liked to look at the boat when they jumped out. We also saw a great white shark on the way back. Definitely will go again!
We've whale-watched all over the North America! Alaska, California, Hawaii, California, Vancouver Island--this was the absolute best experience ever. Highly recommend!,
We thoroughly enjoyed the knowledge of the crew and the information they shared. They found the whales! And gave us lots of time to watch, enjoy and take pictures. We also saw dolphins and an eagle on our cruise!
Absolutely incredible experience! This was my first whale watch and it blew me away. We saw incredible marine life - a harbor seal, white sided dolphins, humpback whales and a fin whale - all incredibly beautiful. The crew were so friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. HIGHLY recommend.
Brought my family whale watching in early August. It was such an awesome experience. The boat was spacious and comfortable(and if you forget your sunglasses like me, they have some for sale at the little shop before you board the boat).The staff were super friendly and informative, and we were able to see tons of wildlife, including a pod of well over 100 dolphins!I would definitely recommend Granite State While Watch & will absolutely be returning in the near furture for more fun whale watching adventures! 🐋😊
I can’t say enough, we had an amazing time and I couldn’t have asked for better whale activity.
My family and I had such an awesome time! The crew was professional, friendly, and very knowledgeable. We saw not one momma and her baby but, two momma and baby pairs! They were soo active jumping out of the water and flapping around it was breathtaking. It was an experience we will never forget!
Amazing!!! Fastest 4 hours ever! Great boat, captain and very informative guide! We saw 3 different species of whales, dolphins and a harbor seal!
What a fun and absolutely amazing experience. They took the time to shift us around to see as much as possible, we saw Humpbacks, Minke whales, dolphins and a seal.......The captain moved the boat around so all passengers could see these beautiful animals. The staff were very friendly, knowledgeable, and fun. I can't wait to come back!
my first trip to the area, my first whale watch, and my three grown kids and one kid-in-law in tow for a summer reunion, so I was hoping this would turn out. boy, did it ever! perfect weather and calm seas got us off to a good start. and soon we were seeing pilot whales, sperm whales, finbacks and minkes -- puffing out breaths that shot spray high over the horizon, swimming briefly on the surface, and gracefully diving for another meal.best of all were the white-sided dolphins! we were lucky enough to visit two *massive* pods of these beautiful creatures, numbering in the hundreds! goosebumps, let me tell you! seeing so many at once was rare and breathtaking!thanks to the skilled and knowledgeable captain and crew for making this an adventure we'll never forget!
