Where to see whales
Whale watching works best where whales feed close to shore and the boats can reach them in a few minutes. Southeast Alaska is the clearest example.
About whale watching
Whale watching from a cruise port means a boat trip out from the harbor to where humpbacks and orcas feed in the inside waters of Southeast Alaska. Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway each have tours that run from the dock or the harbor, so a day ashore can be mostly time on the water.
Trips out of Juneau usually last three to four hours with transport included, and boats range from large catamarans to six-passenger vessels. Ketchikan tours leave from the dock and run about two and a half hours or more. Humpbacks often bubble feed on the surface, and some breach close to the boat.
- 3 to 4 hours Typical Juneau boat trip, transport included
- About 15 minutes Ketchikan dock to tour departure
- About 10 minutes Skagway pier to harbor boats
Whale watching: where to go
Each line is the place's own: where people go and how they get there.
Juneau
Boat tours from Juneau reach humpback and orca feeding grounds, with options from big catamarans to six-passenger boats.
More places for Whale watching
Start with Juneau
13 places on the map, 38 trips, and sailings from 5 home ports.