Best Whale Watching Excursions in Alaska for Cruisers

If you're taking an Alaskan cruise anytime soon, it's likely you'll want to see some whales. In this post I'll be rounding up whale watching options by port city, budget, and logistics.

Logistics: Most tours will pick you up and drop you off at the boat dock, with bus transportation, but it's always a good idea to ask first. A smaller tour might utilize vans, where you may want a car seat for your child(the company might supply one, just ask!). Rounding up my favorite gear in this post, as you'll want to come dressed for the occasion.

Icy Strait Point: Lots of options for Icy Strait! Since whales are popular here (Orcas and Humpbacks) most tour companies have a whale sighting guarantee, and offer a refund if whales are not sighted. Alaska Shore Excursions offers a 100% refund, $180 pp, while Alaska Shore Tours offers a gondola ride(!!) from the port to the tour boat, and will provide a 50% refund if no whales are sighted for $169/pp. This company outsources their whale tour to Icy Strait Whale Adventures - you can book directly on their site and they appear to cost significantly less, offering a child and group rates, however they charge a booking fee in addition to standard taxes, so it ends up being the same price as booking through Shore Tours. Plus if you decide to cancel shortly before your trip, ISWA will charge 15%, AST will give you a 100% refund. Glacier Wind Charters (g-wind.com) is similar to ISWA, their tour costs $195/pp, with tax and booking fees it's $219 per person!

Winner: Alaska Shore Tours for their price + transportation, Alaska Shore Excursions for the refund policy.

Juneau: Similar to Icy Strait, Orcas and Humpbacks are popular in Juneau. If you're willing to splurge on an adventure ($459/pp), Alaska Shore Excursions offers kayaking with whales, a much more intimate and close-up experience than the larger tour boats. ASE also offers boat tours ($169/pp, with 100% refund if you don't see a whale) and combination tours with whale watching and time at Mendenhall Glacier for an additional cost ($219/pp). With a little research and creativity, you can do the Glacier on your own for less. Alaska Shore Tours offers a whale tour for $185 per adult, $170 for children 12 and under. Unlike ASE, there is no refund if whales aren't sighted. This tour is outsourced to Juneau tours and whale watch, which offers the exact same price, except children 2 and under are only $20.

Winner: Alaska Shore Excursions for both refund policy and price, unless you're traveling with toddlers. For example $169x4 people = $676, but 2 adults, a 5 yr old, and a 1 year old will cost $560 with Juneau tours. I would love to take my son when he's older (ages 8+) and do the kayak adventure!

Sitka: Alaska Shore Tours has a Marine Adventure for $135/pp, this is a very small boat and only takes 6 guests (all ages), quite the intimate experience; you also have the opportunity to see whales on their kayak adventure ($129/pp). Alaska Shore Excursions offers the same exact thing for $187.50. Note that only ages 3 and up can partake. A Whale's Song Expedition allows all ages for $186 or longer tours for an additional cost, Sitka Sound Tours charges $200(+ tax and booking fee) per adult but ages 3 and under are free! Sitka Adventures didn't have pricing info on the website but they're an option as well.

Winner: Since AST doesn't charge booking fees, only taxes, they are the most affordable option, unless you have more toddlers than adults, then I'd go with Sitka Sound. If 2 hours doesn't feel like enough and you'd like a longer tour, I'd use A Whale's Song.

Seward: You can see grey whales in Seward March-May for $109/pp, or for a bit more go on an Orca Quest (alaskashoreexcursions.com)

Skagway: Whales are less popular here, but you may see some on a wildlife tour. I'd probably not make whale sightings my focus for this port.

Ketchikan: Whales are common in Ketchikan, but not a guarantee! Alaska Shore Tours offers an Orca Cove Kayak tour for a reasonable price ($169/pp) or you can board the Eagle One boat for a wildlife tour (make reservations directly through Eagle One or through Alaska Shore Excursions for the same exact price - $189 for adults, $89 for children 3-12, 2 and under are free)

Winner: If everyone in your crew is 6 and up, I'd go with the kayak tour!

Summary: Juneau and Icy Strait Point are the best places for guaranteed whale sightings. These tours fill up quickly, so book early for the best deal and make sure you check your cruise itinerary for timing. Also if a tour you wanted fills up, keep checking as there might be cancellations! We were able to cancel (with 100% refund) and book a cheaper excursion because of this.

I hope this was helpful, please let me know if you have any questions! I would love to assist you with planning your future cruise to Alaska.