Around the world · WHALE AND DOLPHIN WATCHING CRUISES
A yacht gets you closer to the water than a whale watching ferry and carries far fewer people. These 15 charters run in the months the animals are there, and say what happens if nothing surfaces.
Join Travelin Lady from Los Cristianos for a 90-minute whale and dolphin trip on a purpose-built, low-emission eco-yacht. Look for pilot whales, dolphins, turtles, and other marine life, visit the Cave of Love, then swim if sea conditions and time allow. Guides speak four languages.
“Very nice and we were lucky to see the dolphins and pilot whales! Lots of them!”
Join Go Shalabi for an eight-hour yacht trip from Hurghada to three Red Sea islands. Expect guided snorkeling, dolphin watching, breakfast, seafood lunch and unlimited drinks. Guides such as Ashraf, Ahmed and Talal help beginners feel safe, while private groups for 10 to 30 people are available.
“We had a lot of fun, we had snorkelling, It was our first time. Everybody was so thoughtful. We won’t forget this trip!”
Sail from Reykjavík’s Old Harbor aboard the Amelia Rose, a smooth offshore yacht with three panoramic decks, warm indoor lounges, WiFi, and a bar. Your English-speaking guide helps you spot minke and humpback whales, dolphins, porpoises, seabirds, and, with luck, orcas.
“We had sightings, but the guide could not always be heard very well, had to ask a couple of ti.es to turn the volume up. other than that, a great tour”
Join Atlantic Pearl Catamaran in Funchal for a three-hour cruise with Portuguese or English-speaking guides. Look for dolphins and whales, hear about Madeira’s marine life, then stop beneath Cabo Girão for swimming and snorkeling. The boat carries up to 20 people, with shaded seating, hammocks, bathrooms, and drinks for sale.
“Absolutely amazing boat trip. We got to see dolphins and swim in the sea. The guides were knowledgeable and friendly. 100% recommend!”
Join the Travelin Lady from Los Cristianos for a 90-minute sunset cruise with guides such as Ines, Sergio, and Fede. Look for pilot whales, dolphins, turtles, and other marine life from a low-noise eco-yacht. You may swim if time allows, and drinks are available to buy aboard.
“Nice experience the staff is amazing and they do their best. We were lucky to see different fishes and an amazing sunset”
Cruise from Los Cabos on a double-decker catamaran with guides such as Jacob, Marco, and Captain Reyes. See the Arch, listen to whale songs through a hydrophone, and watch humpbacks while enjoying snacks, lunch, and included drinks.
“What a lovely morning on the water! We saw numerous whales and soaked up some sunshine. The crew was fabulous, the snacks delicious, and the drinks plentiful. Transportation from and to the resort made it all so easy.”
Sail from Fuengirola Port on a 15-meter yacht with a skipper and multilingual crew. Look for dolphins, pass Calaburras Lighthouse and Torrequebrada Beach, then swim or sunbathe with cava, beer, soft drinks, and snacks. Guides including Nando, Gabriel, Dylan, and Toni have been praised for friendly service.
“Very good, clean boat. people working on boat were lovely. Great length of trip (2 hrs) saw plenty dolphins, had good laugh with other travellers. Good quality of booze and snacks which is not always the case. really enjoyed it, will be back”
Join Magic Dolphin Atividades Maritimas for a three-hour catamaran trip from Funchal Marina. The crew speaks English and Portuguese, explains Madeira’s marine life, and looks for dolphins, whales, turtles, and seabirds. You’ll sail toward Cabo Girão, with a seasonal swim stop, indoor seating, sun beds, and trampoline nets.
“Absolutely loved this trip, the chap speaking to us about the wildlife found off the coast was incredibly knowledgeable. Really good value for money. And we saw a group of dolphins up close! You also get a free drink included which was a nice touch. Would definitely go back to this company again!”
From Los Cristianos, cruise the Palm Mar coast aboard a low-center-of-gravity yacht with an English-speaking guide, onboard toilet, bar, and shaded areas. Look for pilot whales, dolphins, turtles, and seabirds, pass the Cave of Love, then stop for a swim before returning to port.
“Very good tour, saw dolphins and whales, very friendly staff, lovely tour and got to stop and swim in the very blue ocean”
Spend 4.5 hours aboard Body Glove’s spacious catamaran, cruising Kona’s Gold Coast to the Red Hill snorkel area. Breakfast, BBQ lunch, gear, reef-safe sunscreen, slides, a high-jump platform, and floating toys are included. Dolphins and whales may appear, but Kealakekua Bay is not visited.
“Out of our group of 8 people 6 of us threw up non stop - I had to lay down and basically try to sleep for half the excursion to try and not be as sick. There was no way we could eat any of the food. Looking around, 2/3 of the people on the entire excursion were bent over with sickness bags completely sick as well. And the rest of the people who I thought were ok, exclaimed in pure relief when we finally docked back and the excursion was over. Moral of the story is that they should have cancelled due to rough water. There water was so…”
Set out from Reykjavik Old Harbor on MY Harpa or MY Amelia Rose with an English or Icelandic guide. Watch for humpback and minke whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, seabirds, and summer puffins while enjoying blankets, WiFi, a bar, and indoor and outdoor viewing areas.
“Our guide tried very hard to make us sight some whales which we did ! Remember its nature so you can’t really be sure of seeing whales … also another boat from another company really were v disrespectful and almost scared the whale .. but our guide was really patient and amazing”
Spend about three hours aboard a whale-watching yacht from Reykjavik’s Old Harbour. An onboard guide explains whale behavior as you search Faxafloi Bay for minke and humpback whales, dolphins, porpoises, and sometimes orcas. The boat has indoor seating, outdoor viewing areas, toilets, and a small bar.
“Nice experience, I met new friends on the cruise, the view was wonderful and the whales as well ❤️🩹”
Join Captain Joe and Catie aboard a modern catamaran for a four-hour St. Thomas outing limited to 12 people. Snorkel with green sea turtles and colorful fish at Turtle Cove, then relax at Honeymoon Beach. Gear, snacks, fresh-water rinse, and drinks after the water activities are included.
“10/10 recommend! My husband and I had an amazing time on Someday Charters. The crew was professional and knowledgeable and the boat was beautiful. I researched many options for a semi private snorkeling tour and I’m so happRead more”
Set out from Puerto Vallarta aboard a comfortable yacht for about three hours of whale watching in Banderas Bay. The crew searches for humpbacks and dolphins, serves drinks, guacamole, chips, and sometimes ceviche, then times the return for sunset. Guides such as Luis and Isaiah add commentary and fun.
“It was better than expected. The waiting was marginally tense but when we boarded, we found a very comfortable space and welcoming crew. We were immediately asked if we wish any type of beverage as we sat with anticipation. Instructions were explained as well as expectations. This was important since the whale watching season was ending and the chance of seeing whales might be limited. We had many moments where we saw many whales. Food was brought to guests on the ship to avoid mishaps. Food was sufficient to satisfy. If food is your priority you may want to consider a cruise. Kudos to the crew for doing a marvelous…”
Sail from Reykjavik’s Old Harbor aboard Harpa or Amelia Rose for roughly three hours in Faxafloi Bay. An English-speaking guide, open viewing decks, warm blankets, indoor seating, a bar, Wi-Fi, and a free return trip if wildlife does not appear make this a practical choice for families and first-time whale watchers.
“We may have picked the wrong season, but the whales in April are small and the view we got was mostly of dorsal fins. The ship was well set up and comfortable.”
Pick the hull, the hours, or what is waiting on the deck.
