WHALE WATCHING

Whales are found in Alaskan waters from June through August and in many of the places cruise boats venture. The Inside Passage, Prince William Sound, and Kenai Fjord National Park are just some of the areas they frequent. So be on the lookout for these sometimes elusive creatures. Most ships will make an announcement when a whale sighting has been made and tell you where to look. Although ships, especially the larger ones, have to stay a certain distance from the whales, you can still get a glimpse of these great creatures and perhaps even catch them breaching out of the water.

Many whales are found in Alaska’s waters, including humpbacks, orcas, belugas, and mink whales. Orcas, also known as killer whales, can be found in Robinson Bight, an area in Johnson Strait between Vancouver Island and the British Columbia mainland. They are playful and curious creatures that travel in groups called pods.

The Beluga whale is a small grayish whale with a rounded head and curved mouth that makes them look like they’re smiling. Belugas tend to follow salmon feeding in Turnagain Arm near Anchorage. This is a popular spot for the smaller cruise vessels but if your large-vessel cruise ends in Seward, your bus-ride will follow along the water here if you transfer back to Anchorage.

Humpback whales enjoy several parts of Glacier Bay as they feed on the krill in the area. Also, the waters near Brothers Island are good for a humpback whale sighting. In the spring, thousands of gray whales can be found migrating north along Alaska’s coast.

If you really want to experience whale watching, there are several whale-watching day cruises that focus only on finding these animals. They are usually on small vessels that have special equipment to track the whales. Coastal Wilderness Adventures offers whale-watching tours and also has kayaking trips so you can get close to sea otters, seals, and sea lions. Sea Wolf Adventures has five to six day wildlife trips, including whale watching, to Glacier Bay and Lituya Bay. Passengers on these ships often see gray, sperm, humpback, and mink whales. Spirit Walker Expeditions specializes in guided sea kayaking and camping expeditions. They have two to seven day whale watching tours during which you can watch humpback whales swim past. Several other companies offer a variety of whale watching cruises so you can find just the experience you’re looking for.