Alaska Whale Watching Cruises and Wildlife Tours

Watching Humpback Whales has always been one of the highlights of Discovery’s Alaska cruises.

On our Alaska whale watching trips we will spend the majority of our cruising time in areas where large numbers of Humpback Whales return to feed each year. Near Juneau, Alaska the protected waters of the Inside Passage offer some of the best whale watching in the world today and we expect to see these gentle giants on an almost daily basis.

Discovery’s open bow is the perfect vantage point for whale watching.

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  • humpback whale watching Juneau alaska
  • Alaska Humpback whales bubble net feeding
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Humpback Whales return each year to their summer feeding grounds in Southeast Alaska. Frederick Sound, Stephens Passage and Chatham Strait provide a rich supply of krill and small bait fish that the whales rely on for their primary food source. Discovery’s Alaska Inside Passage cruises are based in this area and we’ll actively seek out these majestic creatures.

  • We see whales breaching, lunge feeding and tail slapping. If we are lucky they’ll form a group cooperative feeding by utilising the unique ‘bubble net’ technique to corral and scoop up a bait ball of small fish.
  •  It is very common for Humpback Whales to approach the boat and swim underneath or pass alongside in a friendly encounter.…….. and with no set schedule we can spend an hour or the whole afternoon.
  • Orca (Killer) Whales sightings seem to be as much fun for the whales as they are for our guests and crew. Orca are nomadic and often travel as far as 100 miles a day making them more difficult to spot.

Canada Inside Passage cruises from Seattle to Alaska (& reverse) journey right past the infamous Robson Bight Ecological Reserve. The surrounding waterways in British Columbia are one of the best places to see Orca whales.

In the over 30 years that we’ve watched Humpback Whales in Alaska (and other marine life) we never tire as every day is always a new experience.

Other marine life ……. The diversity of marine life in Alaska is incredible. As well as Humpback and Orca Whales we’ll also be on the look out for Sea Otter, Stellar Sea Lion, curious Harbor Seals, Dalls Porpoise (who love to ride our the bow wave) and a variety of sea birds.

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