Alaska whale watching is one of the highlights of any cruise in Alaska. On both day trips and overnight cruises you will spend time in areas where whales congregate. The protected waters of Alaska's inside passage, and Resurrection Bay near Seward offer some of the best whale watching venues in the world today.  From May to early October Southeast Alaska is the summer feeding grounds to the largest concentration of Humpback Whales in the North Pacific.   On Alaska whale watching trips there are also frequent encounters with Orca ( Killer ) whales as they transit the area in search of prey the salmon or in some cases marine mammals. Resident pods follow the migration of the salmon, while the transient pods move through the area quickly usually in search of seals, sea lions or other marine mammals. At times both the Humpbacks and Orcas actually seem to frolic together. Particularly during group cooperative feeding sessions.  Watching whales feeding and playing in their natural habitat is beautiful experience not to be missed, so make an Alaska whale watching cruise a must-do part of your vacation plans!

Each species is distinct, with different appearances, diets, migration routes, and the shape of their blow. Whales are divided into two main groups based upon the way they feed. Baleen whales filter small fish and plankton through hair-like baleen in their mouths. Toothed whales eat larger fish, such as salmon, or even other marine mammals. Baleen whales have one blowhole, while toothed whales have one.

Baleen Whales

Blue Whales are the largest animal in the world, past or present. Reaching lengths of over 100 feet, it can weigh 200,000 pounds. Blue whales are an endangered species and are very rarely spotted, although their summer range includes the Gulf of Alaska, the Aleutian Islands, and even the Bering and Chukchi Seas.

Bowhead Whales migrate to the northern coast of Alaska and the Bering Sea in the winter. In the summer, they pass far off Alaska's coast on the way to Canadian waters. In the fall, they return to Alaska, coming much closer to shore. Bowheads are an integral part of the heritage and diet of the Inupiat Eskimos.

Fin Whales can reach 85 feet in length, making them the second largest whales in the world. Alaska's fin whales tend to be somewhat smaller than their southern hemisphere counterparts. In the summer, fin whales can be spotted in the Gulf of Alaska and other areas of open ocean. Visitors may see them from day cruises into Kenai Fjords National Park or from large cruise ships sailing in open waters.

Gray Whales migrate from Baja California to the Bering and Chukchi Seas in the spring and return south in the autumn, a distance of over 10,000 miles. Because they pass by the Inside Passage and the Gulf of Alaska in late spring and again in October and November, most visitors do not have the opportunity to see gray whales. There are spring cruises from Seward to see these slow moving and protective whales pass by on their route north.

Humpback Whales are the most prominent of Alaska's whales, frequently seen swimming along the coastline in summer months. Whale watching tours from Petersburg to Seward offer excellent opportunities to see how graceful these 40 ton creatures can be. Their fascinating behaviors include bubble net feeding in groups, lunge feeding, breaching out of the water, slapping their pectoral fins, and most commonly showing their unique flukes (tails) before diving.

Minke Whales live all along Alaska's coastal waters except the Beaufort Sea. They are the smallest species of baleen whale, weighing only 10 tons on average. Their breath blow is barely visible, so the whales are difficult to spot unless they come close to investigate a ship. The best places to view Minkes are near Homer, Glacier Bay National Park, Prince William Sound, and along the Aleutian Islands.

Other species:  North Pacific Right Whales

Toothed Whales

Sperm Whales have recently been spotted off the coast of Southeastern Alaska. As populations rebound from the "Moby Dick" days of whaling, sperm whale populations appear to be growing. The largest of the toothed whales, females weight about 15 tons, while males weigh up to 45 tons. The best opportunities to see this rare whale is from a luxury liner cruise ship.

Beluga Whales are also known as “white whales” because of the white coloration of the adults (the word “beluga” is derived from the Russian word for white.  Belugas generally occupy shallow, coastal waters, and while some populations make long seasonal migrations, Cook Inlet belugas reside in Cook Inlet year round.  In the spring, Cook Inlet belugas primarily eat hooligan or candlefish), and switch primarily to salmon in the summer. In the fall and winter when salmon numbers are low belugas diversify their diet and spend more time feeding in deeper waters. Most frequently seen from the shore of Cook Inlet, not far from Anchorage, beluga whales may reach 20 feet in length and may live 60 years or more.

Other species:  Baird’s Beaked Whales

Dolphins and Porpoises

Dall's Porpoise live along the southern coast of Alaska and up into the Bering Sea. Passengers on day boats and small ships frequently see these playful creatures swimming alongside the bow, called bow riding. The porpoises, which are Alaska's most common species, usually grow to about 7 feet in length.

Orca (Killer) Whales are considered whales by most people, but they are actually members of the dolphin family. Killer whales are excellent hunters that a wide range of prey, including fish, seals, and big whales such as blue whales.  Killer whales are social animals that live in stable family-related groups and display a high level of care for their offspring.  There are approximately 1000 whales have been individually identified in Alaskan waters through photographs. Males reach 22 feet long while females are about 16 feet. Killer whales breed all year around and calves are born about 8 feet  long.  Killer whales have no natural predators (they are the top predators of the oceans) and can live to about 50-80 years old.  Orcas can been seen through Alaska’s water from the Inside Passage to Prince William Sound and Kenai Fjords.

Other species:  Harbor Porpoise & Pacific Whitesided Dolphins.