Witness the return of gray whales to Alaska waters on their annual 10,000 mile migration. Join us for our first tour of the season as we cruise through Resurrection Bay to the Gulf of Alaska in search of wildlife. In addition to gray whales, you may also see Steller sea lions, sea otters, eagles, humpback whales, and orcas.
PRICE
Adult (age 12+): 109.00
Child (age 2-11): $54.50
Infant (under 2): Free
Tax and fees not included in above price.
DATES
March 8 – May 12, 2024
Departing: 12:30 pm
Returning: 4:30 pm
Join us for our first cruise of the season as we search for gray whales on their incredible annual migration. Every year, gray whales migrate over 10,000 miles round-trip between Baja and the Bering and Chukchi Seas – the longest migration route of any mammal. These whales begin migrating north in late February and arrive in Alaska in the spring, spending the summer feeding in shallow Arctic waters before migrating south in mid-October. They deliver their calves in the warm, protected lagoons off the coast of Baja in the winter.
Our Spring Wildlife Cruise takes you through Resurrection Bay to the edge of the Gulf of Alaska in search of our returning visitors. In addition to gray whales, watch for Steller sea lions, sea otters, Dall’s porpoises, harbor seals, bald eagles, and other whales including humpbacks and orcas. Occasionally, you will see mountain goats with their newly born kids and black bears foraging along the coastline of Resurrection Bay. This tour is fully narrated by our experienced, knowledgeable captains.
ROUTE HIGHLIGHTS:
– Resurrection Bay
– Bear Glacier (piedmont glacier, visibility weather permitting)
– Cape Resurrection
– Gulf of Alaska
– Bird Rookery
– Steller Sea Lion Haul Out
– Thumb Cove and Humpy Cove
– El Dorado Narrows
Route may vary depending on weather and wildlife.
Will I see gray whales on this tour?
The main focus of this cruise is to see gray whales on their migration from Baja to the Bering and Chuchki seas. While we cannot guarantee whale sightings, our captains do their best to maximize your chances of seeing whales. This cruise travels through Resurrection Bay to search for gray whales along their migration route in the Gulf of Alaska. On average, we see whales on 60% of our Gray Whale Watching Cruises, including gray whales, humpback whales, and orca whales. This cruise provides the unique opportunity to view a whale species that is only in the area for a short time in the spring.
Will I see puffins on this cruise?
This cruise runs in the spring, before the puffins have migrated back to the area for the summer. Puffins typically return to the area in May, so you may see them on the Spring Wildlife Cruises that depart in May. However, there are opportunities to see other wildlife on this cruise including whales, Steller sea lions, harbor seals, sea otters, mountain goats, bears, and other seabirds.
Is a meal included on this cruise?
No, there is no meal included on this cruise. We have a snack bar onboard, and you are more than welcome to bring your own food with you. Glass containers and personal alcohol are not permitted.
What should I bring for this tour?
Spring temperatures in Alaska can be cold, particularly on the water. Though our vessels have heated cabins, we urge you to dress in warm, waterproof layers and bring a hat and gloves so you can spend time on the outer decks, where you will get the best, up-close views of wildlife and scenery.
We took advantage of the spring package so we got a fabulous deal on the gray whale tour. We saw a gray whale and calf, a pod of orcas (that came right up to our boat!), porpoises and lots of other wildlife. The crew made the trip fun with their narration. We felt at ease the whole time and really enjoyed ourselves. Thank you Major Marine, we will be back again!
Akmom16 / TripAdvisor
Otters, sea birds, porpoise, whales and more…this day was exactly what we needed this afternoon. The rain made for a dramatic and magical backdrop to the day. Thank you to our guide, Justin and Captain Chris for spotting wildlife!! My first time seeing the gray whale migration. Our group was also able to identify a humpback (EVOS-JRM-20130411-081) who is now warmly names Sam. WE will be back next April!!
We did the 4 hour cruise in early May. The crew and captain were fantastic. They were very knowledgeable and eager to show us as much wildlife as possible. We would definitely do another cruise with Major Marine Tours next time we’re in Seward!
haaayleeey / TripAdvisor
