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We were thrilled to witness a group of humpback whales breaching and splashing around just a few feet from the boat, making it a truly up-close encounter with these majestic creatures. If you’re looking for a unique way to connect with the marine animals at the Aquarium, consider adding an Animal Encounter to your visit. Please purchase tickets before your visit to guarantee entry. While a limited number of tickets are available on-site every day when we open, the Aquarium frequently sells out. Sign up to learn how you can connect, protect, and explore the blue planet with us. See Boston’s top 4 attractions, handpicked and packaged together at a 45% savings, with CityPASS®.
What do whales eat?
This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. With the option to depart from the Aquarium, world famous Boston Duck Tours are a convenient and fun way to learn about the city of Boston. The 80-minute tour will guide you through Boston’s many historical landmarks and unique neighborhoods—from land and sea. The science we conduct through our dedicated research arm informs all of our work to protect the blue planet.
Boston-area Whale Watches
Join us on an unforgettable whale watch adventure as we set sail towards the Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary, a bountiful feeding ground for magnificent whales, dolphins, sea birds, and other marine creatures. With expert New England Aquarium naturalists guiding the way, you'll witness the awe-inspiring behaviors of humpback, finback, and minke whales, making it a once-in-a-lifetime experience. A chance to see acrobatic humpback whales, as well as finback, pilot, minke, and critically endangered right whales, along with white-sided dolphins and seabirds. Sail to Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, a rich feeding ground for whales, dolphins, sea birds, and other marine creatures. Stellwagen is home to many species of large whales, including humpbacks, finbacks, minkes, and the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale. Naturalists onboard will share knowledge and answer questions.
Premier Brunch Cruise in Boston
Unused Experience Vouchers can be returned within 30 days for a full refund to the original purchaser, no questions asked. After purchase, you can request your preferred dates and times by following the instructions in the email you receive. If it's a gift, the recipient will also get an email with booking instructions. Members visit the Aquarium for free, not to mention member discounts and access to exclusive experiences. Check here for the answers to visitors’ most commonly asked questions. These policies were created to ensure a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for our visitors, Aquarium team members, and animals.
Our exhibits offer a window into the many ways we’re devoted to sustaining our blue planet and the bounty of life that lives there. Learn more about the offers and discounts available towards Aquarium admission. The New England Aquarium is proud to partner with the City of Boston to welcome Boston Public Schools (BPS) students and their families on the first and second Sunday of each month in 2024. Learn more about the BPS Sundays and other offers and discounts. Visitors using wheelchairs and visitors with visual impairments are welcome at the Aquarium free of charge. Learn more about the Aquarium’s commitment to accessibility.
There are thousands of aquatic animals to visit at the Aquarium—from the African penguins to Myrtle the green sea turtle and the California sea lions. Here are a few of the animals that await you at the New England Aquarium. I highly recommend the New England Aquarium Whale Watch Cruise to anyone visiting the area. The vessel was comfortable, the crew was friendly and knowledgeable, and the opportunity to observe a mother and calf pair of endangered right whales left us in awe of the wonders of nature.
Our exhibits and educational experiences promote discovery and instill a sense of wonder for ocean animals and habitats—no matter the size or age range of your group. Visitors are invited to enjoy daily presentations in the Marine Mammal Center, at the top of the Giant Ocean Tank, or at the Harbor Seal Exhibit. Watch our penguin aquarists feed the penguins daily and ask questions about our animals and their habitat. Please confirm times at the Information Desk upon arrival. And then some species, like the humpback, they have those big, long flippers and big round stomach.
About 15,000 years ago, glaciers produced a big cut of sandy kind of plateau under the water and that creates something called upwelling. So nutrients get rushed up to the surface and then you mix it with sunlight. There’s a lot of nutrients in cold water, which the Gulf of Maine — that’s the general area where we are — has. So that creates the perfect ecosystem for other prey to come. Stellwagen Bank is a great place for them to find that food.
Boston Whale Watching Guide
We also see different species of toothed whales, so Atlantic white-sided dolphins, occasionally common dolphins, harbor porpoises, and seals as well. As passengers make their way to the sanctuary, they can capture views of marine life on one of the boat’s three viewing decks. The interior cabin also allows visitors to rest in a climate-controlled area. A snack bar, featuring hot pretzels, popcorn, fruit, and beverages, is also available. Boats do not go out in high seas, so keep an eye on the forecast. If you’re hoping to see some whales while visiting New England, let the experts on our list of Boston whale watching tours be your guide.
Presented in partnership with Boston Harbor City Cruises, New England Aquarium Whale Watches set sail to Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, a rich feeding ground for whales, dolphins, sea birds, and other marine animals. Naturalists onboard will share knowledge, answer your questions, and explain the fascinating behaviors of the animals you see. The crew's expertise and passion for marine life shone through as they provided informative commentary, and we were lucky enough to spot a playful pod of dolphins alongside the breathtaking whale sightings.
They have to lift their tail out of the water when they dive, so we call that fluking. So you almost always see the fluke of the humpback as they dive. But you will see them lift their back and arch that out of the water. We asked Howes everything folks need to know about going on a whale watch. There are many opportunities for whale watching across Massachusetts, in destinations such as Boston, Cape Cod, Gloucester, New Bedford, Newburyport, and Plymouth, she said. About 1 million people go whale watching each year across New England, according to Laura Howes, top naturalist for New England Aquarium Whale Watch in partnership with Boston Harbor City Cruises.
No refunds are allowed once the experience is booked, but you can reschedule up to 48 hours before your experience, for a date within a year of the original booking. To reschedule, contact the experience provider directly. No-shows or rescheduling less than 48 hours in advance means losing the value of your experience. The Aquarium is committed to maintaining an inclusive and welcoming environment for all visitors.
Check out the discount for choosing ocean-friendly transportation and other ways to save. Review and print a PDF version of the Aquarium map before your next visit. With four levels of exhibits, there is always something new to explore.
We strongly recommend purchasing your tickets in advance to guarantee entry for tomorrow onward, as we do sell out on weekends and during school vacation weeks. Embark on an exciting whale watch adventure at Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary, guided by New England Aquarium naturalists. Witness the majestic humpback, finback, and minke whales alongside playful dolphins and graceful sea birds, making it a truly unforgettable experience. Book your tickets in advance to ensure entry since weekends and holidays often sell out! Choose tickets for Aquarium admission, a film at Simons Theatre, a whale watch cruise, or a combination.
“As an ocean conservation organization, we are focused not only on protecting marine animals and habitats, but also with encouraging everyone who uses our ocean to do so in a responsible way. In the springtime, we do occasionally see the North Atlantic right whale. They’re federally protected, so we stay 500 yards away from them just to give them extra space.
To Do Today: New England Aquarium Whale Watch - Boston University
To Do Today: New England Aquarium Whale Watch.
Posted: Mon, 25 Jul 2022 19:36:43 GMT [source]
Visit the attractions at your own pace, in any order, over 9-days. One easy purchase and mobile ticket delivery saves you time and money. Sentiments from community members eager to provide a resilient and inclusive waterfront will be on display as part of the Voices of the Waterfront photo exhibition. The free outdoor exhibit, presented in partnership with the Coalition for a Resilient and Inclusive Waterfront, showcases 27 large-scale photos of people working together to access Boston Harbor and area waterways.
