Whale and Dolphin Watching Cruise from Cape May

Overview

Join Captain Jeff Stewart and his seasoned crew as your cruise into the Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean for a 3-hour whale and dolphin watching experience. The Delaware Bay Estuary is a sanctuary for many species of marine life, including Humpback whales, Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins, Manta rays, Thresher sharks, Hammerhead sharks, Harbor porpoise, Harbor seals, Northern gannets, Greater shearwaters, Bald Eagles, laughing gulls and a plethora of fish species. This cruise allows for an awesome offshore experience for the family, as well as seasoned adventurers and seafarers alike, and is fully narrated by your captain, who will point out local history along with many types of marine life.
The vessels in the Cape May Whale Watcher fleet, include the 110 foot long Cape May Whale Watcher and the 125 foot long Atlantis. They are the largest of their kind, offering air conditioning and heat, restrooms, upper deck seating and full bars with snacks and libations. They offer max comfort!

City: Cape May

Thu 26 Dec

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $45.00

Make a reservation

Thu 26 Dec

Starting at $45.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Best locations for spotting whales, dolphins, and porpoises

Certified naturalist

Live commentary on board

Parking Fees

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Operates in most weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Please arrive an hour before departure time; boarding starts a half-hour prior to departure
Minimum drinking age is 21 years
Face masks required for travellers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travellers
Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff
Regularly sanitised high-traffic areas
Gear/equipment sanitised between use
Guides required to regularly wash hands
Regular temperature checks for staff

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (522)

mtins

Sep 2011

I had always wanted to try whale watching, so when my husband and I planned our trip to Cape May and found out that they had this excursion available, we decided to try it. We found a Groupon which gave us a buy one, get one deal which made it that much more appealing ($40 total instead of $80). There are 2 whale watching companies located right around the corner from each other, and I don't know the difference, but we were very happy with ours. We arrived early (12:15 for a 1pm trip) but were not able to board until right at 1:00. It is a good idea to try to the front of the line to get the seats that you want. You can sit downstairs under the deck, in the front of the boat or on the top deck. We chose the top for optimal viewing. Captain Stewart was entertaining and well informed. We really enjoyed learning about the history of the area and all about the marine life. He kept it interesting for kids and adults. We were able to view dolphins in the first half hour of our 3 hour excursion, and the captain was a great tour guide as far as pointing them out to us. Before taking this trip, we were told by many people that we would probably not get to see any whales, but as we were finishing up looking at the dolphins, we were told that a whale had been spotted a few miles out. They use a spotter plane to help scout. After a little bit of travel, we got to the spot and the captain found the whale. It was an amazing and beautiful experience. Because there was only one whale and it spent a lot of time underwater, everyone had to be on alert to see it and get pictures. The only issue is that the whale was in the front of the boat and being up top and sitting on a side, we had to lean over the edge and stretch to see it and couldn't get many good shots. Captain Stewart did his best to give us notice when the whale would show, but we had to be on our toes. There was only 1 bathroom for women and 1 for men on board, but they were fairly clean. The drinks and food were reasonably priced, although they did run out of some things. I would suggest taking your own snacks and drinks. Overall, it was a great experience. However, if we hadn't been lucky enough to see the whale, I think 3 hours would have been too long. Captain Stewart was great, and the gift shop that his wife runs had some good finds for great prices. I definitely recommend this experience.

PDoug

Sep 2011

We saw Groupons for this attraction and having gone on whale watch trips a few times in the past decided to buy tickets for the 3 hour trip at half the $40 price. Success! We first went to find dolphins off the Wildwood Crest beach. There were a lot, and we hung around for a bit watching them as they swam and dove all around the ship. The guide (or captain) had a report of a humpback in the area so off we went in search. After a short time we stopped and waited, and before long we saw the spray then the dive and then the tail come up and go under the water. He/she surfaced every 1-1/2 to 2 minutes and we just stayed there watching until it was time to head back. There was another whale watch ship in the area who soon came up alongside us, but we were there FIRST (and therefore the longest). The boat was very clean and the PA system was clear so we could hear what was being said (I'm not sure how many people were paying attention). There was food available although we didn't buy any so I can't comment on the selection or price. Parking was a bit of a hassle on the way out because the cars were stacked up one behind the other. A few of us were waiting for one group in the row to come back to their car but after a while, with some cooperation from other drivers, were able to shimmy out of the spot. I'm not sure what parking alternatives there are but it's possible to get stuck in that lot for a while if someone spends time in the gift shop or decides to take a walk. I rated this 4 instead of 5 because of the parking situation and because there was no announcement that we were leaving the sighting area or that we would only be staying a few minutes longer. We just took off abruptly. I know sightings are many times just a matter of luck, and we were certainly lucky this time. I'd definitely repeat.

Retired2009

Sep 2011

My husband, daughters, and son-in-law went on the 1 pm 3 hr cruise. Since this was post-Irene, i didn't really expect to see many dolphins or whales. Boy was I wrong. We saw dolphins and humpback whales, a sea turtle, ospreys, asnd a bald eagle. If there was a sighting on the left side of the boat, they turned the boat to give the people on the right side of the boat a chance, I will definitely do this again. It was well worth it.