Whale watching: Hawaii in the winter or Alaska in the summer?

[Laz]

I need some advice on when and where to vacation in order to do some whale watching. I have been to Hawaii during the summer a few times, so I know the islands fairly well. I was thinking of taking an Alaska cruise that would include opportunities for whale watching. For either Hawaii or Alaska, which month(s) are the best? Thanks for your help!

 

[ronandannette]

I need some advice on when and where to vacation in order to do some whale watching. I have been to Hawaii during the summer a few times, so I know the islands fairly well. I was thinking of taking an Alaska cruise that would include opportunities for whale watching. For either Hawaii or Alaska, which month(s) are the best? Thanks for your help!

Here's a thought - consider Mexico's Baja region in the winter/early spring. I've gone on whale-watching tours in both Alaska and Canada (off Vancouver Island) and while the whales were active in late summer, regulations and industry standards require the touring crafts to stay quite far away from them. I have read many reviews that say the standards are different in Mexico and the experience of being closer is very exhilarating.

 

[Mortlives]

I vote for Hawaii.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Could you go on web-sites like tripadvisor, and look at lots of photos of whale watching at the different destinations..
Remember, that most of the good photos might have been taken with some real high-power quality zoom lenses.

We have been to Hawaii in the Spring (no whale watching), and Alaska in the Spring.
We were on Kauai, and while I have heard reports of seeing whales right from shore during seasn, and good whale watching, I am not sure.
We went whale watching out of Juneau (on the Scania)
This is in Auke Bay.

In our one experience, the boat was quite some distance from the whales. (I def. think he could have moved us a bit closer)
We saw a mother and a baby/juvenile, active in the water.
A couple of other whales.. one breached!!! But I was on one side of the boat and didn't really catch all of it. (should have been up on top with 360'!!!)
And we saw a couple of whales that were feeding close to the shore, going for tiny fish that must tend to follow the shore line.
These were the ones that we just happened to be closer too, by chance.
They were not working together to bubble-net... but were going under, blowing clouds of bubbles, and then scooping up the fish. But, without really breaching. Just surfacing.

If your huge priority is whale watching, I am not sure which might be best.
But, if you have been to Hawaii, and not Alaska, I tend to say 'experience Alaska'.

Happy planning!

 

[xlxo]

Hawaii has Dengue..... Alaska's mosquitos are Zika free.

Hawaii offers Aulani. Alaska has the DCL Wonder. Don't know if the Wonder is returning to Hawaii in the coming years...

 

[Wishing on a star]

Love DCL!!!!

They do not offer the itineraries you need in Alaska.
They do not have Permits for Glacier Bay.

For Alaska, we chose another line, a one way North/South Itinerary... and saw everything from Anchorage, College Fjord, Hubbard Glacier, Glacier Bay, etc...

 

[sonnyjane]

Here's a thought - consider Mexico's Baja region in the winter/early spring. I've gone on whale-watching tours in both Alaska and Canada (off Vancouver Island) and while the whales were active in late summer, regulations and industry standards require the touring crafts to stay quite far away from them. I have read many reviews that say the standards are different in Mexico and the experience of being closer is very exhilarating.

Choose responsibly. The rules may be different, but operators should still be responsible and keep the safety of their passengers and the whales in mind. A woman died last year because her boat was speeding and struck a whale, causing an impact that forced her to hit her head (it was never reported what happened to the whale.)

For Alaska, you want June through September. September is the tail end, but I still saw at least 20 humpbacks then. July and August would be peak feeding with a chance of seeing lunge-feeding.

For Hawaii, you want late December through April. I've still seen them there in early May, but wouldn't count on that. Maui is the island best in the path but I've seen them from Kauai as well. If you want to see babies especially, wait until a little later (Feb to April).

Both places have great chances of seeing whales but are very different. Do both if you can!

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

I've seen whales in Maui in early December, late December and February. This year the whales were late arriving so not many in December. You can even see them from shore many times as they are in abundance during whale season.

I've also whale watched off Boston Harbour in late August with great results although the waters are much rougher and there were many people getting seasick.

I will always pick Maui no matter what the travel question is!

 

[DisneyOma]

Here's a thought - consider Mexico's Baja region in the winter/early spring. I've gone on whale-watching tours in both Alaska and Canada (off Vancouver Island) and while the whales were active in late summer, regulations and industry standards require the touring crafts to stay quite far away from them. I have read many reviews that say the standards are different in Mexico and the experience of being closer is very exhilarating.

Winter in Mexico is the breeding/birthing time for whales, and I'm horrified that the tourist standards are lacking in Mexico. Jerks. I hope the whales take down a few boats that get too close.

 

[nkereina]

I can't speak to whale watching in particular, but the best time for an Alaskan cruise (IMO) is June. You also won't have to contend with winter travel weather with delays, etc.

 

[mrsv98]

Hawaii from Dec to May has amazing whale watching. Maui is the best, especially the west side. The mama humpback whales come to give birth to their calves in the Maui basin, the triangle between Maui, Molokai and Lanai. I have spent many a morning and late afternoon watching whales right from the beach. Boats and other watercraft cannot approach the whales (of course there had to be jerks who would harass them so now there are heavy fines) but if their engines are off, the whales can come up to them. I have had the fun of "meeting" several curious babies who have come to inspect the boat. It is also amazing to watch the mamas teach their babies behaviors. There isn't anything much cooler than watching a massive humpback breech and then seeing a little copycat have a go!

 

[sonnyjane]

Winter in Mexico is the breeding/birthing time for whales, and I'm horrified that the tourist standards are lacking in Mexico. Jerks. I hope the whales take down a few boats that get too close.

There are US operators just as bad. Yes there are regulations but there is virtually NO enforcement here in US. Avoid operators that advertise "getting closer to the whales than other boats". The rules are the same for every single vessel, even kayaks.

 

[jdb in AZ]

A lot of it is luck. At Christmas time we saw a whale breaching off Maui as we enjoyed breakfast on the patio of our beachfront hotel. We also saw a mom and calf swimming through the clear water when we were flightseeing.

The most whales we've seen were off Cabo in April. The captains of the whale watching boats keep in radio contact with each other, and let each other know when they see something. Which causes a lot of boats to converge on the area and limits the vantage point. I didn't see any of the boats try to get too close.

A minkee whale played with our whale-watching boat off the coast of Boston. It kept swimming back and forth under the boat. No, the captain was not chasing it. As mentioned above, we also found the water to be quite choppy and a lot of people were seasick.

Several RCCL cruises visit Icy Strait Point in Alaska, which is a major feeding ground for the whales in the summer, tho we didn't see as many as we would have liked. Again, it's a matter of luck. The whales don't sign appearance contracts. As soon as our whale watching boat returned to the dock we saw a whale swimming just off shore.

 

[roseaster]

I can't speak for Alaska, or an Alaskan cruise, though we have looked into it. I did realize that you need to pick your cruise line accordingly because not all go into Glacier Bay.

We went whale watching in Hawaii. The Big Island.

This is the company we used. They came recommended to us and it was incredible. We went in February, BTW.

http://www.ilovewhales.com/

 

[MariMama]

Hawaii has Dengue..... Alaska's mosquitos are Zika free.

Hawaii offers Aulani. Alaska has the DCL Wonder. Don't know if the Wonder is returning to Hawaii in the coming years...

Hawaii and Alaska have SO much more to offer than a disney resort and ship.

 

[xlxo]

Hawaii and Alaska have SO much more to offer than a disney resort and ship.

I agree... however being this forum, I posted those two highlights for mouse seekers and pixie dust snorters.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Here..... How about AUSTRALIA!
www.yahoo.com/news/rare-white-whale-migaloo-sighted-off-australia-090333481.html

 

[sonnyjane]

Here..... How about AUSTRAILIA!
www.yahoo.com/news/rare-white-whale-migaloo-sighted-off-australia-090333481.html

I love Migaloo!!

 

[mnrose]

No decision for me. Maui in Jan or Feb. Easy to see right from shore. And, snorkeling with the whales calling is unfriggen believable. Amazing. Can't do that in Alaska in any month.

 

[Dancind]

I've done both, and both tours were fascinating. Depends on what you want to see. In Hawaii, the humpbacks and their babies might put on a show for you. They are playful, and breaching. We followed a Mom and calf for a while and they were really active.

In Alaska, they are feeding. No breaching. The boat captain found a large group bubble feeding and we stopped nearby. The whales headed in our direction, some went under the boat. That was exciting! Lots of tails. Another group from our ship saw a pod of orcas eat a group of seals sunning on a buoy. Quite a thrill, but not sad we missed it.