Alaska Whale Watching

Humpback whales are among the most iconic whales seen on Alaska cruises. Known for their dramatic breaches and long pectoral fins, humpbacks are frequently spotted throughout the Inside Passage, Prince William Sound, and Glacier Bay during the summer feeding season.

They can remain underwater for up to 30 minutes and may live 80-90 years. Adult humpbacks typically measure 30 to 50 feet long and can weigh up to 40 tons. During peak feeding months, they consume thousands of pounds of fish and krill each day before migrating to warmer waters in winter.

Distinguishing Features
Black body with white throat and belly, long tail flukes with irregular edges, and distinctive knobs on the head and flippers. Frequently breaches and tail-slaps.

Orcas are easily recognized by their striking black-and-white coloring and tall dorsal fins. They are seen throughout Alaska's coastal waters, with especially reliable sightings in western Johnstone Strait and Lynn Canal between Juneau and Skagway.

Highly intelligent and social, orcas travel in close-knit family groups called pods. They are powerful hunters and are known to pursue prey such as salmon and seals, sometimes venturing into shallow waters while feeding.

Distinguishing Features
Bold black-and-white markings and a tall, upright dorsal fin (especially prominent on males). Often visible from afar due to their height above the water.

Beluga whales are often called "sea canaries" due to their wide range of vocalizations. These smaller whales typically travel in pods and are highly social and agile - capable of swimming backward and maneuvering easily in shallow waters.

Belugas are most commonly found along Alaska's Arctic and Bering Sea coastlines, but during summer months they may travel as far south as Cook Inlet and Turnagain Arm, where they are sometimes seen chasing salmon.

Distinguishing Features
Adults are creamy white in color, while calves are born gray or bluish-gray. Belugas lack a dorsal fin and instead have a low ridge along their back, as well as a rounded forehead known as a "melon," used for echolocation.

The bowhead whale is one of the most powerful and cold-adapted whales on Earth. Measuring up to 60 feet long and weighing roughly one ton per foot of length, bowheads are known for their massive heads, which are strong enough to break through sea ice.

Bowheads live primarily near Arctic ice margins and migrate annually through the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas. Each spring, they pass Alaska's North Slope, where Indigenous Inupiat communities continue traditional subsistence hunts.

Distinguishing Features
Exceptionally large head, black body with a white chin, and a distinctive V-shaped blow from twin blowholes. Feeds by skimming plankton near the surface.

Gray whales are baleen whales known for their long coastal migrations and acrobatic behavior. They were once nicknamed "devilfish" by whalers due to their fierce resistance when hunted.

Gray whales often travel alone or in small pods, though large temporary groups may gather in feeding areas. They are capable of deep dives, shallow-water feeding, breaching, and spyhopping - lifting their heads vertically above the water to observe their surroundings.

Distinguishing Features
Dark gray body mottled with white patches and barnacles. The only large whale with an overhanging upper jaw. Frequently spyhops and breaches.

Breaching, lunging, and porpoising
Breaching occurs when a whale leaps partially or fully out of the water before crashing back down. Lunging typically happens during feeding, when a whale surges upward through schools of fish.

Spyhopping
Spyhopping involves a whale rising vertically out of the water to observe boats, shorelines, or other activity above the surface. This behavior allows whales to hold their position and look around.

Lobtailing and slapping
Lobtailing occurs when a whale lifts its tail fluke and slaps it forcefully against the water's surface. Some species also slap their large pectoral fins, producing loud sounds that may be used for communication.

What whales can you see on an Alaska cruise?
The most commonly seen whales on Alaska cruises are humpback whales and orcas (killer whales). Depending on location and season, travelers may also spot gray whales, beluga whales, and bowhead whales.

When is the best time to see whales in Alaska?
The best time for whale watching in Alaska is typically May through September, when many whales migrate north to feed in Alaska's nutrient-rich coastal waters.

Where are humpback whales most commonly seen in Alaska?
Humpback whales are frequently seen in the Inside Passage, Glacier Bay, and Prince William Sound during the summer feeding season.

Can you see orcas on an Alaska cruise?
Yes. Orcas are commonly seen throughout Alaska's coastal waters, and sightings can be especially reliable in areas such as Lynn Canal and western Johnstone Strait.

What whale behaviors can you see in Alaska?
Common whale behaviors include breaching, spyhopping, lobtailing (tail slapping), and lunging during feeding.