Will I see whales from my cruise ship?
Will I see whales from my cruise ship? You'll find whale-watching excursions on offer in every port, but you'll also, with luck, see marine mammals from the ship. The bridge officers keeping extra watch will make an announcement if there's a particularly impressive pod in the vicinity.
What is the best month to see orcas in Alaska?
By May, we start to see more orcas, then humpback whales come June. Alaska's peak whale season is considered to be May through September, and it's during this time that the boat tours operate.
How do cruises avoid whales?
For cruise ships, avoiding a whales requires that the captain, pilot, or other bridge personnel detect the whale at a sufficiently large enough distance to change course or speed. This often means detecting the whale several kilometers away.
What are the odds of seeing a whale on a whale watching tour?
While most outfits guarantee a 90 percent chance of a spotting a whale, you might consider booking an extra trip if it's at the top of your bucket list. Some companies offer a complimentary outing if your trip ends sans sighting—check out the policy before booking.
What month are whales most active in Alaska?
Gray whales are the first to arrive, typically in April when they're often spotted off of Seward. By May, we start to see more orcas, then humpback whales come June. Alaska's peak whale season is considered to be May through September, and it's during this time that the boat tours operate.
Do whales stay away from cruise ships?
Their findings were fascinating; the blue whales showed little active avoidance of oncoming ships. When in close proximity, none of the whales studied appeared to move away from the ships.
What happens if a cruise hits a whale?
Collisions with vessels can be fatal. When a whale or sea turtle is hit by a ship or another vessel, these gentle creatures are likely to die or suffer a horrific injury. Ship collisions have been identified as a significant human cause of baleen whales (mysticete) mortality [1].
Which Alaska cruise port is best for whale watching?
The best whale watching ports of call are typically Juneau, Icy Strait Point, and Sitka in Alaska, and Victoria, British Columbia in Canada.
Do cruise ships attract sharks?
The large shape and vibration of the ships seem to intrigue sharks, and they are thus highly attracted to it. Sharks may swim alongside the cruise ship out of curiosity or to see what is inside the ship- bear in mind that sharks may not have the same visual abilities as human beings.
Are you guaranteed to see whales?
Despite what ANY whale watch company may claim, you can never really guarantee how many whales will be seen, or even if any whales will be seen, when you go whale watching. You can guarantee a free return ticket (aka “rain check”) if you don't see a whale, but you can't guarantee the whales themselves.
What happens if you are on a cruise ship during a tsunami?
Experts agree that a cruise ship sailing out over a body of water is not likely to feel any impacts from a tsunami's waves. “Generally, if you're in deep ocean, there's no way that you can perceive a tsunami from a ship,” Heaton said.
Can a whale tip over a cruise ship?
A whale could not tip over a cruise ship. Although even the largest of blue whales can weigh up to 200 tonnes, the largest cruise ships can weigh up to 220,000 or more. Some cruise ships would carry ten times more freshwater or fuel than the weight of even the largest whales.