Will I see whales on a Norwegian Cruise?


Will I see whales on a Norwegian Cruise? There are many locations around the world where whale watching is possible, and the migration patterns of the whales luckily coincide with the migration pattern of our fleet of Norwegian cruise ships. That means there are plenty of options for whale watching shore excursions on Norwegian cruises around the world.


Which whale would I most likely see on a whale watch cruise?

HUMPBACK WHALES: Common (seen on 75-99% of trips) They range in size anywhere from 35 up to 60 feet in length when fully grown (males are usually slightly smaller than females).


What if a cruise ship 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].


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.


How do cruise ships avoid hitting whales?

It uses data from its specialized high-tech buoys, satellites and entries on a whale-watching app to predict the presence of whales in shipping lanes — warning the companies in near-real time so they can voluntarily slow down to 10 knots, a speed set by a federal agency shown to significantly reduce the risk of fatal ...


Who has the best whale watching?

The best destinations in the world for whale watching
  • Baja California Sur, Mexico. ...
  • Hermanus, Western Cape, South Africa. ...
  • Hudson Bay, Manitoba, Canada. ...
  • St Lawrence Marine Park, Saguenay, Quebec, Canada. ...
  • St. ...
  • Mirissa, Sri Lanka. ...
  • Kaikoura, South Island, New Zealand. ...
  • North Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA.


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.


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.


Do whale watching boats bother whales?

Boat-based whale watching exposes whales and dolphins to underwater noise, as well as the risk of injury from collision with the boat's hull or propeller19,20. The presence of boats can distract the animals from important behaviours like resting, socializing or feeding1,3,21.