Whale Watching in Alaska's Kenai Fjords
Imagine coasting along in the breathtaking Kenai Fjords National Park.. Gazing over the beautiful horizon only to spot the exhilarating sign of whales . . . that white saltwater spray that can only mean you are in the company of one of the most magnificent mammals known to man. Breathe in the fresh air from the deck of one of our comfortable touring boats and listen as the National Park Ranger explains the dynamic habits of Humpback and Orca whales. Enjoy watching as they swim and breach around our tour boat, from either the observation deck or within one of our spacious and heated cabins. With Major Marine Tours, you are sure to have a comfortable and exciting experience you won’t soon forget!
What makes Alaska whale watching so spectacular?
It's the experience of drifting among the world's largest mammals, observing their behavior. Like all mammals, whales breathe air into lungs, making it easy to spot them on the surface of the water. Perhaps the most desired behavior to view is breaching and lunging. Breaching is defined as a leap out of the water, which requires a tremendous amount of power for a whale. Lunging is similar to breaching, where less than half of the whale clears the surface of the water. Some experts state that breaching or lunging can be part of the feeding habits of whales, used in conjunction with bubble feeding. However, other's have observed this behavior as simple playfulness. Spyhopping is another "curious" behavior. Spyhopping is the act of sticking a whale's head out of the water to examine it's surroundings above the surface. In essence, they are watching you! Finally, lobtailling and slapping are another behavior that can be seen on an Alaska whale watching cruise. Lobtailling is when a whale will lift their tail fluke out of the water and then slap it down on the surface, often repeated several times. Slapping is when a whale will lay on it's side at the surface and use it's fins or flippers to slap the surface of the water. While we cruise throughout Alaska's Kenai Fjords, keep your eyes open and your camera ready, you just may get the whale watching experience of a lifetime.
 Orca Whale Breaching
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 Humpack Whale Lobtailling
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 Humback Whale Slapping
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Humpbacks, an endangered species with an estimated world population of only 5-7.5 thousand, as well as Orcas (Killer Whales), a member of the dolphin family, are the two most common types of whales spotted while whale watching in Seward, Alaska. Find great information about whales and the Kenai Fjords in the remarkable 47 page, full color, Kenai Fjord National Park Guide, that Major Marine Tours is proud to offer absolutely free to all adult passengers.
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Humpback Whales
(Megaptera novaeangliae) Likely to see on Kenai Fjords Half-Day and Full-Day cruises. The giant Humpback Whale, well-known for its spectacular breaching, is very common in Alaskan waters. Weighing up to 40 tons, they feed mainly on plankton and krill and can consume as much as one ton per day. Although it’s possible to see Humpback Whales year round in Alaska most migrate to the warmer waters of Hawaii where reproduction occurs and their young are born. This migration takes approximately 4 to 8 weeks and spans nearly 3,500 miles. During springtime, and after a long Hawaiian winter, Humpbacks migrate back to Alaska where food, due to extra hours of sunlight for photosynthesis, is abundant. Humbpack whales are baleen whales, using horny fringed plates like a hairy curtain to filter small food from the nutrient rich Alaskan waters instead of teeth. They commonly use a practice called bubble feeding to corale small fish into a cylinder like formation and then approach from below with their mouth open. Best Viewing Time: May-September Peak Viewing Time: Mid-June - Mid-August |
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Killer Whales
(Orcinus orca) Likely to see on Kenai Fjords Half-Day and Full-Day cruises. Often called Killer Whales, Orcas are the largest member of the dolphin family and have no natural predators. These 15- to 30- foot sea mammals weigh up to 10 tons, have 3-6ft. dorsal fins and are able to swim at speeds of up to 30 mph. Orcas generally travel in pods, however, unlike Humpbacks, they do not display any regular migration patterns. Instead, movement is spurred by excess ice coverage or the need for a better food supply. The diet of the Orca Whale is incredibly varied and on any given day could consist of fish, squid, porpoise, seals, birds or other animals. There are three main classifications of Orcas, offshore, resident and transient. These groups are determined by the highly distinct black and white markings and tall dorsal fins that make each Orca unique. Best Viewing Time: Year-Around |
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Gray Whales
(Eschrichtius robustus) Likely to see on Kenai Fjords Full-Day cruise. Gray whales are similar to Humpack whales with their migrating habits. The east Pacific Gray whales migrate between Baja California and the Bering and Chukchi seas each year, a distance of over 10,000 miles round-trip, that will take a total of six months to complete. They will deliver their calves in the warm, protected lagoons off the coast of Baja. Newborn Gray whales weigh approximately 1,500 pounds and adults can weigh between 16-45 tons and reach 36 - 50 feet in length. Gray whales are the only baleen whales that are mainly bottom feeders. They will lay on their sides on the ocean floor sucking up the sediment, which the baleen will filter out the food. Gray whales were considered "devil-fish" by whalers because they would sometimes attack their boats to protect their young. Best Viewing Time: Spring & Fall Peak Viewing Time: April & October |
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Blue Whales
(Balaenoptera musculus) Likely to see on Kenai Fjords Full-Day cruise. Blue whales are the largest living animals on earth. In the nothern hemisphere, Blue whales can reach between 75-80 feet, slightly smaller than the blue whales found in the southern hemisphere which can reach up to 100 feet. They are a member of a group of whales called rorquals, which are different from other baleen whales by having long grooves located along the throat that act like pleats, which can expand with water when feeding. Other members of the rorquals include the Humpback, Fin, Sei, and Byrdes whale. Blue whales can be seen in every ocean across the world. They migrate between warmer wintering grounds and colder feeding grounds during the summer. Blue whales are mostly found around the edges of continental shelves and rarely seen near the coastal Alaskan waters. Best Viewing Time: May - September |
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Fin Whales
(Balaenoptera physalus) Likely to see on Kenai Fjords Full-Day cruise. Fin whales, also known as Finback whales, are the second largest mammals and among the fastest of all whales, capable of speeds up to 23 mph. They can be found in all the oceans, migrating from the warm waters during the winter to the colder waters during the summers. Like all baleen whales, they feed on small shrimp-like creatures called krill and other small fish. Fin whales prefer the open ocean, and generally travel alone, although pods of 5-6 have been seen together. Best Viewing Time: May - September |
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Minke Whales
(Balaenoptera acutorostrata) Likely to see on Kenai Fjords Half-Day and Full-Day cruises. Minke whales are the second smallest baleen whale, about half the size of a Humpback whale, and the most abundant baleen whales in the world. They can be found in both the northern and southern hemispheres. The adult Minke whale will grow to about 25-30 feet in length, and can weigh 4-5 tons. Minke whales generally travel alone, or in small pods of 2-3 whales. They are quiet, shy and slow moving. Minke whales are frequently inquisitive and will indulge in "human-watching" or spyhopping, and are less likely to breach. Best Viewing Time: May - September |
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Visit our
Photos & Videos page to experience more whales.
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Gray Whale, Blue Whale, Fin Whale, and Minke Whale are sighted less frequently in the Kenai Fjords,
however, are present at different times throughout the summer.
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Come Whale Watching in Alaska's Kenai Fjords Today!
While we can't guarantee you'll see whales on every cruise, this guide will help you plan your own Alaska whale watching tour. Call our national toll-free cruise reservation line to find out how the Alaskan whale watching season is going and what whales have recently been seen. Relax and enjoy everything the awe-inspiring Kenai Fjords National Park and Major Marine Tours have to offer on a Seward Alaska whale watching cruise!
