Whale watching cruises are watching the whale in their natural habitat, regardless if it is off the cruise ship or the shores. Whale watching is done for recreation, scientific or educational reasons, and is mainly a commercial activity worth approximately $1 billion annually. The whale watching cruises may last anywhere from one hour to fourteen days, so the choice is up to the viewer. The excursion boats are not the only vessels that offer a whale watching cruise, as fishing boats, sea kayaks, motorized rafts, fishing boats, or sailboats. Whatever method is chosen, more than one whale watching cruise is needed, as each one is different.

Whales are worth waiting for, as they do not appear instantaneously when wanted, but appear when they want to. Binoculars are needed, even with the size of the whale which is a range from 45 to 90 or 100 feet, weighing as much as 1.5 tons per foot. It is said that blue whales weigh as much as 32 elephants, which helps explain the size better. But there will be a possibility that a close whale will spray when he hits the water, so getting wet should not be an issue. But while waiting, wearing some sunscreen will protect from the sun and reflection off the water if done in the summer, otherwise gloves

The Alaska whale watching is popular as the whale’s annual trek is between Alaska and Mexico. Specific whales, such as the gray whales, seem to enjoy the coast of Oregon, Washington, and western Canada—staying there for a year or so while the rest of them migrate up the coast to Alaska. The Alaska whale watching cruise is the peak of the watching in addition to the end of their northern migration, but also the Hawaiian whale watching cruises deluxe, Maui whale watching cruises, and the Hawaiian whale watching cruises eco adventure are pluses in the commercial excursions for whale watching. The Eco Tours in Maui are especially popular as the profits go to support the Pacific Whale Foundation’s educational program, in addition to protecting the whales, dolphin, and other marine life.

But whale watching is an adventure few travelers get to see unless a special point is made to do so, and whether this is in a whale watching cruise Hawaii or a whale watching cruise Alaska really doesn’t matter. It is the watching of these magnificent sea creatures that takes a person into another reality of nature, and that one will never forget.