Whale Watch Trip Description
7 Seas Whale Watch is located at Harbor Cove in the heart of historic downtown Gloucester, MA. As soon as you board the Privateer IV you will be surrounded by the sights and sounds of Gloucester's working waterfront. You may see fishing boats that have just returned from sea taking out fish, lobstermen baiting and setting their traps, and perhaps even some of our indigenous wildlife such as Harbor Seals, Common Eiders (a beautiful black, white and green sea duck), Double Crested Cormorants, and of course you will hear the calls of the ubiquitous "seagulls" (Herring, Great Black-backed, and Ring-billed Gulls).
Shortly before leaving the dock your naturalist will give a short presentation to familiarize you with the area that we will be traveling to and the whale species we are likely to encounter.
Then it's time to cast off the mooring lines and get underway. As we make our way through the harbor your naturalist will point out the historic buildings and landmarks of Gloucester and tell some of talk of some of the maritime lore surrounding this world famous seaport.
We will sail right past the Cape Pond Ice company where you may see fishing boats loading up with tons of fresh-water crushed ice used to pack the fish that they catch in to keep the fish fresh on the long trip home. You will the US coast guard station, the Sea Jacket Marine Paint Factory (a nationally registered historic landmark for the role it played in Gloucester's fishing past), Ten Pound Island, Hammond Castle, Eastern Point Lighthouse and the Dog Bar Breakwater as well as commanding views of Gloucester's skyline.
This tour of Gloucester harbor is an often overlooked part of a whale watch departing from Gloucester and that's why 7 Seas makes it a priority to share some of city's sites and history with our passengers.
After passing the Dog Bar at the harbor's entrance we will make our way off shore. The exact direction that we travel depends, of course, on where the greatest concentration of whales has been sighted over the past few days. Our experienced captains (the most experienced whale watch captains on Cape Ann with over 60 years of combined whale watching experience) will take into account all variables to make sure you see the best of what your particular day on the water has to offer.
The trip out to the whales usually takes between 45 minutes to a little over an hour depending on the location of the whales. Remember that you will be traveling aboard the Privateer IV: the newest and the most comfortable high-speed whale watching vessel in Gloucester and we trust that your trip out the whale's feeding ground will be an enjoyable part of your trip.
Once we arrive on the feeding grounds we will spend approximately 1.5 hours with the whales. Your onboard naturalist will provide valuable insight into the lives of the whales you see as well as behaviors that you witness. We believe that our experienced team of naturalists and the information they impart during your time with the whales will greatly add to your experience and hopefully give you a deeper appreciation of the whales you see and the unique marine environment that we are ALL so privileged to be visiting.
While at times all of the whales are concentrated in one area (indicating that area is heavily laden with fish) at other times the whales may be more spread out. We DO NOT simply stop on the first whales we see and watch them for the entire trip! We make every effort to visit with many different whales (and different species of whales) to show you as much as possible during your time on the water.
It is important to remember that going on a whale watch is a lot like going on a safari. The animals that we see are not captive animals in the confines of a zoo or an aquarium, nor are they trained to perform "tricks" for our amusement. They are WILD and often ENDANGERED animals that are free to roam the ocean at will. This means that they may move many miles in the course of a day as they seek out the most productive areas of the ocean to feed. Thus we never know exactly where they will be, what species we will see, or what activities they will be engaged in. The unpredictability of the trip is part of the fun!
Given the productivity of the region and the fact that we have seen whales on OVER 99% of our whale watches during the past 26 years, chances are very good that you will see whales!
After our time with the whales has ended we will begin our journey a back to Gloucester. During the trip home your naturalist will be available to help answer any questions you may have about the whales or their environment, or to expand upon any of the topics discussed while viewing the whales. Again, our naturalists are the most experienced in Gloucester and have studied whales not just here in New England, but also in Alaska, Antarctica, Hawaii, Florida, Australia and New Zealand! Please take advantage of the opportunity to learn directly from some of the most knowledgeable whale biologists in the world.
We hope that this description of what a whale watch with 7 Seas entails has whetted your appetite for whale watching. Visitors to Gloucester have the rare opportunity to visit with some of the rarest animals on Earth in their natural habitat. It is an experience not to be missed and sure to be a highlight of your New England vacation!
