Whale Madness and a Salt Sighting
04.30.2026
A True New England Whale Watching Experience
Trusted by generations of guests since 1983
North of Boston's Best Small Business Award Winner 2025
#1 Ranked Whale Watch in Gloucester Since 2009 on TripAdvisor
#2 On Tripadvisor’s List of "Top Family-Fun in the World" Dec 2023
Welcome Aboard the
Privateer IV
From Historic Gloucester to the Waters of Stellwagen National Marine Sanctuary
Departing just 50 minutes north of Boston, we introduce thousands of passengers each year to the whales and marine wildlife found just miles from our Gloucester dock. Our daily whale watch trips run from mid-April through mid-October, offering an educational and inspiring experience in this remarkable marine sanctuary. Family-owned and operated for four generations, 7 Seas Whale Watch has worked from this very dock for over 70 years. We look forward to welcoming you aboard.
What You Could See on Your Whale Watch
GUARANTEED SIGHTINGS! The productive waters off Massachusetts are home to a variety of species of whales and other marine wildlife. Over our 45+ years in business we have a 99% success rate in finding whales. In the unlikely event you do not see a whale on your trip you will receive a voucher for a FREE whale watch that you can use anytime in the future.
Recent Sightings & Photos
Check out our Facebook feed for the latest sightings, photos, and updates from the water.
Recent Instagram Posts
Explore additional photography and video highlights from our whale watches on Instagram.
Departing from the Heart of Cape Ann
Located on Cape Ann, Gloucester’s historic working harbor provides one of the closest and best departure points for reaching the feeding grounds of Stellwagen Bank.
WHALE SIGHTINGS UPDATE ~ 6/8 ~ Happy World Oceans Day!
Today and this weekend we had some incredible trips on Stellwagen Bank, with HUMPBACK WHALES, SEABIRDS, and GRAY SEALS. I think these photos speak for themselves.
A World Oceans Day story: on Saturday afternoon's trip, we encountered a female humpback whale named Scylla putting on an impressive display of surface activity. Surface activity is rare, so watching her breach and repeatedly slap her flippers was an incredible experience. Then, on Sunday afternoon, our streak of luck continued. Another humpback whale repeatedly breached to end our trip. The whale? Hasselback, one of Scylla's previous calves.
So, on two consecutive days, in different locations, we witnessed rare surface activity from both a mother and her now adult son.
These encounters are a reminder of why healthy oceans matter. They allow whales like Scylla to find food, raise calves, and return year after year. By protecting places like Stellwagen Bank, we help ensure future generations of whales can thrive!
Humpback whales identified:
Spell
Sprinkles
Shuffleboard and calf
Scylla
Hasselback
Tear
Bolide and calf
Arcus
Toboggan
Schism
Colt
Thumper and calf
Milkweed and calf
A-plus and calf
3.14
Pele
Jabiru and calf
Rapier and calf
Firefly and calf
Leonid
Blackhole ... See MoreSee Less
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JUNE 6, 2026 - Afternoon Report
WE SAW A SEA MONSTER THIS AFTERNOON!
"Scylla" is the name given to a legendary sea monster that the Ancient Greeks described as having six heads and sharp teeth.
It is also the name given to a 45-year-old female humpback whale that is amongst the largest and most beloved in our population.
This afternoon our Scylla - not the Greek one, fortunately for us - put on an amazing display of surface activity. Here's the first of many shots of Scylla I will be posting soon. Look close: Her eye is open and she's looking right at us!
Note: For best quality click the "settings" icon (the wheel next to the video timer) and select 720p. Facebook defaults to 360p and it really loses a lot of quality!) ... See MoreSee Less
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JUNE 6, 2026 - Morning Report
A humpback whale named "Shuffleboard" feeding on this morning's trip...😃!!! ... See MoreSee Less
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WHALE SIGHTINGS UPDATE ~ 6/5/26
Some things are worth the wait, and the whales have certainly been that this past week. While the whales continue to feed farther south on Stellwagen Bank, the journey has rewarded us with incredible encounters with HUMPBACK WHALES, ATLANTIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHINS, and GRAY SEALS. We’ve also welcomed the return of shearwaters, which are beginning to make their way into the area.
The calf sightings continue to amaze us, and there’s nothing quite like watching these groups of humpback whales. As always, these animals are free to come and go as they please and could move out of range at any time. That unpredictability is part of what makes every sighting so special. Every trip this season has given us something memorable, and we’re grateful for each moment. We can only hope the magic continues.
Humpback whales identified (so far):
Spell
Sprinkles
3.14
Bowline
Firefly and calf
Toboggan
Arcus
Schism
Leonid
Bolide and calf
Entropy and calf
Jabiru and calf
Milkweed and calf
Tear ... See MoreSee Less
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JUNE 4, 2026
People seemed to like my last video showing Milkweed's calf from both above and below the water so here's another... but this time of Milkweed herself!
Again this is the two clips of the exact same moment on yesterday's trip. Milkweed swam right under our boat and I was able to capture her emerging on the starboard side from the top deck while Gabe filmed her under the water.
Note: One passenger was so impressed he used a bad word (twice) so I had to get creative with the sound editing on this one! ... See MoreSee Less
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JUNE 4, 2026
Milkweed's 2026 has been a joy to watch this Spring. This calf is very playful and curious and often spends as much time watching us as we do her.
On yesterday's trip this calf again engaged in this "Close-to-boat" behavior and decided to approach us. At one point the whale blew a "bubble stream" as it surfaced. We managed to capture this moment on two different cameras. Take a look.... ... See MoreSee Less
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