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.
OCTOBER 3, 2026
From this morning's whale watch: When a Great Shearwater nearly gets taken out by a breaching whale (Thumper's calf)... ...
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OCTOBER 1 and 2, 2026
Oh, October, we’re only two days in, and you’ve already been remarkable!
Our trips over the past couple of days have taken us to the southern end of Stellwagen Bank, where whales and seabirds continue to gather in great numbers. It’s been a longer journey, but we’ve been rewarded with a little bit of everything, from feeding groups to playful calves!
These photos capture a few highlights from these past couple of trips. Every day on the water brings something different, and while we can’t promise these same moments, that unpredictability is part of what makes whale watching so exciting. October is off to a wonderful start. Come see what the final month of the season brings! ...
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October 2, 2026
Today's trip was incredible. This was taken just a few minutes ago on Stellwagen Bank... ...
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SEPTEMBER 30, 2026
A nor’easter kept us at the dock for over a week, but today we finally headed back offshore, and the conditions couldn’t have been better. It was hard to imagine that seas had reached 15 feet just a few days ago. Today’s gray skies, glassy seas, and soft light along the horizon made the ocean look like pewter.
We traveled 29 miles to find whales, but the long journey paid off with a jackpot of humpback whales! They were feasting on American sand lance, with mother-and-calf pairs mixed throughout the feeding groups. We also enjoyed some of our best seabird sightings of the season, including Great, Cory’s, Manx, and Sooty Shearwaters, Northern Fulmars, Northern Gannets, and more.
There’s no telling how long these sightings will last, so if you’ve been thinking about joining us this season, now is a great time! As always, wildlife is unpredictable, and every trip is a new adventure. ...
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WHALE SIGHTINGS UPDATE ~ 9.13.26 - 9.17.26
We continue to enjoy great sightings of HUMPBACK WHALES on Jeffreys Ledge, along with ATLANTIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHINS and OCEAN SUNFISH!
Throughout the week, we’ve watched humpback whales form different associations as individuals continually moved through the area. On today’s trip, however, many of them seemed to gather within a mile of one another. We also welcomed back some familiar whales we hadn’t seen in quite some time, including Spoon and Chromosome. It was wonderful to see them and so many others again! Today also brought glassy seas, a welcome change after several weeks of windy conditions.
Here are a few photo highlights from today and other recent trips! There's still a month and a half left of the season. Join us!
Humpback whales identified this week: Alligator, Crisscross, Draco, Touchdown, Quill, Quote, Rope, Whirlwind, Partition, Pylon, Sprinkles, Bayou, Spoon, and Chromosome. ...
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SEPTEMBER 14, 2026
We’ve been graced by Mother Nature with favorable weather throughout much of the season, but September has brought several days of high winds and less than ideal sea conditions. Despite the weather challenges, we’ve continued to find whales!
Today’s forecast called for moderate winds, which held true when we arrived at the boat this morning. However, the winds picked up as we let the lines go, and we encountered wet and windy conditions on Jeffreys Ledge. Despite the weather, we spent time with an association of 6 humpback whales: Sprinkles, Bayou, Rope, Whirlwind, Touchdown and Alligator, with several others visible in the distance.
To our passengers who joined us today, thank you for your patience and adventurous spirits! These photos are for you to save and enjoy. I’m grateful we were able to see as much as we did. Patience and a sense of adventure are often rewarded with memorable sightings! ...
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