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.
AUGUST 28, 2026
It was a foggy morning on the ocean today which makes finding whales a challenge... but we are always up for a challenge!
"Good energy, good vibes... and now we're watching a whale JUMP OUT OF THE WATER!!!"
***As always, switch to 720p for best quality*** ...
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WHALE SIGHTINGS UPDATE ~ 8.24.26 - 8.27.26
It’s hard to believe we’re closing out August with next week being the start of our fall season. Over the past few days, we’ve encountered HUMPBACK WHALES, ATLANTIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHINS, SHORT-BEAKED COMMON DOLPHINS, and even a LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE.
Each trip has brought something different, from feeding and surface activity to restful moments, close approaches, and playful calves. The calves continue to grow each day, both in size and personality. They’re becoming increasingly adventurous and may be beginning to practice the feeding behaviors they’ll need once they are independent. It’s incredibly rewarding to see how well the “class of 2026” is doing, but bittersweet knowing that our time with them as calves is entering its final couple of months.
The photos in this post were taken over several trips these past few days over hours spent on the water. As always, it’s important to remember that every trip is a completely unique experience. These are wild animals, free to travel and behave as they choose, so we never know exactly what we’ll encounter. That’s all part of the adventure! ...
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Thank you to Northshore Magazine for awarding us "Best of the North Shore 2026" for whale watching!
We are honored to recieve this award. Everyday we work hard to show our passengers the best possible sightings... even if it means going the extra distance or putting in more time on the water.
Thank you also to our amazing crew who works so hard each day to make our passengers time on the water with us so special. This award is really all about you.
Congratulations to all of the other "Best of Northshore" winners from other categories. Together we make this area the amazing destination that it is. ...
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AUGUST 26, 2026
We didn’t find another turtle today unfortunately, but no one went away disappointed. “Pleats’” calf made sure of that! This video is from the morning trip.
In the afternoon many more whales had moved into the area and “Hasselback” was the star as he was very curious about our boat and spent a lot of time circling the boat, passing back-and-forth beneath us and spy hopping.
A full sightings update with lots more photos and video to come… ...
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AUGUST 25, 2026
On the way out to Stellwagen Bank this afternoon a woman asked what our chances of seeing a Sea Turtle were. She is writing a novel told from the perspective of a Sea Turtle and so she really wanted to see one.
I told her that, while it was technically possible, they are very rare and we hadn't seen one yet this year so the chances were slim.
I took this video a bit later in the trip. 😲
***As always with video, switch to 720p for best quality. And if anyone is writing a book from the perspective of a whale shark please come out tomorrow. I really want to see one.*** ...
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WHALE SIGHTINGS UPDATE ~ 8.22.26-8.24.26
A Weekend on the Ledge.
Jeffrey’s Ledge, north of Gloucester, is just as exciting a place to watch whales as Stellwagen Bank. Over the last few days, we’ve encountered numerous HUMPBACK WHALES, GRAY SEALS, and OCEAN SUNFISH.
The whales have been busy feeding and building up their blubber layer ahead of their quickly approaching winter migration. We’ve watched many individuals working hard, blowing bubble clouds before rising through them as herring skip along the waters surface.
Mixed in with all that feeding, we’ve also encountered whales with a different agenda. This afternoon, Alligator and Woodwind began spyhopping and rolling around our boat. The encounter was completely on the whales terms, and we simply sat and watched with lots of excitement. Woodwind certainly lived up to his name, producing some interesting sounds while blowing streams of bubbles beneath the surface. ...
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