During the summer months, whale watching is one of the most popular activities within Alaska's Inland Passage and Frederick Sound. Custom Alaska Cruises takes you to these magnificent creatures and puts you in position to see many different types of whales in their natural surroundings.
Whale watching on the Sikumi usually includes massive Humpback Whales and Dall Porpoise swimming on the boat wake.
If you are lucky it is also possible to see White Sided Dolphins, Harbor porpoises, Minke Whale, Killer Whale (Orcas) and/or the Grey Whale.
Several species of whales can be observed feeding in the waters of Alaska. Humpback whales travel from the warm waters off of Hawaii to feed in the nutrient-rich waters of Southeast Alaska. Orca (Killer) Whales can also be found in these waters. Other species include: Harbor porpoises, White-sided Dolphins, Grey Whales, Minke Whales and the playful Dall Porpoise.
An Alaska whale watching cruise is an opportunity to get a rare glimpse of one of Alaska's greatest beauties. We can take you to places where you are most likely to spot these majestic creatures. We are always careful to obey regulations and restrictions regarding safe viewing distances, but we cannot control the whale's agenda, as they have been known to surface a few yards away from the M.V. Sikumi. Kayaking is one of the most unique and rewarding means of accessing the whales.
We invite you to let Custom Alaska Cruises be your guides on your Alaska whale watching cruise. We'll help make your cruise one you'll never forget!
Whale Viewing from a Small Ship
It is an amazing experience to be able to view whales from a small ship, the whales are so close and the Captain can stop or move around to ensure maximum viewing time when we do find a pod of whales to watch.
Humpbacks are the most commonly sighted whales on our cruises. However you can sometimes also see Orcas (Killer Whales) and occasionally Grey Whales, Minke Whales, White-sided Dolphins and Harbor Porpoise. A pod of Dall porpoise usually play on the wake of the boat once or twice a trip.
Frederick Sound and Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales migrate to South East Alaska from Hawaii in the summer months to feed on the abundant Krill and Herring in Alaska's nutrient rich waters. In Frederick Sound just outside of Petersburg, there are hundreds of Humpbacks on view, feeding with their young before they return to Hawaii to mate and calve. You'll be able to witness up close as they use their unique cooperative 'bubble net' technique to herd their prey. It is an amazing sight to see not just one, but a whole group of whales bursting out of the water in unison. The number and the sheer size of the whales is amazing when viewed up close from a small cruise ship.
Bubble net feeding
Breaching
Cruising Frederick Sound on the look out for Whales
Dall Porpoises and other Marine Mammals
Stellar Sea Lions are curious locals
In Frederick Sound there are also Orcas' (Killer Whales) and occasionally a huge pod of white sided dolphins will surround the boat. Year round there are Harbor Porpoises. They are very shy creatures so are not always spotted on our cruises, unlike their crowd pleasing cousins the Dall Porpoise however, who we see playing on the wake of the boat on almost every cruise.
Humpback whale near the boat in Frederick Sound, Alaska
Here's what some of our guests say about Whale Watching on the M/V Sikumi
"Seeing all the whales on our cruise was especially thrilling for the family. Especially on the third day of our cruise, when the Beluga Whale was playing right off the side of the boat, we were amazed at the tiny distance between ourselves and the whale. The Captain seemed to know exactly where to look when searching for wildlife. Whale watching from the Sikumi completely demolishes any trip to the zoo."
"Kayaking with the whales, ice bergs and seals was a one of a kind experience... we will have great stories for our friends and family."
"There was a whole pod of Orcas, 12 to 15 feet away, right next to the boat. On my three-day trip, we saw dozens of sea otters, scores of sea lions, seals, dall porpoises, and orange-beaked puffin birds, as we steamed at no faster than a leisurely 8 knots per hour."
"Two Humpback Whales cruised alongside us breathing mist into the air..."
"Whales were everywhere, humpback and minke, and the Captain made sure to stop the Sikumi for us to see them closer when they were spotted. "
