Whales! When and where?

[chrysalis]

yes.....we have seen them in Nov

[Once Upon A Time]

Last February we were on the Big Island counting whales for a conservation project.. They told us the whales start leaving and heading back across the Pacific to Alaska in March. We are hoping our early March Hawaii cruise will give us the opportunity to see them in the Islands and well as possibly on the way back.. :D

[Cruiserkenn]

Last February we were on the Big Island counting whales for a conservation project.. They told us the whales start leaving and heading back across the Pacific to Alaska in March. We are hoping our early March Hawaii cruise will give us the opportunity to see them in the Islands and well as possibly on the way back.. :D

 

Definitely off Lahaina, Maui, in early March.

 

Aloha :). :). :)

[Cruiserkenn]

I vote for Alaska!

 

I also went on an excursion with Harv and Marv and it was fabulous. At one point, we were surrounded by a pod of resident orcas. Amazing.

 

Star Princess - Alaska - June 2014 173 by RickEk, on Flickr

 

We also saw some humpbacks...

 

Star Princess - Alaska - June 2014

211 by RickEk, on Flickr

 

Great pictures! Love the Orcas!

[Hawaiidan]

Starting to plan our next cruse, and my wife would really like to see some whales.

 

What is the best time of year, and Cruise itinerary to see whales?

 

It would be cool to see them from the ship and excursions.

 

Thanks

 

 

Jan-March Maui Channel......best

Jan-March Off Kona , Hilo and Off Kawaiihai on Hawaii # 2

 

used to see then every morning along the beach in Keauhou Hawaii...

[RDC1]

This is a link to a short video that a friend of mine shot while whale watching off Moorea in French Polynesia during a recent cruise on the Pacific Princess

 

 

 

Now this is up close and personal. Baby and mother taken while snorkeling.

Edited November 14, 2014 by RDC1

[CruzinNoony]

We will be in Hawaii in February (on the Grand round trip out of LA). I'm looking for whale watching tours to take in Honolulu and Kauai. :cool:

[J-D]

Moorea in late summer. 10 day Tahiti cruise. Under the right conditions you can get into the water with snorkel gear and see them under the water.

 

Humpback whales are indeed near Moorea in the northern hemisphere summer, but at that time it is actually winter near Moorea. I expect that is the season when RDC1 encountered them. Humpbacks that migrate north to Moorea for the austral (southern-hemisphere) winter are believed to feed at more southerly locations during the austral summer. Generalizing, most baleen whales migrate toward lower latitudes (like Moorea in the southern hemisphere or Hawaii in the north) for the winter in that hemisphere, and to higher latitude feeding grounds for the summer.

 

John

[RDC1]

Humpback whales are indeed near Moorea in the northern hemisphere summer, but at that time it is actually winter near Moorea. I expect that is the season when RDC1 encountered them. Humpbacks that migrate north to Moorea for the austral (southern-hemisphere) winter are believed to feed at more southerly locations during the austral summer. Generalizing, most baleen whales migrate toward lower latitudes (like Moorea in the southern hemisphere or Hawaii in the north) for the winter in that hemisphere, and to higher latitude feeding grounds for the summer.

 

John

 

The video I linked to earlier was shot on October 27th.

[J-D]

The video I linked to earlier was shot on October 27th.

 

Late October is still fairly early in the (austral) spring in Mo`orea, so it is not surprising for some humpbacks to be lingering on their wintering grounds there.

 

John

[Once Upon A Time]

We will be in Hawaii in February (on the Grand round trip out of LA). I'm looking for whale watching tours to take in Honolulu and Kauai. :cool:

 

Looks like we are on the same cruise.. We'll be looking for whale watching tours as well.. See you there..

[Grannycb]

Harv and Marv in Juneau took us out to see whales and eagles. Loved the excursion and will do it again when we go back to Alaska. There were so many whales we lost count.

[thinfool]

Thanks folks. :) The Ruby is our favorite ship, so it looks like Alaska next year.

 

Good choice. We like the Ruby too.

 

As for whales, many, if not all, tour operators in Juneau guarantee whale sightings (summertime) or your money back. Ours claimed they had never had to refund any $$.

 

While seeing whales from the ship is very likely in Alaska, taking an excursion (Juneau) is ,IMO, far more rewarding. Great photo ops and a better chance to see bubble feeding up close.

[Birder1]

I've seen the following via cruising:

 

Kaikoura (east coast, southern island, NZ) -- year-round, Sperm Whales.

 

Sri Lanka (south-east) -- December, Blue Whales (utterly awesome!). Captain helped us spot them!

 

Cape Horn - February, Humpback Whales

 

Alaska (near Kodiak) - September, 3 Humpbacks circled Princess Diamond

 

Haven't seen, but heard easy viewing:

 

Southern California (off Dana Point) - Blue Whales

 

Cape of Good Hope -- Oct to Dec, Right Whales

 

South Australia - Southern Right Whales

 

Cape Canaveral/Port Canaveral (to South Carolina) - Oct to Mar, Northern Right Whales

[dhill]

Hawaii in Jan - March

 

 

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I agree We were in Maui in March there were whales every where.Big one little babies jumping out of the water pretty cool:)