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Aquarium’s whale watching season kicks off following delay

The whale-watching cruises out of Boston Harbor give thousands of visitors a chance to see the animals in their habitat.

Customers during a previous New England Aquarium Whale Watch. New England Aquarium

By Kristi Palma

1 minute to read

The New England Aquarium’s whale watching season kicks off this week on a delayed schedule due to the migration of endangered North Atlantic right whales.

New England Whale Watch, in partnership with Boston Harbor City Cruises (BHCC), opens May 16. In previous years cruises have begun as early as March.

“Out of a shared goal to protect the critically endangered North Atlantic right whales, long-time partners BHCC and the Aquarium delayed the start of the New England Aquarium Whale Watch until the right whales had migrated north out of Cape Cod Bay,” Bob Lawler, general manager and regional vice president of BHCC, said in a statement.

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The cruises, which give thousands of passengers an up-close look at whales each year, depart from Boston’s Central Wharf and run three to four hours on high-speed catamarans. They travel to Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary, a feeding ground for many whale, dolphin, and bird species.

The catamarans are equipped with large windows, outdoor viewing decks, and a full bar along with light snacks for purchase.

“At the New England Aquarium, we aim to inspire everyone to form a deeper connection to the ocean and take action to protect it,” said New England Aquarium President and CEO Vikki N. Spruill, in a statement. “Education is at the core of our mission, and these whale watches provide a wonderful opportunity to experience the wonders of our blue planet first-hand.”

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New England Aquarium naturalists serve as guides during whale watch cruises.

BHCC will run multiple whale watch cruises a day. Those interested can check out the schedule at CityExperiences.com.

The New England Aquarium Whale Watch is part of the Massachusetts Whale Trail, which features 38 whale-centric stops spanning the entire state.

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Kristi Palma

Travel writer

 

Kristi Palma is the travel writer for Boston.com, focusing on the six New England states. She covers airlines, hotels, and things to do across Boston and New England. She is the author of the award-winning Scenic Six, a weekly travel newsletter.

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