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Whale Watching Tour: Orcas and Scenic Views
4.1
267 Ratings
Seattle
*Get up close and personal with magnificent transient orcas, minke and humpback whales as well as harbor seal and an array of seabirds
*Soak in stunning mountain, island and ocean vistas as you cruise through the Salish Sea
*Perfect for a quick escape while staying in Seattle!
*Get up close and personal with magnificent transient orcas, minke and humpback whales as well as harbor seal and an array of seabirds
*Soak in stunning mountain, island and ocean vistas as you cruise through the Salish Sea
*Perfect for a quick escape while staying in Seattle!
Duration:
5 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Pike Place Market - The tour begins at Pier 69, located along the historic Alaskan Way, just a short walk from the renowned Pike Place Market.
- Space Needle - Setting off from Pier 69 on Seattle’s downtown waterfront, the vessel embarks on its journey into Elliott Bay. As the dock recedes, passengers are treated to a clear view of the Seattle…
- Pike Place Market - The tour begins at Pier 69, located along the historic Alaskan Way, just a short walk from the renowned Pike Place Market.
- Space Needle - Setting off from Pier 69 on Seattle’s downtown waterfront, the vessel embarks on its journey into Elliott Bay. As the dock recedes, passengers are treated to a clear view of the Seattle skyline, with the iconic Space Needle prominently visible to the right. The city’s skyscrapers line the shore, and the lively waterfront gradually disappears into the distance. This smooth and picturesque start to the trip offers excellent photo opportunities and a unique view of Seattle from the water.
- Salish Sea - Departing from Pier 69 on the Seattle waterfront, just under a mile from famous landmarks like Pike Place Market and the Space Needle, the whale and marine wildlife tour provides an exciting chance to explore the natural beauty of the Salish Sea. Participants can search for orcas, humpback whales, gray whales, and minke whales in their natural environment. Along the way, there may be sightings of seals, sea lions, porpoises, bald eagles, and other marine birds. A naturalist is on board to offer expert commentary and answer questions, enhancing understanding of the local ecosystem, whale behavior, and conservation efforts. The tour adheres to respectful wildlife viewing guidelines to ensure a safe and sustainable experience for both guests and animals. With comfortable seating, panoramic views, and ample photo opportunities, this tour blends adventure, education, and unforgettable wildlife encounters.
- Seattle Aquarium - Seattle Aquarium
- Seattle Waterfront - Seattle Waterfront

What's Included
- Exhilarating 3 to 5 hour whale watching tour with an expert onboard naturalist
- Includes all applicable taxes and surcharges
- Food and Beverage for purchase
- Exhilarating 3 to 5 hour whale watching tour with an expert onboard naturalist
- Includes all applicable taxes and surcharges
- Food and Beverage for purchase
What's Not Included
- Gratuities appreciated but not mandatory
- Gratuities appreciated but not mandatory
Location
2701 Alaskan Wy
Alaskan Way
Please arrive at the FRS Clipper Terminal, located on Seattle's waterfront at Pier 69, 45 minutes prior to scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.1
(267 Ratings)
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Colleen_c
May 27, 2026
Whale watching - The line took a minute to get through once through wait in area and get on boat. They took us to area where they heard they might be what gorgeous animals orcas are. Would like more information on them but it was great and staff nice and friendly
Review provided by Viator
Amy_h
May 26, 2026
Whale watching and wild life - We went to see Orcas . It was a great experience. Easy check in and the naturalist did a great job . We even had a Orca go under our boat. A pleasant surprise that we also received pictures from our expedition.
Review provided by Viator
Gabriel_v
May 25, 2026
Esential in Seattle! - The naturalist and the creo, fantastic! We boarded and before one hour, we saw Keller whales and later, humpback.
Review provided by Viator
Danielle_f
May 22, 2026
Whales and more - Great experience! The boat wasn't overly crowded. We were fortunate to have great weather and got to see Orcas,Grey whales and Sealioms
Review provided by Viator
Graham_g
May 9, 2026
The tour was what we paid... - The tour was what we paid for to see wild animals in their normal enviroment it isnt guaranteed but we were lucky ti see Orca's and grey Whales.
Review provided by Viator
Caseyo303
May 27, 2026
Massively Underwhelmed - Boat was pretty good, big windows indoor with air conditioning. But there is not enough deck space for the amount of people who go on the tour. We were not even at full capacity, and there was no room to really look outside. Unless you are running out to the deck to get the front, you are not going to be able to realy see anything form outside. The boat isn't close enough to see anything really substancial. A little tail or spout spray in the far far distance really isn't worth the price you pay. On that note, the prices for the concession stand are absolutely abysmal. Only real positive to the trip is the tour guide lady was lovely.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cynthia_h
May 24, 2026
Disappointed whale watch - Not impressed. Was suppose to start at 9:00am and they changed it without notice to 12:00. Saw a lot of spouts but only a couple tails.
Review provided by Viator
Dreamer10978340047
May 18, 2026
Beautiful Boat, Broken Promise — The “Guaranteed Orca” Tour That Wasn’t - I honestly don’t even know where to start, because this experience left me feeling disappointed, frustrated, and honestly a little scammed.
This tour advertises itself as a “guaranteed orca whale watching experience,” but apparently their definition of “guaranteed” is showing you a random sea lion on a buoy and calling it a successful wildlife tour. That is NOT what people are paying for.
I rushed off my cruise ship the second we arrived, with one single goal in mind: to see orcas. That’s it. That’s the reason I paid almost $200 USD per person for this tour. I was excited like a little kid, imagining seeing these majestic animals up close in the wild… and instead, we spent hours staring at the ocean only to see two tiny whales very far away for a few seconds — mostly just distant backs and a couple of tails.
Not a single orca.
The worst part is that they KNOW exactly what expectations they are creating with their marketing. They sell emotion, excitement, and the dream of seeing orcas… but what they actually deliver is a long boat ride hoping you’ll be satisfied with seeing literally anything floating in the water.
And honestly? Most people onboard clearly felt the same disappointment. After a while, many tourists just gave up, sat inside, or even fell asleep because absolutely nothing was happening.
Now, to be fair, the boat itself is amazing. It’s modern, beautiful, comfortable, and very well organized. Boarding is super fast, the staff is genuinely kind and professional, and I actually loved that they have tables where you can sit, eat, drink, and relax. You can buy food and beverages onboard, and that part of the experience is honestly really nice.
But a beautiful boat does not compensate for a completely misleading experience.
If your expectation is simply to enjoy a scenic boat ride and maybe — MAYBE — see something moving in the distance, then fine, maybe you’ll enjoy it.
But if you are paying because you genuinely want to see orcas, don’t fall for this trap.
For me, this ended up feeling like an expensive lesson in false advertising and unrealistic promises. I would absolutely never do this tour again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sara
May 4, 2026
Tour was cancelled. No notice of cancellation received. Only learned tour was cancelled when showed at pier to check-in - Tour was cancelled. No notice of cancellation received. Only learned tour was cancelled when showed at pier to check-in
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Shelley_s
May 3, 2026
Unacceptable . Waiting for full refund. - Our trip was canceled and wasn't notified until we showed up and read a notice posted on the ticket window
Review provided by Viator