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Wildlife and Whale Watching Tour
4.2
232 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 boat departs, 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 boat departs, 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 recedes 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.

What's Included
- All applicable taxes and surcharges included
- 3.5-hour whale watching tour
- Expert onboard naturalist
- All applicable taxes and surcharges included
- 3.5-hour whale watching tour
- Expert onboard naturalist
What's Not Included
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- In-vehicle air conditioning
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
4.2
(232 Ratings)
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Katherine_d
Sep 27, 2025
Knowledgeable friendly... - Knowledgeable friendly staff, with a clean boat. Food and drink prices were reasonable and we saw both killer whales and a humpback!
Review provided by Viator
Toddbk1288ob
Sep 26, 2025
Excellent experience! Saw orcas and humpbacks. Very good staff. Super attentive and accommodating to customers. - Highly recommend! Great time with my son seeing the natural beauty and marine life of the northwest. Everything I had hoped it would be.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kim_j
Sep 26, 2025
Humpback & Orcas, Oh My! - The Captain & crew were great! We were very pleased to have spent an hour with the Biggs Orca pod #120. Then down past Tacoma for a rare appearance from Malekai, a humpback!
Bring a small pair of binoculars . The viewing platforms will be crowded and your cell phone cameras won't produce very watchable results. If you are lucky enough to see some excellent activities, buy the professional photographers shots.
Review provided by Viator
Sara_s
Sep 25, 2025
I would highly recommend... - I would highly recommend taking something for motion sickness ahead of time. They do offer some on board, but it typically takes an hour for it to kick in, so the first hour was relatively uncomfortable. But otherwise great! They guarantee that you will see something, and we were able to see a humpback whale, a few porpoises, some harbor seals, and jellyfish!
Review provided by Viator
Portlandperdues
Sep 23, 2025
Great tour! - Very educational, informative and in nature. Not overly crowded, great facilities with restroom, food and comfortable seating available
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Katie_z
Sep 23, 2025
Loved it, very toddler friendly - Loved it! Good size boat with many viewing points, as well as staff that are dedicated to turning the boat so everyone can see the sights. We saw a humpback whale almost immediately upon entering our looking area, and got to watch for many minutes as it hung out near us, as well as several tail flukes. The naturalist on board, Allison, had a ton of great information, and the figurines and books were an added bonus for my toddler. We also got mini foam orcas for my sons as we disembarked!
Review provided by Viator
Lisa_m
Sep 22, 2025
We had a fantastic whale... - We had a fantastic whale tour!! Really fun day all around with perfect weather also!! Would do this trip again!
Review provided by Viator
Phillip_b
Sep 21, 2025
Worth the money for two tickets. - We saw three sightings of Orca whales. It may have been three distinctly different
Orcas or one very active Orca.
The FRS CLIPPER had a biology
educator that shared information regarding
Orca behavior and Orca research.
Review provided by Viator
Keelyn_w
Sep 19, 2025
Ok - If I had not been on another whale watching tour, I wouldn’t have anything to compare it too. It was ok but I didn’t feel it was worth the money.
Review provided by Viator
Mariana_f
Sep 26, 2025
North Worth It - Save your money! You won't see much, if anything, and they don't do refunds if you don't see anything. We saw one tiny little whale from about a mile away :-( and for about 10 seconds. Not worth the money or time! We were on the boat for 6 hours!
Review provided by Viator