Whale Watching in Queens
City-Kid Review:
I loved the dolphins and the baby dolphins. I loved the whale. Why were you sick?
Call me Ishmael.
Actually don’t. I hardly have any sea legs at all.
Did I get sunburned, doused in seawater, throw up and feel mildly claustrophobic?
I threw up my guts in the porthole. Was it worth it? Absolutely.
I got horribly sunburned, in that pale-white-English-skin kind of way and embarrasingly worse, where the skin around my eyes remained white where my Jackie-O sunglasses had been and the rest of me was a brighter shade of beet.
Why?
Yes, Oh, Why?
BECAUSE IT WAS BRILLIANT!
Because I was excited!
Because I was watching! Endlessly watching the sea to the horizon or, at least, to Queens beach, waiting to be delighted by yet more sea mammals.
It was all eyes on deck – looking for the dolphins and then the most beautiful humpback whale. Where would she come up next? Who knew! So, it was a case of continuing to look and body be damned.
Actually, I was so engrossed I completely forgot to apply more sunblock. Engrossed or sick. Either way.
There is something so joyous and life-affirming seeing dolphins playing together in the sea. It still blows my mind that we watched several dolphin families bouncing up through the waves with the Rockaway beaches in the background. I even wonder if you could see them from the beach, they were that close.
It took some time to find the whales. The boat chugged further out to sea, looking for swathes of ‘bait’. These are silvery-white fish, flopping and flipping just beneath the surface of the water. Their activity heightens, not surprisingly, auger the approach of a bigger mammal.
Or us.
In our boat.
You never know, so it took a while.
We found more dolphins. A massive pod of adults and babies, arcing their way above the water, their grey skin glistening, exuding delight in their very existence. Who wouldn’t want to be a happy dolphin?
The crew were dogged in their determined. The tour is named after whales so whales we would find. Suddenly we were the Pequod searching after – in this case – the seemingly the elusive Humpback whale. We chugged further out to sea, to an even larger bait area.
Interlude: Dear Reader, it was this part of the journey which affected many passengers. You could feel the atmosphere shift. Several small children were asleep in the mess room (not City Kid, who had pushed to the very front of the bobbing boat). Adults sat, head in their hands, some with hands over their mouths. Some folks looked very pale. The idea that we couldn’t go anywhere or get off (yet) started to seep in….
Sea water splashed over the side of the boat and it was cooling was welcoming. My tummy felt a little delicate but nothing remotely close to barfdom.
I went inside to get some water, some salt water was on my lip, and I, unwittingly, swallowed it. I drank fresh water to wash it away, but the damage was done. The brine tugged at my guts and there was nothing for it but to run to the porthole.
After everything came up, all returned to stasis.
Not long later, the glorious humpback whale appeared on the horizon. Elegance, grace, beauty. I have never before been so enchanted by a creature’s tail.
It’s astonishing that this is accessible in New York City, and her surrounding waters. Breathtaking.
Need to Knows:
Location: Ft Tilden, Queens.
You can pick up their ferry at Pier 11/Wall Street in Manhattan or you can do as we did, and make your way out to Riis Landing in the Breezy Point part of the Rockaways.
Nearest subway: This is not easy to get to by subway. You can catch their ferry from Wall street as mentioned above, but the ferry watching cruise departs from Queens. You can catch the ferry back to Manhattan after the cruise is over. The good thing about taking their ferry is that it is the same boat and you don’t have to commute. If you take the city ferry, you have to get from there to the ferry landing.
Cruises run from May through November, weather permitting. On weekdays they leave from noon and return around 4pm. For the weekends, it’s a 1pm departure. After Labor Day, the weekends are a noon departure.
Cost: $48 per adult and $33 for children. Children under 5 are free, NYCID holders are free. Military Personnel are free. Senior Citizens are $1.
Food: There is a mess deck, and they sell a variety of snacks and beverages. They do have limited hot food, such as hot dogs. You are welcome to sit at their tables and eat any food you bring yourself.
We went with American Princess Cruises. We found out later that they have a high sighting rate. They, also, have a marine enthusiast who shares her knowledge with abandon. It’s great.
Information correct at time of writing.
Top-Tip
Bring sunblock! Plenty of it.
Bring a rain slicker and grippy shoes.
If you can, stake a place at the front of the boat and don’t leave, as I witnessed a couple from Italy do. They were sweet and let City Kid weave her way through their legs to share their front-row spot. However, this place is the choppiest spot on the boat so you do may need to pack your iron stomach. But the views will be worth it.
Although, to be fair, all of the views on the boat are magnificent.
Have you been whale watching? Care to share your experiences in the comments below?
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Happy Adventuring!
What an exciting adventure! We have always said that the best way to learn is through experience and travel. New experiences are always stretching the mind. Natue is a fine teacher. Thanks for sharing. Love, Jeanne and Don