Transfer from the private cruise pier called Icy Strait to your small boat dock located near the native village of Hoonah, Alaska. Here, you will board your custom built boat designed for seeing whales close up in their natural setting. The boat is 45' long and holds a maximum of 22 passengers comfortably. A forty minute cruise brings us to Point Adolphus, near the entrance to Glacier Bay National
Park and one of the most populated feeding grounds in Alaska for Humpback Whales. Here, the protected inside passage waters are being constantly refilled by the northern Pacific Ocean with a supply of herring and krill, the major staples of a Humpbacks diet. Although some humpbacks spend all year here, most migrate here in the summer months to the gorge of the endless supply of food, before wintering in Hawaii or Mexico where they mate or give birth. A baby Humpback at birth is around 4000 pounds (1.8 metric tons) and measures between 11 to 13 feet (3.3 to 3.9 meters)
The whales in the Point Adolphus area can weigh up to 42 tons (38 metric tons) and length of 40 feet (12 meters) The females are the larger of the two genders. During your approximately 90 minutes near Point Adolphus you may witness whales tail lobbing (slapping their tail or fin on the water's surface), bubble net feeding, where they surround their meal with a curtain of air bubbles and scoop it up at the surface, or the amazing power of a breach, where this massive mammal shoots out of the water as if it weighs nothing, corkscrews in the air like a ballerina, before canon-balling back into the water, creating a thundering sound as it hits the water. Scientists don't really know why the humpback does most of these behaviors - whether it is an attempt to shed barnacles or parasites on their skin, showing off and having fun, but no matter, you will never forget seeing any of them. As Mother Nature is in charge, you never know what you will see. The Whale spotting is guaranteed and if you don’t spot a whale, we’ll refund 50% of your whale watching shore excursion cost. A tasty Alaskan snack will be served as you motor your way back to Hoonah and your nearby Icy Strait Cruise Pier.
