Whale watching: ship vs independent, port by port
Carnival charges a median $157 and NCL charges a median $217 per adult for whale watching excursions, against $109 per person for independent versions (12 ports, November 2026). Booking independently is cheaper in 100% of the 7 ports with both prices.
Whale watching in 12 cruise ports, with the cruise line's own price next to the median of the top independent tours of the same type. Booking independently was cheaper in 100% of the 7 ports where we have both prices.
| Port | Carnival | NCL | Independent | Best saving for 4 | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maui (Kahului)Hawaii | $168 | $271 | $94 | $709 | 5/5 |
| HonoluluHawaii | $170 | – | $57 | $453 | 5/5 |
| JuneauAlaska | $251 | $286 | $185 | $404 | 5/5 |
| Cabo San LucasMexican Riviera | $127 | $163 | $90 | $291 | 4/5 |
| KonaHawaii | $140 | $177 | $109 | $270 | 4/5 |
| Puerto VallartaMexican Riviera | $110 | $148 | $96 | $209 | 5/5 |
| Icy Strait PointAlaska | $277 | $247 | $246 | $124 | 5/5 |
| SitkaAlaska | – | – | $210 | – | 5/5 |
| HiloHawaii | – | – | $150 | – | 5/5 |
| Grand TurkEastern Caribbean | $147 | – | – | – | 5/5 |
| VictoriaAlaska | – | $187 | – | – | 5/5 |
| Saint JohnCanada and New England | – | $316 | – | – | 5/5 |
Ship prices: median adult "starting at" price of that line's excursions of this type (NCL converted from euros). Independent: median per-person price of the top GetYourGuide matches. Methodology.
Questions
How much does a whale watching excursion cost on a cruise?
Across the ports we track, the median ship price for this tour type is Carnival $157, NCL $217 per adult. Independent versions have a median of $109 per person.
Is it cheaper to book whale watching tours independently?
In 100% of the 7 ports where we have both prices, the independent version is cheaper.
Is it safe to book a whale watching excursion on your own?
It depends on the port. 12 of 12 ports score 4 or 5 out of 5 for this tour type; tender ports and long transfers score lower. Always finish at least an hour before all-aboard.
Other tour types
Dolphin & marine encounter Submarine / glass-bottom Scuba / helmet dive Flightseeing Dog sledding Fishing Party / sunset cruise Catamaran / sail & snorkel Kayak / paddle Zipline ATV / buggy / jeep Snorkel tour Ruins / history Food & tasting Beach break / beach club Nature / waterfall / park City / island tour