Whale watching - Maine
 

Good evening! Our Great American Road Trip 2020 is in a few months. Half our party would like to participate in a whale watching tour/cruise. Is there a difference on the cruises from Kennebunkport, Portland and Bar Harbor? It would be early June and we want to maximize their chances of seeing whales. Tia!

We have not done whale watching but have been out on the water in early June. If you aren't hardy New Englanders, you will probably want to wear a warm jacket AND sweater. The boat crew gave out blankets.

Is there a difference? In short, no. Whales are common up and down the entire coast of Maine, and their location will vary from day to day depending on the food source or other factors beyond our control. Whale sighting can be hit or miss regardless of the location, but the tour co's know that this is their bread and butter, and will tap into whatever resources they have to know where to look.

I'm a hardy soul myself and live in snow country. I've been out on the water on a very hot day (on land) in July and was cold on a 1hr trip a few miles off the coast under overcast skies and splashing waves. I at least had a jacket & long pants. Others on the boat in t-shirts, shorts, and flip flops were frigid. This ferry did not have blankets to hand out, but did have a heated inside cabin.

Thank you! Being Floridians we will definitely want to take our ‘heavy’ jackets lol.

Layer Up
 

I echo the previous posts. In early June, you'll probably have to travel at least 20 miles offshore to see big whales, and it will likely be very cold. Layer up so you can adjust to the temperatures. I also recommend taking Dramamine at least an hour before you head out. Seas can be rough. We went years ago in July, and the water was rough and it was very cold. As far as seeing whales, you are likely to see some, but it IS nature and there are no guarantees.
As far as traveling, you might consider taking I-81 north, 78E to 287 through Newburgh, New York.There's no good time to travel the I-95 route north of Richmond around DC, and avoiding that will save you time (and a lot of stress through the "Springfield Mixing Bowl") in the long run. Enjoy the trip and the beautiful State of Maine!