- Ages 18+
- 24 Hours
This trip is led by our team of experienced marine mammal naturalists and researchers, as well as a pelagic bird naturalist. While offshore, we chum for pelagic birds to get that perfect photo opportunity!
Quick Details
Venture out 40-60 miles into the offshore waters of the Atlantic Ocean!
This marine mammal and birding tour in Cape May, New Jersey is led by our team of experienced marine mammal naturalists and researchers, as well as a pelagic bird naturalist. While offshore, we chum for pelagic birds to get that perfect photo opportunity! The American Star has a heated indoor cabin for you to relax while you scout out the beauty of our marine life. eBird checklists are created by our team of experts and shared after the trip.
Possible sightings include:
- Marine Mammals: Humpback Whales, Fin Whales, Minke Whales, Right Whales, Pilot Whales, Bottlenose Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Risso’s Dolphins and more!
- Pelagic Birds: Shearwaters, Jaegers, Northern Gannets, Fulmar, Phalaropes, Kittiwakes, Loons, (October-November: Razor Bills, Murres, and Dovekies, Winter: Puffins)
- Other Species: Sharks (Hammerhead, Thresher, Great White), Sea turtles (Loggerhead, Leatherback, or Green), Oceanic Sunfish, False Albacore, Tuna, Jellyfish and more!
Please note, trips are subject to varying weather and sea conditions. Trips will only sail in favorable weather conditions. Captain will make the final decision if the trip is sailing 48hrs prior to the scheduled cruise.
Prepaid Reservations Only! Due to the special nature of this trip, we are not able to offer the marine mammal guarantee.
Trip summaries:
October 2021, October 2022, November 2022, December 2021, February 2023, November 2023
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Is there parking available onsite?
– Yes, we have free parking available onsite in our designated Whale Watch parking lot. An attendant will be there to guide you to the appropriate free parking lot.Are there bathrooms on the boat?
– Yes, the American Star is equipped with 4 restrooms onboard.Are there food/drinks available onboard?
– Yes, we do have a full galley, bar, and gift shop onboard that accepts cash or credit card. However, for this extended trip we do advise bringing any food/drink that you require for the day.Do I need to wear a life-jacket onboard?
– No. We have life-jackets for every passenger onboard and they are used for emergency purposes only. The United States Coast Guard annually inspects all safety equipment onboard the American Star, and your captain will give a detailed safety briefing as your cruise departs.Is the boat wheelchair accessible?
– Depending on tide conditions, there may be several steps to get onboard the American Star. Standard manual wheelchairs can be lifted onboard by mates, however, due to their weight, power wheelchairs cannot be accommodated.Will I get seasick on this cruise?
– The American Star is 100ft long and very stable in our Atlantic Ocean conditions. If you are susceptible to motion sickness, we recommend taking precautions with Dramamine, Bonine or Sea Bands. These are available at the dock.Is there shade on the boat?
– The American Star was custom built for sightseeing with passenger comfort in mind. There is a spacious inside cabin available to keep you out of the elements as well as numerous shaded areas outside on deck.Will the boat be crowded?
– The American Star is a 100ft long vessel custom built for sightseeing. It has seating for over 250 passengers. This cruise is drastically limited in capacity to allow plenty of room onboard!