Globally, Cape Cod is known for its majestic beaches along the Atlantic coastline. But have you imagined yourself on a cruise across this beautiful island? Let’s take a look at the best Cape Cod Canal Tours and the best Cape Cod Cruise to take!
The best Cape Cod Canal tours & cruises are the Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruise, Hy-Line Cruises, and Bay Spirit Tours.
Cape Cod has a wide range of canal and ocean adventures such as sightseeing cruises, narrative tours, live music cruises, cocktail cruises, and family cruises. All these Combined with scenic views and fascinating tales of both historical and local pedigree.
If you want to enjoy these cruises, here’s everything you need to know about the best Cape Cod Canal tours and cruises.
Let’s get into it!
Hyannis Whale Watcher Cape Cod Cruise
Ideal for families, the Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruise is available for people of all ages.
On this Cape Cod cruise, you get to see different species of whales on the cruise: humpbacks, Finbacks, Pilot, Blue Whales, and Minkes. While the whales can be seen all year long, the best months to see them are June, July, August, and September.
A reviewer on Yelp described the experience: “it’s like watching Nat Geo in real life! The crew on board makes it fun, informative, and memorable. And they sure know how to find the whales when they’re hiding.”
Whale Watcher Cape Cod Cruise
The cruise boat is designed for whale watching, which allows you to have a complete view.
The Cape Cod cruise comes with a marine naturalist who provides educational commentary, giving facts and information about the places and whales you see. Usually, the cruise is expected to last for 3-4 hours.
The pricing package for the cruise is categorized into five: Adults (13+), Seniors (62+), Children (4 -12), infants (3 and under), and active military personnel.
Adults pay $65 for the cruise, while seniors get a discounted price of $55. For children, it costs $45 and $3 for infants.
It is free for the military, but a valid ID is required.
There is public parking at the harbor for a fee of $15.
Hy-Line Cruises
It is a family-owned ferry service operating between Hyannis and Nantucket. Its cruises are a good fit for adults and kids.
On the trip, you will learn about the history of Hyannis and local landmarks like the Kennedy Memorial, Point Gammon Light, Great Island, St. Andrews-by-the-Sea, and the Kennedy Compound in Hyannisport.
The beauty of Hyannis is best seen on a sea cruise. With a guide explaining various points of interest to you, you gain insights into the maritime industry and some of the most exciting sights in the area.
Nantucket has a whaling heritage that has attracted many admirers for decades, while Martha’s Vineyard is host to six unique towns, each with an important place in American history.
According to Tripadvisor, the average review rating of the Hy-Line Cruise is 4.5. In addition, a reviewer described the service as top-notch.
Deep-Sea Fishing
On a Cape Cod cruise into Nantucket Sound, you find one of the best places for Bottom Fishing on the East Coast.
The package is available for adults and children. Here, children are categorized between the ages of 5-12. While everyone under 16 can only join the cruise with a parent.
A 4-hour bottom fishing cruise costs $70 for adults and children. It comes with a $5 charge for rod rental plus tax.
Hyannis Harbor Cruises
The Hyannis Harbor Cruise comes in different packages available to adults and kids.
Departures of 12:30 & 1:45 pm 1-hour sightseeing cost $18 and are free for kids. In contrast, the evening departures cost $9 for kids.
On Fridays and Saturdays, there is a cocktail cruise for 1 hour at $18 for adults, $9 for children. For Mondays to Thursdays, it’s Sunset Cocktail Cruise which goes for $22 for adults; $10 for kids.
There is Musical Bingo on Tuesdays for 1.5 hours. $25 for adults, $10 for kids.
The ‘Around the Sound’ Cape Cod Cruise
An exclusive cruise that allows you to enjoy the very best of both islands – from Hyannis to Nantucket to Martha’s Vineyard and back to Hyannis.
This round trip costs $83 for adults, $47 for children. In addition, 4-year-old children and below get to ride for free with a boarding pass.
Martha’s Vineyard Ferries
As the only mid-cape departure point to the Vineyard, this cruise comes with high-speed catamarans. There are one-way and roundtrips. One-way trips for adults cost $32, $22 for children. Round trips cost $62 for adults, $41 for kids.
Cape Cod Canal Tour and Cape Cod Cruise
A ninety-minute sightseeing cruise, covering half the distance of the Cape Cod Canal to Herring Run. It features a live commentary of the canal’s fascinating history . The Cape Cod Canal Tour costs $18 for adults, $9 for kids.
There is also a 3-hour sightseeing cruise featuring a live commentary by a guide telling the story behind different locations you will see. It costs $20 for adults, $9 for kids.
A special 1-hour sightseeing cruise is available to kids for free. It costs $16 for adults.
You can also enjoy a 1.5-hour evening cocktail cruise for $18. In addition, on Fridays & Saturdays, there is a Live Music Cruise for 2.5 hours at $30.
There is a two-and-half-hour Family Music Cruise on Sundays for which costs $25 and $10 for children.
Bay Spirit Tours
A hub of a variety of excursions, it is perfect for families.
Built in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Bay Spirit is a 63’ catamaran that cruises at a top speed of 22 knots. It has an ample deck space – front and back, with a spacious salon inside with plenty of blankets for when the nights get cold and a bar stocked with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
The cruise takes you through the Lighthouse Harbor and the Hyannis Port, where you get to see the Kennedy Compound.
Bay Spirit Tours has a 4.5-star review on Yelp and a five-star review on Tripadvisor. A reviewer said: “The boat is spacious and comfortable. The captain and crew were friendly, helpful, and provided lots of information on the area as we cruised.”
In the last five years, the Bay Spirit tours have been voted the number 1 outdoor activity in Hyannis by TripAdvisor.
The Lighthouse Harbor Tour
This is a narrated cruise that will take you through Lewis Bay past the harbor Lighthouse in Hyannis inner harbor to Point Gammon Light on Great Island. Then, going through the old Hyannis Harbor to catch a glimpse of the local homes, including Kennedy’s Compound.
There are different pricing categories for the tours: Adults (age 13 -64), Seniors (age 65 and above), Kids (12 and under), and Infants (under 2 years).
For the tour, adults pay $25, seniors $23, kids $13, while it is free for infants. However, you can only purchase tickets 2 weeks before the tour.
Sunset Cape Cod Cruise
A relaxing 75-minute sunset cruise while watching the sunset over Hyannis Port. With light music playing, you will enjoy the scenic sights and can purchase snacks, wine, beer, mixed and soft drinks.
It is an ideal date night cruise for couples.
The cruise costs adults $30, Seniors $28, Kids $15, and $5 for infants.
Sail on the Bay Breeze
A two-hour afternoon or sunset sail on the Bay Breeze is an exciting cruise. The Bay Breeze is a 45’ Lock Crowther-designed catamaran.
An afternoon sail will cost adults $40, children $25, and infants $10. The sunset sail is $45 for adults, the same price for the afternoon for children and infants.
You can also charter the boat privately for a family and friends’ cruise. It can take up to 25 persons.
The private afternoon charter is $1,250 for 2 hours, $1,550 for sunset charter.
Conclusion on Cape Cod Canal Tours and Cape Cod Cruise Trips
The best cruises come with exciting adventures such as seeing different species of whales, watching the sunset, over Hyannis port, and viewing the Kennedy Compound.
Whenever you decide to go on a Cape Cod cruise, your call points should be the Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruise, Hy-Line Cruises, and Bay Spirit Tours.
