Booking a whale watching tour offers you a unique opportunity to see these magnificent mammals in their natural environment. While you'll want to confirm a few things such as the length of the tour and the areas that you'll visit before you complete your booking, another topic to think about is the boat itself. Whale watching tour companies typically provide a lot of information on their websites about the boats in their fleet. Take a few minutes to read about these boats and look at photos so that you can book your outing on one that offers the following viewing positions.

Bow

Many whale watching boats have space at the bow of the vessel for people to sit or stand during the excursion. This can be a good place to spend at least part of your time on the water for a number of reasons. As you travel toward where the tour operator expects to find whales, standing at the bow of the vessel means that you might be one of the first tour participants to spot a whale. It can be satisfying to excitedly point toward it so that your fellow participants can see it, too. The bow of the boat will also rock up and down when the water is rough, which can make this spot an exciting place if you enjoy this type of thrill.

Covered Area

If your tour company operates rain or shine, you'll want to choose a boat that has an ample-sized covered area. While it's always important to dress in rain gear if rain is in the forecast, you might not want to stand on the deck for the entirety of the tour. Being able to stand or sit in a covered area can make the experience more enjoyable. On days with hot, sunny conditions, you'll also enjoy this spot because it gets you out of the direct sun.

Upper Deck

Some whale watching boats have upper decks. If there's a covered space in the center of the boat, it may have a deck above it that people can occupy. Spending some time on the upper deck is exciting because you have an exceptional view from this elevated area. Being up high allows you to see farther into the distance. Additionally, if the conditions are wet and most of the participants are in the covered area, you might enjoy ascending to the upper deck and having more space to move around. A boat that has each of these viewing positions can be a good choice for helping you to enjoy your outing.