When the sea turns rough or the whales stay away off Skjervøy
Most whale days off Skjervøy end with fins in the water, but some do not. Weather cancels boats and stomachs turn. Now and then the whales stay far away too. This guide is about planning for the day that goes wrong, so it costs you as little as possible.
No listing promises whales
Every tour we compare says plainly that sightings are not guaranteed. Orcas and humpbacks are wild animals following moving fish, and a skipper can only search the water where they were seen recently.
None of the listings on this page promises a free retry if no whales appear. Read your own listing before you book, and assume that a blank day is paid for like any other.
That makes your own plan the safety net. The second chance is a second booking, and the easiest way to have room for one is to stay near the harbor.
When the operator cancels for weather
Skippers cancel when wind and waves make the sea unsafe, which is more likely in midwinter. If the operator calls the trip off, GetYourGuide's standard terms give you a full refund.
Cancelling yourself is a separate case. On most GetYourGuide listings you can cancel free of charge until 24 hours before departure, so read your terms and watch the forecast the day before.
A refund covers the tour and nothing else. A night in Skjervøy and the fuel for the drive stay on your bill, as does any bus fare you no longer need, which is one more reason to plan a spare day.
Rough water that still sails
Some days are rough without being cancelled. One reviewer on Dervola Adventure's listing mentions high waves and says they still felt safe on board, which matches what a heated cabin cruiser is built for.
On an open RIB the same sea feels very different. The boat is fast and low and slams over the swell. Spray comes over the side, and your back and stomach feel every wave.
The two kinds of boat are compared in detail in our guide to open RIBs and heated cabin boats. If rough water worries you, start there.
Seasickness on a whale boat
Seasickness is the most common way a good whale day turns bad. RIBs bounce, while covered boats roll more slowly and let you sit inside in the warm.
Skua Nature advises seasickness tablets around 2 hours before departure for anyone prone to it. Frozen Frontiers is stricter and rules out seasickness-prone guests on its RIB altogether.
Eat something light before you board and keep your eyes on the horizon. On a covered boat, fresh air on the open deck can help more than the warm cabin. The other health limits for each boat are in who can join a Skjervøy whale tour.
Days that fall short
A trip with no whales at all is the rare case. More often the day simply falls short of what you pictured, and it helps to expect that before you go.
- Orcas far off, seen as fins on the horizon while the boat keeps a respectful distance
- Humpbacks only, blows and flukes but no orca pod that day
- Fog or snow showers that cut how far you can see in the short midday light
- A long search before the first sighting, which eats into the time with the whales
A quiet day can still bring white-tailed eagles over the water and the snowy coast in blue twilight. It is not what you came for, but it is rarely a wasted morning.
None of these is the operator's fault, and the skippers do not chase animals to make up for a slow day. What you can expect to see on a good day is in why orcas and humpbacks winter off Skjervøy.
A second chance is a second booking
If you sleep in Skjervøy, a retry the next day is simple. The harbor boats run about 3 to 4 hours, so a second morning at sea leaves the rest of the day free.
Skua Nature's covered, heated boat, from ~$279, is the gentlest of these on a lumpy day. It takes up to 12 guests for about 3.5 hours. You get a heated cabin to sit in plus an open terrace for watching.
A steadier boat for a second try
Skua Nature's boat is larger and more stable than a RIB, so you need no special suit. It rates 4.9 from 40+ reviews on GetYourGuide, and you have to get to Skjervøy yourself.
Dervola's cabin cruiser, from ~$284 also leaves from the harbor, as does Frozen Frontiers' RIB, from ~$241. Either can be your backup if your first boat is the other one.
From Tromsø it is harder. Green Gold of Norway's day trip, from ~$365, takes about 12 hours from a 5:20 am bus, and its catch here is plain. A one-day trip from Tromsø leaves no room for a retry unless you add another whole day.
The same goes for our pick, Arctic Adventure Tours' RIB day, from ~$343. Our comparison, Tromsø day trip or Skjervøy harbor start, sets it against a night or two near the harbor.
A short plan B
- Book with free cancellation where the listing offers it, and check the forecast the day before
- Leave at least one spare day, ideally in Skjervøy
- Take seasickness medication ahead if you are prone to it
- Pick the core weeks in the Skjervøy whale season to give the odds a nudge
- Dress for the wait as well as the whales, using our layering guide