Newburyport Whale Watch

What Newburyport Whale Watch does

Newburyport Whale Watch operates a single-vessel whale watching and marine wildlife tourism business from Newburyport, Massachusetts. Departures run from the downtown boardwalk at 54 Merrimac Street aboard the custom-built, 106-foot Captains Lady III (149-passenger capacity, three Caterpillar diesel engines producing 3,600 horsepower), traveling into the Gulf of Maine to feeding grounds at Jeffreys Ledge and Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Each 3.5–4 hour narrated excursion is led by expert marine naturalists, with seasonal operations running May through October. Observed wildlife includes humpback, finback, and minke whales, plus dolphins, harbor seals, ocean sunfish, and basking sharks.

The company generates revenue through per-ticket whale watching excursions and a diversified set of adjacent offerings: naturalist-led pelagic birding trips (6 hours), educational field trips with hands-on marine science activities (otter trawling, plankton tows, navigation), private charters for up to 149 guests (weddings, corporate events, class trips), and evening sunset/dinner cruises with cash bar service. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the FareHarbor online booking platform and phone reservations, with secondary availability through AttractionSuite. Marketing relies on organic social (Facebook, Instagram) and travel review aggregators (TripAdvisor, Yelp). Onboard F&B (full galley and liquor license) supplements ticket revenue. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; discount programs exist for Newburyport residents, AAA members, military, and Mass Teachers Association members.

Newburyport Whale Watch is privately held by the Charos Family, who acquired the business in 2013 through their related entity Captains Fishing Parties, a Plum Island fishing party operator in business for over 40 years. The custom-built vessel was designed and constructed by the family in collaboration with Midship Marine. The company is cooperatively managed by brothers Chris Charos and Ryan Charos and their father. The firm operates with 1–10 employees, holds no patents, has no external funding, and uses no disclosed AI/ML or proprietary technology platforms. Strategic partners include Whale SENSE (responsible whale watching), Mass Audubon/Joppa Flats Education Center (naturalist staffing), and the Seacoast Science Center (marine mammal rescue affiliation).

Name

Newburyport Whale Watch

Legal name

Newburyport Whale Watch

Website

https://newburyportwhalewatch.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Newburyport Whale Watch operates a single-vessel whale watching and marine wildlife tourism business from Newburyport, Massachusetts, aboard the 106-foot Captains Lady III, serving individual travelers, families, school groups, and corporate clients with seasonal May–October excursions into the Gulf of Maine.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Tourism and Whale Watching Excursions

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (4872), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Whale Watching & Marine Mammal Tours (THAAAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Watching & Encounters (Birding, Whale Watching, Primates) (THAJAIAC), Sightseeing & Scenic Boat Tours (Harbor, Sunset, Dolphin/Whale Watching) (THAJAJAA), Marine Wildlife & Birding Cruises (dolphins, seals, seabirds) (THAAAIAD)

Keywords

• Whale watching tours
• Marine tourism
• Private boat charters
• Birding excursions
• Educational cruise trips

Headquarters

HQ city

Newburyport

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Whale Watching Tours: Ticket sales for 3.5-4 hour whale watching excursions departing from Newburyport Boardwalk. The company also offers birding trips, evening cruises, private charters, and educational trips, all generating revenue through per-person ticket pricing.
2. Onboard Food & Beverage: Full galley serving breakfast, lunch, snacks, and beverages during trips. The boat has a liquor license offering beers, wines, and liquors for purchase during voyages.
3. Private Charters & Event Services: Private charter services for weddings, anniversaries, corporate events, and group outings. Evening cruises on the Merrimack River with catering options and bar service.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Newburyport Whale Watch sells narrated whale watching excursions aboard the 106-foot Captain's Lady III, departing from the Newburyport Boardwalk into the Gulf of Maine to Jeffreys Ledge or Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Each 3.5–4 hour trip is led by an expert marine naturalist and includes onboard food and beverage service. The company also sells private charters (up to 149 guests), six-hour naturalist-led birding trips, hands-on educational trips for schools, and seasonal evening dinner and fireworks cruises.

Product overview

Newburyport Whale Watch operates a single-vessel fleet centered on the 106-foot Captain's Lady III, offering public whale watching trips (3.5–4 hours), private charters (up to 149 guests), birding trips (6 hours with Joppa Flats naturalist), educational trips with floating labs, and evening dinner/sunset cruises. All whale watching excursions are narrated by expert marine naturalists and travel to Gulf of Maine feeding grounds at Jeffreys Ledge or Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. The vessel features a full galley, heated cabin, bar service, and outdoor deck seating. Additional wildlife encounters include dolphins, seals, ocean sunfish, and basking sharks. The company is a member of the Whale SENSE responsible whale watching program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Captains Lady III: The 106-foot main vessel operated by Newburyport Whale Watch, capable of carrying up to 149 passengers to whale feeding grounds in the Gulf of Maine.

Products and services

• Whale Watching Tours

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Whale SENSEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNewburyport Whale Watch is a member of Whale SENSE, a voluntary program committed to responsible whale watching. This partnership demonstrates the company's commitment to ethical wildlife tourism practices and whale conservation.
• Mass Audubon / Joppa Flats Education CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Joppa Flats Education Center provides naturalist Dave Larson for birding trips. This partnership enhances the educational value of birding excursions with expert ornithological guidance.
• Seacoast Science CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNaturalist Patty Adell volunteers with the Seacoast Science Center's Marine Mammal Rescue Team. Naturalist Amy Warren also volunteers with their NH Marine Mammal Rescue and Response team.
• Captains Fishing PartiescoreOthersRelated family business under the Charos Family ownership. Newburyport Whale Watch was purchased by Captains Fishing Parties in 2013. The companies share the same ownership and operate synergistically, with Captains Lady III serving as the whale watching vessel.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises: Cape Cod-based whale watching operator running trips to Stellwagen Bank with high-capacity vessels, narrated excursions, and onboard amenities. Closely comparable in trip duration, customer type, and geography to Newburyport Whale Watch.
• Yankee Fleet: Gloucester, Massachusetts-based fishing, whale watching, and deep-sea excursion operator. Closely comparable in vessel-based tourism, New England geography, seasonal schedule, and multi-product (fishing + whale watch + charters) offering.
• Captain John Boats: Plymouth, Massachusetts operator running whale watching and deep-sea fishing trips with high-capacity vessels. Comparable in vessel scale, mid-Atlantic New England geography, and mixed whale-watch/fishing/charter offering.
• Bar Harbor Whale Watch: Bar Harbor, Maine-based whale watching tour operator offering naturalist-narrated trips in the Gulf of Maine to comparable feeding grounds. Directly competes for the same New England tourist market with a similar seasonal business model.
• Granite State Whale Watch: NH/MA border-based whale watching operator running Jeffreys Ledge trips with naturalist narration. Directly competes with Newburyport Whale Watch for Gulf of Maine customers and overlapping feeding-ground routes.
• Dolphin Fleet Whale Watch: Operates whale watching trips from Provincetown, Massachusetts into Stellwagen Bank with multiple vessels and narrated excursions. Most directly comparable competitor — same primary feeding ground, similar passenger experience, and overlapping customer base in the New England tourism market.

Broad incumbents

• Boston Harbor City Cruises Whale Watch: Operates whale watching and harbor cruises out of Boston as part of a larger City Experiences portfolio. Overlaps directly with Newburyport Whale Watch's core whale watching product but additionally controls harbor tour, ferry, and event charter demand at much greater scale.
• Boston Harbor Cruises (privately operated tour boats): Wider Boston Harbor sightseeing, charter, and ferry operator. Comparable in waterborne passenger tourism, private charter events, and seasonal deployment but more diversified across commuter ferry, harbor tour, and dinner cruise product lines.

Others

• Mass Audubon (Joppa Flats Education Center): Provides the naturalist for Newburyport's birding excursions and operates related eco-tourism and conservation programming in the Merrimack River/Newburyport area. Strategic ecosystem partner rather than a competitor, but adjacent in the wildlife-experience category.

Emerging players

• Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation: Portsmouth, NH-based nonprofit running whale watching eco-tours with marine biology naturalists off the New Hampshire coast. Comparable in naturalist-led educational product and overlapping Gulf of Maine waters, but operates as a mission-driven player rather than a family charter operator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/newburyportwhalewatch
• Instagraminstagram.com/newburyportwhalewatch/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/newburyport-whale-watch-inc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Newburyport Whale Watch