Better Whalesafari | Whale Watching - Cozy Luxury Yacht Arctic Queen
Traveler rating
3.8/5
Based on 12 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Better Whalesafari | Whale Watching - Cozy Luxury Yacht Arctic Queen worth booking?
Better Whalesafari | Whale Watching - Cozy Luxury Yacht Arctic Queen is a 5-hour experience in Tromso, Norway, from $45000 per person. It scores 44 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 3.8/5 rating across 12 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 44 / 100
- Rating
- 3.8/5 (12)
- Duration
- 5 hours
- From
- $45000 per person
Welcome to a Exclusive whale watching Cruise, - a first class cruise for you, along with friends and family. Experience some of the most spectacular scenery in Norway from luuxury and exclusive yacht, Arctic Queen. Due
What you get
- Snacks
- Driver/guide
- Lunch
- Beverages
- Tea and coffee
About this experience
Welcome to a Exclusive whale watching Cruise, - a first class cruise for you, along with friends and family. Experience some of the most spectacular scenery in Norway from luuxury and exclusive yacht, Arctic Queen. Due to the distance, it is the only way to reach the whale, using a faster yacht. We will pass to fjords, like Ullsfjord and Lyngen fjord, surrounded by magic mountains, Lyngen Alps. This year, it will be maximum 8 guests on board to give you an even better experience We also offer this as a Private tour as well. Let us know.
What's included
Included
- Snacks
- Driver/guide
- Lunch
- Beverages
- Tea and coffee
Not included
- Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
What you'll see and do
Arctic Cruise In Norway AS - Day Tours
On this magic whale watching tour you will see fantastic mountains, fjords and magic views. When arriving the whale area, we have the best view from our flybridge, and due to our size (boat) we nornally get very close to the animals, orca and or Humback whales. Its like a dream!
60 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Tromso
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Returns to the starting point
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 8 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Arctic Cruise In Norway AS
Know before you go
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
- A maximum of 8 people per booking
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 12 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Food and drink
5 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Traveler reviews
12 verified traveler reviews for Better Whalesafari | Whale Watching - Cozy Luxury Yacht Arctic Queen. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Nothing luxury! NIGHTMARE
Luxury? Nothing short of a nightmare. Me and my husband went on this trip as gift for my birthday which was supposed to be my dream trip! Where do I even start. The two crew members argued and physically pushed eachother from the start for the duration of the trip. My husband was sea sick leaving me on my own with two people who were becoming extremely volatile. I was not assisted with the safety equipment/thermal when I asked for help I was ignored leaving me to work it out on my own. When located the whales the two crew members started shouting again and the boat done a sudden u turn away from the whales. The boat did not at any point stop the admire any view or whales. I was not offered any food or drink nor did the boat even stop for me to safely attempt myself. On the way back I asked about the food that was promised which I was told they didn’t bother because my husband would not of wanted anything. I was told we were going back to the location where we spotted the whales after going away from them (even when all the other boats stopped). However the skipper took off all his equipment, did not have use of window wipers so was poor visibility. He also locked up the viewing bit up stairs (which I may add led to another arguement when the skipper asked the other crew member to slow the boat whilst he went upstairs to which he (Luca) waited watched to see him go upstairs and pulled the leaver making the boat go fast) the skipper came down stairs and started to shout again because he had done the opposite to what he asks and in my opinion deliberately tried to cause as accident. The skipper numerous times forcefully pushed Luca up against the side of the boat whilst driving in anger. I felt so unsafe, scared, upset, hungry upon leaving this full day ordeal. What should have been my dream was shattered by what was happening around me. We rung Kurt the owner as soon as we came off the trip which he straight away said he shouldn’t have put them two staff together as it’s happened before. We agreed as compensation to be booked on to another whale safari the next day before we came home which was then cancelled due to bad weather. We have requested a refund to which they are now denying anything happened!!! No apologies clearly just want to take peoples money. Avoid at all cost.
Response from the operator: Dear Bethany Borlant, I am very sorry to read that parts of the day felt upsetting for you, and that the experience did not become the birthday moment you had hoped for. We truly wish every guest leaves with positive memories. For clarity, and for future guests reading this, I would like to present the factual details of the tour: • The private tour was completed as agreed • Whales were seen • All standard safety procedures were followed • Safety was maintained at all times • The skipper was fully qualified, not an apprentice • There were no physical altercations of any kind Regarding safety: Before every trip, all guests receive our written safety briefing in advance in up to 15 languages, and the skipper performs a full verbal safety review before departure. We also demonstrate how to properly put on a life vest. Thermal suits in multiple sizes were available on board, and assistance was offered. Regarding food and drinks: Hot drinks, snacks, baguettes and warm soup were available, as on all private tours. We offered to prepare the soup, but your husband was very seasick at the time and your party declined food. All standard refreshments were on board throughout the day. Regarding navigation and whale viewing: The vessel remained within the same observation area as the other boats, and whales were successfully observed. At no point was the vessel operated in an unsafe manner, and no sudden manoeuvres or incidents occurred. Regarding the cancelled sauna: Your private sauna booking was refunded immediately at your request, even though it had been fully blocked for your use and could not be rebooked by other guests — this was an additional gesture of goodwill. After the tour, I offered a discounted private tour with another skipper purely as a goodwill gesture, not because the service was undelivered. I understand that certain moments onboard did not feel ideal for you, and I take all such feedback seriously. At the same time, several of the claims in your review do not reflect what actually occurred during the tour. At the same time, several (same from your husband) of the more serious claims made here do not reflect what actually occurred during the tour. I genuinely wish you both all the best. Kurt
via Tripadvisor
Horrible !
We were supposed to go on a trip on the arctic queen. After a phone call a few days prior to ask id we could switch days - to be then told that we will keep the same dates afterall … we had to call several times to make sure the reservation was confirmed. I was indeed a bit worried regarding the organization of the trip. On the morning of the trip- my friend and I showed up just to be told amongst other people that the trip is cancelled because we are not enough people. If they hadn’t move the dates around like they did they would have noticed. We were then placed on another boat with many other people. Exactly what I wanted to avoid by going on a “luxurious” boat. The organization is terrible, we ended up loosing money since they still refuse to give us a refund ( they payed the alleged difference but forgot conversion rate) and are not answering my emails anymore. If you want ro book with them … just expect the worse
Response from the operator: Dear, First apologize for the process regarding your booking. We always try to help our guests getting the experience you booked, even if we cannont deliver (can be weather challange for our Yacht or technical problems...) We belived that the whale safari was the most important after all and works a lot to be able to find available space in this very have time where a lot wants to go. After we got accept for a seat for you, we let you know. So can go. Then we start the refund process more or less same time. So you will only pay for the boat you go with, Have in mind, we will not get our money from the booking companies, some times a month later. If booking company takes any extra fee, we will not get this. Sometime refund process takes 3-5 days before you got the money. And we need to wait for next month for the rest. When see the boat you where re-booked to, we cannot refund 100% since We need to pay for the seat, so when you choose to go with the new boat, its nothing we can do about that. If you on the other hand not want to go with the alternative boat, we would of course refund 100%. And again, its not easy for me to understand your claim like this when you choose to go and see the whale!? Anyway, I hope you got a nice experience after all. Best reg Kurt A
via Tripadvisor
Best time of our life
Thank you for the amazing experience! The captain was really kind and helpfull! We would really recommand this private tour! It is a once in a lifetime experience!
Response from the operator: Super thanks for sailing with us. Always welcome back Best Kurt Arild
via Tripadvisor
Petting a beluga whale!
Had a great time with Captain Per on a trip aboard Arctic Queen to a fjord south of Tromso where a beluga whale had been sighted a day or so before. We entered the fjord and sure enough, the beluga came up to the boat. My wife leaned down and petted him. Quite the experience. The Arctic Queen is a 35-40-foot diesel-powered boat and is quite comfortable for six (there were five passengers and Per on our trip). Safety was definitely on Per's mind; he insisted that we wear life jackets and survival suits while outside the cabin. The survival suits are bulky to put on but are quite comfortable and were warm in the near-freezing air temperature. On the way back to Tromso we were all served Norwegian fish soup. That alone was worth the trip--it was delicious! That night I ordered Norwegian fish soup at dinner. It was good, but not as good as Per's!
Response from the operator: Super tanks for sailing with us. And thanks for nice feedback. Beluga Whaldimir left our area later, but we had some lucky guests gets the bests :)) Welcome back Best reg Kurt Arild
via Tripadvisor
A great day exploring the fjords
We booked the whale watching tour, however as soon as we boarded we were told that due to a storm in the whale watching area we would be unlikely to see many, if any whales, and would be going to a less stormy area. Although this was disappointing at first, we had an amazing day on this boat. Jerome was a very attentive host, making sure we were all comfortable always. We went to an uninhabited island, and caught our own fish for dinner. It can get pretty cold outside, so it was good to have a cosy cabin to retreat to with hot drinks and snacks always available. We had a really memorable day.
Response from the operator: Super thanks for choosing us. Weather can sometimes be a challenge and its not easy for us to go to whale area. I am very happy you like the experience Besr reg kurt Arild
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 4
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Who runs this experience
Operated by Arctic Cruise In Norway AS, who run 12 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 61.3.
See everything Arctic Cruise In Norway AS runsWhy this scores 44
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Better Whalesafari | Whale Watching - Cozy Luxury Yacht Arctic Queen: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Tromso.
How much does Better Whalesafari | Whale Watching - Cozy Luxury Yacht Arctic Queen cost?
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Prices start at $45000 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Tromso usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Better Whalesafari | Whale Watching - Cozy Luxury Yacht Arctic Queen take?
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Plan for about 5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Tromso is not rushed.
Is Better Whalesafari | Whale Watching - Cozy Luxury Yacht Arctic Queen worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 44 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (3.8/5 across 12 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Tromso, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Better Whalesafari | Whale Watching - Cozy Luxury Yacht Arctic Queen?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Better Whalesafari | Whale Watching - Cozy Luxury Yacht Arctic Queen suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Better Whalesafari | Whale Watching - Cozy Luxury Yacht Arctic Queen?
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Around 4 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Tromso can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Tromso and add a light layer if any part of the 5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Better Whalesafari | Whale Watching - Cozy Luxury Yacht Arctic Queen start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Tromso within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Tromso?
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On Outty we rank every Tromso experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Northern Lights Minibus Chase from Tromsø with Chasing Lights, Northern Lights Big Bus Chase with Chasing Lights, Tromsø Northern Lights Chase We Go Where The Lights Appear. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Tromso?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Tromso?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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