Ever go whale watching?

My wife and I are planning to do an Alaska cruise sometime before we die and I will plan it for the most likely time to see whales but man, them folks up there are CLOSE. I would not be that knucklehead reaching out to touch the whale.

Too close for comfort.

been 4 times, alaska, maine, hawaii and boston. saw whales every time, even saw a big ole breach off maine. saw a few more from shore.
but after the hawaii trip, never again. it went over the line from watching to harassing. it made me sick to my stomach. not our boat so much as others out at the same time following a whale w a calf.

pretty funny skit, tho.

Holy mother of god, shit, you are BIG!!! Please ignore me, I'm just floating here. I am not a toy. No, no, no, I am not a toy.

The nastiest marine mammals I've encountered have been sea lions. One once snuck up and bumped me in Jaws 3D sequel movie times. I was wearing a mask and a snorkel and nothing else, if you want the complete picture. I might have pissed my pants but I wasn't wearing any.

Another time my know-it-all newly adolescent kid and I were in a kayak when an adolescent sea lion decided to mess with us and my kid decided to give it back with his paddle. They're both lucky I didn't go raging green hulk dad on both of them.