Guests onboard the ships I guide often ask me what the chances are to see whales on the cruise. So far I’ve always replied that the chances are pretty slim. Beluga is quite possible, if you’re outside a lot, you’re likely to see a Minke Whale, but that will be about it. Every now and then we see some Fin Whales or other large whales (even Blue Whale, see this post), but that more an exception. However, I might have to change that reply. The past years we see more and more whales. In Hinlopenstretet (where this picture is taken) I’ve seen Fin Whales for two years in a row and in Storfjorden we had also several different ones.

The reason we see more? I don’t know. It can be a good thing, indicating the populations are recovering from the hunt decennia ago. But it can also be a bad thing, indicating the seas are warming up due to the climate change, allowing the whales to come further north as they were used to….

Whatever the reason is, it’s still nice to see those huge creatures (Fin Whales can become 25m long) more often.