It should come as no surprise that a ship-based holiday offers the best way to see dolphins and whales in their natural setting. If you want to maximise your chances of seeing these beautiful and fascinating creatures, and to do so in comfort, then a dolphin or whale watching cruise is the way to go.

Many adventure cruise lines travel to cetacean hotspots, and you can choose between itineraries solely focused on wildlife, or more wide-ranging expeditions where whale watching is just one of the activities on offer.

Baja California and the Sea of Cortez, off the Pacific coast of Mexico, is arguably the world's top whale watching destination. Between January and March the lagoons of the Pacific coast provide the breeding ground for calving grey whales, an incredibly friendly and playful species, while further south off the tip of Baja California you'll see acrobatic humpbacks breaching the surface. The Sea of Cortez is also one of the best places in the world to see blue whales, as well as being home to whale sharks, sea lions and turtles.

Further north, Alaska and the Pacific Northwest is another whale watching hotspot, especially in summer, when you might spot humpbacks, minke whales and orcas. In the Galapagos islands, better known for their land-based species, you can see bottlenose dolphins, orcas and sperm whales, while Antarctica is another option if you want to see whales during our winter months.