Membership FAQs

Yes! Regardless of how you join—online, onsite with a staff member, or over the phone—the Aquarium admission benefits are available to you as soon as you complete your purchase.

Please note, however, that memberships purchased online require a minimum of 48 hours to be processed into our system, which means that access to other member benefits and discounts, such as member movie passes, Whale Watch tickets, and educational programs will not be available until after that time.

To take immediate advantage of any benefits, please purchase your membership in our lobby or by calling 617-973-6555 (Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.).

Aquarium members always go to the information desk in the main lobby to check in—no need to stop at the box office.

If you don’t have your card, want to purchase tickets, need to renew or update any of your membership information, or have any questions, our team will be happy to assist you there.

It normally takes ten to 12 weeks to receive your membership cards in the mail, but that doesn’t mean you can’t visit the Aquarium in the meantime. Simply go to the information desk, and our team will be able to manually pull up your account. Please note you may be asked to present a photo ID.

A standard-level membership is a great choice for those who want to support the Aquarium enjoying a year’s worth of Aquarium visits and special perks. Our premium levels are for those looking to enhance their member experience and delve a little bit deeper in the Aquarium’s mission to protect the blue planet.

A membership is valid for 12 months from the time you purchase it. If you decide during your membership year that you would like to upgrade to a premium or higher admission level, you may do so at any time. However, please note that we do not prorate our memberships. Regardless of when you upgrade, you will pay the difference between the full cost of the membership level you currently have and the level to which you are upgrading. Also please note that upgrading your membership does not extend your expiration date. If you are nearing the end of your membership year, you may wish to simply renew early at the higher level. Membership discounts and purchased admissions are not applicable to upgrades.

You may name up to two adults residing in the same household on your membership for security reasons, it is Aquarium policy not to put minors’ names on membership cards. If you have a nanny/babysitter/caregiver who regularly brings the children of the member household to visit the Aquarium, we are happy to add his/her name to the membership cards and his/her use of the membership will be limited to visits with your children.

Membership benefits are non-transferrable, which means that a legal resident of the member household must be present in order for the benefits of the membership to be honored. We do reserve the right to request a picture ID, such as a driver’s license, when you are checking in for your visit.

Member events are extremely popular and often full up very quickly. Details on upcoming events—including event descriptions, admission limits, registration/ticketing requirements, and (if any) cost—can be found online at neaq.org/memberevents. Also if you haven’t already, be sure to keep an eye out for SeaMail, your monthly member e-newsletter, for late-breaking opportunities and announcements as well as reminders.

Membership benefits are nontransferable and a legal resident of the member household must be present and included in the party in order for any guests to be admitted to a member event. Also, please note that your membership must be active on the day you reserve as well as on the day of the event.

Many of our events are limited to the number of admissions permitted with your membership level. If you wish to bring more guests than your membership level allows, you may upgrade your membership to the next level simply by calling the membership department at 617-973-6555 (Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.) prior to making your event reservations.

Standard 4 and higher member levels receive a select number of Simons Theatre movie e-passes, which are stored on your account in our ticketing system. You simply need to let the reservationist or cashier know that you want to use them at the time you are purchasing your tickets. Please note that e-passes are activated as soon as a new membership is entered into the system (there is a processing delay of at least 48 hours when you purchase a membership online) and are valid until the last day of your current membership. When you renew your membership, any new e-passes will become active the day after your previous membership expires.

Any paper passes you may be holding are good through the date indicated on them and may be redeemed in person at the box office, in the Aquarium lobby, or in the Simons Theatre. You may also make reservations over the phone ((Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.) when using paper passes, but please member that you MUST bring the passes with you when you come to pick up your tickets, otherwise you will be required to pay for the reserved tickets.

All passes, whether paper or digital, are valid only at the Simons Theatre at the New England Aquarium, are one-time-use, and cannot be honored after their expiration date. We regret that we are not able to replace lost passes or extend expired passes.

Members may purchase discounted tickets for as many additional guests as are covered by your membership level. For example, a Standard 4 level membership admits four people (one member and three guests) plus discounted admission may be purchased for additional guests. Discounted tickets may be purchased online, over the phone, or at the information desk when you arrive for your visit. However, we strongly recommend reserving your tickets in advance.

The New England Aquarium is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The amount of membership dues that is deductible for federal income tax purposes is the amount paid less than the fair market value (FMV) of benefits provided in return, whether used or not. For New England Aquarium memberships, FMV is determined by the value of the member movie passes included with the membership level.

Your tax receipt is included on the “card carrier” in the packet with your membership cards.

Please note that Giving Society levels default to full tax deductibility by not automatically providing movie e-passes. Should you choose to accept the movie passes for which you are eligible with your giving society donation, your tax deductibility will be affected.

Membership rates and FMV are subject to change. We always recommend you consult a tax advisor with questions.

No, membership admissions privileges may not be applied to school trips, group visits, or nonmember events.

We sure do! Read all about our auto renew program and download your annulment form.

No, we do not maintain reciprocal admission agreements with other institutions at this time.

The New England Aquarium respects our members’ privacy and will never sell or exchange your email address or telephone number. Periodically, we may exchange member names and mailing addresses with local, like-minded nonprofit organizations. If you prefer to opt out of opportunities arising from these collaborations, simply notify us at members@neaq.org or 617-973-6555 and we will be happy to accommodate your request. Please be aware that exchange lists are often pulled several weeks in advance of any given mailing. Please allow six to eight weeks for complete removal from our exchange list.

The Aquarium is not currently able to donate memberships. However, if you are interested in purchasing a membership to donate on your own to a fundraising auction or raffle, you may purchase a prize of membership here or by contacting the membership department at 617-973-6555, Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Prize memberships are available in all of our household membership levels. After purchasing a prize of membership, you will be sent a prize of membership certificate that can be redeemed by the recipient within 30 days of the fundraising event. Once redeemed, the membership will be valid for one full year from the date of redemption.