Harbor Cruise

Last Updated on September 12, 2023 by

If you’ve hiked yourself out or spent all your money shopping, take an afternoon off and cruise around the harbor. There are multiple boat companies with several different cruise options each, so take a moment to pick a tour that has something that really interests you. We chose the Lighthouse and National Park Tour by Acadian Boat Tours. This company also provides free parking, although on our particular cruise day there was a huge craft fair at the adjacent Atlantic Oceanside Hotel. Free parking was more like find a spot anywhere your car will fit, but we got a spot – crisis averted. It’s also a good thing we had a reservation considering the allure of sparkly things in such close proximity to where we parked.

Our boat for the was the Eden Star. It has a nice large deck with bench seating in the rear and plenty of indoor seating if you don’t want to be exposed to the elements. Even though it was a pretty warm day when we started, it was pretty chilly out there on the water. I had to break down and put on a hat and sweater, an indignity of all indignities, wore pants. Diminished yet determined, I stayed out on the rear deck to prove a point to no one other than myself.

The tour lasts a little over three hours. During that time, we visited three Maine lighthouses and the historic Islesford Lifesaving Station. Following the coastlines of Bar Harbor and the islands of Acadia National Park, our guide pointed out some of the stately and historic “cottages” of Mount Desert Island’s Golden Age along with the names of some of their famous current owners. She also took a moment to point out how those same famous persons had purchased huge tracts of land to prevent any further development. Depending on your point of view, it is either a) incredibly selfish because it denies the public access to some of the most beautiful parts of the Maine coast, or b) very altruistic by preserving the coastline from overdevelopment. The consensus is the wealthy simply didn’t want neighbors, but you get to make your own choice. Our naturalist guide also talked about America’s lighthouse history and the bravery of the early Lifesaving Service crews. We also passed by Acadia highlights like Thunder Hole and Otter Cliffs, although the tide wasn’t in, so Thunder Hole was more like Piccolo Hole. It happens.

Even though this wasn’t a whale watching tour, we saw plenty of whales. We also saw an island full of seals. Fun fact – the seals ride the tide to the island where they find a comfortable perch. When the tide goes out, the seals are effectively stranded in place until the tide comes back in. And finally, was saw a huge Osprey nest, nestled on top of a rock outcropping almost invisible to the casual by passer.

We also cruised past an island whose kids take a water taxi to school everyday which I personally thought was the coolest thing. I suppose taking an hour long ferry in gale force winter winds might have reduced the cool factor, but I was there on a calm sunny day day.

There’s something about sitting on a boat in and amongst the lobster traps that completes the Maine vacation experience. Give it a go, you’ll be happy you did.