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Maine Cruises & boat tours

Our most recommended Maine Cruises & boat tours

Portland: Schooner Tall Ship Cruise on Casco Bay

1. Portland: Schooner Tall Ship Cruise on Casco Bay

Set sail on a two-hour cruise from Portland along the rugged coast of Casco Bay. Pack a meal and your favorite wine or beer, and sit back and relax as you slip through the peaceful waters of Maine. Enjoy views of lighthouses, seals, and other coastal wildlife aboard a famous schooner tall ship. Join the crew to hoist the sails or take a turn at the ship's wheel if you feel inspired. Whether you're nine years old or 99, sailing aboard a Maine schooner is a unique adventure. Learn more about the wooden windjammers which are all listed on the National Register of Historic Places and were built in Maine.

Penobscot Bay: Historic Schooner Day Sailing Trip

2. Penobscot Bay: Historic Schooner Day Sailing Trip

Experience one of the top things to do in Camden sailing along Maine's magnificent rocky coastline. Climb aboard the elegant Appledore II, a historic schooner. Feel like an adventurer from the 19th-century while enjoying state-of-the-art accommodations onboard a modern windjammer. Stroll along the wide decks as you take in the sights without needing to duck beneath the rigging. With a capacity of only 49 passengers, there is abundant seating to make yourself comfortable for this intimate sailing trip. Enjoy the chance to sail your own wooden ship as the crew welcomes your participation. Offer to help raise the sails and take a turn at the wheel of this hard-working, seaworthy schooner. Ask your crew about the history of the boat which has sailed around the world, docking at many harbors along the way. Twice a year, she still sails the Eastern seaboard between her 2 home ports of Camden, Maine and Key West, Florida.  Start the tour by departing from Bayview Landing and heading out of Camden Harbor. Discover why Camden is often called the jewel of the Maine coast as you sail past the impressive lighthouse, Curtis Island Light, dating from 1836, and into Penobscot Bay. Considered to be one of the top cruising bays in the world, Penobscot Bay will amaze you with its uninhabited islands, wildlife, and views of Camden Hills and other coastal mountains dropping off into the sea. During the tour, look along the shore for Mount Battie, historic inns, and elegant summer mansions of the rich and famous with their million dollar yachts. Watch lobstermen hauling in their traps. On a typical day, you may see porpoises playing in the water, ospreys, eagles hunting for fish, and even the occasional whale. Watch for seals sunning themselves on rocks and cute guillernots (cousins of the puffin), with their bright red feet, wobbling as they walk along the rocky shoreline. Quench your thirst with cocktails, beer, wine and soft drinks, all available for purchase during your sailing cruise. As Camden Harbor comes back into view, relax and feel the wind sweep through your hair as your memorable sailing ship cruise draws to a close.

Camden: Sunset Sailing Cruise Aboard Appledore II

3. Camden: Sunset Sailing Cruise Aboard Appledore II

Board the Appledore II in Bayview Landing in Camden, and enjoy a 2-hour sunset cruise. Admire the beautiful harbor, framed by mountains, and appreciate the views from the wide decks. Help to raise the sails, take a turn at the wheel, and experience captaining a traditional wooden ship. Cruise past Curtis Island Light and into Penobscot Bay. Sail along the rugged coastline, take in the majestic mountains, and look out for local wildlife such as seals, porpoises, and eagles. Cocktails, beer, wine, and soft drinks are available for purchase as you enjoy the sunset over Mount Battie.

Boothbay Harbor Cruise: Lighthouses, Lobster Haul, and Seals

4. Boothbay Harbor Cruise: Lighthouses, Lobster Haul, and Seals

Go on a delightful harbor cruise, passing summer colonies, lighthouses, small islands, and out to see the seals on the ledges. Fun for the whole family. Pass by 2 lighthouses, islands, coastline, inner and outer harbor, and seals at the seal rocks. Experience a Boothbay classic that has been enjoyed for over 50 years and find out why it's so popular. Get an idea of how those delicious lobsters you enjoy at your favorite restaurant are caught, how the traps are hauled, and a little background of Maine’s famous lobster industry. Enjoy the seals basking on the rocks. Pass by two major lighthouses, Burnt Island Light, and Ram Island Lighthouse. This Boothbay Harbor lobster tour is educational and fun for the whole family. Don't forget to bring your camera. Step aboard a vessel that has the largest and most comfortable main salon in the region with padded seats and tables. Relax with food and a drink from the galley, which features a 360-degree view of the outside. Enjoy the sun and fresh Maine air on the upper deck. Hear the narration no matter where you choose to be, with speakers throughout the vessel.

Boothbay: Lighthouses & Islands Harbor Cruise

5. Boothbay: Lighthouses & Islands Harbor Cruise

Set sail on a cruise from Boothbay Harbor and discover Burnt and Ram Island Lighthouses on a close-to-shore trip. Discover playful seals, snug coves, busy harbors, old fishin’ villages, bustling boatyards, and summer colonies along the way. Step aboard the largest vessel in the region with the most comfortable main salon, fitted with padded seats and tables. Relax with food and a drink from the galley, which features a 360-degree view of the outside. Embrace the sun and fresh Maine air on the open upper deck, with speakers throughout the vessel allow you to hear the narration no matter where you choose to be. You'll be able to get more time to visit the whales at the feeding grounds as you travel on one of the fastest vessels in the region. Don’t forget to bring your camera and capture it all for the folks back home on this summer cruise.

Portland: Sunset Harbor Cruise in Casco Bay with Drinks

6. Portland: Sunset Harbor Cruise in Casco Bay with Drinks

Enjoy a 1.5-hour cruise around the islands of Portland's Casco Bay. Pass historic lighthouses, early-19th century forts, and quaint fishing piers as you explore the area at sunset. Guests over 21 can enjoy 2 craft beers or hard seltzers per person. As you cruise, keep an eye out for seabirds and the occasional seal that call Maine's coast home. When the timing's right, the boat will turn its bow towards Portland so you can enjoy the sunset and the city's skyline from the water.

Boothbay Harbor: Spectacular Kennebec River Cruise

7. Boothbay Harbor: Spectacular Kennebec River Cruise

Discover a variety of nature as well as historical and modern man-made structures on a Boothbay Harbor Cruise. From raptors to ducks, or great blue herons to black guillemots, the list of bird sightings is long. Pass through Upper and Lower Hell Gates, with close to shore and open sea cruising. See up to 7 lighthouses, and historic Fort Popham – dating back to the colonial days. Let your Captain bring you up to date on the latest modern-day shipbuilding projects at Bath Iron Works. You might see terns at their nesting site on Pond Island in the spring and loons in the fall. Look up at the colorful changing leaves in September to see other migrating birds, and don’t forget to look down for seals and porpoises.

Boothbay Harbor: Pemaquid Point & John's Bay Cruise

8. Boothbay Harbor: Pemaquid Point & John's Bay Cruise

Go back in time as you cruise historic John’s Bay and the eastern Boothbay Harbor Region. Discover seals and other coastal wildlife and experience the famous Pemaquid Point Lighthouse along with Ram and Burnt Island Lights. Pass by Fort William Henry and learn about the early exploration and settlement of the region going as far back as the early 1600s. Perfect for history buffs and nature lovers alike. Step aboard the largest vessel in the region with the most comfortable main salon, fitted with padded seats and tables. Relax with food and a drink from the galley, which features a 360-degree view of the outside. Enjoy the sun and fresh Maine air on the upper deck and speakers throughout the vessel to hear the narration, no matter where you choose to be. The vessel also has the fastest vessels in the region, which provides you with more time to visit the whales at the feeding grounds.

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What people are saying about Maine

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 6 reviews

Definitely not a sailor so when the boat tilts it’s a bit disconcerting until you realize that’s what sailing is supposed to be. We apparently had real good wind on our trip so got to go out past where most end up. Very cool activity, got to see three lighthouses, some very cool houses along the coast and the rugged coast line without the drone of an engine. Captain and the other crew were knowledgeable and very cool, a nice peaceful adventure, definitely worth it in my book

For my friends and I, the BEST time of our trip! Easy to locate and park. Our Captain was very knowledgeable and made sure that we seen the sea life enjoying the day! It was a perfect outing! Very much enjoyed and we learned new facts. The “swing” bridge was extra special! Highly recommend! Will look at future boat adventures with this company!

This was the perfect way to end our Maine trip. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable and the boat itself was stunning. Learned A lot of history about the boat. My partner and I Loved every minute of it . Take advantage of the byob.

Very relaxing! Lots of nice views! The crew is knowledgeable and funny!

Great sailboat rode around Casco Bay! Beautiful. Wonderful crew!