Grand New England Cruise

Meet your local guide for a narrated tour of Portland - Maine’s largest city-by-the-sea. View Longfellow’s boyhood home, sea captains’ houses and the elegant Victorian Mansion as you drive through historic neighborhoods overlooking the islands of Casco Bay in Portland Harbor. Your tour includes a stop at Portland Head Lighthouse in Fort Williams Park, a historic landmark and the most photographed lighthouse in America.

Nestled on the east side of Mount Desert Island and surrounded by Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor has welcomed visitors for centuries. During the 1800's, the breathtaking mountains and seascapes were a source of inspiration for many artists and writers. Prominent figures like Joseph Pulitzer and William Proctor built magnificent cottages in this beautiful coastal community. This tour of Acadia National Park includes stops at the summit of Cadillac Mountain, the first land in the United States touched by the morning sun, and Thunder Hole, an inlet naturally carved out of rocks where the waves spout water as high as 40 feet.

Camden is proud to call itself the "Jewel of the Coast." A quaint seaport town, Camden features 19th-century architecture, a harbor full of classic schooners, and a beautiful backdrop provided by the Camden Hills. Enjoy a narrated tour through Camden Hills State Park, with a stop at the top of Mt. Battie, where you can enjoy panoramic views of glistening lakes, Camden Harbor, and the islands of Penobscot Bay.

Board the Lively Lady for a cruise of Camden Harbor. Watch a live lobster fishing demonstration presented by Captain Dominic during which you may see lobsters, baby lobsters, star fish, sea urchins, crabs, mussels, and an occasional surprise from the deep! Along your journey, view Curtis Island lighthouse, traditional sailing vessels, Maine's scenic coastline, and seaside mansions only visible from the water. In addition to seagulls and cormorants, you may also often see harbor seals, porpoises, bald eagles, osprey, and guillemots (a cousin to the puffin).

Join a local tour guide for a walking tour through Camden, the prettiest harbor on the Maine Coast. The tour highlights the history of Camden with its industrial beginnings through its current status as the hub for yachting in Maine. Enjoy the beautiful architecture and landscape design as you weave through the streets of this quaint port.

Explore the museums of Rockland with visits to Owls Head Transportation Museum and Farnsworth Museum. The Owls Head Transportation Museum has one of the finest collections of pioneer-era aircraft and automobiles in the world. More than 100 historic aircraft, automobiles, bicycles, carriages, and engines are on permanent display. Enjoy the museum’s outstanding collection, view late 19th-century automobiles, or even ride in a Model T. The Farnsworth Museum features the permanent collection, “Maine in America,” which focuses on Maine artists and The Wyeth Center. The Farnsworth Art Museum is one of only two centers in the country dedicated to the three generations of Wyeths: N.C., Andrew, and James Wyeth.

Enjoy the flavors of local lobster, clams, and mussels right on the shore of beautiful Penobscot Bay. Dine under a covered tent while listening to fabulous musical entertainment. This event truly encapsulates everything wonderful about the Maine experience.

Just before enjoying the Lobsterbake Luncheon at Sharp’s Point South, visit the Sail, Power, and Steam Museum, a working “hands on” museum with sail making and rigging rooms. Enjoy “make ‘n break” gas stationery and steam engines, old ship building tools, hand tools, and architectural builder’s half models. The museum has a complete boat shop with caulking tools, a working sail maker’s bench, and a navigation room with two working radars. Also in the museum is a shipwreck room featuring wrecks of 1898, a real working lime kiln, and an extensive model display of schooners and steam boats of the Penobscot.

The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is one of the most distinguished botanical destinations in the country, and one of Maine's top attractions. Its exquisite gardens, dramatic natural landscape, and scenic will captivate you. A guided tour will introduce you to the history, horticultural details, and colorful explanations of these gardens. Included will be the visitor favorite, the Lerner Garden of Five Senses, a garden designed to appeal to each sense. After the tour, visit the gift shop or stroll the gardens on your own.

Photo by Barbara Freeman, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.

Sail on board the Schooner Lannon (65-foot boat) and get a taste what it was like to sail on a fishing schooner 100 years ago.  your journey, sit back and take in the sights and sounds of Gloucester's coastline.  Breathe the refreshing air and feel the wind on your face, as you witness lighthouses, castles, scenic beaches, and magnificent waterfront homes.  

During a visit to the Maritime Heritage Center, explore the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Exhibit, New England’s only marine sanctuary.  Other features include the Sea Pocket Lab, Burnham Brothers Marine Railway, Eleanor; a reproduction of one of the three ships that participated in the Boston Tea Party, and the Main Pier.  After visiting the Maritime Heritage Center, enjoy a narrated tour of Gloucester and Rocky Neck. Tour highlights will include Stacy Boulevard, where passengers can view the famous statue, “Man at the Wheel;”  Downtown Gloucester, and East Gloucester, also referred to as Rocky Neck. 

Newport, RI boasts one of the finest natural harbors in the world. The night before your arrival, engage in an enlightening lecture of how Newport’s earliest settlers protected the harbor from intruders and also used it to achieve monetary successes. The intimate size of our ship allows us to dock right at Fort Adams, the well-known fort used to protect the harbor, and puts us just a short ride away from Newport’s bustling riverfront. Our onboard lecturer will walk you over to the fort and answer any questions you may have before leading you to a knowledgeable park ranger who will delve deeper into the history of the fort and the military and naval strategies implemented there.

Travel back in time to the epicenter of 19th-century opulence as a knowledgeable guide takes you down one of the most architecturally impressive avenues in the world. Learn about the owners of the homes and their monetary successes as you travel along the spectacular Ocean View Drive and Bellevue Avenue, stopping at the “grande dame” of them all, The Breakers Mansion. A portrayal of the social and financial prominence of the Vanderbilt family at the turn of the century, the architecture of this seventy-room Italian Renaissance-style palazzo is remarkable. Take a leisurely audio tour of the home and learn about the Vanderbilt family and the inspiration for their building this impressive summer “cottage.” At the conclusion of the tour, you will have time to explore the bustling Newport waterfront at your leisure.

Enjoy a narrated tour of the island, including historic Edgartown which maintains its Greek Revival architecture, Oak Bluffs with its quaint gingerbread cottages, the scenic harbor of Vineyard Haven, and West Tisbury reminiscent of a Currier & Ives print. Stroll through the quaint village of Edgartown where you will have time to shop and explore.

Located at the very tip of Cape Cod, Provincetown is a popular summer vacation destination known for its beaches, harbors, and local art community. Affectionately referred to as “P-Town,” learn all about the area’s rich history and culture. Experience Commerce Street and enjoy the diverse shops and restaurants, before heading to Race Point Beach for a visit to the Race Point Lighthouse. A trip to Provincetown would not be complete without visiting the Provincetown Library, whose unique interior features an actual sailing ship, Rose Dorothea.