Lighthouse Cruises
The Bar Harbor Whale Watching offers a variety of different lighthouse cruises! Enjoy picturesque views of historical lighthouses while cruising along the scenic coast of Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park! While taking in the scenery and learning the history of the lighthouses, be on the lookout for wildlife such as puffins, seals, eagles, and porpoise!
If you have any additional questions about the trip, please see our FAQ.
Puffin and Lighthouse Cruise
Trip time: Approx 3 hrs
Schedule:
July 1 to August 16 – 9:30am
Will run daily starting July 16th!
| Rates: | Adults | Age 6-14 | 5 & under |
| Puffin & 3 Lights | $54.00 | $27.00 | $14.00 |
Tour Description:
Join us for an adventure out into Frenchman Bay and the Gulf of Maine to see the most sought-after iconic symbols of Maine: Puffins and Lighthouses! Ride aboard state-of-the art catamarans with professional and knowledgeable naturalists and crew to see three island lighthouses, including Petit Manan, the second tallest lighthouse in Maine! The tour begins in Frenchman Bay and visits Egg Rock which is home to the first lighthouse of the tour and a nesting colony of cormorants and gulls. Be on the look out for seals and eagles at Egg Rock! This island is part of the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge!
After visiting Egg Rock, the boat will pick up speed and head out to an offshore island called Petit Manan. This location, another National Wildlife Refuge island, is home to a nesting colony of Atlantic puffins! See not only puffins, but razorbills, guillemots, as well as common and Arctic terns! We might also have a chance to talk with the researchers based on the island! The tour then stops by Schoodic Island in search of eagles and other wildlife. The boat then takes a scenic ride along Schoodic Peninsula to view the shoreline of Acadia National Park and visit Winter Harbor Light. Keep an eye out for ospreys and harbor porpoise or watch lobstermen haul up their traps. After a cruise through the Porcupine Islands on Frenchman Bay, the boat then returns back to Bar Harbor.
Somes Sound and Lighthouse Tour
Trip time: approx 3 Hours
Schedule:
Aug 17 to Oct 31 – 9:30am
| Rates: | Adults | Age 6-14 | 5 & under |
| Somes Sound | $51.00 | $27.00 | $14.00 |
Tour Description:
On this tour we visit Somes Sound and see Egg Rock, Winter Harbor, Baker Island and Bear Island Lights. We also take in all the park highlights such as Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, and Otter Cliffs! Historical mansions and landmarks are also featured on this cruise. This trip has excellent narration and offers ample time at each light for excellent photography. Wildlife such as eagles, seals, and seabird can be seen on this tour!
2020 Mid-Coast Maine 16-Lighthouse Photography Tour
Trip time: approx 8.5 hours
Schedule:
August 22 - 9:00am to 5:30pm
| Rates: | Adults | Seniors (62+) |
Juniors (16 under) |
| Mid-Coast 16 Lighthouse | $189 | $179 | $179 |
Tour Description:
Join us for a remarkable 16-lighthouse Photography Tour! Visit Egg Rock, Mark Island, Baker Island, Great Duck, Mount Desert Rock, Burnt Coat, Robinson Point, Saddleback, Matinicus Rock,Heron Neck, Brown’s Head, Goose Rocks, Deer Isle Thorofare, Blue Hill Bay, Bass Harbor, and Bear Island Light. Enjoy a full catered lunch with gourmet deli sandwiches, fruit, chips, cookies, clam chowder, soda, coffee and tea. Lighthouse Historian and author Jeremy D’Entremont will provide narrative of all the lights and will bring copies of his books for purchase and to sign. Bob Trapani Jr., Director of the American Lighthouse Foundation, will co-lead the tour and talk about his many visits to Maine island lighthouses. Michael Leonard, a lighthouse photography expert will be onboard to help you take amazing photos. During the day there will be many opportunities to take incredible photographs of scenery, wildlife, islands, mansions, islands, and Acadia National Park.
*If sea conditions prevent boat from going to Mount Desert Rock and Matinicus we will reroute the tour and view four Penobscot Bay lights: Owls Head, Rockland Breakwater, Indian Island, and Curtis Island.*
2020 Penobscot Bay, 15-Lighthouse, & Fall Foliage Photography Tour
Trip time: approx 8.5 hours
Schedule:
Saturday, October 17th - 9:00am to 5:30pm
| Rates: | Adults | Seniors (62+) |
Juniors (16 under) |
| Penobscot Bay 15 Lighthouse | $179 | $159 | $159 |
Tour Description:
Cruise aboard a stable and comfortable jet-powered catamaran through Penobscot Bay from Bar Harbor to Bucksport during the peak of Fall Foliage. Along the way pass through Eggomoggin Reach and under the Deer Isle Bridge, visit Castine harbor, view Fort Knox and the Penobscot Narrows Bridge. Enjoy a full catered lunch with gourmet deli sandwiches, fruit, chips, cookies, clam chowder, soda, coffee and tea. During the tour lighthouse historians Jeremy D’Entremont and Gene Torbeck will provide narrative at fourteen lighthouses – with eight-minute stops at each light. Michael Leonard, a lighthouse photography expert will be onboard to help you take amazing photos. A representative of the friends of Fort Knox will be onboard to provide commentary on Fort Knox.
2021 "Grand Slam" US/Canada 18 Lighthouse Tour
Trip time: approx 9 hours
Schedule:
Saturday July 24th - 9:00am to 6:00pm
| Rates: | Adults | Seniors (62+) |
Juniors (16 under) |
| Grand Slam 18 Lighthouse | $199 | $179 | $179 |
Tour Description:
Come with us on a grand all-day visual adventure. View all the lighthouses between Bar Harbor and New Brunswick, then pay a visit to seven Canadian lighthouses. Highlights include West Quoddy Head Light, Mulholland Point, Machias Seal Island Light, Head Harbour, and Petit Manan Light. Along the way, we will have the opportunity to see lots of wildlife (possibly whales, dolphins, sharks, seals and tuna) and two of the largest seabird nesting islands in the Gulf of Maine. This tour is guided by two of the “brightest” lighthouse experts in North America: authors Jeremy D’Entremont and Christopher Mills. Cruise through the Gulf of Maine features two special guests: Bob Trapani, Director of the American Lighthouse Foundation, and Michael Leonard, of the Portland Camera Club.
Group and Charter Rates available on request. All dates, times and prices subject to change without notice.
Reservations are recommended for all tours. All tours need minimum number of passengers to go.