- Most Popular
- 3.5 - 5.5 hours Duration 3.5 - 5.5 hours
- All ages Ages All ages
An adventure to remember! Head offshore in search of whales while your guide educates you about the whales and other species of the Gulf of Maine.
Quick Details
Join us for a spectacular nature cruise among the islands and shorelines of beautiful Acadia National Park and Mount Desert Island.
The Nature Cruise is the perfect way to experience the coastal beauty of Acadia National Park and Frenchman Bay!
We’ll cruise past some of the most breathtaking scenery in New England. From the shear granite cliffs to smooth rock beaches, you’ll see a rugged maritime landscape etched by glaciers and battered by sea & wind.
Here, the ocean teems with life; harbor and grey seals on ledges, nesting bald eagles, and pods of harbor porpoise chase schools of herring. This cruise provides opportunities to see a variety of seabird species such as gulls, northern gannets, double crested cormorants, black guillemots, and eider ducks!
We stay in the protected waters of Frenchman Bay, which is rich in history-home to the Wabanaki for thousands of years, explored by Europeans as early as the 1600’s, and eventually settled by the late 1700’s. Your cruise will feature a professional naturalist who is excited to share interesting stories of natural and human history of the area including information about the wildlife and Acadia. Our knowledgeable guides and crew are happy to answer your all your questions!
Binoculars and/or a long zoom lens are recommended for viewing wildlife such as seals and eagles. You can rent binoculars on the vessel for $5!
Dogs are welcome aboard the nature cruise!
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- When booking, please make sure to have tickets for all members in your party, including infants, as our vessels are certified to carry a specific number of passengers.
- If you need to cancel or change your reservation, please make sure to contact our ticket office no later than 24 hours before trip departure at: [email protected] or (207) 288-2386.
- Dogs are welcome but must be leashed and with their owners at all times. Dogs must able to handle a two hour boat cruise and crowds.
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Trips will depart rain or shine, however we will cancel for high sea conditions, severe thunderstorms and heavy rain storms, and dense fog. Cruises can cancel up to 30 minutes prior to departure. In the event of a cancellation, you will be notified via email and text. To rebook your cruise, please contact our office at 207-288-2386 or email us at [email protected]. Refunds will be processed automatically by the end of the day.
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- Galley has light snacks and bar, including hot and cold beverages. CASH ONLY for galley purchases.
- Restrooms available onboard.
- Binoculars are available at the galley for $5. Photo ID required for rentals.
- Indoor and outdoor seating available. Seating is first come, first serve. Passengers are allowed to stand and move about the boat during the trip.
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- Vessels are wheelchair accessible.
- Scripts are available upon request.
- Certified guide dogs are welcome.
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- We recommend arriving at the dock 45-60 minutes before departure.
- Municipal paid parking is available in downtown Bar Harbor and the town pier. Parking is limited in town, and gets very difficult to find later in the day. Please arrive early to find a spot to park!
- Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co. is not responsible for any parking fees or tickets due to the duration of trips or cancellations.
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- Warm layers such as a jacket or sweatshirt. Air temperatures tends to be colder on the water.
- CASH for galley purchases.
- Camera-lots of great scenery and wildlife to capture!
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All ages welcome!The nature cruise is a great experience for kids! We ask parents or guardians to make sure kids have an adult with them at all times. We are out on the ocean and kids, being curious and excited to be on a boat, tend to wander off, attempt to jump when going over waves, run around, swing and climb on things they shouldn’t and could potentially get injured. It helps to make sure adults are reinforcing the safety rules!