- 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 aboard the Miss Samantha, Maine’s largest lobster passenger boat!
Our 56’ vessel has ample bench seating, a touch tank for ocean critters, and an open bow for photography and viewing opportunities. The trip is composed of two experiences. Watch our experienced fisherman haul in lobster traps from the ocean floor as a professional naturalist describes everything and answers all your questions about lobster fishing and marine wildlife.
Once we haul in the traps, we will hand you lobsters, crabs, sea cucumbers, sea stars, and anything else comes up from the sea floor! Don’t worry; all claws will have rubber bands attached so everyone’s fingers will stay safe! Our tours are very kid-friendly, and we welcome young curious minds on board.
About half way through our cruise, we’ll stow all the lobster gear and head off to a small island to view seals basking on the rocks or swimming in the nearby water. We most often see harbor and grey seal species. Our sighting average is above 95%, so don’t forget to bring your camera!
Binoculars and/or a long zoom lens are recommended for viewing wildlife such as seals and eagles.
Throughout the trip, we’ll be cruising in Frenchman Bay, where beautiful cottages line the shore and the granite mountains of Acadia National Park rise majestically from the sea.
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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 contact the ticket office no later than 24 hours before trip departure.
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- Restroom available onboard.
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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 & WATERPROOF LAYERS! It is much colder out on the open ocean, even on a hot summer day, and the ride is windy when the boat is underway.
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Trips will depart rain or shine, however we will cancel for high sea conditions and dense fog. Cruises can cancel up to 1 hour 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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This is an excellent option for kids and families. It is a very interactive and engaging cruise for children.
A few things to consider:
- Strollers-there is limited space for strollers on the boat, but we are happy to find a place to safely store your strollers on the dock.
- Supervision of children by parents or guardians at all times to ensure their safety.
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- At this time, masks are optional for this cruise as most of it takes place aboard on an open air vessel.
- However, when in close proximity to others outside your group, masks are strongly recommended to be worn.