One of the most popular things to do in bar harbor, maine, is experiencing the wonder of the areas migratory whales and coastal wildlife on a whale watching tour. See puffins in the spring or go on a sightseeingnature cruise, fishing sightseeing in the summer and the somes sound fjord in the fall. Id never been whale watching before, let alone gone out to sea on a boat, so this was the coolest experience ever. Cruise ships arrive in the harbor from may through october most often in. Maine s largest boating tour company offering whale and wildlife watches, nature cruises, lighthouse tours, acadia national park tours from. This is some video clips and photographs of our trip with bar harbor whale watch company. Discover and book your next bar harbor, me shore excursion on any cruise line. The worlds largest living creatures can be found feeding and frolicking just 20 miles off the maine coast.
Take the day and walk the cobblestone streets bopping in and out of the countless locally owned small shops and businesses like fair trade winds. Best places for whale watching when to go whale watching. Our sightseeing nature cruises sail along the shoreline of frenchman bay and see summer mansions, egg rock lighthouse, highlights of acadia national park as well as bald eagles, harbor porpoise, seals and other sights and wildlife. Nestled in maines frenchman bay on mount desert island lies the quaint town of bar harbor. Powered by brand new, green, clean burning tier 3 diesel engines. The ledge provides a rich food source for whales, which feast primarily on herring. Here are a few puffin cruises to consider when planning a trip to the southport, maine, area.
Set sail on the sea chasing whales or sail around bar harbors frenchmans bay chasing sunsets on a. Bar harbor whale watch co with more than 25 years of experience and more than a million passengers served, this bar harbor based tour company is your best bet if you want to whale watch on your trip to acadia national park. Seals, dolphins, porpoises and puffins are also often seen around the whales. The tours that we offer include a puffin and whale watching trip, and whale watching tour, a historical lighthouse tour, a nature cruise, a lobster fishing and seal watching tour. Americas first national park east of the mississippi riveras you head offshore into the gulf of maine and to the whale feeding areas, the naturalist and crew will point out schools of harbor porpoise, seals, seabirds, and other marine life. The tours that we offer include a puffin and whale watching trip, and whale watching tour, a historical lighthouse tour, a nature cruise, a lobster fishing and seal watching tour, and a tour to baker island. Kandi leigh for a cruise along the rugged coastline of downeast maine. Excursions for arcadia national park, whale watching, biking tours and more. Humpback whale watching in bar harbor, maine youtube. Bar harbor whale watch company offers a variety of national park and nature cruises that feature the rocky shore, high sea cliffs, and landmarks such as sand beach, thunder hole, and schoodic peninsula. Keep it simple and head straight for whale watching. Free time can be spent socializing with other families, visiting bar harbor or exploring other areas. Get the latest deals for bar harbor cruises on cruise critic.
Our vessels offer galley and bar services, indoor cabins, restrooms and. Sightseeing boats out of bar harbor, maine usa today. International cruise ships reach maine next month amid. Surrounding the rockbound harbor is the worldfamous acadia national park where the opulence of nature is on display. Your professional naturalist will guide the cruise, pointing out wildlife and landmarks. All equipped with the latest in navigation and communication equipment. The vessel then ventures offshore in search of a variety of whale species along with seals, porpoises, dolphins, and offshore birds. Midapril brings the northern humpbacks, fin whales, the endangered north atlantic right whale and minke whales. Cruises to bar harbor, maine royal caribbean cruises. Princess cruises is a member of abta, membership number. Then we walked around bar harbor for a bit and then went down to the pier to meet our tour. Whale watching in bar harbor maine fodors travel talk.
This trip with a catamaran out to the atlantic is breathtaking you will go 20 see miles out to get the experience to see whales it is fantastic to see the in the. The best time for whale watching in maine getaway usa. Where to go on the best puffin cruise in maine newagen. This coastal attraction has retained much of its charm since its glory days of the 1900s, when americas elite vacationed here in opulent summer cottages. The wealthy have flocked to the area since the early 1900s. The bar harbor whale watch company offers a variety of boat tours for all ages that show different sights and wildlife in the area around mount desert island, maine. Its no wonder that the audubon society, nature conservancy, and maine coast. Is october too late for whale watching in bar harbor. Haul the captains lobster traps, spot eagles, seals, osprey, or atlantic puffin. Maine s whale watching season kicks off in midapril, as ravenous whales arrive to feed just about 20 miles off the maine coast.
The gulf of maine is an ideal whale habitat because its filled with all the staples of a whale s dietsquid, krill, and plenty of fish. Main street and sign up for tours that feature puffins, whales, seals, seabirds, and lighthouses. Acadian nature cruises offers 4 distinct tours sailing from bar harbor, maine. Here, you may see pilot whales and larger species including humpbacks, finbacks. Bar harbor whale watch company 2020 all you need to know. Explore the beautiful natural and historical sights that maine has to offer with the variety of tours available through bar harbor whale watch company. A high speed ferry travelling between bar harbor, maine to yarmouth. The bar harbor whale watch company and town pier will be located on your left at 1 west street in downtown bar harbor. Allied whale bar harbor whale watch research internship. Youll have the option to combine whale and puffin watching on an extended trip. Famous for its customized cruises, this family owned business offers a variety of private tours in downeast maine, including lobster, scenic, puffin, and sunset cruises. It offers 35hour whale watching tours on the gulf of maine, a range of whale species, and. Bar harbor whale watching, maine whale tour companies. This company operates out of boothbay harbor, maine, just a.
Later on, stroll down the shore path where land meets sea. Cruise to bar harbor us and canada cruises msc cruises. Great cruise for the entire family, with food, drinks, grill, and full bar aboard. We went whale watching in bar harbor, maine with the bar harbor whale watching. For guests interested in taking part in this quintessential maine activity, the bar harbor whale watch company. Explore the beautiful natural and historical sights that maine has to offer with the variety of tours available through bar harbor. Cruise aboard the harbor princess, mid coast maine s largest and fastest vessel. From bar harbor all the way down the coast of maine, whales can be seen cruising and frolicking throughout the summer. Bar harbor is a town on mount desert island in hancock county, maine, united states. The bar harbor whale watch company is located just 15 minutes from hanncock county airport, airport code bhb, with direct commuter service from boston on us airways express.
The first cruise ship of the tourist season is scheduled to dock in maine on april 25, bringing more than 3,000 travelers from around the globe to bar harbor maine. Acadian nature cruises acadian boat tours in bar harbor. On a whale watching tour, you will be able to see these and possibly be able to view various species of sharks and giant tuna. Venture to eastern egg rock to see puffins, then look for whales at maine s prime feeding grounds. For over 25 years, and having guided over 1 million guests, you will be awestruck and amazed by the power and majesty of whales in the gulf of maine. For more information, click below to download the following pdf files. Whale watching excursions from the village of bar harbor, maine, offer opportunity to see humpback, fin, minke and right whales frolic, breach and. United states whale watching in bar harbor maine my husband and i will be in bar harbor acadia national park for a few days in mid july.
Whale watching rates bar harbor whale watch company. Puffin and whale watch in bar harbor, maine 2016 youtube. Bar harbor, maine bar harbor whale watching excursion. Found out it was cancelled and then just went into the nature cruises office and bought that tour. Acadian boat tours offers a mustdo variety of cruises through the spring, summer and fall seasons. Island cruises bar harbor and acadia area boat tours. Whale watching in maine is more than a spectator sport. Allied whale currently supports field projects in the trophic ecology of humpback and fin whales, the ongoing housing and maintenance of the north atlantic humpback and fin whale photo id catalogs, an active stranding response program, and a researcheducation partnership with bar harbor whale watch co. If no whales are seen during your whale watch trip, your trip ticket will serve as a voucher to go out on another whale watch or any of our tours within three 3 years. Due to the unpredictable nature of the weather, tours are subject to cancellation for safety reasons. Bar harbor is a premier whale watching location in maine. There is a great abundance of marine life in the gulf of maine.
Its tough to resist the chance to spy on these clownfaced birds. Located at the atlantic oceanside hotel in bar harbor, maine, acadian boat tours offers nature cruises, puffin and seabird tours, tours of somes sound, as well as fishing trips aboard the acadian and the islander. Island cruises offers a leisurely, interactive introduction to the outer islands, wildlife, and history of the bar harbor and acadia area. Their feeding area is an underground plateau known as jeffreys ledge, which lies just about 150 to 200 feet beneath the surface of the water. Climb aboard your whale watching vessel and cruise 20 miles south of bar harbor to maine s whale feeding grounds. Your destination is 20 miles south of bar harbor, the feeding grounds of the larger whales. Bar harbor is famous for its east coast charm, and its numerous whale sightings. Visit acadia national park and bring along your binoculars to see whale spouts from afar or take to the water for a tour. The best time for maine whale watching begins in midapril when hungry whales arrive to feast in local waters rich in sand eels, copepods, plankton, and fish. Boats are equipped with heads restrooms, and galleys offer food and beverage service. Find and plan your next cruise to bar harbor with cabin price comparison, variety of departure. A number of whale watching tour companies operate from bar harbor and other ports on mount desert island, from june through october. Among the marine life are finback, humpback and minke whales. Download a free, high resolution pdf map of acadia national park from.
Bar harbor whale watching is a must do for anyone interested in marine life lobsters to seabirds and everything in between including whales, dolphins, porpoises and seals. The 25 best cruises to bar harbor, me 2020 with prices. Raw unedited footage showing what you can expect from the puffin and whale watch boat tour in bar harbor, maine. Bar harbor whale watch company all you need to know. The gulf of maine and the region that encompasses acadia national park is rich with marine life. Explore the rich wildlife population and enjoy the breathtaking scenery of coastal maine, acadia national park, the islands of frenchman bay, and the shoreline of bar harbor.
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