The sunset tour was a great way to spend the evening after seeing Acadia by land much of the day!…read moreInformative on lobster practices in the area, gorgeous harbor views of the island and boats around Bar, Southwest, and Northeast Harbor, and a smaller boat for a more peaceful experience. The sunset was stunning, too, a great relief after my Cadillac Mountain sunrise and sunset prior were more overcast and less impressive.

An absolutely incredible experience for 12 of our family and friends. Purchased tickets online,…read moreshowed up 30 minutes early and the boat left exactly in time. Our expectations of a beautiful sunset cruise were far exceeded when we saw a porpoise, 3 osprey (two nests), seals and a bald eagle standing next to an American flag. The beautiful scenery, exquisite homes, boats of all kinds and sunset alone would have been worth the money but we were blessed with many memorable moments. We loved our narrator and guide Betty and Captain Don. The poem at the end made the evening perfect. Thank you to the Sea Princess for an unforgettable night!

The process to book the trip was easy online. Check In was just as simple. They offer on site…read moreparking which was helpful. The dock is a long walk so just a heads up if you have mobility issues. But you can get there. Plenty of seating in board, but it will be full so you might be seating next to a new friend. Does not matter which side to sit because the captain will spin the boat around for both sides to see each site. The entire trip was educational and picturesque. The captain has lots of stories and knowledge of the area. Very engaging. The back speaker was a bit crackling so missed a few tidbits plus the motor in back can be challenging. So prepare ahead to where you should sit. There is shade and sun. Great views of island life, birds, seals and even jellyfish. Saw a couple eagles and porpoises. So cool. They also pull a lobster trap and share the rules and regulations on lobstering. Great for kids. It's a solid two hour excursion and no on board facilities so prepare. Sure it's a bit touristy but I learned a lot about the lobster industry and salmon farming as well as island life. I would do it again and bring friends.

Hands down this was the highlight of our week vacation in MDI. The nature and lobstering tour was…read morefantastic!! We learned so much and got to see so many animals! We would recommend this tour to anyone and everyone! Some things that helped us enjoy our adventure: Definitely arrive 30 minutes before your tour starts to get a shady spot. And don't forget your raincoat or sweatshirt, it gets cold, windy out further in the bay and splashy on the sides , I wish I had brought a beanie along as well. Super glad I brought polarized sunglasses. Thank you! Can't wait to come back!

We took the Cat Ferry from Bar Harbor, Maine to Nova Scotia. We preordered tickets months in…read moreadvanced. This is a high-speed car ferry. We were greeted by a wonderful man who checked us in, scanned our passports into the system and helped us place our vehicle in the boarding line. Driving the car onto the ferry was a little scary because you are on an incline that causes your vehicle to roll backwards, plus you cannot see the vehicle in front of you. They loaded 2 floors of vehicles into the back of this ferry. I was amazed. We found a front row table in the Forchu Lounge where we each ordered an adult beverage and just enjoyed the3.5-hour ride to Canada. Walking around the ferry was difficult because we did not have our sea legs. We also got to sit outside at the back of the ferry and watch the waves and feel the wind.

4.5 here....the ferry was really great. From the reservation to getting on, to the actual ride…read more.. There was live entertainment in the Forchu Lounge! There were movies - both a kid friendly and an adult(ish) movie. You could sit out back and watch the massive wake, you could sit inside. Seats were comfortable. The upper vehicle deck attendant was especially nice because I was traveling with animals and she checked on them and found me to tell me they were ok! I've never left them in a car for 3 1/2 hours by themselves on a vessel before... it was a new thing. They did great! (well, apparently, one gets sea sick, I learned , not too bad, but was fine once we landed in Nova Scotia) There was food, although not great and also could not pay with an American Express card. A very common internationally used credit card, also an American ferry/ship, and can't use AMEX?? I booked my ticket with AMEX but couldn't buy food on board with it. That's kinda weird. So I'm knocking off the 1/2 star for that. Although I'm giving a full 5 for the review because this was a convenient and quicker way to get to Nova Scotia. And I'd totally do it again.

The unexpected cancellation of the ferry from Bar Harbor to Nova Scotia has cost us over $1,000 in…read moreadditional expenses, as we had to hire a driver in the middle of the night to get to Saint John, New Brunswick. The company has offered no compensation or alternative solution to help us reach Nova Scotia, despite the fact that we have multiple Airbnbs booked, transportation arranged, and flights scheduled to depart from there. When I called to ask for assistance, the representative simply said, "Oh well, we run again on Thursday." Today is Monday--waiting three days is not an option for travelers on a tight schedule. If you're counting on this ferry for transportation, be warned: you could be left completely stranded without any support.

This is a very small boat, not what you would expect for a Ferry Ride. That being said, it is a…read morelovely ride over from Bar Harbor to Winter Harbor. You see a lot of islands and even a light house. The crew is amazing. For a small group, the boat is very well staffed! The crew is very knowledgeable and share history and stories. We had two family members with us that have some disabilities. The crew was so hopeful and in a very caring manner. The needed assistance getting on/off and even walking on the docks. The crew made sure they were safe! When you arrive at Winter Harbor, there is a bus waiting to take you on a tour. All included. We didn't take the tour as we were visiting family over in Scoodic. For the price - excellent VALUE! I would highly recommend fitting this into your schedule. Very happy we did take the trip. Convenient location - Bar Harbor Inn dock. Tips - Maine weather changes quickly so make sure you bring or pack layers especially if you plan to take a late boat back. There is no reservation, so you can take any boat over or back, first come, first serve. Very flexible if you find you want to spend more or less time over at Winter Harbor.

Great place to spend time. We left a cellphone and it was mailed to us the next day! Super…read morefriendly and beautiful spot.

bucks harbor marina announced 5/16/23that they will not open for 2023. no rental moorings, no fuel…read moredock, no charters in 2023.

Amazing service to the unbridged communities of northern Maine. The Cranberry Isles is so fortunate…read moreto enjoy the commitment of our island ferry services.

Loved the experience of riding the ferry! The workers were all fun & helpful with loading &…read moreunloading bags, bikes, and groceries.

Swan's Island Charters is a must do! Our family spent the day with Captain Jason. So much history…read moreand knowledge of the area. The lobster boat was the end to a perfect tour.

Taking a chartered cruise around the waters of Swan's Island Maine with Captain Jason Joyce is a…read moremust-do on your vacation here. We went out for 3 hours one beautiful afternoon and Captain Jason entertained us, educated us, and showed us every special thing there is to see around the shores of the island. We saw bald eagles, harbor seals, and more gorgeous scenery of a beautiful part of Penobscot Bay. Captain Jason's family has been on Swan's Island for over 200 years and he knows every in and out of the area like the back of his hand. Kids will love being on his Lobster boat! It's a family fun adventure and at the conclusion we bought several lobsters off the Fisherman's Co-Op for dinner that just had been pulled out of the Atlantic. Wonderful day of making great memories!

We (four adults) reserved the Vera Lee for a three hour experience and what a fantastic time we…read morehad! Capt. Devan was a terrific guide having grown up in the area and reserving with Henry could not have been easier. They were even able to accomodate two time relocations due to suboptimal weather during our trip. We were able to see sights from the water that we hadnt experienced in our numerous years on the island and are already talking about, and looking forward, to our next time out with this team! If you are on the fence or dont know whether you will enjoy it, I cannot recommend the experience enough; great for a cruise (ours was in the evening), a celebration or even just for some "fresh air", you won't regret the experience and the photos you'll take will have you reliving the experience for times to come! Michael & Natascha

I called to get information on fishing in the Bar Harbor area. Although I told him up front we…read morehad our own boat, and I was only calling for information, he spent several minutes of his time helping me. I can not claim to know how good the boat is, but the people go beyond the norm.