I've always wanted to go to Tobermory to see the Grotto. I thought that would have been my…read morehighlight, and although it was gorgeous, my highlight was actually the Blue Heron Flowerpot Island Cruise. We bought our tickets online very easily. I had a couple of questions as we were bringing a dog, and since our trip was fairly short and I had never been there I had some questions getting around. The staff were really helpful when I emailed them. When we arrived in Tobermory it was easy to pick up our tickets. The staff told us about the various free lots we could use throughout Tobermory with our parking pass. We parked in the main lot near the ticket centre and used their free shuttle to get down to the dock. It wasn't too far away so you could easily walk as well. The cruise was spacious and had indoor and outdoor space. They spent a lot of time around the sunken ships which you could see from the glass bottom inside the boat, or standing outside. Then you're dropped off at Flowerpot Island. The island is absolutely gorgeous. There are lots of places to swim, hike, and enjoy nature. There is a little snack shop that sells chips and pop, but most people bring their own food and picnic. They give you about 4 hours on the Island which is the perfect amount of time to enjoy your day. You don't feel rushed, and you're also not dying to get off the island. If and when I get back to Tobermory, this trip will be at the top of my list.

Blue Heron is one of the two cruise companies in Tobermory that will take you to Flower Pot Island…read more Chose this one because it was ever so slightly cheaper than the other company and the times matched things we were planning to do. They have several options for boats - glass bottom, jet boat. Each has it's own schedules and pros and cons. There is also one boat that just does a boat tour - basically you don't get off on the island for this one, they just take you to see things and you stay on the boat - great for those who are unable to hike long distances but still want to see everything. Service: The people at the office were great - answered all our questions, kind and courteous. At the dock, people were also fantastic. Very clear instructions and safety content. Guides on the boats were informative, engaging and fun to listen to. Boats: We tried the glass-bottom boat on the way there which was great. They go over the shipwrecks and you can see them really clearly through the glass bottom. That ride was about 40-45 mins. Don't worry about fighting for a seat near the glass bottom - everyone just gets up and hovers around it anyway so hogging seats is pointless. Arguably, its better to explore the front of the boat or go to the top and then come to the glass bottom during the shipwreck portions. On the way back, we took the jet boat - super fast only 20 mins. I have a major tendency to get motion sickness but both these boats were travelling fast enough that I had no problems. Schedule: The boats come and go from the island and Tobermory fairly often. ProTip: You CAN hop onto an earlier return boat (doesn't even have to be the same boat you paid for) IF they have space. My group ended up finishing exploring the island an hour early before our scheduled departure - the Blue Heron employee told us we could join the standby line for the earlier boats - if there was space, they'd take us. There ended up being space and off we went - saving 1 hour of our time to explore other things in Tobermory. Parking: They provide free parking if you book with them. They have a main lot and a secondary one. We were early enough that we got into the main lot by their offices. Price: Since there are only 2 companies, it is pretty price-y. We paid over $50 per person for a round-trip. It would be nice if they came up with a family package or something since I could see it getting pretty expensive for larger families.

PROS: + SAFETY: My friend recommended that we take the Blue…read moreHeron because it is a lot more steady than the jet boats. Because I didn't want to upchuck my lunch, I thought that this was well worth the little extra money spent. + SERVICE: The staff on the boat/cruise were very friendly and helpful. I found the customer service reps not as helpful when I purchased the ticket. At first, I was turned away on the Saturday because the last scheduled cruise time doesn't let you walk the Flowerpot Island (would've been helpful if the pamphlet reflected that). CONS: - SOUND: The "guided tour" was rather muffled from the sound of the water. Not that I'm complaining, however, I feel like they need a better speaker system. At nearly $50/ticket, you'd think they would be able to afford it (plus easily 100+ seats per trip). - TIME: I think they gave us a little under an hour to wander the Flowerpot Island, I personally would've preferred more. I guess, from a business standpoint, giving their customers more time on the island would lead to less cruise times and thus less money. I appreciated that Blue Heron Company added additional cruise times to facilitate the fact that I (and many others) visited the last week of the season. I came pretty close to missing the cruise option of wandering the Flowerpot Island. Typically the last scheduled cruise does not let you wander the island so be sure to make note of that when booking your ticket!

This, along with Blue Anchor Cruises, are one of the two ways to get to Flowerpot Island. Blue…read moreAnchor Cruises appears to be faster and smaller with more ships, while Blue Heron seems to be more scenic and like a tour. Many of the ships take you to see several ship wrecks on the way to Flowerpot island. The boats also have a glass bottom (albeit quite small), which allows you to see the ship wrecks. Seems like many people were eager to go home early due to some bad weather, and unfortunately, they won't let you on the boat if you don't have the proper ticket. The cost is $38 Canadian dollars round trip (about $30 US).

Staff member assaulted my husband this morning by slapping the ferry slip onto his arm out of…read morefrustration over an email. Management handled it so poorly, police had to be dispatched to the dock. There was no accountability on their part to make the moment right. They lied through their teeth about what happened to cover for their employee. These people even had the audacity to ban us from getting on the ferry simply because we called the police on them. Horrible experience. I have never felt more disrespected and dismissed in my life.

Absolutely astounding We went on the morning ferry and got…read morebreakfast on the ferry No iced coffee :( But it's okay! Everything was expensive but like that's normal for touristy places The boatique was cute Pricey but cute Now, the upper deck in the front was crazy! The wind was insane I saw a few people loose their hats haha I didn't feel sick at all I wouldn't worry about that! The ship was gorgeous Felt like I was fancy :) Bathrooms were nice for a boat!!!

There isn't someone constantly in the office. If you need assistance, there is a sign that…read moreinstructs you to press a button to call staff. At check-in, I wanted to ask for restaurant recommendations and things to do in the area. However, the employee checking us in seemed to be in a hurry and told us to check out Trip Advisor for restaurants. We were informed of the patios and BBQs available for all guests to use. The other employee that we encountered was much friendlier. The office is open 24/7 and has Keurig, hot water, mugs, a microwave, an ice maker, and buckets for ice. Our room was on the second level and had a lovely view of the water. It was a spacious room with a connecting door in the wardrobe area. The downside to having a connecting door when we don't need it is that soundproofing isn't as good. We could hear conversations in the next room, especially when a baby started crying at 4 a.m. The bed was comfortable; the larger of the two windows had blackout curtains wrapped around the sides; a mini fridge and power bar with USB outlets in the wardrobe area; power outlets located around the room; and a few cushy chairs placed around the room. What I noticed later was that the room did not have a clock or a telephone. I suppose everyone has a cellphone, so those are not necessary. In terms of bathroom amenities, there is a soap dispenser on the sink, and body wash and shampoo are in dispensers on the shower wall. Restaurants, ferry docks, Bruce Peninsula National Park, and Fathom Five National Marine Park Visitor Centre are about a 10-minute walk away.

If you're going scuba diving for your open water certification, the motel is in a great spot…read morebecause it's across the road from the public access point on the East side of the Little Tub. That means that your car can be parked reasonably close and you only have to carry your tanks across the road without fighting for one of the 6 parking spots. The rooms are newly renovated and are air conditioned. Unfortunately, the air conditioner in our room (1 Queen) pointed at our bed making it very cold at night. There aren't that many available power outlets in the room either. There is hot water in the showers, but it takes some time for the warm water to start flowing. There are also no cots available for kids/extra guests so you'll have to bump up to a larger room size. Check-in closes at 10pm and you need to arrange with them in advance if you're arriving after that time. Check-out is at 11am. The brief interaction with the staff wasn't friendly at all. WiFi password is generated by the white machine behind the counter. one code per device and the code lasts for only 1 hour/day/week depending on which button is pressed. The WiFi is not at all fast and if you have lots of data, you're better using that instead. There wasn't anyone in the office so I paged and was directed to press the button myself and generate codes.

Good food, professional, polite staff, chill atmosphere. The most consistent restaurant experience…read morein Tobermory.

Nice, family run inn. Selection of videos and board games…read moreto use while you're here ! Restaurant is great .. scratch made food .. the family is Greek, so you know the Greek options on the menu are the ones to choose !! Open year round. I think maybe the only hotel around here that is ??

Very memorable place. My wife and I adore this place…read more Room was recently renovated, bathroom was spa like (minus a tub), sleek hardwood floors, great furniture, comfortable bed - quite modern, yet, rustic. Very clean and well stocked with more than an adequate amount of storage space. It's not your average "motel". Amazing view of the harbour, quite nice indeed. All for an affordable price. Kelly at the front desk has a naturally friendly and welcoming vibe. Very sweet. Totally recommended.

Very clean facility! Contactless check in and out but there's 24h assistance when needed. Free…read moreparking on site and right beside all the pubs and restaurants. The people working there are all very friendly. Looks like the best motel in the area. I recommend Craigie's for a quick breakfast in the morning. It's takeout only right now and there are tables in the back to sit at. We went there two days in a row. Probably the best quality food in the area and most menu items are $4-$10!

Choose Blue Heron Cruises instead…read more This was our first time visiting Tobermory, and we had a boat tour booked with Bruce Anchor Cruises to Flowerpot Island. We mixed up the date and missed our departure time -- that part was entirely on us, and we apologized and accepted full responsibility when we called. We asked about rebooking for the next day, which had open slots, but were told the only option was to pay full price again. We understand businesses need policies, and we weren't asking them to make an exception standard practice -- but even airlines will rebook a missed flight for a change fee. A similar gesture here would have gone a long way, especially for an honest mistake with availability open the next day. What really soured the experience was the follow-up. We called and texted multiple times, and were told each time someone would call us back. No one ever did. We had to keep chasing them, and when we asked to speak with a manager, they wouldn't give us a name. It felt like we were being ignored. We ended up booking with a competitor instead, Blue Heron Cruises, who was glad to have our business. They were excellent. Something to consider if you're deciding between operators in Tobermory.

Sailing to the Flowerpot Island is a must when visiting Tobermory. We chose the Flowerpot Island…read moreDrop Off Tour with Bruce Anchor. This is such an amazing tour that combines all of the Bruce's beauty in one trip. The mesmerizing history, lighthouse, rock formations, turquoise waters, all of which make the tour worth it from beginning to end. Your tour starts at the Big Tub Harbour. You will sail pass the Big Tub Lighthouse, Canadian Coast Guard, and stop by the famous "Sweepstakes" Shipwreck. They maneuver the boat around the sunken ship so you can see the wreck from every angle. There is plenty of time to take photos. I wouldn't recommend crowding at the "see through" glass bottoms, as you can see it even more clearly on the 2nd floor. As you leave the harbour, they accelerate towards Flowerpot Island. They sail around the island for a full circle so you can observe the flowerpots, the lighthouse, and the breathtaking turquoise waters before dropping you off. Here is where I recommend the early bird tickets. Since there is no one at the island yet, you get to take photos that are undisturbed by the inevitable crowds later in the day. Not to mention you get 25% discount from the early bird. Throughout the trip, Bruce Anchor's staffs were friendly and helpful. Plenty of instructions (via text/email) were given for the parking and meeting place. The tour guide was engaging and knowledgeable as he provided commentary throughout. I was highly impressed by their employees. My experience reflects the Bruce Anchor's "cruises", not the "motel".

Most wonderful place to stay! So close to the lighthouse and a great walk into town. The service…read morehere was amazing! Thanks to Jenn who helped us get a great place to stay and also gave us so many wonderful ideas to spend our time there. She got us to the right place for the boat trip to the Flowerpot Island. Her suggestions helped make our time there a real experience! Viviana and Marisa made our check in and out easy. They spent time talking and laughing with us. We know why people come back here time after time! Great personnel in housekeeping too! Don't miss this place! It's a real winner! Can't wait to feel the homey feeling and enjoy the quiet again. I don't think we ever stopped smiling! We celebrated our 40th anniversary there and will never forget it! Patty C.

My daughter (age 20) and I stayed here and really enjoyed our stay. Jenn checked us in and she was…read moresuper friendly and passionate about the area. We met a very friendly young person at the kayak/canoe rental area that was super stocked to chat about the area and things to do. You can rent a canoe or kayak then paddle over the ship wrecks!! how amazing is that? We loved the fact that this hotel/resort was located near the light house and that it was kind of quiet and private from the rest of Tobermory. We enjoyed watching boats coming and going and the sunset. Only down fall, small bathroom. If you are super tall.. just duck :) But its all good.