Calling all foodies, adventure seekers, wildlife and outdoor aficionados, or anyone looking for pure tranquility. A vacation to Maine encompasses all of your favorite things and more! Maine is spoiled with a wealth of hiking trails, beautiful beaches, towering mountains, spectacular views, and copious seafood dishes.
Maine is famous for its abundance of moose and lobster! Maine’s lobster industry brings in over 100 million pounds annually. That’s 90 percent of the United States lobster supply. And it’s no wonder – with nearly 3,500 miles of deep coastline, 32,000 miles of rivers and streams, 6,00 lakes and ponds, and 500,00 acres of state and national parks, Maine is an outdoor lover’s paradise.
In addition to this abundance of wild nature, Maine boasts many hidden treasures you may not have known. For example, Maine is the largest producer of blueberries in the United States. This delicious fruit has adapted to the state’s rigorous soil. Blueberry season runs from late July and early September.
Maine was also known as the birthplace of prohibition, or the illegal consumption of alcohol –back in 1851. Today, Maine ranks in the top three states with a thriving craft beer industry. Greater Portland has the most breweries per capita than any other city in the United States.
From seafood cuisine to outdoor adventures and breathtaking scenic views, Maine offers something for everyone. If this sounds like the perfect vacation for you, let us tell you why the best way to explore is by taking cruises into Maine.
Reasons to Cruise in Maine
Maine is a popular road trip destination, with many small fishing villages and verdant rural retreats to explore. Its rocky coastline extends into a series of islands connected by a network of fjords. But no roads lead there.
Taking cruises to Maine gives you a taste of both worlds – island hopping with ease along craggy shores and discovering unspoiled landscape inland. There is no better angle to take in the panorama of the mountainous skyline, cliffs, and lighthouses than from the ocean. And all while in the comfort of your floating boutique hotel!
Exploring Maine on small cruise ships (link to the previous article) also means you avoid the crowds and get to be one with nature. Making your journey in Maine intimate is the best way to experience the Pine Tree state. And you don’t have to end your voyage there, which is an added bonus of cruising – you get to see more in one trip!
Cruise Ship Stops in Maine
American Queen Voyages offers several captivating voyages that will take you through Maine. Whether you are seafaring from Montreal to Gloucester, Boston to Saint John, Portland to Toronto, Halifax to Boston, or reverse, you stop at some of the following charming ports in Maine
Bar Harbor is a town on Mount Desert island along Frenchman Bay. At this port, you are the first to welcome the sunrise as this is where the country receives its first rays. And here, you get a quintessentially Maine experience.
Rockland, a Maine classic, is all about lighthouses, puffins, and lobster food comas. This coastal town has been recognized as the lobster capital of the world. The Main lobster is found in these waters, after all, and it’s the most flavorful lobster on Earth! But we’ll let you be the judge.
Portland, formerly the state capital, is the largest seaport in Maine, with plenty of things to do to keep you busy. Fun fact, harboring in Portland will bring you to the closest point to Europe in the United States.
Now that you know where Maine cruises will take you, let’s skip ahead to the good part – what are the best things to do in Maine?
Best Things to Do in Maine Cruise Ports
Bar Harbor
The highlight of visiting Bar Harbor is an adventure through the Acadia National Park. It spreads over 46,000 acres and several towns and villages and features many miles of shoreline to explore.
Regardless of the season, Acadia is a recreational treasure. From eagles and puffins to black bears and muskrats, the inland region of Acadia is bursting with diverse wildlife. Just offshore, the coastal waters include a variety of whales, seals, dolphins, and porpoises.
Bar Harbor is the main destination of Mount Desert Island. But the smaller villages of Otter Creek, Seal Harbor, Northeast Harbor, Somesville, Hall Quarry, and Pretty Marsh are worth visiting as well. Around every corner, you will be charmed by streets lined with quaint shops, fine eateries, and art galleries.
Near the Mount Desert area, you can experience the picturesque coastal towns of East Penobscot Bay and the Deer Isle Lighthouse Trail with eight area lighthouses. Or, take an exclusive lobster tour where you get to climb aboard the only Downeast-style lobster boat for a morning of lobster fishing, getting up close and personal with this New England tradition.
Rockland
This leg of the journey will be loaded with nature and culture! During your stay in Rockland, you can sail the scenic coast on a Maine windjammer sailing vessel which is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Admire the historic architecture and the hip cafe and restaurant scene. Be sure to indulge yourself in the Rockland lobster cuisine. Rockland is known as the lobster capital of the world and hosts the Maine Lobster Festival every August.
Visit Rockland’s public library, which opened in 1904 as one of the Carnegie Libraries and serves as one of the town’s cultural institutions.
Other attractions around Rockland include Rockland Historical Society, Island Institute, and Sail Power & Steam Museum. And Maine Lighthouse Museum, where you can view historical exhibits surrounding lighthouses, maritime lifesaving equipment, and Coast Guard memorabilia. Or discover the expansive collections at the Farnsworth Art Museum, Winding Way Art Gallery, Wyeth Center, and the Center for Maine Contemporary Art.
Portland
Portland, located on the peninsula in Casco Bay, is an urban town infused with the wild splendor of the rocky coastline.
At the Old Port waterfront, restaurants now fill the 19th-century warehouses. Stroll along cobblestone streets and breathe in the fresh scent of the sea as you take in an unparalleled view of Casco Bay.
Just to the south of Portland, at Cape Elizabeth, the Portland Head Light stands as a beacon to the ocean’s travelers. It will farewell you as your cruise from Maine departs but will remain engraved in your memory as a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
If we’ve inspired you to cruise around Maine, find a voyage perfect for you, or reach out to us for recommendations.
(Original Publish Date: August 17, 2022)
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