Casco Bay Lines, located a 10-minute drive north of Old Orchard Beach in Portland, offers a variety of ferry rides and cruises, both year-round and on a seasonal basis. One of its most popular seasonal cruises is the Casco Bay Lobster Bake cruise. For groups of 50 or more, this is perfect for family reunions and other events.
The cruise lasts for three to four hours, and takes you from the Casco Bay Lines' departure point in Portland to Peaks Island, where you'll walk to Greenwood Gardens. This event facility serves a classic Down East Lobster Bake, a buffet-style dinner that includes Maine lobster, steamed clams, corn on the cob, potatoes, coleslaw, rolls and blueberry cake. Steak, chicken, vegetarian and children's meals are also available.
Casco Bay Lines
56 Commercial St.
Portland, ME 04112-4656
(207) 774-7871
cascobaylines.com
Finestkind, which has been operating since 1956 out of picturesque Perkins Cove in Ogunquit, Maine, offers vacationers several different kinds of cruises. Although Finestkind does not provide a dinner cruise, you can book its breakfast or cocktail cruises.
Take the 38-foot Finestkind II for a breakfast cruise, or the 44-foot Finestkind III on the company's cocktail cruise. On the 75-minute breakfast cruise, you'll enjoy fresh coffee, orange juice and muffins baked that morning by the Bread and Roses Bakery. It departs daily each morning in the summer, as does the one-hour evening cocktail cruise.
Finestkind Scenic Cruises
PO Box 1828
Ogunquit, ME 03907
207-646-5227
finestkindcruises.com
Located 15 miles south of Ogunquit, Maine, is the seacoast town of Portsmouth, N.H., where you can book a lobster clambake river cruise aboard the Isle of Shoals Steamship Co.'s M/V Thomas Laighton.
You begin the cruise on the Piscataqua River, which separates New Hampshire from Maine, then enjoy the sights along Portsmouth Harbor while you're served a lobster dinner provided by Ogunquit's well-known Foster's Downeast Clambake.
There are three bars aboard the Thomas Laighton, which serves local draft beers, sodas and a special drink called Captain's Punch. Reservations are required.
Isles of Shoals Steamship Company
315 Market St.
Portsmouth, NH 03801
603-431-5500
islesofshoals.com
