Casco Bay Lines offers three unique cruise options year-round to passengers, as well as four seasonal cruises during summer months. The mailboat run is a three-hour working cruise in which the ship delivers mail and freight to the islands off the coast of Portland. Passengers ride along with the mailboat to catch the sights of the islands and the mainland coast. Casco Bay Lines also offers sunrise and sunset cruises on a daily schedule, each of which last two-and-a-half hours.
Seasonally, Casco Bay Lines offers four different cruise options. The diamond pass run is open the longest of the four, with a running schedule from May through October. The pass sails around the island coastlines, passing Victorian cottages along the way. From June until Labor Day, a moonlight run is offered which gives passengers a view of the bay from under the stars. Also from June until Labor Day, Casco Bay Lines offers two Bailey Island cruise lines. The lengthier of the two cruises lasts nearly six hours as it tours Maine's historical forts and lighthouses. The narrated cruise makes a lunchtime stop that is perfect for a picnic or a chance to try the local cuisine. An abbreviated version of the tour is offered at noon each day, but returns to port before 2 p.m. Both Bailey Island cruise lines offer a snack bar aboard the ship.
Casco Bay Lines
56 Commercial St.
Portland, ME 04112-4656
(207) 774-7871
cascobaylines.com/cruises
Lucky Catch Cruises are an alternative way of cruising the Maine coastline. Located in Casco Bay, Lucky Catch offers guests a chance to see the sights of the coast, and also experience life as a lobsterman. Cruises last approximately 90 minutes and passengers aboard the lobster boats can see Civil War forts and lighthouses along the cruise.
Guests learn about the basics of catching lobsters from the crew, including how a lobster goes from the ocean to a dinner plate. Lucky Catch also offers corporate events, private charters and birthday party cruises while at sea. Passengers not only get an up-close look at the lobsters as they come in, but also the other sea life that finds its way aboard the ship.
Lucky Catch Cruises
170 Commercial St.
Portland, ME 04101
(207) 761-0941
luckycatch.com
Unlike some other Portland cruises that take passengers up and down the historic coastline, Odyssey takes the cruise experience in a different direction. Upon leaving port, the ship travels up to 20 miles out to sea, to popular whale watching spots. The Odyssey runs cruises daily from late May through October. Although the cruises are designed to locate whales, guests on board frequently come across other forms of marine wildlife, including dolphins, sharks and sea turtles.
If you like the Odyssey but aren't a fan of whales, the ship also offers two types of deep-sea fishing trips and private charter service for harbor cruises for up to 85 passengers.
Odyssey Cruises
170 Commercial St.
Portland, ME 04101
(207) 775-0727
odysseywhalewatch.com
