The Mystic Whaler, which sails out of New London, Conn., is a 110-foot tall ship that offers three-day cruises throughout the summer. The Mystic Whaler, which provides guests with all their meals and non-alcoholic beverages for the duration of their stay, has a full crew to do the tough sailing work if you want to relax. But you can also lend a hand steering this beautiful boat or raising the sails. Ports of call for the Mystic Whaler, which anchors each night in a different port, include Block Island and Newport, R.I; Shelter Island and Sag Harbor, N.Y.; and Mystic, Conn. Exact ports of call are dependent on weather during your cruise, and all three-day cruises return to New London.
Mystic Whaler Cruises
City Pier
35 Water St
New London, CT 06320
PO Box 189
Mystic, CT 06355
800-697-8420
mysticwhalercruises.com
One of the major names in cruise lines, Carnival, offers a four-day trip from New York City to St. John, New Brunswick, Canada,. from June through early September each year. The ship, the Carnival Glory, leaves New York City at 5 p.m. on Thursday, spends a day at sea, then docks on Saturday at St. John. You spend the day there, then another day returning to New York, arriving by 8 a.m. Monday. While in St. John, you can go shopping for antiques on Prince William Street, visit the Moosehead Beer brewery, treat yourself to a lobster dinner, or visit the region's well-known Reversing Fall Rapids. Carnival offers this cruise on many different dates throughout the summer.
Carnival Cruise Lines
3655 NW 87th Avenue
Miami, FL 33178
1-888-CARNIVAL
carnival.com/
If you like sailing from Maine, you might want to check out the Schooner Mary Day, a classic Maine windjammer that offers a number of three-day weekend cruises during the summer months. The Mary Day's Memorial Day weekend cruise, May 29-31, takes you from the schooner's launch in Camden, Maine, on a trip among the islands and bays of mid-coast Maine. The Mary Day will treat you to an all-you-can-eat beach lobster picnic, a look at the region's great lighthouses, and the chance each evening to explore a variety of Maine ports of call. The schooner has a wide deck for sunbathing, and plenty of cabins below deck for sleeping. In addition to the lobster picnic, the galley serves old-fashioned meals including a New England ham dinner, salads, pancakes, muffins, chowders, and their own hand-cranked ice cream.
The Schooner Mary Day
P.O. Box 798
Camden, Maine 04843
1-800-992-2218
schoonermaryday.com
If you like sailing, but don't enjoy sleeping on a boat, the Schooner American Eagle, another windjammer out of Rockland, Maine, will take you on a cruise to Camden, Maine, where you'll get to stay for two nights in one of the many inns located in that town. Rates also include full breakfast each day, full use of the inns' amenities, and a picnic lunch that includes lobster rolls. You can reserve your three-day cruise with American Eagle, then choose where you'd like to stay from a list of inns available in the cruise package.
Schooner American Eagle
PO Box 482
Rockland, Maine 04841
207-594-8007
schooneramericaneagle.com/
