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Staff photo by Jack Milton
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The schooner Bowdoin sails in the afternoon sun off Ilsesboro.
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Built before the age of powerful engines, schooners once relied on the skills of sailors and the winds that weather offered. Around the turn of the century, these vessels transported heavy and valuable cargo between ports and were built for strength and speed.
You can get a taste of what that is like by taking a cruise on one. They offer a chance to try your hand at sailing - if you choose. Or you can sunbathe and enjoy doing nothing. You are bound to make new friends as you cruise Maine's beautiful coastline.
The cruising season begins around mid-May and continues until mid-October. And you don't have to book a cruise to enjoy these ships. Schooner Gam kicks off June 10 somewhere on the Midcoast. Weather condition will determine the location of this gathering of Maine's windjammer fleet. Then Windjammer Days starts June 24 in Boothbay Harbor. The weeklong event includes a parade, music and fireworks.
More information: Cruise Listing | News & Features | Related Information
For shorter or more specialized trips, all manner of scenic cruises, from guided bird, puffin or seal watching excursions to sunset sails, depart from harbors all along the coast. One can even take a lobster boat trip, to witness the hauling of the traps and the reap of the ocean's harvest.
For a true experience into nature's wonders, there is little to compare with the excitement of a whale watch. You might see a variety of whales, including humpback, minkes and finbacks, Atlantic white-sided dolpins, basking sharks and giant sunfish. Witness whales feeding, playing and resting, all within their natural habitat. A real treat!
 Listing of Maine Whale Watch Cruises
Mary Day sail
Even a passenger who treasures her solitude enjoyed the close-knit six days on a Maine windjammer.
(June 22, 2003)
Island vacations
Visitors can take in the laid-back beauty of Maine's offshore communities for as little as a few hours or as long as a lifetime.Ê
(August 25, 2002)
Schooner vacations change with the times
A look inside this unusual vacation option.
(May 21, 2000)
Midcoast windjammer stands tall in history
Aboard the aged beauty, the schooner Isaac H. Evans.
(Aug. 27, 2000)
Watching over the whales
Airborne angels help protect rare right whales along their migration routes.
(May 9, 1999)
Maine Maritime Heritage Trail
This is a fine link for all things that deal with the sea: including museums, industry and events throughout the state of Maine.
The Maine Windjammer Association is a good place to start when planning a trip.
Whale Center of New England
This is a wonderfully educational site to visit before your trip -- hear audioclips of whale sounds, see photos and learn about ongoing projects.
Center for Marine Studies
The center, located in Blue Hill, is a good place to find the latest news and research on water quality, marine life and more. The center is also a place for lectures, programs and cruises.
Allied Whale
Home of the Adopt a Finback Whale program, this group conducts a variety of longterm studies of marine mammals. Allied Whale is located on the campus of College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor.
Northeast Marine Animal Lifeline
This organization is based in Biddeford and helps rescue stranded whales and other animals.
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Exploring:
By land
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Up & away
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Out to sea
Listing of Maine
Windjammer Cruises
Listing of Maine
Whale Watch Cruises
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Staff photo by Herb Swanson
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| Little is more breathtaking and wondrous than a foray into the world of whales at sea. These mammoth beauties are rarely afraid of boats, which means up-close encounters are not unusual. |
 Slide show of whales at sea
(5 images)
Click here for a list of whale watching cruises in Maine.
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