Private Sightseeing Charter on a Vintage Lobster Boat with Drinks

4.9 (73 reviews) 2 hours Free cancellation Private tour

out of 5

73 reviews

4.9

MONHEGAN is equipped with a finely finished wooden table in between cushioned "booth style" benches — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

M/V MONHEGAN at Portland Head Light — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

100% PRIVATE TOUR! Step aboard a vintage Maine Lobster Boat for a private, 2-hour lighthouse viewing & sightseeing charter. Leave the crowds behind as we cruise through the islands of Casco Bay, passing four iconic lighthouses, historic 19th-century forts, and the stunning Maine coastline.

Charters depart from Portland’s Old Port and are perfect for families and small groups. Each charter is completely private for up to 6 guests, and all ages are welcome!

First round of drinks included – Enjoy a local Portland, Maine beer or a glass of wine as you take in the breathtaking views!

Day Cruises Private and Luxury Private Sightseeing Tours Water Tours Sightseeing Cruises Excellent Quality Low Supplier Cancellation Rate Low Last Minute Supplier Cancellation Rate

At a glance

Duration: 2 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–6
Guide: English
Operated by: Casco Bay Custom Charters, LLC

Ages: Children (0–4 years) · Youth (5–20 years) · Adults (21–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Licensed Captain
Included: Alcoholic beverages: Enjoy a local Portland, Maine beer or a glass of wine on us!
Included: Private Charter for up to 6 guests (cost is a flat rate)
Included: Bottled water
Included: All Fees and Taxes
Included: Local Guide
Included: On-board restrooms: Restroom on board
Included: Carbonated beverages: Non-alcoholic beverages are available for kids or anyone who prefers an alternative
Included: Cooler, glassware, plates, & utensils for guest use

Not included

Not included: Parking in Portland's Old Port
Not included: Gratuity for your Guide

Itinerary

Portland

Passing by

Board M/V MONHEGAN, a beautifully restored wooden lobster boat, and make yourself at home as you cruise through Portland's Harbor, past wharves dating to the period just after the Revolutionary War. At one point, Portland was one of the busiest harbors in the early decades of the United States, a fact attested to by the incredible stone fortresses protecting the harbor.
Bug Light Park

Passing by

Marking the entrance to Portland Harbor, this small lighthouse is typically the first of four lighthouses we see on our sightseeing excursions aboard our vintage wooden boats.
Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse

Passing by

Get up close to Spring Point Light and nearby Fort Preble, a small gun emplacement built as a part of Portland's Harbor Defenses. In the early years, the lighthouse was not connected to the mainland by the granite breakwater that exists today, and ships that went on the wrong side of the lighthouse went aground on shallow ledge.
Portland Head Light

Passing by

See Maine's most iconic lighthouse from the water. Weather and sea conditions permitting, we spend time in the waters in front of the lighthouse for photos and discussion about the history of the lighthouse. We do not go ashore or tour the lighthouse. Lighthouse is not open for tours as it is still an active navigational beacon.
Ram Island Ledge Light

Passing by

Marking the opposite side of the harbor channel from Portland Head Light, Ram Island Light sits atop a rocky ledge and at high tide appears to be floating and completely unattached to land. Whereas Portland Head Light has its stately keeper's house and beautiful white washed sides, Ram Island Light is weathered and gray almost inaccessible, with a now-derelict pier leading to a ladder that requires one to climb up 30 feet on the outside of the lighthouse before you get to the door.
Casco Bay

Passing by

Casco Bay is world-renown for its rugged islands, protected waters, and fantastic scenery. Cruise past some of the bay's 200+ islands boasting tree-covered rocky cliffs, small fishing communities, and cute harbors.
Fort Gorges

Passing by

As the most conspicuous stone fortress protecting Portland Harbor, Fort Gorges is a landmark visible from much of Casco Bay, which is exactly why it was built on this rocky outcropping a short distance from Peaks and Little Diamond Islands and the mainland itself. The fort could fire more than a dozen cannons on attackers coming from any possible sea route, but was never used in active battle. Technological advancements in artillery during the Civil War rendered it too vulnerable to be useful. The fort did serve as a storage facility for the army during World War II, when underwater mines, electromagnetic sensing cables, and other systems were used to help protect Portland and Casco Bay from German attack.

Remember, Portland was home to a large shipyard during WWII and was the start of a pipeline that supplies oil to Montreal and eastern Canada, so the region was of high strategic importance even in more modern conflicts.
Peaks Island

Passing by

Enjoy fantastic views of the scenic cliffs on Cushing Island and the tree-lined streets and quaint cottages of Peaks Island.

Once home to several amusement parks that were served by direct steamer routes from New York, Peaks is now a quiet island neighborhood that is technically part of the City of Portland but has a small-town feel all its own.

By the time the fall colors are in full view, most seasonal residents have returned to their usual homes, and Peaks is home to just a couple hundred hearty year round souls who must take a ferry or water taxi to get to the mainland.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

Meet at the back of the parking lot between Gilbert’s Chowder House and Dry Dock in Portland’s Old Port. Arrive 20 mins early to find parking. Wait at the top of the boat ramp next to Boone’s Fish House & The Porthole deck. Your deckhand will meet you at the ramp just before tour time

End point

Meet at the back of the parking lot between Gilbert’s Chowder House and Dry Dock in Portland’s Old Port. Arrive 20 mins early to find parking. Wait at the top of the boat ramp next to Boone’s Fish House & The Porthole deck. Your deckhand will meet you at the ramp just before tour time