We took the Cat Ferry from Bar Harbor, Maine to Nova Scotia. We preordered tickets months in…read moreadvanced. This is a high-speed car ferry. We were greeted by a wonderful man who checked us in, scanned our passports into the system and helped us place our vehicle in the boarding line. Driving the car onto the ferry was a little scary because you are on an incline that causes your vehicle to roll backwards, plus you cannot see the vehicle in front of you. They loaded 2 floors of vehicles into the back of this ferry. I was amazed. We found a front row table in the Forchu Lounge where we each ordered an adult beverage and just enjoyed the3.5-hour ride to Canada. Walking around the ferry was difficult because we did not have our sea legs. We also got to sit outside at the back of the ferry and watch the waves and feel the wind.

4.5 here....the ferry was really great. From the reservation to getting on, to the actual ride…read more.. There was live entertainment in the Forchu Lounge! There were movies - both a kid friendly and an adult(ish) movie. You could sit out back and watch the massive wake, you could sit inside. Seats were comfortable. The upper vehicle deck attendant was especially nice because I was traveling with animals and she checked on them and found me to tell me they were ok! I've never left them in a car for 3 1/2 hours by themselves on a vessel before... it was a new thing. They did great! (well, apparently, one gets sea sick, I learned , not too bad, but was fine once we landed in Nova Scotia) There was food, although not great and also could not pay with an American Express card. A very common internationally used credit card, also an American ferry/ship, and can't use AMEX?? I booked my ticket with AMEX but couldn't buy food on board with it. That's kinda weird. So I'm knocking off the 1/2 star for that. Although I'm giving a full 5 for the review because this was a convenient and quicker way to get to Nova Scotia. And I'd totally do it again.

The unexpected cancellation of the ferry from Bar Harbor to Nova Scotia has cost us over $1,000 in…read moreadditional expenses, as we had to hire a driver in the middle of the night to get to Saint John, New Brunswick. The company has offered no compensation or alternative solution to help us reach Nova Scotia, despite the fact that we have multiple Airbnbs booked, transportation arranged, and flights scheduled to depart from there. When I called to ask for assistance, the representative simply said, "Oh well, we run again on Thursday." Today is Monday--waiting three days is not an option for travelers on a tight schedule. If you're counting on this ferry for transportation, be warned: you could be left completely stranded without any support.

This is a very small boat, not what you would expect for a Ferry Ride. That being said, it is a…read morelovely ride over from Bar Harbor to Winter Harbor. You see a lot of islands and even a light house. The crew is amazing. For a small group, the boat is very well staffed! The crew is very knowledgeable and share history and stories. We had two family members with us that have some disabilities. The crew was so hopeful and in a very caring manner. The needed assistance getting on/off and even walking on the docks. The crew made sure they were safe! When you arrive at Winter Harbor, there is a bus waiting to take you on a tour. All included. We didn't take the tour as we were visiting family over in Scoodic. For the price - excellent VALUE! I would highly recommend fitting this into your schedule. Very happy we did take the trip. Convenient location - Bar Harbor Inn dock. Tips - Maine weather changes quickly so make sure you bring or pack layers especially if you plan to take a late boat back. There is no reservation, so you can take any boat over or back, first come, first serve. Very flexible if you find you want to spend more or less time over at Winter Harbor.

Been taking this cruise with our houseguests for 25 years. Hands down the best cruise on MDI by…read morefar!!

The process to book the trip was easy online. Check In was just as simple. They offer on site…read moreparking which was helpful. The dock is a long walk so just a heads up if you have mobility issues. But you can get there. Plenty of seating in board, but it will be full so you might be seating next to a new friend. Does not matter which side to sit because the captain will spin the boat around for both sides to see each site. The entire trip was educational and picturesque. The captain has lots of stories and knowledge of the area. Very engaging. The back speaker was a bit crackling so missed a few tidbits plus the motor in back can be challenging. So prepare ahead to where you should sit. There is shade and sun. Great views of island life, birds, seals and even jellyfish. Saw a couple eagles and porpoises. So cool. They also pull a lobster trap and share the rules and regulations on lobstering. Great for kids. It's a solid two hour excursion and no on board facilities so prepare. Sure it's a bit touristy but I learned a lot about the lobster industry and salmon farming as well as island life. I would do it again and bring friends.

Jason took us on a fantastic tour of area lighthouses. He was flexible to choose the ones that we…read morewere hoping to see and, even though the fog was thick at times, we saw everything we wanted. It was also very interesting to hear so much about what being an 8th generation Swan's Island resident means. We hope to go again to visit other lighthouses. Highly recommended!

Swan's Island Charters is a must do! Our family spent the day with Captain Jason. So much history…read moreand knowledge of the area. The lobster boat was the end to a perfect tour.

Great place to spend time. We left a cellphone and it was mailed to us the next day! Super…read morefriendly and beautiful spot.

bucks harbor marina announced 5/16/23that they will not open for 2023. no rental moorings, no fuel…read moredock, no charters in 2023.

Our stay at The Bayview Hotel was the best travel experience our family has ever had. As parents of…read moretwo young children, it was amazing to have it feel relaxing and fun for everyone--but The Bayview somehow managed to do exactly that. It wasn't just a vacation; it felt like we were genuinely cared for from the moment we arrived until the day we left. The attention to detail throughout the property is exceptional. Every member of the staff was warm, welcoming, and eager to make our stay special. We were constantly amazed by the thoughtful touches--from the personalized treats waiting for our kids, to the beautifully folded laundry returned in a charming basket (what a luxury for a mom on vacation!), to the nightly turndown service that made us feel completely pampered. Breakfast each morning was outstanding and we all loved the afternoon teatime! Chef Tricia and her team created delicious, beautifully prepared food. it was lovely to be able to pop in for breakfast or afternoon tea and treats each day. Our children loved the nightly s'mores around the fire pit, the playground, and wandering the shoreline trail to climb on the rocks by the water. Those simple moments became some of our favorite family memories. The complimentary shuttle into downtown Bar Harbor made everything incredibly convenient, and the hotel's location--just minutes from Acadia National Park--couldn't have been better. My daughter and I enjoyed taking the shuttle to the sister property for morning yoga. We enjoyed all the beauty and adventure of the area while always looking forward to returning "home" to The Bayview each evening. A very special thank you to Vinet at the front desk, the manager, Chef Tricia, and every member of the team. You each made us feel truly special. The level of hospitality you provide has really set the bar. Our week flew by. We left feeling refreshed, spoiled, and already talking about when we can come back. Thank you, The Bayview, for giving our family what was truly our best family vacation yet. We can't recommend this hotel highly enough!

Our stay in Bar Harbor was awesome, our first vacation to Maine, and this hotel was a really nice…read morepart of it for a few reasons: - The view. This is their number one asset, and they treat it that way. The room highlights the view perfectly, and the grounds are impeccable. - The room was nice, clean, and everything in it just right. The room cleaning staff was excellent. - The extra touches were a delight: chocolate strawberries for our 34th anniversary with a note, the water bottles, turn-down service with little gifts. Little touches like that around every corner. - The breakfast (and food in general) exceeded our expectation. Whoever they have in the kitchen is doing a bang-up job. - The front desk staff was gracious, helpful, and prompt. The concierge helped us with reservations and itinerary. Top notch. - The shuttle was great. It made the hotel's distance from downtown a non-issue. - We had a minor issue with an overly-enthusiastic dog (remember this is a pet-friendly hotel btw), but the staff and management handled it quickly and professionally, again making it a non-issue.

We were allowed to check in a little early. Jen, Caitlin and Fred were very helpful and outgoing,…read moreand were also a wealth of information about where to go and what to do in Bar Harbor. All three of them made our stay much, much easier to navigate.

I had an excellent stay at the Bluenose Inn these past few days! We stayed in the mizzentop…read morebuilding and were really impressed with our room! The huge room included a patio with a beautiful view of Mt Dessert Narrows and early morning sunsets. I loved the class that went into decorating the room. The real wood furniture, classy light fixtures, yet modern amenities (usb charging ports, key rig, fridge, microwave, etc) really made the room feel upscale yet homey. The room was very clean and I slept very well in that comfy bed! If you have a chance, spend some time in the Great Room listening to Bill Trowell, the pianist who plays most nights. Bring a snack with you, or buy a drink at the bar. Although we didn't have a chance to use them, there was an outdoor pool and a fire pit surrounded by Adirondack chairs that's lit nightly. There's also an indoor pool and fitness center. Next door, is the Looking Glass restaurant which serves a good breakfast with a beautiful view. The only negatives of the hotel (in my opinion) are a few minor things: 1. The rooms use an actual key (not a card). 2. It's kinda far from the walkable area of Bar Harbor. 3. The hot water for the bathtub took forever to heat up, and also get dangerously hot, so use caution!! 4. It seems like (from the other reviews) that the other building, Stenna Nordica, might not have rooms as nice as those in the Mizzentop building, but I don't know for sure since I didn't have a chance to see those rooms. So to be safe, book a mizzentop room. Overall, I would highly recommend staying here if you're ok with staying a few minutes outside of town, and enjoy beautiful views of the water from the comfort of your own private porch.

My husband and I went out on a 3-hour tour yesterday with Captain Charlie and it was an exceptional…read moreexperience. And I mean exceptional... The beautiful islands he took us to, his lively, humourous local and historical commentary along the way, his willingness to fine tune the experience based upon our own specific interest made our trip absolutely fantastic. The top three experiences for me were: basking in the serene beauty of McGlathery Island, visting Green Island and bathing in the fresh water pond, and Charlie himself. He is a lovely, fun, lively person who made the beauty around us feel all the more special. SueAnne Piliero