This was a great value for all that we learned and saw. We left a sunny, warm day on the dock and a…read morefew minutes off shore ran into fog and mist. Be sure to bring warm (puffer jackets, rain/wind coats, hats) gear--no joke! Danny and Allison were the best hosts on the boat and so kind to the younger kids. Anyone who wanted to be involved in the lobster fishing experience was welcome to join in. We even stayed on the dock afterward to ask our hosts about halibut fishing. We loved the seals and saw their pups. All in 2 hours! Highly recommend the Lulu Lobster Boat!!

Worth every penny!!! Our narrator, Linda was amazing and was super knowledgeable!!! Loved learning…read moreall about the lobster business!

Definitely want to make reservations in advance if you are going on the Sunset Cruise, as it will…read morelikely sell out. The Margaret Todd is impressive: 151' long and weighs 150 tons. Its four red sails make it easily identifiable from Agamont Park/West Street, and also from the top of Cadillac Mountain in Bar Harbor. Depending on where you sit onboard, you may need to be mindful of the crew's hoisting and lowering of the sails. The many buoys and markers identify locations of the lobster traps. There were seals and a few porpoises on the water also. Bags are screened before boarding for alcoholic beverages, which are not allowed to be brought on, but soft drinks and beer & wine are available for purchase. There are many boat tours & excursions to do in Bar Harbor and this one is recommended. The ride was gentle and the views across Frenchman Bay were gorgeous.

Beautiful day for a trip around the harbor, no you don't stay out for the whole 2 hours, but it was…read moreenough for me. Great crew. I do wish they gave you more info about the other mega yachts anchored there, but you can google it and find out. It's a touristy thing, but really, how often do you get to go out on a 4 masted schooner?

Puffins. Great tour guides: George and Sam. Thank you…read more (Hahahahaha hahahaha banan. For extra characters)

I travelled to Bar Harbor Maine for a vacation. There were the beautiful vistas and astounding…read morelandscapes, but it all seemed blase until the day I went on the Eden Star. I purchased a ticket for the seal and puffin tour. The trip began with a lovely musical introduction by the naturalist. I enjoy sea shanties. We journeyed out onto the Gulf of Maine with hope of seeing some whales. The first creature we saw was a porpoise swimming in the wake. We went on to see the seals and seabirds the tours advertised but we were lucky enough to see two humpback whales. The whale tours must normally go much further out, so we were very fortunate. The naturalist was very good and kept the experience engaging. The crew was professional and well mannered. After our site the naturalist entertained the passengers with his dulcet tones once again. I strongly encourage people to try the Acadian Boat Tours...however...it is a boat. If you are sensitive, or aren't sure, take motion sickness medication. I would have enjoyed things even more if I had.

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.

Kids will enjoy it, but there's really nothing you see here (in a tour that currently costs $250…read morefor a family of 4) that you can't see in the touch tanks at the Dorr Museum at the College of the Atlantic, which has a $5 per person suggested donation. And if you're an animal lover you may be bothered by the manhandling of the sea creatures, especially the fragile sea cucumbers. Guests are encouraged to kiss them and at one point Diver Ed puts one in his mouth. Yes, all the critters are dumped back in the ocean at the end of the trip but whether they survived the encounter seems very questionable to me.

This was a unique, hilarious, educational experience that my 6 & 8 year olds LOVED. Did I get a…read morelobster placed on my head? Yes, yes I did. Did Diver Ed put a sea cucumber's butt in his mouth? Yes, yes he did. Book this experience for your kids and you won't regret it!!

Omg great food , long wait but the pier was nice and once we got back in it was a great view nice…read morestaff

This was fun! Would definitely do this again! Got to hold lobsters! Would be great for kids about…read more10+. Great for families. Rachel our guide was very informative. She taught us so much about lobsters. Don our captain was very funny. He told us before we left water was choppy. We might not make it to seal island. We made it. Tour would have been great even without seals.

I really appreciated that this company has a guarantee.And they stand behind it.If you do not see a…read moresignificant number of whales on your watch, they give you a voucher that is good for another whale watch or another excursion , and you have three years to use it. The staff is very, very helpful and friendly and kind.And they work hard to make you comfortable. There are multiple warnings about seasickness,And if you decide when you get to the boat that you are feeling sick or you hear the announcement that the seas are rough , they will give you a refund or a voucher , your choice. The naturalist on board gives significant information and points of interest for all the different wildlife that you see , birds , porpoises , whales , seals , anything that comes up , they know a good amount of information and they relay it over a loudspeaker system. The pap a system could be louder and upgraded , but it is manageable. The cabin of the boat is very comfortable with large, comfortable chairs and tables.There is a deck with a galley where they serve drinks and snacks. They also sell hats and gloves if you're cold and drammine , if you feel sick. The admonition to dress really warm is for real , for real. It was about seventy degrees at the dock , but it was about forty degrees out in the middle of the ocean. We really did need winter gear to be comfortable outside on the deck. We found that as we get cold , we would add another layer and that worked really well. The deck has seating all around and safe rails.So you can stand against the rails , the boat speeds along , so you can get to a whale quickly , and then it slows down to a stop when there is a sighting of any kind of significant wildlife. When I felt sick after a good hour of a bumpy rough sea, which we were warned about , they immediately brought me ginger ale and a seasick bag. Unfortunately , on this trip , we only saw the back of a humpback whale , and then we saw a deceased whale. They took many photos and alerted researchers to come and find it so that it could be determined or studied how it might have passed away. They are very responsible and responsive to the safety and health of the sea life. Upon arriving back at the dock we were immediately emailed vouchers that we can take three years to use. That in and of itself is a guarantee to me that they care about their customers and want their patrons to have a lovely, well watching excursion.

Here are a few tips to get you started. 1. Get there early…read morefor parking (in yellow) pic incl. Pay at the meter for 5 hours which is about the length of the Whale watch trip and back, costs $20 bucks. There are other parking areas available. 2. Clothing, Long pants, with long sleeves shirt windbreaker jacket maybe even a hat, Sunglasses. Pack shorts to change into upon return temperatures will be warmer. *Trip out to sea is windy and chilly. Point here is to feel comfortable. 3. You can pack your own lunch and bring a backpack. There is a Galley on board the ship for food purchases. 4. Bring a camera (i brought my Insta 360 5X camera and a 3 foot selfie stick) and Cellphone and be ready to take pictures. *I have Boost Mobile and I did get cell service out there. *All in all be expected to pay a little over $100.00 per person for slightly over 5 hours ride. Two boats can go out at the same time depending on the crowds. Lines will be long and they will take your picture before you board, (A novelty idea by them to get you to buy a photo of yourselves after debarking). We opted out politely. *Note: We went to the top floor which was all seats. Expect to be chilly. Standing by the rails on top minimal room. Downstairs more room but more crowded, an enclosed area, 3 co-ed bathrooms and Galley. *Final thoughts: Having a physical crew member narrative at top on the microphone was actually a good way to pass the time and learn a few things about what we would encounter. We have a whales "Tale" to speak of when we get back home. The Review Guru* Long Island NY

Took the downtown trolley the day I arrived because I didn't want to waste time but was busy at the…read moresame time. It was a 30 min drive but it was extremely fun. I learned so much and the driver was very interactive. The process of the ticket is $25. Definitely a fun ride and should be done first thing.

Oli's is a prominent and reliable tour operator in Bar Harbor, and gives narrated tours of Acadia…read moreNational Park and downtown Bar Harbor. We chose the trolley for its old fashioned charm and a more open view, over taking another popular tour by bus given by a different company. I booked a 2.5-hour tour for my family during our cruise stop - the boarding location was super convenient (55 West St.), right by the tendor port at Town Pier, and the check-in process was organized and a breeze. This tour includes 15-minute stops at three of the most popular sites in the park: Thunder Hole, Jordan Pond, and top of Cadillac Mountain. The stops are too brief for anything other than a quick walk-through to take some photos, but that was enough for my sight-seeing family. The park is huge so most of the time is spent driving and taking in the occasional breathtaking views along the coastline. The first time I visited this park (a much more thorough and extensive, multi-day trip where we camped inside the park and hiked all the most difficult trails that rewarded us with the most stunning views), the majesty of the landscape continuously awed me. There were fewer such moments on the tour due to the route and time crunch, but we were entertained by the excellent narration and stories about the park and the town by our driver Jim, a very knowledgeable local who's quippy to boot. They also offer a 4-hour tour that includes an extra site (Sieur de Monts Spring), with 30-minute stops at each location instead of 15, and is for age 12+ only. If you want to see Acadia park but are limited on time, don't have a car, don't want to deal with the logistics of planning a park itinerary, are mobility-challenged or don't wish to walk/hike too much, or simply like to enjoy the ride and casually explore the park while listening to some informative stories, I heartily recommend Oli's Trolley for your excursion! They're very professional and well run. Be sure to also check out their excellent gift shop nearby (1 West St.) which has a cute and well-curated selection of merchandise that are reasonably priced. Tickets often sell out early - especially during high tourist season and on days when cruise passengers land - so definitely book well in advance!

We had a great time sailing with Capt. Mike. We did a half day sail to look at the lighthouses and…read moresee the coast, but also to enjoy sailing. We had a beautiful day with deep blue skies and relatively calm seas. The wind was steady and we were able to enjoy the sail as well as take great photos. Setting up with Mike was easy and we ended up being his first trip for the summer. He went out of his way to get the boat ready for us and we greatly appreciated it. As the title says... Get Out Sailing, you will have a wonderful time. JerryB-Atlanta.

Captain Mike was knowledgeable, safety minded and a great tour guide. Thoroughly enjoyed our…read moresunset sail

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.