We had great weather and the staff and Captain were wonderful and knowledgeable. To top it off we had two highly performing humpback whales. The last one twice breached and showed us its tale! read more

Cap'n Fish's Cruises - Breach! - Boat Charters Near Me - Boothbay Harbor, Maine

This was a great cruise with an informative narrator. Although the water was choppy, we had a wonderful time and saw quite a lot of puffins. We didn't see any whales this day but was offered a trip back out at a different time for another opportunity. read more

Great staff! The puffins are adorable! Next time I will bring gloves and a sweater for the whale portion though. Great food and good prices!

It was a beautiful day to be on the water. My son is a birder and I do a lot of conservation work - the puffin tour was great for both of us. My grandsons also loved the experience. The boat was comfortable. Easy boarding process. We were able to sit on the top deck. I really appreciate that the Captain turned around at EER so both sides of the boat could see. We would definitely do it again. read more

See all

PLEASE NOTE: This review is for their Audubon Puffin Cruise. This is a MUST DO experience in Maine. Despite living here most of my life, I'm not sure I had ever really seen puffins, so I was delighted to find there was a place in Boothbay offering tours (I guess I kind of assumed they were always much further up the coast). Cap'n Fish's Cruises family-friendly, accessible 2.5 hour long cruise to see the puffins on Eastern Egg Rock is a delight. The captain and the representative from the National Audubon Society do a fantastic job at pointing out any/all coastal wildlife that they see ("at you're 6 o'clock there's a seal", "just flying by from your 3 o'clock to 9 o'clock are two puffins) from start to finish of the cruise (as well as facts about the islands and information about the lighthouses you'll pass, and a little local lore too!). You'll learn so, so much about the Audubon Society's work at reestablishing a colony here in Maine, how they're helping other bird colonies around the world, and lots of information about puffins themselves. When you get to Eastern Egg Rock, they'll maintain a safe distance and circle twice so that way both sides of the boats can take pics. Some notes: 1) It's probably worth it to pay the extra 15% for priority boarding so you can pick the seat you want. Our cruise left at 10am, and by 9am the line was *enormous*. I didn't think I'd get to sit outside on the top of the boat (the seats are configured in two rows of four with an aisle down the center). 2) There's snacks and drinks for purchase. You can also bring your own food, but not your own beverages (unless it's a water bottle, I think). 3) Don't forget your sunscreen and sunglasses; well-fitting hats and a hoodie just in case it's cooler on the water (and, from-awayers, it's usually ten degrees cooler on the water). 4) I didn't need my ticket, I just gave them my name when I boarded. 5) The staff was EXCEPTIONAL: again, from start to finish, they were friendly, helpful, informative, patient. Really, really impressed! The whole thing was just a lovely experience. read more

See all

We loved our experience. The captain and the Audubon Rep were very nice and engaging. Answering questions as we docked, during the cruise and after. The captain was great and slowed the boat down, when he saw wildlife. Our trip was perfect - perfect weather and so many creatures to see. We saw more birds than I can remember or name. LOL Of course we saw Puffins!! They are very cute, tiny and fast! Bring decent camera if you are going to try to get pictures of them in flight. The boat was buzzing with excitement when we saw them. They slow the boat down and drive slowly around the island so that both sides of the boat can get a chance to see and take pictures of the birds and researchers on the island. During our trip out - we saw a gigantic sunfish and a few pods of porpoises and many seals/sea dogs. So cute!!!! There is a bathroom on board (I didn't try it). They also have a galley, where you can buy food and snacks and souvenirs. We didn't buy anything. There is an upper deck and lower deck. We sat on the upper deck, since it was a beautiful day and there were still seats left. Definitely wear sunscreen and a hat and make sure the hat fits tight or is tether to your clothing. The wind gets pretty strong as they speed up. If you have trouble with motion sickness, you definitely should take precautions. They had staff with vomit bags ready. They prefer kids not vomit over the edge if possible. LOL Total time on the boat is about 2.5 hours. It takes about an hour to get to Easter Egg island. Parking - if you are ok to walk...you may want to try to parking other than where they recommend - which is literally right at the boat dock. The convenience is great - however, it's $50 to park and they pack cars in TIGHT. When we do this again, we will definitely find another lot to park and walk from. There's plenty of cool shops to stop in as well on the way to and from the boat dock. If you like the ocean, boats and wildlife. I think you would like this cruise. We did! read more

See all

Did the 'puffin' tour with them. The ride was nice and peaceful, and we got to see a large number of puffins, more than usual, according to staff, as they were all hanging around the island. The tour also offered some educational insight and was well worth it. Staff were great overall, and you just need your name at the ticket booth don't worry about having the code on your phone. read more

See all

I absolutely loved this tour! The crew was awesome all the way from the parking lot and back again. We did the puffin/scenic tour. Seeing them and hearing the story of how they came to be on the island was fascinating. We learned a lot about them and other animals we might see. On the way there and back, if they noticed any wildlife, they would stop so we could see better. We saw porpoises, seal, and a sunfish along with many other birds. It does get chilly so dress in layers just in case. Captain Jerry, Faith, and crew were great. Very highly recommend! read more

See all

We did a whale watch with additional puffin tour. Seems the puffins are almost totally gone for this season. We saw 1. So if you are only going for the puffins you may want to wait until next year. We did not see whales. We did see a school of dolphins at the end which ended the tour on a positive note. The naturalist Amy was friendly, knew her stuff and answered all questions. Overall it was a fun time just wish we saw whales and more than one puffin. read more

See all

We took the puffin watch cruise and has a great experience! The boat was clean and well taken care of inside and out. Great crew. An Audobon employee gave us a talk about the birds mammals we might see. Then she gave a history of the puffin breeding program. Fascinating! We saw floating and flying puffins even though it was a foggy day. Nice items to buy from Audobon on the way back. Snacks and drinks available on the inside of the boat. read more

Cap'n Fish's Cruises - Puffin Island - Boat Charters Near Me - Boothbay Harbor, Maine

The boat that took us on the harbor cruise was very comfortable and relaxing. We sat on the open deck and had very comfortable seats and views. It was an hour reasonably well spent on the water, and I enjoyed that aspect of it. However, what I didn't enjoy was the fact that the person steering the boat, I'm assuming the captain of the ship, was also the person doing the talking. For the ENTIRE time on board, I didn't hear ONE word of what he said, and he was the one responsible for telling us all what we were looking at. It sounded like he was whispering or speaking very softly, or that the P.A. system was turned way down... and the boat engine was just loud enough to completely drown out his voice. Interestingly, I was sitting on the end, and my husband was in the seat next to me, closer to the middle aisle. He could hear "some" of what was being said, whereas I heard nothing. Sadly, my husband is the one with hearing loss, so maybe he would've heard even more. All I know is that I heard nothing but wanted to remain where I was seated because I was the one taking pictures and had the better view. Too bad I had NO idea what I was looking at. So I exited the boat at the end kind of disappointed, but again, it was relaxing being out on the water, so it wasn't a total waste. read more

See all

It's nice that they have a puffin and whale watching combo cruise. Being short on time, it was nice to have the opportunity to do both in one half day. We had a naturalist/animal guide who was knowledgeable and very attentive at identifying birds. There were a decent number of puffins, though they didn't really get close enough to make out the finer details by naked eye, but there are binoculars for rent (not sure how helpful they are because I had my own camera). We unfortunately didn't see any whales, but we were each given a standby ticket for a future cruise. The instructions in the email confirmation weren't completely accurate -- it instructed to go to a different pier where the cruise was actually going to be. Thankfully, I was able to reach staff over the phone and clarify this quickly. Definitely dress in layers, because once the boat starts powering out of the bay, the wind chills the temperature down a good 20 degrees. They did have blankets available but I'm not sure if they're an additional cost. The inside of the boat is nice and toasty, but the views aren't as crisp. I'd heard parking was rough, but if you go before June 1, I noticed some lots nearby were free, and there is free 4 hour parking a short 6 minute walk away that is just long enough for the cruise. read more

It was a great ride! The staff was great and our guide really did her best to locate some whales. Unfortunately they were being antisocial so we didn't have any sightings! What absolutely BLEW me away was that because we didn't see any whales they gave us tickets for another ride good for 1 year! Now that is an amazing company! An absolutely MUST do event. I'm from Portland, ME and our Staycation on the midcoast and have never done a whale watch. Elizabeth Portland, Maine read more

The tour was labeled Whale and Puffin tour. I understand that you can't control the wildlife, but based on the many reviews stating that no whales were seen, it seems like this should be relabeled as a wildlife tour with an emphasis on these two, but don't make it seem like it is almost a guarantee (with that name). However, I am just thankful we had an uneventful trip, considering a lot of the reviews I read after we took this tour. It was about double the price that we've paid for similar experiences around the country. They do offer a standby ticket for a future tour if no whales were seen, but how many people can dedicate time to a second tour? AND it is standby - there are reviews stating that people weren't able to use these tickets since a lot of tours are full when they arrive. All in all, not impressed. The staff was fine, but I'd spend my money elsewhere in the future. read more

Experience: The captain and the crew were very friendly! The crew helped people take pictures and helped elder folks into their seats. Plenty of deck seating. There are some indoor seating inside this boat for those rainy and cold days! I loved the lobsterman demonstration (catch and release)! It was so educational to learn about Maine's economy and how traditional ways of lobster trapping worked (manual rope and pull technique). We had a great time exploring the harbor on boat and learning about the history of Maine. Parking: Once you get closer to the wharf (where the boat and the business stand is located) it is harder to find a parking spot. Especially in the parking lot where the business is located. We decided to park a few blocks west of the wharf. There was free 3-4 hour parking and it was a good 5 minutes of walking! Bathrooms: There were public bathrooms located at the entrance of the wharf, between the business stand and the main street. read more

See all

Not worth the price. You will see puffins from so far away they could be any bird. Unless you have a quality camera with an excellent zoom lens, don't bother. Parking was a nightmare. You will need more than the recommended hour. read more

My wife called it the Puffin tour from heck. We both got seasick and puked the entire ride back from the puffin cruise. The boat swayed and rocked from side to side A LOT! Others were puking as well. I did my best to hold on to the table, although none of the furniture is bolted down. The table almost tipped at one point. The boat rocked a lot on the way to Eastern Egg Rock too, but I didn't feel nauseous yet. The ride felt scary and dangerous. Subsequently, I just read many reviews going back many years of similar and worse experiences. This business may have a pattern of going out to sea when it is unsafe? They should cancel the tour when the seas are rough. No other boats were in the harbor, so apparently everyone else got the memo. I would never go on a boat ride with them again. The staff were friendly and offered us barf bags and ginger ale. read more

We saw Fin Whales. They were awesome! Huge. Then we saw Minke whales. That part was great. We were on the whale watching and puffin cruise. The puffin part was a waste of money. They said that puffins usually leave in August. We went August 7 th and they were mostly non existent. Cap'n Fish should stop Puffins tours when they know there are not many puffins to see. The whale part was awesome. Puffins not at all. read more

This was an amazing experience. Seeing so many puffins all around the boat and on their island was incredible. The boat itself was great. The captain/staff were so friendly and helpful. I would 100% recommend this company and their puffin tour. read more

We got rained out in Bar Harbor for our whale watching so we booked one here. The boat was nice and we were able to sit on the top deck. We only saw one whale, but also saw a sunfish, seals and dolphins. I would have loved to see more after being spoiled in South Africa with lots of whales, but it's always fun to go out on the boat. The captain did a good job, and the naturalist had lots of info. read more

See all

Our experience was horrible. First, we sought a puffin & whale watch tour near Acadia National Park. When we searched for tours, Cap n Fish's tours came up. WRONG. Booth Bay is hours away, but Booth Bay only came up as the tour location on our receipt. Since we searched Acadia, we wrongly assumed that the search engine was giving us tours near Acadia and in a nearby town, like Bar Harbor. NOPE. Second, we read our receipt and immediately tried to change our tour, which we purchased in December of 2025 for July of 2026. After emails and phone calls, NO ONE ever called us back. This was a $210 mistake to ever trust Cap n Fish's Cruises. Third, one the day of our cruise, we were nowhere near Booth Bay because our trip was to Acadia and Bar Harbor. Cap n Fish's Cruises FINALLY called us to say that we were missing our cruise. I explained the 7-month old issue, and the girl on the phone said her manager would call us back about a refund. We NEVER received a return phone call. Thus, Cap n Fish's Cruises apparently doesn't care about its customers, nor public perception of its customer service. Don't trust this company. I'll be writing reviews everywhere that I can to tell people to avoid this company. A $210 learning experience. I guess Cap n Fish's Cruises believes this is my fault, not their fault or deception. read more

We took the Whale Watch /Puffin cruise this past Friday. About an hour in, a staff member came to let us know we should move to the back the of the boat or head downstairs. We got up immediately to go towards the seating behind the cabin. By this time, it was too late. The waves-seas were very rough. Both of us were thrown into the cabin wall. Another passenger came to my aid and he fell quite hard when a wave hit the boat. We were told we could go to the lower deck, but by this time it was impossible to stand w/out being thrown. A good number of passengers were sick and some were understandably frightened and crying. The boat should have turned around. Continuing the trip was irresponsible and showed no regard for safety of the passengers. The majority of the passengers wanted to turn back and not continue out to look for whales. Even if whales were found, none of the passengers would have been able to stand to see them. Then to receive an e mail for another trip because we didn't not see any whales?? An apology would have been nice. Hopefully no one was hurt. read more

We went on the 10 AM puffin cruise with a naturalist. It was very educational and interesting. The weather was not so great as it was attempting to rain on us part of the time and it was a bit chilly but overall, it was a wonderful cruise. we saw many puffins on Eastern Egg Island, that is the destination. We saw a Harbor Seal, many seabirds and porpoise. Seating available inside and out. Everyone very helpful and pleasant. read more

See all

Wish I would have listened to the reviews. Waited all week to do the Wednesday lighthouse tour and canceled 1.5 hr before. Said it was because they didn't have enough people but then when I asked more questions said they had no captain and he had stuff to do in the afternoon. read more

We went on the 10 am puffin cruise last Monday. Amy did a great presentation, Captain gave a narrative as we cruised. We saw puffins. Very difficult to capture with camera. It would have been nice to have stayed longer than the half hour or less floating near the island. We just went around one side of the island and then the other so everyone on the boat can see. There just wasn't enough time out there. It seem pretty quick. We flew all the way from California for this tour. There is a parking lot they tell you to park. It is expensive so we parked up the hill in the public lot - $2.00/hour. There are several public lots around that are like a 5 minute walk to the ticket booth. People start lining up 1.5 hours early. read more

We took the cruise on 8/14 at 4:30pm from Pier 7. The interpreter was very knowledgeable and showed his enthusiasm in educating the public about Maine's maritime life. This was excellent! I also thought that it was a great idea to arrange kids to touch lobsters. Both my nephews from Switzerland (9 and 6 years-old) loved this experience. They were so excited that they asked us to take pictures of them with the lobsters Anyway it was a great experience for all of my family - 8 of us! read more

Cap'n Fish's Cruises - We had a meal at Pier 1 before our cruise. My photos during the cruise were in a different cellphone. Too bad that I can't share them. - Boat Charters Near Me - Boothbay Harbor, Maine

First we had a family emergency and had to walk off the first tour after boarding. I realize that I should have gotten the trip insurance for the extra money but they stopped me and asked questions as though they were going to follow up and try to help. Then, nothing. So my husband and I spend the extra money to rebook and try again. The crew boasts that they just saw tons of whales that morning and basically promised that we would see plenty of whales. I tried not to get my hopes up, but they insisted that we were heading right back out to where they just had success. Nothing, for four hours. We saw more marine life on the ferry to Monhegan the day before. read more

We did the 10AM Audobon Puffin tour. About a 2 1/2 hour ride out and back witha real nice stop at West Egg Island. It was such a perfect day that our captain lost track of time and we spent an extra 15 min or so cruising around the Island. The birds and other wildlife were so entertaining. Lauren, our puffin project naturalist was very informative and so involved every step. Beautiful day, great sights, great ride. read more

We had an awesome time with Captain Taber and Audubon Amy cruising out to see Puffins! Beautiful and successful day. Very educational. It was like witnessing a miracle getting to watch these amazing sea birds that came back from near extinction ! Bravo! Highly recommend! read more

It's one of the best trips I've had while in Maine. Saw lots of marine life, including a humpback whale that circled are vessel for over 30 minutes A1 production. The crew was awesome. read more

See all

My wife and I took a cruise a couple weeks ago to do the whale watch trip. She really loved it and I enjoyed the ride too. I'm only giving this 4 stars because this was my second time going through Cap'n Fish and both in 2018 and then on this trip, I didn't see any whales. I know this is totally out of their control. They do offer a voucher to come back for another cruise if you don't see any whales and the history of the area and the information you learn about wildlife is still really cool. It's worth the trip, but it's not a guarantee to see any whales. read more

Cap'n Fish's Cruises - Boat Charters Near Me - Boothbay Harbor, Maine

My husband and I took the 3 hour Kennebec River Cruise and it was wonderful in so many ways. We saw osprey, eagles, seals, several lighthouses and the Bath Iron Works ship building company. One of my favorites was the swing bridge. The boat was wonderful and provided many seating options for all kind of needs. There are snacks and drinks one can purchase and the 3 hours went by so fast. What made this trip so memorable was the narration from the captain. So informative and he made it entertaining. My husband is disabled and he loved being outside up front feeling the wind. He had so much fun which made me happy. Thank you. read more

See all

We went on the whale and puffin cruise and it was terrible! We had the worst waves and every single passenger was seasick! The crew quickly got to work handing out bags to everyone and were fantastic. Once I saw how many people were sick and soaking wet I asked a crew member if we'd be turning back which he said yes we were...we ended up doing the entire 4+ hours even though everyone was sick. I was told the crew and captain wanted to turn around but the owner didn't. Shame on this company for putting passengers through such a horrific experience. The inside of the boat looked like an overcrowded ER. It was disgusting and a biohazard for sure. On top of this experience the owner gave me a call. I initially was pleased to get a call but was quickly regretting the conversation. First, he tried to get me to out the crew member who gave me the information above, I will not do that and suggested he address everyone in general. The gentleman tried to negate everything I had to say with "that's whale watching!" I could not believe the audacity of this man. He stated he only had 2 calls to make about Fridays trip and I was one of them. I explained I never get sick, to which he told me "that's whale watching, even I've been seasick". I agreed but said the fact that 90% of the boat was sick multiple times is a different situation entirely. This man was NOT on the boat and does not have any first hand experience with what it was like on that particular trip. For him to dismiss everything I was telling him while he was seeking the feedback should tell you everything you need to know about him and his company. I would strongly urge anyone who was on Fridays 1:30 cruise to contact this egotistical man and demand a refund. read more

We loved our Audubon guide cruise to see the puffins. We were lucky and had great weather with flat water much of the way to the island. We also lucked out and saw lots of puffin activity and a variety of sea birds and porpoises. The boat was clean and comfortable and the crew made sure it was a smooth trip in every way. Although the Audubon guide was too loquacious for my taste, there was lots of information about what to look for and what we were seeing. I would definitely choose this boat for another trip in Boothbay Harbor! read more

Cap'n Fish's Cruises - Flat water made for a smooth cruise to Egg harbor rock - Boat Charters Near Me - Boothbay Harbor, Maine

See all

From Captain to crew, a totally professional team. We were on four separate cruises with Cap'n Fish, each one a memorable and comfortable experience. They offer a variety of different sightseeing experiences: puffin's exclusively, whale watching, lighthouses, combos. Check their website for dates and times. read more

Very pleasant crew and Captain. Weather was perfect! Thanks for allowing my dog to come with us!! 5 stars!! read more

Took my son on the Puffin cruise. It was late in the season but we still saw a number of puffins and he was thrilled. They provide education about the types of birds that will be there and attempt to pint them out when you get to the location. Not a huge boat so good viewpoints all around. They also have a little gift shop on board that helps fund the puffin research. The parking is a little crazy, definitely follow the advice in the confirmation email and go early to get a spot and to get in line to get a seat on the boat. People showed up at 9:30 and seemed surprised that they could not find parking and that the good seats were taken by the time they got on board. read more

Really enjoyed our puffin & whale cruise. Saw 3 humpback whales and tons of puffins and other birds. Crew was knowledgeable and friendly. Seas were a little rough, and some kids got seasick. Crew was prepared and responded quickly and professionally. The naturalist on the boat provided lots of information on what we were seeing. Definitely recommend. read more

This is a mixed review. Last year I went on the Puffin/Whale watching cruise with 2 friends. The staff was knowledgeable and went straight to the island that had puffins. We were delighted to see so many, however not a whale was to be seen. The seas got very rough and most people became sea sick. As the boat was returning we all were advised that as we did not see any whales we would get a voucher to go on another puffin/whale watch that was good till the end of 2025. Fast forward I was in Maine again in part to go and whale watch. I called on Monday 8/5 to find the voucher is a standby and no seats open on Monday but that Tuesday 8/6 there were 83 seats open for the 1:30 cruise. We had to call and see if they got sold out. I was staying 1.5 hours away. I called in the am they had seats left, call closer to the departure time. I called at noon 0 seats left. I was told that 8/7 they had 64 seats open for the 9:30 and that the website was updated real time. I checked and there were seats available at 8:00 am. Drove the 1.5 hours and when we arrived we were told there were no seats left. If you are running a business that offers a come back if no whales were seen you need to leave seats open for those previous patrons, maybe 5-10% and place them in the system when planning the day. I was not the only person there where at least 3 other groups that day. I asked if they can extend the voucher flat out NO. I live 7.5 hours away. I came to Maine to visit a friend and to utilize my voucher but the $99 per adult meant more than honoring a voucher --------- why even offer it then? They lost my business and those of any friend I know. There are other companies that do whale watching. New Providence is 1/2 way point for my friend and I......... read more

Was as advertised- saw the Puffins- no whales so we got a voucher for another tour. I did get sea sick, but they were prepared with top notch barf bags. Just wished they gave out stickers that said "I threw up on the Harbor Princess ." read more