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

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

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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

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

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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

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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

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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

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

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

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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

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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

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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

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

Beware of Cap'n Fish's directions to parking! What they don't tell you is that the parking lot will cost almost as much as your boat ticket! Do they also own this, or does the Cap'n's brother own it? Pricey and sneaky!! If you've survived the parking fees, the rest of the trip is good, and the narration also good for novice naturalists. We went to Boothbay Harbor for just the cruise, and got outa Dodge as quickly as we could, as it is a tourist choked town full of cars, people and gift shops etc. Off to the wilds of Maine! read more

Trip was very entertaining. Sadly our 1 year old grandson got I'll and would not let our kids reschedule read more

A+ Not a touristy activity fan, but coming from a summer Maine person, I thought this was great. Winding your way through the area's little inlets and islands was really cool, and seeing islands with old buildings uninhabited was really great. Good seascape photo ops! Silly touristy commentary stops once you leave the harbor. I really enjoyed it!! I think anyone, any age, no matter how worldly would:) read more

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We got more out of a 15 minute ferry cruise then on Cap'n Fish's cruise. Was told and promised we would see seals, but saw not one seal. We saw a porpoise on accident and that's only because someone next to us spotted it out. Lobster haul was kind of cool but if you were in the back of the boat (which we were in the front) then you were on your tip toes trying to see the catch. Captain was great with fun facts about what we were always seeing and about lobsters. Younger woman at the front when checking in was super rude and made us feel like we were in the wrong just for asking her that we were there for the cruise ride. We said, "hi, we are here for the cruise, do we check in with you?" Her response was "well, if you have a ticket then get on the boat!" We were like... "oh, okay?" LOL! Anyways, not the worst but definitely better experiences and for A LOT less. read more

We had an amazing time on this puffin boat sea-fari! We spotted puffins as well as other marine birds on our boat outing. The sailing was nice and smooth thanks to the captain's steering, however there were waves so I'm thankful for the couple who gave me Dramamine. :) Tips- *Get there early and park in their parking lot. Super convenient. The boat leaves exactly at the time posted on the ticket, so don't be late! *Pack your zoom lens! I regret not packing my zoom lens, but I still managed to get some shots of the puffins. They are so cute, and fly sooooo fast! *Wear a hat or spray your head if it's peak sun! I got a sunburn on my hair part (never thought that was a thing and didn't think of spraying my hair with sunscreen). read more

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Get out there with these guys, you won't regret it! They're amazing at what they do and we had an absolute blast on the Puffin Cruise (twice). They're professional, knowledgeable, and made us feel like part of the family. And of course, we saw rafts and whirls of puffins!!! Can't wait to do it again! read more

Went on the 1:30 whale watching and puffin tour, seemed to be a decent day, a few clouds but no big deal. The naturalist guide was fine she seemed nice whatever no big deal. Later after the puffin portion the speaker mentioned that the boat would be speeding up and the front deck may get a little wet, ok still no big deal. Moments later it was like a monsoon! Like buckets of water being hurled onto the deck, within minutes everyone on the top level of the boat was drenched, not "a little wet", DRENCHED. Still not the worst part, after about 20 minutes of this, the boat stopped and an announcement was made that if you wanted to move elsewhere to avoid the water now was the time. So as any sane person would do I went down to the indoor bar area on the lower level of the boat. This still isn't the worst part. So basically everyone is crammed in the indoor part of the boat it's like shoulder to shoulder, when the boat starts speeding up again and everyone is holding on to chairs, tables, pipes, whatever they could grab ahold of. That's when it started, it was like a domino effect, the vomiting. The two amazing crew members who were manning the bar were passing out doggy bags like hotcakes, at one point there were more people with those bags than without. The waves got so bad the entire mini bar slid off the shelf and glass shattered everywhere. At this point the staff went to go talk to the captain but to no avail the captain pressed on, and for what? We didn't even see a whale, and like I understand it's not guaranteed but why even try if so many people are unhappy, like at that point just turn the boat around. Anyways shout out to the crew working inside, they were rockstars! I made the stupid mistake of wearing shorts and one of the staff members so graciously gave me his fleece to use as a blanket as I was curled up on the soaking wet floor puking into a bag. Whoever those guys were, they deserve so much more than what they're being paid. Anyways definitely an experience maybe not a good one but definitely something different. read more

Great cruise in cloudy cool weather. Still saw lots including Harbor seals, Porpoise and many birds as well as a few lighthouses! Nearby parking a bit pricy $20) but worth it as we were steps away from the boat. read more

Complete waste of time and money. For approximately $400 we saw water shooting from the blowhole of a whale but did not actually see any whales. This company considers this as seeing a whale. Please go spend your money elsewhere & maybe you'll have better luck! I have no photos to add because we saw nothing to take photos of!! read more

The cruise itself was great: a knowledgeable skipper pointed out interesting landmarks, history and local fauna. Make sure you leave plenty of time for parking: don't park at the dock itself unless you enjoy being price-gouged. (They also don't validate tickets for parking despite the fact that you paid to go on a cruise leaving from that dock). The company neglects to mention this when you buy the tickets. read more

Had a great whale watching boat ride. Was lucky enough to see a humpback whale..it was great despite rain on way back inland. read more

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While on Cap'n Fish's Whale Cruise, we saw _a_ (sigh...) Fin Whale and had a roller coaster ride through decent-size swells and high, cold winds, but it was a great time! Throughout the cruise, there are pretty views of Booth Bay and the coastline, then of the ocean. The captain handled the boat well, and a staff member naturalist called out sights and explained about whales and what to look for to try to see them, as well as about other critters around that we saw (a couple of porpoises and various types of birds). The staff members in general are friendly, knowledgeable, and conscientious. The boat was a decent size. We sat on wooden benches on one side the whole time and found them to be comfortable. The inside of the boat has padded benches; the upper deck has more wooden benches filling most of the space, and a few of what looked like lawn chairs in front of the pilothouse. Apparently, you can show up an hour early to get seats; we showed up 20 minutes early and the inside seating and side seating were still wide open, while the top and the back were already full. (Seating at the bow wasn't opened due to the swells.) One side note. I'd suggest parking at the Boothbay Harbor Municipal Parking Lot that's just up the hill from the harbor, if you can. At $8 per day, the price is _much_ cheaper than the lot right by the boats, if you don't mind the 2-block walk. read more

This review is for the Audubon Puffin & Scenic Cruise. The highlight of the tour is viewing the Puffins at Eastern Egg Rock and learning about reestablishing the Puffin Colony there. This is the Atlantic Puffins southernmost nesting island in all of North America. They are truly magnificent to watch...but not always behaving for a photo op (lol). Seeing them in action is just an amazing sight. In short...they are very cute! Moreover, you will also see a variety of birds and seals as well on this eco-cruise. The Audubon Society gives a wonderful briefing on all the birds and their current research...it is a nice learning and educational experience. An additional treat is viewing the scenic lighthouses, boats, homes, and especially the Maine coastline and all her beauty. There is parking located at the main office & pier. If it is full, that is ok...there is plenty of other parking lots in town and everything there in Boothbay is a short walk. Most of the lots are paid parking and vary in cost. Of course, if you are staying at one of the hotels in town...just walk! Your pier number may change (ours did), but they are all within a short walking distance of each other. We took a whale watching boat instead of the boat they normally take for the Puffin cruise due to maintenance. It was a good opportunity to walk and see a few sights and I'm not sure what impact or difference the boat may have had, but I'm thinking it may have been less rough. If you have an issue with sea sickness, keep changes in mind and be prepared. The staff was really friendly and accommodating from the folks at the booths for information to onboard the boat. The boat was as comfortable as a touring boat can be I suppose. There are restrooms onboard as well. Bring layers! We went in June and it was fairly warm when the cruise started, but then once you got out on the water it got a little chilly and even cold at times. Then when you stop to view birds, you can feel overheated...the boat moves and you're chilly again. Don't forget the sunscreen!!! I would also recommend binoculars or a camera with a zoom lens. We couldn't get that many pictures due to the boat movements, but the zoom lens sure did help to see the birds up close...pictures or not! The price of tickets is...I don't know...confusing to perhaps. I bought our tickets online and I had to call to verify what I was seeing. It states $35+ for adults and $20+ for children 12 and under...the "+" being taxes & fees. Then when you go to check out, fees are attached to the adult tickets only. The $6 per adult may catch you off guard. I had to call them to make sure...and yep, $41 is the cost per adult (age 13+ that is). I read in reviews where people state the tickets cost more online due to the fees. I spoke to folks who bought tickets at the booth and online and there wasn't any difference/savings really. So, how you buy your tickets is up to you. I would keep the refund policy in mind when purchasing online. Then again, buying online keeps you from standing in line. And no matter what...remember that a part of the proceeds go to the Audubon Society and that's a good thing (in my opinion)! (17 pictures posted and only one is attached to this review. As usual, hopefully they'll catch up to the review at some point. In the meantime, you'll have to search for them if you wish to view.) read more

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We had harbor cruise. Duration is short enough to keep my two kids interested and engaged. Yet long enough to enjoy a nice outing. Recommend to arrive early to find the pier to board the cruise. read more

We did the Whale and Puffin Tour. Prior to getting on boat, it does explicitly state that it is a 4+ hour tour. The boat was spacious, with a full bar and food available on board. There is in door seating and outside seating. We went mid June on a cooler day. They also do prepare you prior to boarding of everything you need. We saw everything as advertised- puffins, lots of puffins and Humpback Whale - mother and calf. The downside, no fault of the company is 4+ hours is a LONG TIME to be on a boat, if not used to it, do not have sea legs and don't like the cold. It was a lot of riding on rough, rough waters and was COLD. read more