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    Hardy Boat Cruises

    4.6 (71 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    Todd R.

    I took my wife and daughter on a puffin cruise today and the experience was fantastic from beginning to end. After parking in their lot, it was a short and pleasant walk to the wharf. The staff, which included a number of young people, was super friendly and helpful. The boat was clean and spacious with great views. After a short ride out to the island, we were treated to hundreds of puffins, terns, guillemots and razorbills. Absolutely fantastic experience. I also must say the young lady, Kira (sp?) who was the Audubon guide who led the birdwatching was wonderful!! Highly recommend Hardy Boat Cruises.

    Looking back at the mainland
    Terrilynn D.

    If you're heading to Monhegan Island or just want to cruise the bay, Hardy Boat is the best way. Friendly and family-owned, they keep a clean and snappy ship and service. There are extra amenities when on the boat - like maps to Monhegan Island, coffee and home baked cinnamon rolls. Be sure to buy passes for both going and returning. It's a one hour trip from New Harbor which often includes comments about the history of the area and wildlife. I've used this line for years and it's my favorite

    Lu-Shien T.

    The Hardy III boat herself is immaculate--she might be an old gal but she is ship shape. I did not notice anything amiss as I moved about--no cracked or flaking paint. No rust or broken duct tape fixtures--even the toilets were pristine. The only way you can maintain a boat in this condition is with ongoing proactive maintenance schedule. CPT Al and his deckhands Kaden and Riley got us on and off the boat efficiently and cheerfully. Wait, make that effervescently! Maybe it's the sticky buns they serve from the Cupboard Cafe or the organic Nicaraguan coffee--and the copious amount of fresh air and beauty they encounter. The fact is this crew is gregarious and magnanimous! Bumble around and get in their way while taking photos enthusiastically and they gently ask you to move to another spot as they approach patiently. The crossing from New Harbor to Monhegan is brief at 1 hour, but the winds can make large rolling swells depending on time of year. We had a calm, sunny day today such that the captain was pointing out puffins and other birds floating near the boat--perfect!

    Angela R.

    The Captain was absolutely amazing in getting us close to the puffins and the other sea birds! We could see them easily without binoculars. The Audubon volunteer guide was also fantastic! We would definitely recommend this tour!!

    Puffins floating by

    The weather was challenging and foggy, but we saw many puffins and other sea birds. Our Audubon naturalist was able to identify the different species and alert us as they passed by the boat. I felt like we spent a good amount of time and I was able to get decent photos (they would have been better on a sunny day, but no one can control the weather. At least it was not raining!). If you like to see birds, especially sea birds, this is the trip for you.

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    2 years ago

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    Dominique C.

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    1 year ago

    Incredibly informative and fun puffin cruise! The team is very knowledgeable, and plenty of space on the boat.

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    4 years ago

    Great experience! The staff was extremely nice, ferry was clean and on time :) I can't wait to have the opportunity to ride with them again!

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    4 years ago

    Great time. Pleasant staff. The presentation and duration of the Puffin cruise as perfect. Parking is a bit to expensive - only complaint.

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    Dominique C.

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    4 years ago

    We went on a puffin tour with an Audubon guide. The crew and guide were wonderful. excellent for birders and non birders alike.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Hardy Boat Cruises

    Review Highlights - Hardy Boat Cruises

    There are extra amenities when on the boat - like maps to Monhegan Island, coffee and home baked cinnamon rolls.

    Mentioned in 16 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Balmy Day Cruises - My daughters forst fishing trip and it was a great one!

    Balmy Day Cruises

    4.6(114 reviews)
    7.1 mi
    Locally owned & operated
    44 years in business

    We took Balmy Day Cruises out of Boothbay to Monhegan Island, and it was an absolutely lovely…read moreexperience. We ordered both our outbound and return tickets online ($23 per person per leg of the trip, so for two people - after fees - it was close to $100), showed up to collect them at about 9:15, and got in the queue (I'd strongly recommend showing up even earlier than we did: the best seats are on the top of the boat, and they fill up very quickly). The whole process was super easy! The boat is for passengers only, departing Pier 8 at 9:30am and arriving back around 4:15/4:30pm. The boat ride is about 1 1/2 hours each way. At 2pm they offer a trip around Monhegan Island (it's $5 per person, cash only) that offers spectacular views of the entire circumference of the island; it's narrated with local history and nature facts (actually most of the boat ride to and from is), and when we went the captain also brought us over to Duck Rocks to see dozens and dozens of seals sunbathing. We also saw harbor porpoises on the ride back to the mainland! There are beverages available for sale (including adult options); there are bathrooms on board, as well. The staff is friendly, incredibly safety focused, and very quick to help when there's a sick passenger (after all, you're in the open ocean of the Gulf of Maine). I didn't know what to expect, but was impressed and satisfied with the entire experience. We're already looking forward to our next trip to Monhegan which we'll do through Balmy Day (who also offer harbor tours, private charters, sailing trips, mackerel fishing, and Burnt Island Lighthouse tours... something we're also interested in now too!). What an incredible way to explore coastal Maine from the convenience of Boothbay!

    Great Captain honest day. The cocaptain was training a new hire. They were very emphatic on making…read moresure we were back well in time not to miss the trip. The water was safe safe and smooth. Entertaining dialogue from the captain throughout the cruise. It was a absolutely fun and rewarding day on the island.

    Photos
    Balmy Day Cruises
    Balmy Day Cruises
    Balmy Day Cruises

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    Cap'n Fish's Cruises - Demonstration (Jul 2025)

    Cap'n Fish's Cruises

    3.9(154 reviews)
    7.1 mi

    It's nice that they have a puffin and whale watching combo cruise. Being short on time, it was nice…read moreto 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.

    We took the puffin watch cruise and has a great experience! The boat was clean and well taken care…read moreof 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.

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    Cap'n Fish's Cruises - Envy and her Dad

    Envy and her Dad

    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.

    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.

    Cap'n Fish's Cruises - Demonstration (Jul 2025)

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    Demonstration (Jul 2025)

    Casco Bay Lines - Casco Bay Lines

    Casco Bay Lines

    4.2(156 reviews)
    40.7 miOld Port

    Mail run trip. Six islands: Little diamond, Great Diamond, Long, Cliff, Chebeague. The Casco Bay…read moreLines are the premier ferry line for folks getting back and forth to the many islands in and around Portland Maine. Primarily this trip is a working freight/mail ferry trip that they have allowed passengers to join and enjoy the beautiful views while the deckhands work. Super fun and economical way to get out of the city and see Casco bay. We were super satisfied and pleased. Would give my highest recommendation. Staff was phenomenal.

    Eat, Drink, & Be Ferry…read more Ferry service that charters passengers from Portland harbor to one of numerous inhabited islands just off the coast. We chartered a Ferry ride to Peak's Island on a crisp early Autumn day. The Good: *You can load your car on the Ferry *Nice boat with a top view *Staff was friendly enough *Fairly inexpensive at $14/adult & $7/child for round-trip ticket. *They also do scenic boat tours, as well as the Ferry service. Check their website for dates and times. The Meh: *Peak season pricing on autos that can go from Off-Peak Season price of $70-100 (depending on vehicle size) to $150-170 for Peak Season price. The Ugly: *Make sure to plan your day accordingly with the boat schedule. You don't want to get stuck on an island there without a reservation. Conclusion: Even if you just go out to the island and back, it's still worth the $14 of entertainment riding across the ocean.

    Photos
    Casco Bay Lines - Casco Bay Lines

    Casco Bay Lines

    Casco Bay Lines - Casco Bay Lines

    Casco Bay Lines

    Casco Bay Lines - Casco Bay Lines

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    Casco Bay Lines

    Hardy Boat Cruises - boating - Updated June 2026

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