Deep Boat Hard to pass up a boat ride to see some adorable puffins while visiting Maine, so we decided to give Hardy Boat Cruises a go on their "Puffin Watch" tour. The Good: *About a twenty minute drive from gorgeous Pemaquid Point Lighthouse. *Staff was friendly *You're not stuck in your seat for the entire journey as you're free to move about once the boat gets going. *About as close as one can get to the puffins without going on the island they hangout. *Overall, it was a really fun boat ride and you get to see some neat stuff. The Meh: *It's not cheap at $51/adults (13+) and Kids (2-12) *They have a representative from National Audibon on the boat which is awesome--but you can't hear a weird she says thru their archaic "sound" system. Between the waves and engine noise, she could've been reading the dictionary for all we know. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ The Meh: *Their "off-site" parking lot is definitely just that--off-site! It's a good 10min walk from the parking to the pier, but that's not even the worst of it. You have to walk on a two-lane road with almost no shoulder and lots of curves, so definitely be aware of your surroundings. Or it'll coy-tains for you, see? Coy-tains! *And--as if the above wasn't bad enough--they have the gall to charge you $20 for the pleasure of parking there. -_- Conclusion: Fun ocean adventure to see the puffins--but be prepared to crack open your wallet for this pleasure. read more

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The puffin tour was super informative and fun! We saw so many and the staff pointed out what other birds we were seeing too. Very good overall. The storefront/gift shop at shore is a bit rundown looking but don't let that fool you. The boat is the main attraction area. They got close, but not too close to the birds. We even saw harbor porpoises on the way back in! read more

Hardy Boat Cruises - Boating Near Me - Bristol, Maine

Had an awesome experience on the Hardy boat cruises - puffin tour. It was a beautiful, sunny day for a boat ride and we were lucky enough to snag a spot on the top. I have to say, the naturalist on board made the experience for us! She was so energetic, passionate, and informative. Not only did we see puffins, we saw a variety of other birds, some dolls porpoise, a sunfish, and more! I definitely recommend bringing a pair of binoculars to get a better view of the wildlife! read more

Hardy Boat Cruises - Boating Near Me - Bristol, Maine

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

The Puffin Cruise with National Audubon Society was great! I would advise bringing binoculars, and if you have a telephoto camera lens that helps too. We enjoyed seeing all of the birds and hearing about the conservation efforts. read more

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. read more

Hardy Boat Cruises - Boating Near Me - Bristol, Maine

We had a great time. Didn't know how many puffins we would see but we saw dozens, with many of them close to the boat. Captain Jim did a great job steering us up close without disturbing the birds and was entertaining throughout the cruise. The naturalist on board, Kate, was fantastic in identifying birds and sharing many fascinating details on them. I highly recommend Hardy Boat read more

We took a guided puffin tour with Hardy Boat this past weekend and absolutely loved our experience! The staff was kind, knowledgeable, and helpful. The area is beautiful as well and on the walk from the parking lot to the dock some of the locals were selling handmade goods which was a fun plus. They have local snacks and drinks on board and they had some informational sessions regarding different seabirds while you head out to the island. We saw lots of puffins, a seal, and some porpoise! I highly recommend this tour- and bringing binoculars! read more

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 read more

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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! read more

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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!! read more

Hardy Boat Cruises - Boating Near Me - Bristol, Maine

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Very nice trip to Monhegan Island with personable, experienced captains both going and coming. We had very good weather one way and stormy seas on the return but the crew was great and had good tips for avoiding motion sickness. Crew was knowlegeable about local history and wildlife. Fun time! read more

Great boat ride! Even though the boat was full everyone had good seats. The Audubon lecturer was knowledgeable and enthusiastic. We saw many puffins and many other birds. It was fantastic! read more

We left for Monhegan Island on a gray day with rough seas. The captain did an excellent job negotiating the chop. She also loaded and unloaded suitcases, etc! Our return trip several days later was a lot different, The seas were calm and it was a sunny day. Same captain on board, and she was a wonderful host! All the crew were polite and speedy in loading and unloading! read more

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. read more

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I went on this cruise because my dad made two wooden puffin birds before he passed away. The two he made just happen to match the brochure so I went in his honor. The staff worked quickly and efficiently handling the luggage. The ride was informative on the way and on arrival to the island. read more

Hardy Boat Cruises - Boating Near Me - Bristol, Maine

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This was great! My husband, ten year old son, and I went on the puffin cruise. We had previously been staying in Bar Harbor and I considered taking one of the cruises out of there. However, I'm so glad we didn't. It turns out that all puffin cruises go basically the same place, which is close to New Harbor but FAR from Bar Harbor. So the Hardy Boat cruise is much shorter (only about 90 minutes total) but you spend most of that time actually circling the island and looking at puffins, rather than just traveling to the location. I'm a little claustrophobic so 90 minutes felt better to me than three hours. The boat is comfortable, warm, and has refreshments for sale. They do pack it pretty full, so when we were outside with binoculars, we sort of had to duck and cram to avoid stepping on people's toes and stuff. I don't really think there's any other way for the company to do it and survive financially though-- the tickets are pretty cheap, so they just have to have a high volume of tourists. It wasn't at all unpleasant, but you don't have a lot of elbow-room. People were in good spirits and happy to help point out birds to my son. We went in mid-August and it was the tail end of puffin season, apparently. I sort of wish our timeline had worked out so we could go earlier and see more of them, but even in August we definitely got up close to several in the water, including a group of 5 who were chilling together. We learned a lot and were super excited to see the cute birds. I wouldn't necessarily do it a second time (because once you've seen a puffin, you've seen all them puffins) but I would highly recommend it for anyone in the area. read more

These are not nice people and they have terrible policies. If you buy a ticket for months from now and change your mind and try to cancel the very next day, they will keep ALL YOUR MONEY. They are thieves read more

Such a fun time on the Puffin boat! The Audubon expert gave us great information and what to watch for. she and the entire crew was so enthusiastic! And we saw soooo many puffins and other sea birds! Recommend 100%! read more

The staff was very friendly and helpful. The trip out was a little rocky. I get motion sickness so the ginger chews they provided were much appreciated. Monhegan was absolutely beautiful. It has been on my bucket list to visit. Loved the trip and will be back again-on Hardy Boat Cruises! Jeanne M. read more

The tour was really great. The naturalist was very knowledgeable & enthusiastic. We saw many puffins and seals and terns and guillemots. The boat was quite comfortable, even if the ride was a bit bumpy. Downsides? The porta-potty (no bathrooms) was perhaps the most disgusting I have ever seen. At least in the top three. So you've been warned. And is it really necessary for them to charge $20 for parking in the field? If I were just rating the boat ride itself, I'd easily give it 5 stars, but . . . . . . read more

We took the ferry charter on July 1, 2022. We had perfect seas and weather. We found the entire crew 3-4 ( mates ) as they are called to be friendly, courteous and very knowledgable on all aspects of the trip. The captain, I think Alesha, was very good and they were all having a good time. Parking a little high. $ 20 per car but still highly recommend the trip. read more

Great Puffin watch cruise with talk by Audubon Society member. It was a beautiful day and we saw many Puffins and other birds, plus seals and porpoises. The young lady who works for the Audubon Society was a great speaker, knowledgable and enthusiastic about the birds. This was the second time we have taken that cruise with guests and I would do it again. read more

The Puffin cruise with a member of the National Audubon Puffin Watch was phenomenal. The ride to Eastern Egg Rock was nice and took about 1/2 hour. Although the schedule calls for only 1/2 hour observing the island, the captain stayed there for almost one hour because we saw SO much bird activity, including many, many puffins. The National Audubon narrator was knowledgeable and enthusiastic. The boat crew--captain and mates--handled the boat in a professional, safe manner and while near the island, were careful and respectful of the bird habitat. It didn't matter where you sat on the boat; the captain and the mates made sure that everyone had equitable viewing time. Make sure you read and understand the system--Park up the hill for $10 and bring your parking ticket with you when you walk down to claim your boat tickets (you can drop people off at the dock before you park). Also, the ticket price does not include a fuel surcharge and a fee per ticket, but the total cost is reasonable (and competitive with the other tour, which takes longer to get to the island with the puffins). And get there on time! Allow for traffic and accidents on the way there. Bring layers--it can get windy and cold. Bring binoculars (they have them for rent according to their website). read more

In the words of my 15 year old, the puffin boat cruise we took with Hardy "was great!" (Parents: you know teenagers are rarely moved to say such words.) In the words of my husband who loves puffins: "it was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream". The boat ride was fun, the bird viewing was excellent, we saw puffins and many other sea birds, learned so much from the Audubon expert, the captain and crew were friendly and knowledgeable, the boat was in excellent condition and clean, and the boat docked right next to a raw bar and seafood restaurant. What else could you ask for? It was perfection! read more

We had a great time on our Puffin Cruise. The weather was gorgeous, and we arrived about an hour before the scheduled departure, so we were able to sit on the top deck, which is the place to be! You get the best views from up there. The entire cruise is beautiful, but when you get near Eastern Egg Rock, the birds abound: lots of puffins, guillemots, terns, gulls and eiders. We also saw harbor porpoises and seals. I took this cruise last summer, on a very foggy day, and I loved that experience as well--somewhat eerie, but beautiful in a different way (and still plenty of birds). Hardy Boat Cruises does a terrific job. We highly recommend going on their Puffin Cruise if you're in the Midcoast area. read more

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!

I've always loved traveling with Hardy Boats! This trip was terrible seas and Al was amazing supporting those who were unwell, especially my friend. I wish the new owners would continue the raffle for a free trip though. read more

We all had a great time. I was not sure how hard it would be to get on and off the boat considering my handicap limits my walking to a few steps and barely able to lift them. The crew was more then willing to assist me so I was able to get on and off safely. The ride was fun and the scenery was great. As for Puffins, we had many opportunities to see them and very close up. Many other birds as well. The narration was very well done as was the entire experience. I highly suggest taking this ride, for me it was just long enough to be very enjoyable and not so long it becomes tedious. I would like to add every single member of the crew had a smile on there face. read more

Puffins seals and Monhegan Hardy Boat Cruises offer seal, foliage and puffins tours as well as trips to and from Monhegan Island. We've use them on many occasions and they have always been professional and extremely entertaining. On the puffin and seal tours you will learn all about these critters with a sense of humor and fun rather than a dry lecture. Any question you have about the animals or the area will be answered in detail. The boat is a pleasant 60 footer with a open sun roof on and a covered section down below. Food and beverages are available on board and blankets are given out if the wind and water makes things a bit cool for you. A wonderful way to learn and see what's living off the coast of Maine or take a trip out to an isolated and beautiful island. You can even buy a t-shirt or hat when you get back to the dock. read more

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We had a wonderful time watching puffins! Weather was perfect, sunny and cool, and there were hundreds of puffins! The tour was under 2 hours, and was priced reasonably. This was the only puffin watch tour under 2 hours that we could find, all others were 4-5 hours (for double the price), which seemed too long. We also saw a few seals, incredible tour!! read more

What a FABULOUS cruise *five stars* we had an amazing time. We got to see puffins! And seals and a ton of other shore birds on 2 trips we took. The boat was clean and comfortable the staff super kind and helpful. I highly highly recommend Hardy Boat Cruises. The Audubon trip was informative and fun and I really can't wait to do another one. read more

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We are long time Monhegan travelers, and we LOVE the Hardy Boat Cruises. They are super friendly, the boat is very clean and every ride is great! Easy parking, great food located at the dock, and a safe and gorgeous ride! THANKS! read more

Everything about the Hardy Boat is great except the price. I couldn't believe how much the price jumped with the new management compared to last year including the parking fee. It doesn't feel very good. We will probably start using Port Clyde from next year after using this place for 7 years because they seem definitely cheaper than this one. read more

The boat trip was fine. The parking situation and lack of clarity only hurts your business. It is not that the parking is a long walk from boat. First off, it is dangerous to have the customers walk up and down the road in between. Sooner or later someone will get seriously hurt. There are no sidewalk for one thing. Why you don't have a larger golf cart to ferry people back and forth baffles me. It would cost you relatively nothing weighed against the benefits. It would corral little kids. It would accommodate seniors who can't or don't want to make the walk. It would safely contain customers. It would show concern for your customers' convenience. It would better use your own staff. It would help orient customers as to where they need to park. And, more or less surprising customers with an extra $20 parking fee, might better be included in the upfront charge. There should be a map on your website that draws out and explains where to park , where not to park, and showing where the boat and ticket office are in relation to the designated parking seems like a no brained. The customer service should not start when we get on the boat. You all are familiar with everything. We arrive there, seeing everything for the first time. Better signage to inform about parking would be a help. Overall, you overestimate how much people read, much less understand everything on your website. You should be actively asking first time customers what questions, concerns and confusions they gave. We were completely bewildered by what we were being told about parking. "Go up the hill" is both confusing and innaccurate. Up the hill is the house across the road, not an accurate description of a parking lot a quarter of a mile way , up and way around the corner, not to mention completely out of site. It doesn't matter how established your business is . You can quickly kill it off or limit its success making assumptions about what the public understands. It comes across like there is no businessman in charge. Disney is great because it paid attention and thought through everything. Will little effort and a lot of common sense, your business could do significantly better. read more

So happy we were able to do the Puffin Boat Tour with Hardy Boat Cruises before the end of the season. The captain and crew were great. Representatives from the Audubon Society educated us on the trip out to Eastern Egg Rock, preparing us for what we could expect to see. They interrupted their presentation a few times when the captain directed us to other sights spotted in the area. In addition to the Puffins and other birds on the island, we saw a seal, porpoises, and sunfish. Most of the other passengers were friendly and polite but there were a few who weren't considerate of others who were trying to see. I definitely recommend the tour to those who are willing to share the experience (and views) with the other passengers. read more

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

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

Great tour we were able to see a lot of puffins and other birds. The tour is only of an hour and a half and starts at 5:30 in the evening. They have Audubon guides for the tour. They were able to give us information about the other tour boat in the area as well when we asked. We were able to see a lot of puffins and considering their tour was in the evening it worked out great to see these birds. If you are in the area or on way to Acadia definitely check it out read more

I have taken lots of wildlife cruises, but this one really delivered! We saw so many birds including many puffins flying back and forth feeding their babies. The captain spent a lot of time so everyone had a chance to see the beautiful amazing birds. I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as we did - it is a fabulous tour. You will not regret going on Hardy Boat Cruises. read more