Hi everyone! What a summer it’s been so far! I’ve loved working with the team here at Casco Bay Lines, and getting the opportunity to learn more about the place I’ve called home my entire life.

Each summer, visitors from all over come to Casco Bay Lines and choose the Bailey Island Cruise. I’d never been to Bailey Island before, so I decided to hop on the Aucocisco III to check it out.

The Bailey Island Run leaves our terminal at 10 a.m. from June through Labor Day, and cruises two hours down the bay to beautiful Bailey Island. Our longest cruise, this trip takes you past some of Casco Bay’s most iconic sights – Ft. Gorges, thousands of lobster pots, Portland Headlight and Eagle Island.

When you arrive at Bailey Island, you have two hours to explore the island or, if you want more time on the boat, we also offer the Noontime Cruise, departing from Bailey Island using a separate ticket. This is a great option for those looking to glide through Pott’s Harbor and around Eagle and Haskell Islands before returning to the dock at Cook’s Landing.

As for me, my stomach was rumbling by the time we got to Bailey Island, so I decided to skip the Noontime Cruise and to visit Cook’s Lobster & Ale House for some lunch! They have a great menu filled with Maine favorites – steamers, fresh mussels, and, of course, lobster.

I filled up on lunch and had a few minutes to explore the island before the 2 p.m. departure back to Portland. As we cruised back to the terminal, I daydreamed about lobster rolls, watched the islands pass by, and thought about how lucky I am to call a place like this home!

It turns out, I’m not the only one who feels this way. A lot of people have submitted their Bailey Island photos to our #CruiseCascoBay photo contest! Don’t forget, use #CruiseCascoBay to show us how you enjoy the islands and you’ll be entered to win an awesome Casco Bay-themed prize pack including four tickets for a Casco Bay Lines cruise, shirts from Cook’s Lobster and Ale House, and more!

To check the schedule or get more information about our Bailey Island cruises, visit our website.

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Most people know us as Portland’s iconic ferry system—yellow, red, and white boats that work day-in and day-out to transport people to and from the islands. There’s no doubt – this is our thing.

But… what about those of us who just want to get out on the water? In that case, what you’re really looking for is a boat ride. A moment or two with the salty breeze whipping through your hair. Leaving all your cares on shore, no particular destination you need to reach, soaking in the sun. Ahhhhhhhh…

What’s that you say? You don’t own a boat? No problem. We do! And, with several different options to choose from, we think that a Casco Bay Lines cruise might be the perfect way to get yourself, your in-laws who are visiting, or your kids, out on the water this summer.

We make it easy to cruise the bay—just pack a bag with refreshments of your choosing, sunscreen, and an extra layer, grab your ticket at our terminal located on the Maine State Pier, and come aboard!

Here’s a quick look at each of our specialty cruises:

Peaks Island Run: If only have an hour or so, soak up some sunshine and salty summer air while you enjoy the quick crossing to Peaks Island. If you’ve got a couple of hours, hop off the boat and grab some lunch, explore the beaches, and don’t forget an ice cream for the ride back.

Mailboat Run: This cruise offers a unique chance to experience Maine’s rugged coastline onboard a true working boat. The mailboat delivers freight of all shapes and sizes to the island communities year-round, and we think this trip is one of Portland’s best kept secrets.

Diamond Pass Run: This seasonal cruise takes you along the shoreline of Little and Great Diamond Islands. Take in the beautiful cottages and get a glimpse of island life as the boat travels to four different stops.

Sunset Run: What could be better than watching Portland shimmer in the sunset with a picnic dinner and a thermos of wine? Relax and enjoy the evening ocean breeze while the ferry navigates the moonlit waters of the bay.

Sunrise Run: This one’s for the early birds. Join us for the first departure of the day and watch Casco Bay’s working waterfront come to life. Catch Portland’s fishing fleet headed out for the day and lobstermen hauling traps as the sun comes up.

Moonlight Run: Come aboard and watch the harbor lights twinkle in the moonlight as you make your way through the moonlit waters of Casco Bay. This seasonal favorite is only available from June to September.

Bailey Island: This summer-time staple begins June 23^rd for the season and is the perfect way to spend a whole day out on the water! Listen as the captain narrates the history of Casco Bay while you cruise past lighthouses, forts, and 19^th century summer cottages. Enjoy a 2-hour layover to explore Bailey Island or to grab lunch at Cook’s Lobster & Ale House before getting back on board.

What are you waiting for? No matter your schedule, we’ve got the perfect cruise for your summer adventures. Visit our website to learn more about all of our cruises.

The post Looking for a Summer Escape? Come Cruise Casco Bay With Us! appeared first on Casco Bay Lines.

With warmer weather on the way, we thought it might be fun to dream a little and plan for your spring and summer on Casco Bay. Here are our top five ideas for your adventures:

1. Take the Mailboat Run down the bay. Whether you live here, or you’ve got visitors in town from away, we think our Mailboat Run is hands-down the most interesting way to cruise Casco Bay! Twice a day the Maquoit II delivers mail and other goods to islanders and offers landlubbers a glimpse into island life (plus a gorgeous view of Casco Bay).
2. Plan the perfect date night—pack a picnic and some wine for a romantic sunset cruise. Summer nights in Maine are near perfect – add in a cool ocean breeze and the beauty of Casco Bay, and what could be better? Our Sunset Run cruise lets you relax in the twilight of a perfect Maine day while Portland shimmers in the distance.
3. Explore World War II ruins on Peaks Island. In its heyday, Battery Steele stood guard over Portland Harbor, keeping it safe from invaders during World War II. Today, the fortification stands empty, and ready for exploring.
4. Starting June 23, hop on board the Aucocisco III for a can’t-miss summer classic—a trip to Bailey Island. In addition to being the home of Cook’s Lobster & Ale House, one of the island’s claims to fame is a one-of-a-kind bridge. The Cribstone Bridge was built in 1928 out of individual granite ties, and connects the island to the mainland. Its unique construction has kept the bridge standing strong for close to 90 years with little to no maintenance. Adding to the cool-factor, the bridge is the only one of its kind in the world!
5. Dance the night away on a music cruise. Here’s some inside scoop: our first music cruise of the 2018 season is scheduled for June 16 at 8 p.m with The Hurricanes – keep an eye out, tickets should be available on our website in the next couple of days! All music cruises are 21 plus, feature a cash bar, and sail rain or shine.

Check out our seasonal and cruise schedules online and start planning your spring and summer adventures today!

The post Springing to Life on Casco Bay appeared first on Casco Bay Lines.

Maine is rich in Native American history and many of our landmarks still carry the original names given to them by members of the First Nations. Because we love learning about the history of our area, we dove into the archives of local experts like the Island Institute, the Maine Historical Society, and Bates College to research the original names of our beloved islands and boats.

Aucocisco—Migrating tribes often named things using unique wayfinding words—for example, the estuaries of Casco Bay are filled with a lot of bird life, so the Abenaki word “Aucocisco” meaning “a place of herons” is a fitting moniker for Casco Bay (and one of our boats). The bay was also called “Bahia de Cascos” or “Bay of Helmets” by Portuguese Explorer Estêvão Gomez who mapped the area in the early 1500s.

Bailey Island—The island was originally named “Newaggin” by local Abenaki tribes. The word means “swift current place,” a nod to the strong pull of the currents off the coast of Harpswell.

Chebeague Island—It may be hard to believe, but underground freshwater springs can be found running all over Chebeague Island. That’s probably why the Native Americans called the island “Chebeague” meaning “isle of many springs.”

Machigonne—A birds-eye view of Portland will show the land of the city jutting out into the sea. The Algonquian tribes who called the region home named it “Machigonne” meaning “great neck.”

Maquoit—The word “Maquoit” means “bear place” or “bear bay.” Maquoit Bay sits near the mouth of the Androscoggin and Kennebec Rivers, where salmon traditionally ran in great numbers, drawing bears to the region.

Wabanaki—In 1606, five of the region’s Native American tribes—the Abenaki, Penobscot, Mi’kmaq, Passamaquoddy, and Maliseet—united as the Wabanaki Confederacy. Members of the Wabanaki Confederacy lived all over Maine and Eastern Canada, which is the first place to see the sun rise each day. The word “Wabanaki” translates to “the people of the first light.” When we added the Wabanaki to our fleet back in 2014, students at Long Island Elementary school submitted the winning name for the vessel.

To learn more about this history of Casco Bay Lines, visit our history page.

The post What’s in a Name? Exploring the Heritage of Casco Bay. appeared first on Casco Bay Lines.

With the end of summer comes the end of our Bailey Island Run. But each fall we bring the cruise back for two weekends so that Mainers, and those from away, can enjoy the spectacle that is autumn on Casco Bay.

The first weekend of the Fall Foliage Cruise was last weekend, but if you didn’t get on board, don’t worry, we’re going out again this weekend, October 7 and 8.

The cruise follows the same format as our summer cruise to Bailey Island – the boat leaves Portland at 10 a.m. and arrives on island at 12 p.m. Because we only do these trips for two weekends a year, we’d recommend arriving at our Portland terminal a little early to purchase your tickets.

It may take a few minutes for your eyes to adjust to the vibrant colors of the bay, but you can still listen in as the captain narrates the history of the area while the boat cruises by lighthouses, forts, and, of course, plenty of foliage.

When you get off of the boat on Bailey Island, you have two hours to explore this island before re-boarding and heading back to Portland at 2 p.m.

You could grab lunch at Cook’s Lobster & Ale House, taking in the autumnal splendor of the harbor while you scarf down a couple of lobster rolls, or you could pack a lunch and bring your bike along (don’t forget your bike ticket) for an adventure.

Land’s End trail is just a two mile ride from the ferry landing and offers a gorgeous look at Maine’s many faces – rocky coastline and soft sandy beaches with a view of lobstermen pulling their traps. We’d suggest biking down and wandering through the trails for an hour or so before you climb back on board and return to Portland.

Definitely remember the camera for this trip, because the coastline of Casco Bay loves to show off at this time of year—blue skies, crashing waves, and the dynamic reds, yellows, and oranges that are a hallmark of the season.

To check the schedule or get more information, visit our website.

The post Soak in the Beauty of Casco Bay This Fall on the Bailey Island Cruise appeared first on Casco Bay Lines.

While most of you probably know (if you paid attention in class) that the major battles of WWII were fought on foreign soil, you might not have all of the details about how Portland, the islands of Casco Bay, and even our ferries, played an important role in the war.

Just like the rest of the country, Portland struggled through the Great Depression, but in the early 1940s, preparations for war brought Portland out of those dark days. In the lead up to WWII, western Casco Bay became the fifth most active naval port in the United States.

And, in 1942, the Navy began making use of the ferries, taking possession of the original Aucocisco to transport soldiers between the islands. The fleet of ferries, at that time, was known as the “Great White Fleet” because they were all painted white. But, during the war, the white was covered up with a coat of gray paint.

On Long Island, the Navy took over a section of land and used it for a fueling depot, while over 50 military structures were being built on Peaks Island. A rusted steel box designed to look like a ship’s engine room still sits onshore on Little Chebeague Island—the remnants of the Navy Firefighting School.

Under the water, submarine nets—large nets used to protect a harbor from submarine infiltration—surrounded much of western Casco Bay, making travel to some of the island communities much more difficult. Islanders and captains took to calling the trip to Bailey Island the “all day cruise,” because it took much of the day to get there—traveling out around Great Chebeague Island because the gap between Chebeague Island and Long Island was closed off by submarine nets.

After all of the preparations, war-time operations were abandoned in Casco Bay. Historical accounts suggest that the invention of nuclear technology made defense systems like the ones set up in Portland Harbor obsolete.

If you’re interested in the history of Casco Bay, our Mailboat Run is a great way to learn more! We make two daily trips down the bay year-round, so even though temperatures are dropping, you can still cruise Casco Bay and get your history fix. For even more historical nuggets, there are several historical societies on the islands—the Fifth Maine Regiment Museum on Peaks Island, the Long Island Historical Society, the Cliff Island Historical Society, and the Chebeague Island Historical Society.

Casco Bay has a rich history, one that we are very proud to be a part of! Make sure to stay tuned for an announcement about an October 3 event at our terminal that will satisfy any history buff’s appetite.

The post Calling All History Nerds! Have You Heard The Story About the Great White Fleet in WWII? appeared first on Casco Bay Lines.

Bailey Island, a part of the town of Harpswell for over 250 years, sits at the farthest end of one of our most popular summer cruises. People from away (and their Maine friends!) love grabbing a lobster roll at the famous Cook’s Lobster & Ale House once they arrive. And we dream about the relaxing, sun-soaked cruise to this fantastic spot all winter long while we’re braving Casco Bay blizzards.

The story of how Bailey Island, originally called Newaggin by the local Abenaki tribes, was first settled is a topic the historians and locals debate. What we do know for sure is that the island’s namesake, Rev. Timothy Bailey, settled on the island in 1742, and the rest is history.

In the late 1800s, Bailey Island residents wanted a way to connect with the mainland, so a bridge between Bailey Island and neighboring Orr’s Island was proposed. Cost and U.S. involvement in WWI meant construction didn’t begin until 1927.

According to the Harpswell Historical Society, Maine architect Llewellyn N. Edwards and his team finished constructing the Cribstone Bridge in 1928. Made of individual granite ties in a crisscrossing framework, the bridge has stood strong against the power of the tides – with little to no maintenance – for close to 90 years!

Even cooler though – this bridge on Bailey Island is the only one of its kind in the world! Rumor has it Scotland may have one too. But with no record of its existence, Maine holds on to bragging rights for now.

Want to check out Bailey Island for yourself? Our Bailey Island Cruise leaves the dock in Portland at 10 a.m. daily through Labor Day. When the boat arrives on the island, you’ve got two hours to explore. We’d recommend heading to Cook’s for an order of steamers or bringing a picnic lunch to eat while you watch the waves at one of the nearby beaches. If you want more time on the boat, we also offer a noontime cruise through Potts Harbor, past Eagle Island, and peeking into Mackerel Cove.

If you’re feeling really adventurous, buy a one-way ticket and bring your bike along for a gorgeous coastal ride back to Portland – it’s just over 45 miles once you cross that incredible bridge.

Stop by our terminal or check out our website for more information.

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