The islands offer biking for all levels of cyclist, and with views like the one off Seashore Avenue on Peaks, we’re not sure what’s stopping you from strapping on a helmet and peddling around! Plus, our crew makes it a cinch to hop on board with your bike.

Here are some quick tips to get your biking adventure started:

Step 1:
Pack your bike bag (or backpack) with snacks, water, and sunscreen.

Step 2:
Pick your island – we don’t think you can go wrong here, but we’d suggest heading out to Peaks to bike the 4-mile loop around the island or hop on over to Chebeague to take on a 6-mile loop which offers ample opportunity to take a break at one of the island’s amazing beaches.

Step 3:
Don’t forget your bike ticket. Tickets are $6.50 for adults and $3.25 for children and can be purchased at the terminal along with your regular passenger fare on the day of your trip. If you don’t have a bike, you can rent a bike by the hour on Peaks Island from Brad’s Bike Rental & Repair.

Step 4:
Roll aboard and enjoy the ferry ride to your destination.

Step 5:
Disembark and start pedaling!

It couldn’t be easier to enjoy Casco Bay’s islands by bike, and with the best of the summer still to come, what are you waiting for?!

The post Exploring the Islands on Two Wheels appeared first on Casco Bay Lines.

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.

Back in the fall we released a documentary about our history. It was incredibly popular and we began to realize that we weren’t the only ones who had an obsession with the history of Casco Bay. The historical societies and museums in the region play a huge role in preserving this history. And so, as they prepare to open for the season on May 26, we thought it would be fun to chat with Holly Hurd-Forsyth, Curator of the Fifth Maine Regiment Museum.

The building that now houses the Fifth Maine Regiment Museum was constructed by members of the regiment and has stood strong on Seashore Avenue on Peaks Island since 1888. But before we learn more about the building, here’s a quick refresher on the Fifth Maine.

The Civil War started in April of 1861, and just a short time later the brave men of the Fifth Maine Regiment mustered in Portland to serve three years fighting all across the eastern theater of the war—the men fought in the battles of Antietam, Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, and many others.

After the war, the men wanted to keep in contact, so they began hosting regimental reunions, usually on one of the islands in Casco Bay. In 1887 the group decided they wanted a more permanent place to host their reunions and bought a piece of land on Peaks Island, completing construction in less than a year.

The annual reunions brought soldiers, family, and friends together—many staying in the newly constructed building, which had 15 rooms. They rented cots in the hallways, stayed in the bedrooms on the first floor, and even up in the tower, where the nicest, and most expensive (at $9 a week) room was located.

According to Holly, the final member of the regiment passed away in 1938, and the final reunion in 1940 included just family members. After that the building sat mostly unused, falling into disrepair. In 1954 the building was given to the community and turned into a museum to remember the Fifth Maine Regiment.

“They built the building in remembrance of their comrades who didn’t survive the war,” said Holly. “The stained-glass windows are dedicated to the different soldiers. They really wanted all of the soldiers to be remembered, and that remains our main goal now at the museum.”

We count ourselves lucky to have such a special place located along our route. Next time you take a Casco Bay Lines ferry out to Peaks Island, stop by the museum to learn more about the regiment, its members, and the history of Peaks Island!

We’re looking to share more stories about the history of Casco Bay here on our blog. If you have a particular island, location, or event in history that you would like to see featured here, feel free to reach out to us!

The post Remembering the Soldiers of the Fifth Maine Regiment 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.

The answer is: a trusty compass, a whole complement of gadgets, and our eagle-eyed crew.

Since our earliest days, technology advancements have changed the way we navigate Casco Bay, but our main goal of getting you back and forth to your destination safely and reliably hasn’t changed.

Before every boat had radar on board, captains would have to “navigate by compass and time” – using speed and time to calculate the distance between their waypoints for each of the islands. To do this, they had to factor in things like how strong the current was running, and what direction the wind was blowing.

Today, we navigate using a mix of the old and the new.

Here are a few things on board our boats that we use to help navigate:

• Compass—the Holy Grail of navigation instruments; keeps our captains headed on the right course. Each boat has a compass mounted right to the helm.
• Radar—lets us know what targets are around the boat; islands, other boats, and aids to navigation all show up on the screen.
• VHF Radio—allows us to talk to the Coast Guard, other boats, and our team on the mainland.
• Chart Plotter—an electronic chart that tells us things like: where each island is located, the depth of the water, and where the buoys are positioned.
• Depth Sounder—shows us how much water is under the boat.
• Paper Chart—while the compass is the Holy Grail, our paper charts are our lifeblood—a paper backup to our chart plotters. With our compass and charts, we can go anywhere!

On days when a gale force wind is blowing snow sideways or fog has socked in across the bay, the checks and balances these tools provide are even more important. But we have one more tool at our disposal that most people wouldn’t think of—our deckhands.

Perched high in the wheelhouse, the captain has a 360 degree view of the boat, but in inclement weather you’ll find our deckhands standing watch around the boat—keeping a weather eye on the horizon for any obstacles that may be in the boat’s path.

Navigating Casco Bay is more complicated than turning the boat east away from the city and heading for an island; it requires knowledge of the area provided by charts, a keen eye, and a few gadgets. Thankfully, our captains are expert navigators capable of blending the old paper chart and compass ways with newfangled technology like radio and radar.

The post Following the Compass Arrow: Navigating Casco Bay appeared first on Casco Bay Lines.

“This morning in the fog was pretty challenging, visibility and weather is a big challenge,” he tells me as the last of the morning’s fog is burning off. “Safety is our top priority.”

Bill started with Casco Bay Lines 28 years ago as a deckhand. He was trying to stay out of “mischief” while living on Peaks Island as a merchant sailor. Over the years, he worked his way up to Captain – an integral member of our crew. He’s humble though. And even though he’s quiet at first, he’s clearly a funny guy. So instead of taking credit for his accomplishments he describes it like this: when you start as a deck hand, they give you a bunch of marbles, when you’ve lost all of your marbles, you become a captain.

Like all Casco Bay Lines captains, he can pilot every boat, so he travels all over Casco Bay throughout the week on our different runs and cruises, meeting islanders and visitors from all over the place. It’s the people—young and old—he says who make Casco Bay such a special place to live and work.

Bill married an island girl and tells me that, even though he loves all of the islands for their totally unique identities, he’s especially partial to Great Diamond because that’s where she’s from.

Over the years, he’s seen a lot of island kids grow up, get married, move away, and, in some cases, come back to Casco Bay. He jokes that Parker, a Casco Bay Lines deckhand who grew up on Great Diamond Island, was a “terrible pain when he was a kid, a bundle of energy,” but he’s turned into a great adult. Young people, like Parker, make the place happen, Bill says.

“There are a lot of moments,” he answers with a chuckle when asked what makes Casco Bay Lines special. And based on his stories, he has seen it all—from couples getting married on the Bay Mist to families heading to say their final goodbyes to loved ones.

For Bill—and for a lot of us here at Casco Bay Lines—the best part of the job is getting to be part of these moments and part of the Casco Bay Lines community —seeing families come back year after year, watching kids grow up, and building connections with our riders.

While you can’t always see Bill, or our other captains, as they steer the ship, you can rest assured that while you’re headed down the bay with your family, or hopping over to Peaks for a picnic lunch, he’s got everything under control. And you can focus on creating new memories and enjoying some of those moments that Bill takes such pride in.

From time to time on our blog we’ll be featuring stories of our fantastic crew to highlight their different roles, personalities, and connection to Casco Bay, our customers and our ferry line. If you have a particular staff member who you feel should be highlighted here, feel free to reach out to us!

The post Meet Our Crew – Captain Bill Wanzer, a Man of the People appeared first on Casco Bay Lines.

Our friend Shannon over at FitMaine braved the elements for an off-season trip to Peaks Island—exploring Battery Steele, walking along Seashore Avenue, and scrambling along the rocks at Torrington Point are just as much fun during colder weather.

Shannon’s trip inspired us. We know that the brisk months are just as great for cruising Casco Bay, but maybe everyone would like a friendly reminder!

Casco Bay is no less beautiful in the off-season and our cabins are heated, so you’ll stay toasty warm while gliding through the sea smoke on the way to your destination. Take a page out of the FitMaine book and pack your snow clothes, a thermos full of hot cocoa or coffee, and some lunch before heading out to explore the snowy and rocky coast of Peaks, Great Diamond, Long, Chebeague, or Cliff Islands.

Of course, you can head out to any of the islands on our regular trips year round, but did you know that some of your summer cruise favorites happen year round too?

If outdoor exploring in cooler weather isn’t your thing, grab that picnic lunch and hop aboard the mailboat for a cruise. The boat leaves the dock daily at 10 a.m. and again at 2:45 p.m. and you can take in the sights, learn about the history of Casco Bay, and watch the Maquoit II unload freight down the bay. You can watch Casco Bay’s beautiful sunrises and sunsets out on the water (even in the middle of February) without ever having to leave the boat.

In our opinion, there’s no bad time, or wrong way, to explore Casco Bay on a Casco Bay Lines ferry. Check out our website for more information and our cruise schedule.

The post Cruising Casco Bay Isn’t Just a Summer Thing appeared first on Casco Bay Lines.

So, we suppose, it’s not all that surprising, when we fast forward to today, that Caity has made a career out of helping others experience some of the joy she did, standing right where she stood, on a Casco Bay Lines ferry.

After college, Caity found herself in Portland. She started at Casco Bay Lines the same way most do – during the summer, selling tickets and loading freight. She met an adventurous (and handsome) guy named Andy who also worked at CBL, and shared her love for Portland’s Casco Bay, and they were hitched. After leaving for a brief stint to try out athletic training, she was lured back by an exciting opportunity. CBL was seeking a Sales and Marketing Director. And she was a natural fit.

In this role, her job description reads like four jobs crammed into one. Her primary responsibilities include overseeing charters, tours, lobster bakes, group commuter service, marketing and sales. Primary, people!  She also oversees management of all the operations agents, ticket agents and freight agents. She’s quick to mention that her team is self-sufficient, running itself like a “well-oiled machine”. And while we agree that we’ve got one heck of a team, we’re sure there’s an old adage somewhere about teams and leaders that would explain the importance of her role perfectly.

No two days look the same. One day she may be helping in the freight shed. The next she might be helping set up for a 200-person wedding complete with a caterer and a band. Casco Bay Lines’ charter business has grown tremendously since Caity took over. Corporate events for the area’s largest businesses, weddings of all shapes and sizes, springtime prom events, surprise birthday parties, school group trips, you name it – she sells it and then makes it happen.

And every year, more and more people looking for a unique venue discover the ferries. Sales in the “shoulder seasons” of April, May, October and November continue to grow. Recently, the Bay Mist (heated and available year-round) was used to host a gorgeous winter wedding. The reduced rate for off-season charters is an added bonus.

But, in spite of all the change and growth, there is one thing that has remained constant for Caity. Ever since she was that little girl on her way over to Peaks Island, she has been captivated by the sea. And when you ask her to name her favorite part of the job? “Easy. There is nothing more beautiful than Casco Bay. I get to talk to people every day and help them. They’re trying to figure out how to have a waterfront event, how to wow their guests, many of whom have never been to Maine, with something unique that captures the essence of the sea. And, as it turns out, it doesn’t get any more waterfront than having your event on our boat.”

So the next time you need to plan a Bat Mitzvah, or you’re trying to find something for all the visiting members of the American Chestnut Foundation to do, I would recommend reaching out to this member of our crew. She’s down on the water even on her days off (yes, that’s where she spends them), and she’s more than happy to work her magic and help you host the perfect event on Casco Bay.

From time to time on our blog we’ll be featuring stories of our fantastic crew to highlight their different roles, personalities, and connection to Casco Bay, our customers and our ferry line. If you have a particular staff member who you feel should be highlighted here, feel free to reach out to us!

The post Meet Our Crew – Caity Gildart Works Her CBL Event Magic appeared first on Casco Bay Lines.

He loved it so much that when he went to Korea in 1951 with the Marines, the two things he kept in his wallet were a photo of a girl named Vivian, who would later become his wife, and one Casco Bay Lines ticket for Peaks Island.

We recently sat down with Vivian, and three of their children to dig deeper into the story.

David moved to Peaks Island when he was young—at first just for the summers, but then he and his family moved there full-time when he was around 16 years old. His father passed away shortly after, and David got a job working as a deck hand for Casco Bay Lines on the Sabino to help his family. Around the same time, he joined the Marine Reserves.

That’s how he ended up on Hill 159 in Korea.

One week before he was supposed to return home to Maine, David was moved away from the front because the military wanted to keep him safe, but when he heard his unit was pinned on Hill 159, he asked to go back up.

“He never talked about what happened, but whatever it was, he won the Bronze Medal of Honor for Combat Valor, the Silver Medal of Honor [from the State of Maine], and the Purple Heart,” said David, his son.

What his family does know is that he was hit from behind by mortar shrapnel. Vivian liked to joke with David that her photo in his wallet had saved his rear end. She and David knew each other before he left for Korea, but they didn’t begin dating until after he came home.

“He said [after he was hit] he felt a presence and he didn’t know if the presence was one person or more, but it felt like both,” said David. “The presence asked him if he wanted to stay, and he did, but when he answered he didn’t say yes, he said ‘what about the five kids’ and then immediately woke up outside of a MASH tent.”

When he woke up, he coughed so a soldier would notice him, and he was rushed into the MASH tent to be sewn up.

When he returned home, Vivian picked him up because he didn’t have a license yet. She recalls driving around Portland with her brothers secretly following them, honking the horn every time David tried to kiss her. They were married on Valentine’s Day in 1953, and would have five children together—Cynthia, Mary, David, Candace, and Lori.

After they were married, David and Vivian bought their first cottage on Peaks Island, for $300. From there, they moved to a house on New Island Avenue, and later onto the ocean side of the island.

David became a middle school principal in Enfield, Connecticut. He and his family would spend the school year in Connecticut, but as soon as the bell rang on the last day of school, they headed for Peaks Island.

“He wouldn’t ever stop to let us pee,” said David.

His daughter Mary recalls that spending summers on Peaks Island recharged her father’s batteries after spending all year working a stressful job.

David passed away this year after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease, but even while he was struggling with the disease, he remembered his connection to Peaks Island.

“Two months before he went to the nursing home, he forgot he lived [in Portland], I had him out running errands, and he said, ‘well I’m ready to go home now, just drop me at the boat,’” his daughter Candace said.

His family said that he loved everything about Peaks Island, but his favorite part was the relationships and connections he formed there over the years. From acting in plays at the theater to chatting up people he knew on the street, David was a huge part of the Peaks Island community throughout his life.

“Even yesterday I got comments that were like, ‘I just want you to know that your dad was a really big piece of Peaks Island,’ that kind of stuff all the time,” said Candace.

Over the years, David’s ties to Peaks Island and Casco Bay Lines have remained strong. Two of David’s daughters, Candace and Mary, both live on the island full time, and two of his grandchildren have worked for Casco Bay Lines on different boats.

From time to time on our blog we’ll be featuring stories from island residents. Casco Bay Lines remains committed to fostering strong relationships with our island communities. If you have an interesting story, feel free to reach out to us.

The post David Parker: A Peaks Island and Casco Bay Lines Family Tradition appeared first on Casco Bay Lines.

1. We got our start way back in 1871 sailing steam boats around Casco Bay as the Peaks Island Steamboat Company. In those days we served Peaks Island, Long Island, Great Diamond Island, and Little Diamond Island. The original mission of the Peaks Island Steamboat Company was to keep up communication between the mainland and year-round island communities—a goal we continue to have today!
2. We haven’t always been located on the Maine State Pier. Up until 1988, we spent over 100 years operating from a terminal two wharves down on Custom House Wharf. In 2014, we revamped our terminal on the Maine State Pier, turning it into the beautiful building it is today.
3. Before we had all sorts of newfangled technology like depth finders, radar, and radios, captains used a compass, buoys, and “ran time” between points—measuring a trip by minutes and seconds. This process was especially difficult in Casco Bay because the tides “run hard” here, so trip times were constantly changing depending on the tide. In 1929 the 1,000 passenger mega-ferry Pilgrim, ran aground at Deer Point on Great Chebeague Island when the captain lost his time. We definitely think radar and depth finders are preferable to having to run time!
4. In the late 1920s, we began modernizing our fleet from steam to diesel. The Gurnet was the first boat to make the switch in 1929 followed by the Armita in 1928. Those steam boats were much quieter than a diesel engine, but significantly less efficient because they ran on coal.
5. Known as the “great white fleet,” all of the vessels in our fleet were painted white until, in 1959, Casco Bay Lines manager Peter McLaughlin decided to paint them. Each boat was painted red and yellow with a black hull, and back then passengers really hated the change, calling the move brash! We don’t know, we think we look pretty good in yellow, red and black!
6. We run 365 days per year! This has been one of our hallmarks since the beginning, and we don’t mind braving snow squalls or rain storms (or even the hottest August day) to serve the island communities and those visiting Casco Bay.

These are just a few interesting nuggets we uncovered during the recent process of creating “Cruising Casco Bay: A History of Casco Bay Lines from 1871-1982,” a historical documentary produced by Galen Koch. Everyone will be able to view the documentary on our website beginning on October 3^rd.  We think our history is pretty cool, and we can’t wait for you to see the film!

The post Six Fun Facts You Might Not Know About Casco Bay Lines appeared first on Casco Bay Lines.