Hi everyone! I’m happy to be joining this incredible team – even if it’s just for the summer! I am currently studying sales and marketing at Plymouth State University and I couldn’t think of a better way to put my studies into action (and enjoy summer on the Maine coast) than helping to market Portland’s iconic ferry, Casco Bay Lines.

Born and raised in Portland, I grew up with those red, yellow, white and black ferries chugging along in the background of my childhood. It wasn’t until my first day on the job here that I realized I’ve only ever taken a ferry to Peaks Island for the day. I had never taken advantage of any of the other awesome options for getting out on the water. And, when Caity (CBL’s Sales Director and resident Jill-of-all-Trades) heard I’d never taken one of our specialty cruises, she quickly moved that to the top of my “To Do” list. Market research!

So, on a recent sunny Saturday, I packed a backpack with lunch and some sunscreen and took advantage of the great weather to collect some qualitative data first-hand! There are so many different cruises to choose from. And they’re all a little different. For me, the choice was easy. I needed to find out why locals consider the Mailboat Run the best kept secret in Portland. How had I missed this?

After picking up my ticket at the terminal, I boarded the Maquoit II and headed straight for the upper deck where I knew I’d have the best view

of Casco Bay. It was really cool to see Portland’s working waterfront from this angle—lobstermen hauling traps and cargo ships chugging in. I even got to see some of the wildlife that calls Casco Bay home; a few seals and cormorants splashed around as we glided down the bay.

Cruising along, map in hand, stopping off at each island, taking notes and listening to the Captain talk about the history of Casco Bay, I realized what the magic is – the Mailboat Run is literally a lifeline for the residents of the island communities. The conveniences of living on a college campus, for example, are nowhere to be found. Instead, what you have, is a completely awesome dedication to a different lifestyle.  And, when you ride the Mailboat, you get to be a part of that – even if just for a few hours, and even if you’re really more cut out for that college campus life…

The trip was a huge success. And I’m even more excited to spend my summer working with the team at Casco Bay Lines, learning the ins and outs of marketing a place as beautiful as Casco Bay!

The post A New View of Casco Bay 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.

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!

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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.

Everyone knows that the summer is busy here at Casco Bay Lines, but we like to think of our freight shed as Santa’s southern workshop when the holidays roll around. With Christmas trees of all sizes—from a Charlie Brown tree to the Monument Square goliath— and tons of brown paper packages tied up with string, we’re checking our list twice, and hauling lots of freight, to make sure things get to where they are supposed to before December 25.

Santa wouldn’t trust just anyone to help him make his freight deliveries to the Casco Bay island communities, and our team is so good they practically have pointed ears! But you might be wondering how it all works—how do we make sure your gifts get to their final destination?

Smaller items like groceries or Amazon packages are a breeze for our talented team to handle. We load those items into carts or banana boxes and sort them by island and boat time—each island has a unique label color so that we can make sure things get onto the correct boat.

Thinking of sending a piano to the islands for the holidays? Not to worry, we can handle larger items like that without a second thought. Just let us know when to expect it and we’ll get it on the right boat for you.

After all of the packages, boxes, and bags are loaded onto our floating sleighs, we chug down the bay, dropping off holiday goodies each stop along the way.

No matter how you are celebrating this holiday season, if you’re visiting friends and family, or sending fruit cake, our talented crew will be hard at work all across Casco Bay.

From our family to yours, Happy Holidays!

The post Santa’s Little Helpers: How Our Freight Team Can Help Make Your Holidays Merry and Bright 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.

As the oldest running service of its kind, our Mailboat run not only delivers the mail and other goods to islanders, it offers landlubbers a glimpse at the realities of island life and the opportunity to adventure along Maine’s rugged coastline. And (hint hint) Father’s Day seems like the perfect opportunity to try this adventure on for size. Hat tip to our friends over at WJBQ: great minds think alike!

Here’s the deal. The Maquoit II typically makes the Mailboat Run every day (see most updated schedule here). Plan to arrive a little early and give yourself time to buy your ticket and watch our amazing crew work their magic, loading cargo, and readying the ninety three ton vessel for take-off.

Hopefully you’ve packed your sunscreen and your cooler – both will come in handy once you pick your spot on the deck. Of course, for those not as eager to face the elements, there is indoor seating. Once everyone’s settled, the boat’s captain will welcome you aboard as the crew drops the lines.

Portland’s true working waterfront will be on display, lobstermen hauling traps and cargo ships chugging in and out of the harbor, as you relax and leave your yardwork and the honey-do list behind.

The city fading into the background, now is the time to break into that cooler. With any luck, you’ll find some snacks and maybe a cold one for Dad from any one of Portland’s own breweries. Indulge as you watch the lobster buoys bob past and seals play in the wake.

This cruise stops at five islands to unload cargo: Little Diamond, Great Diamond, Long, Cliff, and Chebeague.

And for the history buff Dads out there. We see you. The Captain will point out some of Portland’s coolest historical landmarks including Ft. Gorges – a fort that never saw battle, but seems to still stand guard over the harbor—and Luckse Sound – where ships were sunk during WWII to keep enemy submarines out of the harbor. Wicked. Cool.

When the Maquoit II makes its final turn around at Cliff Island, you might find it hard to imagine heading back to reality. Maybe Dad wants to hop on the Sunset Run cruise and keep going. We wouldn’t blame him. There’s nothing better than adventure with family. Happy cruising!

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