Last month, we handed the mic to Stephen, our summer intern, to hear about his first time cruising Casco Bay. He recently hopped onboard the Bailey Island cruise, so we’re turning the blog over to him this week to learn more about this summer favorite.
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.