After I advised a pal that I used to be taking a Maine Windjammer Cruise this summer season, she stated, “Oh, I can’t wait to see the photographs of you lounging on deck in a flowy caftan that’s blowing within the breeze.” I knew then that she was imagining a crusing journey within the Caribbean or the Greek Islands, and that wasn’t what I ought to anticipate from a Maine Windjammer Cruise.
However past sporting L.L.Bean versus resort put on, I frankly wasn’t fairly positive what was in retailer for me past good meals, lovely surroundings, and a singular journey expertise. I’ve spent loads of time driving up and down the Maine coast however experiencing the lighthouses and rocky shoreline from the water is an entire completely different expertise, one which I used to be eager to attempt.
After spending three days and 4 nights aboard the Schooner Heritage, I discovered first-hand what a Maine Windjammer Cruise is all about. The underside line is that the sort of crusing expertise isn’t for everybody, however if you happen to tick sure containers, a Windjammer Cruise could be a bucket record expertise that gained’t break the financial institution.
When you have thought-about a crusing trip or thought of a Maine Windjammer Cruise, learn on to see if it’s the proper match for you.
Notice: My journey was hosted by the Maine Windjammer Affiliation and the Schooner Heritage. All opinions are my very own.
What’s a Windjammer?
When you have by no means even heard of a Maine Windjammer, let’s begin with some background. Within the nineteenth century, coasting schooners had been used to move fruit, fish, lumber, and extra between ports alongside the Jap Seaboard. These schooners had been crusing vessels with two or extra masts, also known as Windjammers or Windships. As soon as vehicles and trains changed ships, these schooners almost grew to become out of date.
Nevertheless, Maine artist Frank Swift rescued many of those schooners and capitalized on the rising curiosity in Maine as a “Vacationland” to supply crusing cruises to adventurous vacationers seeking to escape the hustle and bustle of city residing. This imaginative and prescient carries ahead to immediately’s Maine Windjammer Cruises, albeit with just a few extra facilities.
In the present day, there are 9 schooners within the Maine Windjammer Affiliation, the biggest fleet of windjammers within the nation, 5 of which have been designated Nationwide Historic Landmarks. Every vessel is individually owned, with its personal distinctive story, and every captain provides his or her personal character to the expertise aboard. With various climate and crew, no two sailings are precisely the identical.
What’s Maine Windjammer Cruise?
Maine Windjammers depend on the wind and tide, utilizing nothing however the sails, or generally getting somewhat push from the motorized yawl boat, to navigate the waters of Penobscot Bay, off of Maine’s midcoast. This part of the coast is good for crusing holidays, providing a crusing trip that you just gained’t discover anyplace else in the US.
Penobscot Bay is dotted with islands, each massive and small, that present each a scenic backdrop and numerous coves to anchor at night time. Maine Windjammers provide pleasure cruises from three to 6 nights lengthy, and there are schooners that may accommodate anyplace from 16 to 40 passengers on board, plus a small crew.
Whereas some cruises have themes (e.g. Perseids Meteor Bathe, Lobsters & Lighthouses,…) or sail to particular occasions (just like the Maine Windjammer Days in Boothbay Harbor), most sailings don’t have any set itinerary. The ships sail wherever the wind, and their captains, take them to seek out the very best climate and finest views.
The Maine Windjammer crusing season kicks off in early June and continues by means of late September. Every ship has completely different choices, however the Schooner Heritage that I sailed on provides three, 4, and six-night cruises, and the costs vary from $780-$1265 per individual (for 2022), relying on the size of the cruise and time of the yr.
6 Causes to Ebook a Maine Windjammer Cruise
As I stated earlier than, the Maine Windjammer Cruise isn’t for everybody. It’s possible you’ll love cruising, however this isn’t your typical cruise. A Maine Windjammer cruise could also be best for you if you happen to meet the next standards:
1. You get pleasure from coastal New England surroundings
The Maine Windjammers pass over of Rockland and Camden on Maine’s midcoast. Each of those scenic vacationer havens have a lot to supply guests, from Rockland’s strong artwork scene to Camden’s quaint harbor (see my options for issues to do in Rockland.) However there may be solely a lot which you could see on the land except you hop on one of many each day ferries to Vinalhaven or North Haven Islands.
A Maine Windjammer Cruise permits you to see the coast from an entire completely different perspective. You’ll sail previous quite a few lighthouses in your journey, together with rocky coastlines trimmed with pine bushes. A Maine Windjammer cruise can be an effective way to identify wildlife. Many instances all through my journey I noticed seals, porpoises, ospreys, and different sea birds. The seals and porpoises preferred to hold about and spy on us.
2. You Take pleasure in Assembly Fellow Vacationers
In case you get pleasure from group excursions and journeys and recognize the chance to get to know like-minded people, you’ll recognize the group facet of a Maine Windjammer Cruise. This isn’t a good selection for these searching for alone time.
Maine Windjammer Cruises have a tendency to draw adventurous vacationers from throughout the nation. Many are retired professionals, though there could also be some households (though this might be higher suited to some tweens/teenagers than younger youngsters that want shut supervision.)
On daily basis brings alternatives to work together with and get to know your loved ones vacationers. All meals are served household fashion, lending themselves to dialog. On deck, the friends and crew work collectively to boost and decrease sails or handle the ship. Whereas crusing or within the quiet evenings, both throughout “cocktail hour” or after dinner, friends collect in camp chairs on deck and float from one group to the opposite, making dialog.
As a result of everybody on board interacts with one another, I feel solo vacationers will really feel simply as comfy as these touring with a pal, household, or important different. The group facet of the expertise jogged my memory numerous considered one of our favourite household holidays on the 9 Quarter Circle dude ranch in Montana.
3. You Prefer to Go together with the Movement
In case you are somebody that doesn’t like their trip to be too structured and enjoys simply going with the circulation then you’ll recognize a Maine Windjammer trip. There’s no set itinerary and the place you’re going can change by the day, or by the hour, relying on the climate. All is that you may be crusing.
Likewise, your days are pretty unstructured aboard a Maine Windjammer. The rhythms of the day revolve round two issues — meals and sails. You’ll quickly catch on that espresso hour begins round 6:30 am, adopted by breakfast at 8:00 am. After that, it’s time to elevate the sails and catch a breeze to your subsequent vacation spot.
The day could also be spent flying with the wind or shifting extra slowly with the breeze. Lunch will come out when the crew is in a position and by late afternoon, the captain has discovered a spot to anchor for the night time.
It’s then time to decrease and fold the sails earlier than breaking open no matter beverage you introduced on board for cocktail hour. That is the time when you’ll be able to go for a swim or take the small row boat out for a view of the Schooner from the water. It’s possible you’ll even get a crew member to take you out on the small sailboat that accompanies the Schooner.
Dinner is a luxurious feast, adopted by a do-it-yourself dessert. You’ll be amazed by the standard of meals that the crew prepares over a wood-burning range. After dinner, friends collect to talk, play video games, take a look at the celebs, or possibly have a sing-a-long.
Bedtime comes early and friends slowly say their goodnights and make their means beneath decks to be lulled to sleep by the mild rocking of the ship.
4. You might be an Journey Traveler
Whilst you might not contemplate a crusing cruise a type of journey journey, I feel it is advisable have an adventurous spirit to finest get pleasure from a Windjammer cruise. This isn’t a luxurious cruise with comfortable lodging. The truth is, the cabins beneath the deck are fairly small and rustic. On the Schooner Heritage, cabins provide both a single mattress, two bunks, or a double mattress.
House is tight, with simply sufficient room to show round and storage is even tighter. Our cabin had two small cabinets, however you don’t typically need to depart objects on them throughout the day as they may probably slide off whereas crusing. There was area to retailer small duffel or tote baggage beneath the decrease bunk. In any other case, the cabin simply consists of a sink with cold and hot water, towel racks, coat hooks, {an electrical} outlet, and studying lights above the mattress.
You will have observed that I didn’t point out a toilet. Schooners provide shared bogs on the primary deck. The Schooner Heritage had three marine heads, considered one of which additionally functioned as a non-public marine bathe (principally a kitchen sink hose to rinse your self). On our ship, two of the cabins really had personal bogs. Nevertheless, these nonetheless have a little bit of an odor so watch out what you want for.
I considered the lodging as a kind of tenting on the water. In case you are comfy tent or cabin tenting with a shared lavatory and bathe home, you’ll in all probability be advantageous on a Maine Windjammer cruise.
I’ll admit that usually a non-public lavatory is a should for me, even when glamping. However regardless of that desire, I nonetheless loved the journey of a Maine Windjammer Cruise. I’d have a tricky time on a six-day cruise, to be trustworthy, however the three or four-night was fairly doable as soon as the warmth wave broke (there isn’t any air-con so a small fan is one thing that I’d suggest you pack for a Maine Windjammer Cruise.
5. You Take pleasure in Visitor Participation
Maine Windjammer cruises offer you as a lot alternative to take part as you want. It’s a nice alternative to study somewhat bit about crusing with out taking classes or shopping for a sailboat. The crew actually appreciates the assistance hauling traces and elevating sails. In addition they don’t flip down a little bit of assist in the kitchen, particularly in relation to cleansing up.
You actually don’t have to hitch in. I spent one afternoon sitting in a comfortable nook on the deck studying a very good guide. So in case you are feeling somewhat drained or lazy, don’t really feel responsible. There shall be loads of alternatives to hitch in.
6. LOBSTER!
A spotlight of all of the Maine Windjammer cruises is a standard New England lobster bake on the seashore. Sooner or later throughout the cruise, your captain will discover a abandoned seashore and drop anchor. The crew will row the friends and provides ashore for both a lunch or dinner lobster bake.
It takes a while to construct the fireplace, gather seaweed to cowl the lobsters, and prepare dinner all the pieces up, giving friends an opportunity to go for a swim or take a hike alongside the seashore to stretch their sea legs.
Our afternoon on “Lobster Island” (really Mc Glathery Island) began with chips and dip, adopted by hamburgers, sizzling canine, and watermelon. Quickly these attractive soft-shelled lobsters had been able to crack open, together with recent Maine corn.
I can’t describe the enjoyment of selecting aside my recent lobster on a seashore, with nothing however a rock to make use of as my desk. Butter dripping down my face and nobody round to note besides my shipmates, who had already seen me bleary-eyed and stumbling to the toilet within the early mornings.
4 Causes Not to Take a Maine Windjammer Cruise
When you have learn this far and you’re nonetheless focused on a Maine Windjammer Cruise, then you’re in all probability a very good candidate for the sort of trip. Nevertheless, there are just a few different issues to remember earlier than you guide:
1. You Have Younger Youngsters
The viewers of the Maine Windjammer Cruises traits a bit older. On my crusing, there was one household with one teen boy and one younger grownup daughter. Nevertheless, the remainder of the friends had been both retirees or within the 50+ age group (my pal being one of many solely exceptions.)
That isn’t essentially a cause for households to remain away. The truth is, it might be particularly enjoyable to guide a Windjammer cruise with a gaggle of buddies or as a multi-generational journey. Nevertheless, I’d not need to convey young children on board.
Not solely is there not numerous room to run round with out getting underfoot of crew and friends, however dad and mom would have to be consistently vigilant, particularly when crusing. When the Schooner heels, the boat can actually lean fairly a bit and it’s simple for unfastened objects (telephones, water bottles, and many others.) to slide by means of the small openings on deck. You’d need to maintain an in depth grip on younger youngsters at the moment.
2. You Have Meals Allergy symptoms
The Captain and crew of the Schooner Heritage did a terrific job accommodating these friends with sure meals sensitivities or dietary restrictions, resembling gluten sensitivity, vegetarians, or no seafood. Nevertheless, when you’ve got a critical meals allergy I feel it might be difficult to stop cross-contamination within the small galley.
That is one thing you’d need to discuss with the employees earlier than reserving to see precisely what they might accommodate. Simply remember that if there is a matter, a hospital might be 45-minutes or extra away by boat.
3. You Have Mobility Points
There have been a few passengers on our cruise that had mobility points and I give them numerous credit score for working by means of the problem. Nevertheless, if you happen to do have mobility points you must think twice about whether or not or not the setup is nice for you.
To go beneath decks to the cabins or galleys, it is advisable descend a steep staircase, ideally backward for security functions. This additionally means it is advisable climb up and down these stairs when it is advisable use the toilet. For these of us that must rise up and go in the course of the night time, that will not be the most secure state of affairs.
Whereas crusing, shifting across the deck could be treacherous if you happen to aren’t regular in your toes, particularly when the ship is heeling. Even those that are regular on their toes want to hold on when the wind is de facto blowing. And, decks can get slippery so good boat sneakers or supportive sneakers with non-skid soles are needed.
Additionally, remember that you’re both sitting on camp chairs that aren’t tremendous supportive or resting on a deck cushion on the onerous deck or galley roof with out again help. The cabin mattresses additionally aren’t precisely Tempur-Pedic, so you’ll really feel all of your creaky joints within the morning.
4. You Aren’t a Morning Individual
The ship’s crew rises with the solar and instantly will get to work swabbing the decks (sure, that is mostly a factor) and getting ready for the day. The ocean birds additionally prefer to welcome the morning, even earlier than the solar makes its look.
There aren’t many secrets and techniques saved on the ship, as sound travels simply and you’ll hear your fellow shipmates rise and begin their days. I extremely suggest a very good set of earplugs for all passengers, particularly mild sleepers. I really gained’t journey with out my Bose Sleep Buds (that is my affiliate hyperlink, if you happen to click on and make a purchase order I’ll obtain a small fee however even when I didn’t, I’d nonetheless sing the praises of the Sleep Buds.) I’d be a wreck with out these miracle-working noise-canceling earbuds that additionally play sleep sounds that masks ambient noise.
Even with earplugs, it’s onerous to disregard the dialog, laughter, and banging coming from above, together with the solar streaming in. You don’t need to rise up early on a Windjammer cruise, however it’s fairly onerous to not. Plus you need to be prepared for the breakfast bell at 8:00 am.
So what do you assume…is a Maine Windjammer Cruise for you? Regardless of the drawbacks, I’m glad I had an opportunity to expertise this distinctive sort of “cruising.” It’s far more genuine than these huge cruise ships anyway!
My fellow shipmates all had a stunning time too. For some, it was their tenth voyage aboard! Others had been returning for his or her second or fourth crusing, whereas most of the newbies had been strategizing on how you can get different {couples} to hitch them subsequent yr. Even among the crew had first been passengers in earlier years.
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