Should I take the Ship's tour or can I book this one separately-Best of Bar Harbor

[thecoop]

I know we could book the Arcadia National Park tour separately but this one does quite a few things including the Park, Cadillac Mountain, viasit to the Lobster Oceanarium as well, and on to the Turrets mansion.

 

thanks for any help or suggestions.

[thecoop]

We went ahead and booked it from RC.

[SailBadtheSinner]

I guess my post is a little late; but since I spent so much time putting it together, here it is (FWIW):

 

There is a current discussion here (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=779147 ) on whether to take the ship’s tour or an independent tour by Oli’s Trolley ( http://www.acadiaislandtours.com/ ) or Acadia National Park Tours ( http://www.acadiatours.com/ ).

 

For the Acadia Park side of the tour, all 3 do the same tour. I couldn’t find any significant difference among the 3 tours.

 

Now the ship’s tour adds a tour of Lobster Oceanarium and Turrets mansion. I believe the Turrents mansion is on the campus of the College of the Atlantic. You can get to CoA on the Island Explorer using the route 2 bus. IE is a free bus service in Bar Harbor. Don’t know if the public is welcome to tour the mansion; maybe orgainized tours only, such as from the ship. Suggest you call CoA to find out.

 

I believe the IE, bus route 1, goes by the Lobster Oceanarium (at least the one I’m aware of). Bus routes 1 & 2 are the same for the 1st third of the route but route 1 takes you off island. Don’t know if you can request a stop at the Lobster Oceanarium. I would contact IE about flagging a bus down and requesting stops at other then designated bus stops. Here is the IE link: http://www.exploreacadia.com/index.htm

 

So, is the additional cost of the ship’s tour for the Lobster Oceanarium and Turrents mansion worth it? IMHO, not seeing those 2 would not turn an otherwise good cruise bad.

 

In the future, please give people who want to help you time to respond :D.

 

 

 

SBtS

[traveler525]

Thanks for the info SBtS, we are going early Sep and looking for info as well!

[Maraprince]

I guess my post is a little late; but since I spent so much time putting it together, here it is (FWIW):

 

There is a current discussion here (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=779147 ) on whether to take the ship’s tour or an independent tour by Oli’s Trolley ( http://www.acadiaislandtours.com/ ) or Acadia National Park Tours ( http://www.acadiatours.com/ ).

 

For the Acadia Park side of the tour, all 3 do the same tour. I couldn’t find any significant difference among the 3 tours.

 

Now the ship’s tour adds a tour of Lobster Oceanarium and Turrets mansion. I believe the Turrents mansion is on the campus of the College of the Atlantic. You can get to CoA on the Island Explorer using the route 2 bus. IE is a free bus service in Bar Harbor. Don’t know if the public is welcome to tour the mansion; maybe orgainized tours only, such as from the ship. Suggest you call CoA to find out.

 

I believe the IE, bus route 1, goes by the Lobster Oceanarium (at least the one I’m aware of). Bus routes 1 & 2 are the same for the 1st third of the route but route 1 takes you off island. Don’t know if you can request a stop at the Lobster Oceanarium. I would contact IE about flagging a bus down and requesting stops at other then designated bus stops. Here is the IE link: http://www.exploreacadia.com/index.htm

 

So, is the additional cost of the ship’s tour for the Lobster Oceanarium and Turrents mansion worth it? IMHO, not seeing those 2 would not turn an otherwise good cruise bad.

 

In the future, please give people who want to help you time to respond :D.

 

 

 

SBtS

sail the bad sailor,

 

What is the IE route and where do you pick it up? We will be there in early August and would like to see some more of Bar Harbour without having to walk uphill. Previously did a ship's tour to A. Park and Blow Hole -- not that thrilled with it.

 

Thanks.

 

 

MARAPRINCE

[bjay3]

Glad I found this thread as we'll be there in September & I had a question about Oli's Trolley. It looked like the best deal and I was going to book it. My question, from anyone that's "been there, done it" is...what's the timing like for the tendering to the pier? Will there be enough time to get ashore for the 10 a.m. tour? Sometimes the tendering can be slow.

[JosieRhodes]

We are taking the cruise tour to also help with the tendering situation. As we tender in Bar Habor, taking the cruise tour seemed a way to also avoid tender line hassles getting off ship in morning - or so I hope :o

 

with having little kids, trying to avoid logistic challenges too

[swdke]

We are taking the cruise tour to also help with the tendering situation. As we tender in Bar Habor, taking the cruise tour seemed a way to also avoid tender line hassles getting off ship in morning - or so I hope :o

 

with having little kids, trying to avoid logistic challenges too

 

How did the ship's tour work out for you? Recommendations?

[SailBadtheSinner]

BJAY3 asked: …..what's the timing like for the tendering to the pier? Will there be enough time to get ashore for the 10 a.m. tour?....

 

REPLY: The tender ride is about 5-6 minutes in normal conditions excluding loading and unloading time. Assuming all goes as scheduled, then YES you can make the 10AM tour. This is according to other responses I’ve seen here.

 

 

MARAPRINCE asked: ….What is the IE route and where do you pick it up? We will be there in early August and would like to see some more of Bar Harbour without having to walk uphill. Previously did a ship's tour to A. Park and Blow Hole -- not that thrilled with it……

 

Here’s the link to the Island Explorer which has 7 routes. You pick up the IE buses at the Bar Harbor town green which unfortunately is uphill (part way) from the tender dock.

http://www.exploreacadia.com/

 

BTW, I do agree with you about Blow Hole (correct name Thunder Hole), but not A. Park, it’s a jewel.

 

 

 

SBtS

[mainelymaniacs]

The big problem with Thunder Hole is that you need to have the right type of waves coming in to make the really big sound. You need incoming tide and usually storm type waves, of course you end up getting wet but the sound is amazing. Outgoing tide or normal waves just don't make it work well. I have been there quite a few times and have heard all different levels of "thunder".

 

Lisa