lobster tour in bar harbor

Thank you for a wonderful 2024 season! Bookings for 2025 Boat Cruises Available Soon!

LOBSTER FISHING AND SEAL WATCHING

Quick details.

• Clock Duration: 1.75 hours
• Calendar Available: Mid-May to October

Ages 5 & Under

Prices go up during peak season, join us aboard the miss samantha, maine’s largest lobster passenger boat.

Watch our experienced fisherman haul in lobster traps from the ocean floor as a professional naturalist describes everything and answers all your questions about lobster fishing and marine wildlife.

Once we haul in the traps, you will have an up close experience with the lobsters and any other critters we happen to catch in our traps! Don’t worry; all lobster claws will have rubber bands attached so everyone’s fingers will stay safe! Our tours are very kid-friendly, and we welcome young curious minds on board.

About half way through our cruise, we’ll stow all the lobster gear and head off to a small island to view seals basking on the rocks or swimming in the nearby water. We most often see harbor and grey seal species.

Our 56’ vessel has ample bench seating and an open bow for photography and wildlife viewing opportunities.

Binoculars and/or a long zoom lens are recommended for viewing wildlife such as seals and eagles.

Throughout the trip, we’ll be cruising in Frenchman Bay, providing beautiful views of Acadia National Park!

• Chevron down Reservation Requirements
• When booking, please make sure to have tickets for all members in your party, including infants , as our vessels are certified to carry a specific number of passengers.
• If you need to cancel or change your reservation, please contact the ticket office no later than 24 hours before trip departure.
• Chevron down Amenities
• Restroom available onboard.
• Chevron down Accessibility
• Vessels are wheelchair accessible.
• Scripts are available upon request.
• Certified guide dogs are welcome.
• Chevron down Don't Miss the Boat!
• We recommend arriving at the dock 45-60 minutes before departure.
• Municipal paid parking is available in downtown Bar Harbor and the town pier. Parking is limited in town, and gets very difficult to find later in the day. Please arrive early to find a spot to park!
• Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co. is not responsible for any parking fees or tickets due to the duration of trips or cancellations.
• Chevron down Be Sure to Bring

WARM & WATERPROOF LAYERS! It is much colder out on the open ocean, even on a hot summer day, and the ride is windy when the boat is underway.

• Chevron down Cancellations

Trips will depart rain or shine, however we will cancel for high sea conditions and dense fog. Cruises can cancel up to 30 minutes prior to departure. In the event of a cancellation, you will be notified via email and text. To rebook your cruise, please contact our office at 207-288-2386  or email us at [email protected] . Refunds will be processed automatically by the end of the day.

• Chevron down Kid Friendly?

This is an excellent option for kids and families. It is a very interactive and engaging cruise for children.

A few things to consider:

• Strollers-there is limited space for strollers on the boat. We are happy to find a place to safely store your strollers on the dock.
• Supervision of children by parents or guardians at all times to ensure their safety.

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• Most Popular
• Users All Ages
• Clock 3 - 5.5 hours

Whale Watch

An adventure to remember! Head offshore in search of whales while your guide educates you about the whales and other species of the Gulf of Maine.

• Clock 2.5 - 3 hours

Puffin & Lighthouse Cruise

Ride aboard state-of-the art catamarans with professional and knowledgeable naturalists and crew to see 3 island lighthouses! Spot puffins, razorbills, guillemonts, and common and Arctic terns!

• Great for Families!

Lobster & Nature Tour

Quick details.

• Hour Glass Duration: 2 Hours
• User Ages: All Ages
• Info Group size: Shared Tours are up to 16 passengers; Private Charters are up to 21 passengers
• Clock Schedule: 10:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m.

Shared Charters

Private charters, private charter, for up to 21 people, haul lobster traps, visit somes sound, and see a seal colony.

Private charter: Have the boat to yourself.

Welcome aboard the Elizabeth T, a real Maine lobster boat!

This excursion is a great experience for the whole family and full of wildlife and local knowledge.

We depart the fishing community of Southwest Harbor aboard the 33’ wooden lobster boat, the Elizabeth T.  First we’ll explore the glacially carved Somes Sound Fjard, where the granite cliffs rise to the surrounding mountain peaks in Acadia National Park. Not only is Somes Sound beautiful but it also abounds in wildlife. Look for seals, porpoise, eagles, osprey and peregrine falcons. From the water you’ll enjoy great views of the grand summer “cottages” owned by wealthy “Rusticators” from Northeast Harbor and Seal Harbor. You’ll have excellent photo opportunities of the Bear Island Lighthouse, one of the prettiest lighthouses along the Maine Coast.

Everyone is excited to pull a few lobster traps. We will haul, bait, and explain how the traps work, and discuss the biology of lobsters. Learn how lobstermen are protecting this thriving industry while harvesting 120 million pounds of lobster annually. At $4 per pound that is nearly half a billion dollars fueling the coastal Maine communities. Most lobsters migrate closer or further from shore depending on the seasons. They may move up to 5 or 6 miles in a year, going closer to shore in warm weather, and offshore for stable, deeper water in late fall. In May the abundance of Lobsters close to shore is still low.

Heading east we will look for a breeding pair of bald eagles. East Bunker Ledge is a favorite spot for watching seals as they swim, fish and sunbathe on the rocks. We’ll cruise home past the Cranberry Islands, where a 200-year old fishing village continues to thrive by the ways of the sea.

Our shared tours are well suited to children and adults. They are safe and comfortable as we stay within the protected calm waters of Great Harbor and the Cranberry Islands. Seasickness is extremely rare. The Elizabeth T is fitted with canvas to keep passengers dry and warm when the conditions are not optimal.

What do I wear?

Dress as you would for walking around town, and bring an extra sweater/sweatshirt and a windbreaker with you. Also useful is a baseball-style cap with visor, sunglasses (polarized are best), and sunscreen. Don’t forget your camera. If you’re on the fence about shorts versus long pants… go with the long pants.

• Chevron down Comfort and Safety
• Chevron down Cancellation Policy

You may cancel your reservation without charge up to 48 hours prior to your scheduled departure. If you cancel within the 48 hour period or fail to show up at boarding, you will be responsible for the full amount of the charter/cruise. Weather related cancellations will be determined by the Captain. If your charter/cruise is cancelled due to weather and we are unable to reschedule the trip to your satisfaction, you will not be charged.

Related Activities

• Most Popular Tour
• Hour Glass 2 - 3 Hours
• User All Ages
• Info Up to 6 passengers

Mount Desert Island Sailing Tour

Sail Acadia National Park aboard a traditional Friendship Sloop – Maine’s original lobster boat! Built in Friendship, Maine in the late 1800’s, these handsome traditional sailboats were used by coastal fishermen to haul lobster traps by hand under sail. Take part in Maine’s maritime heritage and enjoy sailing smooth waters, abundant wildlife and spectacular coastline of Acadia National Park.

• Hour Glass 2 Hours
• Info Shared Tours are up to 16 passengers; Private Charters are up to 21 passengers

Sunset Cruise

Watch the sun set behind the mountains of Acadia from the deck of a Lobster boat. Best served with cold drinks, food and a few friends.

• Hour Glass 1.5 - 2 Hours
• Info Up to 21 passengers

Private Boat Charter

Explore Acadia from the deck of a Maine lobster boat. Elizabeth T is perfect for island picnics, lobster fishing, family gatherings and more.

Acadia Lobster Cruise

“The only thing better than lobster fresh off the boat … is lobster fresh ON the boat!”

Taste the world’s best lobster on a vintage 1966 wooden lobster boat captained by Downeast Maine native Jason Clark. Enjoy stunning views of Acadia National Park while Jason shares his personal knowledge of Mount Desert Island. After hauling lobster traps, Jason cooks a traditional Maine lobster feast — right on the boat!

CLOSED FOR THE SEASON

Two trips daily:, 10:00am and 2:30pm  (no trips on sundays), $150 per person, please send a text message with:, last name # of passengers preferred cruise date, to: 207-370-7663.

Same-day cancellations will be charged the full fare.

Captain Jason hauling lobster traps

For more info or to book a tour

207-370-7663

[email protected]

Bar Harbor Lobster Boat Ride

Quick details.

• Calendar Availability: May 8 - October 19, 2024
• Clock Times: 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m., or 5 p.m.
• Hour Glass Duration: 2 hours
• User Age Restriction: 6 years or older
• Info Important Info: Check calendar for variations in schedule

Seniors (Ages 65 and over)

Children (ages 6 to 12), traditional lobster boat tour in bar harbor, maine.

We are the only lobster boat tour in Bar Harbor hosted on a traditional Downeast-style lobster boat. Lulu’s two-hour lobster boat ride offers the most exclusive, personal and unique cruise in Bar Harbor. Experience lobster fishing, seal watching, sightseeing and more!

We sail from the Harborside Hotel & Marina right in downtown Bar Harbor, one of the most beautiful hotels on the coast of Maine! Enjoy comfortable, shaded seating with a front-row seat to the lobster fishing action.

Our experienced captains will catch lobsters right before your eyes, while narrators educate you about all the parts of a lobster trap and how the lobsters find their way into the trap. You’ll also learn the anatomy and life cycle of the Maine lobster before we release these creatures back into the harbor.

Our Maine lobster boat tours are also the perfect opportunity to see seals in their natural habitat. At low tide, see these creatures resting and basking in the sun on exposed rock ledges. Watch them swim and play during high tide.

Along the way, enjoy views of the Egg Rock Lighthouse, beautiful summer cottages, and local wildlife like bald eagles and sea birds.

This experience is sure to be the highlight of your trip to Maine. Book a Lulu Lobster Boat Tour online today!