Shipyards & Lighthouses Boat Cruise

Take a Cruise on the Kennebec River

The day was bright and seasonably warm, the perfect day for a fall adventure. After a busy summer of real estate, I wanted to share a little relaxation time with my photographer something that got us out of the office and into fresh air. What better place to be than outside and on the water on a beautiful October afternoon? So we decided to take a boat tour on the Kennebec River offered by Maine Maritime Museum. 

Embarking from the museum’s pier located on the banks of the Kennebec River, our tour boat, the Merrymeeting set sail on a one hour “Shipyards & Lighthouses” cruise to explore the lower Kennebec River. The Merrymeeting is a 56' motor vessel with a covered lower deck and open upper deck. 

For lighthouse lovers, there are also a couple of longer tours (up to four hours), during which the Merrymeeting sails by up to ten lighthouses, including river lights such as Squirrel Point and off-shore stations such as Seguin Island Light. One weekly tour takes explorers to the boat’s namesake, Merrymeeting Bay which is a confluence of six coastal rivers. On the day of our adventure, the 4 hour tour was sadly not available. 

After leaving the Museum pier, we sailed past Bath Iron Works’ massive shipyard. Shipbuilding began more than 400 years ago on the river and continues today. At one time my father worked at BIW, and many of my past and current clients have positions at the shipyard. Cruising past BIW, we saw spectacular views of the Navy’s most advanced ships including the Zumwalt-class destroyers. We felt so diminutive in our tour boat in contrast to these behemoth vessels.  We could see hundreds of workers in the yard, like a swarm of busy ants scurrying about with their respective jobs. However, on our return trip past the shipyard and back to the pier, it was eerily quiet with no sign of activity. It was 3:00pm and time for change of work shifts at BIW. 

Continuing down river, we enjoyed a water view of the museum’s historic shipyard and two of Kennebec River’s famed lighthouses: Doubling Point Light and the Kennebec Range Lights. These black and white lighthouses were beautiful against the backdrop of the day’s blue sky and the blue waters of the river. 

We sailed under 2 bridges, the 1927 Carlton Bridge, a railroad vertical lift bridge servicing the Maine Central and Quebec Railway and the newer Sagadahoc Bridge, which carries US Rt 1 traffic. Having this view offered a greater appreciation of the architecture of these monuments. To see the underside of the construction, the nuts and the bolts. Hmmm, what’s the opposite of a birds eye view if underneath? 

The Merrymeeting’s tour guide provided a fascinating narration of the sights along the river. But he was a moment too late in pointing out the eagle perched on a shoreline tree and the boat had already sailed past. He was playfully admonished on that slip. 

There is a snack bar serving  beer, wine, soft drinks and light snacks onboard and guests are welcome to bring aboard food and non-alcoholic beverages. We had brought along lunch from a nearby food truck and enjoyed dining with a hell of a water view on the lower deck before making our way to the open upper deck.  

It was quite breezy but we were dressed in layers of jackets. The view was worth being cold. It was a fun afternoon and we would recommend any of the cruises. Later in the month, the fall foliage will be more at its peak and will offer spectacular shoreline views from the boat. 

Tickets are non-refundable, except in the event of a weather cancellation. Online ticket sales close at 5 am on the day of the cruise. Day-of cruise tickets must be purchased in person or by calling (207) 443-1316 x331. Cruises run in light rain and other moderate weather conditions. Cruises may be cancelled in the event of severe or unsafe weather conditions or unmet minimum ticket sales, and cancellations are made by the Captain on the day of the cruise. If the Museum cancels a cruise, you will have the opportunity to reschedule, or receive a refund.