Okay. So you are not exactly the Carnival Cruise type of person. However, you are enticed by the lure of the sea, and long to sail its waters in a manner that brings you closer to its waves. It sounds like you would enjoy a Maine cruise vacation.

Your Maine cruise vacation takes place aboard an antique schooner which is known as a windjammer. They usually last three to six nights as they travel around the Penobscot Bay. Do not expect to be pampered on any of the cruises in Maine. The ships have no engines, and only a minimal amount of electricity. Meals on your Maine cruise vacation are prepared on a wood burning stove. Special diets can usually be accommodated if arrangements are made in advance. Most cruises in Maine offer a weekly lobster bake.

There is usually no organized activity on the cruises in Maine. Instead, you can spend your time conversing with you fellow passengers or watching the wildlife which can include seals, puffins and porpoises. Your Maine cruise line can consist of any of a number of Maine’s traditional schooners. For example, The American Eagle spent 53 years as a fishing schooner before it was refurbished as a passenger vessel. In 1981, this Maine cruise line was given the distinction of National Historic Landmark. The American Eagle boasts five wins at Gloucester’s Esperanto Cup Race. For entertainment, there is a cribbage game in the galley. The captain likes to hold a story hour in the evening.

Maine Map

The Grace Bailey is another one of the illustrious Maine cruise lines. It was launched in 1882 as a cargo ship. Like the American Eagle, it is also a designated National Historic Landmark. This fast ship has won multiple awards at the Windjammer Association's annual Great Schooner Race. Lobster bakes are available on longer sailings.

The Timberwind is a Maine cruise line that was built in Portland in 1931. She became a passenger ship in 1969. Music lovers might have a particular affinity for this ship. Its captain was a former director of studio operations for Warner Brothers Records in Nashville. He occasionally takes out his guitar or accordion to entertain the passengers.

Some Maine cruises offer eco-tours of the area. You can learn about lobster fishing, how the traps work and lobster anatomy. These Maine cruises often feature a lecture about Maine’s unique eco-system. If you are looking for a unique vacation option, any of the various types of Maine cruises would be an excellent choice.