cruise maine magazine

Susan Harkins

CHALLENGE Though Cruise Maine magazine existed before I came onto the project, Cruise New Hampshire Magazine was a new introduction and a unique layout. The challenge was to refresh content and interject some fun into the editorial designs while developing the sister branding.

Design and layout of this digest sized travel guide for classic car enthusiasts in New England was a massive undertaking. Attention to detail, organization and maintaining client relationships was key to the success of this magazine.

In addition to the magazine refresh I was able to bring web design and coding in-house allowing it to better reflect the new design changes with a mobile responsive layout and mobile friendly online version of the magazine with clickable ads.

Cruise Maine Magazine is your one stop source for all of the classic car and cruising information in the beautiful state of Maine!

Year after year Cruise Maine Magazine is the leading free publication for classic car enthusiasts. In addition to events, each issue provides interesting articles and information about classics, tuners, and rat rods! 

SCOPE • Custom Vector Maps • Advertising Design • Client Relations • Event Directory Formatting • Editorial Content Development

• Image Manipulation • Infographics • Web Design + Coding • HTML 5 Flipbook with Linked Ads • Animated Web Banners

The 2013 edition of Cruise Maine magazine saw the premier of Cruise New Hampshire magazine on the flip-side of the Cruise Maine issue. The layout, spreads and logistics of a book that would flip over part way through was an added challenge on top of the creation of all new maps, event calendar and area info. Maintaining the brand design and feel  and respecting the uniqueness of New Hampshire  was a focus while expanding the cruise concept in a new region.

Event Directory Formatting Managing the event directory formatting was a challenge. Listings are divided by recurring and one off events, labeled by region, organized by date.

Cruise New Hampshire For every feature of Cruise Maine magazine an equal feature was created for the New Hampshire flip side of the issue. Design elements were subtly changed but layout remained the same.

Regional Editorial Content Every region needs an introduction and enticing narrative of the area to help draw the viewer in. I wrote brand new copy for new towns and rewrote the old stale copy for all regions.

Corporate Advertising Partners I worked closely with NAPA Marketing and local stores to develop this two page spread ad with listings of NAPA locations across the state.

With over a decade of experience in a variety of creative industries I provide creative design solutions that exceed client expectations.

If you are interested in working with me – please reach out using the contact form below and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

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Maine cruise ship season begins this week following pandemic hiatus

The 2022 Maine cruise ship season will officially begin this week with the scheduled arrival of the Norwegian Pearl in Bar Harbor Thursday morning.

Two years after COVID-19 brought cruise ship travel to a standstill, the ships are returning to Maine ports in numbers not seen since before the pandemic, according to CruiseMaine, which is part of the Maine Office of Tourism.

• Also read: Bar Harbor petition could limit how many visitors can come off cruise ships per day

While the number of ship visits scheduled for Maine this year is similar to pre-pandemic levels, CruiseMaine says the ships’ occupancy levels aren’t expected to be as high as they were pre-COVID, at least for the early part of the season.

In 2019, cruise ships made 408 port calls in Maine. This year, 360 visits are on the schedule, with an estimated passenger count of just over 450,000.

“It’s exciting to see these ships and their passengers coming back to Maine,” said Sarah Flink, executive director of CruiseMaine. “These visitors love coming to Maine and seeing our beautiful coast. They are an important part of Maine’s tourism industry, contributing millions of dollars a year to Maine's economy in passenger and crew spending alone.”

In 2019, the 408 port calls brought just under half a million passenger visits and $30 million in passenger and crew spending to Maine. In 2020, cruise ship visits stopped completely in Maine due to a No Sail Order from the U.S. CDC, which meant revenue to Maine communities dropped to zero.

Last year, American Cruise Lines–which runs smaller, U.S. flagged cruise ships–returned to Maine. American made 165 port calls in 2021, bringing just over 18,000 passenger visits to the state, according to CruiseMaine. Spending by passengers and crew was estimated at $1.2 million.

• Also read: Bar Harbor, dependent on tourists, is split on cruise ships

American Cruise Lines will be visiting Bangor this summer for the first time in more than ten years after the city entered into a 20-year, public-private partnership with the cruise line to invest in the downtown waterfront and bring cruise visitors to the city.

Flink says planning for the restart of Maine’s first full cruise ship season in two years has been going on for months. The port agreements include detailed protocols created by the cruise lines and local, state and federal authorities aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19 and ensuring the safety of passengers and community members. The agreements cover the four Maine ports–Portland, Rockland, Bar Harbor and Eastport–which host visits from larger cruise ships.

CruiseMaine says Hurtigruten Expeditions' MS Roald Amundsen will be making its maiden voyage to Maine this year and is one of the ships that will call in Eastport. The 459-foot, 530-passenger ship has a hybrid electric propulsion system that will reduce fuel and CO2 emissions by 20%. MS Roald Amundsen will also call in Rockland and Bar Harbor.

A schedule of Maine’s cruise ship season is now available to the public at Maine.portcall.com . The site includes the size of the ship, estimated passengers on board and the upcoming 18 months of scheduled stops in Maine.

Portland Motor Club

Heated Secure Car Storage in Portland, Maine

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• Toys for Tots Benefit Car Show and Cruise In
• Maine Automobile Museums & Car Clubs
• March 29, 2024

2024 Maine Classic Car Show Cruise-Ins

Hello Car People! We’re off to an early hopeful start for 2024. It’s still a bit early to update this so this is all still info from 2023 but by April we’ll start to get some confirmation. By all means, please let us know about a regular public car gathering if it’s not on this list. I am occasionally surprised to hear about one I haven’t ever heard of after 15 years of managing this calender.

Listed by weeklies and monthlies — start and end dates & times as available. Please, please, please — help us keep this list current and accurate — if you KNOW of any changes, additions or cancellations, please let us know by email to [email protected]  or by phone to 207-233-9970. Portland Motor Club prides itself on having a list you can count on of what’s going on in the car world in our car state. We actually call or try to contact every location if we are unsure of their show or cruise-in status. Thanks for your help. A clean list is a happy list!

Any other regular summer destination ideas for a cruise? Please send us an email and hopefully we’ll include your suggestion.

⭐️ CONFIRMED for 2023 ⭐️ ::  Harpswell Cruise Night at Pammy’s Ice Cream at 1410 Harpswell Neck Road (near entrance to Mitchell Field) in HARPSWELL . All cars welcomed. 4-8PM. 50/50. Music. Lobster rolls and more! Corn hole game. FMI: 207-751-7870.  Facebook . Mid-May to end of September.

⭐️ CONFIRMED for 2023 ⭐️ ::  Uptown Cruizahs Weekly Cruize-In @ Daddy-O’s on Route 26 in OXFORD . 5 -7:30PM. More details to follow… Fun, food, 50/50, prizes. FMI: Dan Tripp @ 207-890-8778 or Gary Allen @ 207-595-2691. (to end of August)

⭐️ CONFIRMED for 2023 ⭐️ ::  Mount Washington Valley’s Weekly Cruise-In @ Settlers Green parking lot on Route 16 in  NORTH CONWAY, NH . Sponsored by Mount Washington Valley Old Car Club. 5:00-7:00PM. FMI: Diane “Di” Drew @ 603-356-2043; Jerry Kelley @ 603-662-2062;  (MAY 23 thru mid-SEP — weather permitting)

⭐️   CONFIRMED for 2023  ⭐️ :: Bentley’s Tuesday Night Car Show (Cruise-in) @ 1601 Portland Road in ARUNDEL : 5PM – dusk. FMI: Lisa @ 207-985-8966. (May-Sep); [email protected] ; www.bentleyssaloon.com . See pandemic details on web link. (May 7- Sep 19)

⭐️  CONFIRMED for 2023 ⭐️ :: Tobey’s Grocery Cruise-In @ 1408 Route 3 in CHINA . 4:30-7pm. Food available. 50/50. Door prizes. Music by “DJ Music by Mike”. May 23 to October 10. Weather-dependent. FMI: Mike Patrick @ 207-691-8099; [email protected]

⭐️  CONFIRMED for 2023 ⭐️ :: Cumberland Classics Cruise-in . Across from Copp Motors at 181 Gray Road on corner of Skillin and Gray Roads behind Doctor Bill’s Car Care in CUMBERLAND . 5-7PM. Raffle, give-aways, good food & goodies plus good music! Antiques, customs, street rods, everyone welcome! FMI: Annette White @ 603-303-6418; Don & Carol Myers @ 207-829-3235; Bill Richards @ 207-415-2389. Tuesdays in June thru end of August.

WEDNESDAYS:

⭐️  CONFIRMED for 2023 ⭐️ :: Bath American Legion Cruise In.  Congress in BATH . Sponsored by Dirigo Chapter MOAL (Maine Obsolete Auto League). Food on site; 3rd Wednesday is Spaghetti Dinner Night. FMI: Jim Heath @ 207-720-0678. May-cold weather.

⭐️   CONFIRMED for 2023  ⭐️ :: IHOP Saco Cruise-I n @ IHOP A 515 Main Street in SACO . 4pm (no other info available at this time)

⭐️   CONFIRMED for 2023  ⭐️ :: Fast Eddie’s Drive-In Weekly Cruise-In @ 1308 Route 202 in WINTHROP.  5-8PM. Live music, 50/50 raffle, great food & ice cream specials! FMI: 207-377-5550; website . Starts mid-May thru end of August.

⭐️   CONFIRMED for 2023  ⭐️ :: Dutch Treat Weekly Cruise-Ins @ 5739-291 US Route 2 (corner of Route 156) in WILTON : 5-7PM. Music, raffles, 15% off for classic car driver. FMI: Alison @ 207-645-2145;  Facebook . (mid-May thru mid-August in fair weather)

⭐️   CONFIRMED for 2023  ⭐️ :: Jordan’s Snack Bar Weekly Cruise-Ins @ 200 Downeast Highway / Route 2 in ELLSWORTH : 5-8PM. LIVE bands and dancing, FREE admission, playground for the kids. FMI: 207-667-2174; www.jordanssnackbar.com  ; Band Schedule . (Jul 6 — Aug 17 this year)

⭐️   CONFIRMED for 2023  ⭐️ :: MOAL’s Cruise Night at the former Stone Surface (next to Ricky’s Diner) on Main Street in BRIDGTON : 5-8PM. Food specials; DJ; 50/50; door prizes; car-of-the-night award. Sponsored by Maine Obsolete Auto League Pleasant Mountain Chapter. FMI: Wes Gorman @ 207-647-9411 or Gordon Drisko @ 207-647-8876;  [email protected] ; www.pmchaptermoal.com ; (June 1 thru September)

NOT  CONFIRMED  :: Freeport Chamber of Commerce Cruise-In  @ Freeport Antiques and Heirlooms Showcase @ 31 Main Street in  FREEPORT . 5-7PM. 207-865-6115. All cars welcome. Live music & food. Memorial Day to Labor Day. Facebook

⭐️   CONFIRMED for 2023  ⭐️ :: Cruise-In Night at Lyman Variety & Pizzeria (formerly Sonny’s) @ 301 Middle Road in LYMAN . FMI: 207-985-0802 (May 11-SEP 28)

⭐️   CONFIRMED for 2023  ⭐️ :: Cruise-In at Yarmouth AMVETS Post 2 (six dates this summer)  @ Robert W. Boyd Amvets Post 2 @ 148 North Road in YARMOUTH . 4-dusk. Public welcome. FREE admission to spectators. $5 car entry fee. Food & drinks available. Live Music. FMI: Peter Sawyer (Amvets 1st Vice Commander) @ 207-in 671-5892; [email protected]; to sign up car: George “Dodo” Brockman @ 207-776-4642; [email protected];   (2023 dates: July  13 & 27, August 10 & 14, September 7 & 21)

⭐️   CONFIRMED for 2023  ⭐️ :: Gardiner Classic Car Cruise-In @ Waterfront Park in  GARDINER : 5-7PM. Prizes, Giveaways, Music provided by The Music Crew. Vendors. FMI: Jason Everett @ 207-592-7019;  www.gardinermainstreet.org . (May thru Sep)

⭐️  CONFIRMED for 2023  ⭐️ :: Maine Coastal Cruisers Cruise Night at Masonic Lodge #22 @ 156 Alfred Road in KENNEBUNK . 4PM. May 12-Sep 29 No further information available at this time

⭐️  CONFIRMED for 2023  ⭐️ ::  Cruise Night @ Iron Tails Saloon at 559 Route 109 in  ACTON . 4-7PM. 50/50, prizes. Weekly People’s Choice award. FMI: Bruce @ 207-206-9710. From the first Friday in May thru the first Friday in October.

⭐️  CONFIRMED for 2023  ⭐️ ::  Rocky Ridge Apple Orchard @ 38 Rocky Ridge Lane off Augusta Road in BOWDOIN . 3-7pm. Great food. Sandwiches. Fresh bakery. Lots of parking in grass field with plenty of shade. FMI: 207-666-5786; www.RockyRidgeOrchard.com . Facebook . mid-June-Oct 27

⭐️ PRESUMED CONFIRMED for 2023 ⭐️ :: Reny’s Plaza Weekly Cruise-In @ Routes 1 and 3 in BELFAST . How you gonna keep people from parking in Reny’s lot — amirite? 4:30PM-dusk.  Facebook .

NOT  CONFIRMED :: Roy’s All Steak Hamburger Weekly Cruise Night  @ 2514 Turner Road in AUBURN : 5:30 to sunset. FMI: 207-782-2801; www.RoysGolf.com . (May-Sep)

⭐️   CONFIRMED for 2023  ⭐️ :: Schoolhouse Ice Cream Cruise-In (MONTHLY First Saturday) @ 253 Bakers Grant Road in LEBANON . 4:30-7:30PM. Pizza & hot dogs, music, raffle, 50/50. Ice cream deals for classic car drivers (first 5 free and then raffle for other goodies). Rescue farm on site for visitors. FMI: Sharon @ 207-457-2200. www.schoolhouseicecreammaine.com ;

⭐️ CONFIRMED for 2023 ⭐️ :: Story Teller Guitars & Cars Cruise-In @ Story Teller Guitars @ 15 Grove Street in DEXTER. 5pm to dusk. Enjoy vintage guitars and vintage cars. Fundraising cruise-in to support multiple veterans organizations. FMI: David Iverson @ 207-924-2240;  www.storytellerguitars.com ; Facebook . FIRST SATURDAY of the MONTH May thru September. (2023 dates: MAY 6, JUN 3, JUL 1, AUG 5, SEP 2)

⭐️   CONFIRMED for 2023  ⭐️ :: Coffee & Cars at Snickerdoodles  @ 166 Ossipee Trail in LIMINGTON . 8-10AM. Music. Door prizes & raffle. Breakfast specials. FMI: 207-637-2500 or [email protected] ; MONTHLY 2nd Saturday starting May thru October.   Facebook  (2023 dates: MAY 13; JUN 10; JUL 8; AUG 12; SEP 9; OCT 14)

⭐️   CONFIRMED for 2023  ⭐️ :: Kruise Knights Car Show ( MONTHLY Last Saturday ) @ Eliot Commons, Route 236 in ELIOT . 1992 and older. 4PM to dusk. 50/50, music, food, prizes. Donations go to Caravan for Toys. NSRA will be on hand for courtesy safety checks. FMI: Phil Martin @ 207-252-1976; [email protected] ; Facebook ; (2023: MAY 27; JUN 24; JUL 29; AUG 26; SEP 30)

⭐️    CONFIRMED for 2023 ⭐️ :: Cruise-In at Throttle Car Club. (MONTHLY 3rd Saturday) @ 10 Dynamic Drive in SCARBOROUGH. MONTHLY thru October. 9/16; 10/21 still coming up. Bring your favorite show car, classic, Rat Rod, European classic, exotic, muscle car or anything cool to show off. listen to some great tunes, tour our facility, meet some members and mingle with other car enthusiasts, play some corn hole and enjoy our rooftop patio. TCC grill will be open. Newly expanded parking lot can display up to 100 show cars. FMI: (888) 959-8051;   Facebook

Hey! Does anyone know about a Cars & Coffee Cruise-in Saturday mornings in HERMON from 8am to Noon? I don’t have any details but they apparently just celebrated their 30th anniversary of the gathering. Would love a location, contact info, dates of their season, details. I saw for the 3oth anniversary celebration on Saturday, September 23, 2023 that there would be coffee, donuts and giveaways — not sure if that’s the case every week? Thanks somebody — please be in touch — contact info at top.

⭐️   CONFIRMED for 2023  ⭐️ :: South Portland Cars & Coffee (MONTHLY) @ 245 Western Avenue in SOUTH PORTLAND . 9-11AM. All vehicles welcomed. Cars and coffee says it all! Fun way to start your Saturday! still September 17, October 22, 2023. SEE PARKING & DISTANCING GUIDELINES HERE : Facebook

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About portland motor club.

Climate-controlled, heated, secure car storage for classic, vintage, sports, exotics and valuable cars and other vehicles.

Portland Motor Club has created a remarkable automotive garaging facility and experience that is designed to serve the most discriminating enthusiast both regionally and nationally.

Portland Motor Club’s “marina” approach to fine vehicle storage and care allows members year-round access while providing the benefits and amenities of a club atmosphere that caters to the unique needs of a community of committed “car nuts”.

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Portland Motor Club • 275 Presumpscot St. • Portland, ME 04103 • Phone: 207-775-1770 • [email protected]

Ogunquit, Maine rated top vacation destination by Real Simple magazine

• Published: Mar. 23, 2024, 11:37 a.m.

Ogunquit, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty

• Jackson Cote | [email protected]

Known for its stunning beaches, thriving arts scene and welcoming LGBTQ+ community, one coastal New England town is making waves.

The town of Ogunquit, Maine, once a quiet fishing village and now a bustling tourism hub, recently earned itself the title of the top vacation destination in the world.

Real Simple magazine rated the New England town the No. 1 vacation destination for 2024 in an article published on March 10. Ranked below Ogunquit are seven other worthwhile sights to see, including: the United States’ national parks; cruises to Alaska; London, England; the Greek islands; the Northern Lights; Quebec City, Canada; and Tokyo, Japan.

• Read more: Massachusetts ranks in top U.S. states for health and happiness, study says

“Pent-up demand and a heightened appeal of wanderlust are creating an influx of both domestic and international travel this year,” the Real Simple article reads. “Travelers are ready to take the leap to pursue long weekend getaways, cruises, bucket-list trips abroad and historical vacations that boast enriching and educational experiences.”

“If you’re looking for some travel inspiration this year, we’ve checked with travel pros for some top vacation ideas. So, pack your suitcase, grab your passport, and travel big this year,” the article adds.

Originally a quaint fishing village in Perkins Cove surrounded by farms, Ogunquit has evolved into a four-square mile town “defined by its sandy beaches, vibrant art and theater scene, thriving and welcoming LGBTQ+ community and an abundance of independently-owned dining, shopping and lodging establishments,” according to the Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce .

• Read more: National Proposal Day is March 20: Here are 9 scenic places to propose in Mass.

For the past three years, Ogunquit Beach has been named one of the best beaches in the United States by TripAdvisor as part of its yearly “Travelers’ Choice Awards.”

“Home to miles of scenic sandy beaches, sprawling rocky cliffs, and tree-lined streets, Ogunquit is a vacation spot on the southern coast of Maine,” the Real Simple article reads.

While vacationing in Ogunquit, the article recommends staying at The Dunes on the Waterfront , a hotel that features 21 summer cottages and is set to re-open with new renovations for the summer.

• Read more: Worcester’s Beechwood Hotel receives four diamond ranking from AAA

According to legend, Ogunquit “was named by the Abenaki tribe, because the word means ‘beautiful place by the sea,’” the chamber of commerce notes on its website.

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INTRODUCING THE CCA CRUISING GUIDE TO MAINE

CCA Guides Committee Co-Chairs Doug Bruce and Wilson Fitt are excited to announce the launch of the CCA’s first DIGITAL cruising guide, the culmination of 2 years of planning and collecting information by over 30 writers, editors, and photographers – all CCA members with vast experience cruising their much-loved Maine Coast

Please click this link to see for yourself: https://guides.cruisingclub.org/   And please give us your assessment. We really want to hear what you think via Feedback.

If already using  your home computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone, here’s what you’ll read:

• The Cruising Club of America invites you to cruise the rugged coast of Maine with our well-informed members as your guides .
• Most cruising guides list hundreds of places to visit. We simplify your planning by highlighting only the best harbors and anchorages .
• Dozens of CCA members use their wide-ranging experiences to curate these lists. Facts are updated continuously throughout the year using local knowledge to keep this your most up-to-date resource .

The CCA guide selects the best “Harbors” as places with good marine and other services needed to support a lengthy cruise, and the best “Anchorages” are more isolated places known for their scenic beauty and sense of solitude.

Remarkably the editors have created essential information on 65 locations starting at Isle of Shoals on the New Hampshire border all the way to Eastport on the Canadian border. Additionally, ten informational articles describe important subjects one needs to understand to cruise Maine – ranging from an introduction, plus safety advice, cold water immersion, fog, lobster buoys, VHF radio vs. cellphones, moorings, anchoring, environmental issues, to leaving a clean and generous wake. All are wonderful pieces individually and collectively, a great font of wisdom. All the above is wrapped in an envelope of gorgeous photography.

Please recommend our online guide to your cruising friends - if you like what you see.

Several club members deserve to be thanked and recognized for their many thoughtful contributions ‒ see the list below. We also want to acknowledge the superb design and internet expertise of Kate Wilson Somers, who many Newport area members will know for her work on the Bermuda Race website.

CCA Maine Guide Contributors

Jane Babbitt (Lead Editor)

Bill Strassberg

Bill Wohlforth

Bob Rubadeau

Brad Willauer

Bruce MacNeil

Cabot Lyman

Charles Willauer

David Pratt

Ernie Godshalk

Frank Simon

Jack Griswold

Jessie Deupree

John Chandler

Maggie Salter

Mark Gabrielson

Max Fletcher

Nat Warren-White

Roger Block

Sandy Andrews

Scott Miller

Stafford Keegin

Tom Babbitt

William Barton

Zdenka Griswold

Recent News

• Live TV stream

After court ruling, Bar Harbor to accept 50% fewer cruise ship passengers this season

Bar Harbor officials say the number of cruise ship visitors allowed to come ashore will be cut in roughly half this year, now that a federal district court has ruled that the town can legally impose such limits.

Voters approved an ordinance two years ago that places a cap on the number of cruise ship passengers to 1,000 per day.

Ships that made reservations before that vote will be allowed to visit this summer, and there will be no restrictions on the number of passengers that can disembark from those vessels.

Cruise ships that made a reservation after the vote will be subject to the daily passenger limits, according to a statement from the Bar Harbor town council.

The first cruise ship is expected to arrive in Bar Harbor in early May.

Starting next year, nearly all cruise ships coming to Bar Harbor will be subject to the 1,000 per day passenger cap. Draft rules to implement the passenger ordinance are in the works.

• Court rules Bar Harbor has the right to limit cruise ship visitors

THE CRUISE SHIPS ARE COMING

By will grunewald, joel crabtree, and joyce kryszak.

Love ’em or hate ’em, floating resorts are bringing boatloads of day-trippers to your favorite Maine towns.

by WILL GRUNEWALD, JOEL CRABTREE, AND JOYCE KRYSZAK Illustration by MICHAEL BYERS

SEAFARING  fell out of vogue in the 1950s, when airliners supplanted ocean liners as the easiest way to get from point A to a distant point B. The Eastern Steamship Company, founded by Bath’s Charles Wyman Morse, had once connected a half-dozen Maine ports with destinations along the eastern seaboard, but it sold its last two ships to a Floridian entrepreneur who added air conditioning and swimming pools and ran them out of Miami as cruise ships. And for several decades, that was about the extent of Maine’s relationship to the nascent cruise industry.

In the ’80s, cruises ventured now and then to Bar Harbor, where locals generally regarded them as novel and harmless. Now, the ships kick up wave upon wave of civic discord, with communities up and down the Maine coast debating passenger caps and ship bans and pier construction. What changed? As cruise lines grew, they realized they could fill the gap between summer Alaskan cruising and winter Caribbean cruising with fall trips to New England. Visits became more frequent, and ships got bigger.

Are they an affront to the quiet Maine way, or are they the apotheosis of Vacationland? Are they hulking polluters damaging coastal ecosystems or conscientious partners bolstering local economies? A ship several football fields long can look quite different amid the commercial bustle of Casco Bay than against the tranquil backdrop of Frenchman Bay. A few thousand debarked passengers cut a more obvious presence on Rockland’s Main Street than in Portland’s Old Port. Whatever your vantage, it’s worth taking a stem-to-stern look at an industry bringing plenty of changes down the gangway.

Left in Their Wake

Over the past 20 years, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts have all persuaded the federal Environmental Protection Agency to designate their coastal waters as no-discharge zones. Inside those zones, ships can’t dump human waste, even if they’ve run it through an onboard treatment system, as treated waste still contains loads of nitrogen and other nutrients that can throw ecosystems out of whack, feeding algae blooms and choking out sea life. Maine hasn’t sought protected status for its shore because the rules would apply to all vessels, not just cruise ships, and the Maine coast hosts too many boats along too much coastline with too few waste-pumping stations to serve them all. In 2006, though, the state got its first of several localized no-discharge zones, in Casco Bay. The cruise industry lobbied against it, even though industry reps have said ships voluntarily refrain from discharging in Maine waters. Such opposition worries the Friends of Frenchman Bay. In the past 10 years, Bar Harbor cruise traffic in the bay has doubled, but the area isn’t on Maine’s no-discharge list. The Friends have started talking with state officials about the process of getting on it, and step one is studying whether the existing pump-out infrastructure can accommodate a total ban on dumping. If so, the EPA approval process could happen within a year, says Pam Parker, water enforcement manager for the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. Even then, however, Bar Harbor still operates on an old combined-sewer-overflow system, with rain and wastewater funneled through the same pipes. During storms, the system overloads, and rain and waste, including anything pumped out of boats, discharge into the bay, right where the Friends of Frenchman Bay don’t want it. — J.C.

Where CAN'T ships dump?

Casco Bay From Phippsburg to Cape Elizabeth

Boothbay Harbor From Linekin Neck to Southport Island

Kennebunk-Wells From the mouth of the Kennebunk River to Moody Beach

West Penobscot Bay From Camden to Owls Head

Southern Mount Desert From Bass Harbor to Baker Island to Otter Point

Maine Attraction?

Movable parties are plying the state’s waters.

When Carnival Cruise Line ’s Sunshine floated into Portland Harbor for one of its nine visits in 2016 and 2017, local photographer Colton Johnson sent up his drone to get a different view. From several hundred feet up, the upper decks look like the absentminded doodle of a surrealist turned draftsman. But those squiggles and patterns constitute a veritable boatload of games, rides, pools, and other amenities, plenty to keep travelers busy on their trip to Maine.

ILLUSTRATION BY COLTON JOHNSON.

OFF THE CHARTS

American Cruise Lines — Maine Coast and Harbors Cruise Portland to Bar Harbor to Castine to Belfast to Camden to Rockland to Boothbay Harbor to Bath to Portland

Blount Small Ship Adventures — Maine & New Brunswick Boston to Bath to Rockland to Eastport to St. Andrews to Grand Manan Island to Eastport to to Bar Harbor to Portland to Boston

Princess Cruises — Canada & New England London to Saint John to Sydney to Prince Edward Island to New York to Newport to Boston to Rockland to Saint John to Halifax to London

Holland America Line — Canada and NE Discovery Boston to Bar Harbor to Halifax to Sydney to Charlottetown to Baie-Comeau to Quebec City to Montreal

Royal Caribbean — Canada & New England Cruise Baltimore to Boston to Portland to Bar Harbor to Saint John to Halifax to Baltimore

* Bucksport, though it has no scheduled calls, sometimes receives cruise ships when weather necessitates a protected harbor. Last year, the town welcomed 18 ships.

Routes are approximate.

Lately, to judge by headlines, the tide may seem to be turning against cruise ships. Rockland’s city council set a cap of six visits per year from ships carrying more than 500 passengers. The Mount Desert Island communities of Tremont, Southwest Harbor, and Northeast Harbor banned cruise ships from dropping anchor. Bar Harbor residents recently voted against enlarging piers to accommodate big ships. Up and down the Maine coast, cruise opponents cite air and water pollution from ships, plus the overcrowding in small downtowns suddenly host to several hundred or several thousand extra guests.

But not every community is so wary of cruise traffic.

One recent morning, Tessa Chaffey Ftorek was sitting in her home in Eastport and squinting to spot whales through a picture window overlooking Passamaquoddy Bay. As a seventh-generation Eastporter, Chaffey Ftorek knows as well as anyone how those waters have shaped her city’s fortunes — trade, fishing, and canning all boomed and busted over the span of a couple of centuries. So for the past 15 years, the 67-year-old has teamed up with neighbors to pluck from the sea a different kind of catch: cruise passengers.

A study by CruiseMaine , a public-private coalition that promotes Maine ports and serves as a go-between for communities and cruise lines, found that passengers spend about $70 per shore visit in Maine (one might assume spending in Portland and Bar Harbor helps pump that number up). All in all, the study said, the state’s 400,000 cruise visitors spent $29 million here last year. And though many communities may feel like they already have plenty of tourism, thank you, Eastport and a handful of small port towns — including Bath, Bucksport, and Castine — are seeking a bigger piece of the cruise-business pie.

Eastport has the deepest natural harbor on the East Coast, a siren song for big ships. Above: The 12-foot, fiberglass fisherman statue was built as stage dressing for a short-lived reality TV show; galleries and shops have filled downtown storefronts; a lobster roll with a view at Quoddy Bay Lobster. Photographs by Gabe Souza.

Eastport, Chaffey Ftorek says, is particularly well equipped to lure ships. A former Registered Maine Guide, she teaches recreational tourism at Washington County Community College (and occasionally officiates local weddings and funerals). She also spends countless hours hyping Eastport’s cruise-ship potential to industry types at conferences and through social media and coordinating volunteers to greet ships when they arrive in town.

Eastport is the easternmost city in the U.S., with some 1,300 residents on a three-square-mile island tethered to the mainland via narrow causeway. But for a small town, Eastport has outsize waterfront infrastructure, in the form of a 65-foot-deep natural harbor and two big piers. Many similar-size destinations have shallower waters and shorter docks, limiting ships to a couple hundred passengers and often requiring those passengers to take tender boats ashore. Eastport can easily accommodate ships carrying more than 1,000 people.

Port Authority director Chris Gardner is charged with keeping everything running smoothly when a ship comes in, and he’s all for bringing more visits to Eastport, even though it makes his job busier. The 44-year-old former policeman doesn’t have a hi-tech operation — he scribbles on a whiteboard in his office to sort out where ships should tie up, how they can offload trash, and, if arriving from Canada, how they clear customs. “It’s not sexy,” he says, “but it’s what the cruise lines need, and we got that.”

E astport’s harbor has been a hub of activity for most of its history. Throughout the early 1800s, it was one of the busiest shipping centers in the country. At the turn of the 20th century, steamships offered daily passenger service to and from Boston. At the start of this century, the passenger-boat business was again trending up with about 10 cruise ships docking per year. Progress halted in late 2014, though, when the city’s 50-year-old breakwater pier collapsed. For three years, cruise ships had nowhere to dock, until the city finished construction on a new, $15 million breakwater. This year, Eastport had seven cruise visits scheduled, with ships carrying up to a couple hundred passengers who might spend anywhere from a morning on shore to the better part of a day.

“When I do a scenic bus tour, I tell them I was born here, and my ancestors were among the first settlers, and they go, ‘Wow!’ They want that genuine experience.”

Beyond good infrastructure, Chaffey Ftorek thinks the city has other draws that should help grow those numbers. Eastport has classic coastal New England charm, she says, plus a burgeoning cultural scene that, in her experience, appeals to cruisers. “They’re looking for art, for history, for the real Maine,” she says. “When I do a scenic bus tour with them, I tell them I was born here, and my ancestors were among the first settlers, and they go, ‘Wow!’ They want a genuine experience — to hear personal stories, go to Raye’s Mustard Mill , to meet a real lobster fisherman.”

When a cruise ship arrives in Eastport, Chaffey Ftorek is one of 30 blue-vested volunteers who welcome passengers ashore and help direct them to restaurants, shops, and galleries. The Tides Institute and Museum of Art has become a popular stop, with its seven buildings that house regional art and architectural-history collections as well as an international artist-in-residence program.

Still, cultural assets and a cruise-friendly vibe don’t mean the ships will automatically start showing up, CruiseMaine executive director Sarah Flink says. She spends a lot of time trying to put Maine towns on the industry’s radar, but there’s competition from ports throughout New England and Canada. One thing that can help a town pull in ships is a marquee sight that cruise lines can advertise to their prospective customers — Bar Harbor is the busiest cruise destination in Maine because it has Acadia National Park in its backyard.

Chaffey Ftorek thinks Eastport might have just such a sight too. Roosevelt Campobello International Park , on the wooded Canadian island where President Franklin Roosevelt spent summers, is only 2 miles from Eastport by water. It boasts cliff-hugging trails, historic sites, lighthouses, and an array of wildlife viewing, from seals to birds to whales.

The problem is there’s no regular ferry service between Eastport and Campobello and therefore no system in place for clearing customs when arriving by water. Gardner is working with Canadian counterparts toward a solution, but for now, the blue-vested volunteers have to drive visitors 40 miles by bus, around Cobscook Bay and over the bridge at Lubec, to reach Campobello. The drive to and fro can eat up a third of a visitor’s time ashore.

Eastport’s harbor has been a hub of activity for most of its history. Throughout the early 1800s, it was one of the busiest shipping centers in the country.

On a pinch-me-perfect day in Eastport this summer, scores of people strolled out on the pier and up along Water Street, where cars had to weave around cranes working on several multi-million-dollar renovations of once-derelict buildings. Eastport-born, 74-year-old Meg McGarvey and her business partners own two such rehab projects. One of them, the 1887 Mincton Building, now houses the Commons , an art gallery with two vacation condos on the second floor. Inside the gallery, crossing her sun-freckled arms, McGarvey proclaimed, “The cruise business is just perfect for us!”

She and her partners also own the Sea Street Pier building next door, with one of the cranes out front. Their vision is to turn the three-story, 30,000-square-foot former American Canning Company facility into another multi-use building, with shops, a boutique hotel, and four long-lease penthouse apartments. The key to the success of such projects, she said, is to continue growing Eastport as a travel destination.

Just up the street, photographer Greg Gordon was manning his Full Fathom Five gallery. He describes himself as a “willing prisoner of the sea.” A lifelong mariner, he first came to Eastport about 15 years ago, as a cruise captain on a small ship operated by the now-defunct Glacier Bay line. Gordon fell in love with the city’s people and its dramatic 30-foot tides. “It’s amazing,” he says. “The world changes in front of you every six hours.”

For Eastport, he said, change is good. And like Chaffey Ftorek, Gardner, McGarvey, and many others in town, he’s all for luring cruise business, although he cautions that he doesn’t want Eastport to change too much. “People want to see places like Eastport the way they are,” he said. “Lose that, and where are you going to take them?” — J.K.

Full Steam Ahead

Westerdam , with room for 1,773 passengers, became the largest cruise ship to have visited Portland. Local ferries ran free trips so that residents could ogle the ship up close. When it visited again two years later, the height of its smokestack blocked microwave transmissions from a tower on the mainland, cutting phone service to Casco Bay islands until the tide dropped.

Four cruise ships paid a call to Bar Harbor on the same day, temporarily doubling the town’s population . “I just want to hide out, harbormaster Eddie Monat told the Portland Press Herald . But he showed up for work anyway, delaying a surgery so he could ensure smooth operations that day.

Bar Harbor feted Queen Elizabeth II , a grande dame among cruise ships, on its 30th birthday . The town presented the captain with a commemorative plaque and served up 3,000 cupcakes. Later in the season, Portlanders greeted the ship with a jazz band and welcome cards from schoolchildren.

Tourism officials and aspiring and established cruise hubs teamed up to create CruiseMaine to promote the state to the industry. Many towns saw cruises as a way to increase visitors without increasing road traffic. “I can’t think of a better way to generate commerce without gumming up the works,” one chamber of commerce director told the Press Herald .

At a community forum in Bar Harbor, residents aired growing concerns about cruise tourism. Passengers don’t patronize businesses beyond those right around the harbor, some shopkeepers complained . Others grumbled that the line of tour buses at the town docks clogged the roads and impeded views. Several years later, the town set daily caps on cruise passengers.

After a decade of wrangling over zoning, eminent domain, and cost, Portland opened its new Ocean Gateway for the Cat , a high-speed ferry to Nova Scotia. Two years later, crews started building a long-discussed so-called megaberth, to allow the largest cruise ships in the world to pull right up to the terminal.

Several factors, including an uptick in cruise-ship construction, added berthing spaces in New York, and environmental regulations and cruise taxes in Alaska, spurred cruise lines to focus more trips in the Northeast . Bar Harbor got 118 scheduled visits, while Portland’s cruise traffic doubled from just two year earlier, to 71 scheduled visits.

Little Giants

In the 1950s, when the modern cruise industry was just getting underway, Cunard Line came up with a catchy promotional campaign: “Getting there is half the fun!” ads in Life and the Saturday Evening Post proclaimed. Nowadays, with passengers making only quick day excursions before returning to megaships decked out with casinos, waterparks, and concert venues, “getting there” might be more like 80 percent of the fun.

But there’s a niche within the cruise market that aims to rebalance the “getting there” and the “being there.” In Europe, river cruises to quaint rural villages caught on in the ’90s. In the early aughts, several cruise lines adopted a similar approach to touring the Maine coast. The relatively tiny ships carry a couple hundred passengers at most, and without all the splashy onboard entertainment, they aim for a more tranquil vibe.

Blount Small Ship Adventures runs trips that hit a few smaller Maine destinations, including Rockland and Eastport. American Cruise Lines frequents spots like Boothbay Harbor, Camden, and Belfast. The target audience is travelers who want to soak in local character, American Cruise Lines spokesperson Alexa Paolella says. She describes the company’s itineraries as “destination-based cruising.”

Every Monday in summer and fall, on its weeklong voyages up and down the coast, American’s Independence docks in Castine, where Johanna Barrett owns Compass Rose Books . “We tend to sell lots of maps, Maine cookbooks, histories of Castine, and Down East Maine guides on Monday mornings,” she says.

Of course, all that soaking in local character can eat into one’s shopping time. “A lot of these visitors are interested in learning the history of the place,” Castine Visitor Center director Alyssa Radcliff says, “rather than in buying a T-shirt.” — J.C.

THE HIGH SEAS

Anthem of the Seas  — more than 1,100 feet long and rising up more than 200 feet above the waterline — is among the world’s bigger cruise ships. It also has an observation pod on a movable arm that can reach 300 feet above sea level. When the ship first came to Portland, in 2016, city officials checked with the Federal Aviation Administration to make sure that wouldn’t pose problems for air traffic at the Portland Jetport. Locals can size up the ship for themselves this month. It pulls into Portland on the 13th and 27th and Bar Harbor on the 14th and 28th. In the meantime, we thought we’d see how it stacks up against some other notably tall Maine stuff. — W.G.

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Introducing the Shoreside Rooms in Maine and an e-pedal fishing boat

Travel news you can use..

SHORESIDE ROOMS MAKE SPLASHY DEBUT

Taking a luxurious seaside getaway just got more tempting with the debut of eight Shoreside Rooms at The Viewpoint in York, Maine. Cut into the coastline, the rooms’ floor-to-ceiling glass doors look directly out to the Atlantic and the iconic Nubble Lighthouse. A mid-century modern aesthetic informs the décor, with king beds, warm natural textures, private patios, and lavish Kohler spa showers. Sitting atop a cliff, the two-acre property’s additional accommodations include Grand Boutique Suites (one- to two-bedroom flats with separate living rooms and mini kitchens) and Petit Boutique Suites (one-bedroom studios). All guests can enjoy amenities — some seasonal — such as a heated saltwater pool with ocean view; beach club service with private shuttle to nearby Long Sands Beach; free bicycle use; Peloton and Hydro-Rower fitness center; and more.

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Looking ahead to June: Just around the corner from The Viewpoint on Long Sands Beach, the property is gearing up to debut The Nevada, a 21-room beachside motel. The restored design maintains the original property’s distinctive U-shape (built by a World War II veteran to resemble The USS Nevada battleship) and its 1950s art deco aesthetic while adding modern details, including luxe suites with private terraces and 180-degree views of the ocean. The Nevada will also house a surf school and restaurant, Lulu’s Tiki & Tacos. Shoreside Room April rates from $430. Nevada opening rates in June from $279. 207-361-3261, www.viewpointhotel.com .

TWO HOTELS BLOOM IN OREGON WINE COUNTRY

May is Oregon Wine Month, and those heading to sample the state’s regional wineries and tasting rooms now have two new accommodations to consider that cater to wine-loving travelers. Both establishments provide a restful oasis when touring Willamette Valley, an area that boasts more than 700 wineries as well as scenic opportunities for hiking, biking, kayaking, and more ( www.willamettevalley.org ). The Setting Inn, a fully renovated contemporary inn located in Newberg, offers modern luxury in a rural valley landscape. The eight-room inn features indoor and outdoor fireplaces, stunning views overlooking the valley and vineyards, and thoughtfully designed tasting room for sampling the brand’s own wines. Each room is outfitted with king bed, luxe linens, plush robes, and the usual expected amenities such as flat-screen TVs and Nespresso coffee makers. Stays include daily Europe-meets-Oregon rustic continental breakfast, and use of fitness center, bocce court, and yard games such as badminton, croquet, cornhole, and more. May rates from $349. 503-554-9528, www.thesettinginn.com .

The Tributary Hotel, a Relais & Chateaux property, debuts in a meticulously restored 100-year-old building in historic downtown McMinnville, a tree-lined street dotted with boutique shops, coffeehouses, antique stores, craft breweries, and more. Offering only eight suites — with fireplaces in each room — the spacious accommodations include king beds, sizable bathrooms, and luxury amenities including Le Labo bath products and custom-made soaps and salts. The property also houses ōkta, the restaurant helmed by 2024 James Beard Award Semifinalist Matthew Lighter, and all hotel bookings guarantee a coveted reservation at the restaurant. In addition, all guests receive a complimentary multi-course breakfast from the award-winning restaurant delivered to their suites. May rates from $600. 503-376-5200. www.tributaryhotel.com

EVERYWHERE:

E-PEDAL FISHING CRAFT LAUNCHES

Move over e-bikes! Just in time for the warm weather fishing season, electric pedal technology takes to the water with the launch of Old Town Watercraft’s BigWater ePDL+ 132, a kayak fishing craft with seamlessly integrated battery-powered pedal drive. With this new technology, anglers can more easily explore the outlying nooks of local waterways, allowing more time for their favorite activity. (Fishing!) The drive system provides up to five levels of power assistance. To break from pedaling, users can engage cruise control, take their feet off the pedals, and let the motor take over. Full control of propulsion power settings is just a button push away using the intuitive keys and polarized sunglass-friendly display. Additionally, enhanced upgrades include a wider stern tank well, larger cup holders, and improved offset shallow water anchor mount. A compact 36-volt lithium-ion battery is included with the watercraft, as is a two-year warranty. $5,999. https://oldtownwatercraft.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/epdl

Necee Regis can be reached at [email protected] .

Direct Display Publishing Co., Inc.

Makers of REAL – the digital marketing tool designed to deliver essential customer information, in an instant, directly to any mobile device.

Introducing REAL ! DDP’s new, one-of-a-kind digital platform designed to deliver guest information to your customers within moments of walking through the door.

Fully customizable, REAL allows you to digitally present your business and deliver essential and promotional information in an instant, using a visually compelling and interactive format, directly to your customer’s mobile device.

REAL ’s flexible format offers the perfect solution to in-room directories and paper sales tools by offering REAL customization and quick update capability to add vibrance to your business presence and eliminate stale information.

REAL has helped our customers elevate their visibility in the market, attract new business, and enhance their customer’s experience.

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DIGITAL HOTEL DIRECTORIES

The in-room guest directory is custom-designed for hotels, motels, inns, and bed and breakfasts. This publication not only provides guests with instructions and amenities, but also features area specific information such as: points of interests, businesses, historical facts, restaurants and other services.

Our first and certainly our most successful niche publications is RideMaine . Delivered throughout New England to promote motorcycle riding in Maine, this publication is full of biker friendly hotels, restaurants and dealerships. RideMaine also features the best rides and places to see in a region by region format. Using the fully digital REAL platform, RideMaine is functional at your fingertips on any smart device and more convenient than ever.

CruiseMaine

CruiseMaine , our second triumph, is the ‘Go-To’ publication in Maine for antique auto collectors and fans. Filled with stories, pictures and most importantly EVENTS!

Classic car lovers, hot-rod collectors and everyday car enthusiasts hold on to CruiseMaine as their road map for ideas and things to do each season. Download or grab a copy and see for yourself why CruiseMaine continues to dominate the state with car information.  Now available in both print and digital editions.

RideArizona

Arizona offers some of the most diverse riding opportunities in the United States, and RideArizona magazine is proud to be one of the most comprehensive publications touting the terrain!  Delivered statewide by bikers to more than 400 locations, RideAZ magazine is readily available to lead you and your riding community through the best rides in Arizona. 

Regional formatting makes it easy to find information relevant to location. From the Grand Canyon in the north to the unique and charming border towns in the south, take RideAZ along for the ride and explore everything in between to make the most of your riding time in Arizona.

Off-Road AZ

America’s fastest growing outdoor motorsport is Side-By-Side adventuring. ATV’s, UTV’s, four-wheelers and many other custom off-road vehicles make up this popular craze, and Off-Road Arizona (ORA) is the state’s first publication dedicated to the sport.  Organized by region, ORA offers local information and advertises products and services of dealerships, hotels, restaurants, and rental locations. ORA is unique to the industry and sure to be on the dash as riders take to the trails throughout the great state of Arizona.

Founded in 1996, Direct Display Publishing Co., Inc. (DDP) has served the hospitality and tourism industry with guest information directories for businesses throughout New England and beyond.

In addition to guest directories, DDP has created multiple niche products to serve upscale markets of motorcycle touring, classic car enthusiasts, off-road adventuring and more.

Responsive to shifting dynamics in marketing, DDP has developed the newest method of customer communication using our one-of-a-kind digital platform – REAL . Fully customized for each customer, our REAL information in REAL time delivery is unique to the industry.

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Hotels  •   Resorts  •   Restaurants • Outdoor Adventure • Campgrounds • Retail Sales • Digital Flipbooks

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P.O. Box 3 Topsham, ME 04086

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ANNUAL REPORT

The year of the industry’s gradual restart.

As 2021 began, CruiseMaine’s Cruise Restart Task Force accelerated its work of preparing for the potential return of ships and passengers. When Canada’s Minister of Transport announced an extension of the Canadian No Sail Order for the rest of year, it became clear that Maine would see no foreign-flag cruise visitation for a second season. Foreign-flag vessels account for approximately 97% of cruise passengers visiting the state, so the economic losses were felt acutely by many Maine-based businesses. Fortunately, Maine also gets cruise visitation from U.S.-flag ships, so the Task Force quickly refocused its efforts on working with our longtime domestic cruise partner, American Cruise Lines.

American Cruise Lines A Closer Look

For over 20 years, American Cruise Lines ships have been a familiar site along the coast of Maine throughout the summer and early fall, but 2021 was a year when many Maine communities learned the significance of those vessels being U.S.-flagged.

    What does it mean to be a U.S.-flag cruise ship? According to the 1886 Passenger Vessel Services Act, it means “a vessel that is built in, documented under the laws of, and owned by citizens of the United States”. Meeting these three requirements allows a vessel to transport passengers between U.S. ports without any requirement to call on a foreign port.

American Cruise Lines operates its small, domestic ships in 16 states across the east coast, the Pacific Northwest, and the Mississippi River region. Current offerings that include Maine are a Greater New England itinerary on the American Constitution that called on 4 Maine ports in 2021 and an all-Maine itinerary on the Independence that visited 8 ports from Portland to Bar Harbor.

The Work of CruiseMaine’s Cruise Restart Task Force

In a normal year, cruise operations involve the collaboration of multiple state and federal agencies, municipal and private port operators, maritime service providers, and many shoreside vendors, tours operators, attractions, shops and restaurants. But for an industry that had been shut down for the better part of a year, that collaboration became more important than ever.

CruiseMaine engaged the services of a cruise safety consultant, Ioannis Bras, to help develop a robust plan that included:

Shoreside contingency plans for each port

Safety protocols &  a communications plan

Covid Response Action Plan for any potential or confirmed cases of COVID-19

The end result was a plan that prioritized the safety of passengers, crew and the public, both onboard and ashore. Following careful review and input from the Maine CDC, Governor Mills approved the restart of small, domestic cruising in Maine, and the Independence began its season on May 23rd, with an all-Maine itinerary calling on eight ports from Portland to Bar Harbor, and American Constitution began its season on June 14th, calling on four Maine ports as part of its Greater New England itinerary.

2021 BY THE NUMBERS

Based on research by Business Research and Economic Advisors

We had put all our employees on unemployment as soon as the shutdown happened, and then within two weeks, had them all back. Part of that is we were classified as a food business, so we fell under essential. I’m not sure how essential gourmet popcorn is, but we were grateful we were able to bring our employees back, and we just used the whole store for packing online orders. We had no choice. If we were going to make it, we needed to do something. 

Q: I see why you and your husband have succeeded with Coastal Maine Popcorn. You are resourceful and able to adapt, and that helped you make it through 2020 and will help you make it through whatever challenges come next.  Let’s turn to the role of cruise passengers in Boothbay Harbor? What do they add for the town and more specifically, for your business? 

I’ve always loved seeing the cruise passengers come into town. I remember back in 2019, I was volunteering for our local Chamber of Commerce, and we were down there at the dock, handing out shopping guides and maps. They’d get off those little tender boats and just be really happy to be here. Seeing them come back in 2021 was such a happy day, because I know a lot of those people are seeing Boothbay Harbor for the first time. And you know, they get see the coast of Maine in a way that many of us never do and they are truly in awe of what we have here. 

In my shop, cruise passengers are so fun to talk to because they are from all over. You can easily spot them because they have their name badges around their neck, so I always ask where they are from. They love the towns in Maine, and they’re truly happy to be here. And we’ve learned how to serve them. Sometimes they don’t feel like they have enough space to bring our popcorn home with them so we hand out coupon cards that they can use to order it when they get home. 

Do you have any favorite stories of meeting a cruise passenger from the 2021 season? 

My favorite part of the job is to be an ambassador for our town. Sometimes I hand off scooping up the popcorn to one of our staff just so I can go talk to people.

One couple I remember seeing, just strolling down the street together with a couple of shopping bags. They were in awe of the quaintness of Boothbay Harbor, and just the chance to see a small fishing village that was also equipped to handle tourists. Speaking to those two was kind of like a hallmark movie: they asked, where do we go get coffee and a good pastry. I just remember how much they loved it, that whole Maine experience. 

We’ve also had people come into the shop and tell us they first came on a cruise ship, and they loved it so much that they went home, got family and friends together and planned to come back for a full vacation. I just love hearing that.

What do you hope for the future of Boothbay Harbor? 

I hope that we can maintain the balance we have between being a fishing village and a tourism town. I think that’s what is really special about this place, that is has both. 

There is also exciting talk about planning for a new post-secondary school that would deal heavily with the trades. We have so many wonderful resources here on this little peninsula: Bigelow Labs, Boothbay Botanical Gardens, several renowned boat builders. There are so many opportunities for kids who grow up around here, who might not want to go to a 4-year university, and we can equip them to go into a trade so they can stay. People who live on the Boothbay peninsula are kind of a different breed. They really like it here, they want to stay here. And the industries are here, so why not give those kids the tools to stay? I think it’s really the combination of all our industries that allows us to keep living down on this peninsula that we all love so much.

Ok, one last question: Do you have a favorite popcorn flavor right now?

Oh, I always have such a hard time with this question. It’s like choosing which is your favorite child. Let’s see…a couple that I am really loving right now are the Maine Blueberry Pancake and Loaded Baked Potato. But ask me again next week. It’s always changing. 

Business Profile  Coastal Maine Popcorn

But just like we’d done several times before with this business, we were able to put our blinker on and go in a different direction. 

The biggest thing is that we were able to push the majority of our business online. Our foot traffic was down 35% for the year but we had record-breaking online sales in 2020. That really saved us.

And then for the store, we put everything in the front window so customers could see everything from the street and tell us what they wanted. 

I also called up Sysco and asked them how much toilet paper I could get, and we put together what we called Maine’s Best Quarantine Kit. It had 2 rolls of toilet paper, 2 hand sewn cloth masks, some alcohol wipes, and 2 chocolate chip cookies from a local bakery. We sold so many of those, it was really a surprise. 

I see why you and your husband have succeeded with Coastal Maine Popcorn. You are resourceful and able to adapt, and that helped you make it through 2020 and will help you make it through whatever challenges come next.  Let’s turn to the role of cruise passengers in Boothbay Harbor? What do they add for the town and more specifically, for your business? 

In my shop, cruise passengers are so fun to talk to because they are from all over. You can easily spot them because they have their name badges around their neck, so I always ask where they are from. They love the towns in Maine, and they’re truly happy to be here. And we’ve learned how to serve them. Sometimes they don’t feel like they have enough space to bring our popcorn home with them so we hand out coupon cards that they can use to order it when they get home.  

Do you have any favorite stories of meeting a cruise passenger from the 2021 season?

One couple I remember seeing, just strolling down the street together with a couple of shopping bags. They were in awe of the quaintness of Boothbay Harbor, and just the chance to see a small fishing village that was also equipped to handle tourists. Speaking to those two was kind of like a hallmark movie: they asked, where do we go get coffee and a good pastry. I just remember how much they loved it, that whole Maine experience.

I hope that we can maintain the balance we have between being a fishing village and a tourism town. I think that’s what is really special about this place, that is has both.

There is also exciting talk about planning for a new post-secondary school that would deal heavily with the trades. We have so many wonderful resources here on this little peninsula: Bigelow Labs, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, several renowned boat builders. There are so many opportunities for kids who grow up around here, who might not want to go to a 4-year university, and we can equip them to go into a trade so they can stay. People who live on the Boothbay peninsula are kind of a different breed. They really like it here, they want to stay here. And the industries are here, so why not give those kids the tools to stay? I think it’s really the combination of all our industries that allows us to keep living down on this peninsula that we all love so much.

Oh, I always have such a hard time with this question. It’s like choosing which is your favorite child. Let’s see…a couple that I am really loving right now are the Maine Blueberry Pancake and Loaded Baked Potato. But ask me again next week. It’s always changing.

Interview with Julie Roberts, who owns Coastal Maine Popcorn with her husband Paul

How long have you lived in Boothbay Harbor? Tell us about the origin story for Coastal Maine Popcorn and what it has become now. 

I’ve lived in Boothbay Harbor my whole life, and my husband Paul and I started Coastal Maine Popcorn 14 years ago. We now manufacture and sell 40 flavors of gourmet popcorn and have 6 year round and an additional 10 seasonal employees. 

Congratulations! 14 years is an impressive feat for any small business, and then you add to it two plus years of a global pandemic, it’s even more impressive. Tell us about the experience of the running your business in 2020, when the pandemic was declared, and Maine ordered a shutdown of all non-essential businesses.  

It was a very scary time. I remember that the yearly trade show we always attend was canceled in early March, just a few days before we were set to leave for it. That’s when we knew it was really going to hit us too. So we all left work. We closed the shop and went down to the brewery next to us to have a drink. We were asking, ‘What is happening? What are we going to do?’ It was a super scary time. 

Maine.PortCall.com Rollout

Beginning with the 2021 season, Maine’s entire, real-time cruise schedule became available to the public at Maine.PortCall.com. In addition to providing the most up-to-date schedule to everyone on a centralized website, the back end of the platform streamlines the booking process for port staff.  

Cruise Canada New England Symposium

Portland was originally scheduled to host the annual CCNE Symposium in May of 2020. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the CCNE Alliance made the decision to postpone the Symposium until June 2022.

In late 2021, CruiseMaine began working closely again with the Cruise Portland Consortium with cautious optimism that the event will take place in 2022.

Bar Harbor Cruise Ship Committee work

As Executive Director of CruiseMaine, Sarah Flink continues to serve as a non-voting member of Bar Harbor’s Cruise Ship Committee. A significant amount of the committee’s work in 2021 was dedicated to advising the town council on ways to implement the results of a community survey conducted in the spring.

While discussions are ongoing, town officials continue to pursue a negotiating strategy with industry trade group Cruise Lines International Association.

 Learning from Other Ports: Juneau, Alaska

In August of 2021, Sarah Flink and Hannah Collins held very productive meetings with city officials and with the Tourism Best Management Practices group and in Juneau, AK. The work of both the city and the TBMP group can serve as models for ways to continue to improve cruise operations and destination management in Maine. CruiseMaine returned with a goal of sharing the successes of Juneau’s work and finding ways to adapt some of their methods to Maine’s ports.

TBMP: With a mission to BE BETTER, this 26-year-old program has put together a constantly evolving set of operational guidelines gleaned from community surveys, a tourism hotline, public meetings and city officials input. Each year, members recommit to this voluntary program that seeks continuous improvement in the operations of all tourism-related business operations. The transparency of the tourism hotline has provided a mechanism to ensure effectiveness and to bolster public confidence through a non-regulatory approach to responsible tourism management.

The City of Juneau: a 2019 Visitor Industry Task Force resulted in the city creating a new position for a Tourism Manager. This new role is charged with implementing the many recommendations that came out of the task force’s work.

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• Total Solar Eclipse 2024 Overview: Total Solar Eclipse 2024
• Where to See the Total Solar Eclipse Across the U.S.
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• Where to See the Total Solar Eclipse in Oklahoma
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• How to See the Total Solar Eclipse on a Cruise
• The Most Popular Total Solar Eclipse–viewing Cities
• How to See the Total Solar Eclipse From a Plane
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• When to Use Solar Eclipse Glasses — and the Best Pairs to Buy
• See April's Solar Eclipse From the Sky on This Special Delta Flight
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• Delta Adds a Second Flight to See April's Solar Eclipse From the Sky
• This Hotel in Maine Is in the 2024 Solar Eclipse Path of Totality — and Still Has Rooms Available
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• This Hotel Brand Will Pay 2 Photographers $5,000 to Capture the 2024 Solar Eclipse From a Helicopter
• The Most Affordable Destinations to See the 2024 Solar Eclipse, According to Kayak
• FAA Prepares for Busy Airports and Skies Ahead of 2024 Solar Eclipse
• Total Solar Eclipse 2024 Where to See the Total Solar Eclipse Across the U.S. Where to Camp for the Total Solar Eclipse Where to See the Total Solar Eclipse in Oklahoma Where to See the Total Solar Eclipse in Texas How to See the Total Solar Eclipse on a Cruise The Most Popular Total Solar Eclipse–viewing Cities How to See the Total Solar Eclipse From a Plane How to View the Total Solar Eclipse With NASA in Niagra Falls When to Use Solar Eclipse Glasses — and the Best Pairs to Buy See April's Solar Eclipse From the Sky on This Special Delta Flight These Destinations Are the Most Popular for Solar Eclipse Viewing, According to Alaska Airlines Delta Adds a Second Flight to See April's Solar Eclipse From the Sky This Hotel in Maine Is in the 2024 Solar Eclipse Path of Totality — and Still Has Rooms Available This City in New York Is in the Solar Eclipse Path of Totality — Here's How to Plan Your Trip This Hotel Brand Will Pay 2 Photographers $5,000 to Capture the 2024 Solar Eclipse From a Helicopter The Most Affordable Destinations to See the 2024 Solar Eclipse, According to Kayak FAA Prepares for Busy Airports and Skies Ahead of 2024 Solar Eclipse CLOSE Part of Total Solar Eclipse 2024

FAA Prepares for Busy Airports and Skies Ahead of 2024 Solar Eclipse — What Travelers Can Expect

The eclipse also comes ahead of what the FAA predicts will be the busiest week of the season thanks to the spring break holiday.

Grant Faint/Getty Images

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is warning travelers to pack their patience and prepare for potential delays and airport snags if they’re flying during the total solar eclipse next month.

The FAA said travelers who are located along the path of totality should expect limited airport parking and potential flight delays “due to the high volume of aircraft and drones attempting to witness the total solar eclipse.” The eclipse, which has been dubbed the Great American Eclipse, is expected to cross the country from Texas all the way to Maine on April 8.

The eclipse comes ahead of what the FAA predicts will be the busiest week of the season thanks to the spring break holiday. The administration said Thursday, April 4, will be the most crowded day in the sky with a total of 50,670 flights expected to take off. That will be followed by a total of 48,904 flights taking off on Friday, April 5.

“Whether you are headed to the sun or headed to the solar eclipse, the FAA is working to make sure you get to your destinations safely,” the administration said in a statement.

On the day of the eclipse itself, a total of 47,137 flights are predicted to take to the skies, according to the FAA. That includes several solar eclipse sightseeing flights that will take travelers above the clouds to see the rare phenomenon, including from Delta Air Lines , Southwest Airlines , and semi-private jet company JSX .

Like any other flight, travelers hoping to see the total solar eclipse from the sky must go through Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening at the airport and should pack accordingly . The FAA also reminded passengers they cannot pack e-cigarettes, vaping devices, or spare lithium batteries in checked luggage.

Beyond flights, there are plenty of ways to see the total solar eclipse from the ground as well from campgrounds to hotels, and even some ski slopes .

Total Solar Eclipse 2024