Guide to Lighthouse Boat Tours
and Ferries
in Connecticut
Sheffield Island Lighthouse
(Heading Eastward)
Below is a list of boat tours and cruises that offer specific lighthouse cruises in addition to other cruises from Greenwich eastward to Groton, Connecticut, here in New England. You may find while some may offer specific lighthouse cruises, some will pass by specific lighthouses as part of charters, narrated wildlife and historic tours, ferrying passengers, fishing tours and other types of excursions. For additional convenience, you'll also find ferry info that provides access to some of the islands you will find lighthouses stationed. Enjoy!
Greenwich Parks Ferry
Provides ferry from Greenwich to the lighthouse and the surrounding grounds from the ferry dock. Call ahead to find where to purchase tickets.
Greenwich, CT
(203) 618-7672
Email: gnpnr@greenwichct.org
Lighthouse: Great Captain Island Light
Norwalk Seaport Association
Provides ferry access to and from Sheffield Island from Norwalk, hosts events, and tours of Sheffield Island Lighthouse. Also provides special Norwalk Harbor cruises to view Pecks Ledge Light and Greens Ledge Light, and view Sheffield Idsland Light from the boat during the summer.
4 North Water St
Norwalk, CT 06854
(203) 838-9444
Maritime Aquarium
In addition to marine life study, seals, birding, and TGIF cruises, they offer a 3-hour Greens Ledge Lighthouse Tour, aboard their research vessel the Spirit of the Sound. It is the first vessel in the nation with quiet hybrid-electric propulsion. To celebrate National Lighthouse Day in early August, they have a 2.5 hour cruise around the Norwalk Islands to view the three lighthouses in the region.
10 North Water Street
Norwalk, CT 06854
Phone: (203) 852-0700
Lighthouses: Pecks Ledge Light, Greens Ledge Light and Sheffield Island Light
Charter My Sea Ray
For those who are looking for a private personal charter experience along Long Island Sound. As part of their Lighthouses Tour, they provide a close up view of Greens Ledge Light, Pecks Ledge Light, and Sheffield Island Light.
144 Water St.
Norwalk, CT 06854
Email: chartermysearay@yahoo.com
Phone: (203) 943-6946
Bridgeport - Port Jefferson Ferry
Although it does not provide access to Tongue Point Light, visitors can get fairly close photographs of this lighthouse.
330 Water Street Dock
Bridgeport, CT 06604
(631) 473-5138
(888) 44 – FERRY
Lighthouse: Tongue Point Light
Connecticut River Museum
In addition to exploring the museum, they provide lots of wildlife and eco tours on the RiverQuest, a 64-foot eco-tour boat. There are unique public day sails on a special replica of an Adriaen Block sailing vessel of 1614, the Onrust. They also offer a peaceful lighthouse cruise out of the mouth of the Connecticut River
67 Main Street Essex, CT 06426
Phone: (860) 767-8269
Email: crm@ctrivermuseum.org
Lighthouses: Lynde Point, Old Saybrook Breakwater
Faulkner’s Light Brigade
In the early fall, there is an annual open house with a shuttle provided for the public to explore the grounds and lighthouse.
47 Driveway
Guilford, CT 06437
(203) 453-8400
Lighthouse: Faulkner Island Light
Argia Mystic Cruises
Offers day sails at 9:30 a.m., Noon, and 3:00 p.m. and sunset cruises aboard the 81-foot sailing schooner Argia, out of Mystic Connecticut.
Schooner Wharf
12 Steamboat Wharf
Mystic, CT 06355
Phone: (860) 536-0416
Lighthouses: Morgan Point, Mystic Seaport’s replica of Brant Point, North Dumpling (NY), Latimer Reef (NY),
Mystic Seaport
There is a river cruise aboard an old coal fired steamboat from the Mystic Seaport waterfront that also gets a very close view of New London Ledge lighthouse.
Lighthouse: New London Ledge Lighthouse
New London Maritime Society
Provides boat tours out to New London Ledge Lighthouse, and provides special lighthouse tours for small groups to climb the tower of New London Harbor Lighthouse. In August, they also provide two trips out to Race Rock Lighthouse in New York.
150 Bank St # L
New London, CT 06320
Email: nlmaritimesociety.org
Phone: (860) 447-2501
Lighthouses: New London Ledge Lighthouse, New London Harbor Lighthouse, and Race Rock Lighthouse (NY)
Block Island Express and Cross Sound Cruises
Leaving out of New London, CT, and Orient Point, NY. From these two locations, they provide a fast ferry to Block Island, and have three lighthouse cruises with Cross Sound Cruises. They include the Classic Lighthouse Cruise, the Lights and Sights Cruise, and the Long Island Lights Cruise. They also promote special bicycle tours around Block Island.
Phone: (860) 444-4624 or (401) 466-2212 (Block Island)
Phone: (860) 444-4620 (Lighthouse Cruises)
Lighthouses: Watch Hill (RI), Avery Point (CT), New London Ledge (CT), New London Harbor (CT), Morgan Point (CT), Race Rock (NY), Little Gull (NY), North Dumpling (NY), Bug (NY), Orient Point (NY), Latimer Reef (NY) and Plum Island (NY)
Books to Explore
My 300-page book, Lighthouses and Coastal Attractions of Southern New England: Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, provides special human interest stories from each of the 92 lighthouses in southern New England, along with plenty of indoor and outdoor coastal attractions you can explore, and of course, lighthouse tours. Look inside! |
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To order a signed paperback copy: Available from bookstores in paperback, hardcover, and as an eBook for all devices.
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The Rise and Demise of the Largest Sailing Ships: Stories of the Six and Seven-Masted Coal Schooners of New England In the early 1900s, New England shipbuilders constructed the world’s largest sailing ships amid social and political reforms. These giants of sail were the ten original six-masted coal schooners and one colossal seven-masted vessel, built to carry massive quantities of coal and building supplies, and measured longer than a football field! This book, balanced with plenty of color and vintage images, showcases the historical accounts that followed these mighty ships. These true stories include competitions, accidents, battling destructive storms, acts of heroism, and their final voyages. |
