Guide to Lighthouse Boat Tours
and Ferries
in Massachusetts
(Heading eastward from Buzzards' Bay, around Cape Cod, within Boston Harbor, and then up the North Shore)
Boston Harbor Lighthouse
Below is a list of boat tours and cruises that offer specific lighthouse cruises around Buzzard's Bay, Cape Cod, Boston Harbor, and along the north shoreline of Massachusetts, 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, whale watching, 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. Contact info is provided to help you plan your special trips to New England’s shorelines. Enjoy!
Buzzard's Bay |
Cape Cod |
Ferries to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket |
|---|---|---|
Boston Harbor |
North Shore |
Directions to Boston's Waterfront |
Boat Tour in Buzzard's Bay Area
Palmer's Island Lighthouse
Whaling City Expeditions
Offers narrated cruises around New Bedford Harbor, and provides a a narrated sunset cruise that passes closely by Palmer's Island Light.
120 Front Street
New Bedford, MA 02741
(508) 98-4979
Lighthouse: Palmer’s Island
Boat Tours for
Lighthouses on
Cape Cod
Long Point Lighthouse
Liberté, The Schooner
Three-masted sailing schooner departs 3 times a day from Falmouth Harbor, sailing around Woods Hole and Vineyard Haven.
227 Clinton Avenue
Falmouth , MA 02540
Phone: (508) 524-9121
Fax: (508) 548-1569
E-mail: Theliberte@aol.com
Lighthouses: Nobska Lighthouse, East Chop Lighthouse, West Chop Lighthouse
Monomoy Island Excursions
They provide wildlife refuge tours that pass by the Monomoy Point Lighthouse. Wildlife and lighthouse tours around Chatham Lighthouse and Stage Harbor Lighthouse are also offered. You can also schedule a ferry service to to Nantucket Island.
702 Main Street
Route 28
Harwich Port, Massachusetts 02646
(508) 430-7772
Email: monomoy2@verizon.net
Lighthouses: Monomoy Point Lighthouse, Chatham Lighthouse, Stage Harbor Light
Monomoy Island Ferry
In addition to offering fishing and wildlife tours, their Harbor Seal Cruise allows you to visit the Monomoy Point Lighthouse (minimum 6 people).
(508) 945-5450
KeithLincoln@comcast.net
Lighthouse: Monomoy Point Lighthouse
Beachcomber Boat Tours
Seal watching excursions that pass near Chatham light.
P.O. Box 42
North Chatham, MA 02650
(508) 945-5265
E-mail: sealtours@aol.com
Lighthouse: Chatham Lighthouse
Flyer's Boat Yard
Rents kayaks and also provides hourly shuttle service to and from Long Point. Where you can get off and explore the sandy area and tall grasses around Long Point Lighthouse. The alternative is to take a 3-mile hike to the lighthouse from town over 1 mile of breakwater, and two miles of soft sand during low tide, where you can also explore Wood End light at the end of the breakwater. Most visitors use the shuttle, the walk is strenuous (yep, I can vouch for that). They also offer a sunset cruise to also view the lighthouse.
131A Commercial Street
Box 561
Provincetown, Mass. 02657
Phone: (508) 487-0518
Lighthouse: Long Point Lighthouse
Schooner Bay Lady II
Sailing excursions from Provincetown Harbor to Cape Cod Bay may pass by the lighthouses.
20 Berry Lane
Provincetown, Mass. 02657
(508) 487-9308
info@sailcapecod.com
Lighthouses: Long Point Lighthouse, Wood End Lighthouse
Massachusetts Island Ferries
These ferries will take you to the islands where you can hike, bike, or drive to some stationed lighthouses. Many will provide access to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Island as vacation destinations. On this popular island you can take your car on the ferry, which is quite expensive, or bike, rent a scooter, or take a taxi to various lighthouse on each island. Some ferries will also pass by lighthouses to get some fairly close views out of busy harbors.
Brant Point Light
Seastreak
Ferry from New Bedford to Martha’s Vineyard
49 State Pier
New Bedford, MA 02740
(866) 683 3779
Passes By These Lighthouses: Palmer Island Lighthouse, Butler Flats Lighthouse, Clark’s Point Lighthouse
Hy-Line Cruises
Ferry service from Hyannis on the Cape to Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard; also provides a ferry service from Nantucket Island to Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard.
220 Ocean Street Dock
Hyannis, Massachusetts 02601
Information: (508) 778-2600
Oak Bluffs (508) 693-0112
Hyannis-Nantucket ferry (508) 778-2602
Island Queen
Ferry from Falmouth, Mass. to Martha's Vineyard
297 Dillingham Avenue,
Falmouth, MA 02540.
Phone (508) 548-4800.
Steamship Authority
Ferries to both Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard islands.
Vehicle Reservations Call: (508) 477-8600
Office Hours or (508) 693-9130
Fast Ferry Reservations: (508) 495-FAST (3278)
Woods Hole: (508) 548-3788
Vineyard Haven: (508) 693-0367
Oak Bluffs: (508) 693-0125
Hyannis: (508) 771-4000
Nantucket: (508) 228-0262
Rhode Island to Martha's Vineyard Fast Ferry
Ferry from Quonset Point, Rhode Island to Oak Bluffs Marina on a high-speed catamaran.
North Kingstown, RI 02852
Phone: 401-295-4040
Fax: 401-295-4930
info@vineyardfastferry.com
Freedom Cruise Line
Ferry from Harwich Port Mass. to Nantucket
702 Main Street - Route 28
Harwich Port, Massachusetts 02646
(508) 432-8999
Bay State Cruises
Ferries from Boston to Provincetown
200 Seaport Blvd.
Suite 75
Boston, Mass. 02210
(877) 783-3779
Trustees of Reservations:
Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge / Wasque Reservation
Jeep tours of Cape Poge Lighthouse and wildlife refuge area. Kayak tours available to get views from the water.
Dike Road,
Chappaquiddick Island,
Martha's Vineyard, MA
508-627-3599
Lighthouse: Cape Poge Lighthouse
Chappaquiddick Ferry
Operates between Edgartown Memorial Wharf and Chappaquiddick Island daily, year-round. (508) 627-9427
Lighthouse on Martha's Vineyard: Cape Poge Lighthouse
Boat Tours for Lighthouses
Around Plymouth
and Boston Harbor
These vessels will take you around Boston Harbor and sometimes offer tours that allow you to explore some of the islands. Some also offer scenic harbor and nature cruises, deep sea fishing and whale watching, special dinner and sunset cruises, along with special lighthouse cruises.
Graves Lighthouse
Plymouth Harbor Cruises
Special harbor, event, and dinner cruises offered around Plymouth Harbor aboard the Pilgrim Belle, a Mississippi-style paddle wheeler that operates in the summer season. Provides special lighthouse trip to Duxbury Pier Light.
77 Water St.
Plymouth, MA
(508) 747-3434
Lighthouses: Plymouth (Gurnet) Light (sometimes), Duxbury Pier Lighthouse
Boston Harbor Islands
Escorted trips by the park rangers are provided to Little Brewster Island, and sometimes visitors can climb Boston light. Some boat trips run during the summer out to Little Brewster Island where you can see and climb up the tower of Boston Harbor Light. Boston Light Tours begin mid- June and run through early October.
(617) 223-8666
Lighthouses: Boston Harbor Light, Long Island Head Light, Graves Light
Boston Harbor Cruises
Currently providing many types of cruises around Boston Harbor and its nearby lighthouses , which include Graves Light, Boston Light, and Long Island Light.
One Long Wharf
Boston, Mass. 02110
(617) 223-8666
(877) 733-925
Friends Of Boston Harbor Islands
Involved in preservation of Boston Harbor islands and local lighthouses.
349 Lincoln Street
Hingham MA 02043
Phone: (781) 740 4290
Fax: (781) 749 9924
E-mail: fbhi@earthlink.net
Lighthouses: Boston Harbor Light, Long Island Head Light, Graves Light
Boston's Waterfront Directions
Directions to Boston's Rowes Wharf for Harbor Cruises:
- Heading North, be wary of construction detours:
- Take US Route I-93 North to the LOGAN AIRPORT(I-90)/S. STATION exit towards WORCESTER, Exit #20
- Continue towards Frontage Road/South Station
- Bear RIGHT towards Kneeland Street/Downtown
- Continue on Atlantic Avenue
- Rowes Wharf is on the RIGHT.
- Heading East towards Boston, be wary of construction detours:
- Take Take US Route I-90 EAST (Massachusetts Turnpike) to the 24 A-B-C/I-93/South station exit towards CONCORD NH/QUINCY.
- Continue towards South Station, Exit #24A
- Continue on Atlantic Avenue
- Rowes Wharf is on the RIGHT.
- Heading South, be wary of construction detours:
- Take US Route I-93 South to the Purchase Street exit, Exit #23
- At the traffic light, turn LEFT onto Congress Street
- At the next traffic light, turn LEFT onto Atlantic Avenue
- Rowes Wharf is on the RIGHT.
Directions Public Transportation (MBTA):
-
Take the Blue Line to Aquarium Station
-
Turn LEFT immediately out of the station
Continue on Atlantic Avenue -
Rowes Wharf is on the LEFT.
Directions to Boston's Long Wharf for Harbor Cruises
- Heading South, by wary of construction detours:
- Take US Route 93 South to Exit 24A bearing right on off ramp (Government Center).
- Follow signs to Aquarium Wharf. Boston Harbor Cruises is located between the Aquarium and Marriott Hotel.
- Heading North, by wary of construction detours:
- Take US Route 93 North to Exit 23 (Government Center).
- Follow signs to Aquarium Wharf.
- Boston Harbor Cruises is located between the Aquarium and Marriott Hotel
Boat Tours for Lighthouses
in the North Shore Area
(Salem, Gloucester, and Newburyport)
These boats will take you north of Boston Harbor around Salem, Gloucester, and Newburyport Harbors. They sometimes offer tours that allow you to explore some of the nearby islands. Some also offer scenic harbor and nature cruises, deep sea fishing and whale watching, special dinner and sunset cruises, along with special lighthouse cruises. From Salem Harbor, many fishing and whale watching tours pass by Derby Wharf and Fort Pickering lighthouses. In Gloucester Harbor, many whale watching tours pass by Eastern Point Light, and sometimes Ten Pound Island, Straitsmouth, and Thacher island Lights.
Bakers Island Light
Mahi Mahi Cruises & Charters
Among daily cruises in Salem Harbor, they provide specialized lighthouse cruises as part of their Early Summer Lighthouse Cruise and the Lighthouse Fall Foliage and Chowda Cruise.
P.O. Box 3063
Salem, MA
Phone: (800) 992-MAHI (6244)
E-mail: info@mahicruises.com
Lighthouses: Derby Wharf Light, Fort Pickering Lighthouse, Hospital Point Lighthouse, Baker's Island Light, and Marblehead Lighthouse.
Essex National Heritage Area
This is a non-profit organization that offers lighthouse tours to explore Baker’s Island Lighthouse. Tours are provided during the summer months.
10 Federal Street, Suite 12, Salem, MA 01970
Phone: (978) 740-0444
Website: essexheritage.org/boat
Lighthouse: Baker’s Island
Sailing Schooner Fame
Replica of an early 1800’s schooner for sailing around Salem Harbor.
Pickering Wharf Marina
(978) 729-7600
Fax (978) 561-3021
schoonerfame@aol.com
Lighthouses: Derby Wharf Light, Fort Pickering Lighthouse, Hospital Point Lighthouse
Thacher Island Association
Trip offered to explore Thacher Island and guest accommodations are provided to stay overnight on the island.
P.O.Box 73
Rockport, MA 01966
Launch (978) 546-7697
Guest Apartment (617) 599-2590
E-Mail: info@thacherisland.org
Lighthouses: Thacher Island Twin Lights, Eastern Point Light, Annisquam Light, Straitsmouth Island Light, and Ten Pound Island Light
Cape Ann Harbor Tours
In addition to its lobstering and harbor tours, they provide a special Cape Ann Lighthouse Cruise all along Cape Ann.
P.O. Box 719
Gloucester, MA 01930
(978) 283-1979
Email info@capeannharbortours.com.
Lighthouses: Annisquam Light, Eastern Point Light, Ten Pound Island Light, Straitsmouth Island Light, and Thatcher Island Twin Lights.
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, along with plenty of indoor and outdoor coastal attractions you can explore, and plenty of lighthouse and boat tours. Look inside! |
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You can order any of these books, and I'll be happy to personally sign them and ship to you anywhere inside the United States. You can also order from the publisher, Schiffer Books, who can ship anywhere globally.
Price is lower at $24.95 if purchased here. Enjoy!
Table of Contents |
You'll find over 50 famous stories, researched from newpsper accounts and other books to provide accurate details in my book New England Lighthouses: Famous Shipwrecks, Rescues, and Other Tales. The book also contains, along with my photographs, paintings by six famous artists for the Coast Guard, and vintage images from the Coast Guard, museums, special collectors, and historical societies who all wanted to contribute to this book. |
