See Maine Puffins, Seals, Lighthouses & More All Within 3 Hours

This is an honest review of a puffin and lighthouse cruise that my wife and I took out of Bar Harbor on a Sunday in July. To begin, I HONESTLY don't think I'd write about anything that I didn't enjoy thanks to the instilling by my mother of "if you don't have anything nice to say ..."

With that being said, we truly enjoyed our 3 hour and 9-minute puffin and lighthouse cruise. There are a few companies in Bar Harbor to choose from. We were recommended to go with Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company by a colleague.

The Timeline and Specifics of the Maine Puffin and Lighthouse Cruise

It was recommended on their website that we arrive in Bar Harbor an hour before the departure time of 0930. There are a few cute restaurants right on the water that serve breakfast, and some offer a discount with proof of your cruise ticket. We arrived at 0909 because we like having anxiety (that's a joke).

READ MORE: When and Where to See Puffins in Maine

Parking was a breeze in Bar Harbor that morning as far as finding spaces go, however, paying for parking can be notoriously difficult in Bar Harbor as the kiosks are solar powered and not always 'powered,' or you can use the app to pay and cell connection is spotty. We eventually got it to work. Eight bucks for 5 hours. Not bad.

On board is cash only, which you want to make sure you bring in case you need a snack from their concessions available (hot dogs, nachos, chips, medicine for seasickness, etc). We each purchased a $3 coffee and were off into the Gulf of Maine.

Although the upper two decks were full, the boat was far from crowded and there was plenty of seating inside and out. We chose outside. You do want to bring a jacket as they recommend on their website. It can get chilly, and you may get sprayed with cool ocean water (you most likely will).

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First stop was Egg Rock and Egg Rock Light. Here we saw seals, an eagle, and a bunch of other sea birds. I just reminded myself of the best part of the cruise: the emcee, the historian, the Maine educator, the genius. I fail to recall the title he was given nor his name, but he was adept at being both entertaining and educational. The ticket price alone is worth the three hours of knowledge relayed by this gentleman. FANTASTIC job.

Next Up on the Maine Puffin and Lighthouse Cruise Was the Highlight

Petit Manan Lighthouse and the elusive puffins. We were told that we were lucky to have so much puffin activity. We certainly felt as if we were lucky, because the puffins were definitely out to entertain. Here we learned about the history of the lighthouse, the history of the puffins, the threats they face, and so much more (I'm tellin' ya, the guy on the mic was phenomenal).

You will want to bring binoculars or a camera or phone with zoom to capture photos. While on board, it is shared that there are other cruises that offer a more intimate setting with the puffins where you can get much closer, but tickets are far more expensive and tend to sell out pretty quickly. We appreciated our "safe" view from the island and of these birds and other wildlife.

We spent a little over 20 minutes at Petit Manan Island and with the puffins. The captain spent a lot of time slowly rotating the boat (as they did at all of our stops) so everyone could get their share of the lighthouse, puffins, and other wildlife.

Afterward, and with our appetites for Maine history, education, and of course, experiencing puffins satiated, the tour continued for another hour exploring two more lighthouses and a couple of other small islands while receiving information on the history of lobstering, millionaires and their cottages in the area, and what shaped the topography of the Gulf of Maine. It was an absolutely wonderful experience, and we fully recommend this trip for anyone dying to see puffins in the wild and to explore a bit of this beautiful state on the water. See more photos from our puffin and lighthouse cruise below!