Maine Windjammer Cruises

The name of Maine’s [1] famous fleet of sailing ships comes from their uncanny ability to sail close-hauled into the wind—thus “jamming” it. Apart from their technical prowess, the fourteen ships of the Maine Windjammer Association (207/374-2993, www.sailmainecoast.com [2]) are true beauts, and an experience sailing aboard them is one of the pleasures of the coast.

Guests book cruises from three to six days in length, with captains guiding the mostly engineless crafts wherever the wind takes them—poking around rocky islands, sailing into coves in search of seals, and racing lighthouses by night.

Accommodations are spartan, meals family-style, and guests are often put to work hauling up sails to the tune of sea-shanties. All of which makes the trip the antithesis of a luxury cruise, and thus quintessentially Maine [1].

Seven ships sail out of Rockland [3], including the three-masted Victory Chimes, which graces the state quarter; six sail from Camden [4], including the Mary Day, known as the “music boat” for its guitarist-captain; and one from Rockport [4].

Costs for cruises vary widely depending on the size of the ship, experience of the captain, and length of the cruise. Expect to be set back $400–600 per person for a three-night excursion and in the neighborhood of $800–1,000 for a five-night trip.