isle of shoals day trip

• How to Visit the Isles of Shoals

Last year began  a new era for Star Island and the Isles of Shoals. The regular daily summer ferry no longer runs from Portsmouth to Star Island. Visitors to the Oceanic Hotel will have their own ferry as will students at the Shoals Marine Lab on Appledore. This guide is for them and for everyone who wants to see or visit the rocky historic Isles of Shoals. Rye Harbor has become the new center of activity.

HOW TO SEE & VISIT THE SHOALS Half are in NH, half in Maine Note: SeacoastNH.com is not responsible for changes to schedules or to this information. Please check with your transportation source in advance of travel. If you have additional information on tours and travel to the Shoals, please email us. SEE: Our Shoals Maps VISIT: Isles of Shoals history section

ISLES OF SHOALS SIGHTSEEING (stay on boat, view all islands) Isles of Shoals Steamship Company Historic Isles of Shoals, Lighthouses and Portsmouth Harbor Tour departing twice daily aboard the steamship style M/V Thomas Laighton from Portsmouth. Tour features up close views and famous narration of the nine Isles of Shoals and sights of Portsmouth Harbor including three lighthouses, five forts and the Olde Port Waterfront. Beverages and snacks available. Onboard activities and portable touch tank provided by Blue Ocean Society.Special events, party ships, dinner cruises, weddings, receptions and educational fieldtrips are also offered.

Portsmouth Harbor Cruises Regular summer sightseeing tours 2.5 hours starting at noon Tues – Thurs from dock on Ceres Street in Portsmouth

Island Cruises Daily narrated tours around the Isles of Shoals aboard a real lobster boat leaving Rye Harbor

Granite State Whale Watch Wednesday evening Isles cruise with fireworks over Hampton Beach, July and August at 7pm from Rye Harbor

Island Cruises VISITNG STAR ISLAND & the Oceanic Hotel (click here)

VISTING APPLEDORE ISLAND & the Shoals Marine Lab (click here)

VISITING THE OTHER ISLANDS at the Shoals (click here) Includes Smuttynose, White, Malaga, Seavey, Cedar, Duck & Luncing.

Continue to VISIT INDIVIDUAL ISLAND

VISITING STAR ISLAND READ: Star Island Corp 2005 Press Release Privately owned by the Star Island Corporation offering summer conferences at the Oceanic Hotel for over 100 years. For conference catalog and island info visit the official web site

Beginning in 2005, after 150 years of service, there will no longer be a regular summer ferry from Portsmouth. This guide is for those wishing to go onto Star Island. For those wishing to tour the entire Isles of Shoals by sightseeing boat, click here.

Star Island Day Trips The Thomas Laighton no longer offers its daily Star Island Stopover. Here are alternative ways to get onto Star Island. If you have you own boat, scroll down.

Sail Amaryllis Offers sunset sailing cruise aboard Amaryllis, a 45 ft catamaran with dinner at the Oceanic Hotel on Star Island. Leaves Portsmouth Harbor at 4:30PM. Call 603-205-0630.

Charter trips to Star with advance call, when available. Goes out twice daily from Rye Harbor. Call for planned DAILY stop over trips to Star Island.

Northeast Charter Offers a Star Island dinner cruise starting at 5 pm from Portsmouth Harbor with trip to Star and dinner at the Oceanic Hotel.

Star Conference Now Take Captain's Lady From StarIsland.org For the 2005 season, conferees will be traveling to and from Star aboard the 149 passenger " Captain’s Lady ." The "Captain’s Lady" has been used primarily for off-shore whale watches. She is well suited for the weather and sea conditions around the Shoals and should be able to make the trip in less than an hour. Use of a vessel this size will mean reverting to the tradition of many years ago when two round trips were necessary to bring the conferences to the island. For many long-time Shoalers, this will be a taste of nostalgia but for others, this will become a "new" tradition. Captain’s Fishing Charters, owner of the "Captain’s Lady," is based in Newburyport, Massachusetts, but will operate from the dock adjacent to where the Thomas Laighton is berthed. Conferees will park in the same lot we have used for the last several years. There are a few logistical issues yet to be worked out and we will send detailed information to conference leaders well in time for planning your summer trip to the island.

The change in transportation to and from Star Island came about this fall when the Isles of Shoals Steamship Company (ISSCo.) notified us they would be unable to continue their contract with us, in part because of the complications presented by Homeland Security. Since then, we have been in contact with a number of boat companies along the New Hampshire coast and as far south as Boston. After meeting with five boat owners, we selected Captain’s Fishing Charters to provide conference transportation services for next year.

We are confident that the change will have very little impact on most conferences and will do our best to make the transition to a new ferry service as easy as possible for everyone. A long term agreement with Captain’s Fishing Charters is being discussed this winter and by the summer, we will be able to apprise you of the nature of ferry services for the next several years.

Star Island's Pamela J. Thayer workboat as well as the SML's Kingsbury workboat will be working cooperatively to transport each other's staff and to transport the Smuttynose Stewards

For Private Boats & Lunch & Dinner Guests

From StarIsland.org If you have a private boat, you are welcome to visit the island for a meal, or just to walk around. Please note than the island’s dock is very busy, and only dinghies are permitted to tie up. Meals are served family style at 12:30 and 6:30, and include beverages and dessert. There is no lunch on Saturdays. You may call ahead for reservations or inquire at the front desk upon arrival. Continue to VISIT INDIVIDUAL ISLAND

VISITING APPLEDORE

UPATE: The MARINE LAB has created this updated web page for 2005 Getting to Shoals Marine Lab Boat Schedule Owned by the Star Island Corporation and with some private homes, largely used by the Shoals Marine Lab , a cooperative summer educational program run by Cornell and the University of New Hampshire. For more info visit the official web site. See latest updates on GETTING TO APPLEDORE Shoals Marine Lab Students SML update SML is going to be transporting all participants EXCEPT Celia's Garden Tour passengers aboard SML vessels to and from the SML dock in Portsmouth.

Star Conferees & UNH Docents to Appledore SML Update SML will continue to host weekly Star Island Conference day trippers from Star (on Tuesdays now, instead of on Mondays), and we will continue to host weekly UNH/Docent Day trippers aboard the R/V CHALLENGER (usually on Saturdays and Sundays).

See Celia’s Garden This year Celia’s Tour will be run from a boat out of Seabrook, NH run by the Eastmans, More details and schedules to follow. Continue to VISIT INDIVIDUAL ISLAND

Visiting Smuttynose & Malaga There is no formal tour of Smuttynose which is a privately owned island. Visitors with their own boats are welcomed to tour responsibly following the rules posted in the harbor. (No dogs, fires, alcohol, camping, removing plants or other items). There are no restrooms or public facilities of any sort. There is a nice walking tour in season and stewards on island to offer information. Cove is for small boats only, rowboats are best, Please don’t block the cove or use Smuttynose moorings.

Visiting Cedar and Lunging Sorry, private islands. No public stopovers. These islands are best seen from sightseeing tours or private boats.

Visiting White& Seaveys Islands Sorry, no regular tours. The lighthouse is best seen from sightseeing tours. Landing is difficult for private boats and not advised. Currently the State of NH is building a docking facility in order to begin repair of the widening cracks in the 19 th century brick lighthouse.

Visiting Duck Bird sanctuary run by Audubon Society. No tours. Seals and birds can be seen at a safe distance by private boats and on sightseeing tours.

FROM STAR ISLAND CORPORATION 2005 Season Update

After interviewing many potential ferry services, Star Island has signed on with Captain’s Fishing Charters of Newburyport, Massachusetts to bring conferees to Star Island. As part of our commitment to continue Star Island’s close relationship with the Seacoast Community, the Captain’s Lady will depart from Burge Dock on Market Street in Portsmouth.

Conferees will no longer come aboard the Isles of Shoals Steamship Company’s M/V Thomas Laighton due in part because of complications presented by Homeland Security. The Star Island Corporation, which owns both Star and Appledore Islands, was founded in 1916. The Isles of Shoals Steamship Company has been ferrying our passengers and freight for about 40 of those years and we are very sorry to see the historical relationship between us end. We respect Robin Whitaker’s commitment to continuing education about the Isles of Shoals and wish her all the best.

We welcome visitors to Star Island between mid-June and mid-September aboard their own vessels. Other opportunities for visiting Star Island are aboard the Prince of Whales which operates from Newburyport, or aboard the Uncle Oscar which departs from Rye.

Day visitors can visit the island’s snack bar, book store, lobby store, or gift shop or tour the Oceanic Hotel lobby, Rutledge Marine Lab, or Vaughn Cottage. You are also welcome to join us for a hearty and satisfying meal served home-style in the Oceanic Hotel dining room. Meals are served at 12:30 and 6:30, are all you can eat, and include beverages and dessert. Please note that the island's dock is very busy, and only dinghies are permitted to tie up.

In years past Star Island’s Grand Hotel Era Oceanic House, along with the hotel on neighboring Appledore Island, was frequented by Childe Hassam, Celia Thaxter, Nathaniel

Hawthorne, Ralph Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and other notables of the time. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s recently published diaries include a two-week visit to the Isles of Shoals and Star Island. Star Island remains a destination for writers, artists, philosophers, and musicians as well as people from all walks of life, including contemporary notables who enjoy the benefits of being just one of the "Shoalers".

One of Star Island’s most promi­nent features is the chapel, a simple stone meetinghouse built in 1800 on the highest point of land. Vaughn Cottage, another site of interest, is open from 1 to 3 p.m. and features artifacts and historic manuscripts including writings from the collection of Celia Thaxter. The Rutledge Marine Lab is open every day for hands–on learning about native marine life.

The first summer conferences were held on Star Island in 1897 under the auspices of the Isles of Shoals Association. In addition to several family conferences (Life on a Star 1 and 2 and All Star 1 and 2), Arts, and Natural History, we host the Isles of Shoals Historical and Research Association, International Affairs, the Institute on Religion in an Age of Science, Dover Yoga Studio and Gallery, New Hampshire Photographic Society, and Star Hampshire Traditional Music and Dance. Star Women and Midweek Retreat are two other early September conferences and this year, we have added a Writer’s Conference. For more detailed conference information as well as how to register, please call the office at (603) 430-6272 and we will send you our Blue Book.

As an island environment ten miles out to sea, Star Island must provide its own utilities including electricity, water, waste treatment, and garbage disposal. We are currently installing a reverse osmosis machine to allow us to convert salt water to drinking water. We handle the largest amount of compost in the State of New Hampshire. We grow our own flowers in a perennial garden and display them throughout the hotel and dining hall. Maintaining and preserving our historic buildings is at the forefront of our operation.

Star Island Corporation is a membership organization comprised of about 400 members and governed by a board of directors under the direction of Irene Bush, president. Paul Jennings is Executive Director of Star Island.

There are nine full-time staff members who work in the Portsmouth office and on Star Island and four seasonal staff members who work on island. In addition, every job on the island including docking boats and handling freight; cooking and serving food; maintaining the grounds, buildings, power plant, and waste water treatment facility; and providing all hospitality services is staffed by a Pelican, the affectionate term for the nearly 100 young people who work here and often return year after year to what Yankee Magazine once called "one of the top ten summer jobs in New England".

For more information, please contact: Deborah Lielasus Tombleson Director of Development & Community Relations Star Island Corporation

Please visit these SeacoastNH.com ad partners.

News about Portsmouth from Fosters.com

Copyright ® 1996-2020 SeacoastNH.com. All rights reserved. Privacy Statement

Site maintained by ad-cetera graphics

Visit the Isles of Shoals

Spend the perfect summer day admiring the Isles of Shoals, a group of New Hampshire and Maine islands roughly seven miles out to sea.

By Aimee Tucker

Aug 17 2017

SEE MORE: Visit Star Island and the Oceanic Hotel Star Island Daytrip Itinerary

Aimee Tucker

As Digital Editor of New England.com, Aimee writes, manages, and promotes content for NewEngland.com and its social media channels. Before this role, she served as assistant, then associate, editor for Yankee Magazine and YankeeMagazine.com, where she was nominated for a City and Regional Magazine Association award for Best Blog. A lifelong New Englander, Aimee loves history, the New Hampshire seacoast, and a good Massachusetts South Shore bar pizza.

• Capital Concord
• Nickname The Granite State
• Bird Purple finch
• Highest Elevation Mt. Washington (6,288 ft.)
• Flower Purple lilac
• Song "Old New Hampshire"
• Counties 10
• Fruit Pumpkin

Love New Hampshire ?

Welcome to Granite State Whale Watch and Island Cruises!

Granite State Whale Watch and Island Cruises provides Isles of Shoals Tours, Star Island Ferry Service, Star Island Walkabouts & Whale Watches from scenic Rye Harbor, NH.  Rye Harbor is the closest mainland port to the Isles of Shoals.

For more information about our whale watches also departing from Rye Harbor, visit Granite State Whale Watch !

To learn more about Star Island, visit www.starisland.org .

Every resident of New Hampshire, and any summer visitor to the New Hampshire Seacoast with an interest in history and natural beauty, and a half or a full day or more to spare, should find a way to spend a morning or afternoon or a day or an overnight at Star Island! 

The Isles of Shoals is a cluster of nine small islands and tidal shoals, four in New Hampshire and five in Maine, five miles off the coast of Rye, New Hampshire.  

Star Island , the second-largest, pictured above , is the home of the Oceanic Hotel , a century-old, seasonal hotel and conference center, and is accessible during the summer months by a twice-daily, five-mile ferry ride from Rye Harbor or via a ten-mile ferry ride from downtown Portsmouth.   The islands have been occupied for more than 400 years, originally as fishing  villages, and today, they remain the home of several of the oldest houses in New England, some of which date to the early 1600s.

A brief History of Star Island and the Isles of Shoals.

T he rocky Isles of Shoals, inhabited by indigenous people for centuries before Captain John Smith discovered them and named them “Smith’s Isles” for himself in 1614, are bathed in history. The nine islands were eventually renamed the Isles of Shoals, but British explorer John Smith’s name for the “New England” region did endure, and 400 momentous years later, Star Island, one of the nine islands in the archipelago, is the home of the Oceanic Hotel and its summer-long Unitarian and Congregationalist nondenominational conferences.

The islands were populated in the early 1600s by European settlers, many of whom fled the mainland to escape the vicious battles with the indigenous people there.  Eventually, a cod fishing community of as many as 600 to 800 formed on Star Island, and by the mid-1600s, the islands together made up one of the busiest fishing ports on the East Coast.

In the mid-1800s, a colony of writers, poets, artists and intellectuals, lured by the new Oceanic Hotel, was established on Star Island.   Most prominent among them was poet, Celia Thaxter , but the group also included American Impressionist Childe Hassam , who produced 300 paintings on the islands, as well as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow , and John Greenleaf Whittier , among others. 

Just before the turn of the twentieth century, the organizers of a summertime series of religious conferences brought their annual conference to the then 20-year-old Oceanic hotel by happenstance. The conference was so successful that in 1915, Star Island and the hotel were sold to the Unitarian and Congregational Association (for $16,000!), and these nondenominational conferences have continued to fill the hotel for more than 100 years. 

 Getting to Star Island is easy.  

Transportation to the Island is provided by two public ferry services, the M/V Thomas Laighton and the M/V Uncle Oscar .  The former departs from downtown Portsmouth, from which it is about a ten-mile and one-hour ride. 

The Uncle Oscar departs from picturesque Rye Harbor twice daily on a five-and-a-half-mile, 30-minute trip, nicely narrated by Captain Tom Davis, a mariner’s mariner who has been coming to Star Island for a half-century; Captain Tom also leads a must-take walking tour of the island upon arrival.

From Hampton Harbor, charters to the Isles of Shoals on the 41-foot M/V Northern Tide ( pictured here ) will be available beginning on August 1, 2023.  The M/V Northern Tide  is also available for general coastal sightseeing cruises, sunset cruises, deep sea fishing trips or combine any of the above with a trip to Star Island.

Although the hotel is usually quite full of conferees, it is possible to make a reservation for overnight accommodations.  Guestrooms are basic, bathroom facilities are shared, and there are no locks on the guestroom doors, but there is a strong cell phone signal on the island, and wifi in the hotel.  Though reservations in the early years were requested and confirmed by carrier pigeons (which apparently was pretty reliable), twenty-first-century visitors can call the reservations office at 603-498-2780 .  

Editors’ Note:

Visitors, to the extent possible, should watch the weather forecasts and pick sunny, warm, calm days for their trips to the Islands .   Photographic opportunities (even with a cell phone), of some of the oldest stone buildings in New England, with the North Atlantic and/or other islands or a lighthouse as a backdrop, are just limitless.   

But, as the four photographs above, taken of the same subjects several years apart will attest, sunshine is the key.

Isles of Shoals

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Also popular with travelers

Isles of Shoals - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Steve's Travel Guide

Boston & The Freedom Trail, New England, and Beyond

• Freedom Trail
• Neighborhood Gem
• Great Products

Isles of Shoals

Site of Fort William and Mary - First Colonial Action Against British

Please connect with me on Google+

Free Award Winning Freedom Trail App

Return to top of page

© 2024  Steve's Travel Guide • All Rights Reserved

• Help Wanted
• Submit a classified ad
• Marina listings
• Marine directory index
• View events
• Submit an event
• Search listings
• Submit a listing
• Update a listing
• Adventures and Cruises
• Animals aboard!
• Boats and boating
• Disasters and Misadventures
• Final Passages
• Food and Eating
• People and personalities
• Places and Ports
• Stormy Weather
• The editor’s page
• Christopher Birch
• David Buckman
• David Roper
• Dodge Morgan
• Jack Farrell
• Guest Columnists
• Advertising

An insider’s guide to the Isles of Shoals

A bird’s-eye view of Star Island. Photo by Bruce Parsons

By Jack Farrell

The Isles of Shoals have loomed large in my life since my father first took me to Star Island in 1959 at the age of four. As I have previously related in these pages, my recollection of the Oceanic Hotel rising from the green lawn at the end of the pier is one of my earliest memories. My father was a history buff, an avid reader, a writer in the tradition of the New England Transcendentalists, and a lover of regional lore and history. He spent many of his early summers at Boar’s Head in Hampton, where the loom of the lighthouse on White Island at the Shoals would dominate his nightly view across the water. He was naturally drawn to the Shoals for their history, mystery, and connection to the arts in nineteenth-century America (with the likes of Emerson, Hawthorne, Whittier, Jewett, Hassam and many more).

Our annual trips to Star Island were the highlight of my early summers, and in many ways, they shaped my life to come. My father, who had high professional hopes for my younger brother and me, might view the last fourteen years of my working life with a trace of chagrin. But I’m certain he would also understand how I could have been drawn into working in and around these quirky, wondrous, mythical islands which meant so much to him. Either way, I’m a Shoals insider now – no longer a tourist on the day-tripper boat. Here is my brief and rambling insider’s guide for cruising visitors to these islands:

Anchoring challenges

One of the biggest challenges to cruisers visiting the Shoals is the lack of moorings and the poor holding ground for anchoring. There are no public or rental moorings available in Gosport Harbor – or anywhere else at the Isles of Shoals. The private moorings belong to local yacht clubs, individuals and the islanders themselves who use them regularly throughout the summer. The bottom is mostly rocky and kelp-strewn. The water is very deep through the harbor, and where it isn’t, the moorings are too close together to allow secure anchoring with sufficient swinging room. In a strong westerly, the harbor becomes a dangerous maritime box canyon with an unforgiving lee shore of boulders and ledge. Because of these limitations, my advice is to avoid Saturday visits altogether when chaos reigns, as too many visitors compete to stake false claims on other people’s moorings. On other days of the week, there are always vacant moorings and some room to anchor carefully. The unspoken tradition is that a vacant mooring may be used by a visitor if the rightful owner is not in need of it. Stay with the boat or keep a close eye out in case you need to move. In a strong westerly, capable cruisers anchor in the cove between Smuttynose and Cedar to the east of the breakwater in shallow water with a sandy bottom.

Approach to the islands from the west is straightforward. Run for the red and white IS bell and continue into Gosport Harbor. From the southeast, come in between Star and White, paying close attention to the red nun marking Halfway Rock between Star and Lunging. Leave it to starboard to avoid the rock. (I have personally rescued more than one pilgrim who left it to port.) Approaches through the Gut between Smuttynose and Appledore are feasible but challenging in big seas from the east. Favor the Smuttynose shore, as a ledge works out halfway into the Gut from Appledore. If you are coming from the east, be very careful around Duck Island, especially on its northern, southern, and western edges, as ledges make out a long way from shore, and the swell can be impressive.

Star Island is the unofficial capital of the Isles of Shoals. The site of a family conference center operated under the principles of the Unitarian and Congregational Churches, Star discouraged outside visitors for many years. (I have my own stories of unwelcoming behavior at Star from the recent past.) But all that has changed, and visitors are welcome throughout the season. On summer weekends, the island runs a launch service on the comely Thomas Dudley, which can be hailed on VHF channel 9. Landing of skiffs may be possible, but the dock can be very busy, so check with the dock attendant or go to the front desk up the grand stairs of the Oceanic Hotel and check in. Star Island may also have a free guest mooring available for use at your own risk. Star Island is a struggling non-profit, and the conscientious visitor will make a generous donation to support the services and maintenance of the historic island.

A rich and often dark history

The Oceanic Hotel on Star features a snack bar, a bookstore and a gift shop. The bookstore provides island history and guides which reveal some of the rich stories, traditions, and myths of the Shoals (piracy, murder, smugglers, shipwrecks, European conquest and ghosts, to name just a few) and should not be missed.

If space is available, cruisers may dine and even stay the night at the hotel. There is a snack bar and a shoreside grill with open hours and other information available at the hotel’s front desk. Ask there also about sustainability tours of island infrastructure (including the largest off-grid solar array in New England), access to the Vaughn Museum and Rutledge Marine Lab, and the weekly staff variety show. Do not visit Star Island without at least looking into the historic stone chapel. My recommendation is to spend a few quiet moments inside with a backdrop of calling gulls, and waves rolling in from Portugal to encourage relaxation and reflection.

Star is also the place for emergency aid. In summer, there is a professionally staffed medical clinic. Water, ice, gasoline and diesel may be available for those, especially in need. Mainland ferry connections and delivery arrangements can also be made at the hotel front desk to Portsmouth and Rye, New Hampshire.

Dogs are not allowed on any of the islands, except for Malaga. Malaga is joined to Smuttynose at low tide. Smuttynose and Malaga are owned by a Shoals legacy family, now under conservation easement and managed by volunteer stewards. Access is by small boat only, on the beach, inside the breakwater. The stewards will greet you and show you the ropes. Smuttynose was once the site of great commerce and the Isles’ first hotel. Some say it was also a haven for smugglers. It is also known for the grisly murders of the late nineteenth century made famous in the book and film “Weight of Water.” The original and unadorned story of the murders is available at the Star Island bookstore. A recent archeological dig on the island revealed evidence of human habitation going back 10,000 years. A walk from the beach on the rugged trail to the eastern tip of the island is worth your time.

Between Smuttynose and Star Island, and connected by breakwaters, is privately-owned Cedar Island. Visitors to Cedar are discouraged, but if you see the big, red lobster boat, Norman and Mary, in the harbor, you may ask to purchase some Shoals lobster from one of its owners or his children.

You may notice that the Gosport Harbor breakwaters are losing their battle with the waves. The Army Corps of Engineers is planning a rebuild of these essential structures, likely for 2023. Imagine how challenging maritime activities would have been in this harbor before the breakwaters were first constructed in the 1830s, at a time when the islands were the base for scores of large schooners exploiting the rich cod fishery and supporting the islands’ eight hundred or more residents.

Lunging Island is a small private island to the west of Star. It was the site of a sixteenth-century British trading post. The main structure, known as the Honeymoon Cottage, was frequented by wedding guests from the nearby hotel on Appledore Island in its heyday. The owner tells me that visitors will be welcomed when he is on the island. Access is by skiff only in the cove on the eastern shore.

Appledore Island

Appledore Island, owned in large part by the Star Island Corporation, is home to the Shoals Marine Laboratory, which is operated jointly by Cornell University and the University of New Hampshire. The lab provides a research base for scholars and summer undergraduate programs in ocean sciences. A wind generator, a radar tower from World War II, and the remains of a lifesaving station dominate the Appledore skyline. A visit to the reconstructed garden of poet Celia Thaxter makes a nice outing. Four private homes are located on the southern shore, the only evidence of a failed real estate development that would have built a hundred summer cottages on the 95-acre island in the early twentieth century. In the middle part of the nineteenth century, Appledore was home to the expansive luxury hotel that provided the base for the legendary arts and social scene of the Shoals. Steamships from Boston, New York and Philadelphia brought visitors throughout the summer as guests of the Laighton family. When the hotel was lost to fire, the desperate Laightons tried to keep the banks at bay through lot sales but eventually lost the fight. The undeveloped portions of Appledore are now being considered for a conservation easement. The Marine Lab monitors VHF channel 80 and may allow landing in your dinghy.

White and Seavey are connected at low tide. Seavey is the site of a successful habitat restoration project for terns. The terns are noisy and aggressive, especially in the first half of the summer. White Island is the site of the Isles of Shoals Lighthouse, commissioned by George Washington but not constructed until the Jefferson presidency. In the worst storms, waves crash over the top of the light tower. Landing on White is extremely difficult due to the rocky shore and constant surge. Approach – if you must – from the north in a small and nimble boat. A state mooring may be available just off the ledges. Land in the cove where the steel ramp descends from the keeper’s house. You will likely need to wade. The island is usually managed by tern program scientists and volunteer stewards who will escort you to the impressive tower with its equally impressive view.

Duck Island is barely an island at all, though it once supported a fisherman’s cottage and was favored by early Shoalers for the abundance of waterfowl. Duck was a target site for Naval bombing practice until the 1960s, and unexploded ordinance is said to be a continuing threat to visitors. The outlying ledges make an approach from any direction dangerous except in a small boat. The island is home to an expanding seal population of over five hundred in peak season, most grey seals. Along with the seals come the sharks. For all these reasons, the mariner is advised to view Duck and its wildlife from a respectful distance. Duck Island is under conservation easement managed by the Maine Coast Heritage Trust.

Working to keep these islands safe and functioning is tiring and often frustrating. But the rewards of being out here to experience the variety of scenes and seasons, from the sublime to the terrible, keep us coming back and draw more and more visitors every year. A retiring colleague from Appledore sent me a nice message the other day recognizing my own contributions to this special place. I wish I knew my father’s address in whatever Transcendental heaven he landed those fifty-two years ago so I could forward it to him. But maybe he already has it. Or maybe he’s been out here the whole time. Either way, I invite you to come out and feel the magic of the Isles of Shoals sometime soon.

Jack is a USCG 100-ton master and the facilities director at Star Islands at the Isles of Shoals, where Aloft, his Ted Hood-designed wooden sloop, lives most of the summer.

More in Jack Farrell

Read our newest issue

Upcoming events

SEE ALL EVENTS

From our readers

Love the focus on the New England coast, and I welcome the inclusion of both sailors and powerboaters alike. (And paddlers).

We have immensely enjoyed Points East ever since we began sailing lessons at the Boston Sailing Center… the high caliber of your magazine, and wide array of articles – from fun to serious – make it a pleasure to peruse every month.

I have been reading Points East for many years. I’ve always just picked it up at a local business (Bristol Bagels in Bristol RI), it was a morning ritual to have a bagel and read Points East. The name of your publication embodies my cruising dreams, heading to ‘points east.’

We really enjoy reading Points East. We used to just pick it up when we could find it when we were near the coast, but after missing a few issues my wife subscribed. We find it a great read.

Your format and paper choice help Points East feel like a local publication depending on local writers and local storytellers. That’s one of your strengths.

It’s like a drug, as soon as you finish one issue you’re dying to get the next one.

I really like the local feel of Points East and the fact that it is not a glossy fancy pants boating magazine.

• Writing for us
• Cover photography
• Where to find the magazine
• Privacy policy

How To Visit The Isles of Shoals, New Hampshire's Historic Islands

Largely isolated, these isles have nonetheless produced many tales of adventure, horror, and beauty.

Quick Links

The shoals: their past and present, mapping the isles of shoals, the star of the shoals: star island, the isles of shoals: fascinating and remote, how to visit the isles, how to stay at the shoals.

Stories of the Isles of Shoals have long swept the beaches of the East Coast. This archipelago lies off the coasts of Maine and New Hampshire. Largely isolated, they have produced many tales of adventure, horror, and beauty.

Located just six miles from the main shore , the islands can now be viewed by passing boats or even toured. They feature gorgeous architecture and a picturesque coastline.

Visitors hoping to see some of the East Coast's haunting history should definitely explore this remote destination.

The Isles of Shoals were initially used by local Native American tribes as fishing camps in the Spring and Summer months. Their rocky shores provided easy access to the bountiful Gulf of Maine and allowed communities to thrive for extensive periods of time.

The isles were eventually documented by Captain John Smith in 1614 . Following their announcement to the Western world, they were soon transformed into fishing and naval hubs. It is rumored that islands even became pirate hide-outs, with the buried treasure being used to fund building projects.

During the Revolutionary War, many fled to escape a potential British Invasion. The islands would remain largely unoccupied until 1843 when Thomas Laighton left his job as a lighthouse keeper to open two hotels on the archipelago. These hotels achieved so much success that they inspired the creation of the Oceanic Hotel by John Poor in 1873 . Both of Laighton's hotels would eventually be closed. Fortunately, the Oceanic Hotel continues to see the popularity and remains open to visitors to this day.

The islands sit on the oceanic border between Maine and New Hampshire . Maine controls the five northeastern islands (including Appledore Island, Smuttynose Island, Malaga Island, Duck Island, and Cedar Island). New Hampshire, on the other hand, possesses the four southwestern islands (including Star Island, White Island, Seavey Island, and Lunging Island).

Related: The 10 Best East Coast Resort Towns In America (& What To See First When You Get There)

Star Island is currently the most accessible of the isles. Visitors can take boat cruises to the island in the summer and explore its historic stone cottages and pristine beaches.

It is also the setting of the Oceanic Hotel . The wooden building is over 100 years old and has hosted many great artists, including Childe Hassam and Nathaniel Hawthorne. It features antique rocking chairs on a massive porch overlooking the isles.

It is rumored that, like many of New England's fascinating graveyards , the island's cemetery is haunted. Visitors are welcome to pay their respects and see if the coast's beauty is truly supernatural.

The free Vaughn Cottage Museum and Library is another quaint stop to make while touring Star Island. It documents the history of the isles, and notable visitors and contains some of the personal possessions of the island's once-thriving literary community.

Other activities include kayaking, fishing, and dining at the Oceanic Hotel .

Related: 10 Magical Island Getaways In The U.S.

The rest of the Isles are typically off-limits. However, visitors can still view them from aboard passing cruises.

Appledore Island was an artistic haven in the 19th century thanks to its most influential inhabitant: Celia Thaxter . Known as one of the East Coast's most famous poets, Thaxter published many works about her life on the isles. Her presence also attracted a diverse group of writers and artists to the island.

Smuttynose Island was the scene of an 1837 double murder. The event has since been the topic of many stories, including Celia Thaxter's poem "A Memorable Murder" and Anita Shreve's book The Weight of Water, as well as its movie adaptation. It's among the sights to see for movie buffs .

White Island is distinguished by the gorgeous lighthouse that juts up from its craggy coast. The Isles of Shoals Light is an impressive, centuries-old structure that has been restored. The Light is now one of New Hampshire's two functional lighthouses and is a must-see for those visiting America's historic lighthouses .

Malaga Island, Seavey Island, Lunging Island, Cedar Island, and Duck Island are now private and host conservation projects. Seals, gulls, and other coastal animals can often be seen lounging on their shores.

Adventurers to the Isles of Shoals can mimic the sea-faring voyages of the first settlers. Uncle Oscar Island Cruises offers boat tours from the end of June to the beginning of September. Passengers depart from Rye Harbor, New Hampshire, at 9 am and are treated to a narrated cruise as they take in the natural beauty of the islands. The ferry then docks at Star Island, allowing guests to disembark and explore. The company offers a three-hour walkabout or a day visit option. Tours can be booked online or by calling +1 800 964 5545 .

• Senior (60+ yrs): $35
• Child (4-15 yrs): $28
• Child (0-4 yrs): Free
• Senior (60+ yrs): $39
• Child (4-15 yrs): $33

Address: 1870 Ocean Blvd, Rye, New Hampshire 03870

The most authentic experience of the isles is an overnight stay at the Oceanic Hotel . Built in the 19th century, it is still open from mid-June to mid-September. It includes shared rooms, single rooms, and motel units.

It is a rustic experience. Guests should be aware that showers are available every other day as the water supply is sourced from rainwater. Additionally, most of the rooms do not lock.

Phone reservations can be made by calling +1 603 498 2780 . Prices vary based on room choice, but a personal retreat is estimated to be about $235 per night . This includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

• Know Before You Go
• Visitor's Guide

Shoals Marine Laboratory

The best way to visit Star Island is to sign up for one of our many programs (or “ conferences “) open to all.

For day visitors, Star Island offers a free launch boat service on weekend for boaters to get to the island from Gosport Harbor. Visitors are welcome to take a self-guided tour, grab a bite to eat at the Oceanic Snack Bar or the Gosport Grill or use designated facilities. Historical and environmental tours are also offered.

Ferry services to Star Island are located in Portsmouth through the Isles of Shoals Steamship Company and the Uncle Oscar in Rye. Reservations are suggested.

There are opportunities for individuals and families to spend the night and experience all Star has to offer outside of conferences with our Personal Retreat Program. Rooms are basic with shared bathrooms in the hotel and more private accommodations in the ancillary motel.

The island is open from June through September.

• Search Shoals Marine Lab
• Director's Welcome
• Shoals 101 & FAQ
• Mission, Strategic Plan, and Impact
• Island History
• Facilities & Campus
• Celia Thaxter's Garden
• Sustainability
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Safety at Shoals
• Meet our Staff
• Photo Galleries
• Getting to Shoals
• Undergraduate
• High School
• Marine Science Resources
• Teaching at Shoals
• Science at Shoals
• Undergraduate Research Opportunities
• Scientist-in-Residence Fellowship
• Visiting Researchers
• Research Resources
• Research Apprenticeship
• Celia Thaxter's Garden Tours
• Appledore Island Walking Tours
• Overnight Programs
• Marine Science for Teachers
• Artist-In-Residence Program
• Rock Talk Seminar Series
• Visiting Groups
• Join our Newsletter
• Alumni & Friends Association
• Volunteer Weekend
• In the News
• Work for Shoals
• Corporate Sponsorship
• Give to Shoals

Trip Summary

Spend the day on Appledore Island, one of the nine beautiful Isles of Shoals off the coasts of Maine and New Hampshire, and visit the Shoals Marine Lab. Travel out to Appledore on the University of New Hampshire research vessel, the R/V Gulf Challenger, with UNH Marine Docent tour guides. Investigate the intriguing intertidal creatures and zooplankton collected from the ocean at informal science stations.

On Appledore, explore the natural history of the island with the Docents. Look down to magnificent rock formations of eons past and up to a sky filled with birds that live on the island today. Learn about the plants that withstood the salty sea air to provide colonial settlers with remedies and today supply nutrition for the long voyages of migrating birds.

Discover the important role the Shoals played in the fishing economy of the 17th century. Find out about the amazing resort hotels on the Shoals in the 19th century and the people who flocked to the Isles for the healthy sea air. Visit the recreated garden of famous poet and essayist Celia Thaxter, who once lived on Appledore, and learn of her family's life on the Shoals.

Visit the main laboratory of the Shoals Marine Lab, the largest facility for undergraduate study of its kind in the world. Learn how students at the lab delve into the intensive study of the marine world and how you and your family can take a course there.

Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy while looking from the Isles to the coast or gazing at the long line of the horizon where the sea meets the sky. Taking an Appledore Island Walking Tour with the Docents is a voyage you'll never forget. 

Register through New Hampshire Sea Grant

Tour Details

• Open to members of the public on a first come, first served basis. 
• Children 10 years of age and older are welcome on the cruises when escorted at all times by an adult. 
• Cruise guests must accompany Marine Docents at all times on the Appledore tours.
• All cruise guests must be able to walk several miles. Terrain of the island requires moderate hiking exertion.

Price: $65 for adults (ages 18+), and $40 for youth (minimum age of 10 through 17)

Price includes round-trip boat transportation and guided tours of Appledore Island. Food/beverage not included. Walking Tour participants should plan to bring a small bag or backpack with a bagged lunch and a drink or water bottle.

For tour-specific questions or assistance registering, please contact New Hampshire Sea Grant at [email protected] 603-862-6700

• Plan to arrive at the UNH Pier between  8:00 - 8:30am  for check-in and orientation.
• The trip will depart for Appledore Island at  9:00am .
• Cruises return to the pier in New Castle by  3:00pm .

Departure Location

• Cruises depart from the new UNH Pier facility ( Judd Gregg Marine Research Complex ), which is next to the U.S. Coast Guard Station at Fort Point in New Castle, NH.
• Follow this link for  directions to the dock  in New Castle, NH where you will be boarding UNH's R/V Gulf Challenger.

Parking at the dock is limited. If you are traveling in a group, please make every effort to carpool.

Shoals Marine Lab

• Tuition & Fees
• Financial Support & Scholarships
• Shoals Semester
• SML Course Proposal
• Fisheries Science Internship
• Gull Population Biology Internship
• Intertidal Ecology Internship
• Marine Mammals Internship
• Parasite Ecology Internship
• Seabird Ecology and Conservation Internship
• Sustainability Communications Internship
• Sustainable Engineering Internship
• Sustainable Lobster Bait Internship
• Data Archives
• Publications
• Alumni & Friends Weekend
• Seasonal Seabird Technicians
• Teaching Assistants
• Student Staff Application

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience.

Upcoming Cruises

River, Harbor and Island Tours

Expertly narrated history tours of Portsmouth harbor, the Isles of Shoals and the New Hampshire Seacoast.

Isles of Shoals & Portsmouth Harbor Tour (aboard M/V Challenger)

  Please note this cruise is aboard our smaller vessel the M/V Challenger pictured above. 

No need to print your tickets.  We will have your name and number in your party and check off as you board.

Join us aboard the M/V Challenger for one of our expertly narrated Isles of Shoals and Portsmouth Harbor tours.   Experience the history and beauty of the seacoast and Isles of Shoals with a more intimate view from the Challenger.   

To maximize our time cruising the islands this tour does not stop at the Isles of Shoals.  No disembarking at Star Island. 

Cruise Schedule

• Jul 19, 2024 01:50 PM
• Jul 20, 2024 01:50 PM
• Jul 23, 2024 12:20 PM
• Jul 25, 2024 12:20 PM
• Jul 26, 2024 01:50 PM
• Jul 27, 2024 01:50 PM
• Aug 01, 2024 01:50 PM
• Aug 02, 2024 01:50 PM
• Aug 03, 2024 01:50 PM
• Aug 06, 2024 12:20 PM

Star Island Day Visit & Portsmouth Harbor Tour

This cruise utilizes both our vessels.  Outbound portion is on our smaller vessel the Challenger.  Inbound is aboard our larger vessel the Thomas Laighton.  Star Island visitor fee is included in ticket price.

Spend the day on Star Island. This cruise lets you experience our Isles of Shoals and Portsmouth harbor tour, the Star Island Walking tour and stay for the day on Star Island! You’ll spend approximately 3.75 hours exploring Star Island. Participation in the Walking Tour is optional. 

• Jul 06, 2024 09:20 AM
• Jul 13, 2024 09:20 AM
• Jul 20, 2024 09:20 AM
• Jul 27, 2024 09:20 AM
• Aug 03, 2024 09:20 AM
• Aug 10, 2024 09:20 AM
• Aug 17, 2024 09:20 AM
• Aug 24, 2024 09:20 AM
• Aug 30, 2024 09:20 AM
• Sep 01, 2024 09:20 AM

Star Island Walking Tour & Portsmouth Harbor Tour

Star Island visitor fee is included in ticket price.  This cruise allows approximately 1 hour on Star Island.

Enjoy our expertly narrated Isles of Shoals and Portsmouth Harbor Tour with the added bonus of a guided walking tour on Star Island! You'll hear the fascinating history and lore of Portsmouth Harbor as we navigate 10 miles of river and ocean out to Star Island, one of the first footholds for settlement in the new world. Disembark with our tour guide and explore Star Island. Your guide will walk you through over 400 years of rich history including the charting of the Isles in 1614 by Captain John Smith of Jamestown and Pocohontas fame who was given the isles as a reward for his efforts on behalf of the Crown of England. Hear the legend of the pirates Blackbeard and Captain Kidd, and the lady ghost of White Island. In the 1800's, resort hotels were built on Star and Appledore Islands and the Shoals became one of the most popular vacation spots on the New England Coast. You'll see the Oceanic hotel, which rivaled the grandest hotels of the time and is still in operation today. Your tour will take you through the replica of Gosport Village, a fishing outpost dating back to the early 1600s which includes the picturesque Stone Chapel and several cottages. You'll also see the tallest gravestone in the state of New Hampshire, the John Smith Monument, and the Caswell Cemetary. 

The guided walking portion of the tour is optional and you are welcome to explore the island on your own. 

• Jun 19, 2024 11:50 AM
• Jun 21, 2024 12:20 PM
• Jun 22, 2024 11:50 PM
• Jun 26, 2024 10:50 AM
• Jun 28, 2024 12:20 PM
• Jul 01, 2024 11:50 AM
• Jul 03, 2024 11:50 AM
• Jul 04, 2024 11:50 AM
• Jul 05, 2024 11:50 AM
• Jul 06, 2024 11:50 AM

Star Island Walking Tour & Portsmouth Harbor Tour (aboard the Challenger)

This cruise is aboard the M/V Challenger pictured above.  Star Island visitor fee is included in ticket price.  This cruise allows approximately 1 hour on Star Island.

     Enjoy our narrated Isles of Shoals and Portsmouth Harbor Tour with the added bonus of a self guided walking tour on Star Island! You'll hear the fascinating history and lore of Portsmouth Harbor as we navigate 10 miles of river and ocean out to Star Island, one of the first footholds for settlement in the new world.  In the 1800's, Resort hotels were built on Star and Appledore Islands and the Shoals became one of the most popular vacation spots on the New England Coast. You'll see the Oceanic hotel, which rivaled the grandest hotels of the time and is still in operation today. You may walk through the replica of Gosport Village, a fishing outpost dating back to the early 1600s which includes the picturesque Stone Chapel and several cottages. You'll also see the tallest gravestone in the state of New Hampshire, the John Smith Monument, and the Caswell Cemetary.

• Jun 23, 2024 09:20 AM
• Jun 23, 2024 01:20 PM
• Jun 30, 2024 09:20 AM
• Jun 30, 2024 01:20 PM
• Jul 02, 2024 12:20 PM
• Jul 07, 2024 09:20 AM
• Jul 07, 2024 01:20 PM
• Jul 14, 2024 09:20 AM

Sunset Acoustic Harbor Cruise

Catch the sunset from the best deck in town; aboard the Thomas Laighton.  Have a drink and unwind while listening to live acoustic entertainment.  A perfect end to your week.

BAGS (including large purses) and BACKPACKS ARE NOT ALLOWED ONBOARD. 

CASH ONLY BAR!

• Jun 30, 2024 07:00 PM
• Jul 07, 2024 07:00 PM
• Jul 14, 2024 07:00 PM
• Jul 28, 2024 07:00 PM
• Aug 04, 2024 07:00 PM
• Aug 11, 2024 06:20 PM
• Aug 18, 2024 06:20 PM
• Aug 25, 2024 06:20 PM
• Sep 01, 2024 05:50 PM

Extended Star Island Walking Tour

Enjoy our expertly narrated Isles of Shoals and Portsmouth Harbor Tour with the added bonus of a guided walking tour on Star Island! You'll hear the fascinating history and lore of Portsmouth Harbor as we navigate 10 miles of river and ocean out to Star Island, one of the first footholds for settlement in the new world. Disembark with our tour guide and explore Star Island. Your guide will walk you through over 400 years of rich history including the charting of the Isles in 1614 by Captain John Smith of Jamestown and Pocohontas fame who was given the isles as a reward for his efforts on behalf of the Crown of England. Hear the legend of the pirates Blackbeard and Captain Kidd, and the lady ghost of White Island. In the 1800's Resort hotels were built on Star and Appledore Islands and the Shoals became one of the most popular vacation spots on the New England Coast. You'll see the Oceanic hotel, which rivaled the grandest hotels of the time and is still in operation today. Your tour will take you through the replica of Gosport Village, a fishing outpost dating back to the early 1600s which includes the picturesque Stone Chapel and several cottages. You'll also see the tallest gravestone in the state of New Hampshire, the John Smith Monument, and the Caswell Cemetary. After your walking tour you'll have time to visit the giftshop, bookstore, and snack bar in the hotel if you'd like. 

The guided walking portion of the tour is optional and you are welcome to explore the island on your own. This cruise allows approximately 1.5 hours on Star Island. 

• Aug 31, 2024 08:50 AM

Isles of Shoals & Portsmouth Harbor Tour

Join us aboard the M/V Thomas Laighton for one of our expertly narrated Isles of Shoals and Portsmouth Harbor tours. Experience the history and beauty of the seacoast, Portsmouth harbor and the little known, but historically crucial, Isles of Shoals.

This cruise does not disembark passengers at Star Island. 

• May 23, 2024 01:50 PM
• May 25, 2024 01:50 PM
• Jun 01, 2024 11:50 AM
• Jun 05, 2024 01:50 PM
• Jun 08, 2024 09:50 AM
• Jun 13, 2024 01:50 PM
• Jun 15, 2024 01:50 PM
• Jun 20, 2024 01:50 PM
• Jun 24, 2024 01:50 PM
• Jun 27, 2024 01:50 PM

Star Island (pre-season) Walking Tour and Portsmouth Harbor Tour

This is pre-season for Star Island, so most of the facilities won't be open.  The walking tour is not affected. 

• May 12, 2024 01:20 PM
• May 18, 2024 11:50 AM
• May 26, 2024 11:50 AM
• May 27, 2024 01:20 PM
• Jun 02, 2024 01:20 PM
• Jun 09, 2024 01:20 PM
• Jun 16, 2024 09:20 AM

Star Island Extended Day Visit

Spend the day on Star Island. This cruise lets you experience our Isles of Shoals and Portsmouth harbor tour, the Star Island Walking tour and stay for the day on Star Island! You’ll spend approximately 5 hours exploring Star Island. Participation in the Walking Tour is optional. 

• Jul 21, 2024 09:20 AM
• Jul 28, 2024 09:20 AM
• Aug 04, 2024 09:20 AM
• Aug 11, 2024 09:20 AM
• Aug 18, 2024 09:20 AM
• Aug 25, 2024 09:20 AM

Special Events

Special events are even more magical on the M/V Thomas Laighton!

Sunset Harbor Cruise aboard the Challenger

This cruise is aboard our smaller vessel the Challenger.

Catch a gorgeous sunset aboard the M/V Challenger.  Have a drink and unwind.  In lieu of a narrated tour, background music is provided. 

BAGS (including large purses) and BACKPACKS ARE NOT ALLOWED ONBOARD.

• Jul 03, 2024 07:45 PM

Party Ships

Come join us on the best Party Ship on the Seacoast! The M/V Thomas Laighton steams through the Piscataqua River and Portsmouth Harbor on this 21 and over party ship. 

The best party on the Seacoast is aboard the M/V Thomas Laighton!   This cruise is 21+ and a valid state issued photo ID is required. Bags are subject to search. 

BARS ARE CASH ONLY!! ATM available prior to boarding the vessel. 

• May 24, 2024 07:30 PM
• Jun 08, 2024 07:30 PM
• Jun 14, 2024 07:30 PM
• Jun 28, 2024 07:30 PM
• Jul 03, 2024 07:30 PM
• Jul 06, 2024 07:30 PM
• Jul 12, 2024 07:30 PM
• Jul 19, 2024 07:30 PM
• Jul 27, 2024 07:30 PM

UNH Graduation Party Cruise!!

*Bars are cash only on the boat

Come celebrate UNH graduation in style aboard the M/V Thomas Laighton. Our DJs will be playing the best dance music and our bartenders will be slinging great drink specials all night long. Round trip transportation is included with your ticket. Our buses will pick you up in A lot at 6:00pm (check in starts at 5:30) and bring you to our dock. At the end of the evening you'll be bused home and dropped off downtown so you can continue the celebration. This event is 21+ and for UNH students only. You must have a valid state issued photo ID to board the vessel. No backpacks, alcohol or other illegal substances permitted.  

• May 13, 2024 07:00 PM
• May 14, 2024 07:00 PM
• May 15, 2024 07:00 PM
• May 16, 2024 07:00 PM

The M/V Thomas Laighton is one of the most unique venues available for your special event. Our 300 capacity passenger vessel truly is a "floating function facility" that can adapt to any type of special event from weddings and rehearsal dinners to company outings and celebratory parties. The best part about chartering our vessel (besides the breathtaking views and tremendous service) is that the boat and all of its amenities are yours alone.

1-603-800-3879

[email protected]

30 FATHOM  CHARTERS 

F ishing charters, newburyport, welcome to 30 fathom charters out of newburyport, massachusetts . captain kristian and first mate anna are excited to have you join us on either of our vessels, fathom 1 or fathom 2. with over three decades of experience fishing new england and local waters and our attention to detail with customer service you are sure to have a great time you can choose various types of fishing trips, a sunset cruise down the merrimack river, a private boat trip to isle of shoals or the perfect beach day & lunch by boat, we want you to have an amazing experience and memories to last a lifetime., massachusetts & new hampshire - offshore & inshore fishing charters, whale watches, scenic cruises & customized ocean adventures, get in touch.

30 Fathom Charters LLC

Newburyport, MA [email protected]

603-800-3879

Custom Cruising

Aboard fathom 1.

Fishing Charters Newburyport

Aboard fathom 2.

 All Rights Reserved 

30 FATHOM CHARTERS LLC

Web Design by KaSondera

244 Merrimack Street, Newburyport, MA 01950