Question: Where has the Bailey Island Cruise gone? It was part of the summertime scene in Harpswell, bringing visitors to Cook’s Lobster & Ale House and offering a short noontime cruise during its stopover. It was canceled due to COVID-19 but has not resumed, and it would be interesting to know what plans, if any, Casco Bay Lines has for its return.
Arnie Besier, Harpswell
Answer: According to Caitlin Gildart, director of sales and marketing for Portland-based Casco Bay Lines, the company has no plans to resume the Bailey Island Cruise.
The service originally ran for many years out of Mackerel Cove. After the cove’s infrastructure was damaged during the blizzard of 1978, the ferry began docking in Garrison Cove, at the wharf next to Cook’s Lobster & Ale House.
However, the cruise was discontinued four years ago and hasn’t operated since.
“We stopped running to Bailey Island in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and don’t have plans to resume the service,” Gildart said in an email.
Initially, both Casco Bay Lines and Cook’s were “dealing with staffing issues,” she said, so neither felt comfortable bringing back the cruise. Gildart said it was unclear whether the Garrison Cove wharf would even be available for the service today.
Ethan Morgan, owner of the Portland Lobster Co. restaurant, acquired the wharf and adjacent lobster pound in summer 2023.
Morgan said in an interview that he hasn’t been approached by either the ferry service or Cook’s about the possibility of bringing back the cruise. He noted that the wharf has deteriorated since 2020 and is in “pretty sorry shape.”
“We were under the impression that neither Casco Bay Lines nor Cook’s wanted to bring (the service) back,” he said.
Cook’s ownership could not be reached for comment.
Morgan said he has had exploratory discussions with some smaller cruise operators about bringing one of their services to the cove, but there are no set plans yet.
J. Craig Anderson, Reporter, Harpswell Anchor
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