The work is real, if you are willing (raising and lowering sails and anchors), and the boat is genuine (cabins for two are about 3 by 6), but they will show you every nook and cranny. For instance, Captain Chris explained how the rudder gear box worked, while we greased it).
Wow! I have to say I was a tad surprised about how tight things were and how different the way of life, but my mother and I had a wonderful time on the sail we just took. Mom had difficulty with the ladders, and everyone (captain, crew and guests alike) were all supportive and helpful all the time. It was, indeed, what we were looking for - a little adventure with not a lot of stressful activity. Thanks, Captain Ray and Obi and Dillon and Jen for a really great trip!
The website gives you the information as to what you can expect on the cruise......if you are a DIVA you may want to stick with Holland America. My husband and I are planning on returning to cruise with Maine Windjammer Cruises again this fall. :-)
Very nice people who have bravely taken on the mission of hosting 19th century sailing. The authenticity and romance of it is to die for. You should absolutely try it once in your life. Yes it is true that the bathroom accommodations are lacking, as would be expected with boats built in the late 1800s. So if you're looking for a pampered modern cruise, this is not for you. This is for people who want to experience the thrill and romance of real tall ship sailing.
Captain Ray and his crew and his family are all very nice, accommodating people and they have done a wonderful job restoring these ships and maintaining and operating them.
We are just back from a 5-day sail on Grace Bailey. This trip exceeded our expectations! Every day brought a different adventure: We enjoyed an exhilarating fast and windy sail one day, and slower, sunny cruising on another. It was restorative to unplug and live a sailor's life for a few days. The crew -- Captains Ray and Chris, First mate Obie, Reuben, Tyler and Brad -- were charming, helpful, and entertaining, whether we were discussing celestial navigation and latitude and longitude, quick ways to determine knots, or singing along with Obie's concertina or ukelele. We especially enjoyed the company of our fellow passengers, ranging in age from 12 to 70's. The food was fabulous -- home-cooked and locally sourced, served family-style. The ship is 1880's authentic, so if you are looking for a spacious modern cabin and modern bathroom facilities, you will probably be happier elsewhere. Highly recommend and I'd do it again!
But much to my surprise, the hardworking crew (Obi, Brad, Tyler, and Reuben) turned out to be terrifically interesting people in their own rights. Obi is a softspoken giant who makes his own musical instruments. Brad talks knowledgeably with passengers about Halo and Andrew Lloyd Weber Musicals, Tyler's lasagne ranks up with the best of your Italian nana, and Reuben is taking a break from working on housing in devastated regions of the world.
My husband and I just got back from a six day cruise upon the schooner "Mercantile". We and two others were the only passengers who had not been on these cruises NUMEROUS times before. Camden, ME is very picturesque. Several schooners in port. The food was GREAT; cooked on/in a cast iron stove in the galley. Two snacks and three full meals a day. Coffee and hot water, fruit and other goodies were available all day in the galley. The cook and his mess mate were very helpfully, polite and interesting as were all the crew members. Lobster bake on shore was lovely. Schooner, our cabin and all accommodations were neat and clean.
Maine Windjammers with Captain Ray and Captain Chris was a great way to spend five days seeing the islands of downeast Maine. They promise an authentic Windjammer sailing experience and they deliver.
They and the Captains are the true social lubricant on this boat, keeping everyone happy and fed.
This is not a luxury cruise. You'll want a good shower when you come home, but it is a really rewarding and fun experience.
My wife and I spent five days on the Grace Bailey, with a revolving cast of other travelers, ranging in age from 12 to 74, and all were interesting and fun.
Maine Windjammer Cruises is a US Travel Agency based in Camden, Maine. Maine Windjammer Cruises is located at 6 Public Landing, Camden, ME 04843, USA.
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