May
10

Two Roads Diverged in a Yellow Wood, and I Parked in the North End

By Mike McGurl, one of the Principals of Boston’s Best Cruises

Sometimes the path less traveled is truly the better option and anyone looking for things to do in Boston needs to know where that path is. If you are heading to anywhere near the water front, park on Atlantic Avenue (which turns into Commercial Street) in the North End. I did just that this morning as I was heading to work on our Whale Watch boat, Voyager III.

The Boston’s Best Cruises Ferry Center and boarding area are located between the Marriott Long Wharf and Christopher Columbus Park; right at the edge of the North End neighborhood. When many people think of this area they think about parking at the Harbor Garage next to the Aquarium or in the Quincy Market area; this is a big mistake as those garages cost as much as $36.00 for the day! The North End parking facilities are $16 to $25 on weekdays and as low as $15.00 on weekends. As a significant added benefit, it is a very short but picturesque walk to the Ferry Center and there are several amenities for your convenience along the way. The below photo essay will illustrate my points.

Boston's Best Cruises Affordable Parking
Weekend parking rates on Atlantic Avenue/Commercial Street in the North End.

Directions to our Dock
There are great views of historic buildings and way finding maps along the route.

Coffee houses near Boston's Best Cruises dock
Starbucks on one side of the Street and Anthony’s Café on the other offer
morning fare.

Window shopping
There are a few very exclusive Real Estate firms along the way; great for window shopping!

Lewis Wharf
Along the way, take a short detour to explore the secret garden on Lewis Wharf. This is an amazing, secluded waterfront park worthy of the time to sit, relax and contemplate… but don’t be late for the boat.

Restaurants along the way
Two great waterfront Restaurants are located along the way. The Boston Sail Loft is one of the last remaining old time, waterfront taverns. Try the Chowder, its delicious.

Columbus Park Boston
The last stop before getting to Boston’s Best Cruises Ferry Center is Christopher Columbus Park, one of the most picturesque parks in Massachusetts and don’t forget Tia’s, one of the most popular summer spots in Boston.

Boston's Best Cruises Ferry Center
As soon as you are in the park, you can see the Boston’s Best Cruises Ferry Center with its nautical code flags, and friendly professional staff.

Boston's Best Cruises Voyager III
Look for Voyager III with its giant whale mural on the cabin!

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

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May
8

North Quincy High School Celebrates Prom Aboard the Voyager III on Boston Harbor Cruise

On Friday evening, May 4, the 2013 graduating class of North Quincy High School boarded Voyager III for a Boston Harbor Cruise. After the cruise, the class disembarked and celebrated their Senior year Prom, which was held nearby at the Boston Marriott Long Wharf.

Over 350 students, guests and chaperones boarded the boat on a spectacularly beautiful spring evening. Parents were thrilled that the students would be able to have their Prom in Boston while leaving the cars in Quincy, thus avoiding any safety concerns associated with teens driving to and from the Prom.

This is the 6th year that North Quincy High school has used Boston’s Best Cruises to ferry students to the Prom.

The Voyager III departing the dockHarbor Cruise PromCelebrating Prom on the Boston HarborBoston Harbor Cruise PromAboard the Voyager IIIProm celebration on a Boston Harbor CruiseBoston Harbor Cruise on the Voyager III

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Apr
29

The Boy Scouts are Always Favorite Guests with Boston’s Best Cruises

By Mike McGurl, one of the Principals of Boston’s Best Cruises

Today we had another fantastic morning for our weekly Cub Scout / Boy Scout Sunday morning cruise. We run this cruise in conjunction with the USS Salem Overnight Adventure Program. I have a lot of fun working with the Cub and Boy Scouts. They are very well behaved and they love the boat ride, especially when we crank the speed up to over 30 knots. Everyone is surprised to see a boat of this size move at that speed. Another highlight is the Pilot House Tour which we conduct with about 12 Scouts at a time. It is great to see the Scout Leaders and parents take an active interest in the Pilot House Tours as well. Today’s group was 261 Cub and Boy Scouts strong, so working through the Pilot House Tours took some juggling. We hope to see many of the Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, and their families come back this summer for a visit to the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. Our ferries depart for the Boston Harbor Islands from the Hingham Shipyard. We’d also love to have them join us for a whale watching trip aboard the Voyager III.

Cub and Boy Scouts Cruise
It is amazing how many of our guests enjoy a good laugh while having their photo taken with their faces in the cut outs of our Boston’s Best Cruises “photo boat”. As you can see here, some participants need a little boost.

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Apr
25

Whale Watching Vessel Becomes One Big Canvas for Local Artist

Boston’s Best Cruises Voyager III Has Come Alive with the art of Ashley Schaffert.

Boston’s Best Cruises, the Boston-based water transportation company, believes in supporting the local art community. They recently offered artist Ashley Schaffert the opportunity to create a 360 degree whale and dolphin mural on the company’s flagship whale watching vessel Voyager III. Schaffert grew up in Buffalo, NY close to the Great Lakes. As a little girl, she developed a love for whales and all things nautical. “I am obsessed with the water.” she says. “I was a competitive swimmer for ten years. Swimming was my connection to the water. Once that ended, I had to find new ways to stay close to the water. Finding a job as a photographer on a whale watch boat in Boston was the perfect fit.”

Fate had a hand in the whale watching boat that welcomed her aboard. The Voyager III is the 113 catamaran owned and operated by Boston’s Best Cruise’s and the only boat in Boston Harbor specifically designed for whale watching.

While working with the crew, Schaffert shared the fact that as a child, she would sit and draw whales and fish all day. “I guess that’s how my parents knew I was destined to be an artist.” she says, “I frequently entered competitions as a kid, took extra art classes in high school and decided to study art in college. I graduated from The University at Buffalo in 2010 with a B.A in Studio Art and Photography.”

Little did she know, but Boston’s Best Cruises, with partners the Whale and Dolphin Conservation and Whale Sense was about to launch Whale University, their new program dedicated to educating the public about whales, dolphins and marine life in New England. The designated floating classroom is Voyager III. Plans had been in the works to cover the vessel with a mural by a local artist.

For all involved, the rest is history. Ashley found her dream project and Boston’s Best Cruise’s Voyager III has become a floating work of art.

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Apr
24

Not sure which Boston Harbor Cruise is right for you?

Not sure which Boston Harbor Cruise is right for you? You can try two. Boston’s Best Cruises offers an additional $4.00 discount when you take a second cruise with us. So, join us on a Boston’s Best Cruise’s Whale Watching trip aboard the Voyager III, and then come back for a trip to The Boston Harbor Islands, a Boston Harbor  cruise or a Moonlight Cruise. This program allows our guests to come and visit us several times each year while keeping the cost low.

Our Boston Harbor Islands service, Boston Harbor Tours and Sunset Tours begin May 11! Tickets for all Boston’s Best Cruises trips are available online at bostonsbestcruises.com, over the phone at 617-770-0040 or in person at the Ferry Center 190 Atlantic Ave. Boston. (On Long wharf North between Christopher Columbus Park and the Long Wharf Marriott)

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Apr
23

Looking for things to do in Boston?

Looking for things to do in Boston? Look no further than Boston’s Best Cruises. Our Boston Harbor cruises, Sunset Cruises, Moonlight Cruises and trips to The Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area are an opportunity to explore Boston from the water. Our Boston harbor cruises take you by the USS Constitution and other Boston Harbor landmarks. We also operate the T Harbor Express, the best commuter experience from Boston’s South Shore.

This week, you can take advantage of our discounted Whale Watching special. Go to TravelZoo and purchase your tickets! Save 36% on our already low price!

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Apr
13

April Vacation Eco-Cruise April 15 -19

Boston’s Best Cruises has been working hard to have a great family trip for April Vacation. Not only are we whale watching everyday on Voyager III, but after each whale watch we’ll be heading out for the one-and-only Boston Harbor eco-cruise, where you get to participate in science activities right onboard. Our 90-minute Hands-On Harbor Cruise has something for everyone because it combines a fantastic tour of Boston Harbor and the Harbor Islands with hands-on science activities, including

  • Taking water samples with a plankton net and examining the marine life with an electronic microscope
  • Testing water depth with an old fashioned lead line and comparing the results with a modern Global Positioning System (GPS)
  • Examining water clarity using a simple device called a Secchi disk, named after its inventor
  • Touring the pilot house to see how the captain operates this high-tech ferry

We don’t see this every trip, but on Saturday’s cruise we were fortunate to see some Harbor Seals! We have a great snack bar, plenty of outside seating, and an inside heated cabin.

So if you’re wondering what to do during April Vacation and you have already searched online for “Things to do in Boston” and didn’t find exactly what you were looking for,  look no further and join us one day this week. We’ll be leaving at 3:00pm from our Ferry Center at 190 Atlantic Ave Monday through Friday this week. We’ll see you there!

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Jan
4

Make A Few Seal Friends This Saturday!

 

Happy New Year to you, Explorers! Boston’s Best Cruises is excited to start the year off with a Boston Harbor adventure on our fun-filled Seal Watch Cruises on January 5, February 2, and March 9! Step on board as we whisk you off to the outer islands of Boston Harbor for a nature treat like no other!

Harbor seals are such cool, interesting creatures — very social, super smart marine mammals. They migrate along the New England coast with the seasons. And you might watch them, but they’ll watch your right back — they have a funny habit of standing [floating] upright, with their heads above the water, looking around in curiosity just like people do! Don’t be too surprised if you see one or two seals swim up closer to us on the boats and give you a look-over! The Seal Watch Cruise is a fantastic thrill: our powerful vessel slicing through the glittering water on a bright winter’s day, seagulls and terns chattering overhead as they dip and soar beneath the clouds and sometimes hitching a ride on the ship, all as you and an excited crowd cruise to the harbor rocks to catch these adorable creatures in a world all their own.

This cruise will run on just three Saturdays: January 5, February 2, and March 9. That means the first cruise is this Saturday! Don’t miss your chance to see these adorable creatures in their natural habitat! It’s fun for the whole family and a special thrill unlike any other.

Where: Quincy, Boston
When: Saturdays (Jan 5, Feb 2, Mar 9). Departs Quincy 10:15 AM, Departs Boston 11:00 AM, Returns Boston 12:30 PM, Returns Quincy 1:00 PM
Cost: Adults (13 – 64): $20; Kids (4-12) & Seniors (65+): $15; Kids Under 3: free

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Dec
20

Rediscover Boston: The New Working Port Cruise!

We’re so excited to set the Hype-Train on its tracks for our latest specialty cruise, the Working Port of Boston Cruise! This new cruise is designed to take you to a world you’ve likely never really looked at until now — the fascinating and intricate workings of Boston’s dynamic port!

On this specialty cruise, our captain and crew will navigate into the working port and provide you with glimpses into the interesting and often difficult labor going on there at all times. Harbor pilots will guide 1,000-ft ships to their berths, assisted by smaller, powerful tug boats. Mighty and imposing container ships, LNG carriers and cruise ships pick up and drop off cargo, maneuvering between and around each other and defying common sense with their enormous metal bulks gliding across the inconstant waters. You’ll spot different fishing boats, ranging from sleek deep sea daggers to sturdy harbor lobster boats. Standing by, in defense of all you’ll survey, including Boston itself, are the dozens of state and local fire and rescue vessels, along with the major Coast Guard base. Once you’ve seen all that goes on in this always-moving port, you will never look at it the same way.

The ride is free for kids under 3, and fun for the whole family! And don’t forget the cozy cabins on board our vessel and our tasty refreshments bar! And grownups, our hot chocolates with Schnapps and peppermint are the perfect hand-warmers and body relaxers! Get excited for our Working Port cruise, which will start up on Saturday, December 29th.

When: Saturdays (Dec 29, Jan 12, Jan 26, Feb 9, Feb 23, Mar 16). Departs Quincy 10:15 AM, Departs Boston 11:00 AM, Returns Boston 12:30 PM, Returns Quincy 1:00 PM

Cost: Adults (13 – 64): $20; kids (4-12) and seniors (65+): $15; kids under 3: free

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Dec
12

Saying Goodbye to a Dear Friend

by Mike McGurl

Penny Dunne began working for Boston’s Best Cruises back in 1996, at the company’s very beginning. Sadly, this past Monday, we lost a friend and a colleague when Penny passed away after a brief illness.

We offer our deepest sympathies to Penny’s family and look back fondly on her 17 years with Boston’s Best Cruises. Looking back, Penny was a constant in an ever changing world. As steady and reliable as any company could hope for; Penny worked every morning starting at 5:30. In all the years that Penny worked at Boston’s Best Cruises, it was unheard of for Penny to miss a shift or be late, which made her the perfect role model for our younger staff.

Penny’s friendships with the morning commuters transcended the typical customer relationship. She took a genuine interest in everyone she met, and many got to know Penny as a trusted friend. Many mornings I would arrive to find a customer telling Penny about a recent vacation or each of them exchanging photographs of new grandchildren or of a family gathering.

One bright spot for us in this sad story is that Penny was able to rally her strength to come along with her family on our Sunset Holiday Lights Cruise last Saturday. As she new all of the crew it was a great opportunity for everyone to enjoy each others company and the beautiful evening. Penny will be fondly remembered by all of us here at Boston’s Best Cruises; both team members and guests alike. Penny, God speed you on your journey and may your spirit find peace and comfort in heaven where you will be welcomed with open arms.

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