• AICW Great Loop SegmentNew England ports cruise shipTraveler
    Harbor approach
    Unloading the 120 PAXMartha's Vineyard has several villages connected by free bus serviceCobblestone streets from sailing ships ballastAll harbors have 90% moorings, 10% docks with shorepowerQuaint villages with bed and breakfasts cater to touristsQuaint tourist shops in villageVery expensive historic housesCue the 'Jaws' soundtrack2025 American Patriot; 130 guests, 50 crewEileen chose one......and I chose the otherFew docks compared to mooringsLots of waterfront tourist tradeCue the 'Jaws' soundtrack, 50th anniverseryNearby Oaks Bluff hosts fast ferry service to NantucketMore cars but less tourists than Macinac30% off, but no price tags on any items to buy...Oak Bluffs Harbor parkCanada geese grace every New England park with grass on itOur cabin (over 350 SF, larger than many hotel rooms) and balconyOpposite view...four large lounges plus outside areas

    Newport-Martha's Vineyard, MA

    September 11 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F

    Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket islands off Massachusetts are both popular tourist visiting sites about 30 water miles apart. The Nantucket port can’t accommodate the 250 foot American Patriot, so it docks in Martha’s Vineyard and provides tickets on the 30 MPH Fast Ferry cat to Nantucket on the first day. The second day allows us to explore Martha’s Vineyard.

    The water conditions in the Gulf of Maine overall are manageable by a trailer boat using our usual system of reserving every third or fourth day as a ‘weather/option’ day. We are planning to keep open the option of turning our second Triangle Loop in Canada into a Down East Loop by continuing down the St Lawrence River into the Atlantic and around Newfoundland, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to Maine, rather than turning south at Sorel towards Lake Champlain. That option can be easily aborted if it’s too rough or (at 2,400 miles) too long.

    The weather has been beautiful, with cool, crisp mornings and evenings and sunny low humidity days in the low 70’s while it’s still in the 90’s at home.    Read more