Frequently Asked Questions

Due to the educational nature of the tour and for the respect and courtesy of the passengers and crew, no child (including infants and toddlers) under six years old will be permitted to join the tour. No exceptions will be granted. Your attention to and consideration of this policy is most appreciated.

RESERVATIONS are strongly recommended and may be made as far in advance as desired by using our online ticketing or calling us.

CHANGES OR CANCELLATIONS will receive a full refund if made at least 24 hours before departure. NOTE: Groups of 15 or more must give at least 72 hours for cancellations for a full refund.

FOR PRIVATE CHARTERS, please call.

ONLINE TICKET PURCHASES are not available within 1 hour of the tour’s departure time. Please call (207) 288-3136.

Lulu Lobster Boat Ride reserves the right to cancel any trip because of the weather or circumstances beyond our control, but will do so only if absolutely necessary and will give as much advance notice as possible. There will be no charge made if the cruise is cancelled by our captain or staff. Since Maine coastal weather can change quickly, it is recommended that reserved passengers call prior to their scheduled departure to confirm the availability of a particular cruise, especially when wind and/or fog conditions appear unfavorable.

• Depending on what pier your ship sends its tenders, we are no more than about a block from where you’ll arrive on shore.
• If your ship is isn’t able to visit Bar Harbor or is delayed (and you won’t be able to disembark in time to make our trip) you must let us know ASAP.  Refunds will only be given within the no-cancellation window if we can fill your seats.
• We recommend our 11:30am trip (vs our 9am trip) if you are arriving on a cruise ship as the earlier trip is often too early to disembark.

Other than licensed service dogs (sorry emotional support animals do not qualify), we allow friendly lap dogs of 25 lbs or less (with past boating experience!).  For the respect and courtesy of the passengers and crew, dogs must be leashed at all times and held in your lap during the entire trip. No wandering, and no barking!

Lulu is also available for private charters. Please contact us for more information and fares.

Mastercard/Visa/Discover/American Express Cards are accepted. Travelers’ checks (and, of course, cash) are also welcomed for payment at the time of the cruise.

• IT IS COLDER ON THE WATER!!  Even if it is warm on shore, a jacket or sweatshirt is recommended because it can be cool on the water. Note: There are no heated cabins on the boat!  Blankets are available to purchase at our ticketbooth.
• Most of the seating area is covered, providing shade for our passengers. However, hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen may still be good to have with you.
• No food or drinks are served onboard, however, passengers are welcome to bring items with them (glass containers are discouraged).  SORRY, NO ALCOHOL IS ALLOWED ON BOARD.
• Binoculars are often used for sightseeing and seal watching.
• Cameras are welcome. However, filming or other recordings of the lobstering part of the cruise is not permitted.

Sea Bands can be purchased at our ticketbooth.   These are wristbands that work on a theory of acupressure and are helpful for passengers with a tendency for motion sickness. This product can also be purchased over the counter at most pharmacies.

No, we are an educational trip and therefore release all lobsters that we catch. We also wouldn’t want to compete with the hard-working men and women who make a living by catching lobsters. We recommend you support our local community and purchase lobsters from those businesses.

Lobster fishing on the coast of Maine is highly regulated (that’s why it’s been so successful) and therefore there are strict rules about who can pull up the lobster traps.  Our captains are licensed to pull up the traps, then our narrators will come around and show guests what comes up in the traps and allow a more interactive time if desired.   All trips are fully narrated.   Although you’re not pulling up the traps yourself, this is as close as you can get without actually becoming a lobsterman or lobsterwoman!

Please allow extra time if you will need to find parking.

Although Lulu is equipped with a marine head (toilet facilities) for emergencies, our passengers are permitted (and encouraged) to use the restrooms available in the pier area just before and/or after the tour.

As a U.S. Coast Guard-certified inspected small passenger vessel and fully insured, Lulu is outfitted with modern safety, navigation and communication equipment that meets or exceeds U.S. Coast Guard regulations.

• Adult and child personal flotation devices (PFDs) for all passengers and crew
• An inflatable buoyant apparatus (IBA)
• Life ring
• Global Positioning System (GPS)
• Radar
• Sonar
• VHF radios
• Cellular phone

Note: Captains without a U.S. Coast Guard license or vessels not properly equipped cannot be insured or legally operate.

All passengers are seated on cushioned bench seating throughout the cruise.

No, our cruise does not take you far enough out into open waters to see whales and puffins are seen much further up the coast.  However, we typically do see seals either basking on the ledges or frolicking in the waters off Egg Rock Lighthouse.

Generally no, however if you have issues with seasickness be cognizant that higher winds/seas can make the trip rougher.  We do sell motion sickness wrist bands that do help some people.  You might also try our other vessel out of Northeast Harbor (Sea Princess Cruises) which although doesn’t do lobster tours, does very popular scenic tours and operates out of protected waters that are less influenced by wind/seas.

The Lulu Lobster Boat is not large enough to offer full handicap access.  Guests must be able to walk up/down a few steps in order to load and unload the vessel.  Also please note that during a LOW tide the ramp leading to our floating dock can be quite steep.