Day 1 — Portland, Maine

Arrive at Portland Airport and transfer to the Holiday Inn by the Bay located in downtown Portland on the city’s waterfront. You will be met by your Smithsonian Journeys Travel Director.

After check-in, there’s time to relax or start exploring Portland. This evening, meet fellow travelers at an exclusive Smithsonian Journeys welcome reception and briefing by your Smithsonian Journeys Expert. (R)

Day 2 — Portland and Penobscot Bay

After a morning lecture, visit the Portland Museum of Art for a guided tour of its superb collection, including works by Winslow Homer, Rockwell Kent, and Frederic Church among others. Visit Portland Head Light before returning to Portland to embark the Independence. Enjoy lunch and the sites along Penobscot Bay while cruising to Bar Harbor. (B,L,D)

Day 3 — Bar Harbor

Depart the ship this morning to visit the Abbe Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate, which showcases the history and cultures of the Wabanaki, Maine's Native people, through fascinating changing exhibitions. Then continue to Acadia National Park. Nineteenth-century artists Thomas Cole and Frederic Church were the first to bring public attention to Mount Desert Island. By the turn of the 20th century, it became a favorite summer retreat for affluent Americans. The Rockefellers were key in preserving the park’s landscape and abundant wildlife. Weather permitting drive to the top of Cadillac Mountain for spectacular views. (B,L,D)

Day 4 — Castine and Belfast

Home to the Maine Maritime Academy, Castine offers spectacular harbor views and an area brimming with history. Enjoy the town’s many examples of early 19th-century architecture and during your walking tour, learn about the town's history while enjoying the charm of this quaint seaport.

After lunch on board, spend the afternoon exploring Belfast on a walking tour that highlights Belfast's history of creativity, innovation, and tradition are evident throughout the city. The 1800s were a time of great prosperity, due to the town's shipbuilding and commerce. The historic district showcases magnificent sea captains' mansions that have been included on the National Register of Historic Places.

Visit the Belfast Museum, that features exhibits telling the city's fascinating story. Join your Smithsonian Journeys Expert and fellow travelers in the Smithsonian Travelers Corner to enjoy conversation and camaraderie. After dinner, enjoy shipboard entertainment. (B,L,D)

Day 5 — Camden

Camden is proud to call itself the "Jewel of the Maine Coast." A quaint seaport town, Camden features 19th-century architecture, a harbor full of classic schooners, and a beautiful backdrop provided by the Camden Hills. A panoramic tour takes you through Camden Hills State Park, with a stop at the top of Mt. Battie, where you will have panoramic views of glistening lakes, Camden Harbor, and the islands of Penobscot Bay.

After lunch, join a local guide for a walking tour through Camden. The tour highlights the history of Camden with its industrial beginnings through its current status as the hub for yachting in Maine. Enjoy the beautiful architecture and landscaping as you stroll through the streets of this quaint port town.

Later, you’ll have time to follow your own path and explore on your own. (B,L,D)

Day 6 — Rockland

Spend the morning at the Farnsworth Art Museum showcasing Maine’s contribution to American art. Also visit the museum’s renowned Wyeth Center dedicated to works by N.C., Andrew, and James Wyeth—America’s first family of art. After lunch, visit the Olson House, where Andrew Wyeth painted many works, including the well-known Christina’s World. Enjoy a free afternoon in Rockland before returning to the ship for dinner. (B,L,D)

Day 7 — Boothbay Harbor

Take a walking tour of the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Maine’s first and only botanical garden! In addition to the central gardens of the main campus, the tour includes the Lerner Garden of the Five Senses, a garden created specifically to appeal to each of our senses. There will be time to explore the gardens on your own. An alternative tour will be available to the Boothbay Historical Society, featuring artifacts that reflect the region’s colonial and coastal origins. (B,L,D)

Day 8 — Bath

Nestled on the sparkling Kennebec River, Bath perhaps best exemplifies Maine’s nautical heritage. It is a vibrant community that combines its rich, centuries-old background of shipbuilding with its present day claim of being selected as “One of America’s Best Small Cities.” Cultural riches, like the town’s many architectural treasures and unique specialty shops, abound. Bath is also home to the Maine Maritime Museum, where your vessel will dock. The museum is located on the site of a 19th-century working shipyard, and features paintings, models, artifacts, and interpretive exhibits of life at sea and maritime technology. Alternatively, you may take the trolley ride that includes historic narration of the town. (B,L,D)

Day 9 — Portland

After breakfast, disembark the Independence and transfer to the Portland Airport for individual flights home. (B)