Day 1 — Portland, Maine

Individual arrivals into Portland, Maine, and the Holiday Inn by the Bay/Portland. Meet fellow travelers and staff at a festive welcome reception. Dinner and the remainder of the evening are on your own. (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

Relax on board the Indpendence as the ship sails past Eggemoggin Reach and Deer Isle Thoroughfare en route to Castine. Enjoy the spectacular views of Maine’s magnificent wildlife and its majestic coastline. In the morning arrive in Castine. One of the oldest communities in North America, Castine has had a long and varied history of occupation and was fought over by the British and colonial Americans. Enjoy fascinating walking tours through Castine's historic district that highlight the town's architectural beauty. Walk past beautiful Federal and Greek revival homes, including former summer homes of literary figures Mary McCarthy, Robert Lowell, and Elizabeth Hardwick. Plus, visit the Castine Historical Society. In the afternoon travel to nearby Searsport to visit the Penobscot Marine Museum. This cluster of historic and modern buildings chronicles the area’s rich seafaring history through artifacts, vintage photographs, and dramatic marine paintings. Some areas are also dedicated to marine arts such as model making and scrimshaw. Included in the tour is a 19th-century sea captain’s home, furnished with treasure brought back from the Orient (B,L,D)

Day 5 — Belfast / Camden

This morning cruise to Camden, considered the “tall ship capital of Maine,” and enjoy a scenic tour of Camden Hills State Park. High atop Mount Battie, experience sweeping ocean vistas, rugged coastlines, and panoramic views of Camden, Penobscot Bay, and surrounding islands. On a clear day, you might spot Cadillac Mountain at Acadia National Park! Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at your leisure. (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)