Sunset Cruises and Tours of Cape Ann By Water

As the summer begins to wind down and the hustle and bustle of fall activities and school start up again, it's a good time to get in some much-needed, last-minute rest and relaxation. One of the best ways to do this is to enjoy a day or evening on the water as you say goodbye to summer, at least until next year. 

To really appreciate the beauty of the shoreline and the majesty of the ocean around Cape Ann, it is best to take to the water. Here are a few water activity options that can help you enjoy a day cruise, sunset cruise, or a tour around Cape Ann as we close out the season. 

A Sunset Cruise 

Picture it. The sun has begun its daily descent, the warm evening breeze has just picked up, and the scent of the ocean is practically mesmerizing as you board a vessel that will take you on a cruise to watch nightfall on Cape Ann. Doesn’t this just sound divine? 

There are several local seaside tour businesses that can make this dream come true for you, your family, or your tour group. Harbor Tours of Cape Ann is one of Cape Ann’s longest-running sightseeing companies that pride themselves on offering sunset cruises, harbor tours, lighthouse tours, and water shuttles on a relaxing trip around Rockport, Gloucester, and all of Cape Ann. 

Whale Watch 

Whales are some of the ocean’s most magnificent and awe-inspiring creatures. Seeing one up close can be fascinating, to say the least. Both Cape Ann Whale Watch and 7 Seas Whale Watch offer spectacular whale-watching adventures leaving Gloucester Harbor daily. 

Both groups bring passengers out to the Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary where they are able to watch whales swim, dive, spout water, and breach in their natural marine habitat. Trips run from mid-April to mid-October and have guests raving about the whales they were able to see while enjoying the trip. 

Lighthouse Cruise 

Many visitors to Cape Ann marvel at the sheer number and beauty of the lighthouses that dot the rocky coastline. Take a cruise to visit each of the main lighthouses and learn more about their historical and marine significance along the way. Cape Ann Harbor Tours can help you check this one off your summer bucket list. 

Day & Night Cruises 

Gather up your family, friends, best gal pals, or your corporate group to enjoy a cruise around Cape Ann. Many tour groups, like Essex River Cruises, allow for private events that reserve a boat for your group to enjoy a cocktail cruise, traditional New England Clam Bake, or a private charter for a special event such as a birthday, bachelorette weekend, family reunion, or retirement. 

These cruises allow you to take in all of the shorelines and enjoy seeing the Gloucester and Rockport beaches from a unique angle. 

Board a Gloucester Schooner 

Gloucester Harbor is unique in that it has several schooners that call the piers of the harbor home. Take a tour or head out on a sail aboard Schooner Adventure, a National Historical Landmark, the Ardelle, or Schooner Thomas E. Lannon. 

Learn from maritime and sailing experts and Maritime Gloucester about these striking vessels and how they played a pivotal role in our maritime history. 

There is so much to see and do on the waters off Cape Ann. You choose the adventure that best suits your interests and get started exploring Cape Ann by water.