Bar Harbor was the next port after Boston as Sky Princess sailed North on our return home. We had heard so many good things about Bar Harbor that this was one of the ports that we were really looking forward to visiting. Plus of course, Bar Harbor was the second new port of the cruise for us.
Day 16: Sunday 9th October: Bar Harbor, Maine
We were awake early and watched Sky Princess manoeuvred to where she would be anchored.
Later as we watched, Viking Star approached and passed us to get to her anchor spot.
Tendering to Bar Harbor
Our plan for the day was to leave the ship before everyone else had had their breakfast. We were able to be on the first passenger boat which for us for a local tourist boat.
Out on the top deck besides me there were only five others. The boat had seating for 60+ on the top date and lots more room for people standing at the railings.
After a 10 minute wait only a handful of others had joined the boat we left Sky Princess for Bar Harbor.
After docking as we left the boat I asked one of the crew where he would recommend we go for breakfast. He pointed us towards a dock further down the harbour and told us to look for the Sunset Cafe.
On our left we passed other the restaurants and bars as we walked but none were open this early. On the other side of the street was a park with a scattering of trees. The park stretched up the hill until the first shops on the the top the street.
Breakfast at the Sunset Cafe
The Sunset Grill as well signposted as we turned down to the next pier. Outside the restaurant, there was a covered area with tables and chairs. Beyond that we could see crewmen of the Viking Star setting up to receive guests of that ship.
The restaurant was very crowded with a queue of customers waiting for their takeaway breakfasts. We were lucky to be able to sit at one of the four tables. From our table we could watch the cook preparing crêpes. On the glass window by our table was a line of waiting orders on pieces of paper. And there were a lot of pieces of paper.
We stayed with traditional fillings for our crêpes. Watching bacon and egg filled crêpes being made did make us think about other options though! When our crêpes came, they were simply delicious!
While we ate the queue behind us was always six or seven people. The other tables inside were now full and the tables outside were filling up too.
After finishing our drinks we left this excellent place to have breakfast. Outside the other ship’s crew were still busy setting up to receive passengers.
The shore walk
We walked up the ramp from the pier and crossed over to read the sign at the bottom of the park. This pointed us to the town’s shore walk.
This walk along the side of the sea had been created from land donated by the owners of the houses whose boundary had been the shore.
As we walked we passed historical notices that had old photographs of the town as well as descriptions of why the building or park was an important part of local history.
The Balancing Rock
At the balancing rock, I climbed down onto the rocks near the sea to get a closer look. From the nearby notice boardy we learnt about the rock. The rock had been dumped there in one of the ice ages and was made up of rock found many miles away.
I climbed down onto the rocks below near the sea to get a closer look. Then I had to wait as others on the shore walk wanted selphies next to this famous local landmark!
The shore walk was a pleasant way walking off some of the calories from my crêpe breakfast. We followed the path away from the shore until we came to the main street that ran back down into Bar Harbor.
Bar Harbor shops
The street was very busy with both cars and coaches making their way down towards the main rows of shops and the shore.
We passed more cafes and shops on both sides of the street. The closer we came to the shore the busier the pavements became. At the last T-junction before the park we followed the side street, past the movie theatre and the Route 66 restaurant.
At the end of the shops we crossed over and then walked back to the main street. In front of us, the last shop before the park was a combined gift and bookshop.
In Boston, I had looked for historical photo books, in this bookshop I discovered a National Geographic book reduced in price. The main problem was just how heavy it turned out to be once I had to start to carry it!
At the bottom of the hill, we stopped for a rest and sat on a bench there. We watched pedestrians coming and going and cars making the careful turn to go back up the hill.
Then it was time for lunch, and it was our turn to join the throng of tourists making their way up the hill past all the shops.
Route 66Â Restaurant for lunch
Inside Route 66 we were seated in a booth on the ground floor. The amazing range of memorabilia all around us was hard to take in – it was simply everywhere.
From our server, we learnt that the owner had purchased a church, dismantled it and then moved it to Bar Harbor. The original building had been damaged by fire and the two were then merged to create this amazing space.
The lunch service were excellent, and we took our time to enjoy the sights around the restaurant as well as our food.
Back to Sky Princess
After lunch, we walked back to the pier and without any queues we were immediately on a ship’s tender.
Sailing away from Bar Harbor
Once onboard we went back to the cabin for a rest and later enjoyed a late afternoon drink from room service before watching the sail away from our balcony.
The clocks went forward for one hour ready for Saint John in Canada.
