A great introduction to island boat cruises for families, Nantucket’s Ice Cream Harbor Cruise is operated by family-run Shearwater Excursions. Only one hour in length aboard the adorable Minke, the harbor cruise departs from Straight Wharf multiple times daily in the summer season, and true to its name, it includes ice cream! More importantly, it takes you past the harbor and around the coast to views like this:
We experienced the harbor cruise on a sunny Monday in June with Toby (age 6) and my nephew Homer (age 2). Both dug into their ice cream (brought in by Nantucket’s famed Juice Bar in each guest’s choice of flavor…and yes, adults get some, too) before we’d even left the dock, and were ready to focus on the sights of the harbor by the time we’d steered clear of the luxurious yachts and colorful fishing vessels and made our way along the coast. We were captained by Shearwater Excursions owner Captain Blair Perkins’ son Max (21), who’s been on the water with his family since age nine, and who was a wealth of information on the island, sailing, and, of all things, soccer…a family passion we shared.
The tour takes passengers past the busy harbor and Children’s Beach to the Brant Point Light and Jetties Beach, then back around through open water (during which the kids were invited to steer, much to Toby’s excitement). It was the perfect length for young kids, a beautiful day to be out on the water, and we learned a lot about the island we’d been playing on for the past few days.
If you have early risers, be sure to book one of Shearwater’s Morning Coffee Cruises, which instead of ice cream, serves coffee, muffins, and juice boxes for the kids. A great way to start the day for anyone, this sort of activity is gold for parents who wonder what on earth to do with the kids who wake up early in a (late-sleeping) town like Nantucket!
Tip: Older kids may prefer Shearwater Excusions’ Seal Cruise or Whale Watch!
Date last visited: June 2011
Cost: $30 per person
Hours and cruise times: Cruises depart daily at 10 am, 11:15 am, 1 pm, 2:15 pm, 4 pm, and 5:15 pm. (The early and late ones fill up fastest!)
Website: www.explorenantucket.com
Reservations: Make reservations by calling (508) 228-7037.
Directions: The Minke is docked at slip #1011 on Straight Wharf. It’s easy to find at the end of Main Street.
