katahdin cruises and moosehead marine museum

My review is not for the experience of riding the Kate, it's for the lack of access to accurate information. Prior to coming to Greenville with my husband and two friends, I checked the Website and saw that the boat did not operate on Sundays or Mondays, but noted that the season ending date was October 13th--Columbus Day Monday, so made a call to see if there was perhaps a Monday end-of-season run. Although it was 2 pm, within the stated hours of the office (from the answering machine), no one answered the phone and the message reiterated that the boat did not go out on Sunday or Monday. Since were were only going to be in Greenville on Monday, we were sad to learn that the boat was not an option, but we accepted the "fact" and made other plans. Imagine the escalated level of disappointment when we arrived in Greenville on October 13, a gorgeous autumn afternoon, just in time to see the Kate leaving the dock for the last cruise of the season....... We could easily have arrived in time for the much-desired ride had we received accurate information on-line or via telephone. Had we not made the effort to find out about the option, it would have been our fault, but this was a total failure on the part of the operator to indicate that there was a Monday cruise on October 13.

This review is based solely on the seven-hour cruise that covers the entire length of Moosehead Lake from south to north and back again. First, a tip: get to the parking lot an hour early! The best seats on the Katahdin (aka "Kate") are near the bow on the upper deck, and all seats are general admission, so first come, first served! If you cannot make it to the seats near the bow, try the port seats for the trip north. You will not have the sun in your eyes and the crew provides blankets in case you get chilled. Here's another seating tip: after the Katahdin gets going, you can walk down to the lower deck and walk to the bow. There, you'll get a view through two large windows, one to starboard and one to port. You'll have to stand, but the view is worth it! Another great view is from the ship's wheelhouse. If you don't bother the captain, they'll let you spend a few minutes there. Also, be prepared for a change in temperature during the trip; so dress in layers! Yes, this excursion is seven hours long, but the crew does take very good care of its passengers. Bottled water and canned soda are provided as part of admission and are kept in an ice tub. This was very much appreciated by all as our weather was sunny and warm. In addition to beverages, the meal served at the half-way point of the trip was a wonderful surprise: a complete Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixings: turkey, gravy, cranberries, butternut squash, mashed potatoes, peas, a roll, and your choice of a pastry or cookie dessert. Not only was my plate full, all of the items were very nicely prepared. Had I been served this meal in a restaurant, I would have been quite happy!! As mentioned twice before, this excursion lasts seven hours and can be split into three parts. One part is lunch; that's been covered. Before lunch is the educational portion of the trip when the captain points out interesting points along the shores or in the distance. After lunch, the captain pretty much keeps quiet and lets the passengers soak in the beauty of Moosehead Lake and environs. Throughout the excursion, people will get up and wander around the ship, so one will have the chance to sit at different places around the Katahdin. One exception--yup, the seats near the bow. Those passengers get rather territorial (and rightly so!). Given the history lessons, the beauty of the area, and the meal served, the price of admission is an excellent deal! Well done, Kate!

A wonderful way to spend an afternoon (it helped to have perfect weather). The trip gave us interesting insights into life along the lake today and in days gone by. Probably all visitors to Moosehead need to do this.

We enjoyed the four hour Mt. Kenoe tour very much. The views were spectacular. Captain Tom was full of interesting information (and a few tall tales).Bring more jacket than you think you need, the breeze really picks up out on the lake. You can bring along some snacks and beverages, or get something from the limited galley.There are bathrooms on board, it's not too difficult for an elderly person to get onto the boat. There are plenty of chairs and enclosed space to sit down out of the wind. The boat doesn't rock or pitch, and kids would really have to work at falling overboard.Great family excursion! PS: There are no german U-boats wrecked in the lake, they're just pulling your leg.

We were fortunate to take a tour on the "Kate" to celebrate her 100 years!! We couldn't believe as we cruised on Moosehead Lake how massive in size it really is!!

What a wonderful history of the steamship "The Kate". Beautiful cruise up the Moosehead Lake. Captain gave interesting tidbits of stories, both truths & rumors, about the area. Lovely way to spend the afternoon. Would definitely recommend. Floatplanes were flying all around us, adding to the fun.

Nice museum with history on steamers on Lake Moosehead. Will try the cruise tomorrow; weather permitting.

The boat was very well maintained for a 100 yr old!! The facilities were very good, a decent galley for food and drink, seating from every side and every deck. The chance to go onto the bridge or down in the engine room if that was of interest to you. There was a very interesting narrative about the sights and the area in general and the whole trip was very good.A lovely way to view some of the gorgeous Moosehead Lake on the Lake!

This was a four and a half hour trip that was well narrated and provided lots of beautiful scenery of Moosehead Lake. Mount Kineo was observed up close due to the depth of water around that part of the lake. Seating is a folding chair, not the best but for the value not a problem. You did need to be outside to enjoy the scenery. Children are well received and allowed to visit with the captain and help steer the boat. The only problem for us was the fact that once you had a seat, you did have to put up with people standing in front of your view. Most moved on after a few minutes.

My wife and I took the three-hour ride and had a great time. Not only do you get a good view of the lake, but you also hear information about the history of the lake and surrounding area from the captain as he guides the boat up the lake.

Though it was somewhat crowded, the boat ride was enjoyable. I don't blame the boat company for the screaming children. The captain narrated the cruise on the way out, but not the way back which means we didn't know what we were looking at once the boat turned around.The only seating are the folding chairs. Try to get a padded one, it's a long ride.

Breathtaking tour of the Maine outdoors. Do yourself a favor and book this one. We drove up to mt kineo and many other mountains. Breathtaking views. Bring the camera!

This was a very pleasant cruise that helped us to appreciate Moosehead Lake. The standard cruise is 3 hours long and I wouldn't want to spend much more time than that. It's just that it is a long, slow boat ride. There are many things to do for children but if I had my choice, I would not bring children. (See my last sentence!)Had an interesting, and free, tour of the engine room. Saw many historic photographs and got to see the lake from the water, instead of the land.

It was nice but a bit long, informative and all aboard were quite nice. a bit on the pricey side for what is included.

Beautiful and very clean 100 year old boat...great trip for whole family...you can easily walk about during the cruise ...the captain and crew were very knowledgable about area and friendly...captain let my kids (and husband lol) steer the boat, they loved it! My Mom, who was also traveling with us also really enjoyed the trip with all it scenic views and the informative tour...definitely a good value...three 3 hours seemed like enough time...they also had food and snacks available on board but less than halfway through they were out of many items so make sure you order early if you want something to eat ;)