Join Maine Seacoast Mission aboard its 74-foot, flagship vessel Sunbeam during cruises and open houses this summer. In addition, Sunbeam will host guided, dock-side tours every Friday from its port in Northeast Harbor. Special events in Castine and Frenchboro also give opportunities to visit the ship.

During cruises and open houses, visitors can tour the boat and learn more about the Mission’s work on outer islands and in Downeast Maine. Cruises last approximately 90 minutes and are weather dependent. The Sunbeam is docked at the Northeast Harbor Marina on Sea Street.

The schedule includes: 

• Cruise on Wednesday, June 24 departing from Northeast Harbor Marina at 5:30 p.m. (5:00 p.m. boarding time and 7:00 p.m. return)
• Open House with the Wilson Museum on Sunday, June 28 at the Castine Town Dock from 12:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Cruise on Thursday, July 9 departing from Northeast Harbor Marina at 5:30 p.m. (5:00 p.m. boarding time and 7:00 p.m. return)
• Cruise on Saturday, August 1 to Frenchboro’s annual Frenchboro Lobster Festival departing Northeast Harbor Marina at 9:00 a.m. (8:30 a.m. boarding time with 3:30 p.m. return)
• Cruise on Saturday, August 22 departing from Northeast Harbor Marina at 11:00 a.m. (10:30 a.m. boarding time with 12:30 p.m. return)
• Cruise on Thursday, September 3 departing from Northeast Harbor Marina at 5:30 p.m. (5:00 p.m. boarding time with 7:00 p.m. return)  

Sunbeam guided, dock-side tours are every Friday at 1 p.m. starting on Friday, July 10 and continuing until Friday, September 11. These walk-aboards tours give attendees a glimpse of the boat’s inner workings, learn more about the Mission’s history of service, and understand what is needed to provide year-round services to island communities. This is a guided tour that lasts 30 minutes and during these tours the Sunbeam will not leave the dock. 

The Frenchboro Lobster Festival is on Saturday, August 1 and the Sunbeam will transport attendees to the festival on the island. The boat will leave the dock at 8:30 a.m. and will return that afternoon at 3:30 p.m. Attendees will need to pay for their own meal at the event. 

The Sunbeam will also be at the Wilson Museum in Castine on Sunday, June 28 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. during the museum’s Hands-On History Open House. The boat will be at the Castine Town Dock which is a 15-minute walk from the museum. 

These events are free, open to the public, and kid-friendly. During cruises, children must wear life jackets while the boat is in motion if they are out on the deck. Please note the Northeast Harbor town dock and ramp are not accessible to wheelchairs. Visitors should be able to maneuver up and down stairs. 

Registration is required for all cruises, please contact events@seacoastmission.org or call (207) 801-6008. For a full list of Sunbeam events, please visit https://seacoastmission.org/visit-sunbeam/. 

The Sunbeam regularly visits six unbridged islands offering both education, outreach, and medical services. The Mission’s island-based programs support residents of all of Maine’s 15 unbridged islands with year-round populations. The current Sunbeam, the fifth of its name, has been in service since 1995 and received a total refit in 2020. With the assistance of the Sunbeam, the Mission provides health services, education programming, and community building initiatives to year-round populations on Maine’s remote islands. In addition, a full-time nurse offers flu and Covid vaccination clinics, leads a network of eldercare facilities, conducts healthcare check-ups, and connects residents to mainland specialists. 

Rooted in a history of compassionate service and mutual trust, Maine Seacoast Mission seeks to strengthen coastal and island communities by educating youth, supporting families, and promoting good health. For more information, please visit https://seacoastmission.org/