Bar Harbor (Maine)

Bar Harbor ME is a tender cruise port, which means cruise liners anchor in Frenchman Bay and their passengers are transported to the pier via the ship's tender boats.

After the ship drops anchor, cruise passengers are ferried back and forth to one of the port's 2 piers/docks in downtown (at 121 Eden Street). From there, they can connect (with trolleys and buses) to local attractions, including Acadia National Park.

(NEW) Bar Harbor cruise terminal "Marine Atlantic"

As tendering passengers increase cruise companies' costs, there is a plan for the conversion of the old ferry terminal (on Eden Street) to a combined ferry-cruise terminal facility.

The town voted on June 13, 2017 (Article 12) to re-zone the old ferry terminal. Following the vote (945 to 658), the town purchased the state-owned Marine Atlantic property (former ferry terminal) from the Maine Department of Transportation. This facility served two Bay Ferries ships (The Cat, The Bluenose) connecting Bar Harbor with Nova Scotia Canada (Yarmouth).

• In February 2019 was signed a 5-year lease deal (thru 2024) with annual rent CAD 264,000.
• By the lease agreement, Bay Ferries started a major terminal renovation project that includes demolition and rebuilding of Customs Plaza, as well as a renovation of outbuildings and portions of the terminal building's interior.
• Customs Plaza's renovation also includes installing new equipment (required by US Customs and Border Protection), repairs to the existing docking pier, installing a new fixed bridge section (adjacent to the pier), transfer of the floating ferry ramp from Portland to Bar Harbor.
• Nova Scotia contributed to the cost of the ferry terminal's border services. Since the Maine-Nova Scotia ferry service was resumed (2015-2018), the NS government spent CAD 32 million in subsidies.

Article 12's zoning change allows cruise (and other) vessels to dock at the ferry terminal. Several lawsuits (filed by locals) were against this port development project. As of 2019, Ferry Terminal Visioning Committee has approved the state-owned property to be used as a multi-use terminal. The current deal includes a 5-year lease for the CAT ferry providing daily connections Bar Harbor-Yarmouth. Other terminal uses could include a possible yacht marina, boat storage, overflow parking (for tourists), cruise ship tendering.

The town has a webpage dedicated to materials developed by consultants and the local committee process. More information can be found at barharbormaine.gov/393/Ferry-Terminal. Anyone interested in this issue could follow port developments on the website.

In early-July 2020, due to the progressing in the USA COVID pandemic, Bar Harbor decided to close its seaports to cruise ships for the remainder of 2020. On July 7, town councilors voted to ban cruise ships after ACL-American Cruise Lines announced its plan to resume coastal voyages with some itineraries visiting several Maine coast towns.

In early-August 2021, the Town Council voted unanimously for the 65-year-old ferry terminal to be demolished, once there's money and a plan to replace it with a new facility. Most of the existing infrastructure (including the pier) will be demolished, to fulfill the contract with Bay Ferries. The decision was made following a workshop with the Harbor Committee in July, during which was also suggested building a new Marina (yacht-serving port facility).

• In late-July, the Canadian company announced plans to restart its fast-catamaran service (THE CAT ship) linking with Canada (Yarmouth).
• The 1956-built old ferry terminal was originally designed to serve the Canadian ferryboat MV Bluenose (1977-built/1982-scrapped), so the current layout is obsolete. 
• The current terminal consists of 2 causeways, 2 piers/docks (north and south), 2 vehicle bridges (between both piers), and a dilapidated building.