Explore on your own rating
Walkable town at the tender pier with a free bus into Acadia.
Where ships dock
- Tender port: tenders land at the Town Pier
Getting to town
You land in downtown Bar Harbor. The free Island Explorer bus hub (into Acadia National Park) is about three blocks up Main Street.
Island Explorer buses are free, but you need an Acadia park entrance pass to ride into the park, and buses can be standing-room-only on cruise days. In 2026 the town's 1,000-passenger daily cap is enforceable only in July and August (court ruling).
Fares are as reported by the sources below and change often. Treat them as estimates.
Money & entry
Currency: U.S. dollar.
Top sights nearby
- Acadia National Park and Cadillac Mountain
- Shore Path
- Jordan Pond House (Island Explorer)
Beaches
- Sand Beach, Acadia (bus)
Safety & tips
- Buy your Acadia pass online before you arrive.
- Try a lobster roll.
- Tenders may cancel in fog or wind.
Check U.S. State Department travel advisories before you sail.
⏰ Back to the ship on time
Island Explorer buses fill up. Be back at the pier 45 minutes before the last tender.
Ship time can differ from local time. Your ship won't wait for independent travelers.