Frequently Asked Questions

For the majority of our sails we offer Adult, Senior, Child/Student, and Infant < 2 tickets. Our senior discount is available to any passenger 65+, our child discount is available to any passenger ages 2 – 18, our student discount in available to any student enrolled in a full or part-time education program (including trade programs), and our Infant < 2 tickets are free to any passenger under 2 years of age. If discounted ticket prices are not listed for a sail, they are not available for that sail, this includes our 1-hour sails, sunset sails, special event sails, circumnavigations,etc.

For public sails or if purchasing your ticket on site, please check in and pick up your tickets at the Maritime Gloucester front desk before heading to the boat. All tickets include admission to Maritime Gloucester’s exhibits and aquarium during their business hours.

We board right at sailing time, but you should arrive with enough time to park and pick up tickets. It is our passengers responsibility to be present at boarding. The ticket counter is often very busy just before a scheduled sail so please make sure you build in plenty of time to pick up your tickets. If you arrive early you will have a chance to tour Maritime Gloucester. The Ardelle sails from the dock at the time specified on your ticket. Any passenger not present on the dock at sail time will be refused boarding. We do not return to the dock to board late passengers for any reason.

There are metered lots located at each end of Harbor Loop and metered spaces along Rogers St. and Harbor Loop. Parking at Maritime Gloucester is limited. Click here for a Parking Map.

Gloucester has a vibrant calendar of festivals and community events throughout the summer season. These events can sometimes impact traffic and parking in and around downtown and it is up to you to plan your arrival time accordingly. Some useful (but not exhaustive) calendar listings: Gloucester Daily Time Events & Cape Ann Vacations Calendar

We are sorry, but the Ardelle is not wheelchair accessible. To board the vessel there is a sloped gangway leading to floating docks, several steps up to the rail of the vessel, and several steps down to the deck. Our crew is happy to allow advanced boarding and priority seating to passengers with impaired mobility, please call or email ahead to let us know. If you are unsure if a member of your party will be able to board the vessel with assistance, please call us at our main number 978-290-7168. We will be happy to meet you at the vessel and work with you to explore options.

It’s cooler out on the water, so bring a sweatshirt or windbreaker. Dress shoes or high heels are not ideal for boating — we recommend sneakers, sandals, or boat shoes. Cameras, sunglasses and sunscreen are also recommended. Snacks, water and soda, and beer and wine are available for purchase. There is a restroom (called a “head” in nautical terms) on board. It is below decks, via a steady boat ladder, so persons with limited mobility may want to use the Maritime Gloucester restrooms before departing.

Due to our liquor license we are required to provide and serve any alcoholic beverages consumed aboard the vessel. No alcoholic beverages are permitted to be carried aboard by passengers. Passengers are welcome to bring their own food and soft drinks.

NO ILLEGAL DRUGS are allowed aboard the vessel in compliance with the United States Coast Guard zero tolerance policies. This includes cannabis and all cannabis products as proscribed by Federal law.

Wear comfortable clothing and flat, rubber-soled shoes, and be sure to bring an extra layer because it is often cooler on the water. We ask that you please do not wear high heels.

Yes. We have two marine toilets on ARDELLE. Also, there is a bathroom at Maritime

Gloucester, the location of the dock, so passengers will be able to use this before boarding time.

When you buy your ticket, remember to put your phone number and e-mail when prompted. If we need to cancel due to weather, you will receive immediate notification and will be able to  reschedule your ticket or receive a refund if you choose. For information on our ticketing policies, please click here.

Although we reserve the right to modify or cancel reservations as necessary, we do this only in the case of circumstances beyond our control. We do not cancel trips based on the number of tickets sold. If you buy a ticket, we will be happy to take you sailing, even if you are our only passenger!

Trained service animals as defined by Federal and local laws are allowed and welcomed aboard. For the safety and comfort of all of our passengers, we do not allow any other animals or pets.

Due to our liquor license passengers are forbidden from bringing any alcohol on board, however we have beer and wine for sale. We also have chips and snacks available for purchase on board and you are free to bring your own food and non-alcoholic beverages. Please, no coolers.

We stay mainly within the boundaries of the harbor which is well protected from rough seas. We are also responsive to guests and are able to navigate to calmer waters at any time. It is very rare that our passengers suffer from seasickness.

The ARDELLE is first and foremost an educational vessel that has participated in taking school groups out for the spring and the fall. All children can receive student discounts and we are happy to have them on the boat. All passengers require a ticket for boarding regardless of age. Our passenger capacity is determined by the USCG and they count the number of souls on board, not the space each takes up. Infants and toddlers require tickets.

Large items cannot be safely stored on deck and may be challenging to stow below. We ask that all bulky items be left on land.