Cruise Ship Information
Current Season
Pursuant to Section 125-77(H) and its rules and regulations (see Policy/Management section below), any property owner seeking to disembark passengers from cruise ships is required to obtain the necessary permits.
American Cruise Lines
The Town of Bar Harbor itself operates a licensed Cruise Ship Disembarkation Facility at Ells Pier, commonly referred to as the Town Pier. The Town is accepting disembarkation of cruise ship passengers at this facility through a Docking Use Agreement with American Cruise Lines.
- Docking Agreement with American Cruise Lines
- 2026 Schedule of American Cruise Lines Ship Visits
- Lower Berth Capacities of American Cruise Lines ships:
- American Independence - 99
- American Patriot - 130
- American Legend - 105
- American Maverick - 130
- American Pioneer - 130
Will any other ships be visiting Bar Harbor in 2026 besides American Cruise Lines?
The other ships with 2026 reservations were booked prior to March 2022 and are "grandfathered" under prior rules.
- Norwegian Breakaway (Lower Berth Capacity 3,963) visiting August 26, September 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30, and October 7 and 14
- Norwegian Jewel (Lower Berth Capacity 3,000) visiting September 8, 22, and 29, and October 13
These visits were all booked April 3, 2020.
Policy/Management
- Municipal Code, Land Use Chapter 125 Section 77(H), "Disembarking persons from cruise ships on, over, or across any property located within the Town of Bar Harbor."
- Chapter 52: Cruise Ship Disembarkation ordinance adopted by the Town Council June 18, 2024. Effective July 18, 2024.
Litigation and Appeals
Golden Anchor, L.C. v. Town of Bar Harbor
- Citation and complaint pursuant to Rule 80K filed March 10, 2025
- Town's opposition to motion to specify and motion to dismiss Counts II-XIII filed February 24, 2025
- Complaint for Declaratory Judgment filed in Hancock County Superior Court September 10, 2024
- Complaint Summary Sheet
- Entry of Appearance Plaintiff's
- Acceptance of Service
- Cover Letter to Court
- Golden Anchor, L.C. Administrative Appeal filed September 4, 2024
- Notice of Violation of Cruise Ship Disembarkation Ordinance, August 5, 2024
In the Golden Anchor v. Town of Bar Harbor matter, the following filings are related to a motion by Charles Sidman to intervene:
- Law Court affirmation of Business and Consumer Court order denying motion to intervene filed January 15, 2026
- Reply Brief of Appellant Sidman filed July 16, 2025
- Maine Supreme Judicial Court (Law Court) Town's brief filed June 25, 2025
- Notice of appeal of Charles Sidman filed December 17, 2024
- Order denying motion to intervene filed November 25, 2024 (Business and Consumer Court)
- Opposition of Golden Anchor to Sidman motion to intervene filed November 18, 2024
- Motion to intervene of Charles Sidman filed October 28, 2024
Sidman v. Town of Bar Harbor (Law Court BCD-25-339)
- Notice of Submission on Briefs Without Oral Argument filed March 11, 2026
- Town's reply brief (Law Court BCD-25-339) filed December 8, 2025
Sidman v. Town of Bar Harbor (80B complaint Business and Consumer Court)
Sidman v. Town of Bar Harbor (80B in Hancock County Superior Court)
- Order dismissing Count I of Sidman's amended complaint filed July 1, 2025
- Order Mooting Golden Anchor's motion to dismiss appeal entered July 1, 2025
- Town's opposition to motion to specify and motion to dismiss Count II filed February 24, 2025
- Final Judgment filed January 23, 2025
- Motion for summary judgment filed November 15, 2024
- Order granting defendant's motion to dismiss (second Rule 80B complaint) filed September 18, 2024
- Order on pending motions filed July 11, 2024
- New Rule 80B Complaint challenging dismissal of Administrative Appeal filed June 25, 2024
- Amended complaint filed June 6, 2024
- Administrative Appeal filed April 4, 2024 Board of Appeals meeting May 14, 2024 video
- Original complaint filed April 2, 2024
APPLL v. Town of Bar Harbor
- Decision of the First Circuit Court of Appeals, August 2025
- Reply brief of APPLL et al filed November 4, 2024
- Reply brief of Penobscot Bay and River Pilots Association filed November 4, 2024
- Amicus curae brief of Cruise Lines International Association filed August 23, 2024
- Amicus curae brief of Pioneer Public Interest filed August 23, 2024
- Order granting motion to file amicus curae briefs filed August 23, 2024
- Order denying injunctive relief filed July 31, 2024
- Town's Opposition to Amended Motion for Injunction Pending appeal filed June 7, 2024
- Order on motion for stay filed May 24, 2024
- Town's Opposition to Joint Motion for Injunction Pending Appeal filed May 13, 2024
- Appeal filed March 29, 2024
- Decision filed February 29, 2024
- Original complaint filed December 29, 2022
Citizen Initiative 2022
- Warrant for November 2022 Special Town Meeting. Explanation and full text of Article 3, "Citizen Petition for Land Use Ordinance Amendment - Daily Limits on Cruise Ship Disembarkations" begins on page 2.
- November 2022 sample ballot
Cruise Ship Working Group and Memoranda of Agreement 2022
- Town Manager's Presentation to the Town Council August 3, 2022. (Video beginning 2:26.00)
- Cruise Ship Operations and Management Presentation to Council August 3, 2022 (Video beginning 2:46.50)
Cruise Ship Survey 2021
Studies and reports 2007-2019
Water Quality Monitoring
A water quality monitoring program is conducted every few years in the waters immediately surrounding visiting ships. The town also participates in Maine Healthy Beached program. As part of that program, the town beach at the pier, Hulls Cove Beach, Hadley Point Beach and the Bar Island Sand Bar are monitored weekly every summer for swimming purposes.
