chesapeake lights lighthouse tours

We were also there the day the boat took on water and totally agree with "Menagerie21." You can read the account of the day on their review, or that of "Ontheroadagain33's." Captain Mike and First Mate Jerry were absolutely cool and calm under pressure. At no time did any passenger feel that the situation was out of control. If anything, this unfortunate occurrence only served to add to my confidence not only in Captain Mike, but also in the boat Sharps Island. As far as continuing the trip not being safe, we were cleared not only by a seasoned boat captain, but also the United States Coast Guard. I'd say we were pretty safe to continue our cruise on the bay!Though we were disappointed we weren't able to see all of the lights, (due to 2 passengers that did not want to continue) we had so much fun! To make up for missing out on the two northernmost lights (Fishing Battery and Turkey Point) Captain Mike took us by 2 extra Craighill Channel Lighthouses (Upper Front and Upper Rear) to make up for it. He tried very hard to accommodate everyone and to ensure that everyone had the best time possible, in spite of a several hour detour. He offered anyone that wanted it a chance to come back again for free, NOT just the people that wanted to continue. To say that a business man like Captain Mike would refuse someone another cruise just because they wanted to come back early is absurd and untrue.The boat was comfortable, the lighthouses were fabulous, Captain Mike was knowledgeable and personable, and the company was fun. The overall atmosphere is one of a lighthearted day of enjoyment on the Bay, so how could you go wrong? I'd recommend you bring a waterproof jacket, hat, sunscreen, lots of snacks, and lots of liquid to make your time on the water the most enjoyable experience possible. This was our second cruise with Captain Mike and we will definitely be going back!

You can read the full account of our little adventure in "ontheroadagain33's" review. A short recap, after about an hour and a half into our trip when we arrived at Thomas Point Light, the boat started to take on water. We were told to put on life jackets, Capt. Mike called the Coast Guard and then made a general call for assistance. Within 10 min. we were surrounded by small pleasure craft waiting to assist us. Then the DNR police boat and two Coast Guard boats arrived about 10min later. After making the necessary call for help, Capt. Mike went back to work, located the cause of the leak and fixed it, before the Coast Guard even arrived. It seems that a 3/4in. brass plug had vibrated loose in the engine compartment. The pumps then were able to do their job and pump out the water. When the engine was running again, the Coast Guard had us go to their base so that an inspector from Baltimore could inspect the boat. He finally arrived and gave us the OK to continue our trip. Although it was a little suspensefull, I never had the fear that we would be in the drink. With all the support around us, I doubt that, if the problem had not been resolved, we would have even put a toe in the water. To quote a seven year old passenger, "at least we got to spend quality time at the lighthouse" As for the accident being due to neglect or stupidity that is absolute nonsense. The boat is routinely inspected and no one is going to risk the lives of passengers or the loss of a $100+ boat. It was simply an accident. No different than if we had our car inspected with new tires etc, before a trip only to find ourself stuck on the road because of a blown tire or broken hose. As the saying goes "S--- happens". We finally started back on our tour and were told that because we lost 2 hours, seeing all 12 lighthouses would bring us back to Tilghman Island at 9pm not 7pm. Except for two passengers all of us wanted to do the whole tour. They unfortunately had a whole list of why they wanted get back at 7pm including not wanting to continue the trip at all. Luckily Capt. Mike did not give any of us THAT option. So we saw 10 lighthouses and returned to port at our scheduled time.NOW to get to the Northern Lighthouse cruise itself. If you are into lighthouses and boating, this is the cruise for you. It is long trip,leave at 8am back by 7pm, so make sure that you like being on a boat for that amount of time. Because 2 new lighthouses were added, there is no lunch stop, so bring a cooler with lunch, drinks and snacks. The Sharpe Island is comfortable and because it originally was a naval vessel it is very heavy and sturdy. You do not feel the motion as much as you do on lighter boats. You can spend your time either up front, where you will get wet at times (bring a water resistant jacket and a plastic bag to protect your camera when not in use) or under the plastic canopy in the back. You get great views in either place since Captain Mike makes it a point to circle the lighthouse when possible. Capt. Mike or the first mate are very imformative about what we are seeing, not only the lighthouses but also the surrounding area and the bay. A plus for arriving back at port in the evening is that you also get to see the sunset on the water. If we were not so far away from Tilghman Island (6 hours from New York) we would have taken Capt. Mike up on his offer to do a return trip to see the missed 2 lighthouses. All in all a very pleasant and entertaining cruise.

We arrived at 745 am for a lighthouse boat tour of the Chesapeake Bay. We got underway at 8am. We arrived at 10am at the second lighthouse: Thomas Point Light when the boat started taking on water. The captain threw the anchor overboard and called the Coast Guard requesting a pump and assistance for 14 passengers and two crew on the 36 foot boat. As we all put on life jackets the DNR police as well as the Coast Guard arrived and other boats come full speed to our location. It was determined that the plug in the bottom of the boat "had vibrated out" thus allowing water to gush into the boat and placing the passengers in a precarious predicament of sinking. Eventually at 11am the pumps started to work and the captain was directed to go to the nearest Coast Guard Station for a boat inspection. We spent two hours at the Coast Guard station at Cox Creek (thanks to all the CG staff for their assistance) until the boat inspector came from Baltimore. The boat got inspected and we were allowed to continue our trip wit the following restrictions: 1. Call the Coast Guard every hour to make sure the boat was still seaworthy and 2. The boat had to be pulled for inspection on the next business day. 3. It was determined by the Coast Guard that the hand pump on board wasn't functioning. The rest of the trip was uneventful until the Captain decided to leave the decision up to the passengers whether to extend the tour another 2 hours and arrive after dark to see all the lighthouses scheduled. There was obvious tension between the passengers because the captain didn't make the decision. The captain said "for those wanting to go back you don't get anything, but for those who wanted to see the far Northern LH they would get a free trip". So, was this an unfortunate accident or neglect or stupidity? The boat takes on water because the plug wasn't secure and couldn't have been check before the trip, the hand pump didn't work, we lost three hours from 10a-1p sitting on a boat with life jackets or at the coast guard station and the captain lacked any customer service skills in providing any compensation for all these variables. If you consider going on this tour: I simply ask think about these things.

We set out on a beautiful Sunday morning, and had a lovely day. The tour began with the usual safety instructions, and then we were off to see lighthouses. The boat is not large, but is very sturdy. Not realizing how many people could fit on the front of the boat, my husband and I chose to stay towards the rear. I wasn't worried about getting wet, which we were assured would happen, but I didn't want my camera to take a soaking. At each lighthouse, Captain Mike circled around slowly so everyone had ample opportunity to take pictures from every angle. The boat was nearly at full capacity, but that did not hinder us from getting the photos we wanted. If you want to learn about the lights and the Bay, sit up front, because that is where the instruction was. All in all, a good day, and we would definitely recommend Chesapeake Lights!

While staying in St Michaels we decided to book a boat tour... Chesapeake Lights offers multiple boat tours in the Chesapeak Bay... we chose the Northern Lights tour which is an ALL DAY boat tour.It's easy to find and get to, only about 15 minutes from St Michaels. The boat is sufficient, definitely not luxurious, but sufficient. It could probably hold about 25 people, our tour had 14 plus a crew (normally 2, but we had a capt in training with us too so we had 3). The back part of the boat was covered with a canopy and had plastic "walls" to shield you from the bay spray. We rode in the front. We got wet. We got sunburned. (Note: DO bring a chance of clothes with you and honestly, rain gear is not a bad idea. You won't get continuously soaked, but it can be uncomfortable. DO bring sunscreen - and use it. Even if you wouldn't need it on land, remember the water is reflecting back at you from all angles... ALL DAY). The boat does not have seats... it has benches - hard benches that you bounce on constantly for 8 hours. (Note: Bring one of those stadium cushions). There is a "head"... but my husband used it and said I wouldn't so I didn't check it out... it's "down below", but apparently there are no doors, just a curtain. (Note: Do not down a much of coffee before getting on the boat. And do use the restroom before you get onboard.)It couldn't have been a more beautiful day to be on the boat. I romantize about lighthouses and so I thought the tour was fabulous. You go under the Ches Bay Bridge, pass enormous ships, see a trillion sailboats, learn about efforts to "build islands" in the bay (seriously). The Capt is quite knowledgeable. "Jane-O" the mate was less so... she knew some stuff, but eh... I still learned alot. It was an awesome tour!I was content with the length of the tour, although Hubby really hit his limit after 5-6 hours, and so did some (most) others. I am going recommend you opt for the shorter tour... they have one that does 5 lighthouses instead of the 10 we saw. We really were on the boat from 8-5 except for an hour stop for lunch and refueling. Be advised, the place where you stop for lunch is not a "nice" restaurant. It's clean and sufficient if you're hungry (we were starved), but it won't impress you, and there is NOTHING there but a place to park, refuel and grab a bite, so you aren't walking a block to another restaurant. I had a grilled cheese and tomato sandwich. Hubby had a steak and cheese that he says has to be Steak-ums. They also have a ham sandwich and a crab cake sandwich on the menu and a couple other things. Like I said, sufficient. With the exception of the crab cake, it's probably what you would eat at home if you were spending a Saturday fixing your car and got hungry. The prices are about $6 for sandwich, so it was the cheapest meal we had all weekend. One more note - you can and should bring a small cooler with snacks and sodas or even a beer if that is your preference (just remember somebody's gotta drive home and that sun + beer + bouncing can get to you). So glad we did this tour! Now I am looking for similar tours for other points on the bay so I can see ALL the lighthouses....

I found Chesapeake Lighthouse Tours, through the internet, and was kind of weary about it at first. After booking with Capt. Mike over the phone, I began to ease a little. Capt. Mike is truly one of the best Captains on the bay. The day we did our tour was not the best, with choppy water and rain, but we were able to see 5 lighthouses up close and personal that you cannot get to other than a boat. I plan to take other tours with Capt. Mike in the future!

My wife and I were looking for something different to do as a part of our summer bucket list. I found this trip on the web and we took a chance. I'm so glad we did. The captain and his daughter were fantastic hosts. We learned more about lighthouses than we ever expected! The vessel was rock solid and comfortable, we had a chance to meet some other families and have conversation on the trip and had a great time overall. It is difficult to find a cost effective way to spend a half day on the water without chartering your own boat - this trip was really a great experience. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great way to spend a few hours on the water. Give it a try!

We have taken several tours with Captain Mike. These tours are for everyone, from people who are lighthouse enthusiasts to people who just want a nice tour of the bay and to learn more about our lighthouses. From the Sunset cruise that takes in 2 lights, to the Southern Expedition which takes 2 days, each trip is unique and special. Captain Mike is knowledgeable about the lights, but more importantly about the boat and the bay. Thank you, Captain Mike and first mate Moe! We'll see you soon

This was a wonderful experience and a pleasure to be Aboard. We learned so much and look forward to going on another Lighthouse Cruise. Thank you Captain Mike!

We took the Passage to 5 lighthouse tour yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed it. This is a small family operation, so there were only about 20 of us on the boat. We were allowed to bring coolers, but they had iced bottle of water for those who did not bring anything. Our guides were freindly and knowledgable and able to answer all questions. We were able to get close to all 5 lighthouses and I got some great pictures. A few caveats- the only shade is near the diesel engine, so if you, like me, tend to seasickness, you won't want to be back there, so bring plenty of sunscreen and a hat. The other caveat is that if you ave back problems there are not a lot of seating options. One more- you will get sprayed, so dress accordingly. We had a great time and definietly would take a trip with them again.

Chesapeake Lights offers cruises of varying length and number of lighthouses visited. The Northern Chesapeake Lighthouse Expedition is an all day activity, departing at 8am and returning about 515pm. While no food is served aboard, a lunch stop is made at Tolchester, at an above average restaurant. You are permitted to bring your own snacks and drinks aboard.The boat itself is a 36 foot, wide beam vessel, under the command of Captain Mike. His assistant is the knowledgeable and capable Kate, who in addition to presenting narration on the lighthouses, bay wildlife, and both natural and manmade features of the Bay, is capable in all facets of the boats operation. You will not find a more personable and interesting man than Captain Mike. He rightfully takes pride in his vessel and offering an interesting cruise. The day of our cruise was a beautiful blue sky, sun shiny day. It was a pleasure to be out on the water. Captain Mike was able to navigate very close to the ten lighthouses on the tour, and gave photographers ample opportunity to get pictures.Even if you have no interest in lighthouses, the tour is well worth your time. Camaraderie with fellow passengers develops, making for an enjoyable day.