Eastport is a port of call on New England and Canada ocean itineraries concentrated in fall, with Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America, and Ponant Cruises among the lines calling here.
Set on Moose Island near the Canadian border, Eastport is a compact fishing town shaped by its position at the far edge of the country. Brick commercial buildings along Water Street recall a prosperous era of sardine canneries and shipping, and the harbor remains active with lobster boats and salmon aquaculture pens. The surrounding bay is known for dramatic tidal swings, among the largest on the Atlantic coast, which locals point to with quiet pride.
The historic downtown sits within easy walking distance of the pier, its galleries, small museums, and seafood spots reflecting a community that has leaned into art and heritage as its fisheries have evolved. Passamaquoddy Bay offers views toward New Brunswick and opportunities to spot porpoises, seals, and seabirds. Eastport's remote, unhurried character gives visitors a genuine sense of coastal Maine away from busier ports.
Pavlus Recommendations
How our planners would spend a day in Eastport.
Stroll Historic Water Street
Browse brick storefronts turned galleries, artisan shops, and cafés just steps from the pier, a quick way to soak up the town's sardine-era character in under an hour.
Spot the Old Sow Whirlpool
Just off Eastport's shore lies the largest tidal whirlpool in the Western Hemisphere, best viewed from Deep Cove Park or a short boat ride when the tide is running strong.
Take a Bay Wildlife Cruise
Local boat tours head into Passamaquoddy Bay to look for porpoises, seals, and seabirds against a backdrop of Canadian coastline; book ahead as space is limited.
