Sue S.
Yelp
When I was a teenager, my family visited Bar Harbor and we went out on a real lobster boat. It was one of my best memories from that trip. So when my fisherman husband and I decided to visit Bar Harbor for a few days, I knew I had to get him out on a boat. I believe Lulu is the same company my family used on that first trip but couldn't swear by it. At any rate, this is a roughly two-hour tour (a two-hour tour!) around the bay during which you learn all about how lobster boats work and get the chance to see them haul up a lobster pot. You also get the chance to learn all about lobsters and hold a real live one if you wish.
I will say that the first hour or so is more of a scenic nature cruise than anything else. We did enjoy going out to the lighthouse and seeing the seals up close (great photo opps). However, having done a scenic sunset water cruise the night before, this was a bit of a repeat for us. Once we got to the second half of the outing, where they actually haul up a lobster pot, show you how they put the bands on their claws, pass them around, show you the difference between a male and female, etc, that part is awesome. We did wish that they'd hauled more than one trap, but there were like seven lobsters and a couple of crabs in the one pot, so it was all good. The staff is super helpful and knowledgeable. You should tip them.
In my opinion the best seats are the benches up front or the benches that run along the sides of the boat up toward the front. That gives you an up close view of the lobsters and you can clearly hear what's being said. If you sit on the side benches in the up front right hand corner of the boat where there are a couple of ropes blocking the opening for safety, that's right where they haul the pot up, so you'd have a great view.