Casco Bay Lines, the ferry service that connects Portland to the islands of Casco Bay, has announced a significant expansion of its summer schedule that adds more frequent service to the most popular island destinations and extends evening runs to accommodate growing demand.
The expanded schedule, running from Memorial Day through Labor Day, adds 14 additional round-trip departures per week to Peaks Island, six additional runs to Great Diamond Island, and new weekend service to Long Island and Chebeague Island. Evening ferry service to Peaks Island will run until 11:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, an hour later than last summer.
“Our ridership has grown every year for the past five years, and the islands are more popular than ever,” said Casco Bay Lines general manager Hank Berg. “The expanded schedule helps us serve both year-round island residents who depend on the ferry and the visitors who are discovering these incredible places.”
Peaks Island, a 15-minute ferry ride from Portland’s waterfront, is the most heavily visited island, drawing day-trippers with its beaches, restaurants, and scenic loop road popular with walkers and cyclists. The island’s summer population swells from approximately 800 year-round residents to several thousand on peak days.
Year-round island residents have welcomed the additional service, particularly the extended evening runs. “Living on an island means your life revolves around the ferry schedule,” said Peaks Island resident Laura Gleason. “Later boats give us more flexibility to go into Portland for dinner or an event without having to rush back.”
The ferry company has also invested in a new point-of-sale system and mobile ticketing app designed to reduce wait times at the terminal. Passengers will be able to purchase tickets on their phones and scan them at the gangway, reducing congestion at the ticket window during peak periods.
Casco Bay Lines, which is the oldest continuously operating ferry service in the United States, carries approximately 1.2 million passengers annually on its fleet of five vessels. The company is a quasi-municipal entity, with fares regulated by the Maine Public Utilities Commission.
The full summer schedule is available at cascobaylines.com. Bicycle racks on ferries are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and the company recommends arriving early during weekends for the most popular runs.
