Out of every activity when we visited Nantucket, the one that my three-year-old still talks about is the Critter Cruise. And if I’m being honest, I thought it was just as great as he did!
We’re usually a go-with-the flow family and don’t go overboard planning before we visit a new destination. But I knew Nantucket gets busy in the summer, so as I was planning our itinerary, I wanted to schedule at least a few activities in advance.
I’m so glad we booked the Critter Cruise Nantucket in advance of our four-day trip and I’d recommend this to ANY family traveling to Nantucket.
I booked tickets online for just me and my son. My husband can get sea sickness, so he stayed on land. Even though it was just the two of us, it ended up being the highlight of my whole trip (don’t tell my husband!).
If you’re visiting Nantucket and wondering if the Critter Cruise is a good activity for kids, read on!
In this review, I’ll share exactly what happened on the boat ride, whether it’s right for toddlers specifically, and everything else you need to know before booking.
And don’t miss my full guide to visiting Nantucket with kids, which has even more activities we loved on our visit.
What is the Critter Cruise Nantucket?
The Critter Cruise Nantucket is a one-hour fishing boat charter specifically for kids.
On the boat ride, you’ll get a close-up look at Nantucket sea life, have an opportunity to fish in the Atlantic Ocean, and get great views of the island from Nantucket Harbor.
Booking & Logistics
We booked our tickets online in advance as soon as reservations opened (around March).
Booking in advance is required. I’d definitely recommend booking early, especially if you’re visiting Nantucket in peak summer months.
You can either book individual tickets on a general cruise or book a private cruise for up to 21 passengers.
- Tickets for the individual cruise are about $95 for adults and $81 for kids.
- A 12-person private cruise is about $1,570
- A 21-person private cruise is $1,854
The Critter Cruise departs from Straight Wharf, which is very conveniently located in Town.
If you’re staying at a hotel in Town, you can likely walk or take a shuttle if your hotel offers it. If you’re staying outside of Town, I’d recommend a shuttle or ride share as parking can be challenging.
I share a lot more about transportation around Nantucket overall in my post that addresses if you need a car in Nantucket.
In my guide to visiting Nantucket with kids, I have suggestions for other activities and restaurants in this area that you should visit before or after your Critter Cruise.
The Experience on the Water
The first half of the tour is spent going to salt water traps in the ocean and bringing the creatures onboard in touch tanks.
Kids get to watch and touch crabs, lobsters, fish, snails and more throughout the tour and they’re released back at the end or taken to the Maria Mitchell Association Aquarium.
On our tour, my son was a bit nervous to touch some of the critters like the lobsters and crabs, but was happy to look at them from afar and eventually mustered his bravery and held a huge crab.
The second half of the tour is fishing off the side of the boat.
The crew is incredible and makes sure all kids catch a fish. My son caught a fish with the help of the crew and was so proud of himself!
I caught a fish and I’m not going to lie, I was pretty excited to catch one too!
There were plenty of seating options on the boat. Some were in direct sunlight and some were in shade.
And because the boat doesn’t go too far out to sea, the ride was really smooth and we actually didn’t have to worry about motion sickness at all.
Practical Critter Cruise Nantucket Tips for Families
- Best time of year to book: The Critter Cruise runs from mid-June through early-September. We visited in mid-June and thought it was perfect! The weather wasn’t too hot and Nantucket didn’t have peak summer crowds.
- What to wear: Bring layers in June and September, as it can be cooler on the water. You can wear your normal clothes and shoes.
- Should you worry about sea sickness? Because the Critter Cruise stays close to the harbor, the boat ride is very calm! If you are your kids are prone to sea sickness, it may be worth taking medication to be safe so you can enjoy the experience.
- Activities to pair with the Critter Cruise: Some of the sea life that’s caught on the Critter Cruise is taken to the Maria Mitchell Association Aquarium, which is another kid-friendly activity we loved. Check out my full review of the Nantucket aquarium with kids. I’d recommend pairing these two activities!
Overall, the Critter Cruise Nantucket was probably our favorite kids’ activity during our stay.
It’s a great activity for families of all ages, even those with little kids! We’d definitely recommend it to any other families who are visiting Nantucket.
I have more recommendations about where to stay, eat and play in Nantucket with kids in my full guide. And if you’re looking for an organized itinerary for visiting Nantucket with kids, I have that too! Make sure to check them out as you’re planning your trip.
