Portland Maine

 Our plan for today was to go on a mail boat run and have a lobster roll for lunch. 

We got off the boat and walked to the ferry terminal and bought our ticket for the 10:00 mail boat. We had an hour before we needed to be back for the boat so we walk around the wharf, stopping into a fish market, Fun to see the tanks of live lobsters and people purchasing them. We chatted with a man who was buying several to take to his son's house for dinner, He explained how the pricing worked depending on size. 

We boarded the mail boat with a lot of other people. It was obvious to us now that locals use it as a ferry. People were getting on with carts of groceries, suitcases,  their pets. The staff had loaded on boxes of produce, paper products, ice chests of probably seafood and meat, along with mail and amazon boxes. We stop at the various islands unloading boxes and passengers and more getting on. We sat between 2 groups who have cottages on the islands. Interestingly both groups were just going for the day and staying in Portland. Both parties said they do not have heat in their places so too cold to stay now, they were going to go to do work for the day, and one was going to a neighborhood meeting. 

The boat then stopped at the same islands on the return trip to pick up new passengers. There was some commentary along the way, and we got some of the fun and interesting information chatting with the cottage owners who were sitting by us. We really enjoyed the boat ride, beautiful area and some trees are just barely starting to turn. On the way back we passed by our cruise ship.

It was about 1:00 pm when we got off and walked along the cute wharf area looking for somewhere for a lobster roll. All the places were packed, so we went back to the ship for lunch then we got back off to walk around the area some more before we had to be back on board. 

Setting up for the champagne fountain.

Tonight was the first formal night. I had made dinner reservations at the restaurants ahead of time while we were still home, it has worked beautifully as we have never had to wait for a table. I booked a table for 2 each night.