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Mount Washington Cruises

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Review Highlights

“ My wife and I celebrated our welcome dinner on the M/S Mount Washington with family and friends the evening before our wedding day last October. ” in 5 reviews

“ FIrst, you get to see the lake from the water, not the car - which is a whole new experience. ” in 24 reviews

“ We should have planned better and stayed a couple hours in Wolfboro and then taken the boat back to Weirs Beach . ” in 3 reviews

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211 Lakeside Ave

Weirs Beach, NH 03246

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The M/S Mount Washington is an excursion cruise ship on Lake Winnipesaukee, NH offering scenic cruises, dinner cruises, Sunday brunch cruises, sunset cruises, foliage cruises and special theme dinner dance cruises on Lake Winnipesaukee, NH. Lake Winnipesaukee covers 72 square miles of crystal clear water. it is surrounded by mountains and dotted with islands making up some of the most beautiful scenery in all of New England. The M/S Mount Washington is a unique venue for weddings, corporate outings and special parties of all kinds. Season is from mid May through late October. The US Mail Boat, Sophie C. is the oldest floating post office in the country. It takes on passengers as she delivers mail to the summer residents on the islands. Mid June-Mid september The Doris E. offers 1 and 2 hour cruises of meredith bay and waters between the islands, offering up some more intimate parts of the lake. For more info go to: www.cruiseNH.com …

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Our private bus tour booked us for a one-hour lunch cruise. The cruise was nice but largely unremarkable. It would be interesting for folks that haven't spent much time on the water. After a week of buffet food at every stop all week--and reading others' reviews, I had pretty low expectations but I will give credit where credit is due; the buffet was actually not bad! My only real complaints follow and all pertain to the unmet needs of elderly and physically challenged folks. On board, guests have to be able to use stairs to access the open balcony, so they will miss that particular experience and view. The check-in and preboarding process is brutal. Lots of hurry up-and-wait on uneven boardwalk and slanted gang planks that can be uncomfortable underfoot and even dangerous for anyone with balance issues, limited stamina, back problems, canes, etc. The handful of benches near the venue fill quickly. The handicap restroom on the boardwalk is kept locked, and there is no signage to inform the unwitting visitor that they'll need to get a key from the ticket desk. Dock helper "Shep" completely dismissed the gentle suggestion that they put a simple sign on the door and made it clear he was not interested in public feedback.

You could be "next" all day. It's locked even when vacant. They want you to magically figure out that the key is at the ticket booth.

Scenic train stop.

We had a perfect night weather wise for our sunset dinner cruise of lake Winni. The parking and boarding was easy, and the staff friendly. I was hoping for some narration of the lake area even though I know there's another tour for that. The buffet/food was simple, and opened before our 6 pm departure. Music was on the lower deck but they had a great mix playing on the top deck.

Sunset on lake Winni. 8/23

Did the Sunday Brunch Quickly got on the boat. Food was already out and people inline before 10:00 AM Food was ok. Waffles were a huge hit with my son. Typical brunch buffet food. Mimosa was ok. Cake looked like a leftover cake they cut into small pieces. Staff was friendly. Wish the served food after setting sail. Boat ride was a bit long with nothing to do on board.

Great night out on the lake. Really good food and deserts. Sunset was a perfect 10. We would highly recommend this cruise.

We had a wonderful day, beautiful weather. The food on the brunch was delicious and the crew was nice and helpful. I would recommend this cruise to anyone visiting Lake Winnipesaukee..worth it 100%!!!!

Lake Winnipesaukee

We don't like given bad reviews we were both very excited to be going on this two and a half hour dinner cruise we paid the extra $10.00 dollars each to get on the boat a half hour earlier also to pick out your table for a good view we sat down at our table then went to the buffet very limited sat down, later on the general public boarded they also proceeded to the buffet one and a half hours later we went to the buffet again they said they ran out of chicken and would be @ 10 minutes till the chicken came out also wanted to mention the food was not hot but if you are hungry you will eat it. As far as if you wanted a drink only ONE bartender people were making two lines but you didn't know what line to get into it didn't have a sign saying line starts here also they ran out of bud lights at 6:45 P.M. As far as the music they had one gentleman playing a guitar he was okay I'm hoping if management sees this review they can make these corrections.

Nice enjoyable cruise from one end of the lake to the other. Buffet food was above average, nothing spectacular. Drinks are a little pricey but those things take a backseat to the spectacular views you will see on this historical ship.

See all photos from Mike S. for Mount Washington Cruises

Everything was great on our "Daytime Scenic Tour" cruise: the ship, the personnel, the narration, even the weather. Except this... we expected the ship to visit Alton Bay and Wolfeboro from Weirs Beach. Our daughter was visiting from Nevada and we really wanted her to see Alton Bay from the ship, but on this particular cruise, Alton Bay was omitted. I must have missed some fine print - my advise, check on the ports of call before buying tickets.

The actual cruise itself was lovely, gorgeous scenery, a nice pace, a delicious brunch and good service. I would have given it 5 stars but for the following. The handlers of the passengers on land, before the brunch cruise today, Sunday October 1, were careless and thoughtless, and and made a large crowd of people, including several elderly women, stand bunched up for well over a half hour, in the hot sun, crammed onto a steeply sloping boardwalk while waiting to board (instead of letting passengers sit in the shade, till the boat arrived). When we asked politely for some information on when we would board, since the boat was very late, the lady attendant snapped at us "you'll see the boat when you see it". No apology for lateness, no explanation, and no concern whatever for customers' comfort. NOT the way to handle customers paying over $100 per couple, who were asking a legitimate question. I would recommend the cruise itself, but if you go, be prepared for a sloppy, extended, uncomfortable, chaotic boarding process.

Great way to see the Lake!! It was informative and on a great day such a lovely way to see Lake Winnie.

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What a way to start the day

View Schedule & Purchase Tickets

Lunch Cruises on the M/S Mount Washington

The M/S Mount Washington departs Weirs Beach daily at 12:30 PM for narrated lunch cruise. Your ticket includes a 2 hour cruise, lunch, and non-alcoholic beverages.

Alcoholic beverages are available for purchase. Please Note: This schedule has been modified for the 2020 season in response to COVID-19. Advance reservations are required and tables are reserved on a first come, first served basis.

A morning cruise is the perfect way to experience the beauty of Winnipesaukee. During this leisurely excursion, select from a variety of brunch entrées, while you listen to the history and folklore of the region.

Includes 2 ½ Hour Cruise with Brunch Service. Beverages available for purchase.

Brunch Cruise Schedule

Brunch menu, 10:00 am cruise.

Assorted Pastries Fresh Fruit Scrambled Eggs Bacon Hash Browns Orange Glazed Ham Banana Bread French Toast Assorted Desserts

1:00 PM Cruise

Soup of the Day Rolls & Butter Scrambled Eggs Bacon Short Rib Hash Malted Waffle Maple Mustard Chicken Breast Assorted Desserts

We've put our best thinking and resources into creating new ways to help keep our customers safe throughout their cruise.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

• All cruises are rain or shine.
• Cruise tickets are non-refundable, however they may be exchanged for credit toward another cruise with 24 hours notice.
• Unused tickets on the day of a cruise are eligible for a credit of 50% of ticket price toward a future cruise.
• Cruises depart on time and boarding will begin approximately 30 minutes prior to departure. No passengers are permitted on the ramp leading to the ship until boarding begins.
• Plan to arrive at the port 20-30 minutes before the boarding time to find parking, secure your tickets, and pass through security screening. Metered parking and paid parking lots are available at Weirs Beach.
• If you or a member of your party becomes ill prior to the cruise, your entire party should remain home. Please contact our Ticket Office ASAP to discuss alternative arrangements.
• For the safety and comfort of all passengers, all vessels in the Winnipesaukee Fleet are non-smoking.

Mount Washington Cruises

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Mount Washington Cruises - Things You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Mount Washington Cruises

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Mount Washington Cruises - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

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M/S Mt. Washington to return to Lake Winnipesaukee on June 20

The Winnipesaukee Flagship Corporation announced this week that the M/S Mount Washington will be cruising Lake Winnipesaukee again as a floating restaurant, beginning on June 20 for the first lunch cruise of the season. The first dinner cruise will kick off on June 27. “We’ve taken time to consider all aspects of our business, and have been hard at work for the past few weeks revising our operating procedures and redesigning our summer season. We’re ready when you are,” said Captain Jim Morash, General Manager of Mount Washington Cruises. For the first time, the Mount will offer a special Father’s Day lunch cruise, on June 21st. This is a first, as the Mount could not offer a cruise on Father’s Day in the past as it conflicted with Laconia Bike Week. The cost of this lunch cruise is $40 per person. The Mount’s guiding principles in this effort are to meet and exceed all state and federal guidelines for restaurant operation, as well as customer expectations for service. In preparing the M/S Mount Washington for operation, the crew has made adjustments to the schedule, experience and product offering. These changes include: • The 10:00 AM cruise out of Weirs Beach is suspended, as well as all departures out of other ports, for the time being. • There is one lunch cruise every day from Weirs Beach at 12:30 PM, and a dinner cruise on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. This allows time to perform additional cleaning between cruises. • All tickets now include meal service, limited non-alcoholic drinks, and tax. • Advance reservations are suggested for all cruises, and they have reduced the number of passengers on board by more than 50%. • Each party will be assigned a table for the duration of each cruise, with proper distancing between tables. • Buffet service will be replaced by new table service on all cruises. • While dancing is strongly discouraged by the State of New Hampshire, ambient music will be offered on all cruises and areas of interest will be highlighted to passengers. In addition to these changes, the Mount has implemented new policies and procedures to make a visit as comfortable and safe as possible. Lunch cruises cost $40 per person and include the 2-hour cruise, lunch, limited non-alcoholic beverages, and tax. Dinner cruises are $40 - $55 and include 2.5-hour cruise, dinner, select non-alcoholic beverages, and tax. “As we receive more information and guidance through the summer, we will continue to evaluate our operation and make adjustments if possible,” said Captain Morash. “We’re hopeful that over time, we will be able to expand our schedule and return to more normal operation.” The M/V Doris E and U.S. Mailboat will remain closed for public cruises, while the Mount continues to monitor the public health situation. The M/S Mount Washington has been a New Hampshire icon since 1872. Departure times and options vary through the season. To learn more about the Mount Washington and to view a complete schedule with times and ticket prices, visit www.cruisenh.com or call 603-366-5531 to request a brochure to be mailed.

M/S Mount Washington Cruise to Wolfeboro

2 1/2 hour cruise around lake winnipesaukee.

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• New Hampshire

Gilford, New Hampshire 03249, United States

Created By: Mount Washington Cruises

Tour Information

Depart Weirs Beach and follow the western shore passing Glendale, West Alton, and Rattlesnake. Pass through the lower end of the largest open expanse of water on the lake, known as The Broads. As you approach Wolfeboro Bay, you will pass by the Barndoor Islands. Entering Wolfeboro, you see the historic town laid out before you. Known as the oldest summer resort in New Hampshire, Wolfeboro is host to many fine shops and eateries. Upon your departure from Wolfeboro, the majestic M/S Mount Washington crosses straight through The Broads showing off amazing panoramic views. Passing Welch and Timber Island, you know you are getting close to the Mount's home port of Weirs Beach.

What You'll See on the Tour

Eagle island, stonedam island, belknap mountain range, the witches, locke's island and glendale bay, lake shore park, diamond island, 8. smith’s point & sleepers island, 9. treasure and cub island, moose and ship islands, expanse of the lake, barn doors island, sewall point, welcome aboard, parker island, rattlesnake island, lake history, 21. welch and the fortys, mount washington, govenors island, leave a comment, download the app, download the pocketsights tour guide mobile app to take this self-guided tour on your gps-enabled mobile device..

Updates and Corrections

Please send change requests to [email protected].

M/S Mount Washington Cruise Ship

Mount washington cruise ship history.

The M/S Mount Washington was launched at Lakeport in August of 1940. Built by Boston General Ship & Engine Works, this vessel was constructed from the iron hull of another ship, the S.S. Chateaugay, which was purchased from the Shelburne Shipyard located on the Vermont side of Lake Champlain.

It was a phenomenal feat; cutting the Chateaugay hull into twenty sections, transporting it from Vermont to New Hampshire, reconstructing the pieces and adding a super structure to create the new Mount. Most amazing is the fact this was all done in about six months time.

Since the launching in 1940, the Mount Washington has undergone many physical changes including the addition of twin diesel engines in 1946 and the addition of 25 feet to her length in 1982.

The Legacy of the M/S Mount Washington

The Chateaugay was designed and built in 1888 in Shelburne, Vermont by the Harlan and Hollingsworth Company of Wilmington, Delaware at a reported cost of $101,000. It was to be used as a passenger excursion boat. The vessel was made of iron mined from Mt. Chateaugay in upstate New York and was the first iron-hulled steamboat on Lake Champlain. It was 203 feet long and was powered by a 1,000 horsepower Fletcher steam engine that could propel her along at about 20 mph. Chateaugay served Champlain Transportation Company’s fleet on and off for 51 years.

Eventually Chateaugay was replaced by the famous Ticonderoga and was reserved only for special excursions. In 1917 she was taken out of service during World War I.

Ticonderoga runs aground in 1919 on a reef off the north end of Isle La Motte. The Chateaugay returned to service for one season while the Ticonderoga is repaired. Chateaugay was pulled out of storage and converted into automobile ferry in 1925. She was pressed into flood disaster work in November 1927 during The New England Flood. Roads and railways had received a huge amount of damage and could not be used and the lake was the only way to reach people. Chateaugay was loaded down with food, medical supplies, building materials, clothing, refugees, mail and what ever else they could put on her. She navigated the lake without hitting any debris from the flood.

Chateaugay with paddlewheel decoration and later decorated to disguise the fact she was a sidewheeler.

Her machinery was removed in 1939 and sold for scrap. The Lake Champlain Yacht Club rented the steamer Chateaugay for $300 to use as their clubhouse. It was moored at the foot of King Street in Burlington, Vermont.

December 23, 1939 a fire broke out in the railroad station and destroys the S.S. Mt. Washington, which was moored at The Weirs pier for repairs. Ending her 67-year rein on Lake Winnipesaukee.

Within days, the owner, Leander Lavallee started the search for a new ship to replace the original Mt. Washington. On December 28, 1939, he purchased the side-wheel steamboat, Chateaugay from the Vermont Transportation Company for $20,000. April 1940 the replacement ship was stripped down and the hull was cut into 20 pieces, like a loaf of bread, put on railroad flatcars and shipped to Lakeport, NH. General Ship and Engine Works of East Boston, MA did the moving of the new Mt. Washington II and the rebuilding. The new deckhouse would be manufactured entirely of steel to conform to American Bureau of Shipping standards for fireproofing.

Mt. Washington II was launched

August 12, 1940, the steamer Mt. Washington II was launched in Lakeport with a large, enthusiastic crowd on hand to wish her well. After the launching the Mt. Washington II was ballasted down and was ready to be towed to The Weirs for final outfitting. When the vessel reached The Weirs Channel Bridge it was realized that she lacked about 6 inches of clearance. A large number of people gathered on the bridge were invited to board the boat by dropping down onto the upper deck. Some 500 people accepted the invitation and the Mt. Washington II settled down and was able to proceed under the bridge without further trouble.

The remaining work was done at The Weirs, which was mostly painting and installing the stack. Work was quickly finished and a few days later the new S.S. Mt. Washington II, which had by now cost $150,000, embarked on her maiden voyage.

Things did not go smoothly for the new ship. She took nearly twice as long to complete the normal route than the first Mt. Washington did. Part of the problem was the oil burners were not adjusted correctly and the propellers were not immersed far enough into the water. The Chateaugay was a typical shallow-draft side-wheeler and the newly fitted screw propellers were continually breaking water, dissipating the engine power, making foam instead of providing thrust. This problem was overcome by installing plates over each propeller to prevent the water surface from breaking. These measures helped, but problems continued to plague the new ship. By 1941, World War II and the cost of fuel oil, supplies and their limited availability and the inadequate income of the very short first season took its toll. The company went into bankruptcy April of 1942. After the bankruptcy, the steam engines were commandeered for the war, laying up the Mt. Washington II for the duration of the war.

The Mt. Washington II was valued at $64,000 at the time of the bankruptcy. It was then sold to General Ship and Engine Works for $30,000.

In 1946 after World War II ended the new owners of the Mt. Washington II, Carl and Byron Hedblom, who were also the principal owners of General Ship and Engine Works, rebuilt the vessel adding two Enterprise diesel engines with 615 horsepower each. They upgraded her with electrically powered auxiliaries. A new pilothouse was built one deck higher to improve visibility and passenger space. Finally there was a slight name change from S.S. Mt. Washington II to M.V. Mount Washington. The II was dropped and the full spelling of Mount was implemented.

Since resuming operations a few other changes have been made to the ships appearance. In 1951 a canopy was added over the third deck, which opened this area for the first time to passengers. The stack was also raised to accommodate the new canopy.

Byron Hedblom retires in 1972, selling the company to the Winnipesaukee Flagship Corporation.

At the age of 78, Byron Hedblom comes out of retirement to oversee a project to lengthen the Mount Washington. On October 31, 1982 the Winnipesaukee Flagship Corporation had the vessel cut into two sections at the Center Harbor dry dock, then added a 100 ton, 24’ new section to extend The Mount Washington’s length to 230’. This increased interior seating capacity by 100.

April 30, 1983 the Mount was re-commissioned the M.S. Mount Washington at the shipyard in Center Harbor. With the new length of the Mount all the docks had to be lengthened to accommodate the larger vessel.

To this day, The M/S Mount Washington continues to be an iconic attraction for Lake Winnipesaukee and New Hampshire. Continuing the tradition that started with the first steamship, S. S. Mt. Washington in Alton Bay in the spring of 1882.

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M/s mount washington cruising on lake winnipesaukee this weekend to kick off season.

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GET LOCAL BREAKING NEWS ALERTS

The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox.

The M/S Mount Washington is kicking off its 151st season with its annual Mother's Day brunch cruise this weekend.

The company launched a new online portal where customers can get tickets, change dates, and modify seats.

There is also a new "Christmas in July" dinner cruise and a “haunted” Winnipesaukee cruise.

The company also acquired a new vessel -- the "Winnipesaukee Belle." It's being refurbished and will relaunch in time for its 40th anniversary.

The season runs through late October.

Other top headlines:

• Box truck clips school bus stop sign while loading students in Pelham
• NH National Guard members assisting at southern border as Title 42 set to expire
• New Hampshire state Senate again rejects marijuana legalization bill

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Mount Washington Cruises - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

No visit to Weirs Beach would be complete without an excursion out onto Lake Winnipesaukee. From Weirs Beach, even with its vast view, you are only seeing a small part of a huge Lake. In the center of the Weirs Beach boardwalk, you’ll see a train station where tickets can be purchased for the cruise boat the M/S Mount Washington , the US Mailboat M/V Sophie C. , and the newest addition to the CruiseNH fleet, the M/V Winnipesaukee Spirit .There are morning, afternoon, and evening cruises. There are 1 hour, 2 hour, and 3 hour cruises. There are dinner, dance, sunset, family, foliage and fireworks cruises, so there’s really no excuse for not getting out onto the lake.

Since 2020, Tiki Hut Boats of NH (603) 396-2380 has been conveniently located at the Winnipesaukee Pier in Weirs Beach. The Tiki Hut boats are available for 90 minute express cruises, 2-hour private charters, and a Reggae night on Wednesdays.

The Sophie C. mailboat.

The Doris E., sister boat to the Sophie C., has been out of commission for a few years.

HISTORICAL CRUISE SHIPS

Many other Weirs Beach boat tour services have come and gone over the years. The Foxy was one of the better known of these defunct services.

Below is a photo collage of three new cruise boats and three old cruise boats. From left to right, top to bottom: the old Mount Washington , 1872-1939; the new Mount Washington (before its 1983 expansion), 1940-present; the new mailboat Sophie C. , 1945-present; the Doris E. , 1962-present ; the Governor Endicott , 1905-1929; the old mailboat Uncle Sam , 1906-1961. Click on each link to see an extensive collection of images.

In 1849, the original cruise boat in Weirs Beach, the Lady of the Lake, began services. The 1890 photo below shows an empty Lady approaching the main wharf at Weirs Beach to pick up waiting passengers. Click here to see a collection of Lady of the Lake (1849-1893) images.

This old linen postcard was postmarked in 1960. It shows the Uncle Sam tied up at the dock, the Sophie C. on its way out, and the Mount on its way in.