Stephen Taber

The best schooner trip I have been on. I have been on 2 and the first was ok with another schooner 2 years ago but last year I took my 2 son who are (mature 13 and 16 year olds, Unfortunately from the time we boarded the schooner until we got off we only saw the sun maybe twice. (lol) But I will tell you one thing that captain Noah and his staff where awesome. They tuned a soggy trip into one of the best times my boy’s and I ever had. From the first night until the last day of a 5 day cruise it was fantastic. The staff greeted us happily and politely assisting with bags and making sure we did not slip while getting on board due to the rain. Captain Noah boarded shortly there after and he had a huge grocery bag with him when he got on the schooner. He then carefully dumped out a huge amount of brie, cheeses, meats and pâté’s from all over the world. There must have been about 800 dollars worth of the best I ever tried throughout the 5 day trip. The cooks who made us our meals where 5 stars. They never stopped from the time we got on the schooner until the time we got off. I personally never heard one complaint about the food. I will say on a rainy cruise in Maine the food ends up taking a life of its own. The lobster bake supervised by the captain was wonderful. All you can eat lobster (literally) and the famous wines from around the world was served every afternoon and evening during cocktail/​appetizer hour and dinner. The Captains wife Jane is in charge of making the choices to go with the cheeses and meats as well as the meals. There was one evening on the last night of out trip that my boy’s where catching mackerel and the Captain put his cooks right to work making fresh grilled mackerel appetizers before dinner. Captain Noah even fileted them 2 minutes after my kids caught them and they where given right to the cooks. People who said they did not like mackerel tried them and loved them ! (that was a real treat and done with class by the crew) We encountered some quiet sailing and also lots of winds as-​well as rain squalls that really put some speed on the schooner. I have to say the Captain always had full control of his crew and the schooner during some rough weather and water before we sailed our way into some nice harbors and throughways between the spectacular Maine dotted islands in the Penobscot. The staff was very attentive and aware of the captains orders during some rough and windy weather. My boy’s and I had a ball and I also could not help to see the other guests getting involved in helping the Captain do what was needed to help the staff sailing the vessel and doing the necessary chores needed to be done. Everyone pitched in and it was so much fun. I have to tell you the cooks had there work cut out for them as they cooked five star meals while the schooner bobbed up and down in some rough waters while maintaining the food and pots and pans from going left to right. (very impressive) We saw lots of rain, fog, gales and more and the sights we took in where wonderful ! The Captain even shot his Cannon off at 6 pm (dinner time) when it was not raining ! That was a real treat for everyone ! One warning I may add to future Unilocal customers if you go on a schooner cruise and they say its going to be sunny and beautiful or maybe partly cloudy… make sure you bring the best set of rain gear and shoes that don’t leak ! You never know when you will need them and if you don’t have them you’ll spend a lot of time down below trying to stay dry ! (luckily I and my boy’s where prepared) In ending I will say this was a 5 star trip starting with the Stephen Tabor schooner, the Stephen tabor captain, The wonderful knowledgeable staff and the 5 star food. Also I would be remiss if I did not mention that the Captain is musically talented and makes the evenings so much fun ! So raise your glass with a nice glass of wine and take a fantastic journey on the Stephen tabor schooner. That’s what me and my boy’s did.(minus the wine for the boy’s.)…Sorry it took a year to review this Schooner but I finally did it !!! Have fun fellow Unilocalers it will be the time of your life and the price is right ! (kids– 13 years and older and mature I recommend)

Sailing aboard the Schooner Stephen Taber is an experience unlike any other. Captain Noah Barnes is a serious sailor with wit, humor, musicality, intelligence and endless charm. Each meal is crafted on a 100-​year-​old wood burning stove, but tastes as if it emerged from the finest five star restaurant. A trip of a lifetime… and I’ll be back to sail with the Taber crew each and every year!!!