Each summer, in addition to welcoming our friends from away, the team at Casco Bay Lines is joined by at least one summer intern. Say hello to Stephen! For this weekâs blog, we handed him the mic to hear all about his first time cruising Casco Bay!
Hi everyone! Iâm happy to be joining this incredible team â even if itâs just for the summer! I am currently studying sales and marketing at Plymouth State University and I couldnât think of a better way to put my studies into action (and enjoy summer on the Maine coast) than helping to market Portlandâs iconic ferry, Casco Bay Lines.
Born and raised in Portland, I grew up with those red, yellow, white and black ferries chugging along in the background of my childhood. It wasnât until my first day on the job here that I realized Iâve only ever taken a ferry to Peaks Island for the day. I had never taken advantage of any of the other awesome options for getting out on the water. And, when Caity (CBLâs Sales Director and resident Jill-of-all-Trades) heard Iâd never taken one of our specialty cruises, she quickly moved that to the top of my âTo Doâ list. Market research!
So, on a recent sunny Saturday, I packed a backpack with lunch and some sunscreen and took advantage of the great weather to collect some qualitative data first-hand! There are so many different cruises to choose from. And theyâre all a little different. For me, the choice was easy. I needed to find out why locals consider the Mailboat Run the best kept secret in Portland. How had I missed this?
After picking up my ticket at the terminal, I boarded the Maquoit II and headed straight for the upper deck where I knew Iâd have the best view
of Casco Bay. It was really cool to see Portlandâs working waterfront from this angleâlobstermen hauling traps and cargo ships chugging in. I even got to see some of the wildlife that calls Casco Bay home; a few seals and cormorants splashed around as we glided down the bay.
Cruising along, map in hand, stopping off at each island, taking notes and listening to the Captain talk about the history of Casco Bay, I realized what the magic is â the Mailboat Run is literally a lifeline for the residents of the island communities. The conveniences of living on a college campus, for example, are nowhere to be found. Instead, what you have, is a completely awesome dedication to a different lifestyle. And, when you ride the Mailboat, you get to be a part of that â even if just for a few hours, and even if youâre really more cut out for that college campus lifeâ¦
The trip was a huge success. And Iâm even more excited to spend my summer working with the team at Casco Bay Lines, learning the ins and outs of marketing a place as beautiful as Casco Bay!