Beginning in 2005, after 150 years of service, there will no longer be a regular summer ferry from Portsmouth. This guide is for those wishing to go onto Star Island. For those wishing to tour the entire Isles of Shoals by sightseeing boat, click here.

Star Island Day Trips
The Thomas Laighton no longer offers its daily Star Island Stopover. Here are alternative ways to get onto Star Island. If you have you own boat, scroll down.

Sail Amaryllis
Offers sunset sailing cruise aboard Amaryllis, a 45 ft catamaran with dinner at the Oceanic Hotel on Star Island. Leaves Portsmouth Harbor at 4:30PM. Call 603-205-0630.

Charter trips to Star with advance call, when available. Goes out twice daily from Rye Harbor. Call for planned DAILY stop over trips to Star Island.

Northeast Charter
Offers a Star Island dinner cruise starting at 5 pm from Portsmouth Harbor with trip to Star and dinner at the Oceanic Hotel.

Star Conference Now Take Captain's Lady

From StarIsland.org
For the 2005 season, conferees will be traveling to and from Star aboard the 149 passenger "Captain’s Lady." The "Captain’s Lady" has been used primarily for off-shore whale watches. She is well suited for the weather and sea conditions around the Shoals and should be able to make the trip in less than an hour. Use of a vessel this size will mean reverting to the tradition of many years ago when two round trips were necessary to bring the conferences to the island. For many long-time Shoalers, this will be a taste of nostalgia but for others, this will become a "new" tradition. Captain’s Fishing Charters, owner of the "Captain’s Lady," is based in Newburyport, Massachusetts, but will operate from the dock adjacent to where the Thomas Laighton is berthed. Conferees will park in the same lot we have used for the last several years. There are a few logistical issues yet to be worked out and we will send detailed information to conference leaders well in time for planning your summer trip to the island.

The change in transportation to and from Star Island came about this fall when the Isles of Shoals Steamship Company (ISSCo.) notified us they would be unable to continue their contract with us, in part because of the complications presented by Homeland Security. Since then, we have been in contact with a number of boat companies along the New Hampshire coast and as far south as Boston. After meeting with five boat owners, we selected Captain’s Fishing Charters to provide conference transportation services for next year.

We are confident that the change will have very little impact on most conferences and will do our best to make the transition to a new ferry service as easy as possible for everyone. A long term agreement with Captain’s Fishing Charters is being discussed this winter and by the summer, we will be able to apprise you of the nature of ferry services for the next several years.

Star Island's Pamela J. Thayer workboat as well as the SML's Kingsbury workboat will be working cooperatively to transport each other's staff and to transport the Smuttynose Stewards

For Private Boats & Lunch & Dinner Guests

From StarIsland.org
If you have a private boat, you are welcome to visit the island for a meal, or just to walk around. Please note than the island’s dock is very busy, and only dinghies are permitted to tie up. Meals are served family style at 12:30 and 6:30, and include beverages and dessert. There is no lunch on Saturdays. You may call ahead for reservations or inquire at the front desk upon arrival.

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