Nantucket MA Massachusetts
174
Cruises availables
At departure or passage at this port
American Cruise Lines (174 Cruises)
American Glory
90 Cruises
American Legend
56 Cruises
American Liberty
5 Cruises
American Pioneer
23 Cruises
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Cruise ships anchor off the harbour and tender passengers to the wharves in town. The small Brant Point lighthouse, guarding the channel entrance since 1746, watches over the approach.
Yes. The town is compact and the whole island is a National Historic Landmark district: Main Street, the Whaling Museum, the Atheneum and the wharves are all walkable. To go further, bicycles rent near the docks.
The Whaling Museum deserves a good two hours, rooftop deck included. Then add cobbled Main Street, the galleries on Straight Wharf and Old South Wharf, and if time allows, a half-hour bike ride along the path to the neighbouring village.
At the turn of the nineteenth century this 23-kilometre sand island dominated the global whaling industry. Its captains chased sperm whales into the Pacific and their oil lit London as well as Boston. The wreck of the Essex, a Nantucket ship stove in by a whale, inspired Herman Melville's Moby-Dick.
A 14-metre sperm whale skeleton hanging in the main hall, whaleboats, harpoons, logbooks, a monumental Fresnel lens and scrimshaw, the teeth engraved by sailors during long voyages. The museum occupies an 1847 candle factory, and its rooftop deck overlooks the grey roofs and the harbour.
The cobbles arrived as ballast in the holds of ships returning from Europe, then were laid in the 1830s to fix a muddy street. Their unevenness is part of the charm, but wear comfortable shoes.
The island's signature craft. Originally woven by the crews of lightships anchored offshore to pass the long watches, it became a refined craft whose finest pieces are handed down through families. Workshops in town still practise the technique and welcome onlookers.
The US dollar, and cards are taken everywhere, from the museum to the wharf galleries. Some cash remains handy for tips and bicycle rentals.
June through October. Summer is mild and lively, September and October quieter with lovely light. Fog, which earned the island its Grey Lady nickname, can settle in at any time and complicate tendering.
Yes. The museum's whale skeleton impresses children, Brant Point lighthouse is an easy walk, and bicycle rentals make it simple to get out of town. The island is flat, which helps a great deal.
