How Many Cruise Ships Are Actually Heading to Bar Harbor This Year?

Shaun Farrar Apr 30, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by the Maine Seacoast Mission. BAR HARBOR—How many cruise ships will visit Bar Harbor this year is a somewhat moving target. According to the Town of Bar Harbor, the total number of cruise ship passengers visiting Bar Harbor for the 2026 season lies just beneath 50,000. That number would only be reached if none of … Continue reading How Many Cruise Ships Are Actually Heading to Bar Harbor This Year?

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news

Court Decision Ends a Sidman Appeal Tied to Bar Harbor Cruise Disembarkation Violation.

Other cases continue. Carrie Jones Mar 26, 2026 BAR HARBOR—A legal challenge stemming from a Bar Harbor cruise ship violation reached its conclusion, Thursday, as the Maine Supreme Judicial Court denied two counts of an appeal filed by Charles Sidman and affirmed the Maine Business Court’s earlier rulings. The March 26 decision by a panel of justices determined that the Business Court had not erred … Continue reading Court Decision Ends a Sidman Appeal Tied to Bar Harbor Cruise Disembarkation Violation.

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news

Judge Rules Charles Sidman Has Standing in Bar Harbor Permit Appeal.

Case focuses on use of Ells Pier in downtown Bar Harbor for small cruise ship disembarkations. Carrie Jones Mar 03, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by First National Bank. BAR HARBOR—Superior Court Judge Michael A Duddy decided that Charles Sidman does indeed count as an aggrieved party under the town’s ordinance when it comes to the administrative appeal of the town’s cruise ship … Continue reading Judge Rules Charles Sidman Has Standing in Bar Harbor Permit Appeal.

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news

Bar Harbor Officials Emphasize Stability in Budget as Revenue Sources Shift

Currently Proposed Bar Harbor Budget Would Raise Taxes About $220 a Year for Median Home Carrie Jones Jan 23, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by the Maine Seacoast Mission. BAR HARBOR—Bar Harbor’s budget binder is a lot smaller this year and though the overall budget is higher, the town’s portion of the the budget has been kept to a $31,000 increase despite a … Continue reading Bar Harbor Officials Emphasize Stability in Budget as Revenue Sources Shift

carriejonesbooksJanuary 23, 2026January 23, 2026Leave a comment

opinion

Letters From Our Readers

Andy Cline, Dick Atlee, Charlie Sidman. Nov 02, 2025 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY We always welcome letter submissions to The Bar Harbor Story. For details on our policy, please visit our about page and scroll down or just visit here. As with all newspapers, the beliefs, opinions, and viewpoints expressed by the writers of letters to the editor and included here do not necessarily reflect the beliefs, opinions, … Continue reading Letters From Our Readers

carriejonesbooksNovember 2, 2025November 2, 2025Leave a comment

Uncategorized

Bar Harbor’s Cruise Limits Spark New Round in Federal Court Battle

Groups Say Bar Harbor’s Cruise Cap Doesn’t Ease Crowds, Just Hurts Commerce Carrie Jones Oct 15, 2025 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by First National Bank. BAR HARBOR—The Association to Preserve and Protect Local Livelihoods (APPLL) and the Penobscot Bay River Pilots Association filed a joint brief to the United States District Court on the lawsuit against the town about cruise ship disembarkation limits … Continue reading Bar Harbor’s Cruise Limits Spark New Round in Federal Court Battle

carriejonesbooksOctober 15, 2025October 15, 2025Leave a comment

Uncategorized

Town’s Appeals Board Denies Charles Sidman Standing in Appeal Concerning Whether Town Can Disembark Cruise Ship Passengers on Ells Pier.

Carrie Jones Jun 25, 2025 Share The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Swan Agency Real Estate. BAR HARBOR—The town’s appeals board has denied standing to Charles Sidman, a local business owner and lead petitioner of a citizen’s petition that significantly decreased cruise ship visits in Bar Harbor, June 24. Sidman had appealed the town’s decision to allow small cruise ships to disembark passengers at … Continue reading Town’s Appeals Board Denies Charles Sidman Standing in Appeal Concerning Whether Town Can Disembark Cruise Ship Passengers on Ells Pier.

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Uncategorized

Parking Rules for Tour Operators May Change in Bar Harbor

Council also considers changing how it elects its own officers Carrie Jones May 13, 2025 Share The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by First National Bank. BAR HARBOR—The Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Everal Eaton has asked for collaborative discussion with the Bar Harbor Town Council over a potential new ordinance that would change the rules for tour vehicle operations in the town, … Continue reading Parking Rules for Tour Operators May Change in Bar Harbor

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Uncategorized

Is Bar Harbor Allowed to Disembark Cruise Ships at Ells Pier?

Charles Sidman doesn’t think so and files an appeal of the action Carrie Jones May 11, 2025 Share BAR HARBOR—Charles Sidman, a local businessman, has appealed the town of Bar Harbor’s actions again. It is still related to cruise ships. However, this time it’s about smaller cruise lines tendering at the town’s Ell’s Pier in downtown Bar Harbor. “While I have always and continue to support … Continue reading Is Bar Harbor Allowed to Disembark Cruise Ships at Ells Pier?

carriejonesbooksMay 11, 2025May 12, 2025Leave a comment

Uncategorized

Golden Anchor Amends Complaint Against Town Over Cruise Ship Disembarkation

Carrie Jones Apr 07, 2025 Share BAR HARBOR—The Golden Anchor filed an amended complaint against the Town of Bar Harbor, April 3. The complaint involves the company’s ability to disembark cruise ships at its location on West Street, the Harborside Pier, which is also known as the Golden Anchor Pier. It was filed by Timothy C. Woodcock, Esq. of the firm Eaton Peabody. Woodcock specifically … Continue reading Golden Anchor Amends Complaint Against Town Over Cruise Ship Disembarkation

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