Mount Washington Lake Cruise

Excursion boats have crossed Lake Winnipesaukee since the mid-nineteenth century, when steamers connected lakeside towns and carried summer visitors arriving by railroad. The name Mount Washington has belonged to the lake's flagship through more than one vessel, an earlier ship of that name having served the lake before the present one took up the role in the twentieth century.

Today's M/S Mount Washington is a large, multi-deck motor vessel that keeps the tradition alive, running scheduled cruises through the season. That long lineage is part of the appeal: boarding the ship connects passengers to a form of lake tourism that has barely changed in spirit since the Victorian era.

Lake Winnipesaukee is the heart of the Lakes Region, a sprawling lake dotted with hundreds of islands and framed by mountains, its name often translated from the Abenaki as something like the smile of the Great Spirit. Its irregular, bay-filled shoreline and its many islands make it endlessly scenic to cruise, with new views opening around every point.

The ship's routes take in that variety, threading among islands and calling at ports around the lake, so a cruise doubles as a tour of the region's classic lakeside towns and their harbors.

The Mount Washington offers a range of outings: daytime scenic cruises that circle the lake and stop at towns such as Wolfeboro, Meredith, Center Harbor, and Alton Bay, plus evening dinner-and-dance cruises and themed sailings that make an occasion of the water. Passengers can ride simply for the views or settle in for a meal as the shoreline slides by.

The home port, Weirs Beach, is a lakeside institution in its own right, a compact boardwalk village with a beach, an arcade strip, and a summer-resort atmosphere. Arriving early to walk the boardwalk before boarding rounds out a classic Lakes Region day.

Late spring launches the season as the lake warms and the schedule fills out.

Summer is peak cruising, with the fullest slate of daytime and evening sailings and the boardwalk at Weirs Beach in full swing.

Fall may be the most beautiful time of all, when the hills around the lake blaze with color and foliage cruises take in the show from the water.

In winter the ship is laid up and the lake freezes, giving rise to a whole different culture of ice fishing and, in cold years, ice-fishing villages out on the frozen surface.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

The Mount Washington lake cruise, on Lake Winnipesaukee in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, is a beloved scenic cruise aboard the MS Mount Washington, a large classic cruise ship that sails the state's largest lake. The stately ship carries passengers on scenic tours across beautiful Lake Winnipesaukee, offering sweeping views of the lake's islands, shoreline, and the surrounding mountains, with narration, dining options, and stops at lakeside towns. A relaxing and quintessential Lakes Region experience, the cruise lets visitors take in the beauty of Winnipesaukee from the water in classic style. With its scenic lake cruise, the Mount Washington offers a delightful destination in New Hampshire.

You can relax aboard the classic MS Mount Washington cruise ship as it sails Lake Winnipesaukee, taking in sweeping views of the lake's many islands, scenic shoreline, and the surrounding mountains, enjoy narration about the lake, dine or have refreshments on board, and, on some cruises, stop at lakeside towns. Special themed cruises, including dinner and sunset sailings, are offered at times. The scenic lake views, the classic ship, and the relaxing experience are the draws, making it a memorable Lakes Region outing. With its scenic cruise, the Mount Washington offers a rewarding experience on Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire.

The Mount Washington cruise operates seasonally, generally from late spring through fall, with summer offering warm, pleasant weather and full schedules, and fall spectacular when the Lakes Region foliage blazes across the shoreline and mountains, making foliage cruises especially popular. Sunset and dinner cruises are lovely on warm evenings. Because it is seasonal and special cruises vary, checking the current schedule and reserving ahead before you go is wise. For pleasant weather choose summer, or take a foliage cruise in fall, on the Mount Washington lake cruise in New Hampshire.

The Mount Washington cruise sails Lake Winnipesaukee and departs from lakeside ports around the lake, most notably the dock at Weirs Beach in Laconia, with additional ports of call at other Lakes Region towns depending on the cruise. Because departure points, schedules, and routes vary by cruise and season, checking the current schedule and departure port and reserving ahead before you go is important. Arriving with time to park and board is wise, especially in the busy summer and fall seasons. Confirming the departure details ahead ensures a smooth Mount Washington lake cruise on Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire.

The Mount Washington lake cruise sails Lake Winnipesaukee and departs from Weirs Beach in Laconia and other Lakes Region ports, within reach of Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough, the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in Holderness, and the Lakes Region towns and attractions. That makes the Mount Washington lake cruise a delightful experience to combine with Weirs Beach, Castle in the Clouds, and the other attractions of the Lakes Region on a visit to New Hampshire.