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Mount Washington Cruises Acquires the Winnipesaukee Belle
Belle will undergo an extensive refurbishment with plans to relaunch for its 40th anniversary. MARCH 30, 2023: WEIRS BEACH, NH – The Winnipesaukee Flagship Corp. has acquired the Winnipesaukee Belle, formerly owned and operated by the Wolfeboro Inn in Wolfeboro, NH. The two companies mutually agreed that a sale of the vessel would be in the best interest of this local attraction to expand the schedule and service the community in a greater capacity. “The COVID-19 pandemic presented a number of challenges for the Belle, with staffing and maintenance being a constant struggle,” said Janell LaFleche, General Manager of the Wolfeboro Inn. “This is a bittersweet moment for us; however, we know the Belle’s best chance for long term...
2023 Brochure Now Available
Our 2023 Season Brochure is now available at New Hampshire Welcome Centers, public brochure racks, and lodging properties throughout New Hampshire. Want to receive one by mail? Simply fill out the form below and we'll send you one!
The Inspiration Behind "Here Comes the Mount"
The following is the preface from the new book "Here Comes the Mount," written in the summer of 2022. Jared Maraio explains the unusual reason "Here Comes the Mount" was written, and why it's important to carry on the tradition of documenting the Mount's history.
Mount Washington Cruises Promotes Jared Maraio to General Manager
As the M/S Mount Washington celebrates 150 years,it also chartsa course for its future • Jim Morash to remain Captain and COO JULY 28, 2022: WEIRS BEACH, NH – The Winnipesaukee Flagship Corp. has announced that Jared Maraio has been promoted to the position of General Manager. Maraio will replace Captain Jim Morash, who has been the company’s General Manager since 2000.The promotion completes a transition that began in 2018 at Morash’s suggestion that the company begin to seek new leadership as he eventually looks toward retirement. Morash is also a Captain and the company’s Chief Operating Officer. He will remain in those positions while Maraio assumes day to day operation of the company.“When it comes to the Mount, continuity is important. We wanted to take our...
Mount Washington Cruises Expands 150th Anniversary Celebration in Wolfeboro
Weirs Beach, N.H. – The M/S Mount Washington’s 150th season on Lake Winnipesaukee is underway and Mount Washington Cruises has a season full of celebrations to mark the event, including an Anniversary Gala. The official celebration of the 150th anniversary will be held on August 12, 2022, the date the ship was launched. Cruises that day will include multiple daytime departures from both Weirs Beach and Wolfeboro, and the official 150th Anniversary Gala evening event, featuring multiple decks of entertainment, hors d'oeuvres, signature drinks and photo opportunities. All day long, commemorative limited-edition souvenirs will be available for sale. In a new expansion of the day’s festivities, The Mount will celebrate at a special dockside event in Wolfeboro starting at 3:00...
The Mount Mystery Box
On April 1, 2022, a courier delivered a package to Mount Washington Cruises. Inside the package was a wrapped box with a note, stating that the box should not be opened until Ice Out. Guess what's in the box, and win cruise tickets.
Mount Washington Cruises Expands Its Fleet
The Winnipesaukee Flagship Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of its newest vessel, the Winnipesaukee Spirit. The launch of the new vessel marks the first expansion of the company fleet since 1962.
U.S. Mailboat Sophie C. Returns to Lake Winnipesaukee
After major repairs and renovations, the Winnipesaukee Flagship Corporation is pleased to announce that the U.S. Mailboat Sophie C will return to service for the first time since the 2018 season.
We're Ready When You Are.
We’re happy to announce that the M/S Mount Washington will operate as a restaurant, beginning June 20 on the first lunch cruise of the season. Dinner cruises will begin June 27. The M/V Doris E and U.S. Mailboat will remain closed to the public, while we continue to monitor the public health situation. In preparing the M/S Mount Washington for operation, we’ve made some adjustments to our schedule and product offering. We are suspending our 10:00 AM cruise out of Weirs Beach, as well as all departures out of other ports, until further notice. We are offering one lunch cruise every day from Weirs Beach at 12:30 PM, and a dinner cruise on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. This will give us...
Important Update Regarding COVID-19 – March 31, 2020
A little over a week ago, we reached out to customers regarding our initial response to the COVID-19 health crisis. As part of that statement, we expressed our commitment to complying with state and federal guidance to help reduce the spread of the virus.As you may know, the State of New Hampshire has issued an order for all non-essential businesses to remain closed through May 4. Over the next few weeks, our ticket office and shipyard will be closed. As a result, we will be unable to complete preparations required to begin our season as scheduled, and have made the decision to cancel all cruises for the month of May. We understand that this decision may be upsetting to some customers, particularly those who join us...
A Message to Customers about COVID-19
Since 1872 the M/S Mount Washington and her sister ships have invited passengers to experience the beauty of Lake Winnipesaukee. We’ve been here through some of our country’s greatest challenges, including world wars, cold wars, depressions, recessions, and the 9/11 terrorist attacks. As we prepare for our 148th season, we know that this year will be different. The safety of our passengers and crew is always our primary concern, but these times require new thinking and renewed vigilance. We will continue to adhere to guidance from public health officials, while finding ways preserve the health of passengers and crew. We know that a scenic tour or dinner cruise may not be your first thought right now, but we do want...
Ten Little Known Facts About New Hampshire's Lake Winnipesaukee
Weirs Beach Has Been Inhabited For Thousands of Years Lake Winnipesaukee has been a vacation destination since before we were a country! In the mid-1700s Governor John Wentworth vacationed on the lake in Wolfeboro, considered the oldest summer resort in the country. Since that time, Lake Winnipesaukee has garnered its fair share of legends, stories, and local lore. There are two different interpretations of Lake Winnipesaukee. Some say the name means “beautiful water in a high place.” The second, more popular interpretation is “the smile of the Great Spirit.” How Lake Winnipesaukee Got its Name According to legend, Lake Winnipesaukee got its name as “the smile of the Great Spirit” because of the love of two Native Americans. Long ago...
The History of New Hampshire's Weirs Beach on Lake Winnipesaukee
Weirs Beach Has Been Inhabited For Thousands of Years Today, Weirs beach is one of the fun hotspots on Lake Winnipesaukee with great food, a boardwalk full of fun activities for the whole family, and the home of the M/S Mount Washington every summer. But did you know that this valuable piece of real estate has a history stretching back thousands of years? The Original Summer "Resort" Recent archaeological expeditions at the beach have found that Native Americans used the area as a summer camp for hunting and fishing dating back to 8000 BC. The native Abenaqui of the Penacook tribe called their village Aquedoctan, meaning “place of good fishing.” In fact, this popular summer resort actually got its name from...
Frequently Asked Questions On Lake Winnipesaukee Islands
Learn About The Islands of Lake Winnipesaukee Lake Winnipesaukee is New Hampshire's largest lake with a surface area of 72 miles and around 200 miles of shoreline. At 9 ½ miles wide and 28 miles long, the lake is home to (what some estimate to be) 365 islands of which 274 are habitable. Visitors to the lake are often fascinated by Winnipesaukee's islands. For residents, island living affords a unique lifestyle and the ability to get back to nature, amazing views, privacy, friendly neighbors, and a unique culture all its own! FAQs About the Islands of Lake Winnipesaukee Visitors who take the M/S Mount Washington sightseeing cruises often ask us about the islands. Here are answers to some of the...
Learn The Lake Winnipesaukee Ports Of Call For The M/S Mount Washington
Enjoy a Unique Experience with a Cruise NH Trip on Lake Winnipesaukee This Summer! Lake Winnipesaukee, named for the Native American word meaning “smile of the great spirit” is New Hampshire's largest lake. The glacier formed and spring fed, Lake Winnipesaukee is surrounded by three mountain ranges and is 504 feet above sea level. The Lake is approximately 25 miles long, 15 miles wide and covers 72 square miles. It's wooded shoreline, and clean, clear waters have made it a popular summer resort for over 200 years, and visitors from all over the world have come to rest and relax among its beautiful surroundings. Traveling by ship is the best way to experience the unique views and beautiful towns that...
Summertime Fun on the Big Lake
As the summer season is officially underway, a reminder from Captain Jim about the rules of the waterways.
Q & A with Captain Jim about the U.S. Mailboat
With the new season of summer mail service about to begin, we caught up with Captain Jim about what it's like to operate the oldest floating post office in America.
Let the boating season begin!
With the ice-out on Lake Winnipesaukee officially declared, the M/S Mount Washington will soon return to Weirs Beach for another season of cruising.
What’s up with the Sophie C?
Many of you are curious as to what’s up with the beloved mailboat, Sophie C. and are most likely wondering if she’ll ever sail again.
September Cruising
In all the years I’ve been around I cannot think of a better month for cruising the big lake, Winnipesaukee, than September after Labor Day.