Schooner Thomas E Lannon

A gorgeous schooner to be sure. The crew was friendly and professional which made us feel comfortable. We enjoyed our tour but hoped to leave the confines of Gloucester harbor. It was my second time sailing and second time with little wind. Too bad Mother Nature didn’t cooperate.

My husband and I had looked forward to this schooner cruise for weeks. Yesterday was unusually warm for late September, the perfect day to be on the water. Or so I thought.
While the weather was beautiful, there was no wind. The crew did hoist the sails, but most likely for looks, as they told us we would basically be slowly floating around Gloucester Harbor via a very slow motor. We never even got near the breakwater. After being on the water only 10 minutes, we stopped while the crew could sell drinks and snacks.
We were sitting mid ship, and could not hear any dialogue between the captain and those lucky enough to be sitting near him. The cruise wasn’t narrated, so we had no idea what we were seeing.
At the end of the cruise the captain applauded his crew and announced that there would be an «appreciation box» left as we disembarked. Really???
This was very disappointing excursion. We will not return and we will not be recommending it either. It was, in fact, boring.

Great trip I had on this boat I went with a group of friends and it was very fun but wish it was a bit longer

This is a tough review for me to write… weather was gorgeous, Groupons were given to us as gifts, hour and a half drive to Gloucester was uneventful, anticipation of a glorious day on the water was high, thought of fresh seafood for dinner was making my stomach growl, intention of buying souvenirs to thank my daughter and family for the awesome opportunity was clear… sail never happened!
We made it to the town a half hour prior to our 12:30 sail, as suggested, only to find ourselves in the traffic and pandemonium that was the Gloucester Schooner Festival… I guess we should have known about it by osmosis or mystical schooner fairies, or something, but we didn’t. Arriving we kind of got a bit upended by the narrow streets and mega traffic and turned left when we needed to turn right. The minute I realized we had made a wrong turn, I called the reservation office to let them know we were right up the street but needed a little help finding the dock. They were pleasant and patient, giving us spot on directions and there she was, beautiful in green!
We pulled into the first municipal parking lot we saw after being told to avoid the lots belonging to businesses along the water… understood. Then the second lot, then the side streets… another call, now in minor panic watching the time creep closer to cast-​off. Lost the signal… re-dial…few words in and the signal was gone again. One more trip up the side streets… nothing. Major panic took over, but the third call was the charm… dirt lot near the wharf and voila, a spot!
Grabbed sweatshirts and hustled our senior citizen butts off… boat couldn’t have been more than 12 feet from the dock, but we weren’t on it.
Now, let me be very clear… the Thomas E. Lannon was scheduled to sail at 12:30, and she did… exactly as it should be. Not for one second did we get upset about that. It was the «customer service kick in the pants» which came after that prompted this review.
Into the office we went, with disappointed faces, announcing that we missed the boat. Reservations were checked, and the suggestion was made that we come back for a later sail at 3. We perked up, as that sounded like a good idea.
And then the fun began… there are only a few spots left, she told us, but if we came back at 2:50 we would be put on standby. Pause… standby? There were spots left, so I suggested she just reserve them because we would definitely be back, no standby needed. Couldn’t do that. Sorry. She did, however, inform us that the Groupons had to be redeemed, one way or another. Now instead of major panic there’s major confusion… how, exactly, was that supposed to happen? It appears that our Groupons had turned us into second class consumers… standby was so they could sell full price tickets while we lowly Groupon users stood there like beggers, waiting to be called to the head of the line if those more costly tickets were not sold.
Still wanting to sail, we offered to pay the difference between the Groupon price and full price if we were able to reserve a sail on the 3:00 boat. Couldn’t do that either. Nor could we reserve a sail on a future date.
Reminder: the Groupons had to be redeemed one way or the other… if we didn’t want to return two and a half hours later on a standby basis, those Groupons were going to zoom through their system anyway… deal done… REDEEMED!
In the end, I got the young lady’s name and her manager’s name (member of the family owning the schooner, as it turns out), and decided to share my experience… tried putting it up on their Facebook page but it magically POOFED into thin air before I was finished. We didn’t sail, we didn’t spend money on a delicious meal or souvenirs to say thanks to my daughter and her family for thinking of us… we walked back to the dirt lot, got into the car and left.
My daughter’s disappointment is another story.

Came on a groupon and made friends, and found zen. BEAUTIFUL slow cruise of the harbor, relaxing and full of maritime stories. Family owned business — they can have weddings, special events and even cater a picnic on board for a special outing — just ask.
Dad, son and staff are so professional, entertaining and nice!

We live on the south shore so we made a day of it, traveled north to Gloucester, the boat is beautiful, very clean and comfortable. It rides smooth and soft. The harbor has lots to look at. The boat was built by captain and family, there is a picture book to watch the amazing build from beginning to end. The rum punches were very good. This is a great way to spend an afternoon or evening. We will be coming back

A pleasant cruise but a bit disappointing. The captain said if you want a tour this is the wrong place and he was right. There was no interpretation and no real history of the area. It was pleasant being on the water but that’s the best I would say. If you like being on large sailboats and relaxing on the water, you will probably like it. But the captain did not enrich the cruise and did not inspire you to come back for more.

My boyfriend and I used the ever-​popular Groupon deal for this schooner sail. Had a lovely sunset sail! The schooner was freshly painted and beautiful; I was surprised to hear it was hand-​made by the captain. Very impressive. The crew was very skilled and navigated the ship smoothly. They took passenger volunteers to help raise the huge, heavy sails, which was fun.
The small selection of drinks they had on ice were a bit expensive (their special rum cocktail was all ice and juice — where’s the rum?!). Aside from that the only thing I might have improved was that the captain and crew didn’t seem overly friendly or talkative after leaving port. I would have liked a little more background on Gloucester, some info on schooners and how they work, interesting sights on the coast pointed out/​explained, etc. Had a nice time overall though; lovely ocean scenery, nice weather, and enjoyed the company of other passengers.

A very nice schooner ride on a gorgeous late summer afternoon. What can be better than that?

The schooner tour around the Gloucester coast is a fun and relaxing 2 hour tour along scenic coastline and I think alot of how much you enjoy the trip depends on the weather. We had a great sunny afternoon and had a very enjoyable trip. Two hours really is an ideal amount of time to be on the boat. We had little wind so we didn’t get to travel at a quick pace but if you’re looking for relaxing and serene, this is a great option. Plan your trip well.

Went again this year with the same GroupOn deal like last year and LOVED IT!!! It’s a fabulous time. Check it out.

An utter delight. Even with a full complement of people onboard, the peacefulness was healing and delightful. The captain answered questions in a most informative manner and let some young teens help raise the sails which made their day. Highly recommended!

Had a truly delightful sail on the Lannon this evening. It is such a beautiful boat, and Gloucester Harbor such a gorgeous harbor. Sunset was perfect (especially when the sun went behind Hammond Castle), and the staff delightful and entertaining. I can’t imagine a nicer time. I don’t get much time off in the summer, but this was like an instant vacation. My friend commented at the end of the trip that I looked ten years younger than when I got on! ;-)

great way to spend an afternoon — hubby and i went out on the Lannon recently, and it was very relaxing. sunny, breezy, comfortable, and two hours is about the right amount of time to putter around the harbor. we went in part because i bought Groupons, and that seemed like a good way to try it out — i’d definitely pay full price for one of the ‘specialty’ sails (chowder, music, moonlight).

Came here on a groupon for pretty cheap with the GF. This was the perfect activity for a breezy summer day. The schooner is big and the very nice owners love talking about its history and how they restored it.
The experience was so pleasant that we signed up for the meteor shower viewing where they go out for about an hour out of the bay in pitch black so you can see meteors shoot through the sky. This gets a little pricey ($ 50)pp but it is very romantic and a great reason to cuddle. On a cool summer night.
Plan for a late night when you do this because the boat doesn’t get back until 1 – 2 AM.

my husband and I got discount tickets for this through groupon and went a few weeks ago on the morning cruise. It was a lovely day and the seas were calm. The owner of the boat and his staff were all wonderful and very friendly. You go out around Gloucester Harbor for 2 hours or so and the boat is just the right size to pick up a converstion with people around you (which the owner suggests you do)! We met a great couple from NY with their children and before we knew it, we were back in port. :(I could’ve stayed out there all day. They also do weddings and private sailings. It’s a beautiful schooner. If you have the chance, definitely go. :)

Enjoyed a lovely day on the Thomas E. Lannon Schooner yesterday! The normal daily sail is about 2 hours, and takes you out into Massachusetts Bay. The wind was blowing so we enjoyed a fast ride. The captain is affable and the crew friendly, even turning the whole 65′ boat around to go after a windblown hat!
Fun time, and would definitely go again, maybe next time for one of their Sunset Celtic Music Sail or Moonlight Sails.
P. S. If you like to participate, nominate yourself to raise the sails when you first head out. The sails are so large, you’ll need help!

The Lannon is a large 4-​sail schooner built to 1905 specifications, that makes 2-​hr sails around Gloucester’s bay & beaches a couple times a day all summer. It’s a beautiful boat, and the crew is very friendly. I got to help raise one of the sails as we headed out of the dock, enjoy great views and beautiful weather, and talked to the first mate about their story:
The captain (and dad) is a retired carpenter who built the boat himself with his son, now first mate, along with shipwrights and blacksmiths, working off designs from 1905. They’re both funny guys and cool to chat with. They recommended a great place to eat too, The Causeway, (
)
Celebrated my 1-​yr with my girlfriend here — it was a cool way to celebrate but in a relaxed north-​shore way. Expect couples and the occasional vacationing family. We paid $ 20 through Groupon. Normally it’s $ 37.50.
(ps. They sell beer and wine on board as well if the occasion warrants it :)