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Massachusetts

New England Maritime Sampler

Program No. 11077RJ
Voyage along Cape Ann’s beautifully rugged coast, exploring unique wildlife, classic New England charm, traditional cuisine and the region’s famed history of shipbuilding.
Participant Reviews
4.98
Based on 48 Reviews
SHOWING
Shaaron – Class of 2025 | Lambertville, NJ
This location was one I thought I knew a lot about. This program revealed so much more.
— Review left September 9, 2025
Beth | Boca Raton, FL
This program was so interesting and informative and Teri, the leader, was incredibly knowledgeable.
— Review left September 6, 2025
John – Class of 2017 | Murrells Inlt, SC
Boats, whales, lobsters, more boats, and some artists. What’s not to like. A very pleasant week exploring interesting haunts and corners.
— Review left September 5, 2025
Beverly | Smithfield, RI
I was traveling alone and this was my first Road Scholar or any group travel, so I was nervous about that. I was very impressed with the organization, the friendliness of the people on the trip and at least on this trip there were several of us traveling alone which was very nice. This will not be my only program with Road Scholar.
— Review left August 23, 2025
Noma | Heuvelton, NY
My long awaited First Road Scholar Adventure! It was all I expected and more. Looking forward to another soon!
— Review left August 13, 2025
Julie – Class of 2021 | Edgewood, TX
I thoroughly enjoyed this trip. We had great weather, which always helps. The hotel was clean and quiet with large rooms. We managed transport to the start by using the Logan Express to Danvers, then Uber to the hotel with no problems. Our leader, Ruth, was very friendly and welcoming. Loved the whale watch! Food was wonderful at various restaurants. Lots of food! I'd never been to this area so enjoyed the history that I was not familiar with. Bus driver Sal was friendly and entertaining. Our group of 24 were friendly and interesting to visit with. I do not live near a coast so really enjoyed all the time on the water. Most outings started a little later than past trips so no hurry to get up and running. Overall, great experience!
— Review left August 10, 2025
Martha | East Patchogue, NY
This trip was as advertised . Local water craft and very local guides and speakers. The physical activity level was as advertised, too. Some organized walking thru the towns and LOTS of getting on/off the bus , but no real steep or rocky terrain.
— Review left August 9, 2025
John – Class of 2013 | Bridgeport, CT
Great way to see the New England sea coast, from the water and land. Includes 5 boat rides including a sailing schooner, whale watch, and narrated harbor tours. Learn about the waterfront life from multiple lectures from natives. If you like being on the water, or want to find out what it's like, this trip can't be beat!
— Review left August 9, 2025
Carolyn – Class of 2023 | Brighton, MI
A wonderful experience on a variety of ships/boats to learn and experience the water/seas of New England.
— Review left July 27, 2025
Jill – Class of 2025 | Waukesha, WI
I thoroughly enjoyed this Maritime adventure in northern coastal Massachusetts, and I learned so many interesting things! I found that going on 5 different kinds of boats was thrilling!
— Review left June 28, 2025
Richard – Class of 1999 | Seattle, WA
This is a well-planned and well-executed view of New England's Maritime scene historically and currently.
— Review left June 27, 2025
Sondra – Class of 2009 | Montrose, NY
Trip had usual excellent content, living up to expectations. Disappointed with info regarding end of program. Could not be given time when program ended at the hotel. Told to call MBTA to see if they knew when to expect RS coach on our final Friday. (was given non working phone number for MBTA so I never called MBTA which seemed like a foolish idea anyway - if RS didn't know what time the RS coach left, how would MBTA know when to expect arrival.) It was suggested I have my taxi for return meet me & my luggage at the lobster dock to transport to the airport rather than return to the hotel as the times were uncertain. I did my best to add all times given in RS packet to come up with a plan for return airplane trip. In the end, it was just too uncertain, so I decided to forego the lobster trip & head for the airport. I was not the only one on this trip that had similar problems. When I spend my limited disposable income on a RS trip, I want to get all of the of the experiences described & not spend the time worrying about transportation issues & miss an integral piece of the program. Instead of 5 boat trips, I was only able to experience 4. Some of my previous RS trips have advised a time parameter or booking a flight. That would have been helpful. So much RS planning goes into how many steps we will take & how much time we will stand at a certain venue so that we know exactly what to expect. It seems to me that someone could have determined what time the program ends, not when hotel check-out time is.
— Review left June 25, 2025
Reply from Road Scholar
Dear Sondra, We're delighted to hear you enjoyed your time in Massachusetts! Your feedback is crucial to us, and we apologize for any confusion around the best times for the program to officially end at the hotel. We're reviewing all our program materials and will update them to note when to book return flights in general and specifically for using the Logan Express option to assist participants going forward. We're looking forward to seeing you in the Fall for your next adventure. Sincerely, Road Scholar
Lori – Class of 2024 | Ann Arbor, MI
This was my first RS and I was impressed. Our guide was knowledgeable, organized and really kept the flow. Hotel accommodations were great. Group was so friendly and easy to connect with. Looking forward to my 2025 trips.
— Review left January 23, 2025
Laura – Class of 2017 | Highland Hts, OH
I truly got my "moneys worth" on this trip. Way to go Road Scholar! Many meals out at different local restaurants and fabulous caterer. Wonderful excursions by 5 different boats.
— Review left August 24, 2024
Gail – Class of 1997 | West Chester, PA
The program provides an in-depth exposure to the Cape Ann area through road trips, instructors with a deep and varied knowledge of the area, and 5 boat trips to learn about different aspects of the water world which is so important to the residents of Cape Ann.
— Review left August 24, 2024
Gayle – Class of 2020 | Gainesville, GA
Who knew? I am from the Midwest and was blown away by how much I learned about fishing, the rocky coast lines/coves, the commitment and dangers of being a fisherman, and the unpredictably of the sea. The size of the group was just right; we got to know each other and participants were interesting and kind. Our guide was organized, prepared and fun! Did I say that the food was outstanding? Order Halibut every day; we never got tired of it.
— Review left July 28, 2024
John – Class of 2013 | Bridgeport, CT
This program is so good, I just finished doing it for the second time. Loved the Rockport / Gloucester area, the many boat rides including a whale watch, dining by the water, interesting lectures. Fun time, particularly for solo travelers. Don't miss it!
— Review left July 17, 2024
This participant did not give a star rating.
Shannon – Class of 2024 | Oakland City, IN
Wow! That’s all I can say. We enjoyed every minute of our trip. From our knowledgeable leader, Ruth Bennett, leader- in-training, Teri Contino, and instructor, Jim McAllister. We met folks from all walks of life. Ruth kept us on track and Jim taught us, while being highly entertaining. I also must take a moment to address our bus driver, Sal. What a great guy. He has unending patience and is such a funny guy. He can maneuver a bus and knows the ins and outs of the area. I would be remiss not to mention the folks we met along the way. From Sam Parisi explaining his views on fishing in Gloucester, the captains and crews aboard each ship, the instructors on the art colony and Essex shipping. The weather was absolutely perfect that week. We loved every type of vessel we were on. The whales were very cooperative and we were so excited to see them. I had been wanting to go to Salem for the longest time, so we spent the afternoon there. So much history to absorb and since it wasn’t Season, the crowds were manageable. We rode the train back to Rockport from Salem, a first train ride for me. We returned tired but so glad we went! All in all, we can’t brag about this trip enough. Thank you Road Scholar. Shannon and Roger C.
— Review left July 3, 2024
Virginia – Class of 2015 | Amarillo, TX
On this trip we got to board 5 different sea craft and see the area in full. The shore and ocean became one for me.
— Review left June 23, 2024
Moni – Class of 2023 | Pittsburgh, PA
Spectacular scenery, organization, and group leader! Our group was cohesive and even the weather was wonderful. Speakers, bus driver, and topics were meaningful and engaging. I highly recommend this trip!
— Review left June 22, 2024
Devon – Class of 2015 | Millis, MA
It is a terrific trip for those who live near and far—we learned so much about the North Shore of Massachusetts. Cape Ann and all surrounding towns are fascinating. It is a nice contrast to Cape Cod, with a totally different vibe and a great living history. Ruth, our group leader, was outstanding, as were all the expert speakers. They added to the depth of understanding of this excursion. Super fun and educational!
— Review left June 20, 2024
Thomas – Class of 2023 | Winston Salem, NC
Excellent program with with an exceptional group leader- Ms. Lili Murad. Comfortable accommodations and enjoyable boat tours around Cape Ann. Interesting lectures about local artists and Gloucester fishing industry.
— Review left August 26, 2023
David – Class of 2015 | Indianapolis, IN
This program offers depth about the fishing and shipbuilders on Cape Ann as well as education about the area's role in nurturing American art and artists. It’s an addition to my knowledge about US history I greatly vale.
— Review left August 25, 2023
Julia – Class of 2016 | Portland, OR
This was my seventh and favorite Road Scholar program! Our leader and the special speakers were well informed and provided interesting and thorough knowledge of their fields of interest. All of my expectations were met; another great Road Scholar investment of my time and money.
— Review left August 18, 2023
Caroline – Class of 2017 | Harleysville, PA
Boat rides were wonderful; gorgeous "fishing village " setting. Cape Ann Museum had lovely artwork. Catered food brought to the hotel was awful. But the meals elsewhere, especially at the Antique Ann restaurant, were excellent. If you love being on the water, this is a good trip.
— Review left August 13, 2023
Linda – Class of 2017 | Kent, WA
The New England Sampler program was fantastic! The activities and the field trips were super fun!
— Review left July 29, 2023
Maris – Class of 2014 | North Grafton, MA
Having grown up and living in the greater Boston area I didn't expect to learn so much from so many superb speakers and see so many beautiful places from the water and on land. The restaurants and food were extraordinarily excellent and overall this program far exceeded my expectations.
— Review left July 28, 2023
Beth – Class of 2013 | New Milford, NJ
I thoroughly enjoyed he Rockport Maritime experience. Our group leader Lili Murad was kind, intelligent, interesting and so knowledgable on the areas we toured. She was a wealth of information and kept us engaged throughout the trip. I follow a gluten free diet and she made sure I was accomodated for every meal on the trip.She truly was fabulous. The people on the tour were lovely and friendly people. We had a great time together. I highly endorse this vacation.
— Review left June 23, 2023
Sandra – Class of 2015 | Valatie, NY
Terrific trip. From the outings on the water, the food, the group leader, the other participants, this was a great mix of ingredients, and we thoroughly enjoyed the program. Were sorry to see it end but took wonderful experiences and friendships home with us. We went in mid-June and that turned out to be a great time to go.
— Review left June 18, 2023
Judy – Class of 2017 | Franklin, WI
If you like the New England states and boat rides, this is the trip for you. Road Scholar takes participants on a water ride each day! The schooner sail around Gloucester harbor is 1.5 hours with the opportunity to raise the sails. The whale watch is 4 hours and the crew seems to know where to find whales. The river cruise out of Essex takes participants through channels of the river out to the ocean with beautiful views of the surrounding countryside. The scenic cruise out of Salem takes participants up the coast with distant views of the coast and the opportunity to study the topography of the coast. The lobster boat provides an up close view of Gloucester harbor, a demonstration of pulling up and emptying lobster traps and the opportunity to examine a live lobster. Getting to and from these boat rides gives participants scenic views of the area and the water from land. I enjoyed all of the boat rides, the expert speakers, and the exceptional educational content of this program.
— Review left September 28, 2022
Janine – Class of 2019 | Watertown, MA
This is a wonderful trip for those who love being on the water and want to experience marine life in the wild. The Cape Ann area is bursting with things to experience and this Road Scholar package lets you sample the variety that makes this area so special.
— Review left September 17, 2022
This participant did not give a star rating.
Linda – Class of 2015 | Lantana, FL
This truly was a Maritime Sampler of this beautiful area Cape Ann.Unfortunately Mother Nature had other plans for our Schooner voyage,but Peabody-Essex Museum was a fantastic fill-in.Our Art walk was also rained out,sowe had a lecture on the bus which I wish could have been rescheduled as an evening orWednesday afternoon event.Whale watch was very worthwhile as was the Essex river cruise.Speakers Jim,Sam,tour guide Debra and driverJim were fantastic.My tavelcompanion and Idid not stay for the lobster cruise because we wanted to catch an early flight out.Perhps,it would be better to have the lobster cruise andmore lecures on the last day and then send people on their way the next day.We wish we would have known ahead of time about the bus ride to Logan for $9,instead of our expensive limo ride.But,all in all a wonderful,learning experience.Thanks to all.
— Review left September 11, 2022
Martha – Class of 2014 | Lenoir City, TN
This was my third Road Scholar trip, it was absolutely wonderful. The variety of Maritime adventures was perfect for the week. I could not have asked for better Lunch and Dinner menus.
— Review left August 14, 2022
Robin – Class of 2016 | Gettysburg, PA
Five different boating experiences in five days, delicious meals, fishermen and the artists who painted them, seafood, sunsets,island scenery and beautiful Cape Ann in the summer…what could be better? This is a perfectly paced, well organized tour with a knowledgeable and seasoned tour leader. You can’t go wrong with the maritime sampler. Every day brought a new adventure.
— Review left July 30, 2022
Jodi – Class of 2017 | New Rochelle, NY
The Maritime Sampler is a fabulous program. I highly recommended it for all, especially those people who are unfamiliar with New England and perhaps have never been to the ocean.
— Review left July 29, 2022
Richard – Class of 2019 | Cincinnati, OH
A terrific program. Every day on the water: rebuilt schooner in Gloucester harbor, whale-watching in Massachusetts Bay, harbor tour from Salem to Marblehead, ride along the Essex River and estuary---all with knowledgeable guides and instructors. Walk through the artists' colony area of Rockport with a knowledgeable guide. Talks from fishermen, popular historians, etc. Delightful and insightful. Strongly recommended.
— Review left July 21, 2022
This participant did not give a star rating.
Carla – Class of 2022 | Carrboro, NC
This is a great tour. I learned many new things in a fun setting.
— Review left July 17, 2022
Gary – Class of 2020 | Festus, MO
This trip was better than expected. My wife and I learned more than we thought and the interaction on the trip with everyone was just right. We had enough free time to do a few things on our own. Ruth Bennett, our leader, was very professional and great about thinking on the fly. The 5 different sea trips was better than expected. We especially liked the trip on the tall ship, and the whale watch.
— Review left July 5, 2022
John – Class of 2013 | Bridgeport, CT
Really great way to experience coastal New England from both the shore and on the water! Highly recommended, particularly if you are not from the area.
— Review left June 26, 2022
Carol – Class of 2017 | Goodyear, AZ
Wonderful way to see and experience a wide variety of Maritime places and activities in the Rockport, MA area. Well organized and highly interesting. Be sure to read some or all of the suggested readings before the program to get the best benefit from the program!
— Review left June 25, 2022
Lenore – Class of 2017 | Glen Carbon, IL
I would encourage anyone who has not been to the Cape Ann area to go on this trip. It gave an excellent historical view of this area.
— Review left September 25, 2021
Carolyn – Class of 2003 | Bryan, TX
This was a very enjoyable experience!
— Review left September 24, 2021
Mary – Class of 2019 | North Chesterfield, VA
Local Color, isn’t limited to breathtaking seafaring, WhaleWatching, and landscapes in this Maritime New England Sampler. The speakers, lecturers themselves are Salty characters, strong personalities, whose life experiences and obvious love of this region gave special meaning to this memorable experience. BRAVO: Jim (Art, Life at Sea) Sam (Italian Fisherman, Entrepreneur), Liz (Group Leader Extraordinaire), Captain Steve (Lobsterman), Jim (Coach Driver)
— Review left September 20, 2021
Martha – Class of 2021 | Loudon, NH
very well presented and comprehensive
— Review left September 18, 2021
Jacqueline – Class of 2013 | Pennington, NJ
This is a fascinating program in a very interesting part of Massachusetts. The residents of Rockport, where we stayed, were kind and friendly, seemed pleased we were enjoying their town. Each boat trip (there were 5) was the second unique and the guides were great. We saw several whales, we saw many varieties of beautiful birds, we sailed on a famous wooden schooner, all so interesting. We ate great seafood. Best of all was our sensational group leader, Lili, who accommodated everyone’s needs, whose humor made us laugh, whose ability to bring great cohesion to our group was just superb. Don’t hesitate, just sign up and go!
— Review left August 28, 2021
Bryan – Class of 2008 | South Haven, MI
This is a great coastal tour with 5 boat rides and expert local storytellers to add dimensions to the maritime experience.
— Review left August 27, 2021
Fred – Class of 2002 | Millington, TN
Wonderful program if you love boats and information and history of boating.
— Review left August 16, 2021
Kathy – Class of 2021 | York, PA
A wonderful journey into maritime life. Learned about the interesting history of the area and present-day issues.
— Review left August 14, 2021