Hy-Line Cruises
Encyclopedia
Hy-Line Cruises is a Massachusetts
ferry
and cruise
company that is family owned and operated. It currently runs the second largest passenger ferry service between mainland Cape Cod
and the islands of Martha's Vineyard
and Nantucket (after the Steamship Authority). The company also operates sightseeing cruises and fishing charters. The company is based out of Hyannis Harbor, in Hyannis, Massachusetts
.
ferry to both Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard (seasonal) and Nantucket (year-round) from Hyannis, and as of 2008 is the only ferry company to operate a year-round high speed service from Cape Cod, as the Steamship Authority's fast ferry does not run from January–April. During Cape Cod's tourist season (May until October), Hy-Line runs "traditional" ferry service catering primarily to tourists, sailing to both islands from Hyannis, as well as an inter island trip between Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. All of Hy-Line's ferry services are passenger only (although bicycles are carried), and due to the legal monopoly held on vehicle ferry service by the Steamship Authority, Hy-Line's operations will likely remain that way for the foreseeable future.
, (the latter sailing from the Wareham village of Onset). The Hyannis cruise is popular with the summer tourists due to its close up views of the Kennedy Compound
.
.
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
and cruise
Cruise ship
A cruise ship or cruise liner is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the ship's amenities are part of the experience, as well as the different destinations along the way...
company that is family owned and operated. It currently runs the second largest passenger ferry service between mainland Cape Cod
Cape Cod
Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
and the islands of Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard is an island located south of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, known for being an affluent summer colony....
and Nantucket (after the Steamship Authority). The company also operates sightseeing cruises and fishing charters. The company is based out of Hyannis Harbor, in Hyannis, Massachusetts
Hyannis, Massachusetts
Hyannis is the largest of seven villages in Barnstable, Massachusetts. Also it is the commercial and transportation hub of Cape Cod and was designated an urban area as a result of the 1990 census. Because of this, many refer to Hyannis as the "Capital of the Cape"...
.
History
Hy-Line began operations in 1962 as Hyannis Harbor Tours run by Richard Scudder and his brother Robert. Originally, the company focused on sightseeing harbor tours, which it still does today. The company adding deep sea fishing charters in 1966, and started running seasonal ferry services in 1970, first to Martha's Vineyard, and then to Nantucket in 1972 when Harbor Tours purchased The Nantucket Boat Company, and its trade (DBA) name Hi-Line. Changing the spelling to "Hy-Line," Harbor Tours adopted this name for all of its services. In 1996, Hy-Line started running the first high speed catamaran service to Nantucket (several years before the Steamship Authority started its catamaran service), and, as business continued to increase, placed orders for two more, successively larger vessels for the Nantucket route. In 2005, the company added a second catamaran to the fleet for a one hour seasonal service to Martha's Vineyard—the second of the three built for the Nantucket route.Island Ferry Service
Hy-Line operates a one hour catamaranCatamaran
A catamaran is a type of multihulled boat or ship consisting of two hulls, or vakas, joined by some structure, the most basic being a frame, formed of akas...
ferry to both Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard (seasonal) and Nantucket (year-round) from Hyannis, and as of 2008 is the only ferry company to operate a year-round high speed service from Cape Cod, as the Steamship Authority's fast ferry does not run from January–April. During Cape Cod's tourist season (May until October), Hy-Line runs "traditional" ferry service catering primarily to tourists, sailing to both islands from Hyannis, as well as an inter island trip between Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. All of Hy-Line's ferry services are passenger only (although bicycles are carried), and due to the legal monopoly held on vehicle ferry service by the Steamship Authority, Hy-Line's operations will likely remain that way for the foreseeable future.
Sightseeing Cruises
Hy-Line also runs seasonal sightseeing cruises in Hyannis Harbor, and the Cape Cod CanalCape Cod Canal
The Cape Cod Canal is an artificial waterway traversing the narrow neck of land that joins Cape Cod to mainland Massachusetts.Part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, the canal is roughly 17.4 miles long and connects Cape Cod Bay in the north to Buzzards Bay in the south...
, (the latter sailing from the Wareham village of Onset). The Hyannis cruise is popular with the summer tourists due to its close up views of the Kennedy Compound
Kennedy Compound
The Kennedy Compound or Hyannis Port Historic District is the name given to six acres of waterfront property on Cape Cod along Nantucket Sound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, United States....
.
Fishing Charters
Out of Hyannis, Hy-Line runs seasonal 1/2 day deep sea fishing trips in Nantucket SoundNantucket Sound
Nantucket Sound is a roughly triangular area of the Atlantic Ocean offshore from the U.S. state of Massachusetts. It is long and wide, and is enclosed by Cape Cod on the north, Nantucket on the south, and Martha's Vineyard on the west. Between Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard it is connected to the...
.