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V O L . X X X I N O. X X V I I I D E C E M B E R 1 5 , 2 0 2 5 14 M I D C O A S T / D OW N E A S T F O C U S A cap on cruise ship passenger traffic, along with a rainy spring and travel effects from the fed- eral government shutdown, challenged businesses in Bar Harbor, even though there was plenty of activity at neigh- boring Acadia National Park. e town implemented an aggre- gate 1,000-passenger disembarkation cap this year, leaving port calls mainly to small ships (see sidebar), presenting a challenge to some businesses. "It's a traumatic impact when your business model is built around something that's almost entirely removed," says Eben Salvatore, who co-owns an electric vehicle rental company and directs local operations for a hospitality company. Middling season To a degree, the year came down to whom you talk to, says Everal Eaton, executive director of the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce. Based on anecdotal information from members, the season wasn't the business community's best. "I think, from our perspective, it's been a middling season," says Eaton. "But the season really came down to who you talk to. Most lodgings did pretty well, on average, compared with last year. I think the retail sector was probably hit a little more, with the loss of cruise ship traffic." A rainy May and June likely contrib- uted to lower outdoor activity sales. "But in July, August, September, October, they were able to bounce back from any losses, from what I heard," Eaton says. "Overall, we had a good year," says David Woodside, president of Acadia Corp., with seven shops in Bar Harbor and one in Southwest Harbor. Two shops on West Street, near the town wharf, typically see more busi- ness when the cruise ships are in. at changed this year due to cruise ship cuts, which resulted in decreases across many of the shops in May, although there was a reasonable amount of customers in September and October. Cold rain "May and June were incredibly slow," says Kristi Bond. "Part of that, I think, had to do with the weather. It rained a lot and it was a cold rain. at doesn't help." With her husband Jeremy, Bond owns FishMaine Restaurant Group, with three downtown res- taurants and two locations leased to other restaurants. More significant, in the spring and fall, was the absence of cruise passengers who previously bol- stered the lunch crowd. "I can usually say there will be this many cruise ships today and we'll do this much for lunch. is year was different," she says. In business for over 20 years, Bond tracks changing circumstances. "I can see the decrease we got was the lack of cruise ships during the lunch period," she says. In previous years, the restaurants could depend on passengers look- ing for a lunch spot. Bond recalls a couple of ships that arrived like clockwork: One regularly arrived from Bermuda in May and June, another came every Friday and Wednesday. "When you know a ship will come in with several thousand peo- ple, who will come into town, that's a hint that you'll have some coming into the restaurant," she says. at changed this year. e din- ner business was still robust. "I think people are still travel- ing," says Bond. "e park is busy." Bond is planning for next year. Her strategy might include elimi- nating lunch after Labor Day. "One of my predictions is that we'll see businesses start to open a little later and maybe close a little earlier," says Bond. "Or maybe they'll change their hours, maybe only open certain days of the week during those times of the year." Bar Harbor's BUMPY YEAR Drastic cruise ship cap, rainy spring offset Acadia tourism gains in gateway town B y L a u r i e S c h r e i b e r It's a traumatic impact when your business model is built around something that's almost entirely removed. — Eben Salvatore Acadia Gem, Ocean Properties F I L E P H O T O / L A U R I E S C H R E I B E R P H O T O / L A U R I E S C H R E I B E R Eben Salvatore of Acadia Gem rents electric vehicles, mainly to cruise ship passengers. Everal Eaton of the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce says the 2025 season wasn't the business community's best. Cruise ship decline Bar Harbor implemented a daily passenger cap of 1,000. Smaller ships, with fewer than 200 passengers, visited 38 times June through October. Sixteen larger ships, carrying 2,000 to 4,000 passengers, were grandfathered for calls from Aug. 27 to Oct. 23. Previously, the port booked over 150 ships per season, many carrying several thousand passengers.

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