When you book a drop-off cruise to Flowerpot Island, you are automatically provided a return time from the island after selecting your departure from Tobermory. This return time provides each guest approximately 3 hours on Flowerpot Island which is time enough to see the Flowerpots, complete the Mountain Trail around the island and enjoy your stay.

Every person stopping on Flowerpot Island is subject to National Park entry fees. These fees are remitted to Fathom Five National Marine Park and help to cover the upkeep costs of the island. Lately, they have been used to build a rain/sun shelter on the dock where you will load/unload, to improve the trail system all the way to the light station, and to build new washroom facilities.

This entry pass is $7.65 plus HST per person 18+ and is automatically added to your order when booking with us at Blue Heron Cruises.

If you booked online or over the phone, your tickets will be included as an attachment to the confirmation email. These tickets can be scanned directly from your smart phone or device at the time of boarding your cruise.

If on the day of your cruise, you will not have access to your email confirmation and the attached tickets, please stop at one of our ticket locations to pick up your tickets before boarding your cruise.

You can park in any of our parking lots located at: 7425 Highway #6, 7456 Highway #6, 7445 Highway #6 or 20 Head Street. 

There are three electric car chargers available at 20 Head Street.
Click Here for a Map https://www.cruisetobermory.com/parking-info.html

All cruises depart from Little Tub Harbour

Dock #1 - Blue Heron 8 & 9 - Flowerpot Island Drop Off
Dock #3 - Great Blue Heron - NonStop Scenic Cruise & Sunset Cruise
Dock #4 - Flowerpot Express - NonStop Scenic Jet Boat

All cruises begin boarding 15 minutes prior to departure.

No. There is a large section of the bottom of the boat that is glass, in some vessels there are two areas. And the shipwrecks are easily viewed over the sides of the boats as our water is very clean and clear! The glass bottom areas are as large as permitted by Transport Canada.

Tickets may be fully refunded up to two days prior to departure. After this time, no refund will be provided. Changes to cruise date or time also require two days notice. All cruises are weather dependent. The Blue Heron Company Limited reserves the right to cancel at any time without notice due to inclement weather conditions including but not limited to strong winds and/or thunderstorms. In the event of cancellation, pre-purchased tickets will be refunded in full.

The Blue Heron Company is a pet-friendly company although we do have a specific Pet Policy in place for all pets traveling on our vessels.

• Only non-aggressive, people-friendly dogs are permitted.
• Dogs must be well behaved at all times and cannot disrupt the cruise.
• All pets travel free of charge.
• All pets are subject to Captain, Crew, and Ticket Staff discretion. We have the right to refuse any pet at any time.
• Pets must be accompanied by an adult and controlled and leashed at all times.
• Both small dogs and large dogs are allowed on our glass bottom boats. They must remain on the top deck or back deck of all boats. No dogs are allowed in the main cabin or on the bow of the boat.
• Owners are responsible for cleaning up after their pet and for any damages incurred.

Blue Heron Cruises works with Parks Canada to take campers to Flowerpot Island.

• Campers are permitted to bring a reasonable amount of luggage aboard the boat. Excess luggage may be subject to an additional charge and will be determined on a case-by-case basis at the absolute discretion of Blue Heron Company staff.
• All campers must purchase their tickets over the phone or in-person at our ticket office.
• A waiver must be signed at the time of ticket pick up agreeing to policy details and providing additional contact details.
• A valid Parks Canada camping permit must be presented to our sales staff and/or boat crew. No cruise tickets will be provided without the presentation of a valid camping permit.
• The National Park visitor fee and camping permit fee are NOT included in the Blue Heron Company ticket price.
• While delays in the scheduled pick-up time are rare, campers need to be prepared with sufficient food and water in the event of canceled sailings due to poor weather conditions.
• If, due to low water levels and / or unfavorable wind conditions, passengers are not dropped at the main dock at Beachy Cove, they may be dropped at a portable dock at another location on Flowerpot Island. The portable dock locations vary. These drop-off locations may be rocky and / or uneven. These alternative drop-off locations are NOT adjacent to the camping area.
• Canoes and kayaks are not permitted on the boats.
• We reserve the right to cancel at any time.

Yes, most of our boats are wheelchair accessible. Please call ahead to get exact measurements of the wheelchair openings. 

Flowerpot Island is not accessible. We do not recommend strollers or mobility devises on the island.

There are snacks for sale at the Flowerpot Island Light Station, which is about a 45 minute walk from the dock where you will disembark. They only accept cash payments for these snacks. These snacks are primarily available in July and August and is by chance only in the off season. Inventory is not guaranteed.

We recommend that you take your own snacks and drinks to ensure that you have something for your stay.

Please remember that Flowerpot Island is part of Fathom Five National Marine Park and we kindly ask that everyone takes their own garbage off the island. Please do not litter. 

There are washrooms at the main dock where you leave the boat and at the Lightkeeper’s Station.

You will visit one shipwreck on your tour. The shipwreck is located at the end of Big Tub Harbour. 

Click Here to see more information on the shipwrecks

Please view the file below
Flowerpot Island Info & Map

How can we reduce the risk posed by invasive species? 

• At Blue Heron Cruises our full-time gardening team provides careful management of our extensive pollinator-friendly gardens, with lots of native planting. In addition, we source all our garden materials locally at the wonderful Peninsula Out of Doors. 
• All Blue Heron vessels travel exclusively in this body of water meaning we do not pose a risk for the introduction of non-native aquatic species.
• You can help out during your visit!  Before leaving home or hitting the trails take a moment to clean the soles of your footwear and your backpack, and if travelling with a four legged friend, be sure to include the puppy paws.  
• Want to know more about invasive species and how to make a difference?  https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-priorities/protect-water-and-land/land-and-water-stories/invasive-plant-species-invasive-species-education-1/

What is sustainable tourism and how is Blue Heron Cruises playing its part?

Sustainable tourism is defined by the UN Environment Program and UN World Tourism Organization as “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment, and host communities.”

How We Plan to Achieve our Goal:  Blue Heron Cruises will provide recreational travel and environmental and cultural experiences in a beautiful, well-preserved environment while contributing to the wellbeing of our local community.

Taking Action Today and in the Future:  “Blue Heron Cruises is working with GreenStep Solutions to achieve internationally recognized and verified sustainable tourism certification, a meaningful and powerful tool to help us credibly measure and celebrate our sustainability performance.  Our aim is to continuously assess and improve our sustainability performance, identify gaps, set goals and create action plans.