Today I have a lovely article to share with you about the M/S Mount Washington, its legacy, its tradition and most importantly its people! For those that aren’t already familiar, Mount Washington Cruises offers both daytime and dinner cruises on Lake Winnipesaukee from late Mary through October. In addition to this article, I would like to highlight three unique cruise opportunities for families that you will find at the bottom this post. On any one of these cruises, the M/S Mount Washington will provide entertainment for your children, leaving you to soak in the beautiful scenery while enjoying some quality family time.
M/S Mount Washington’s Legacy is in its Traditions and Experienced Crew
WEIRS BEACH, NH – The M/S Mount Washington has quite a legacy in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, having cruised the waters of Lake Winnipesaukee for many years. But the success of the company has happened through not only the ship itself, but the longevity of its crew, who now collectively have more than 100 years of experience.
Many of the crew members aboard the M/S Washington, M/V Doris C. and U.S. Mail Boat Sophie C. will tell you that while they get paid to do their jobs and take their responsibilities very seriously, the passion for what they do outweighs any paycheck. This is also what has kept them aboard for so many years: a deep sense of appreciation for their fleet, the lake, and being able to see both through new eyes all the time.
“I don’t think you ever get the opportunity to get bored. Mother Nature can get your attention really quickly and the neat part is, no two days are the same. The weather is always changing, the boat traffic is always changing. The biggest thing is the people on board are always changing,” said Captain Paul Smith, known more commonly as “Smitty,” who is celebrating his 27th season with the company. “Certainly, fall foliage is one of those times of the year where people really make a choice to come to New England. You have an opportunity to meet people from all over the world. If they are coming to the area, it’s always nice to say, “Where are you going from here?” If you can help people out with their experience, it’s kind of a neat thing.”
Fleet Captain Leo O’Connell, who is celebrating his 23rd season with the company, agreed. “People say, don’t you get bored out here? And I say, ‘we are going to pass five mile island and I have passed five mile island thousands of times, but this is the first time with you. You make the difference today.’”
O’Connell docks his boat near the Mount and can be found out on the lake even when he isn’t working. “My wife says, you’re the only person I know who loves to go to work, you come home with a smile on your face every day because you had a great day and you do what you do for a living after you get out of work. We don’t get tired of it,” he said.
Captain Bruce Campbell joined the company in 1969 as a part-time summer employee, eventually coming on full-time. He is now the “go to” person on the ship and can be found in the wheelhouse, pursers office or doing anything else that is needed on deck.
“At first it was a summer job when I was in high school and college. When I got tired of public education, I came to work here full-time. From there, I was here, I was here, and I kept adding new jobs,” he said. When asked what keeps him coming back every day, he said, “You’re always meeting new people. No two days weather-wise are going to be the same. I have been in the wheel house at times where we had the engines doing everything they could to pull us away from a dock in the strong winds, and other days when there wasn’t a ripple on the lake. It changes constantly.”
If anyone knows the ins and outs of the three boats, it is Fleet Engineer Nashawaty, who is going on 25 years with the company. For him, working on the Mount is a lifelong dream come true. “I had watched the ship since I was four years old. We used to have a summer place on Alton Bay and we used to see the ship go by. I always told my father, someday I am going to work on that ship.”
Nashawaty’s four person crew are responsible for all systems, or “whatever is on these boats is what we take care of,” from safety, lighting, electricity, engine maintenance, steering, painting and much, much more.
“It’s a labor of love. How can you not love these boats? This is my baby,” he said of the Mount. “The love of the ship and the people have kept me going. That’s what makes it worth it. It doesn’t feel like a job most days, but there is a lot of responsibility too. As a crew, we have fun. If you don’t have fun, it’s time to go home. You have to enjoy it.”
Patricia “Pat” Quinn is a newcomer to the crew who is currently working as purser on the Mount and will be skipper on the Doris E. She worked with O’Connell in Marine Patrol in the past, a role she held for seven years, and has been a Coast Guard reservist for 28 years, so driving boats is not something new.
“I missed driving boats and I missed the lake, so this was a good fit for me,” she said. “I am learning a lot of new things and I have met a lot of new people. I am amazed at the behind the scenes workings of this vessel and the company itself. No one ever sits down. The deck hands and the crew are constantly in motion. There is always something to do. It’s amazing to me. There’s a lot of talent and highly skilled professionals on the ship. There is a lot to driving these vessels.”
These are just some of the faces guests see aboard the Mount, ready to share a story, point out an important scenic landmark or make a future travel recommendation. But beyond those, they are genuinely there to make every passenger’s experience as great as their own.
To learn more about Mount Washington Cruises please call toll-free or visit their Website for discounted advance cruise tickets and information at www.cruisenh.com.
Photo: Captain Paul Smith, also known as “Smitty,” at the helm of the M/S Mount Washington.
Family Fun with the M/S Mount Washington
Family Party Nights: Wednesday evenings are Family Party Nights on Lake Winnipesaukee! Your family will enjoy a buffet dinner, live music, dancing, and children’s entertainment. Children ages 12 and under are free, with a limit of two free children per family (except for those under 5). Adult tickets are $45.
Friday Family Fun Days: Fridays are Family Fun Days on the M/S Mount Washington! The cruise will host programs for the children with different themes each week. Tickets are $29 for Adults, $15 for Children ages 5-12 (Children under the age of 5 are free). There is a Family Rate of $73 which includes tickets for 2 adults and 2 children ages 5-12.
Experience a Meteor Shower Aboard the M/S Mount Washington During the Stars in the Sky Cruise: On August 9th you will be able to view shooting a stars and enjoy a Meteor Shower all while aboard the M/S Mouth Washington! The M/S Mount Washington is partnering with the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center for this special event. Passengers will be able to visit a satellite exhibit in the steamboat lounge that will highlight how shooting stars are formed and attend a lecture explaining the differences between the meteors during the shower. “The Shooting Stars in the Sky cruise departs from Weirs Beach at 7 p.m. and from Meredith at 7:30 p.m. and returns at 10 p.m. Adult tickets are $49, children between ages 4 and 12 are $20 and children under 4 are free. Tickets for this special night include a buffet dinner served promptly upon boarding, followed by a fun educational component with different activities. ”