Ship Ahoy Motel
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About
#1 of 1 motel in Southport
Location
Rooms
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
See why so many travellers make Ship Ahoy Motel their motel of choice when visiting Southport. Providing an ideal mix of value, comfort and convenience, it offers a quaint setting with an array of amenities designed for travellers like you.
Guest rooms offer air conditioning.
In addition, guests can enjoy a pool during their visit. As an added convenience, there is free parking available to guests.
Travellers looking to enjoy some shrimp can head to Robinson's Wharf or Oliver's at Cozy Harbor.
We’re sure you’ll enjoy your stay at Ship Ahoy Motel as you experience all of the things Southport has to offer.
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Property amenities
Air conditioning
Private balcony
Room types
Ocean view
Non-smoking rooms
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Budget
Quaint
Location
Route 238, Southport, ME 04569
Getting there
Knox County Regional Airport
51 km•
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Augusta Airport
55.1 km•
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Rental Cars
84 Restaurants
within 10 kilometers
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Detailed Reviews
You will read reviews good and bad about Ship Ahoy. First of all you will not find cockroaches, rats or bugs. The place has age but is kept clean and neat. It is a very simple Motel, rooms are dated, yes. Televisions are old but being changed out but don't expect a large screen or crisp clear channels. Reservations will be your first clue, you have to either phone in or mail the form with deposit to them.
Ok so you've stuck with me this far so I'll tell you the secret, this place is just wonderful! You're thinking "I've read some reviews and the place doesn't sound wonderful".
The views will just message the stress out of you! The dated CLEAN simple room will offer you a dated, CLEAN bathroom with an excellent shower but the treat is to walk through to the other side of the room to the cozy little balcony with the incredible views. You can also walk over to the the ramp/gang plank down to the water to the float or dock. Throw a line in, catch some Maine Mackerel or Stripe Bass or sit on the old benches there and watch for the seals to come by. We saw an Osprey coming back with a fish in it's talons only to be attacked by a huge Bald Eagle for the fish soon another Osprey joined the first one to try to reclaim the prize. It was just amazing to watch!
I could go on but in the end Ship Ahoy is a very affordable place to relax and enjoy the best of Maine's coastal experience and nature. Plain and simple.
Boothbay Harbor is a few miles away if you need that tourist experience, but the Oasis will be waiting for when you've had enough and want to relax!
Yes it is NOT for those who need 100 channels to watch on a big screen or fluffy bed and bedding or granite/marble top vanity. Or don't want to interact with other guests and develop new connections. But it is a diamond in the rough! Stay away the rest of us love it!
Ok so you've stuck with me this far so I'll tell you the secret, this place is just wonderful! You're thinking "I've read some reviews and the place doesn't sound wonderful".
The views will just message the stress out of you! The dated CLEAN simple room will offer you a dated, CLEAN bathroom with an excellent shower but the treat is to walk through to the other side of the room to the cozy little balcony with the incredible views. You can also walk over to the the ramp/gang plank down to the water to the float or dock. Throw a line in, catch some Maine Mackerel or Stripe Bass or sit on the old benches there and watch for the seals to come by. We saw an Osprey coming back with a fish in it's talons only to be attacked by a huge Bald Eagle for the fish soon another Osprey joined the first one to try to reclaim the prize. It was just amazing to watch!
I could go on but in the end Ship Ahoy is a very affordable place to relax and enjoy the best of Maine's coastal experience and nature. Plain and simple.
Boothbay Harbor is a few miles away if you need that tourist experience, but the Oasis will be waiting for when you've had enough and want to relax!
Yes it is NOT for those who need 100 channels to watch on a big screen or fluffy bed and bedding or granite/marble top vanity. Or don't want to interact with other guests and develop new connections. But it is a diamond in the rough! Stay away the rest of us love it!
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Date of stay: June 2017Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We have been here several times over the years. We like the building that is right on the water and you can sit on the balcony and absorb the scenery. No phone, WIFI at office and tv with limited channels. This is a great way to get away from it all and rest. Just wish the beds were a tad softer. Very clean and light breakfast items available for minimal cost.
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Date of stay: September 2017Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Rooms
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A dear friend and I stayed here for 4 nights the end of June. It was so quiet and beautiful. Yes the room was basic but very clean. I brought a small coffeemaker and hair dryer along. As we were there to relax it was very nice. If you are looking for a basic place to sleep and relax, I highly recommend the Ship Ahoy motel.
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Date of stay: June 2016Trip type: Travelled with friends
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Â Second floor for nest view, we stayed on first floor and it was fine
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Visited Boothbay Harbor area the end of August.Made the mistake of making a three night reservation in the neighboring town of Southport. Upon check in motel lobby had a very musty smell.Not a good first impression.We were not given the building near the water which we requested when making our reservation 4 months earlier.Room was very unclean and also had a bad odor. T.V. only had 4 channels and not good ones. There were no phones in room and not even a pay phone on premises for an emergency. No alarm clocks either. Spider webs on all outside lights next to the room doors. Every time we opened the door lots of moths flew in .The event of the night was killing moths. We also had no cell phone service in this remote part of Maine so a pay phone would have been nice in case of an emergency or if somebody from home needed to reach us. Upon check in I went straight to the owner to express my opinion of his motel. He did not seem to care and gave me a can of Lysol to spray the room with. He also handed me an ancient alarm clock which we needed to wake us up early the next morning so we could make a quick exit to a much nicer motel in Boothbay Harbor. Would not reccomend Ship Ahoy Motel
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Over the past few years, we have watched this property go down a very slippery slope. Although old, it used to be pretty clean, but this is not the case anymore. Between the flies and the absolutely filthy bathroom we have had enough. I really doubt the sheets were clean. But the last straw was when my husband pulled back the bedspread and a cockroach flew out. The management doesn't seem to care about much of anything as long as your credit card goes through. If they really cared, this property would not be in the state that it is. It is truly a shame. It is one of the most beautiful spots in Maine. It has truly pained me that it has fallen into such a state. We have stayed there every year for the past 10 years, so believe me -- I do know what I am talking about...
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Date of stay: September 2005
Value
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I've spent parts of vacations at the Ship Ahoy Motel many, many times over the past 25+ years... using it as a base to explore Mid-Coast Maine. The views are great, especially if you stay in the "Far East" unit.
Rates are exceptionally low for waterfront property.
TV reception is lousy, only 3 or 4 channels. Breakfast is not free and very limited in choice, but the view from that restaurant is outstanding, especially on a sunny morning. The rooms are not fancy but always seemed adequately clean to me, but, let's face it, it's not the Ritz.
Rates are exceptionally low for waterfront property.
TV reception is lousy, only 3 or 4 channels. Breakfast is not free and very limited in choice, but the view from that restaurant is outstanding, especially on a sunny morning. The rooms are not fancy but always seemed adequately clean to me, but, let's face it, it's not the Ritz.
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Date of stay: September 2005
Value
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
If you want stay healthy and avoid a heart attack just keep away from the worst motel in the US. An red-faced owner appeared drunk and just shouted at us get out of here, here's my law. I was just flabbergasted. I never saw the rudest person or motels' personnel for that matter, just because I showed my tax exemption card, and already paid. Don't ever stay there unless you want to run the risk of being thrown out.
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Date of stay: September 2015Trip type: Travelled with family
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I booked a room on a Tuesday. I spoke with one of the owners and gave him my credit card info to hold the room. When we got there Friday, after travelling 5 hours, there was no record and the place was booked. I suspect our room was given to a walk in who had the cash. The owner was not apologetic and offered nothing to make up for the so called error....an offer of a discount for a future stay, breakfast coupon or something. Would have been the right thing to do. The owner acted very odd and I can only speculate what the reason was. Sooo disappointed
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Date of stay: June 2015Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
we went aug 16th -left on the 21st 2015. the weather was awesome.the room as usual was very clean. and the rooms are a very good size. the view is awesome i hate the word but it applies here.
we stayed in room 55 at the far east the most desired room at the ship Ahoy. it was pretty cool. i 've been going there for 13years and having jim grant us that room was a real treat. i felt very much like i was "in man" the folks are very nice. we have established a reporte with one on the chamber maids, her name is Brenda. we left her 5.00 bucks a day and 25 when we left. after she got her first tip she left us a note calling us sweethearts.i could on an on. we just love the place as i stated before it's great to be on a friendly basis with Jim the owner. i just dig going there and knowing how to get anyplace i want in the area. my only complaint is that too many damn people are finding out about my ship ahoy. at the same time i love that folks dig the place. the day before we were leaving we meet some people who had been going there for 10-12 years as well. they took up 19 rooms. so eat that you nay sayers of my ship ahoy. you could not ask for more bang for your buck. at 79 bucks you ain't staying nowhere else where you get a private balcony and the bay of the harbor 50feet away.if you want a place on the water and don't have a lot of bread this is the place to go. you'll be back!! oh yeah the rates have not changed one penny in my thirteen years
off season you can get the far east 50 feet from the water for 59 bucks you can't beat that with a stick.
we stayed in room 55 at the far east the most desired room at the ship Ahoy. it was pretty cool. i 've been going there for 13years and having jim grant us that room was a real treat. i felt very much like i was "in man" the folks are very nice. we have established a reporte with one on the chamber maids, her name is Brenda. we left her 5.00 bucks a day and 25 when we left. after she got her first tip she left us a note calling us sweethearts.i could on an on. we just love the place as i stated before it's great to be on a friendly basis with Jim the owner. i just dig going there and knowing how to get anyplace i want in the area. my only complaint is that too many damn people are finding out about my ship ahoy. at the same time i love that folks dig the place. the day before we were leaving we meet some people who had been going there for 10-12 years as well. they took up 19 rooms. so eat that you nay sayers of my ship ahoy. you could not ask for more bang for your buck. at 79 bucks you ain't staying nowhere else where you get a private balcony and the bay of the harbor 50feet away.if you want a place on the water and don't have a lot of bread this is the place to go. you'll be back!! oh yeah the rates have not changed one penny in my thirteen years
off season you can get the far east 50 feet from the water for 59 bucks you can't beat that with a stick.
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Date of stay: August 2015Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Â Top floor of the far east is the place to be 59.00 bucks off season unreal
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Most 4 star hotels that we've ever visited do not include local phone, internet, water excursions, or other amenities in their $500+/night fees. However, the Ship Ahoy clearly distinguishes itself from these hotels in two ways.
First, parking isn't an extra $45/night. It's abundant and free.
Second, the highest fee for the best room (overlooking the ocean and two islands) is $79 !!
For that, you get to hear the seagulls on the roof and the Burnt Island foghorn during July and August when the summer sea advection covers the Maine coast with thick fog. There's a great dock for fishing and several places to swim or launch a kayak. Kayakers can make the short trip across to Burnt Island where public paths and picnic areas lead to the Burnt Island Lighthouse. Across the water northward is the town of Boothbay Harbor itself, which is less than a 5 minute drive that takes you across two small bridges, including a swing bridge that houses an osprey nest with new chicks (as of July 2015).
A perfect place to land for a real Maine experience.
First, parking isn't an extra $45/night. It's abundant and free.
Second, the highest fee for the best room (overlooking the ocean and two islands) is $79 !!
For that, you get to hear the seagulls on the roof and the Burnt Island foghorn during July and August when the summer sea advection covers the Maine coast with thick fog. There's a great dock for fishing and several places to swim or launch a kayak. Kayakers can make the short trip across to Burnt Island where public paths and picnic areas lead to the Burnt Island Lighthouse. Across the water northward is the town of Boothbay Harbor itself, which is less than a 5 minute drive that takes you across two small bridges, including a swing bridge that houses an osprey nest with new chicks (as of July 2015).
A perfect place to land for a real Maine experience.
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Date of stay: July 2015Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Service
Room Tip:Â Any upstairs room in the two oceanfront buildings. I've stayed at most of them.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
They never reopened in 2019.
"just have realistic expectations and enjoy- oh, walls are little thin so might get noisy if loud guests next door."Read full review
"Check out your room 1st if sensitive to cigarette odor. Rms on the second floor will suck in cigarette smoke from the first floor."Read full review
ALSO KNOWN AS
ship ahoy hotel southport
LOCATION
United StatesMaineMid Coast MaineSouthport
NUMBER OF ROOMS
54
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Ship Ahoy Motel
Which popular attractions are close to Ship Ahoy Motel?
Nearby attractions include Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens (4.2 km), Cabbage Island (3.7 km), and Carousel Music Theater (3.5 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Ship Ahoy Motel?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include a pool, free parking, and kids activities.
What are some restaurants close to Ship Ahoy Motel?
Conveniently located restaurants include Shannon's Unshelled, Downeast Ice Cream Factory, and Thistle Inn Restaurant.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Ship Ahoy Motel?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.
Are there any historical sites close to Ship Ahoy Motel?
Many travellers enjoy visiting The Wilson Memorial Chapel (4.3 km).
Does Ship Ahoy Motel have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the ocean view available here.