All aboard the Sabino! Did you know that from early May to mid-October, you can enjoy a two-hour (or express thirty-minute) tour of the Mystic River aboard a steamship dating back to the early 1900s? 

Named in honor of Sabenoa, a member of the Abenaki Sagamore Indigenous people of the Northeastern Woodlands, the Sabino (pronounced sah-BYE-no) is the oldest regularly operating coal-powered steamboat in America, and represents a bygone era of waterway travel.

Before the advent of cars and railroads, steamship travel was very common in coastal and riverside areas. From about 1820 to 1940, people relied on steamboat travel as regularly as we rely on cars today. The vessels reached speeds of about eight miles per hour, which — believe it or not — was faster and more efficient than traveling by land. With the construction of reliable highways and bridges in the 1920s and beyond, however, steamboats became obsolete.

Today, the Sabino is a source of joy and entertainment for tourists and locals alike, with daily departures at 5:30pm from the docks behind S&P Oyster in Mystic. Tickets can be purchased up to 30 days in advance, and guests can check in with their mobile tickets at the Mystic Seaport Museum at 4 East Main St.

To commemorate your visit aboard a piece of New England history, shop the look (a limited collab!) between Just Mystic and The Mystic Seaport Museum here. Offerings include a mid-weight crewneck sweatshirt, a softer-than-soft long sleeve t-shirt, a low profile Museum dad hat, and more! 

Guests may bring food and beverages aboard the steamship, or may place an order for pickup through Haring’s in Noank. A limited menu is provided once onboard.

The Sabino serves as a reminder of our past — both the land we inhabit and the innovations we’ve made in travel technology. In honor of preserving that history, Just Mystic is proud to have partnered with the Mystic Seaport Museum on this collaboration.

Shop the look here.

For more information about cruises aboard the Sabino, click here.