Bruce Anchor Cruises.
Glass-bottom boat tours from Tobermory to Flowerpot Island and Big Tub Harbour shipwrecks in Fathom Five National Marine Park
The brief.
Bruce Anchor Cruises operates a five-vessel glass-bottom fleet from 61 Front Street in Tobermory, at the northern tip of the Bruce Peninsula where Lake Huron meets Georgian Bay. The cruise division has run within Fathom Five National Marine Park since 2011, building on a family enterprise that started as a 16-room motel in 1989. Tours visit two 19th-century shipwrecks in Big Tub Harbour — The Sweepstakes and The City of Grand Rapids — before continuing 6.5 kilometres offshore to Flowerpot Island, where guests either disembark for self-guided hiking or stay aboard for a roughly 90-minute circuit of the rock formations and lightstation. The fleet's newest vessel, the Tobermory Eclipse, is the first boat in Canada approved for the IMO-3 emissions designation. The 2026 season runs May 2 through October 12.
4. ways in.
- 01
Flowerpot Island Drop-Off (Round Trip)
For: All ages — adult, senior, youth, child price bandsWhen: May 2 – October 12, 2026 (peak: June 27 – September 7 plus weekends)The flagship route. Glass-bottom vessel enters Big Tub Harbour to view The Sweepstakes and The City of Grand Rapids shipwrecks through the hull windows, then drops passengers at Flowerpot Island for self-guided hiking — 4 km of trails to the Flowerpots, cave, lightstation, museum, and Castle Bluff, with the loop starting at Beachy Cove. Return sailing time is preset and the boat leaves promptly. Parks Canada island pass is required separately.
Adults $58.98 off-season / $71.83 peak; Seniors (65+) $56.98 / $70.14; Youth (4–17) $49.98 / $63.37; Children 0–3 free. HST included.
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Flowerpot Island Stay Aboard
For: All ages — adult, senior, youth, child price bandsWhen: May 2 – October 12, 2026 (peak: June 27 – September 7 plus weekends)A roughly 90-minute glass-bottom cruise with no disembarkation. The boat passes the two Big Tub Harbour shipwrecks, then circles Flowerpot Island for views of the lightstation and the namesake rock formations. Hull viewing windows cover 20% of the floor — the maximum allowed under Near-Coastal Class II structural specifications. Useful when the island's hiking is closed off by weather or when staying dry is the goal.
Adults $52.21 off-season / $62.71 peak; Seniors (65+) $50.44 / $61.04; Youth (4–17) $43.36 / $54.35; Children 0–3 free. HST included.
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Drop-Off (No Shipwrecks)
The same Flowerpot Island drop-off format on late-day departures leaving Tobermory after 3:45pm — same Drop-Off price grid, but the Big Tub Harbour shipwreck stop is skipped. Booking via the same registration link.
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Stay Aboard (No Shipwrecks)
The 90-minute glass-bottom Stay Aboard cruise on late-day departures leaving Tobermory after 3:45pm — same Stay Aboard price grid, no shipwreck stop. Booking via the same registration link.
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Worth knowing.
- 01Cruise division operating within Fathom Five National Marine Park since 2011Source ↗
- 02Five-vessel glass-bottom fleet, with two vessels carrying over 145 passengers eachSource ↗
- 03Tobermory Eclipse (2023) is the first vessel in Canada approved for IMO-3 designation, producing four times less emissions than the current standardSource ↗
- 04Glass-bottom hulls feature viewing windows covering 20% of the floor area, limited by Near-Coastal Class II structural reinforcement specificationsSource ↗
- 05Tours visit two 19th-century shipwrecks in Big Tub Harbour: The Sweepstakes and The City of Grand RapidsSource ↗
- 06Routes reach Flowerpot Island, 6.5 km off Tobermory in Fathom Five National Marine ParkSource ↗
- 07Stay Aboard cruises run approximately 90 minutesSource ↗
- 082026 season runs May 2 – October 12; peak season is June 27 – September 7 plus weekendsSource ↗
- 09Pet-friendly: dogs welcome aboard if friendly with people and other dogs and unmuzzledSource ↗
- 10Free parking at 22 Legion Street, ~10 minutes from the boarding dock; weekday parking free through end of 2026 seasonSource ↗
- 11Up to 25% discount on weekday early-bird sailings during the 2026 seasonSource ↗
- 12Group rates available for parties of 12 or more by direct inquirySource ↗
- 13Docking facilities are not wheelchair accessible — approximately three flights of stairs between parking and dockSource ↗
- 14Camping transport to Flowerpot Island campsites included with daily check-in (1:15–3:15pm) and check-out (before 12:00pm) departuresSource ↗
Get in
touch.
- Website
- cruises.bruceanchor.com
- Phone
- 519-596-2555
- Address
- 61 Front St, Tobermory, ON N0H 2R0
- www.facebook.com/thebruceanchor
- www.instagram.com/thebruceanchor