Safe Harbor Essex Island

310 Reviews
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11 Ferry St
Essex, CT 06426
41° 21' 12.23'', -72° 23' 1.04''
8607672483
VHF Ch. 9
$5.85/ft
shmarinas.com
Old Saybrook
Start Your Adventure
Safe Harbor Essex Island
Safe Harbor Essex Island
Safe Harbor Essex Island
Safe Harbor Essex Island
Safe Harbor Essex Island
Safe Harbor Essex Island
Safe Harbor Essex Island
Safe Harbor Essex Island
Safe Harbor Essex Island
Safe Harbor Essex Island
Safe Harbor Essex Island
Safe Harbor Essex Island
Safe Harbor Essex Island
Safe Harbor Essex Island
Safe Harbor Essex Island
Safe Harbor Essex Island
Safe Harbor Essex Island
Safe Harbor Essex Island
Safe Harbor Essex Island
Safe Harbor Essex Island
Safe Harbor Essex Island
Safe Harbor Essex Island
Safe Harbor Essex Island
Safe Harbor Essex Island
Fuel
Last Updated: Jun 21, 2023 9:00AM

Diesel $3.959

Gas Regular $5.23

Awards


Boaters Choice 2017Boaters Choice 2018Boaters Choice 2019Boaters Choice 2020Boaters Choice Elite Fleet 2021Boaters Choice Elite Fleet 2022Boaters Choice Elite Fleet 2023

About


PLEASE NOTE

We have merged Dockwa profiles and Safe Harbor Dauntless + Safe Harbor Essex Island reservations will ALL be made through Safe Harbor Essex Island. That includes ALL moorings + slips for Safe Harbor Dauntless.

*For mooring reservations at Safe Harbor Dauntless, please make them here and be sure to select 'mooring' from the drop down when making your reservation. Also, please make a note in your reservation that you are requesting a mooring.

*For transient slip reservations at Safe Harbor Dauntless, please make them here and be sure to select 'slip' from the drop down when making your reservation as well as adding in a big note stating your request for a slip at Safe Harbor Dauntless.

Safe Harbor Essex Island is a true boating retreat for rendezvous gatherings, yacht club festivities, and more. Quietly placed on its own 13-acre island, Safe Harbor Essex Island is a waterfront destination for locals and cruisers alike. Unwind by the oversized pool, enjoy a game of volleyball with family, or explore the vibrant village atmosphere in nearby Essex.

ALL special requests (slip preference, boats you are traveling with, special electric needs, handicap needs, boat accessibility, etc.) NEED to be told to marina staff BEFORE your arrival. Day of arrival changes/add-ons may not be able to be accommodated. Thank you!

Berth Capacity


Slips:185
Moorings:1

Approach


Bell "8" marks the entrance to the Connecticut River. Follow the channel markers starting between the entrance jetties to Red Nun "26" taking care to observe the no-wake areas as indicated. (The Old Lyme Drawbridge, if closed, will respond to “Old Lyme Draw” on VHF Channel 13.) Once in Essex Harbor, turn west into the second anchorage fairway marked by the second set of two yellow cans. Our Safe Harbor Helm sign is just ahead. Hail “ESSEX ISLAND MARINA” on VHF 9 once you have passed Red Nun “26” NOAA Chart 12375

Services & Amenities

Last Updated: Mar 06, 2024

Fuel Dock:Yes
Gas:Yes
Diesel:Yes
Dockage:Yes
Moorings:Yes
Water Hookup:Yes
Service & Maintenance:Yes
Water Taxi:Within 5 Miles
Dinghy Dock:Yes
Wi-Fi:Yes
Pump-out:Yes
Restrooms:Yes
Showers:Yes
Laundry:Yes
Trash:Yes
Ice:Yes
Propane:Yes
Captains Lounge:Yes
Swimming Pool:Yes
Groceries:Within 5 Miles
Medical Facility:Within 5 Miles
Pharmacy:Within 5 Miles
Hotels:Yes
Restaurants:Yes
Beach:Within 5 Miles
Dog Park:Within 5 Miles
Pet Friendly:Yes
Golf:Within 5 Miles
Ship Store:Yes
Max. Vessel LOA:200.0 Feet
Max. Slip Length:656.2 Feet
Max. Slip Width:30.0 Feet
Fixed Docks:Yes
Floating Docks:Yes
Oil Disposal:Yes
Repair Crane:Yes
Engine Service:Yes
Propeller Service:Yes
Land Storage:Yes
Travel Lift:Yes
Live Aboard:Yes
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Verified

Great place great people

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Verified

Essex Island is always a great stay. Adam and his crew are the best.

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Had a great "late season" stay. Facilities excellent, friendly and helpful team...and 30 seconds by ferry and you are walking on Main Street for shopping, food and scenery. We will be back!

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Verified

Clean facility, very friendly manager & staff, superb ferry service. Always a pleasure to visit!!!!

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Verified

Fantastic marina with most helpful staff. I asked for slip that was easy to get to and was given face dock that made for a perfectly easy arrival and departure. We also appreciated clean bathroom and showers. We are looking forward to visiting again next year....Alex & Linda

Marina Response:
Hi Alex and Linda! Thank you for the great review. We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us and that the facilities and staff were to your liking. We also look forward to you visiting again in the near future. Until next time!
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Verified

Always a relaxing place to visit. Staff still great.

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Verified

Adam and his staff were very accomodating, The marina is very well kept, a great place to visit!

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Verified

Great location very helpful staff.

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Verified

Great location. Staff is extremely friendly and helpful.

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Verified

Used transient docking for late lunch at the Siren bar/restaurant. Young dockhands were flexible and helpful. The chicken sandwich and salad were good. The view/location is excellent. Will definitely visit again in the future.

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Verified

Our stay was wonderful. Adam (the head of the marina) was great. I highly recommend the facility and his treatment of guests. First class all the way. And Essex is always a special town.

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Verified

Beautiful marina, quaint village, friendly people everywhere. More $ than some other marinas but more value…you get what you pay for. We will be back.

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Verified

Dock staff were great as well as the marina's facilities. Enjoyed dinner and musical entertainment at the Griswold Inn. A nice town to walk around. Recommend including on anyone's cruise list.

Marina Response:
Thank you for making your way back to the Island! We appreciate your review!
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Verified

We have had our boat docked at Essex Island for 7 years. The staff is helpful and knowledgeable, and the improvements to the marina over the years are outstanding. The marina has become a resort- upgrades to the outdoor furniture, the addition of hammocks and firepitsg, even the game areas of shuffleboard and cornhole have been improved. Many of the docks have been replaced. Couldn't be luckier to live close enough to keep our boat at Essex Island!

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Verified

Wish we could stay longer. Awesome place and staff! Thanks

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Verified

Nicest marina, best run, nicest customer service oriented people in the Northeast or anywhere that we’ve been to after 10 years of regular cruising.

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Verified

Wonderful team and great facility!

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Stayed at the Island for the Labor Day Weekend,Always an A+!!! Thanks guys for a great weekend ⚓️

Marina Response:
Thank YOU! We are so happy you had a pleasant stay :) See you again!
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Verified

Clean facilities. Helpful, knowledgeable staff.

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Verified

Great location, several good places to dine within walking distance. Bath and shower facilities need to be updated.

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Verified

Essex Island Marina remains one of our favorite destinations for early and late season trips. It is a perfect venue to host family gatherings with the boat as home base.

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Verified

Beautiful setting and amenities

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Verified

Great Marina. Great staff!!!

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As always the personnel are professional while friendly, adroit while courteous and caring for safety. Can't beat it.

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Verified

Great and helpful staff. Really enjoyed the pool.

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Verified

Loved A dock and all…not our first visit, always enjoyable

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Essex island marina is one of our families favorite stops. Marina staff are very helpful and polite. This was our third year in a row stopping at Essex island and we noticed many nice improvements from past years.

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Verified

Fabulous! The staff was very accomadating and friendly. Thank you

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Verified

Marina is spotless and well maintained. Employees are friendly and customer service oriented. Love Essex Island Marina. This was my review last year. Not so this year. From Sunday to Thursday morning, the bathrooms were not cleaned. Same clump of hair on the side wall of the shower. Same spots on rim of toilet set. The garbage cans were finally emptied on Wednesday. Don't look up at the light as you walk in. The spiders have been living there for years. Such a shame. The dock hands were extremely polite and helpful. The restaurant on premise was amazing.

Marina Response:
Thank you! Very kind words, and perhaps the best compliment we could receive during a time like this. Stay well!
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Verified

I have been going there for over 25 years bathrooms always immaculate Not This Time. We were there for 3 days and the bathrooms were never cleaned or attended to. Didn't even emply the trash container

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Verified

No response on a reservation request!! Not a good way to do business!!!

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Verified

Great visit. People are very friendly. We will be back.

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Verified

Another great stay ! Dock hands were excellent , clean grounds and fantastic location.. Dinner at Griswold Inn was delicious. Love it here and will be back.

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Verified

Loved it here. We will definitely be back. Only problem was the drifting logs

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Verified

Staff is always super helpful. Great facilities all around and so well maintained. One of our favorite stops

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Verified

Great staff, great facilities.

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Verified

Great staff. Very helpful.

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Verified

Very hard to get a reservation but loved it as always

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Verified

Always love stopping here!

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Verified

Staff helpful, attentive, and knowledgeable. Marina is always a pleasure to visit given the amenities and convenience to town.

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Verified

Great marina! Loved the pontoon shuttle. Beautiful grounds. Lots of places to hang out. Very good heads and showers close to dock. Good restaurant on the grounds. Great staff. All around A+!

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Verified

New landscaping is great. Very sad that the beach at the far end is blocked off. That space made the marina perfect for the pups.

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Verified

Always a great time at Exxex Island. The staff is fabulous ! We all had a fabulous time at EI , the staff went above & beyond to make it a memorable weekend !! Thanks

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Verified

Great stay! Clean grounds, great staff, very nice

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Verified

Great service! Dockhands ready and willing to lend a hand. Lovely Place.

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Verified

Beautiful little island and quaint town. EVERYONE was super friendly! Marina staff was Top Notch, willing to lend a hand or offer local info. Facilities were clean and kept up with! Highly recommend a visit and a few days

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Fabulous marina. Located right downtown. Great campus with all kind of activities. The service team is highly skilled, prompt and professional. Henry, the general manager is very involved and responsive. The entire staff is friendly, polite and go out of their way to help. We had a great experience. One of the best Safe Harbor marinas we have visited. Very professionally run.

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Verified

Facility is great. Pool, reading spots in the shade, small beach. Lots of fun being on an Island. SIREN Resturant is right there. Dockhands were professional and available. Crew dealt with debris in the river from the recent flooding well. We came for 4 days and would like to book all season next year.

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Recently stayed at the marina as part of an Annapolis Yacht Club cruise. The facility is excellent and has a great staff and easy access floating docks. We have a new boat and the team was very responsive in helping us tie up as well as depart. The bathrooms have showers and the whole area is very clean and well furnished. While the marina doesn't have a fuel dock, it is easily available at a marina less than 1-2 minutes away. There is a restaurant on the premises, but we didn't stop by, so I can't comment but it seemed nice. The marina is on an "island" and has a prompt reliable ferry service to the mainland (about 1 min). We took it several times and NEVER awaited more than 1-2 min for the ferry. The town is a very close with nice shops and dining. We ate at the Griswald Inn which is a long-standing establishment and I would recommend stopping by or dining there

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Verified

We have stayed here before and have always enjoyed the staff, views of the Connecticut River and overall facility. Most impressive was the Very informative VHF communications when arriving. The staff who assisted in our docking were very competent and friendly. All in all a fine stay. The WIFI at Safe Harbor locations has always been a plus. Clean rest rooms, a dock layout available on the website, very helpful manager and the Town of Essex make Safe Harbor Essex Island a must stay. I paid more attention to the activities of the entire staff and was impressed by the high visibility of the GM, Adam Yaeger. There’s quite a capable staff at this SH facility. At one time or the other Adam was at all, office, new decking project, harbor flotsam clearing, etc.

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Great facilities, staff and amenities. One of best marinas on East Coast

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Verified

perfectly suitable but a little tired - great for proximity to Essex but the bathroom and shower facilities were pretty basic and run down. The pool was nice but full of loud kids and teenagers who were apparently unsupervised so the pool experience was not relaxing. Nice little cafe/bar at Sirens though. I would go back but thought it would be nicer now that it's a Safe Harbor marina

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Verified

Great staff !!!!!!!!!’

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Verified

EXCELLENT SERVICE AND DOCKS WERE SUPER CLEAN - FREINDLY STAFF

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Verified

Safe harbor is a Beautiful place

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Verified

Nice quiet marina with friendly staff. Nice upgrades on pool area lawn games since last time we stopped here two years ago. Will definitely stop again.

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Verified

What a great experience! Stared off with Adam the dock master greeting us and helping tie us up with another dock hand. The grounds were immaculate. The restaurant on the grounds called Siren Kitchen & Bar was fantastic. The owner greeted us and had no problems with our two service dogs Piper and Suzy. Do yourself a favor and start off with the Hot Dog Bloody Mary! Best dog EVER! WORTH THE LITTLE EXTRA WAIT TIME.

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Verified

Terrific marina excellent services

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The staff was very kind and helpful.

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Verified

Great location, clean and beautiful. Excellent marina staff. We had a great visit.

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Verified

Well maintained marina on an island. There is a shuttle service to mainland as required which makes it very accessible. There is a restaurant, Sirens, on the ground with American cuisine. Few restaurants on the mainland, but limited -- great place to spend time but be wary of the debris and tree branches on the river post rain storm.

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Verified

Nice staff, helpful marine store. However there is a “them and us” culture related to the fact that our home port isnt a Safe Harbor facility. “You’re going to have to pay more because you’re not in the club”. There are lots better ways to market yourselves without antagonizing your customers.

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Verified

Beautiful facility, great staff.

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Verified

Thank you. All of the Safe Harbor employees were very friendly, helpful, always smiling, and offered to help us whenever we needed it. Thanks for a great stay.

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Verified

Great facility. Great staff.

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Verified

So many improvements since our last visit… upgrades to grounds/landscaping, new outdoor furniture & grills, spot repairs to worn decks and docks, and new (better) restaurant management/food. Nice going Safe Harbor!

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Verified

Marina was great staff was awesome. We will be back!

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Verified

Great service great access to town

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Nice marina and nice service.

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Verified

It was lovely, we will be returning!

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well maintained & staffed...always a delight

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Verified

Staff was excellent and marina is very well maintained! Adam was so welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable! Will definitely return

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Verified

Great marina. Great town.

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Verified

Adam the dock master stayed late to get us in and was very helpful and courteous.\nThe docking was easy. The grounds are well kept up.

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Verified

Lovely views, friendly staff and easy access to the quaint town of Essex.

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Verified

Friendly helpful service. Beautiful marina.

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Verified

Great location location location and the grounds are fantastic. The staff is excellent and knowledgeable about the area. Essex is a great town and there are lots of restaurants and shops within walking distance. The Connecticut River Museum is a five-minute walk. There you can learn how far we have come in cleaning up our environment since the 1972 Clean Water Act.

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Verified

Hats off to the dock crew helping us in!!

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Verified

It is like being on vacation at a resort …because that is what it is….staff most helpful. One of the staff Mike ,is always there to say hello and help. Long or short stay you can’t go wrong here. Still needs work but suck a large and complicated yard (since it is an island) it will take time.

Marina Response:
Hi Marc! Great news! The restaurant is open as of 6/8/2020, and they (Siren Kitchen & Bar) are operating 7 days a week from 11-8 p.m. Certainly the pandemic has made everything a little more difficult, but we are so happy that you both keep coming down to the Island to enjoy your weekends. See you soon!
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Verified

Always a great spot to stay!

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Verified

We had a great time, the staff was great and the marina was beautiful. We'll definitely return

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Talking with Adam the dock master was reassuring that arriving at the marina would be a smooth dock, he was extremely accommodating. Mike in the office was also very knowledgeable and hands on. The restaurants were excellent in town and the shops were great. Definitely will be returning soon.

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Very nice place to visit, clean and friendly property. Dock hands were great getting on and off the dock. Will definitely return.

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Verified

Very enjoyable time

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Verified

Nice marina with great manager and dock hands, but the price is too high for after Labor Day.

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Verified

one of the best places to stay

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Verified

Great location, a real "resort" feel! Adam and staff are always very helpful - the restaurant on the island is terrific, the town is always fun with more great choices. We come back every year!

Marina Response:
Thank you! We will see you again!
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Verified

Friendly and helpful staff!

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I spent the majority of last week at Essex Island Marina. This is a great place. The staff were very polite and knowledgeable and paid attention to details. They were eager to help with special requests. The facility is top notch. If your in the area you should go there.

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Wonderful Marina! First class service. Excellent slips and finger docks. Everyone that works there is very friendly and extremely helpful. Beautiful pool, property and facilities. We look forward to coming back again!

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Simply a great destination. Adam and his Staff are very friendly and accommodating. Marina gets better every year!!

Marina Response:
Great to hear! Thank you for your review and for choosing Essex Island Marina.
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Verified

Staff was wonderful and marina has many new improvements.

Marina Response:
Thank you for visiting Essex Island and for your review. We will have a new restaurant onsite very soon. Please come back and try it out next time!
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Verified

The property is comfortable. It is well maintained and managed. The staff is top notch. Adam and Lexi were very helpful and welcoming.

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Verified

Excellent stay. Travelled with dock mates from Branford Safe Harbor for the night. Wonderful dock crew to greet us upon arrival, and a perfect slip. Visited the Griswold Inn Wine Room for a flight at its post Covid reopening night, followed by dinner at the Gris, and some ice cream at Sweet P’s to close out the day. Always a great experience with much to do at Essex. Put it on your list.

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Verified

Everything was great

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Verified

Had a wonderful 3 night stay on Essex Island. The staff , as always, was very helpful. Rest rooms and showers were clean. The alley/ hall way by the office restrooms and showers could use a little upper wall and ceiling cleaning. Lots of spider nests and in the evening lots of spiders hanging down in your face and webs getting on you.

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Verified

We had a fantastic stay! Our slip was easy in and out, the dock hands were more than helpful, and we had a fantastic dinner at the restaurant. Oh...our dogs loved it, too!

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Verified

We love Essex island and staff are so friendly. However the boat next to us was partying till 1+ am and created a huge wake in the middle of the night. People several docks over came over to complain and there was almost a fight. Not to mention they were smoking off the swim platform and was blowing into my cabin. My kids loved the playground and pool

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Verified

A fun welcoming marina. The showers Could use a bit of an upgrade but an overall solid experience.

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Traveled here in August. The staff was great! Very responsive to any of our needs. The Island has a nice pool but it was chilly. Plenty of grills for cooking and Adirondack chairs for lounging. They even have gas fire pits for the evenings to gather around with friends and family. The town has nice restaurants and a few shops to stroll by. I will definitely come back! Just a great location!

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Verified

Very professionally done . Great people to work with .

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Verified

Great spot! Unique location. Pool, Restaurant, good laundry facility, nice restaurant onsite! We will return. Grand Day Out

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We absolutely love Essex Island Marina. Friendly staff, accessible amenities, nice restaurant and beautiful pool made our stay very enjoyable. We’ll be back for a Foliage Cruise in the fall

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This was our first stay at Safe Harbor Essex Island. It has been an amazing visit. Very relaxing and enjoyable. We will return .

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Easy to contact marina, quick and helpful staff, very enjoyable facilities. Unfortunately we did not have warm water in the showers.

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Marina was very clean and pool area well maintained. Staff was flexible with slip assignment and we were happy with our stay.

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I live locally, met some friends there for the weekend. Had a great visit. the restaurant was great. we may look to move our boat there. The staff had a slip and slide set up for the kids that was great. They also had a Tye-dye t-shirt stand that my kids absolutely loved. thanks for a great weekend.

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Impeccable facilities with friendly and helpful staff. We had a wonderful visit.

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Always a favorite destination. Well-kept facilities and a helpful staff. The island location adds a touch of seclusion even though it's only a 25-yard ferry ride to the mainland. The only reason I stop short of a 5-star rating is that for the past two seasons my polarity alarm is set off when I plug into shore power. It's the only place this happens. Not a big deal except for the constant beeping of my alarm. I'll continue to make this an annual stop and perhaps will arrive next time without the polarity issue.

Marina Response:
Thank you for your great review and feedback! We love hearing that you enjoyed the facilities and that our team was helpful. The new restaurant is going to be a great addition to Essex Island. Please come back and stay with us again soon!
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Verified

Great location, staff friendly and helpful. Look forward to returning.

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Verified

Our third visit to Safe Harbor Essex Island. Wonderful facility with experienced staff to assist with docking. Enjoyed our stay in a very comfortable marina. Location is quiet and has very easy access to a wonderful, walkable small town. We will certainly return in the future.

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Verified

Excellent setting, easy access to town via short hop on the pontoon ferry. Excellent internet, showers and laundry.

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Not so much a simple marina, more of a Resort with a dock for your boat. Beautiful spot along the CT River, with a pool, restaurant, lawns, firepits, grills, shaded areas, easy walking access to town via novel ferry. Surely a full service marina with high capacity travelers if the need arises.

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What a great place! Fully up to date, well maintained, friendly, helpful staff and beautiful location! Truly has it all for the boating family looking for a great destination vacation.

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Verified

Beautiful harbor, great little town and awesome service. Had a great time!

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Fabulous July 4th weekend. Staff is professional, and very accommodating. The complimentary picnic with burgers and hot dogs, with all the sides, cookies and ice cream too was a great addition to our stay. The corn hole competition and prizes were an added form of entertainment as well and a great time was had by all!

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Verified

All staff attentive, place was clean...very pleased

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The grounds were expansive and incredibly clean. Essex Island Marina had a pool and deck area that had tables, chairs and grills strategically placed for convenience. The staff was extremely helpful tying up the boats and following through with requests. There was a festive atmosphere with the beer tasting, pizza and live entertainment. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay.

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Verified

Great staff and very nice facilities Very attentive and friendly workers. Recommend visiting the Essex Island Marina.

Marina Response:
Thank you for the great review!
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Once again this was a great experience!! Thanks for having us!!

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Verified

Wonderful staff… great spot!

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Always a great visit, super friendly and competent staff. Great location, clean rest rooms and showers. I have been visiting Essex Island for over 40 years. Safe Harbor has made it even better. Can’t wait to come back! ❤️

Marina Response:
Thank you for the review! We appreciate you taking the time to leave us such a positive note.
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Verified

Great service and lovely spot.

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We just love this marina, Essex Island has everything you need and its well kept and clean. The pool is great for the kids, plenty of grass areas to walk the dogs, grills, firepits, and tables...they have it all. And the restaurant on site Siren is wonderful. All of the staff and dock hands couldn't be friendlier. We make this an annual stop for a reason.

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Great friendly staff with easy to access dockage. Excellent autumn color on the way there, and the Essex village was a fun afternoon activity.

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The rest rooms were extremely clean but in some cases could use updating. There was a window that allowed view of the ladies walk-in and sink area. The rest room we used had private individual shower with a lockable door. The other rest room building had two showers together with a door. Unfortunately we were there late in the season and the restaurant was closed. Your staff was very helpful - Mike met us at the slip when we arrived and the ferry operators were very pleasant.

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The stay was excellent as it was when "Wally" owned the marina. But...........It appears that the marina facilities are going down hill which is a shame. To wit: "The Deck" recreation hall was in deplorable condition. The pool tables were missing balls and in all it was dirty and unkempt. It is a shame, when at one time every thing was neat and orderly. We heard a lot of complaints regarding the recreational area's. I trust by next year, everything will be in order, painted and neat. Other than that the crew were very helpful, Adam was terrific.

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Great place ...........

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Very friendly staff, clean facilities, calm water, waking distance to downtown.

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Overall pretty good, didn’t care for the Siren Restaurant much!

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One of the best on the coast. Terrific facilities and just a beautiful place to stop over

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Greast place , convenient and super friendly and accommodating staff !

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Very nice marina. Have stayed a few times before and it doesn't disappoint.

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Excellent Marina. We’ll maintainined. Good staff

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Beautiful and well maintained facility. Dock personnel were responsive and knowledgeable. Will definitely visit Essex Island on our next voyage.

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Come "down river" often and this is always the spot. Quaint island, lovely complex and of course...Essex. You just can't beat it. The staff is on point and do their dock and boat jobs very, very well. Extremely accommodating crew. And The Siren is the icing on the cake. Always tough to leave. Great marina! "Seasmoke"

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Fantastic crew! A great place. Especially if hiding from adverse weather.

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Very nice marina. Great staff. Essex is a relaxing town to visit via the CT River

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Great place, great restaurant. It is better on the Island! Marina even gave us Battery pack when we needed a start...Thanks!

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I've been stopping into Essex Island Marina for 35 years, and it's always been one of my favorite marinas. It's a bit of a long slog by sailboat up the CT river, especially if the Amtrak bridge is closed; but once there, it's an ideal spot. Service at the marina is great. I needed a mechanic for a small issue, and he was there promptly the next morning at 9:00 AM. Everything was great, and I'll be stopping in again next August!!

Marina Response:
We sincerely appreciate you choosing Essex Island Marina year after year, and it is always a pleasure seeing you! Our service team is happy to help, and it is very rewarding to fix something up quickly so our customers can get back on the water. Already looking forward to seeing you again next August. Enjoy the rest of your summer!
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Always a good time at this marina. Professional and courteous staff. Had a good dinner at “Siren”, the on-premises restaurant. Also had a nice dinner at Dockside Restaurant at the nearby Safe Harbor Dauntless Marina. Breakfast at Olive Oyles, a short walk into town.

Marina Response:
We accept your challenge to earn that last star! Thank you very much for the review and feedback. Looking forward to seeing you again soon. Take care!
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++++Good competent staff, nice clean environment, great pool, plenty of bathroom space, good showers. (-) Old fashion short and small toilet bowls, , in small stalls, needs upgrades in the heads.

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The island is peaceful. The Marina employees are very professional and we were very charmed by the “presence of mind” in so many of the details! The pool and bathrooms were immaculate! We will choose Safe Harbor as much as possible for our marina stays! Thank you!

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The crew was very helpful upon my arrival and my departure and they did a great job of managing the marina. They always make our stay very enjoyable!

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They continue to make this a better destination. We were last here 2 years ago, and the improvements are obvious. New restaurant on premises, only wish they served breakfast. The dock staff were friendly, courteous and competent. This was our first time on A dock, it was a bit tight.

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Wonderful location, great surroundings.

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Great place. Great staff.

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Very nice facility, good services, very helpful staff but too many boats crammed into A Dock. Blocking boats in, tight quarters not enjoyable. So ,great service but under par dock utilization standard

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Staff was friendly, professional, and went out of their way to be sure we had a fun, safe experience.

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Great marina and friendly staff! Very helpful will certainly return again!

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Adam and his staff couldn’t be nicer and more helpful. The place was spotless! The only negative, if they say their going to put you on D dock, keep going. You get the chop from all the crazies heading up river. Aside from that, a Great stop!

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Clean , friendly. Great staff. Thanks.

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This is a first rate marina with a nice pool and restaurant on the island. Reliable ferry access to town.

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Well managed and clean marina. Beautiful views. Will go back again. Extremely pleased with the resort atmosphere of the "Island". Dock hands very helpful.

Marina Response:
Thank you! We will see you soon.
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Perfect! Great facility and very helpful dockhands. We were on the F dock that is protected from wakes from river traffic. And Essex is a gem too. Two gems!

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True 5 star resort marina. From dock hands to office managers the place is run superbly. Facility has gone under some really nice improvements since Safe Harbor took over, the quality is coming through.

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Clean, very attentive polite staff. Great service and a fun place to be. Thanks

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Excellent place to visit. Staff was great and the environment is special. A must see

Marina Response:
Thank you! We appreciate you taking the time to leave us a great review!
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The dock hands were very good

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The staff is great. Pool is very nice and docks are being updated each year. Would recommend for groups looking to be docked together. Definitely coming back.

Marina Response:
Thanks for the great review and recommendation! It's great to hear that you got to enjoy the pool and our team. Looking forward to your return!
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Great marina with good staff

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The dock staff especially dock master Kathryn was first rate. Can’t ask for better. Facilities are excellent including the mew restaurant Siren on the island

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There are lovely facilities at this marina

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Great Marina. I highly recommend it!

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So friendly, facilities are excellent. Great for families and access to Essex. Loved it!

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GREAT MARINA GREAT STAFF WILL DEFINITELY BE BACK

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Very helpful and accommodating staff Great location easy walk to restaurants

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Beautiful Marina. Always a wonderful time!

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Very nice marina! So glad they made room for us this weekend. Staff is super friendly and the little restaurant on the island, Sirene, has one of the best lobster rolls you find in New England. The town is very nice and we always make the walk up to Essex Pottery to see what Master Potter Einhorn is up to.

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Did learn a very important fact..DO NOT LEAVE LIGHTS ON AFTER DARK!!! Came back to find 1000's and thousands of bugs loitering in our helm area!! besides that.. very friendly ,helpful staff

Marina Response:
Thank you for your review and for choosing Safe Harbor Essex Island. We apologize for the miscommunication that occurred during your stay with us. As always, we are sincerely dedicated to providing our Members and guest with exception experiences and are always happy to help. We would love to have you back for another visit and will work hard to regain your business and confidence in our customer service standards.
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Great marina. Quiet, docks in great shape, great pool, very good restaurant, gas grills...and Essex is a nice town to visit

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Great place for all. Great activities with pool, games, food. The care of this marina exceeds almost any marina we have visited.

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Essex Island Marina is one of the nicest we’ve stayed at. Facilities are all very clean and the staff is extremely friendly! Thank you!

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Everything was great but with wind gusts 15-20mph from the east it was difficult to get into the slip and we were rocked pretty good all evening. Not much protection on the River side. That said the staff was extremely helpful and the facilities were nice.

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Awesome stay...very accommodating!!! Excellent Marina staff!!

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Top notch marina! Great location, excellent docks, friendly/professional staff. Griswold Inn, Carlsons’s, Olive Oyls, CT River Museum. Must stop if going by the Connecticut River.

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We love this marina, it is in a beautiful spot on the Connecticut River, very well maintained and most importantly has a terrific staff!!!!! Amy, the dockmaster and her crew, Elle, Bridget, Kayden and co could notHave been more accommodating! You can not go wrong with the stop. One of our facorion the entire Sound!!! Mark

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Wonderful experience. Competent and friendly staff. Beautiful grounds. Classic and elegant town.

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First time staying at SHEI and its hands-down the nicest marina within 25 miles. Dockage was easy, staff friendly and helpful. My only criticism is that there were some guests within earshot dropping f-bombs and yelling throughout the evening; which took my otherwise 5-star rating to 4-stars.

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beautiful location, well kept grounds/installations, great service!

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Always a good time in Essex! Adam the dock master is fantastic!

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Impeccably maintained. New restaurant is excellent. Manager Adam is a pleasure.

Marina Response:
Thank you! We are so happy that you enjoyed the new restaurant!
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We had a Great stay at Safe Harbor Essex Island. The facilities are great and the dock crew is awesome. The town of Essex is always fun. Try Olive Oils for breakfast it is delicious.

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The staff was very friendly and accommodating. I was very disappointed in the dockage spot they placed us in. It was very difficult getting on and off the boat. The ladder that was attached to the dock was broken and the lighting was nonexistent very dangerous. When I made the reservation I did indicate that I did have some physical issues and would like a floating dock, unfortunately none were available but I was told that I would not have a problem because the stationary docks have very good ladders.

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We had a great stay. Huge improvements but the docks in the back area are still in need of repair

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Lovely, quaint, nice staff, it’s like turning the clock back in time in a true classic the way it used to be. Looking forward to returning particularly when restaurant is up and running. Been coming here for over 40 years on many different boats

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Always an enjoyable stay, beautiful facilities, close to a quintessential quaint town. The friendliest dock staff.

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Always loved this marina but last stay was concerning. Policy both posted and prior to arrival was “off the boat, masks are mandatory” as well as social distancing. This was not enforced at all. In fact, when my husband asked the pool monitor why he wasn’t wearing a mask, he admitted the rule isn’t enforced. It’s not a political issue but It is about caring for others. We pretty much stayed on our boat and never went to the pool.

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Always a great marina. Both facilities and even more so staff!!

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Great facility with outstanding staff. Very friendly atmosphere, fun place to be

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Amy and her staff were great as usual. We've only been there once before (11 months ago) and Amy recognized me (even with my COVID mask on!) as soon as I walked into the Marina Office. Pool was open and clean one day after Tropical Storm Isais passed thru. Slider's Restaurant right on the island had great selection and very tasty food. Numerous gas grills available for the boaters and you couldn't walk 100 yards without passing by a set of two trash barrels (1 trash, 1 recyclable). Well laid out facility.

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Great staff, nice pool.

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Essex Island is a nice place to stop, It was our 4th time in a dozen years. Normally I give it a higher review but we, along with a few other guests were not thrilled to be kicked out of the pool at 6PM on a sweltering day when we were told 7PM is the time it closes. There is no life guard anyway with a big sign stating that. The claim was that no staff member was on the island in case of a problem which I was surprised about. In my younger days I would have just jumped the fence when they left the island and went back in.

Marina Response:
We apologize that you had this experience and were frustrated by the time adjustment at the swimming pool. We have had to make some unfortunate changes because of the pandemic and monitoring pool activity is one of them. We require staff to be present on site during pool hours to do COVID safety checks to ensure that safety protocols are followed (COVID protocols per Essex Town Health Department: capacity monitoring, social distancing, masks while traveling around the deck space). We should have made that much clearer to you during your stay. We hope you understand. When you return, we hope the COVID protocols are lifted and you may swim without restrictions!
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Safe Harbor Essex Island is one of our favorite stops. Immaculate- beautiful pool and the little water shuttle to town is a plus! The town has so much New England character- thanks for another lovely stay

Marina Response:
Thank you! We love our little town, and we are happy that you do, too!
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It's a great facility the dock we were put in was a little difficult in that it was parallel to the river which unknowingly resulted in a lot of rocking. But that in a long line was not any kind of major issue the new parts of the facility are great they still have a lot of work to do on some of the docks everything was clean the staff was exceptionally courteous and we will definitely go back again

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Best Marina we love Essex Island and have been enjoying his destination with our family and friends for years - staff is courteous and professional. Always an enjoyable visit.

Marina Response:
Thank you! We hope you continue to come stay with us at the Island!
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Excellent transient facilities.

Marina Response:
Thank you!
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Staff very helpful and knowledgeable.... Always a pleasure to stay at Essex Island Marina.... Many improvements recently.... Bathrooms/Showers excellent

Marina Response:
Thank you for your review! And thank you for choosing Essex Island. We are happy to hear that you enjoyed our upgraded facilities and that our team was helpful. Looking forward to your next visit!
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Beautiful marina with awesome staff. Everyone was professional, friendly and very helpful. Thank you Tom

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We stayed for five nights and enjoyed the property, pool and lawn games. The staff was friendly and helpful and everything was clean. The new restaurant, Siren, was very good and we loved the custard they have. Wish they were open for breakfast. We did have issues with inconsiderate transient boaters who were loud and swore constantly in their loud conversations. Also, plumbing issues closed one set of heads and showers. In the far ones, there were also issues with them being plugged or having no TP. 😟 Still, we love this place but, in the future, I think we'll avoid crowded weekends. As a side note, they should consider touchless garbage cans in the heads.

Marina Response:
We are so happy that you enjoyed all that we had to offer! We apologize on behalf of those transients; if that happens when you return, please let me (Amy, the Island Manager) know, and I will address your concerns. We also apologize for the restroom issue, as well; we understand how frustrating it can be to not access the closest restrooms especially on a holiday weekend! We found the clog after days digging up our septic system, and it is in complete working order. We hope to see you soon and we will continue to work hard to exceed our boater standards. Be well!
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A+++. Great staff, great food, great time.

Marina Response:
Thank you!
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Staff here is fantastic! Brewer has made many improvements since it's recent acquisition and has maintained the laid-back feel of the island. The only drawback is that the town has lost many of the stores that are necessary to boaters. There is no longer any convenience store, pharmacy, liquor store, etc, within walking distance. All are now vacant or replaced by high end clothing and antique stores.

Marina Response:
Thank you so much! We are so happy that you enjoyed your stay and the updates at the Island. If you ever need grocery, pharmacy, liquor stores, etc, let us know-- we have a courtesy van and can drive you to those destinations. While certainly not walking distance, we are happy to help!
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Beautiful grounds, scenic views, great new restaurant Siren. All dock help were excellent. Efficient, knowledgeable and very pleasant 👍👍

Marina Response:
Thank you so much!
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Great time. Great marina. Love visiting every year.

Marina Response:
Awesome! Thanks for the review!
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Amy and her staff were very welcoming. We were traveling with 7 other boats. They accommodated our request to be near each other. Our experience was great. We also enjoyed the Siren restaurant. Highly recommend this marina.

Marina Response:
We are so pleased that you enjoyed your stay and that we were able to accommodate your request! Thank you!
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I have been traveling to essex Island for 27 years. I have always loved the experience. I must admit that I was worried that the charm of the marina would be lost in the transition to the new owners. I am very pleasantly surprised by my experience. The docks have been repaired, the structures have been freshened up and the staff is just wonderful. Definitely worth the trip.

Marina Response:
Thank you for the review! We are happy to see that you have noticed the updates. We certainly wanted to maintain the charm of Essex Island-- there is nothing like it!
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EIM continues to be our favorite spot on the sound for my family of 5 (3 kids, 11 and under). With the amazing staff, (Amy and team are awesome!), pool for the kids, restaurant now open on the island, and location to such a beautiful town - we continue to make this a regular stop. Interestingly, because of our experience here we've decided to keep the boat here for the month of July! The CT river has so much to explore and EIM is more conveniently located, than our home port, to our other favorite spots to boat. It's the perfect place to call 'home port' while we continue our explorations this summer.

Marina Response:
We are so excited to have your family stay with us for the month of July! Thank you for the great review!
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Always a great time in Essex!!! Great staff and friendly atmosphere!!!

Marina Response:
Thank you! We hope to see you back in Essex soon :)
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Amy and the crew were very helpful. All areas were clean and neat. We plan to return soon. Bill

Marina Response:
Thank you, Bill! We are so appreciative that you noticed our efforts to keep the facilities clean and neat. We will see you soon!
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Special because it is spectacular. Great staff that are eager to help and assist. All the amenities that you want and need. Pool and yard games. Great on site Resturant or a short walk to town with more restaurants or Gas barbecues and fire pits for onsite use.

Marina Response:
Thank you! We love having you both on Island for the summer season!
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Great service as always.

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Amenities were great. Staff was very accommodating. Very relaxing

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Safe Harbor Essex Island - Robert & Georgiane H.Oct 02, 2019

Once again, Amy and her crew hit it out of the park at the rendezvous (just when we thought they peaked last year)! The food was great and the activities were fun. We had a great weekend and appreciate all the hard work that went into this event-well done!

Marina Response:
We appreciate your excellent review and are so happy to hear that you enjoyed the Rendezvous. It is so great to see boaters from so many different marinas get to know each other! You are welcome back at Essex Island anytime! We especially hope to see you next year at the Rendezvous again! Take care.
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Essex Island Marina is a special place. Amy, Marisa, Ellie and all the crew are quality!!! They are skilled, pleasant and accommodating. The facilities are well cared for. It is one of our favorite locations. Looking forward to the new restaurant and next season.

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The dock master, Amy, is a class act! The marina is clean, is in town, and has great restaurants a short distance away. Always love coming here ! Just spent two days here and the review is the same - GREAT!

Marina Response:
Thank you for the great review and for choosing Essex Island Marina! We appreciate the feedback and hope that you come back and stay with us again soon. See you next time!
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Essex Island Marina is the perfect little weekend escape. Amy and her entire crew make you feel like family. The marina is well cared for and you can tell how happy the entire staff is to help in anyway. We love going to this marina when we want a relaxing, fun and enjoyable weekend. One of our top favs!

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Definitely a great weekend! Amy and her staff were welcoming and helpful. Always a great way to end our boating season!!

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Essex Island is one of our favorite places to go. We always love it there and the staff is wonderful. Hope to see all again next year!

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Amy and her staff did an incredible job this past weekend. The amount of preparation and work they put into this rendezvous did not go unnoticed. Thank you again for making GREAT MEMORIES!!

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Amy and her staff is amazing!

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Staff was very helpful, nice floating docks and ferry service without any delays from the island. Will be back next year.

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Totally awesome place!!!! Went there two weekends in a row. Spotless, well cared for, friendly, fun, relaxing and much much more! From: @home

Marina Response:
It was our pleasure to see you two weekends in a row! Enjoy the rest of the boating season, and we hope you make your way back up here in the future.
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This marina is SPECTACULAR! !! Great staff, clean. Just great. A must visit

Marina Response:
We are so happy you had a wonderful experience! The staff will be so excited to see the feedback, and I will be sure to share this with them-- we take great pride in our little Island!
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Always a serene and beautiful spot with great staff!

Marina Response:
Thank you for the wonderful feedback! We are fortunate to have such a beautiful spot and a great staff. Come again!
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Exceptionally well run, clean and still has that Essex Island charm

Marina Response:
Thank you! The Island charm is something we take great pride in.
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Originally planned on staying one night, but once there, it became clear that one night wouldn't be enough. Staff accommodated our request (for an extra night) without any hesitation. Grounds and facilities were very nice and well kept. Bathrooms were clean, but a bit out-dated. Downtown Essex remains "quaint", but is lacking quick serve store (for newspapers, coffee and pastries) and liquor store. Hope to go back, before 2017 boating season ends. Staff was outstanding - and helpful with docking and departing. All-in-all, a great boating destination !!

Marina Response:
Thank you for the great review! We put customer experience and satisfaction as our priority, and your review reaffirms the hard work we put in every day. The town seems to have a new business every week, so we hope that to see a quick serve store soon. In the meantime, we are happy to offer our courtesy van service anytime you need the essentials :) We hope to see you back soon!
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Very nice, clean, updated and nice area for dogs too.

Marina Response:
Thank you! We love having our furry guests come to the Island.
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The only thing that would make it a better venue is a restaurant on the island. Had a great little restaurant in the past. Bring it back.

Marina Response:
Thank you so much for the feedback! We are so happy that you enjoyed your stay at Essex Island. We anticipate the opening of the new restaurant at some point in 2019.
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We had not been to EIM in a number of years and it’s better than ever! The staff is fantastic, the marina is spotless, and our big black lab, Mac had the best time at “dog beach” on his first boat trip! The kids had so much fun fishing and buzzing around on the dinghy. Can’t wait to come back when the restaurant is open! For the kids I’d suggest fixing up the pool table, ping pong room. Maybe a table and chairs to play games, better lighting for reading and leave it open so the teens and adults have somewhere to go in the evening. Again the staff was the best we have ever experienced! Kudos to them!

Marina Response:
We enjoyed having you and your family on the Island! Mac quickly became part of our family here, too :) We look forward to seeing you in the future!
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Love, love, love Essex Island! All of the dock staff work so hard to accommodate and please each and every request made... no matter the need! It was extremely hot out this particular weekend and the dock staff (in 101 degree weather) delivered ice bags to our slip since the heat is fatiguing for an elderly woman such as myself. Also, despite the review found below, I thought the bugs were not even an issue and a couple of mosquitoes could never take away from the natural beauty of the island. I will keep coming back to the island for years to come, as should you all to see for yourself how truly wonderful of a destination it really is!

Marina Response:
We are so happy that you enjoyed your experience and that we could be accommodating!
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Very relaxing wonderful stay./ We will return. Great and attentive staff!!! 3rd visit to this sweet southern Connecticut town. 3 days of R&R with great meals at the infamous Griswold Inn and Black Seal restaurants. Thank you Safe Harbor Marinas for making Essex Island a tranquil boater destination.

Marina Response:
Thank you for the kind words! We look forward to seeing you again.
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Serious Bug Problem - When we arrived, someone was in the dock office complaining about bugs and asking what the marina was doing to combat the issue (they said nothing is being done). Walking down the dock a different transient warned me to keep all our cabin lights off after dark to help avoid a flying bug infestation. Well...they were right. All it took was to have the cabin door open a few seconds at night and my headliner and valances were filled with bugs. It took an hour with a vacuum to get rid of them. It was absolutely horrible. If I could do it over again, I would avoid this place at all cost. UPDATE: After reading the marina’s response, I went to the office (since I was still here). However, they said the review responses are handled by a sister marina. I left a message but never heard back. I feel that the responses on here are a little disingenuous. If you really want to talk, please send me an email or post your phone number and name.

Marina Response:
Thank you for taking the time to provide us feedback. We are sorry to hear that you experienced a bug problem while you stayed with us. We are spraying the marina daily, and we make sure to address the bugs with a daily sweep through the island. We always want to make our customers' experiences exceptional, and we would have loved to discuss your concerns in person while you were here, as well. We are continuing to pursue eco-friendly and aggressive plans for the bugs. Thank you! Update: Thanks again for reaching out to us, and I apologize for the confusion that occurred when you stopped into the office. I wrote the original response myself and was sincere in wanting to speak with you directly about this issue. Please call me at my direct office line or come into the Safe Harbor Essex Island marina office and ask to speak to me. Thanks, Amy (Island Manager, 860-767-2483).
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Great spot Nice employees Clean property Nice docks Had a great time Will be coming back next year

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The staff was excellent. I highly recommend Essex Island Marina

Marina Response:
Thank you for the kind words! Enjoy your summer!
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Amy and her crew are the best I have ever experienced! What a nice stay we had and they really helped the SNBC Rendezvous be a total success! Thank you for loving what you do!

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This was the 2nd time in 2 weeks we stayed at Essex Island, and we absolutely love it, slip G 13 is our home away from home, can't wait to get back,. The staff is "off the charts fantastic, professional, helpful, knowledgeable, from the dock attendants to the Water Taxi drivers outstanding !! Thanks again from Summer Breeze

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12 boats from the NYAC Yacht Club spent the weekend at Essex Island - Safe Harbor and once again the staff could not have been better trained and nicer. Despite the 100 + degree temperatures they were responsive, courteous and knowledgeable and tended to our every needs, including making a barbecue for 100 + people super enjoyable. Highly recommend the marina for an over nighter or two. The Griswold Inn and charming town are super bonuses.

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3 generations of my family have been coming here and the facilities just keep getting better. The dock staff have always been first rate and that hasn’t changed. Consider Sunday Brunch at Griswalds , excellent.

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Very professional and accommodating

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Great crew, always available, most helpful, happy, excellent attitude! Superclean, well kept facility. Particularly appreciated the coffee availability in a.m., popcorn in the afternoon! Would certainly return, time permitting.

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Facilities are first class. Grounds are beautiful. Nice pool and on site grills everywhere. Ferry to main town anytime and it’s a nice little town.

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Excellently run marina! Wonderful!

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Joined the Safe Harbor Rendezvous at the end of September. The staff was outstanding and the Manager Amy went out of her way to accommodate me in assigning a slip that would make life easy for our needs

Marina Response:
We are so happy that you joined the Rendezvous and that Amy was able to make things easy for you! Please come back and stay with us again next season.
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Upon arrival we were disappointed to find out that we were not going to be in the slip that we were told of the week prior. Instead we were stuck in the far back corner of the marina separated from our fellow boater friends. Amy tried to accommodate us as best as she can and she was able to move us to a different slip where we could be closer to some fellow boating friends. Still not anywhere near where we are expecting to be but we made do. Staff was extremely nice, courteous and very friendly. We were a bit disappointed in the bbq dinner Saturday night; other than the pulled pork, chicken and potatoes there wasn't much else to choose from. No salad or vegetables of any sort. Also, we felt that the wine tasting should have been included with the rendezvous fee of $35 that we had already paid. We didn't feel that we received much for our $70 total......coffee and donuts and the bbq. Regardless, we had a great time, beautiful marina, the facilities were well tended to and very clean. We would definitely stay at this marina again.

Marina Response:
Thanks for your review. We are so happy that you found the facilities to be well tended to and very clean, and we are also happy to hear that you will stay at the marina again. The cost of the rendezvous tickets was a new addition to the rendezvous this year to offset the cost of the event-- we spend over $8,000 to host the event. The $35/head is intended to defray the cost to cover all of the food, staffing, swag, activities, the band, and the whole presentation that goes with the weekend so that we can do this Rendezvous event again. We would love feedback for what you would love to have or what you would like to see in our future! We are always working hard to update our events to meet the expectations of our customers.
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Staff was great. Received all the info for the weekend when we arrived. Great weekend.

Marina Response:
Great to hear you enjoyed the weekend, Mary Jean! Thank you for staying with us at Essex Island. We hope to see you again next season.
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As usual great job my the dock staff and the marina grounds and facilities were in excellent shape. They even were able to get a service mechanic out on a days notice to troubleshoot a head problem

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Safe Harbor managed to keep the charm of Essex Island Marina with the foot ferry operation and overall look and feel of the marina yet upgraded the docks. One of my favorite destinations to sail to.

Marina Response:
We are very happy to read your review and get your feedback about our upgrades! It's so great to hear that we are one of your favorites. See you next time! Take care.
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The Island staff were pleasant and helpful. The environment is always beautiful and this past weekend they had many and varied offerings like movies and breakfast and all. Very enjoyable!

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Wonderful marina. Beautiful grounds. Clean facilities. Staff is very pleasant and helpful. Extremely short ferry ride to town with shops, restaurants

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Staff was top notch, facilities are impeccable, amenities are great. I like the food Chow Truck, but I miss that small restaurant / store they had on site. Its now an empty building. We love the entire marina, and will continue to go back all the time.

Marina Response:
Thank you so much! We have taken pride in our facilities and our work. We are happy to see you were pleased with your stay. We are looking to get a new restaurant in for the 2019 season, so keep an eye out for that news!
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We have been going to Essex Island Marina for years and it is still a great marina and some nice updates have been done but we very much miss Marley's Restaurant on the premises. Poor decision on Safe Harbor in our opinion. Only needed Marley's for long weekend business and seasonal of course, their previous operations of days and hours was perfect. Too bad, Safe Harbors and Essex Island's loss.

Marina Response:
Thank you so much for your review! We are so happy that you have noticed our recent updates. We will also have a new restaurant for the 2019 boating season, but in the meantime, we hope that you enjoyed the [CHOW] food truck that now have on the island. We will see you next year!
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Everything went great.

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Excellent marina. Clean and the surroundings were beautiful. Staff was friendly and helpful.

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Love this marina! Clean, convenient, friendly helpful staff. Found it quite by accident and now always make it a stop on any northern excursions.

Marina Response:
Hi Carolann. We always love having you here, and we are very happy that you stumbled upon Essex Island Marina. Thanks for the review. See you next time!
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Refreshing coming to a marina like this. Very clean, docks, grounds, restrooms, pool, everything. Staff was friendly, helpful and well organized. Hope our marina gets the needed upgrades to approach this level of excellence.

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Last year I gave feedback and was never contacted about it, and this year I have a similar complaint. While we generally love the marina, we continue to be surprised that you have not yet fixed the main pier which traverses the East side of the marina. The boards are in terrible shape, and as a dog owner, this is a problem - our dog is small and not only are there a lot of splinters, but the old boards are so widely spaced that he has got his paw pinched in between boards on more than one occasion. I think you should prioritize this replacement.

Marina Response:
Mr. Bryant, We greatly appreciate your feedback and certainly take the safety of our boaters and their beloved dogs seriously. After purchasing Essex Island 4 years ago we have been on the fast track of replacing the marina infrastructure and will continue to do so until complete. I have made a note in your transient file and in the future, we will be certain to assign you to a slip where you can come and go without needing to use the older walkway. We look forward to your return and wish you a great rest of your boating season!
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Great time...great friendly crew...great pool...very friendly atmosphere....

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Beautiful spot on the river, convenient to everything except groceries. Dock staff fantastic. Well maintained and clean grounds and bathrooms. Wonderful stay, I’ll be back.

Marina Response:
We appreciate your great review and feedback. Next time you visit we can help you with some grocery options. Thanks for choosing Essex Island, and we look forward to your next trip!
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They have really stepped up their game as to the overall maintenance of the facility. Place looks great and staff very helpful. Need to get the restaurant open again...

Marina Response:
Thank you for this review. We are happy to know that you are enjoying the upgrades that have been made around the property as well as our team! As for the new restaurant, it will not be open until 2019 but we do have a food truck on the Island open 8-8pm Wednesday – Monday (closed Tuesday only) which will be here until labor day! Come check it out next time you are in the area and make sure to book a stay with us next summer so you can try the new restaurant. Until then, happy boating!
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Quiet place in a quaint colonial village. You have to take a "ferry" (pontoon boat) across a small canal to get on and off the island. You will need Uber to visit local restaurants. Except for two in town, the Black Seal (casual) and the Griswold Inn (dress). The Ct River museum is next door and worth visiting. 2 nights here is plenty.

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Clean marina,Friendly staff

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Nice location, excellent amenities and friendly staff. Some of the amenities need updating and I it looks like that's in process. When we filled up at our home club our fuel vent was blocked with spider debris. To be fair that could have4 happened before the trip. We were only there 2 nights. However when we told people about it, everyone noted that there's an issue with dock spiders at Essex. That was all word of mouth. I never noticed a spider on the docks or boat. At the end of the day, I think this is an excellent stop and would encourage you to visit them. If any concern about spiders I would check that out before the trip.

Marina Response:
We are glad you and your group enjoyed your stay! As you expected we have certainly been improving the Island since we purchased it 4 years ago and plan to continue until everything is in top shape. Thank you for letting us know about a possible spider issue around A Basin where you had stayed. This is certainly unusual in that area. We look forward to your next visit!
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A beautiful facility, we contacted the marina we were close, they guided us right into where our slip was, deckhands we’re there to assist us. Pool, showers, the grounds were impeccable. Great place to stay.

Marina Response:
We sincerely appreciate this review and feedback. It was our pleasure helping you into the slip. Please come back and stay with us again soon!
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I always try to stay at Brewers. The service is fantastic and everyone is friendly. The previous owner let the marina decay. They are spending a lot of money fixing it up. Looks great!

Marina Response:
Thank you for the review and for choosing Essex Island! It is great to hear that you are enjoying the improvements around the marina. Safe Harbor Marinas purchased all of the Brewer properties in 2017, and they are doing a great job investing in our Members' and guests' experiences!
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Essex Island Marina feels like home. Very accommodating. They put out a BBQ for all their guests which was so nice. I always enjoy going there and always can't wait to go back. Thanks so much.

Marina Response:
Thank you for this glowing review! It is great to hear that you can't wait to come back; the feeling is mutual! See you next time.
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Loved staying, once again at Essex...only thing missing was an onsite restaurant.

Marina Response:
It was a pleasure having you back at Essex! The new restaurant will be opening soon, and we are excited for you to try it on your next visit! Thanks for your review.
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Great stay at Essex Island. Staff was helpful and the town of Essex is wonderful. Thanks!!

Marina Response:
So happy to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us! Essex is such a great location, and we love hearing that our guests had a great experience at the marina and in the surrounding area. Hope to see you back at Essex Island again soon!
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One of the most picturesque spots you will find, plus immaculate, friendly, with unexpected amenities.

Marina Response:
Wow! Thanks for the great review. Our location is gorgeous, and we LOVE sharing it with our guests. We sincerely appreciate you choosing Essex Island Marina, and we look forward to seeing you again on your next visit.
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I must say that the marina, the stay was wonderful. As a transient, I enjoyed the nice people on my dock as well as the facility. HOWEVER, I do have a concern that I hope doesn't come back to haunt me or my engines. While making my slip reservations months earlier, and after confirming with dock hands the day before, I had asked to be placed in the NW corner of the marina. I also expressed the fact that I was told last year that the far I dock was too shallow to accommodate me. I reassured them both times that I was OK with anything in that area. Upon my arrival, the dock hands signaled me to approach the I dock broadside and waved me in. As I am approaching the dock they continue to wave me in past the dinghies tied up until I am in the mud. I felt my rudder and props digging in. Spoke with the dockmaster, Stephanie, and expressed my dissatisfaction. I usually never complain, but I do feel this was completely avoidable and have concerns for my boat. Someone dropped the ball. Whether it was an unskilled or poorly trained dockhand or someone else. Hope to hear from someone in charge or someone that has the authority to make sure this never happens again to myself or any boater. Expect that Safe Harbor will do the right thing.

Marina Response:
We want to thank you for choosing Essex Island and for bringing this incident to our attention. Our General Manager will be contacting you to talk more about your experience.
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Our stay wasn’t as good as it has been in the past. I was put in a slip that didn’t have adequate amount of water so at low tide was sitting in mud. There was no restaurant on the island and the docks around back need attention. Staff was helpful and pleasant as always.

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Second time we have stayed here and time the service has been fantastic! This is the most helpful and friendliest staff and crew we have met anywhere along the east coast. Marina is in a great location and Essex is a great town to visit. We will definitely be back and would recommend staying here to anyone traveling up or down the sound.

Marina Response:
Wow! Thank you very much for this awesome review and for staying with us at Essex Island. It is great to hear how much you enjoyed our crew. Everyone loves coming to work here, and genuinely enjoys helping out our guests. We sincerely appreciate your recommendation and are already looking forward to your next visit. Happy boating!
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Fantastic staff and facility. We own a smaller 20' center console and they treated us like we rolled up in a 60' yacht, prime docking and attentive staff. Made our night stay in town seamless and enjoyable. Will be going back for day docking and future over nights. Facilities are top notch as well. Location to downtown Essex is a must visit if passing through.

Marina Response:
Thank you very much for your review. We are so happy to read that you enjoyed your stay, our dock team, and the location. We are grateful for all of our customers so it is important to us to give everyone our best service. Looking forward to seeing you again soon!
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The marina is located in a great location in Essex village. A short (really short) ferry ride puts you in the middle of Essex village where there are plenty of shops and restaurants. The are quite a number of transient slips that are easy to get in and out of. There are plenty of friendly and helpful dock hands to help with your arrival and departure. The grounds are beautiful and clean. A fun weekend destination

Marina Response:
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave this helpful review. It is great to hear that you had a fun weekend at Essex Island Marina and were also able to enjoy Essex village. Please come back and stay with us again soon!
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Was great to have the dock crew meet us at our mooring. They were very courteous and helpful.

Marina Response:
Thanks for the five-star review. We appreciate the feedback and are happy that you found our team to be courteous and helpful. Please come back for a visit again soon!
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Essex Island Marina continues its excellent reputation and expands upon it under the new Safe Harbors ownership. The new floating dock extending from the dockmaster's office was wonderful, and the dock staff was well-trained and knowledgeable. The facilities are being re-developed nicely. We had a great time and give the Essex Island Marina our highest recommendation....... Bob & Lori

Marina Response:
Hi Bob and Lori. Thank you for the awesome review and recommendation! We are happy to hear that you like the new dock and that you found our team knowledgeable. We are excited about all of the redevelopment going on at the marina as well. Please come back and stay with us again soon!
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Stephanie was great, she helped sort thru all sorts of issues i was having with my new SH number, making appropriate reservations, making future reservations and dealing with me more than what was necessary/required. Essex is a great harbor to visit and Brewers Essex helps make it work.

Marina Response:
We appreciate the great review and are happy to hear that Stephanie was able to help you with your issues and reservations. We agree, she is great! Thank you for your business, and we look forward to seeing you next visit. Happy boating!
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Very helpful staff, beautiful clean restrooms and showers . Beautiful areas to explore with a dingy.

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Our club kicked off our season on Memorial Day and wrapped it up here on Columbus Day Weekend. Essex is a quaint New England town with a variety of shops and restaurants within walking distance of the marina. Thank you, Stephanie and staff, for a memorable weekend.

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Was given wrong info when docking- so initial arrival not impressive. The first friday bbq didn't have food ready at 630pm and was out of food by 730- so had to go to store for more. Ladies room could use at least one handicap railing since they have no handicap toilets that are taller. Sat went well and that bbq was very nice-overall we made the best of it and enjoyed ourselves. We would go again.

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Marina was clean, good amenities, very friendly, and fun. The Griswold inn nearby is a night destination. Nearby Hamburg Cove is a good spot too. -1 star for lack of night life.

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We visited the Brewer Essex Island Marina for the Brewers Rendezvous weekend. This is not our first visit. The staff of this facility is top notch, and I mean everyone I met was helpful and accommodating. From the incoming docking experience and check-in, to the meals at the cafe, we were impressed. It is a busy marina, and for an end of the season event they had plenty of staff on hand to see things went smoothly. The bathrooms were kept clean, and the showers were very well maintained. No shortage of hot water. Private locking stalls for the showers. Certainly, the management of this marina really cares about the this place. As an Operations Manager, I know this level of attention to detail does not come without personally walking through the facility on a regular basis and following up to make sure everything is in acceptable for customer presentation.

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Great time everyone was very nice !! A nice bar and lounge on the island would be nice so you wouldn't have to go in town all the time !

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Talk about service! We reserved a slip for a round trip sail from Noank to Essex. Wind, current and rough seas delayed our arrival until late on Friday night. To make matters worse, our engine quit while only a few yards off the dock but with no sails up, or wind, we were in a tough spot. Luckily, Christian responded to our hail even though the office had closed. As we started drifting off into the night (and the mooring field!) Christian told us to hang on and he would track down a work boat and assist. Just in the nick of time, he appeared out of the dark and shepherded us into a slip. No small feat! I'm sure there are many facilities and personnel who, given the circumstances, would have simply told us to drop the hook and wait until morning. We were on an 18' Goldeneye with no head and wet from head to toe. Incredible service above and beyond! I'll never stay anywhere other than Essex Island while sailing in the area. What a fine organization!

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We have visited Essex Island Marina twice this summer and enjoyed it enormously. The grounds and service are both outstanding.

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Essex Island Continues their excellent so well known hospitality within the Safe Harbor flagship! The Marina continues to make improvements in the well warn dock systems and is truly a flagship marina in location, service, and hospitality. Thank you to Stephanie! I will be back many time! Captain Wheeler

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Was at Essex Island Marina for the Branford Yacht Club annual rendezvous. Beautiful grounds, great service, very friendly and helpful staff and dockhands. Pool is great! The only issue was that we were put on a fixed dock which made boarding difficult at low tide. I should have specified that I needed a floating dock when making the reservation. Great time! We Returned for a second stay on Labor Day weekend along with about 20 other boats from BYC. Had a great time. Once again, the staff was excellent and friendly. The dockhand who helped us upon arrival took it upon himself to stop back on the second day and ask if we needed anything. Nice touch! Friends from our Yacht Club stayed downriver at one of the other marinas on the Connecticut River. Boats were damaged when a squall came through. Our boats were well protected up river. Looking forward to coming back next season.

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We had a great stay from Aug 27-31. Extended our stay due to bad weather, and easily accommodated. Enjoyed town, Ubered to Old Saybrook for about $23 R/T, Marley's, Black Seal, Abby's, Griswold....all lovely. Facilities and staff very nice.

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All the staff at Essex Brewer Marina are helpful! A special shout out to Steph who not only found a way to accommodate us with a last minute need for a reservation but went above and beyond to help us find and get to a car rental place. Steph goes above and beyond and its obvious that she is truly interested in helping! Thank you - very much appreciated by me and my family.

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Wonderful place to stay, didn't want to leave. The place is beautiful, clean, and relaxing.. will be staying there again...

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Had a fantastic time. Thanks to all employees. Everyone was helpful. Brewers must treat there people well. A-1

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We had an outstanding Milford Yacht Club Cruise and Rendezvous at Brewer Essex Island Marina this past weekend. Stephanie (Manager), Jack (Dockmaster) and the rest of the staff were extremely helpful, friendly and accommodating. The grounds and setting are beautiful. A minute-long ferry ride takes you to historic downtown Essex restaurants and shopping. I would highly recommend this destination.

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Very nice marina. Location is nice and sheltered. Facilities (bathroom, shower, etc.) all very clean and up to date. Launch drivers were great. Nice accessible dock for our sailboat. Easy to get in and out of with water, pumpout, and fuel. Short walk to Main Street in Town.

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The grounds are beautiful and everybody was very nice I would come back again

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Great place and great staff! Very helpful...the area is well maintained and access to town is easy!

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Dockmasters Jack and Stephanie were awesome. It was our 2nd visit and we will be returning.

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well run marina - clean -excellent docks & facilities

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Very accommodating team and very well kept marina. We will return.

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Spider issue is very strange.Nice people running marina.Clean and well manicured.Need a place to get a cocktail

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Except for the non floating docks,the marina has all that any yachtsman needs Docking crew helps to the nth degree Fellow yachtsman surrounding us were happy,friendly and very helpful if needed Essex town charming. Griswald inn meals supurb

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Everything a Marina should be.

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Terrific. Fuel dock crew was excellent. Bathrooms and showers were clean. Love coming here. Will come back

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essex island is a great marina , our favorite stop in the northeast , workers are friendly and well trained grounds are great and town is cool . We will be back !

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Spectacular! Staff was friendly and helpful.

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The marina was 5 star. My only complaint was that the bathrooms were not as clean as they should have been. Their maintence needs improvement in this area. Otherwise everything was

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Nice marina, close to town. Good biking along fairly rural roads. Bathrooms are clean. This marina is buggy and you need to keep your cockpit lights off unless you want to clean up dead bugs.

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The staff was fantastic and extremely helpful and welcoming!

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Stayed here for 4th of July weekend. Great marina and great staff. Will be back in September.

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Safe Harbor Essex Island - Edward and Marie K.Jul 05, 2017
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Peaceful but to quiet for a holiday weekend. Restaurant on island was either CV completely booked or closed

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Nice facility. Close to town. Good restaurant on island. Friendly staff.

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AAA+++ - Loved the site, the pool, the charm of Essex village

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