Location: Cuttyhunk Island, MA, 14 miles off the coast of New Bedford and just west of Martha’s Vineyard, MA.
Season of Operation: Memorial Day to Labor Day may be rented for one week rental periods only. The remaining year, the facility may be rented for periods shorter or longer than one week.
Description: A former Coast Guard lifeboat station now converted into a house with 2 separate apartments that can be rented separately of as the entire house.
Facilities: One, 3-bedroom apartment (upstairs) and one, 2-bedroom apartment (downstairs), picnic area, fishing pier, boat launching ramp, nature trails, beaches, and island has boat docks. The facility has 3 golf carts for use by renters, no car ferries are available to the island.
Activities: Swimming, boating, fishing, picnicking, and hiking.
Recreation Equipment Available: TV/VCR.
General Information: Cuttyhunk Island is one of the Elizabeth Islands discovered in 1602 by Bartholomew Gosnold. The upstairs 3-bedroom apartment can sleep up to 10 people plus 1 futon in the living room; the downstairs 2-bedroom apartment can sleep up to 5 people plus 2 futons in the living room. Each apartment is provided with separate living room, kitchen, and bathroom facilities, is fully furnished, including bed linen, towels, and blankets. Baby pen and folding beds are available on the premises. A laundry room with 2 washers and 2 dryers is located on the first floor for use by both apartments. Camping out is not allowed. See the Application Package for the pet policy. Guests should bring their own food (very limited and expensive on the island), laundry powder, dish liquid, paper products, etc. All applicable Coast Guard regulations apply at Cuttyhunk Island Recreational Lodging.
Reservations: Reservations are accepted by email only by clicking here and send Name, Rank/Grade, MWR Eligibility, Phone, Apartment Requested, and Dates of your stay. Additional information, along with forms, can be found here: Cuttyhunk Handbook.
A lottery system will be used within each priority category to determine confirmed reservations. You may include up to 3 choices of preferred dates based on Sunday Check-In. Eligibility is in accordance with Chapter 3 of the MWR Manual (COMDTINST M1710.13 Series) and considered on the following prioritization system:
If your reservation request is received after the dates listed above, you will be considered for any open vacancy on a first come, first served, basis. A confirmation email or phone call will be returned within 5 days after the lottery of each priority group. Once your reservation is confirmed, an Application Package will be sent to you. Payment, along with pages 12 through 16 of the Application Package and confirmation of your eligibility, must be received within one week. Once payment is received, you will receive a confirmation number via email or mail (if no email). Credit cards are not accepted. For additional information regarding reservations, contact:
Commanding Officer (MWR)
USCG Base Boston ATTN: Morale Officer 427 Commercial Street Boston, MA 02109 FAX Number: (617) 223-8218 Email: USCG.Boston.MWR@uscg.mil
Transportation: Transportation to Cuttyhunk Island is provided by Cuttyhunk Ferry Company, Inc. 66B State Pier South Bulkhead New Bedford, MA, at (508) 992-0200, www.cuttyhunkferryco.com. Prepaid reservations are suggested and highly recommended during the busy summer season to ensure space on board the ferry. Vehicles are not transported. Additional charges for carry-on items. Contact Cuttyhunk Ferry Company, Inc for parking arrangements. Transportation may also be available from Seahawk Charters, at (508) 789-3250, www.cuttyhunkwatertaxi.com.
Driving Instructions: From Boston, MA, to New Bedford, MA, take Route 24 to Route 140 south to Route 195 east to Route 18 south (exit #15). Stay on Route 18 south for about 1 mile. Take the Downtown Exit. Go straight on Water Street. At the stop sign, take a left onto Union Street. Go to the bottom of the road, go through the lights (look for large signs to boat) take another left. Cuttyhunk Ferry Company, Inc. is on the right, behind the Waterfront Visitors Center.