My BiL is from Maine (Waterville), and he and my sister lived there (but in Presque Isle) for about five years. My other sister and I visited while they were there, but that was close to 40 years ago. It makes me sad to hear Bar Harbor is so overly touristy now. I don’t remember cruise ships at all during the couple of days we were there. It wasn’t crowded, and there were a lot of shops with real local artisans selling things like glassware, pottery, yarn and knitwear from the owner’s herd of sheeps. Quality stuff not kitschy crap. And it was beautiful.
But I liked Boothbay Harbor, too, although it seemed more touristy to me. More self consciously touristy, especially around the pier. Camden felt quintessentially “New England” to me.
And I stuffed myself on lobster. No place we went was bad, and back in Presque Isle (where they lived) the local hamburger stand had very good lobster rolls, which was my idea of perfection.