Welcome to Shipshape, a cozy waterfront cottage in the charming town of Stonington. Enjoy comfortable living and dining areas, a small kitchen, two bedrooms and two bathrooms all on one level. Take advantage of hi-speed internet and unwind with spectacular views of Penobscot Bay from this quiet location next to Sand Beach.
Reviews
8.48.4 out of 10
Very good
Entire home
2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6
Popular amenities
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet friendly
Barbecue grill
Water view
Add dates for prices
About this property
Entire place
You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.
Shipshape, next door to Sand Beach in Stonington
Shipshape is a one-level waterfront cottage located in one of the best locations in Stonington. Cozy, charming and unpretentious, this cottage includes a comfortable living and dining area, a small, efficient kitchen, two bedrooms and two bathrooms all on one level. Bedroom one has a queen bed and bedroom two has two twins and a bunk bed. There is a pull-out sofa in the living room. While there is no TV, there is Internet.
Sand Beach Road, close to Stonington Village, is a quiet, somewhat narrow road that runs along the shore, offering spectacular views of Penobscot Bay and the inner islands. Sand Beach is next door, and is a magical area that one has to experience to understand. A good beach for swimming and for children to play and explore, the cove water tends to be a little warmer in that area. Spectacular views of Penobscot Bay. Waterfront property located next to Sand Beach in Stonington.
Waterfront, Washer & Dryer, Hot water baseboard heat, Telephone, Hi-Speed Internet.
Property amenities
Beach
Beach nearby
Internet
Available in the cottage: Internet access
Kitchen
Coffee/tea maker
Microwave
Refrigerator
Stovetop
Toaster
Bedrooms
2 bedrooms
Bathroom
2 bathrooms
Living spaces
Living room
Outdoor areas
Barbecue grill
Laundry
Laundry facilities
Washer/dryer
Comfort
Heating
Pets
Pet friendly
Suitability/Accessibility
Smoking not allowed
Services and conveniences
Phone
Location highlights
Near the bay
Near the ocean
Safety features
Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Pets
Pets allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Events
No events allowed
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
About the neighborhood
Located in Stonington, this cottage is near the beach. Stonington Opera House and Blue Heron Gallery are cultural highlights, and some of the area's landmarks include Deer Isle Bridge and Vinalhaven Historical Society. Visit our Stonington travel guide
Is Shipshape, next door to Sand Beach in Stonington pet-friendly?
Yes, pets are allowed at this property.
What time is check-in at Shipshape, next door to Sand Beach in Stonington?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Shipshape, next door to Sand Beach in Stonington?
Check-out is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Shipshape, next door to Sand Beach in Stonington located?
Situated by the ocean, this cottage is within 3 mi (5 km) of Stonington Opera House, Blue Heron Gallery, and Art By Katy Gallery. Stonington Sea Products is 2.7 mi (4.3 km) away.
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Shipshape, next door to Sand Beach in Stonington Reviews
Reviews
Very Good
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
The cottage is so unique and right on a large ocean front property with rock ledges and small private beach. My kids caught crabs every day and we paddle boarded to nearby islands. Stonington was 1.5 miles away where we went to eat and shopped and yalked to locals. My kids are ages 9-14 and loved every minute here.
The cottage itself was very clean when we arrived and we were in love from the beginning with its private feel. The views are stunning. The bunk room not pictured is in a very small room and more rustic which we didnt end up using. By the end of our trip the twin bedroom was getting a little 'damp' and the it began to feel like a cottage in a rustic landscape. But we loved it here and would definitely go again!
This was our 3rd yr staying at Shipshape and we just love it. It feels like home away from home, minus the TV! It is truly magical. Feel truly blessed to be able to get to live there for a week. Thank you to all who make that possible.
Elizabeth Q.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2025
Verified
8/10 Good
Kimball S.
14 October 2024
Liked: Location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Communication
Great location. Only gripe is the rental company insistance to go through Vrbo, which adds a lot to the cost. But, we'll keep coming back.
Great location, cottage but cottage had not been cleaned when we arrived. We called and they sent someone over Sunday. All was good. I would rent this cottage again in a heartbeat!
My husband, adult child and I stayed in this home for an extended weekend. Our two other adult children joined us for part of this time. The living space was very comfortable, as were the bedrooms. There was enough room for our three cars (two small suvs and on mid-size). The blow up mattresses were fine for two very young adults. The kitchen was well equipped. It was nice to have a bbq grill and a crockpot! The location was fabulous! Short walk to the beach and the bay, as well as Belmont Park. We took the bikes provided out for a ride a couple of days which was a great way to see a little more of the area. We would definitely stay here again if we get the opportunity!
We fell in love with this property. Love the artwork from Janet Moore, the house has a story!
The house is wonderful, the location is unsurpassable. Such a great and beautiful experience. We felt so lucky to have the privacy and the view! The fog horn is there but I grew to not hear it. At night use a fan as white noise. Loved it!
Nicole K.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2022
Verified
6/10 Okay
Lauren M.
11 July 2022
Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Gorgeous view but that fog horn and musty smell…
The location, view, and yard were amazing however it was overshadowed by the foghorn and musty smell in the back bedrooms. Renters should be aware that the fog horn blows every 15 seconds 24hrs a day. It was ok on days when the wind blew off shore but on most days it was loud enough to be bothered all day and tough to sleep even w the windows closed. I suppose some would just get used to it over time but for us it was a bit maddening. The other challenge was the musty/mildew smell. The main bedroom and living area were great w no issue but the back bedroom w the twins and especially the bunk bed area were damp and mildew/must smell. Rather than feel damp and musty we all piled into the main bedroom and pull out in the main living area. A couple days into our stay we had another two joining us and it wouldn’t have worked well w all of us so the rental company switched us to a different unit (farmhouse on Caleb’s Lane at the end of Dow rd which was AMAZING!). We were very thankful and the rental company was extremely accommodating. All in all, if there wasn’t must and the crazy fog horn the location and house would have been great.
The property is beautiful. The house needs a thorough cleaning. The floor was dirty. We found medication and personal items on the floor and in the garbage. There were three threadbare towels for the four of us to use for a three night stay. The washing machine and dryer both had wet smelly towels inside. The property manager is very difficult to get ahold of. It took more than 14 hours to hear back about the wet towels. No answer when I called the office and no return call. The entire house was extremely musty and moldy smelling. Disappointing.
Overall, this is a beautiful property. There are some things you should be aware of and get in touch with the real estate agency about before renting though.
PROS
- The view from the house is stunning – it looks like it came straight from a post card!
- A private path means you’re only steps away from a large sandy beach
- The property feels very secluded but is conveniently located.
- Nichole (one of the property manager) was responsive & kind :)
- The interior of the house has a cozy wood cabin feel
- The kitchen/main room, reading room, and primary bed room are very spacious
- Plenty of cookware
- Impressive library & board game collection
- Updated bathrooms
- lots of sleeping space (primary bedroom, futon, 2 twin beds, and a bunk bed in a converted walk-in closet)
CONS
Unfortunately, a few aspects of this property kept me from giving this a 5-star rating
THE FOGHORN
When you arrive, you’ll quickly notice that a foghorn off the coast blares every 15 seconds. Continuously. Around the clock. Despite how clear/foggy it is. It’s surprisingly loud. Even with the windows and doors closed, it’s audible. If you’re sensitive to sound or looking for a quiet location, think twice about this.
After some research it appears that this foghorn has a broken sensor, which is no longer manufactured, so its been in default “blare every 15 seconds mode” for a while. I came to this property looking for a quiet getaway to record music, so this was a particular issue for me.
It should be noted that I contacted the property manager, who was very kind and offered to help me figure out alternative arrangements. However, the day after I arrived the wind was blowing offshore which greatly reduced the noise.
I told the property manager it would be fine, but then the rest of the stay the horn blared as loud as it had when I arrived. It’s a bit maddening. (If I had to guess, I’d say the horn is roughly around 40 decibels with the windows open.)
HOUSE NEEDS UPDATING
The house’s water well is on its last legs. The drinking water was brown, so I had to use bottled water throughout the stay.
A family of mice was living in the ceiling and walking around. Luckily they kept to themselves.
The towels and blankets were in rough shape. One blanket smelled like someone’s dog lived in it, and the towels were scratchy & stained.
The wifi works but is slower than your average connection.
The property is simply amazing. The views are so that you don't even want to go anywhere else. The property is large and you can walk directly to the waterfront where there is a small private and a larger public beach. The seating area in front of the house is just so lovely.
The property managers were responsive and let us check in early.
When it came to the cabin, I think it depends what kind of person you are. I thought it was earthy and cozy and looked a little lived in. My mom who prefers to stay in high(er) end hotels or rentals was struggling a litte. She said it was a bit dirty and run down with too much stuff in it. So assess your comfort level.
The kitchen had all you needed to cook including a big pot for steaming lobsters.
Other notes: the internet is not good enough for zoom or google meet. It has a download of about 10 Mbps and an upload of only 0.8 Mbps. It's ok for emails and webpages but that's about it.
Bring bugspray.
There were some housekeeping issues. We found green moldy coffeegrinds in the coffee maker and old potatoes that approached liquid state in one of the cupboards. There were only two towels, one in each bathroom when we arrived, and no others to be seen. We were just two people so didn't really care. When we then did a load of laundry, we found lots of towels wet in the dryer. Turned out the dryer was broken and didn't produce any heat. The hairdryer was broken but we found a second working one. There was only 1 wine glass and two other glasses, the rest were plastic cups. All no big deals, but together just added to a sense it could be managed a little better.
The island is a delight, I would absolutely come back to the island and also stay again at Shipshape cabin, which I thought was good value. My mom is a yes to the island and a maybe for Shipshape. :-D
We really enjoyed our stay - the location and view are spectacular. The stay was marred by issues with the septic tank backing up and the water supply. Since the septic was pumped maybe that issue is cured.