Customer Service is the “anchor” that generates repeat business. That is what we are all about! Cape Cod Custom Tours has been in business since 1977. We have been assisting tour operators for over 47 years. We are also proud to say that we are a Division of Hyannis Harbor Tours, Inc, d.b.a. Hy-Line Cruises, a family owned business dating back to 1962. That’s right, over 62 years of serving clients visiting Cape Cod and the Islands!
Our office staff is a team of three individuals, dedicated to assisting you in producing quality tours for your clients. It’s the people who make the difference! If you are a motor coach operator or tour operator in search of a complete group tour package for 30 or more passengers, contact us at 888 – 793 – 8687.
Rene Pierre Poyant
Director
Rene has been in the Tourism Industry since the late 1970’s, beginning his career as a tour director while in college. He attended his first national convention (NTA) in 1982. He is a member of OMCA and ABA and has been assisting clients at Cape Cod Custom Tours since 1989. Rene was awarded the Ontario Motor Coach Association 2007 Supplier Member of Distinction and the 2016 Volunteer of Distinction.
Cherye Poyant
Tour Coordinator
Cherye has been a member of our team since 2007. In addition to creating and working up tour programs, she is increasing our sales efforts and reaching out to both customers and prospects.
Connie Leonovich
Tour Coordinator
We welcomed Connie to our team in 2013. She looks forward to assisting our clients and working with our suppliers to create memorable tours in this area.
Our Guides
Cape Cod Local Tour Guides: Cape Cod Custom Tours has a great team of local guides. Just like your driver and or tour escort, the local guide is the front line employee that can make or break a tour. Most of our guides are retired Cape Codders. They enjoy people, have a great interest in Cape Cod & the surrounding area and love to share their knowledge. They add the“local flavor” to your Cape Cod experience.
New England and Atlantic Canada Local Tour Guides: In keeping with our philosophy of adding “local flavor” to our clients tour programs, Cape Cod Custom Tours works with other receptive operators around New England & Atlantic Canada in bringing you a memorable vacation product to offer to your clients. It’s the people you meet along the way that makes the difference!
Company History
Cape Cod Custom Tours is a Division of Hyannis Harbor Tours, Inc d.b.a Hy-Line Cruises. Here is the history of this family owned company owned by the Scudder Family.
Hyannis Harbor Tours, Inc. was founded in 1962 by Richard and Robert Scudder, and E. Raymond Taylor. The Scudder brothers were both graduates of Massachusetts Maritime Academy, and Mr. Taylor had founded the Scudder & Taylor Oild Company, Inc. with their father, Frederic.
The Scudder family owned a small parcel of land on Hyannis Harbor, and when the election of John F. Kennedy as President in 1960 drew national attention to the Compound in Hyannisport, the partners bought the M/V Prudence, circa 1911, to begin a marine “sightseeing” business in 1962.
In 1966, the sightseeing business expanded to include deep-sea fishing. The Sea Queen and the Sea Swan II share the fishing duties, hauling in tons of scup, tautog, blues and other salt water fish.
Another expansion occurred in 1970 that carried with it a very special milestone. The company began construction of our first new vessel, an island ferry. The M/V East Chop was launched in the spring of 1971 and immediately began operating from Hyannis to Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard.
In 1972, Hyannis Harbor Tours bought out Nantucket Boat Company. The sale included three vessels, their docking facility (dock space & office), and the trade name of Hy-Line, (Hi-Line). At the same time, construction of our second new island ferry, the M/V Brant Point began. She was launched in 1973, and from that point, the company serviced both Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard from Hyannis.
While offering ferry service to both islands, fishing trips and Hyannis Harbor cruises, the Hy-Line personnel were asked often by Group Tour Operators “where should we stay, where should we eat, do you have someone to show us your area?” In response, Cape Cod Custom Tours was developed, the first “receptive operator” if its kind on Cape Cod. We began packaging local itineraries to incoming motor coach and tour operators in 1977. Today Cape Cod Custom Tours offers tour programs on Cape Cod, in other regions of New England and Atlantic Canada. Rene, along with Cherye and Connie work with tour operators & motor coach companies from all over the United States and Canada. Over twenty seasonal Cape Cod local tour guides work for this Division.
In 1979 Hy-Line bought a Cape Cod Canal excursion business and continues to run two and three hour sightseeing cruises through the historic Cape Cod Canal, departing from Onset Town Pier in Wareham.
In 1988 the company expanded once again with construction of the M/V Great Point. This vessel is capable of carrying over 700 passengers to and from the Island of Nantucket. The Great Point offers both standard seating and a distinctive First Class Section.
In 1995, Hy-Line launched its first high-speed water jet catamaran, the M/V Grey Lady. With this vessel, the company began a new era of year-round ferry service to Nantucket Island. The Grey Lady has since been replaced twice with larger and faster catamaran vessels, most recently in 2003 with the newest Grey Lady. Starting in 2016, Hy-Line Cruises went to all high speed ferry service to both Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard from Hyannis.
From the beginning in 1962 with one boat and five seasonal employees, Hyannis Harbor Tours, Inc has grown to over 85 full time, year-round employees and over 325 seasonal employees. Today the Scudder Family company is led by the second generation, in addition to third generation involvement as well.