Life-size iconic Canadian tugboat, Theodore TOO, now on Airbnb

Welcome aboard Theodore TOO, the beloved, 65-foot real-life, bright-eyed and bushy-bumpered tugboat.

With an unmistakably friendly smile and famed big red cap, Theodore TOO is embarking on another big adventure, setting course to become Canada’s next Airbnb listing – and all with the help of Host Captain Noah, who is helming the tugboat this summer from his current post in Hamilton. The captain is welcoming a few lucky guests to serve onboard for a night from Theodore TOO’s home port in Hamilton Harbour.

Since moving from his home in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Theodore TOO has become an instantly iconic attraction docked in Hamilton Harbour in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Built in Daysprings, Nova Scotia in 2000, the 65-foot tug now works as an ambassador to the marine industry and a guide to the Great Lakes.

“Our crew’s lucky to spend the summer cruising the Great Lakes aboard the friendliest tugboat in Canada. I’m so excited Theodore TOO fans have the chance to take part in his adventures! As your Host, I can’t wait to show you around from bow to stern, and take you on your own Big Harbour adventure for a night.”

Captain Noah

It’s the first time that Theodore TOO will be available to non-crew members for an overnight stay, so Captain Noah and the crew have worked to tidy up the flotsam and jetsam and get our red-capped tugboat shipshape.

• Once on deck, guests will embark on a cruise of Hamilton Harbour with some of Theodore TOO’s finest crew members, learning all about the Bay. Keep a weather eye out for some of the ancient creatures rumored to lurk beneath the harbor’s surface, too.
• The Captain and his crew will treat guests to a few square meals, with local eats from Hamilton, supporting some of the small businesses that play such an important role in the city.
• Once the sun sets over the horizon, guests can lounge on the deck for a movie night under the stars, surrounded by the harbor and plenty of snacks – with saltwater taffy being a must.
• Bunk up in a cozy cabin fit for a Harbormaster, decorated with iconic Canadiana and nods to Theodore’s roots in Halifax. 

In honor of these stays, Airbnb will make a one-time donation to The Sunshine Foundation of Canada, a national charity that fulfills dreams for children and youth living with severe physical disabilities. For 35 years now (and counting), Sunshine has created more than 8,800 life-changing experiences for children and youth across Canada and is a cause close to Theodore TOO’s heart.

The Canadian stay comes as Airbnb has introduced a new way to search designed around Airbnb Categories, making it easy to discover millions of unique homes in places you may have never known to exist. With over 30,000 OMG! Category stays around the world, there are plenty more one-of-a-kind stays available this summer. And with more than 25,000 Lake retreats in Canada alone, opportunities for harbor-side adventures also await for guests this summer – along with the opportunity for Hosts with lake homes to earn. Canadian Hosts with an entire place listing in the Lake House Category collectively earned more than $170 million from January to June 2022 alone. 

Guests will be able to book two individual one-night stays on September 10, 2022 and September 11, 2022, for only $22 CAD a night, a nod to Theodore TOO’s 22 years*. Aspiring crew can request to book this stay beginning Monday, August 29, 2022 at 12:00 PM EDT at airbnb.com/theodoretoo.

*These two, one-night stays for up to five guests each are not a contest, and the nightly rate does not include taxes and fees. The boat cruise for guests is subject to cancellation due to weather and other factors outside of Airbnb’s control.

Airbnb is closely monitoring COVID-19 regulations and will offer booking guests a refund of the booking fee ($22 CAD) and $1,000 USD Airbnb travel credit if Airbnb determines it is necessary to cancel the stay. The stay’s rules require following applicable municipal, provincial and federal regulations and guidelines for COVID-19, as well as Airbnb’s COVID-19 Safety Practices, which may  include wearing a mask and practicing social distancing when required by local laws or guidelines. On-site staff will also comply with local rules and guidelines, and will abide by our five-step enhanced cleaning process.