Portland, MaineCruise Port Guide
A walkable waterfront, a lighthouse a short ride away, and tours that leave from the wharf. Pick what fits your hours in port.
Welcome to Portland, Maine
Pro Picks
Trolley · 2 hrsTrolley city tour with a Portland Head Light stop
A two-hour guided loop around Portland that stops at Portland Head Light, the lighthouse in Cape Elizabeth you can't reach on foot from the pier. It meets at the Long Wharf kiosk on the Old Port waterfront; the trolley is heated but has no air conditioning, just open windows.
From $61/ person
Book Now →
Boat · 105 minLighthouse cruise on Casco Bay
A 105-minute guided boat trip out into Casco Bay to see the lighthouses along the coast. It leaves from the Long Wharf kiosk building in the Old Port, and the listing warns that anyone prone to motion sickness should take precautions before boarding.
From $61/ person
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City tour · 50 minVintage fire engine tour of Portland
A 50-minute ride around town on an open-air vintage fire engine. You board right in front of Portland Lobster Co. on Commercial Street, and the listing says there are no public restrooms nearby and that it needs decent weather and a minimum group to run.
From $45/ person
Book Now →Your time ashore
Count from leaving the ship to being back aboard.
Portland, Maine in 2 hours
Lighthouse Cruise
One-hour sightseeing cruise to Portland Head Light
The shortest boat option: an hour on the water toward Portland Head Light, leaving from the Long Wharf kiosk building in the Old Port. Wear a jacket, since the listing tells guests to bring one.
From$43
Time required1 hour
Walking Tour
Hidden Histories guided walking tour
A two-hour guided walk through the Old Port, meeting at Post Office Park, which the listing puts 0.5 miles from the cruise ship terminal. Expect hills, cobblestones and a few staircases; the guide will reroute around steps if you ask.
From$54
Time required2 hours
Food Tour
Walking food tour with warm donuts
Two hours of eating your way through the Old Port, starting at the Maine Souvenir Shop on Exchange and Fore Streets. You need to be able to walk about a mile over uneven cobblestones, and the tour runs rain or shine.
From$69
Time required2 hours
Sailing Cruise
Windjammer sailing cruise
Two hours under sail on a schooner. Check in at the dock house on the Maine State Pier, past Gate 5 for the Casco Bay ferry; there's a composting toilet on board.
From$69
Time required2 hours
Portland, Maine in 4 hours
Brewery Tour
Local brewery bus tour
Three hours of tastings by bus, starting inside Portland Beer Hub at 320 Fore Street. Arrive 15 minutes early, and note there's no storage on the bus for anything you buy.
From$109
Time required3 hours
Trolley Tour
Trolley tour with three lighthouse stops
A 2.5-hour trolley run with stops at three lighthouses, for people who want more than the single stop on the shorter tour. Heated but not air-conditioned, with open windows. It has only 9 reviews so far.
From$59
Time required2.5 hours
Within a stroll of the boat
Six stops on foot from Ocean Gateway, the pier most ships use, from the train museum next door to the Old Port and East End Beach. Ships at the Maine State Pier have the same walk, a couple of minutes shorter to the Old Port.
Museum · 0.1 mi · ~4 min
Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum
A railroad museum right beside the pier. Visit Portland says the train runs a 40-minute, 3-mile round trip along the Eastern Promenade, hourly from 10am to 3pm.
Eat · 0.2 mi · ~6 min
Eventide Oyster Co.
An oyster-and-seafood restaurant on Middle Street, the closest sit-down meal on this map. Hours aren't confirmed here, so check before you plan around it.
Market · 0.3 mi · ~8 min
Harbor Fish Market
A working seafood shop on Custom House Wharf, a good look at the harbor's fishing side without paying for a tour.
Eat · 0.4 mi · ~10 min
Portland Lobster Co.
A lobster restaurant on Commercial Street. The vintage fire engine tour boards right out front, so it's an easy meal before or after a ride.
Plaza · 0.5 mi · ~12 min
Post Office Park
A small park at Middle and Exchange Streets in the heart of the Old Port, and the start of two guided walking tours. Allow for cobblestones and a little uphill.
Beach · 0.8 mi · ~17 min
East End Beach
The nearest public beach, on Casco Bay beside the Eastern Promenade. It's the farthest stop here, so save it for a ship with a long stay.
Handy Helpers
Small things that make a port day easier.
Private Driver, Waiting at the Dock
A pre-booked driver meets you at the dock for a fixed price. No haggling, no waiting for a taxi to fill.
Bike rental
Cover more ground than on foot. Book ahead and return it well before all-aboard.
Travel eSIM
Install it on ship WiFi and your maps and ride apps work the moment you land in Portland, Maine.
Quick answers
Facts last checked .
How we checked these answers
Every answer is built from facts we checked against the sources below and cross-checked with recent port guides. Where sources disagreed, the answer says so instead of guessing a number.
Getting ashore
Where do cruise ships dock in Portland, Maine?
Most cruise ships dock at Ocean Gateway in Portland, Maine, and some larger ships use the Portland Ocean Terminal, also called the Maine State Pier, across the slip. Visit Portland says passengers clear customs at Ocean Gateway and can reach its Visitor Information Center right away. Both berths are on the downtown waterfront, and ships tie up alongside rather than tendering.
Which pier does Princess or Royal Caribbean use in Portland, Maine?
We found no source that assigns Princess, Royal Caribbean or any other line to a particular pier in Portland, Maine. Visit Portland says most ships use Ocean Gateway and some larger ones use the Portland Ocean Terminal, so check your ship's daily program or cruise app. Lines on the October 2026 schedule include Princess, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Norwegian, Celebrity, Viking and MSC.
What is there to do near the Portland, Maine cruise port?
Plenty, and most of it is on foot: the Old Port is about half a mile from Ocean Gateway, and the pier itself has a visitor center with restrooms and free Wi-Fi, the start of the Eastern Promenade Trail and the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum. Visit Portland lists a 40-minute train ride along the promenade, hourly from 10am to 3pm. East End Beach is about 0.8 miles away. The stroll map shows what's in reach.
Is Portland, Maine walkable from the cruise port?
Yes, the Old Port is about a 12-minute walk from Ocean Gateway, roughly half a mile to Post Office Park at Middle and Exchange Streets. From the Maine State Pier it is about 0.4 miles, or around 10 minutes. Portland is hilly, and the Old Port has cobblestones and some steps, so wear sturdy shoes if you plan to walk the whole way.
Can you walk to a beach from the Portland, Maine cruise port?
Yes, but it's a longer stroll: East End Beach, a public beach on Casco Bay beside the Eastern Promenade, is about 0.8 miles from Ocean Gateway (roughly 17 minutes) and about a mile from the Maine State Pier (roughly 22 minutes). It's the nearest beach to both piers. It's on the stroll map with the other stops within a mile.
Is there a shuttle from the cruise ship to downtown Portland?
Visit Portland runs a City Loop Shuttle on days when more than 2,500 cruise passengers are in Portland, a 10-stop loop between the Eastern Promenade and the Arts District. When it launched in 2024 the all-day pass cost $15 and it ran 8am to 4pm, so check the current fare and hours. The Old Port itself is within walking distance of both piers.
Excursions & nearby
What are the best cruise excursions in Portland, Maine?
The most-reviewed Portland, Maine excursions on GetYourGuide in October 2026 were a two-hour trolley tour with a Portland Head Light stop (4.7 from 928 reviews), a 105-minute lighthouse cruise (4.7 from 840) and a 50-minute vintage fire engine tour (4.8 from 319). Most meet on the Old Port waterfront, a short walk from the piers. See the Pro Picks for prices.
How do I get to Portland Head Light from the cruise ship?
Portland Head Light is in Cape Elizabeth, more than 3 miles from the cruise piers, so you need a taxi, rideshare or an excursion to reach it. Visit Portland puts nearby lighthouses and beaches 15 to 20 minutes from downtown, and port guides suggest allowing about 90 minutes round trip with time at the light. The trolley tour and the Head Light cruise in the Pro Picks both include it.
Can I take the ferry to Peaks Island on a cruise day?
It's possible, but only if the Casco Bay Lines timetable fits your all-aboard time, because return sailings run to a fixed schedule. The ferry terminal is at 56 Commercial Street, beside the Maine State Pier. We couldn't confirm the summer crossing time or fare, so check both with Casco Bay Lines before you commit, and treat it as an option for a long call.
Practical
Is there a restroom or free Wi-Fi at the Portland, Maine cruise port?
Yes: the Ocean Gateway Visitor Information Center at 14 Ocean Gateway Pier has public restrooms and free Wi-Fi, along with maps and staff. It is open Monday to Saturday 9am to 4pm and Sunday 10am to 3pm until November 1, 2026, closed on holidays. Away from the terminal, public restrooms are scarce, so use one before you head into the Old Port.
Do I need a passport for a cruise that stops in Portland, Maine?
Not necessarily: U.S. Customs and Border Protection says U.S. citizens on a closed-loop cruise, one that starts and ends at the same U.S. port on the same ship and visits only Western Hemisphere destinations, may present a government-issued photo ID with proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate. CBP adds that you may still need a passport for the countries your ship visits, so check with your cruise line.
What time zone is Portland, Maine in?
Portland, Maine is on Eastern Time. NIST says daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. on the second Sunday of March and ends at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday of November. Your ship's daily program lists the all-aboard time, so use that rather than guessing from the local clock.
Do cruise ships go into Portland, Maine?
Yes: Portland expected 153 cruise ships and more than 200,000 passengers in 2024, and the 2026 schedule shows 23 calls in September, 21 in October and one in November. Lines on the October 2026 schedule include Holland America, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Princess, Celebrity and Viking. We don't publish live ship schedules, so check your own itinerary for your date.