Portland (Maine) Cruise Terminal

Portland (Maine) Cruise Terminal

Portland Cruise Terminal Portland, Maine

Cruise to Portland, Maine, and discover our many treasures from lighthouses to lobsters, micro-breweries to beaches, historic tours to working waterfront, world-class art to endless shopping. Cruise Portland Maine has everything cruise ship visitors need to know to plan their trip — including dozens of shore excursions and the famous restaurants and landmarks of Portland, Kennebunkport, and Freeport, plus family activities, parks, kayaking, museums and more. Cruise Portland, Maine — and experience the authentic Maine coast.

Portland, Maine, is all About Lobster…

It’s hard to imagine this crustacean was once deemed poor man’s food, but it’s true — lobsters would wash up on Portland’s shores after a storm and be used primarily as fertilizer and bait. But with the advent of land transportation, lobsters were brought inland by the mid-1800’s, and as the demand for lobsters increased so did the price. Today, the city boasts numerous restaurants — all of which feature lobster (in some form) on their menus.
Or is it?

But Portland has more to offer than a bunch of crustaceans. The coastal New England port boasts a vibrant working waterfront, an abundance of Victorian-era architecture and numerous historic lighthouses. Nestled on a picturesque seascape, the city is perched on a peninsula jutting out into the island-studded Casco Bay, protected from the Atlantic Ocean. The romantic movie “Message in a Bottle” was filmed in this seaside town and even the famous Portland-born poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow called Portland a “Jewel by the Sea” in one of his poems. The city welcomes close to 50,000 cruise ship passengers annually.

The historic port was once a major shipbuilding center, as well as one of the busiest fishing ports on the Atlantic as far back as the 18th century. Its success as a port made it a prime target for the British during the War of 1812 and also for the Confederates during the Civil War. The coastline and islands are still dotted with forts that were built to protect the city. Ironically, during an Independence Day celebration in 1866, a firecracker ignited a fire that quickly spread across the city’s east end, destroying 1,800 buildings.

The city quickly rebuilt, resulting in lovely Victorian-era architecture, and today the Old Port (sometimes referred to as the Old Port Exchange) is a bustling seaport with a high concentration of quality eating and drinking establishments. With less than 65,000 residents, Portland is compact enough for visitors to explore the town thoroughly — tourists can stroll along the working waterfront of Commercial Street, walk the cobblestone streets of the restored Old Port district, or visit a historic building or two.

Tour Excursions (Offered via the cruiseline)
Each cruise line offers shore excursions while docked in the Port of Portland. Typically the shore excursion offerings are:

Kennebunkport – Kennebunkport is a picturesque town approximately 40 minutes south of Portland. An historic fishing village which has become a popular seaside tourist destination with a quaint neighborhood of souvenir shops, art galleries, seafood restaurants, hotels, inns, and bed & breakfasts. Claim to fame: President George Bush Sr.’s summer home.

Freeport – Freeport is a beautiful coastal Maine village with over 200 upscale outlets, designer shops, eclectic boutiques, B&B’s, hotels, great restaurants & casual cafes. Claim to fame: L.L. Bean headquarters. Looking for first rate shopping? Explore world-renowned outlets up and down the coast of Maine!

For more information on booking cruises and the Portland;Maine cruise terminals, visit our agent directory to retain an experienced, globally certified travel professional.
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