Portland ME (Maine)
Cruise Port schedule, live map, terminals, news
Region
East Coast USA and Canada New England
Local Time
2020-10-20 16:41
61°F 15.9°C
Light breeze2.2 m/s
65 °F / 19 °C 53 °F / 12 °C
Portland is Maine's second largest cruise port - following Bar Harbor. This port city is located on a peninsula (Maine USA's east coast) and north of Boston MA.
Portland ME features historical and architectural attractions, and is also a major commercial, shipping and fishing centre. The port is a gateway to the resort islands in Casco Bay. There's a historic trail and lighthouse in the town. The nearby Kennebunkport is also worth visiting. Its art colony and Seashore Trolley Museum display more than 200 authentic streetcars.
Established in 1632, the town was destroyed in 1676 by Indians, and again in 1690 by Indians and the French. The settlement (then part of Falmouth) was damaged by the British in 1775. In 1786, after being separated from Falmouth, it was named after Portland England.
In 2015, the visiting around 55,000 cruise tourists had an economic impact of USD 5,8 million. In 2016, the cruise port handled 70 ship calls. In August 2016, the port had its ever largest cruise ship docked - RCI's Anthem of the Seas, bringing to the city 4974 passengers and 1480 crew. Cruising season 2016's economic impact was USD 11 million.
In 2017, the port reported a record year as the number of visiting cruise passengers for the first time ever exceeded 100,000. Port's statistics showed a 6% increase in passenger volumes and a 10% increase in crew numbers over 2016. In 2018, the port handled total 32 ship calls (23% over 2017) and around 39,000 passengers. For season 2019 were booked 40 berths.
On March 16, 2018, was announced a plan to fund the USD 2 million ferry terminal's upgrade project. The Ocean Gateway terminal serves all ferries connecting Maine USA with Nova Scotia (NS Canada). The primary funding party will be the Canadian company Bay Ferries Ltd (headquartered in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island), which together with the NS government would pay for most of the upgrades. The decision was made after the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency threatened to close the terminal's customs service as it didn't meet USA's federal standards. Bay Ferries is a subsidiary of Northumberland Ferries Ltd (parent NFL Holdings Ltd) and is subsidized by the NS taxpayers.
Portland ME cruise terminal
Cruise ships in Portland ME dock at Portland Ocean Terminal. Following the berth extension and dredging project (completed in April 2017), now the port can dock ships with LOA length 340 m (1115 ft) and max draft 11 m (36 ft). Port's total berthing space is around 2000 m (6560 ft).
The city is linked by ferries with Nova Scotia. In November 2017, the ferry service from Ocean Gateway terminal was terminated after US Customs required a terminal renovation (around USD 7 million in upgrades) in order the passenger facility to meet federal standards. The ferry service Maine - Nova Scotia will start again only if Portland provides USD 2 million for the project.
Port Portland ME cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Portland ME, Maine. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.
| Day | Ship | Arrival | Departure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 October, 2020 Monday |  Fred Olsen Balmoral |
- Cruise Industry
Fred Olsen releases the first itinerary from its 2023 cruise program
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines unveiled its first look into 2023 with the release of a "North American Waterways and Canadian Fall" itinerary, including the...
July 30, 2020 - Cruise Industry
Nova Scotia cancels 2020 sailing season due to COVID-19 concerns
Nova Scotia's Government cancelled the 2020 passenger shipping season for the subsidized ferry service that links NS with Maine USA, citing "the...
June 28, 2020 - Accidents
Bar Harbor cancels cruise ship calls until July 1
Citing the large volume of feedback on the subject, Bar Harbor Town Council on Tuesday, April 7, cancelled all scheduled cruise ship calls through...
April 8, 2020 - Cruise Industry
Maine Welcomes First Cruise Ships Scheduled for 2019
The 2019 cruise ship season in Maine began with Bar Harbor getting its third cruise ship visit on Friday, May 10, and Portland which got its first...
May 13, 2019 - Cruise Industry
Funding Secured to Upgrade Portland Ferry Terminal
Officials figured out a way to fund US$2 million in upgrades to the terminal which houses ferry service between Maine and Nova Scotia. Bay Ferries...
March 18, 2018 - Cruise Industry
Ferry Service Maine-Nova Scotia to Return with Terminal Upgrades
The ferry service connecting Maine with Nova Scotia may return in case Portland ME finds US$2 million to upgrade its ferry terminal. Ferry...
December 29, 2017 - Cruise Industry
DRONE VIDEO: Portland Maine
Portland is Maine's second largest cruise port - following Bar Harbor. This port city is located on a peninsula (Maine USA's east...
October 2, 2017 - Cruise Industry
Maine to Set Cruise Ship Record
Maine is on track to boast a record cruise ship season this year. The state is expecting a total of 423 vessels with more than 380,000...
September 10, 2017 - Cruise Industry
Maine to Grow the Number of Cruise Ships
Maine wishes to shift its approach to cruise ship industry in order to generate more economic benefit, rather than just promote the state as a...
August 22, 2017 - Accidents
Mass Casualty Incident Declared Aboard a Cruise Ship
Maine emergency services have responded to what was reported as "mass casualty event" aboard a Celebrity Cruises ship, only to find 4 people...
July 4, 2017 - show more news