Portland Cruise Port (Maine)
Portland, United States · Other
Cruise ships dock at Ocean Gateway — Cruise Berth, Portland.
Walkable New England cruise port on Casco Bay with the historic Old Port, an art museum, lighthouses and lobster, plus easy trips to Portland Head Light.
At a glance
Port summary
Ships dock at Ocean Gateway or the Maine State Pier on Commercial Street, a few minutes' flat walk from the Old Port. Most sights are walkable; a taxi or tour is only needed for Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth.
Cruise dock
Ocean Gateway — Cruise Berth
The main cruise berth at Ocean Gateway on Commercial Street, at the east end of the downtown waterfront. Passengers walk straight into downtown and the Old Port. The nearby Maine State Pier also takes cruise ships.
Latitude: 43.659953, Longitude: -70.246954
See dock on port map →Getting to Portland
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
Map & things to do
Money & payments
Cards and phones work for nearly everything; carry a little cash only for small vendors.
Build your perfect day in Portland
Tell us your cruise line, ship and departure date and we'll give you a complete set of full port information and playbooks of how to spend your day.
Inside the Canada & New England collection
Here's a peek at everything waiting for your Portland cruise day.
Typical weather
Emergency & contacts
Excursions compared
4 comparedPortland Head Light and Cape Elizabeth scenic city tour
≈ 4 h · sold by 5 cruise lines
Cruise line
€70$78
Do it yourself
€42$47
Save ≈ €28Save ≈ $31 (40% off)
The cruise terminal (Ocean Gateway / Maine State Pier) sits on the edge of the Old Port, but Portland Head Light is in Cape Elizabeth, ~10 km south with no frequent public transit (Metro Route 5 plus South Portland Route 24 is slow and infrequent). The reliable DIY move is a 15-minute Uber/taxi (~$22 / €20 each way) straight to Fort Williams Park. The park is free and open sunrise–sunset; the keepers'-house museum is $2pp. Rideshare back into the Old Port, then everything else is on foot.
See the DIY plan →
Kennebunkport, Dock Square and Walker's Point coastal drive
≈ 5 h · sold by 4 cruise lines
Cruise line
€95$106
Do it yourself
€68$76
Save ≈ €27Save ≈ $30 (28% off)
Kennebunkport is ~45 km / 40 min south and has no practical public-transit link from the cruise pier, so the honest DIY is a rental car. Enterprise's downtown Portland branch is a ~15-min walk from Ocean Gateway; reserve ahead (~€70/day). Drive I-95/Route 9 to Dock Square, park, and explore on foot; Ocean Avenue out to Walker's Point is a 1.6 km drive or walk from the square. This is a long day — only attempt it if all-aboard is mid-to-late afternoon.
See the DIY plan →
Ready-made port days
11 plansPortland Head Light & the Old Port
Maine's most photographed lighthouse and the country's best small food city — in one unhurried half day.
The Old Port Food Crawl
Lobster rolls, craft beer and whoopie pies — eat your way through America's best small food city without ever needing a bus.
Peaks Island by Bike
A 17-minute ferry and a flat island loop — wildflower meadows, WWII ruins and swimming coves without a car in sight.
Lobster Boat & Waterfront Morning
Haul a real lobster trap in front of Portland Head Light, then eat your way along the working wharves.
Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in Portland?
- Your ship docks at one of the cruise terminals in Portland, United States. The specific berth is assigned by the port a few days before arrival.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into Portland?
- Yes. Portland is walkable from the cruise port — many cruisers reach the city centre on foot.
- How do I get from the cruise port to Portland centre?
- Typical options include On foot, Taxi, Ride-hail (Uber/Bolt), Local bus, Ferry. Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in Portland?
- Plan for at least 3 hours ashore to see Portland independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in Portland and are cards accepted?
- Portland uses the US Dollar. Carry some cash for markets, taxis, and smaller vendors — cards aren't accepted everywhere.
- Is there Wi-Fi at the cruise port?
- Free Wi-Fi is available at the Portland cruise terminal.
- When should I be back at the ship?
- Cruise lines usually require all passengers on board about 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Confirm the exact all-aboard time on your daily programme.
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