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Beyond Portland

Port City Lights Cruise

Recommended by 96% of travellers
Badge of Excellence
Portland, USA
High interest
Booked 3 times today.
  • 1 hour (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Why travellers loved this

4.8
·
· Betsy_M ·
Aug 2026
The tour was amazing. You get to see all light houses and islands. Our tour guide was very knowledgerable and funny. You can sit in chairs or explore around the boat. My granddaughter loved it too, and she is six. It was smooth ride and about an hour. A must do if you are in Portland. Also, price is reasonable compare to other tours.
· Abhishek_B ·
Sept 2026
Really enjoyed the boat tour! It was a wonderful experience from start to finish. The views were beautiful, the boat was comfortable, and the crew was friendly and helpful. The tour was well organized and gave us a great way to see the coastline and enjoy the scenery. Definitely a great experience and something I would recommend to anyone visiting Portland!

Overview

Experience Portland's rich history from its most impressive vantage point: the water. Adventuring along Diamond Pass, you'll glimpse a Civil War–era fort, old-school lobster boats, and all the lighthouses Portland is so famous for, including Portland Head Light, Maine’s oldest. Suitable for all ages, this excursion is both a dive into Portland's past and a sightseeing adventure, a two-fer that’s leisurely, scenic, and fun.
  • Snacks, drinks, and restrooms available onboard
  • Witness all four of Portland's scenic lighthouses, plus Fort Gorges
  • Learn about Portland's maritime heritage and Civil War history
  • Catch views of wildlife, from seals to seabirds and more

What's Included

  • Bar & snack bar available
  • Restroom on board

    Meeting and Pickup

    Meeting point

    • 170 Commercial St, Portland, ME 04101, USA

      The middle window at the blue and white kiosk building, marked Long Wharf on top.

    End point

    This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    Itinerary

    Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse (Pass By)

    Portland Breakwater Lighthouse (Pass By)

    Portland Head Light (Pass By)

    Fort Gorges (Pass By)

    Ram Island Ledge Light (Pass By)

    Additional Info

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Pushchair accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    • Not recommended for pregnant travellers
    • Most travellers can participate
    • Rubber soled shoes recommended, high heels not recommended
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 80 travellers

    Cancellation Policy

    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

    Traveller Photos

    Gallery picture 1 (from a traveller's review)
    Gallery picture 2 (from a traveller's review)
    Gallery picture 3 (from a traveller's review)
    Gallery picture 4 (from a traveller's review)
    Gallery picture 5 (from a traveller's review)

    Reviews

    4.8
    based on 325 reviews
    Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
    Sort by: Most recent

    Great Tour from a Boat

    Joan_C, Sept 2026
    This was a tour from one of the boats. It was rather windy this day in addition to a lot of boats on the water, so the boat had a lot of movement of rocking and rolling. The guide was very informative and told us about all the light houses we encountered and the Civil War maritime history. He also told about the various people that lived along the shore line where some areas they were only there during the warmer weather and some actually stayed year around. I was amazed to hear that the water temperature never went higher than 50 degrees.

    It was fun but we...

    Annabel_G, Sept 2026
    It was fun but we couldn’t see all the we couldn’t get close to 2 of the light houses to see them due to weather

    Response from Host, Sept 2026

    Thank you for joining us Annabel! We’re glad you still had a fun time despite the weather limiting some of the views. We hope to welcome you aboard again on a clearer day!

    Fun trip

    Shauna_B, Sept 2026
    It was a fun experience with a good guide who was knowledgeable, fun and friendly. Invited comments and participation in sighting wildlife.

    Response from Host, Sept 2026

    Thank you for joining us Shauna! We’re glad you had a fun experience and enjoyed spotting wildlife along the way. We hope to have you aboard again!

    Very informative, lots of...

    Patricia_L, Sept 2026
    Very informative, lots of fun with the tour guide. Learned more about Portland than I ever knew before.

    Response from Host, Sept 2026

    Thank you for joining us Patricia! We’re so glad you had fun and discovered something new about Portland along the way. We hope to have you back for another adventure!

    Great Boat Tour with Beautiful Views

    Abhishek_B, Sept 2026
    Really enjoyed the boat tour! It was a wonderful experience from start to finish. The views were beautiful, the boat was comfortable, and the crew was friendly and helpful. The tour was well organized and gave us a great way to see the coastline and enjoy the scenery. Definitely a great experience and something I would recommend to anyone visiting Portland!

    Response from Host, Sept 2026

    Thank you for joining us! We’re so glad you had such a wonderful time on the water and enjoyed your time along the coast. We really appreciate the recommendation and hope to welcome you aboard again!

    3 in 1 or 2 and a roll?

    Dan_R, Sept 2026
    This is a good tour of 3 lighthouses in 1 tour, especially for those without personal transport. Our Portlander guide, Eric, provided us w a good balance of history, humor and info on local haunts. The 2 lighthouse with lobster roll is a much better value!

    The tour was wonderful....

    Nikki_A, Sept 2026
    The tour was wonderful. Learned a lot of information about Maine from our tour guide. The boat has a covered top that keeps the rain out for the most part.

    Great boat trip to see the lighthouses.

    Murl_W, Sept 2026
    Me and my wife celebrating anniversary. This was a great experience. The guide did a great job. Loved seeing the lighthouses and being on the water. Would recommend to anyone.

    Greats views on a 1 hour tour.

    Claire_R, Sept 2026
    Crew was nice. The boat was clean and comfortable. Weather was beautiful. We saw 4 light houses and purchased some local beverages. It was the perfect length. 1 hour tour and lovely views.

    Super fun tour with a...

    Madison_M, Sept 2026
    Super fun tour with a great tour guide! My reservation got moved a few times, but the company graciously offered to upgrade me to a longer tour free of charge. That stellar customer service, plus the great tour guide, deserve 5 stars. Bring a sweatshirt if you sit up on top!

    Great tour

    Xiu_C, Sept 2026
    The guide was very informative. He provided a great deal of history. It was a great way to see the light houses.

    Portland Harbor Tour

    Charles_P, Sept 2026
    The excursion was timely and efficiently managed. The tour guide provided an informative survey with regard to all we experienced. The boat was clean and provided ample room to view and take photographs

    We have taken family on...

    marjporell, Aug 2026
    We have taken family on Casco Bay Ferries. The experience was good. I have seen this boat before from land at Portland Head light park. But the experience on the water was amazing and commentary was great. Thanks to all the crew.

    Great trip/know where you need to meet.

    Jeffrey_S, Aug 2026
    Great trip. Great views. Very good information. Get there early because the best seats go to first in line. The only confusion, although Viator sold you the ticket, don't look for any Viator signs or expect anyone to know who they are. The boat cruise goes by a different name and finding the launch spot is a bit tricky.

    Perfect introduction to Portland waters and history

    clambiro, Aug 2026
    Everything was super organized - easy to find the boat. Ride was smooth and captain and narrator were excellent with details, ensuring an absolutely enjoyable experience. Traveling with college kids who were also very happy with the 1 hr cruise.

    Great choice

    Deborah_H, Aug 2026
    It was a great tour, good length , good guide! Enjoyed our time in Portland, Maine! Loved being on the water

    Everyone in our group of...

    Erik_T, Aug 2026
    Everyone in our group of eight enjoyed this!! It was enjoyable for all ages! The tour was great and informative!

    Jersey Girl

    Betsy_M, Aug 2026
    The tour was amazing. You get to see all light houses and islands. Our tour guide was very knowledgerable and funny. You can sit in chairs or explore around the boat. My granddaughter loved it too, and she is six. It was smooth ride and about an hour. A must do if you are in Portland. Also, price is reasonable compare to other tours.

    Boat ride has the right...

    Kristina_C, Aug 2026
    Boat ride has the right balance of history, fun facts, and humor. Beautiful views! Great way to spend a few hours

    Fun tour of Casco Bay

    Tina_C, Aug 2026
    Great tour of Casco Bay and the lighthouses. The tour guide was friendly and very informative. The benches to sit on or a bit uncomfortable but they put out some chairs to sit on which were much better. It was a fun one hour tour and perfect for an afternoon on a hot day.

    A fun, quick little tour...

    Melanie_M, Aug 2026
    A fun, quick little tour with some good Maine history. The crew was fun and knowledgeable. Would recommend..

    This tour was a nice boat...

    Lori_M, Aug 2026
    This tour was a nice boat ride of the Casco bay. The tour guide gave excellent narration and was quite informative. I would recommend this tour if you are interested in spending an hour learning about Portland and its history. Enjoyed the history of the lighthouses as well.

    Great Tour!

    Allison_M, Aug 2026
    This was a great tour! The guide Daniel was super knowledgeable and engaging. I really enjoyed learning all about the area and I learned so many fun facts.

    Portland harbor and lighthouse tour.

    Kathy_C, July 2026
    Great tour and narration (Amy) on Casio bay. Perfect way to start your stay in Portland. Highly recommend

    Great trip to see the history

    Lorraine_B, July 2026
    It’s a must do. Seeing the light houses and learning about the history was nice. It was a beautiful day to be on the water.

    Nice to get out on the water

    Katherine_G, July 2026
    Friendly pleasant staff. Nice vessel. Interesting information. Good tour for children. We had 3 adults and one almost-five-year-old who is easily "bored" but enjoyed the boat immensely.

    Smooth Sailing

    Monica_D, July 2026
    Loved the lighthouses! I only wish the tour had been longer—it left us wanting more. It was a fantastic excursion, and the captain and crew were absolutely top-notch: friendly, knowledgeable, and made the trip so enjoyable. One more thing… my friend Dawn may have developed a slight crush on the captain. 😄 She wanted me to mention that if he’s single and looking for a fan club, she’d gladly take his phone number! Thanks for an unforgettable experience!

    A great way to see Portland's lighthouses

    Jeannette_H, July 2026
    I nice, hour-long cruise that gives great views of the nearby lighthouses, along with some history about them and other sights in the area.

    Great way to see the...

    Jennifer_B, July 2026
    Great way to see the lighthouses and beautiful Casco Bay. The guide was excellent. Sit on the top level for the best views.

    The host was shared...

    mary_C, July 2026
    The host was shared history about the light houses and buildings as well as stories that are not well known on the tour.
    Member Pricing
    From

    USD 40.85

    per person
    Was USD 43.00(-5%)

    up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

    Book ahead!
    On average, this is booked 14 days in advance.

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