Private Island Fort Tour in Casco Bay: Boat Cruise & Island Tour
Recommended by 95% of travellers
Badge of Excellence
Portland, USA
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Embark on a boat to a private island historic fort that’s only accessible with this tour. Leave from Portland and for a boat ride on Casco Bay, landing at the privately owned Fort Scammel on House Island. There, explore the architecture and preserved ruins of the stone fort—the only fort in the Portland harbor to see battle. Discover underground passages and learn the history of this previously inaccessible site.
- Visit a hard-to-access historic stone fort in the Portland harbor
- This is the only tour able to access this private island
- Experience a relaxing boat ride with one alcoholic drink included
- Meet likeminded travelers interested in history
What's Included
- Alcoholic BeveragesOne canned local, craft, alcoholic beverage or NA drink included per person
- Option to purchase additional drinks aboard (credit card only)
- Restroom Available At Departure Location / NOT Onboard the Boat
- Gratuities
- NO Restroom Onboard the Boat
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Portland Beer Hub320 Fore St, Portland, ME 04101, USA
BOAT DEPARTS DOCK RIGHT AT TOUR TIME! Arrive 15 MINUTES before the start time of your tour. Meet inside of the retail store, Portland Beer Hub (320 Fore Street, Portland, ME 04101), in downtown Portland's Old Port. Portland Beer Hub staff will lead you to the dock and to your vessel!
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Operating hours.10:30
Itinerary
1
Fort Scammel
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Not recommended for travellers with back problems
- Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 25 travellers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveller Photos
Reviews
4.8
based on 65 reviews
Kevin_S, May 2026
10 of us ranging from 3 to 63 went on this tour. From the moment we went into the Portland Beer Hub to meet our guide, everyone was friendly. It was a 5 minute walk to the boat, followed by a 15 minute ride to the island. During the boat ride, the guide and captain pointed out the other forts and the lighthouses in Casco Bay, along with some of the local history. We toured the outside, along with pointing out how Fort Scammel worked with the other forts on the Bay. Down inside the fort was a maze of galleries and tunnels, with each chamber more impressive than the last. The actual time of the tour was 90 minutes. Our guide was very informative, and did an excellent job of answering questions, alll while being very interesting. We were back in Portland 15 minutes later. The boat is 30 feet long and has a roof and snap down clear plastic sides, so it was comfortable on the cloudy, occasionally drizzly day.
Response from Host, May 2026
The Fort Tour is definitely one of the most interesting ways to learn about Portland's history! We're honored to have access to the fort and we're proud to showcase the history. So glad to hear that you had a great time, despite the weather. Thanks for joining us!
Adam_C, Sept 2025
Pete was extremely informative and fun. We learned a lot and the fort was impressive. Highly recommend
Response from Host, Oct 2025
So glad you had a great time exploring the fort with Pete! He’ll be thrilled to know you enjoyed the stories and history out on the island. It’s such a fascinating place — thanks for the recommendation and for joining us!
Chandria_M, Aug 2025
Highly recommend! We ended up with only a small group of 6 which made the tour experience all the more memorable! Captain Pete is extremely knowledgeable not only about House Island/Fort Scammel but Portland itself. Simeon was a great deck hand as well!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
We love hearing this — thank you! Small groups make for such a special trip, and Captain Pete and Simeon will be so glad to know you enjoyed the experience. Exploring House Island and Fort Scammel with that kind of crew and view really is something memorable.
Sarah_S, Aug 2025
Fantastic tour, amazing history, beautiful island, great boat, fun crew. Highly recommend!!!!!! Every part of this tour was A+.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
We’re so glad you came out with us! Cruising across Casco Bay, stepping onto the fort, and hearing the stories behind the island really does make for a one-of-a-kind adventure. Our team works hard to keep things lively and welcoming, and it’s wonderful to know the whole experience felt top-notch. Thanks for the glowing recommendation!
Lisa_G, Aug 2025
The ride out was beautiful and the skipper and mate were extremely friendly and knowledgeable. When we got to the island we were created by our guide. He was super knowledgeable and answered our questions with ease! The tour was exceptional with such historical importance! If you don’t go on this trip, you are truly missing something special!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you for the glowing review! Cruising through Casco Bay and exploring the fort is an experience we’re proud to share, and it’s wonderful to hear our crew and guide made the day both welcoming and informative. The history out there is remarkable, and we love bringing it to life for our guests. We’re thrilled you found it as special as we do.
Jay_B, Jul 2025
Extremely informative tour of the fort! Learned lots of history. The boat crew on the way to the island shared lots of things about the bay and ships and boats we saw
Response from Host, Oct 2025
We’re so glad you enjoyed both parts of the trip — the cruise across the bay and the deep dive into the fort’s history. Our crew loves sharing stories about the harbor and all the vessels out there, and the guides on the island really bring its past to life. Thanks for joining us!
Dawn_C, Oct 2024
This tour was amazing. Our captain was very knowledgeable, and eager to share history about the island. We explored areas with amazing stories behind them, and enjoyed a smooth boat ride, with great views and tasty drinks. He even let me call my dad (retired disabled Marine/war history buff) on speaker phone to catch his stories. We saw seals, and a deer. I would absolutely recommend this trip!
Elizabeth_C, Oct 2024
Booked this experience on our last day to get out on the water and was blow away by the experience. The tour of the island was amazing, and Pete was such an amazing historian. We learned so much, enjoyed the beautiful views, and had an amazing experience to tell others about.
Ed_C, Sept 2024
The narrative on the ride out to the fort and then the expert, knowledgeable tour guide on the island. The fort is amazing! Well worth going, a real highlight of our trip!
Katie_D, Sept 2024
All three crew members were super knowledgable and friendly! Some personal stories of the actual people who worked on the island would have been cool. But if you are into military history about guns, gun powder, architecture, stone building then I would highly recommend. The views are perfection!
Mary_B, Aug 2024
We enjoyed the great story telling of our guide on the island. The staff and Captain of the boat were friendly, and the drinks were great.
TracyReady, Aug 2024
Loved it tour guide was fantastic. Would do it again. Beautiful scenary and very informative. 5 stars all day
Brittany_B, Aug 2024
Very cool experience! Would recommend. The walk around the fort was not too difficult, most fitness levels would do just fine. Tour guide and captain were great!
Zachary_D, Aug 2024
Great scenery, very knowledgeable tour guides, and great beverage for the trip back to shore. Highly recommended, even for those who aren’t history nerds.
kay_p, Aug 2024
The narrative is involved. I liked it but I think kids would be bored until they get underground. Be prepared to do some walking.
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Thanks for joining us and leaving a review! Our knowledge of this private fort is vast...getting underground is definitely a highlight of the tour! Kids also have a scavenger hunt that starts the second they board the boat to add to the tour at the fort and keep them engaged and excited!
Jennifer_C, Jul 2024
We enjoyed the narrated boat ride to the private island. The host on the island was a wonderful tour guide. We learned the history of the island and saw beautiful views. We were given a lantern when we entered the underground portion. This is a not to miss experience.
Janice_B, Jul 2024
Tour guide great. Description of experience misleading. Boat cruise was simply ride to the island and back. The Fort was the bulk of the tour. No microphones for the boat guides difficult to hear any info about the boat experience
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Thanks for leaving a review and we apologize if our description was misleading at all! Docking at Fort Scammel and touring the fort is meant to be the guts of the tour! We also have a Lighthouse Tour and a Sunset Tour. Both of these tours are solely boat tours versus a guided tour of Fort Scammel on private House Island. We'll make sure our listing reflects this!
Chris_R, Jul 2024
Great 2 hour trip to a historical fort in the Casco Bay, the guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. Perfect for the whole family, and there were a number of families on this trip.
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Thanks for the great review Chris! We loved having you aboard and hope to see you on another SeaPortland tour!
David_H, Jul 2024
fascinating tour of the Fort and its history. Enjoyable cruise of the bay
The views from the island back towards Portland were amazing
We even got to see a couple of seals on the boat ride out to the island.
Charley_L, Jul 2024
Great tour of the island and fort
Awesome if you love history. For me, I liked the experience and exploring the fort, could do with a more abridged history
Kimberly_L, Jul 2024
The tour was amazing and the people that sailed the boat and the guide were awesome! We had a bit of a time finding the meeting spot as it was not well marked.
David_K, Jul 2024
Awesome experience. Something cool and different to do. You are able to dive in and see Portlands history firsthand!
Maura_S, Jun 2024
Boat crew was very informative and fun. Boat ride was nice and shady on a hot day . Drinks were good. The private island tour was so educational! I love history and they told us about hundreds of years of history . It was great . We didn't expect it to be such an enlightening experience . Fabulous!! I highly recommend!!
Cathy_J, Jun 2024
The fort was really cool! My teen was a little bored when our guide was talking about the history of the fort but that's kids lol. I found it very interesting!
Our included beverage was tasty too!
Gregg_W, Aug 2023
Amazing tour. Beautiful views, unique historic site, and an incredibly enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide.
SToula_L, Sept 2022
This is the most memorable excursion. The tour guide is absolutely amazing. This knowledge, details and history of the island are fantastic. The crew on the boat is remarkable. If you are in the area, this is not to be missed.
From US$119.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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