Port City Lights Cruise
Recommended by 95% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Portland, USA
- 1 hour (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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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
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Most travelers can participate
- Rubber soled shoes recommended, high heels not recommended
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 80 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.8
based on 258 reviews
Kimberly_B, Oct 2025
Honestly I bet it would have been a great experience. I drove up from RI and got there about a minute late. Coming from out of town I wasn’t sure about parking and then found the parking lot. Then I had to try figuring out which ship was the one I was supposed to be on. By the time all was figured out the ship was leaving and it was only a couple of minutes past 11. I asked to switch my time or for a refund and it was made abundantly clear that I could not get a refund since it was my fault for not showing up on time and I could only switch the cruise time if I was willing to spend more money which I did not have. I understand I was late but it wasn’t that long and I wish there would have been just a small grace period for those of us who have never been to the area.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for your feedback. We are truly sorry to hear that you missed your departure and were left feeling frustrated after traveling all the way from Rhode Island.
We understand navigating a new city, finding parking, and locating the correct vessel can be stressful. This is why we strongly recommend all customers arrive 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure.
We must adhere to the 11:00 AM departure time to ensure the experience is not interrupted for other guests. While we are non-refundable for missed departures, we always offer the opportunity to switch to another tour time if there is availability. We apologize if this was not communicated properly at that time.
Cindy_C, Oct 2025
Wear a jacket! Great views, historical information about the Cape was interesting! Will definitely be back next year!!!!
Bri_R, Oct 2025
If you're looking for a shorter option to still get out on the water and learn fun facts - this is the tour for you!!! Most of the tour options I was looking at were 2 hours+ so I was very grateful to find this one being on a tight schedule!
Debra_R, Oct 2025
Great value, fun to see all the Lighthouses, homes and scenery from the boat. Josh did a great job giving us lots of history and information!
Lynn_A, Oct 2025
The tour is a wonderful way to learn things about the harbor/bay in Portland. Nice crew. Good value for your money
Joyce_B, Oct 2025
We had a great cruise and our guide was very knowledgeable about the lighthouses, forts, city sights, and beaches in the area. She made it enjoyable with a little humor thrown in with the history and our Captain was great as well—highly recommend this cruise!!
Alissa_J, Oct 2025
Both my partner and I agreed this was our favorite thing we did while visiting Portland! The crew was the best
Juliana_H, Oct 2025
We booked this last minute due to cruise port itinerary change and we were glad we did. Nate drove the ship safely and smoothly considering the rocky waves and got the best views of the lighthouses, forts, and Maine shorelines. Steve gave great history and facts to give a great tour of this charming port.
Jenny_K, Sep 2025
This tour was excellent. It started on time, the boat had a wonderful staff, and the info told while we saw the sights was historical and interesting.
Tammy_S, Sep 2025
This boat cruise was wonderful! The captain and crew were great! The information was concise and super interesting about Portland Harbor, the lighthouses, the forts, and the coast wildlife. We only had a full day in Portland and this cruise, along with the city trolley tour covered a lot of territory in a short amount of time. We would highly recommend!
Yolanda_E, Sep 2025
Wonderful tour of the gorgeous coastland and lighthouses of Portland Bay! It was amazing and so happy we did it!
Joyce_T, Sep 2025
We have not been on it yet. I have had trouble with reservations. I am not sure which trip this is reference to.
Cathy_B, Sep 2025
This was very informative. The narrator was knowledgeable and answered questions. Loved the descriptive on the Sunfish we saw. Great way to celebrate our 42 years together.
Amanda_G, Sep 2025
Sit on the right side of the boat, the left side doesn’t get as many good views or is far away from the views. Nice breezes & good history.
Jessica_L, Aug 2025
My mother and I enjoyed it thoroughly. A beautiful and educational experience. We went on the 12:30pm cruise and had lunch at DiMillo’s afterwards.
Jessica_M, Aug 2025
Victor needs to refund my money! My tour was canceled due to the hurricane and the operator stated that they would refund the money on their end as soon as Viator refunded the $
Response from Host, Nov 2025
We sincerely apologize that your tour was canceled due to the hurricane. We want to assure that we always process and accept refunds when we cancel a tour. However, since the booking was made through Viator, they are the company that processed the payment and holds your details. Viator is responsible for issuing the final refund to your original form of payment. Please make sure to contact their customer service to ensure you are fully refunded.
Ursula_R, Aug 2025
Great tour. Everyone was very friendly. The guide was funny and had a lot of historical information. Very interesting and informative.
Anonymous, Aug 2025
The captain and crew were knowledgeable and friendly. The ship is very nice and the ride was lovely.
Sara_B, Aug 2025
This was a great experience for the whole family including my 4 year old. It was also great way to see a couple of lighthouses and a few other interests in a short time.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
We're so glad the whole family, including your four-year-old, enjoyed the experience. It's wonderful that you were able to see the lighthouses and other sights. We look forward to seeing you all again soon!
Chris_H, Aug 2025
Very informative of the history of lighthouses and surrounding islands. It was a great smooth cruise
Kara_E, Jul 2025
What a fantastic experience! The narrator, Josh, was so knowledgeable, and I felt safe the entire time on the ship. Josh made sure to point out all of the interesting things to see and gave a great background on each. Definitely go if you have the time!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thanks for the wonderful review! We're so glad you had a fantastic and safe experience with us. We hope to see you again soon!
Scott_D, Jul 2025
Outstanding tour. Crew was great. Steve did an amazing job pointing out historical sites. Vast knowledge of the area made it way more enjoyable. Would definitely recommend this tour.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thanks for the outstanding review! We're so happy you enjoyed your tour and found our crew great. It's wonderful to hear Steve's vast knowledge of the area and his insights on historical sites made your experience so enjoyable. We truly appreciate your recommendation!
Abiola_O, Jul 2025
Right on time, good guide, great experience. Money well spent. I'll come with the kids next time. They'll love it too.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Lovely experience
Viator review: Port City Lights Cruise
Right on time, good guide, great experience. Money well spent. I'll come with the kids next
time. They'll love it too.
Noah_T, Jul 2025
Tour was overall really fun despite the weather being sort of cruddy. The tour guide was very knowledgeable about the area we went around. My girlfriend really enjoyed the seals towards the end of the tour I really enjoyed the lighthouses and forts and hearing all about the history.
Betsy_S, Jul 2025
Perfect one hour cruise to learn about Portland. Narration was A+. Great experience for all ages. Highly recommend.
Anita_M, Jul 2025
This was a last minute choice as we were on a family vacation a decided to break away from the large group and do something as a couple. It was a fantastic choice. It was very informative, beautiful views, worth every penny and highly recommended. If you need a little getaway and are pressed for time, this is the perfect way to spend an hour exploring.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
What a delightful last-minute decision! We're thrilled our tour was a fantastic choice for your couple's getaway. It sounds like you really valued the informative details and beautiful views, finding it well worth every penny. We agree, it's the perfect way to spend an hour exploring when time is tight, and we appreciate your high recommendation!
Kathy_H, Jul 2025
Very informative but quick. Would have loved to see wildlife. Crew was fantastic and boat was clean.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Glad you found the tour informative and appreciated the fantastic crew and clean boat! We hear you on wanting more wildlife sightings.
To make your experience a five-star one next time, what specifically could we improve upon, beyond hoping for more wildlife?
Bret_H, Jul 2025
Excellent tour from the water. The ship board narrator and master of ceremonies is a local history teacher who made the trip interesting and imbedded humor.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Response Options
Option 1
Thanks for your feedback! We're thrilled you enjoyed our Port City Lights Cruise and found it to be an excellent tour from the water. It's wonderful to hear our onboard narrator, a local history teacher, made the trip so interesting and humorous!
Herman_F, Jul 2025
Very nice experience. Easy to get on and off. Beautiful cruise seeing the lighthouses and beautiful areas
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thanks for sharing your experience! We're delighted you had a very nice time on your cruise and enjoyed seeing the lighthouses and beautiful areas. It's great to know you found boarding easy, too!
Candice_B, Jul 2025
We had a relaxing and enjoyable time. Crew was nice and efficient. Very knowledgeable. Fun..would recommend!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thanks for your wonderful feedback! We're delighted you had a relaxing and enjoyable time and that our crew was nice, efficient, and very knowledgeable. We appreciate your recommendation!
From $39.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Port City Lights Cruise
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