Casco Bay Lighthouse Cruise from Portland: Afternoon Harbor Tour

Portland•easy

Difficulty

easy

Duration

1.5 hours

Fitness Level

Minimal—suitable for all ages and basic mobility; requires boarding a small boat

Overview

Slip away from Ocean Gateway Pier on a 90-minute cruise through Casco Bay to see Portland Head Light, Fort Gorges, and a scatter of beacons and islands. This picnic-style ride on a 1935 classic mixes coastal history, wildlife sightings and practical harbor lore.

Casco Bay Lighthouse Cruise from Portland: Afternoon Harbor Tour

Other

Wildlife

Select participants and date

Date

Thu, Oct 30

Travelers

The boat slips away from Ocean Gateway Pier with the city’s brick warehouses shrinking behind you and gulls rearranging the sky. You feel the weight of the harbor pull free—the tide nudges the bow and Casco Bay opens in front like a map with inked islands. Onboard Ruth, a 39-foot classic built in 1935, the pace is unhurried: picnic blankets, the murmur of conversation, binoculars craning toward white towers and granite ledges.

Adventure Photos

Casco Bay Lighthouse Cruise from Portland: Afternoon Harbor Tour photo 1

Adventure Tips

Dress in layers

Ocean breezes can be chilly even on warm days—bring a windproof outer layer and hat.

Bring binoculars

A compact pair improves lighthouse and wildlife viewing from the boat’s deck.

Pack motion-sickness meds

Take preventative medicine 30–60 minutes before departure if you’re prone to seasickness.

Arrive early

Be at Ocean Gateway Pier 15–20 minutes before departure to secure a preferred seat and load efficiently.

Local Insights

Wildlife

Harbor seal
Common eider and coastal gulls

History

Casco Bay’s lighthouses and forts chronicle Maine’s maritime economy from 18th-century navigation to Civil War defenses and a still-active commercial harbor.

Conservation

Operators use a composting marine toilet and ask guests not to disturb wildlife; feeding seals or approaching rookeries by kayak harms local populations.