Portland ME (Maine)

Portland is Maine's second largest cruise port - following Bar Harbor. This port city is located on a peninsula (Maine USA's east coast) and north of Boston MA. On the West Coast USA is the namesake Portland Oregon.

Portland ME features historical and architectural attractions, and is also a major commercial, shipping and fishing centre. The port is a gateway to the resort islands in Casco Bay. There's a historic trail and lighthouse in the town. The nearby Kennebunkport is also worth visiting. Its art colony and Seashore Trolley Museum display more than 200 authentic streetcars.

Established in 1632, the town was destroyed in 1676 by Indians, and again in 1690 by Indians and the French. The settlement (then part of Falmouth) was damaged by the British in 1775. In 1786, after being separated from Falmouth, it was named after Portland England.

In 2015, the visiting around 55,000 cruise tourists had an economic impact of USD 5,8 million. In 2016, the cruise port handled 70 ship calls. In August 2016, the port had its ever largest cruise ship docked - RCI's Anthem of the Seas, bringing to the city 4974 passengers and 1480 crew. Cruising season 2016's economic impact was USD 11 million.

In 2017, the port reported a record year as the number of visiting cruise passengers for the first time ever exceeded 100,000. Port's statistics showed a 6% increase in passenger volumes and a 10% increase in crew numbers over 2016. In 2018, the port handled total 32 ship calls (23% over 2017) and around 39,000 passengers. For season 2019 were booked 40 berths.

On March 16, 2018, was announced a plan to fund the USD 2 million ferry terminal's upgrade project. The Ocean Gateway terminal serves all ferries connecting Maine USA with Nova Scotia (NS Canada). The primary funding party will be the Canadian company Bay Ferries Ltd (headquartered in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island), which together with the NS government would pay for most of the upgrades. The decision was made after the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency threatened to close the terminal's customs service as it didn't meet USA's federal standards. Bay Ferries is a subsidiary of Northumberland Ferries Ltd (parent NFL Holdings Ltd) and is subsidized by the NS taxpayers.

Portland ME cruise terminal