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Maine - Portland

ports portlandme aerial ahoy 200The Port of Portland is the largest by tonnage seaport in New England and the largest foreign inbound transit tonnage port in the USA. The port also welcomes 50,000 cruise passengers a year. Your cruise ship will dock or tender (depending on its size) at the Portland Ocean Terminal (also called the Maine State Pier) or the Ocean Gateway (International Marine Passenger) Terminal, both at the north-east side of the Old Port. Getting to the city is very easy, you are about a mile (20-minute walk) from the downtown area, or you can grab one of the waiting taxis. There is a tourist information centre just outside of the terminal. Apart from setting off to explore what Portland has to offer, you can also pick up a ferry to one of the nearby Casco Bay Islands. Portland International Jetport is less than 5 miles away, about 15 minutes by car.

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Local Information

The local currency is the American dollar (USD). All major credit cards are accepted everywhere. There are ATMs everywhere as well and exchanging money is very easy, however the rates at home in UK seem to be better than in the States, so do some research prior to travelling. There are a couple of currency exchange shops in Downtown Portland. Make sure you check the market rate and ask if there would be any commission charges. Although the prices of goods and services may seem low, bear in mind that tax is normally added at the till and it’s 5.5% in Portland. If you use your cards to draw cash from an ATM, make sure you have notified your bank you would be spending time abroad and you are aware of any transaction fees. More and more banks and financial companies now tend to offer cards with no additional fees when using abroad, so it might pay off for you to check if you can get such card before travelling.Opening hours and bank holidays. Opening times are quite generous in Portland. Some grocery stores are open 24/7. The shopping malls are open 10 am to 9 pm, banks and post offices would be open 8 am until 4.30 pm, and some of them are open until midday Saturday as well. The banks and post offices are closed on Sundays. There are a few bank holidays in Portland, and the banks and post offices will be closed, however most shopping malls and other outlets will work as normal.Tipping culture is huge in Portland. As a general rule, you should tip any service staff. Many of them are paid low hourly rates and rely heavily on tips. Between 15 and 20% of the bill at a restaurant is considered normal but beware that some establishments include it in your bill, especially for larger groups. Hotel staff should also be tipped about a dollar per bag for the bellboy and about 2 USD per day for the housekeeper. Taxi drivers and spa saloon staff expects between 10% and 20% of the bill, if the service has been exceptional, feel free to leave more. Bartenders expect about a dollar per drink, more if the place is more upscale, and tour guides anything from 15 to 20%, depending on the length and the size of the group.The time difference with Portland is GMT-5 hours and the dialling code is +1 207.

Things To Do

The city of Portland is famous for three things: lighthouses, lobster and craft beer.

ports portlandme portland head ahoy 200With more than 60 lighthouses in an around Portland, you will never be too far from taking a snap in one’s base. The most popular one would be the Portland Head Lighthouse at Cape Elizabeth at Fort Williams Park. This is the oldest lighthouse in Maine and it was completed in 1791. There is a small museum on site and the park is open all year from sunrise to sunset. Portland Breakwater Lighthouse (or the Bug Light as locals like to call it because of its size) is the city’s second favourite, built in 1875 and is believed to be the only lighthouse in the world, shaped like a 4th century Greek monument. Spring Point Ledge Light, Ram Island Ledge Light, Halfway Rock Light Station and the Twin Lighthouses of Two Lights State Park are some of the 60 lighthouses in and around the State of Maine.

If you are looking to get to know more about the history and culture of this quirky and arty seaside city, head off to the Portland Museum of Art. A home to an extensive art collection of American, European and modern art, as well as signature artworks from Maine artists. There are works from big names in art – Andy Warhol, Claude Monet and Winslow Homer, as well as photographs, sketches, pottery, furniture, silverware, sculptures and more. Every first Friday of the month there is the First Friday Art Walk – an art and cultural event, centred primarily in the Art District of Portland, that brings over 3,000 people who flood the city to visit galleries, museums and visit art performances.

ports portlandme steam train ahoy 200Go and see the Victoria Mansion (also known as the Morse-Libby House) – a masterpiece in American residential architecture from the pre-Civil War era, once belonged to hotelier Ruggles Sylvester Morse. The home is not only famous for its amazingly preserved asymmetric exterior, but also by its lavish original interior, including some revolutionary luxuries of this time such as central heating, wall to wall carpets and a 25-foot long stained-glass skylight.

Learn about the narrow-gauge railways that ran in Maine in 19th century, by taking one! The Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum operates a 1.5 miles railroad, taking you through the scenic Casco Bay and parallel to the Eastern Promenade by historic steam and diesel locomotives and restored coaches.

Learn about what causes the natural phenomenon aurora borealis, meteor showers and other extraordinary space weather events at Southworth Planetarium Portland through fun and educational shows. See the panoramic vistas views and listen to the intriguing story of the last standing maritime signal tower of America – The Portland Observatory, built in 1807.

ports portlandme crescent beach state park ahoy 200Explore some of the fascinating nature in and around Portland. Take a stroll at the Old Port (near to your ship) and continue to the Eastern promenade – the locals favourite place for an afternoon walk. Venture a bit further to Willard Beach or Fort Williams Park. Or even further to Fort Gorges, Peaks Island and Crescent Beach State Park.

Don’t leave Portland without having tried some of the city’s culinary staples, such as the Portland lobster – served everywhere in any shape and form, clam chowder, blueberries and craft beer.

All Cruises and Flight details are subject to availability and price variation. Final package price is available upon payment of deposit and confirming your ATOL & ABTA protected cruise holiday

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