Portland Maine: Sunset Lighthouse Cruise Casco Bay

Five Lighthouses at Dusk: A Slow Cruise Through Casco Bay History

You board at dusk and spend 105 minutes cruising past five historic lighthouses and military sites in Casco Bay, including Portland Head Light and Fort Gorges, with a narrated guide explaining the history of each stop. The boat has a restroom, moves at a relaxed pace suitable for all fitness levels, and returns as the city lights come on. Book if you want the main Portland waterfront landmarks without planning a route or timing yourself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sunset cruise around Casco Bay lighthouses

• Board the cruise in Portland, Maine
• View Portland Head Light lighthouse
• Pass WWII naval shipyard memorial
• See Caisson-style light station near Fort Preble
• Pass Fort Gorges military fort
• View Bug Light and Bug Light Park
• Enjoy evening breezes and city lights
• Disembark after 105-minute cruise

The experience

You've just landed in Portland, Maine, or maybe you're staying nearby and the afternoon is finally yours. The boat leaves the pier as the light starts to soften, and for the next 105 minutes you're moving slow through Casco Bay with nothing to arrange but showing up. The captain narrates as you pass Portland Head Light: the oldest lighthouse in Maine, commissioned by George Washington himself and the most photographed one in the state. It's the kind of landmark that looks exactly like the postcard, which is either disappointing or perfect depending on how you feel about that.

The cruise doesn't rush. You move past the old shipyard memorial, where 30,000 workers built cargo ships for the Allies during World War II, then out to the caisson-style light station from 1897 that marks the main shipping channel. Fort Gorges comes into view next: a former military fort built on Hog Island Ledge back in 1858, fashioned after Fort Sumter but never actually saw battle or troops stationed there, which is its own kind of history. The evening breezes pick up as you pass Bug Light, the small cast-iron lighthouse from 1875 modeled after a Greek monument, surrounded by the park where locals fly kites in summer. By then the city lights are starting to show on the water, and the whole thing feels less like a tour and more like someone invited you along.

There's a restroom onboard, which matters on a 105-minute cruise, and the narration keeps moving so you're not just sitting with the view. You're learning why each lighthouse is there. Small children can ride in a stroller, service animals are welcome, and the pace is gentle enough that you don't need to be training for anything. It's the kind of evening activity that works whether you're trying to decompress after a hectic day or set the tone for something romantic later.

What’s included

Your 105-minute cruise includes passage on the boat, a full narration of the lighthouses and historic sites in Casco Bay (Portland Head Light, Fort Gorges, Bug Light, and others), and access to the onboard restroom. Evening breezes and city lights as you return are part of the experience.

Before you book

Days and timesThursday to SaturdayDeparts at 16:10Last departure this season: 31 Oct

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 65

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcome

Operated by Portland Discovery Land & Sea Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want the main Portland lighthouses and bay history without renting a car or planning stops: the fixed departure time and narrated route handle both, and the slow pace means you actually see the landmarks instead of rushing past them.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the sunset lighthouse cruise?

105 minutes total, departing at dusk.

What lighthouses do you see on the cruise?

Portland Head Light (the oldest in Maine), Bug Light, a caisson-style light station from 1897, and others in Casco Bay. You also pass Fort Gorges and a WWII shipyard memorial.

Is there a restroom on the boat?

Yes, there is a restroom onboard.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are welcome on the cruise.

Do you need to be fit for this tour?

The cruise is suitable for all physical fitness levels. It's a narrated boat tour with no walking or physical exertion required.

Is the tour narrated?

Yes, it's a fully narrated tour of Casco Bay and the lighthouses.

What time does the cruise depart?

The cruise departs at dusk. Check your confirmation for the exact departure time on your date.