Cruise port to town

Me and my mother are coming into town on a cruise in September. We are really excited about seeing some of Maine. Neither of us have been there before. Can someone tell me where the cruise will dock in relation to the downtown area? Is it walkable? If not, are taxis available at the port? Also, what could we do in town? I really don%26#39;t want to sign up for any ship tours. I have read some things about a small cruise around islands? I will also HAVE to have some good seafood :) I am from Utah... this is a must. Any information will be greatly appreciated!

Cruise port to town

I don%26#39;t know where the cruise ship docks, but I am going to guess it is a bit south of town. I am not sure if it is walkable. But I am sure someone else will know those specifics. I am pretty sure, though, that you willbe able to take a taxi or city bus into the Old Port. There you will find everything you are looking for. Great place to walk around. Excellent restaurants, including seafood. There is a ferry that goes out to the various islands in Casco Bay. You can just cruise on the ferry, or get off on one of the islands. Also, a few blocks out the edge of the Old Port is the Posrland Art Museum and the Portland School of Art. Also a performing arts center and an arena. If you are interested in baseball, there is the Portland Pirates minor league team.

Portland has got to be one of the best small cities in the country. Enjoy it.

Cruise port to town

Hi Hylasgirl,

I%26#39;m assuming you%26#39;re coming into Portland, yes? If that%26#39;s the case, the cruise ships dock at the Maine State Pier, right on the edge of the Old Port section of downtown.

Typically, the cruise ships arrange for buses to take passengers down to Kennebunkport--to gawk at President Bush%26#39;s Walker Point home. (He%26#39;s rarely there, but that doesn%26#39;t stop people from staring at his house and trying to snap photos of the groundskeepers.) K%26#39;port is a neat little town. Lot%26#39;s of galleries, shops, and the like. The other set of buses typically goes north to Freeport--home of L.L.Bean. If you%26#39;re a Bean customer, this is akin to going to Mecca. The store is open 24-hours and is like taking a walk through one of their catalogs. There are also many outlet stores (what the locals call ';Bean sprouts';) that have cropped up in Freeport, but not much else.

I%26#39;d also suggest you consider staying right in Portland. You can learn alot about the area by checking out this site: http://www.portlandmaine.com

Portland is a great little city (as mentioned in an earlier post). Lots of shops, dining, galleries, a world-class art museum and much more. If you%26#39;re only here for a day, and you enjoy walking along cobblestone streets while taking in the fresh salt air, Portland would be your best choice. Right next to the cruise ship pier is Casco Bay Lines (http://www.cascobaylines.com/). CBL runs ferry services to a dozen, or so, inhabited islands in Casco Bay. Time permitting, I%26#39;d recommend the Diamond Cove excursion. Great historic site, nice restaurant, incredible views, and certainly manageable in a half-day%26#39;s time. If time%26#39;s an issue, there are always water taxis available nearby.

Good seafood? Hmmmm. I%26#39;d recommend Street and Company or Fore Street for a fine-dining experience. If you%26#39;re looking for the ';real lobster experience';--right down to the plasitc bib and tubs of melted butter--the Portland Lobster Company, on Commercial Street, is a fun place. (It%26#39;s all outdoor seating, so dress accordingly.)

Have fun!

Mainescape... thank you so much for the info! That is exactly what I was looking for. I really would like to just wander the city itself. It sounds like I can do that where the cruise ship will dock. Awesome!