FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Portland Discovery does not have parking for customers, and we recommend allowing extra time (30 minutes – 1hr.) to find parking as it can be busy downtown. There are many public parking lots near our Long Wharf ticket booth, which is located at 170 Commercial Street. The best parking options are the Ocean Gateway Lot at 2 Commercial Street, Angelo’s Acre Lot at 441 Commercial Street, and Simba Parking Lot at 216 Fore Street. These lots range from a 7- to 20-minute walk from our location, depending on your pace.
Handicap parking is available at any City of Portland parking meter for up to 4 hours for free, but you must have a handicap license plate or hang tag on display.
Please note that Portland Discovery is not responsible for customer parking fees or charges for any reason, even if your trip with us is canceled due to weather, lack of participation or unforeseen circumstances.

We are located at 170 Commercial Street in Portland (04101), in a small blue and white building marked “Long Wharf” on top. There are three kiosk windows and we are the middle window.

Our tour/ticket booth is a kiosk window, so there are no restrooms there, and public restrooms can be found at the Ocean Gateway, so plan ahead if possible, especially when getting ready for a trolley tour, as there are no facilities on the trolleys!

There are restrooms onboard the boats for those passengers taking a cruise.

Our tours offer unique opportunities to spot local wildlife, including marine birds, and seals. Our guides are knowledgeable about the habitats of these creatures and will provide insightful commentary during sightings.

Our boat and trolley tours are both dog-friendly! Provided your dog is friendly, well-behaved, and leashed, they are welcome on our tours. Please note: A dog ticket is required for each of your furry friends.

Canes and walkers are fine on either tour, though a foldable walker may be needed to fit on the trolley. There are three steps onto the trolley and there is a ramp that leads down to the boat that can vary in steepness, but our friendly, courteous drivers and deckhands are more than happy to lend a hand. Wheelchairs are not able to fit on the trolleys and MOST times manual wheelchairs are fine on the boats, but typically have to be lifted on so weight restrictions can apply. If you have questions, please ask ahead of time, and we’ll be happy to help plan logistics.

You never know exactly what kind of weather you will get in Maine, but it’s safe to assume it will be cooler out on the water. Bringing a light or heavy jacket is a good idea. We also sell blankets for use, which can really help keep the chill away in the early spring and late fall. We recommend sneakers as opposed to open-toed shoes for better stability.

Our boats have fully enclosed cabins, and open but covered upper decks, so a little light rain doesn’t stop us as long as there is some visibility. Factors for cancellation include strong winds, heavy fog, downpours, or severe weather events.

Absolutely! If Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate with your vacation, we will keep you dry and still show you around the city! Every once in a while, we have to cancel if the weather is really bad, so it’s worth calling us just to make sure.

Trolleys are heated and stay quite warm, but do not have air conditioning. They do have big, open windows that provide a very nice breeze once we get moving.

We do not provide Wi-Fi on our vessels. Sightseeing tours tend to stay within cell service-covered regions. Your cell phone service availability will be subject to your particular carrier. Please be aware, that some carriers may have poor coverage in parts of Casco Bay.

No. You are welcome to bring and wear your own lifejacket for you or your children if you feel the need, but it is not required, and most people don’t. Our vessels are all equipped with US Coast Guard-approved PFDs (life jackets), which will be readily available in an emergency situation. Unfortunately, we do not allow passengers to wear the vessels’ PDFs for any other reason. This policy is to make sure our equipment meets specific safety regulations at all times.

We can accommodate a limited number of strollers on the boats, but prefer they be left behind as they can block the way for other passengers if we have too many onboard. For the safety and comfort of your child, our guests, and crew, there are a few rules we enforce regarding strollers: they are only allowed on the first deck and cannot be brought to the second deck. Brakes must stay on at all times, especially when a child is in the stroller.

On the trolleys, we can’t guarantee space for them so we prefer they be left behind as you won’t need them on the tour.

Beverages and coolers are not allowed on the boats, but food and water bottles are permitted. We offer snacks and beverages on board the boats for purchase as well.

On the trolleys, we allow you to bring food and non-alcoholic beverages, but please, no coolers Note: We do not offer snacks or beverages for sale on our trolleys.

Yes, there is a galley with hot, cold, and alcoholic beverages, as well as many snacks. For morning cruises, we have coffee on board as well.

Your safety is our top priority. Our tours are conducted by experienced and certified professionals. We provide safety briefings before departure, and our vessels are equipped with life jackets and emergency equipment, following all regulatory guidelines.

Everyone is different, but we stay within Casco Bay rather than going out into the open ocean, so most of our cruises stay very calm. However, this can always change based on conditions.

Trip Protection will cover you for the full amount of the ticket value in the event you need to cancel or reschedule your trip. Trip Protection allows for cancellations or rescheduling (subject to availability) of tickets up to 30 minutes prior to departure time for any reason. Unfortunately, if you did not purchase Trip Protection at the time of your ticket purchase, the tickets are non-refundable.

Yes, our boats and trolleys are available for private charters, perfect for weddings, corporate events, or family gatherings. Please visit our Charters Page to contact us for more information on capacity, availability, and customization options.

No, we’ve gone paperless! Once you’ve purchased your ticket, you simply need to provide the name on the booking to board the vessel. All tickets purchased in advance may get directly in the boarding line and may bypass the ticket booth line. Please make sure your entire party boards together. Note: Policy varies for groups with more than 20 people.

No. Seating locations are first come first serve, so if you have a preference, we recommend trying to show up soon enough to be near the front of the line.