portland city and lighthouse tour reviews

Discover Portland City and Lighthouse Tour provided by Portland Discovery Land & Sea Tours

Discover Portland City and Lighthouse Tour provided by Portland Discovery Land & Sea Tours

• Most Popular

Downtown Portland, Maine City and Lighthouse Tour

Explore like a local

Quick Details

• Tags Ages: All Ages
• Hour Glass Duration: 2.5 Hours
• Tag Capacity: Up to 11 People

Discover Portland’s Essence on This Tour of Portland, ME

Visit 3 lighthouses by van and explore the surrounding areas. We will spend about 40 minutes at Portland Head Light and about 10-15 minutes at Spring Point Ledge Light and Portland Breakwater. This tour will go through the downtown parts of the city. Unfortunately, Maine lighthouses are not open to the public to go in, so we will be exploring from outside.

Related Activities

• Up to 11 People
• Hour Glass 2.5 Hours
• Tags Ages 21+

Lighthouse to Lagers Tour

Experience the best of coastal Portland, ME with our Lighthouses to Lagers tour! Explore Bug Light and Portland Head Light, then enjoy local brews at Portland Beer Hub. Join us for history, scenery, and craft beer – the ultimate seaside adventure!

Nautilus Sailing Company

Review Highlights

“ Our captain also had an assistant (I think his name was Crow ?) and both were beyond friendly and charming. ” in 5 reviews

“ Nick restored his gorgeous boat himself, and his life on the water contributes to a fun and safe experience. ” in 4 reviews

“ The Sail around the bay was amazing and the Captain and her staff were perfectly knowledgeable about all of the points of interest. ” in 2 reviews

Location & Hours

Suggest an edit

1 Marina Way

Fore Points Marina

Portland, ME 04101

Serving Portland Area

Other Boat Tours Nearby

Alaska Saltwater Tours

Our full day Small Group Whale Watching, Wildlife, Natural History, and Glacier Tour ventures deep into Kenai Fjords National Park. With over 25 years experience, we will show you the Fjords' best kept secrets. This is a… read more

in Whale Watching Tours, Fishing, Boat Tours

Kayak Fish New England

Master Maine guide and USCG certified Captain Michael Baker offering an experience unmatched on the coastal waters of southern Maine. Boat Charter‘s, kayak fishing or surfcasting we offer it all and we are unlike any other guide… read more

in Boat Tours, Fishing

Amenities and More

Ask the community.

Ask a question

Yelp users haven’t asked any questions yet about Nautilus Sailing Company .

People also searched for

active life

event planning & services

hotels & travel

Recommended Reviews

• 1 star rating Not good
• 2 star rating Could’ve been better
• 3 star rating OK
• 4 star rating Good
• 5 star rating Great

Select your rating

Overall rating

We had a very pleasant and informative sail on the Nautilus on Casco Bay, Captain Sam and crew Crow were very professional and made the trip a pleasant way to spend the afternoon. I would recommend this trip to anyone who wants to spend a couple of hours exploring Portland harbor on the water.

Sailing on the Nautilus

My wife and I, on a whim, booked a tour with the Nautilus Sailing Company while touring Maine's cost. The two hour tour was absolutely perfect. Enough time on the water without being too short or too long. We were met at the Marina entrance by our Captain who walked us to the boat. The first mate was already working on the rigging and it seemed the process of getting underway ran like clockwork. The Sail around the bay was amazing and the Captain and her staff were perfectly knowledgeable about all of the points of interest. We genuinely appreciate the amazing experience, how safe we felt, the funny anecdotes, and for a life long memories!

Nautilus Sailing Company does an amazing tour. If you visit Portland you must sail with them. Nick is a top notch captain and his crew, T, is first rate. Next time, I'll try to book him all day if he will allow it. I love the water and I love to sail and Nick did not disappoint. I can't wait to get back and sail with them again. Thanks Again Nick

Sam and Crow were an absolute delight as both our guides and sailing crew, making a memorable experience for my wife and I on our honeymoon. Not only were they very accommodating by offering water and snacks, but they even brought us a few blankets when things got cold. Both Sam and Crow handled the choppy waters well, allowing my wife and I some time taking in the sights of Fort Gorges, and the nearby lighthouses. Both folks were super nice and talkative, as well as knowledgeable of the rich history and fun facts. They were a delightful crew who take pride in what they do here on the shores of Portland Maine. My wife and I highly recommend you take a trip out on the water with Sam and Crow. We hope to come back soon.

The weather gods smiled upon this past weekend as rain was looming repeatedly, but not during this boat trip! Our captain (who I feel bad for not remembering his name :( ) met us out front on the marina dock and we were able to use the bathrooms before boarding the boat. We lucked out - we were the only two passengers on the boat that day. Pretty sweet deal for an anniversary getaway. Our captain also had an assistant (I think his name was Crow?) and both were beyond friendly and charming. They told us some history, pointed out landmarks, and even pointed out a little seal in the water. We got to shoot the breeze a bit as well which made for a very enjoyable trip. The boat ride itself was very smooth - not a very windy day so they had to use the motor here and there, but thankfully that also meant we weren't keeling from side to side and getting splashed (not very fun, from experience). The boat ride was about 2 hours in beautiful weather. Saw some cool old war forts, lighthouses, and islands. Would completely recommend the Nautilus for a pleasant and fun boat ride around Portland.

We did a private tour for our workgroup as part of a work retreat. Setting it up was easy, and Christine was very helpful and responsive. We had a fabulous time! Sam and Crow were our captain and crew, and they are delightful. Kept us informed about all the sites, found us lots of porpoises to see, were engaging and gracious hosts. The harbor tour was just what we needed to clear our heads and de-stress, and be ready to think creatively. One of our group was a bit hesitant, having never sailed and having had a prior boating experience that did not go well; she was over the moon happy with this experience and even felt secure enough to climb up towards the bow. We didn't want it to end, and we will be recommending this experience to everyone!

What a fabulous way to spend two hours while in Portland!!! Absolutely loved making this memory with our son and his wife. Definitely recommend! Nick and his crew member were awesome.

What a treat to take an afternoon sail around the Casco Bay area with Captain Nick. Our family, including two teenage sons, loved the scenery and the great sailing. There was no canned narrative, so we appreciated the easy conversation and friendly expert knowledge in response to our questions. Nick restored his gorgeous boat himself, and his life on the water contributes to a fun and safe experience. This is a great choice for families, and we especially loved sitting out front in the breezy sunshine. We appreciated access to a spotless head, complimentary water and rosé, and breathtaking scenery. Thanks, Captain Nick!

We had a really great time on our day sail. The crew was knowledgeable about sailing but also the area including history and geography. We would highly recommend and would return!

We went on Nautilus' sunset cruise and we couldn't have asked for a better experience! Nick and Crow were both awesome and it was our favorite part of our anniversary weekend. Thank you!

1 other review that is not currently recommended

You Might Also Consider

Point Sebago Resort

Alan L. said "Yelpers, what can I say about this place that hasn't been covered by the long book-ishy post. We flew in from Cali on the 1st of July after booking online. I grew up visiting this lake all of my life. I had a relative that owned a…" read more

in Campgrounds, Vacation Rentals, Rv Parks

Boomerang Yacht Charters

1.5 miles away from Nautilus Sailing Company

Hop aboard the Brianna Marie for a tour of coastal Maine! Cruise the islands of Casco Bay, enjoying wildlife, stunning views of Portland Harbor, the famous Portland Headlight and more. We can accommodate up to 21 guests and are… read more

in Boat Charters

People Also Viewed

Calendar Islands Sailing Company

Salt and Mist Sea Tours

No Slack! Sportfishing Charters

Fogg’s Water Taxi and Charters

Casco Bay Adventures

South Portland Sailing Center

Sail Portland Maine

On the Rocks Cocktail Cruises

Casco Bay Custom Charters

Best of Portland

Things to do in Portland

People found Nautilus Sailing Company by searching for…

Boat Charter Portland

Boat Tour Portland

Sailing Tour Portland

Browse Nearby

Restaurants

Other Places Nearby

Find more Boat Charters near Nautilus Sailing Company

Find more Boat Tours near Nautilus Sailing Company

Find more Boating near Nautilus Sailing Company

Related Cost Guides

Town Car Service

Boat Charters

Boudoir Photography

Bounce House Rentals

Event Photography

Valet Services

Videographers

• 7 More Cost Guides

Portland City & Sunset Lighthouse Cruise

Quick Details

• User Ages: All ages
• Hour Glass Duration: 3 hours and 30 minutes
• Info Additional Info: Please arrive 30 minutes prior to departure

Book Portland City & Sunset Lighthouse Cruise with Portland Discovery

See everything the City of Portland and Casco Bay has to offer with this combo package. Onboard one of our whimsical trolleys you will enjoy a fully narrated tour of Portland’s diverse history and hidden gems including a 30 minutes stop at Portland Head Light- Maine’s oldest and most photographed lighthouse!

Related Activities

• Hour Glass 3 hours and 30 minutes
• User All ages

Portland City & Harbor Lights & Sights Cruise

See everything the City of Portland and Casco Bay has to offer with this combo package. Onboard one of our whimsical trolleys you will enjoy a fully narrated tour of Portland’s diverse history and hidden gems including a 30 minutes stop at Portland Head Light- Maine’s oldest.

• Hour Glass 2 hours and 45 minutes

Portland City & Lighthouse Lovers Cruise

Onboard one of our whimsical trolleys you will enjoy a fully narrated tour of Portland’s diverse history and hidden gems including a 30 minutes stop at Portland Head Light- Maine’s oldest and most photographed lighthouse!

Peek at Portland & Sunset Lighthouse Cruise

Get a feel for the diverse history, architecture, and the vibrant neighborhoods of the Portland Peninsula on this 60 minutes trolley tour.

• Things to Do
• Restaurants
• Vacation Rentals
• Travel Stories
• Rental Cars
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travelers' Choice
• Help Center

City and Lighthouse Tour - Portland - The Scenic Route Maine Tours

• United States    
• Maine (ME)    
• Portland    
• Portland - Things to Do    
• The Scenic Route Maine Tours

The tour picked us up right at the cruise port and gave us great local information about the area... read more

We took the Kennebunkport tour during our shore time off a cruise ship. The origination / pickup... read more

City and Lighthouse Tour - Portland

This may not be a fair assessment as I am going to compare this tour to others we did in La Baie, Quebec and Halifax Nova Scotia. Prior to the actual tour, we coordinated with Khaled who did an excellent job and also arranged for a last minute add to the tour which was great. Our tour guide was Don who I thought also did an excellent job. The negatives I have are the van itself as well as the city of Portland. The van had 10 people squeezed into it and as a result, my wife had difficulty seeing what Don was describing even though she had a window seat. As well, I felt that Portland itself was not as interesting as some of the major centres like Halifax, Charlottetown, etc. but this might because I am not an American citizen. In summary, I would say that this company is very well organized, does an excellent job with what they have to work with but should possibly consider using larger vehicles when taking groups that are larger than what a regular van can handle.

My husband and I took a New England/Canada cruise in early Sept. The cost of this cruise on the ship was $59 per person and I did not book it. We got off the ship planning on walking around Portland, walked out of the port gate and saw this service directly in front of the gates. Best thing we could have done! The cost was $27 per person, air conditioned van, excellent driver/tour guide (Bob) he was fabulous. We drove all over Portland, through Cape Elizabeth (very beautiful), and to Portland Head Lighthouse. We had plenty of time to take pictures, eat a lobster roll and drink a blueberry pop (very tasty). After our tour we returned to the port area and had plenty of time to stroll through the area to shop. Portland Maine is a great place to visit and I advise everyone to utilize Scenic Route Maine Tour Group instead of the ship tours. Much better value for your money and they will get you back in plenty of time. They also go to other locations if you don't want to do the lighthouses.

We had booked the lighthouse tour for our first day in Portland. When we arrived we found out that the wife & co-owner, who conducts the Lighthouse tour was ill and our tour was cancelled. We were offered a full refund or the option of waiting a couple of days till she was better and taking tour then. We opted to wait and came back 2 days later. She was still ill so we took the city and Lighthouse tour as we would at least be able to visit 1 light house. The owner refunded us the difference in price and away we went. It was a fun tour. The guide was knowledgable and informative and we discovered many things we did not know about the city and some of the famous people who had called Portland home. The lighthouse was great despite the fog and the guide let us spend a little extra time there. I would definitely recommend these tours and when we return we will book the 3 hour light house tour.

Not having a car, we booked this tour for our second day in Portland. It was great!! The guide was friendly and knowledgeable. There's a lot of history in Portland that we definitely would have missed if we tried to do it on our own. Well worth the money and the two hours!!

What a gem! We are in Portland for three full days without a car and this tour allowed us to see sights we wanted to visit without renting a car/dealing with city parking. We did the "Five Lighthouse Tour". Jen, one of the company's owners, was our guide. Ten of us in a fifteen passenger air conditioned van drove south of Portland with Jen narrating history and stories about the city of Portland, the history behind lighthouses and specifically information about the lighthouses that we would be visiting. We stopped at (1) Portland Head Light and from here you can see (2) Ram Island Ledge Light, which you can see well on a clear day and is near and you can also see (3) Easter Light from Portland Head Light, but it's not much to see even on a clear day, it's WAY out there. Next we were off to see (4) Spring Point Ledge Light after grabbing a delicious cookie (included) and nearby (5) Bug Light aka Portland Breakwater. It was a great tour filled with lots of history and information. We were really glad that we spent the afternoon on this tour.

We had less than a day to spend in Portland and chose this tour based on other TripAdvisor reviews. We were not disappointed. I loved that our tour "bus" was in fact a small passenger van, which gave us the opportunity to easily stop, get out and take pictures at the three stops along the way (Fort Allen Park, Portland Observatory, and the Portland Head Light). Our guide was friendly and knowledgeable about the history and each section of the city. The lighthouse stop was definitely the highlight. We were dropped off and allowed 30 minutes to wander around, visit the gift shop, and take pictures. All in all, our tour lasted a little less than 2 hours, we didn't have to worry about finding our way around or finding a place to park, and we got a great overview of the city and its history.