PORTLAND, Maine — By the time the year is all said and done, it's estimated Portland will have welcomed more than 200,000 visitors from cruise ships in 2024, according to city officials. While those passengers are in town, they're expected to bring $19 million to the local economy. Now a program that helps make it easier for passengers to get to those shops and restaurants is expanding.
On Friday, Visit Portland announced a newly expanded City Loop Shuttle that's designed to "enhance" the experience of cruise ship passengers and give a "boost" to businesses.
“This new shuttle operates in a circular route through downtown Portland and includes 10 stops from the Eastern Prominade to the Arts District,” Visit Portland President and CEO Lynn Tillotson said.
Tillotson told NEWS CENTER Maine the shuttle will help bring cruise ship visitors deeper into the city to businesses, restaurants, and attractions they may not have gotten to or known about during their short visit.
"[The route] goes along Congress Street, where a lot of visitors don't often make it to," Tillotson added.
She also said the shuttles will help spread out crowds of cruise ship passengers to help avoid congestion in the city.
There are plans to develop the program even more.
Tom Spina, a managing partner for VIP Charter Coaches, which provides the buses, said he plans to make the service similar to Uber allowing visitors to track shuttles on their phone.
“I think that’s important from an economic impact standpoint," Spina said. "If I'm a guest, I don’t want to miss that next shuttle. I'll now stay in the shop longer to buy something or get a drink at a restaurant.”
The shuttle service, which launched last year as a free pilot program, will cost passengers $15 for a day pass. The shuttle typically runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. when ships docked Portland have 2,500 or more passengers.
The shuttle that's also available to the general public starts at the Ocean Gateway Terminal, and tickets are available here.