Since 1907, visiting ships have made their way to Portland's waterfront. The City of Roses is known to be a favorite port of call for military (and non-military) visitors, as Portland's citizens thank them and make them feel welcome. The Portland Rose Festival is extremely fortunate to be one of a few U.S. Ports of Call for a courtesy visit from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and Royal Canadian Navy. Their arrival commemorates a relationship with the Navy that has lasted more than 100 years, and over 80 years of visiting Portland during the Rose Festival. It is a significant commitment by the Navy to make Rose Festival Fleet Week one of the premier Fleet Week events in the country.
U.S. Navy ships will be open for public tours from June 4 to 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. To ensure ship tour completion by 4 p.m., lines will be monitored for approximate entrance start time. All tours will be complete by 4 p.m., so the tour line may be cut earlier in the afternoon, depending on line waiting times. In the past, tour lines have been cut as early at 2 p.m., so it is recommended that those interested in public ship tours arrive early.
When arriving for public tours, all visitors will be required to present a federally approved government-issued photo identification and pass through an airport-style security screening checkpoint prior to boarding the ships. All visitors are subject to search prior to entering the security zone.
Visiting Ships
The list of visiting U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, Royal Canadian Navy, and other Fleet Week vessels are outlined below. If you would like to make plans to visit a Fleet Week ship, please keep these requirements in mind.
Additionally, the Navy provides a comprehensive overview of Rose Festival Fleet Week security requirements. We encourage you to explore their site as well.
Requirements for ship tours:
• Guests must show federally approved form of government-issued photo id. US NAVY Ships are considered a Federal Facility and are REAL ID compliant.
Please visit https://www.dhs.gov/real-id to check it you have a REAL ID
• Visitors will pass through an airport-style security screening checkpoint and are subject to personal search
• Visitors must wear closed-toe shoes
• Large bags, strollers, and wheelchairs are not allowed onboard, and there is no 'holding area' for personal items
• Do not bring any items on the prohibited items list below
• Visitors must be physically able to maneuver onboard, including climbing or descending steep/narrow ladders
Although Navy vessels are not ADA accessible, visitors with mobility issues may request a dockside tour by checking in at the tent near the front of the ship tour line.
Prohibited items onboard U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and Royal Canadian Navy ship tours:
• Food or drinks, including ice chests and coolers
• Pets (to include emotional support and/ or service animals)
• Glass containers
• Guns, knives, clubs, or weapons of any kind
• Mace, pepper spray, spray cans, or other defensive spray or chemicals
• Firearms
• Fireworks or explosives of any kind
• Flammable liquids
• Illegal drugs and/or paraphernalia, including marijuana
• Electronic cigarettes/vapes
• Camera tripods and cameras with lenses greater than 100 mm
• Backpacks, oversized camera bags, or large purses
• Skateboards/bicycles/hover boards
• Gang-related clothing
• Unmanned aerial systems (UAS)/drones
• Strollers, walkers, wheelchairs & canes