The Ocean from a Park at Bristol, Maine Near Damariscotta.

Artania, a cruise ship with 1,200 passengers and more than 500 crew members, arrived in Portland Harbor today to kick off the 2018 cruise season officially according to the city’s spokeswoman.  Portland will see two (2) other ships this month and nine (9) in May before the season kicks off into high gear for the summer.

Portland will host 118 cruise ships this season with more than  230,000 passengers and crew.  This has long been a lucrative source of income for some businesses in the Old Port of Portland after a  slow first quarter of the year – 2018 – an annual ritual.