This year’s Portland Rose Festival fleet arrived in the City of Roses June 5 for the annual festivites. The Navy, Coast Guard
and Canadian ships will visit Portland from June 5-9.
One U.S. Navy cruiser, two destroyers, and a frigate will moor along the Portland waterfront and offer public tours throughout
their stay. The ships are USS Lake Champlain (CG 57); USS Kidd (DDG 100); USS Preble (DDG 88); and USS Gary (FFG 51). The
Navy ships will be joined by U.S. Coast Guard cutters, Alert; Henry Blake; Bluebell; and Blackfin, and Canadian ships HMCS
Whitehorse; Nanaimo; and Edmonton.
Tours will be available to the general public on a first-come, first-served basis. Tours will be offered from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
Friday through Sunday and will last approximately 30 minutes each.
When arriving for tours, all visitors will be required to present a government-issued photo ID 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.
Visitors are encouraged to bring as few items as possible when arriving for their tour, and are recommended to wear flat-heeled,
closed-toe shoes.
Prohibited items on board include the following:
- Weapons, including knives, firearms and club weapons
- Defensive chemicals or spray, including mace and pepper spray; spray cans of any type
- Fireworks, flammable liquids or other explosives
- Illegal drugs and/or drug-related paraphernalia
- Large bags, including backpacks, diaper bags and large camera bags (small camera bags and small handbags may be permitted,
but will be subject to search)
Visitors found in possession of illegal items will be reported to local law enforcement. Please note that no items, including strollers
or wheelchairs, may be left unattended at the security checkpoint at any time. In addition, no political or marketing activities are
allowed while aboard U.S. Navy ships, including pamphleteering; making speeches; posting displays; and advertising commercial interests.