Newport, Rhode Island Port Reviews

Rockport shoe store two blocks from tender; excellent seafood restaurant next door.

Visited: May 14, 2010

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Beautiful port. Unfortunately by the time we were on our second mansion tour, it starting raining hard and was very windy so we did not venture into town when we were dropped off. Too bad cause the town looked so pretty and would be worth exploring if wasn't pouring rain.

Visited: Oct 07, 2017

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Having been to Newport, RI in the past a few times, we have toured most of the popular Summer Cottages! This time, we took the Doris Duke, Rough Point, Tour. The mansion was gorgeous. We thoroughly enjoyed our Tour Guide who offered lots of history and stories about Doris Duke. The Sunday we were in Newport, there was a Seafood Festival, which we walked around and dined on the most delicious Lobster Bisque and Lobster Roll.

Visited: Oct 19, 2019

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We once again had terrible weather which made it hard to enjoy the port. We also got into port late due to the ship having to slow down for some whales to pass. It was a tender port too so by the time we got to port we only had a couple of hours. It seemed like there are a lot of shops and restaurants. We went to the Lobster Company had an excellent lobster salad roll and full belly fried clams.

Visited: May 11, 2019

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Loved Newport, but our tour was canceled because the weather was going to get bad. We were very greatful the crew considered our safety. We were able to visit the Breakers mansion, but would have loved to see more.

Visited: Oct 03, 2015

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Very pretty little town. We did part of the cliff walk, which was quite easy to find and visited Breakers. It’s a tender port and there was a delay getting back on the ship, with big queues but apparently this is not normal.

Visited: Sep 24, 2017

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We didn't do an excursion in Newport. It was a small, very charming little New England town, and the only sight I really wanted to visit was the Cliff Walk. We chose to walk to the Cliff Walk from the tender wharf. It was maybe 1.5 to 2 miles along a mostly residential (beautiful) street (lots of uphill walking). We passed by the church where JFK and Jackie married, too. After walking the Cliff Walk, we chose to take the public trolley back to town and visited a commercial area with shops and restaurants. I totally enjoyed this port and am quite happy that we chose to do this without a commercial excursion here.

Visited: Oct 05, 2019

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Took the local bus to walk the 3.5 mile coast walk. Absolutely beautiful. Once back in town walked around. Very easy to get around

Visited: Oct 09, 2019

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Made me want to drive back without the cruise. I'm from Philadelphia and there is an architect who is unique, self made, and a trendsetter of the Guilded society name Horace Trumbauer. Without too much into him, he left much of his spectacular works of great homes around the Philadelphia region but these same "robberbarons" (as they were called) had him construct their summer homes as well. There is a mansion tour of Newport that is so very well preserved. We elected to see "The Elms" because I was a fan of Trumbauer. Its is such a great visit and to see how the latest and greatest of technology was employed at that time. One might have seen in older houses a "butler stairs" but this house has a butler wing of sorts. The staff could move efficiently and effectively about serving their masters out of sight. Such an awesome, interesting visit. Plan the audio tour and listen to every stop. It gives an intimate insight into a world on the verge of an exponential technological revolution and in the homes of the people who guided that world. It's only a 4 hour drive from Philly so as I said, we'll eventually drive back. We really enjoyed this day and it set off the whole rest of the week as it was our first day on the ship. As advice, I might do the Elms early, Plan 3 to 4 hours. Pencil in "The Breakers" (another mansion that we didn't see but is awesome I am told) or elect to go shopping near port. There is also sail boat tours. This is an American lazy sea town of former and late aristocracy. Not too touristy a feel but certainly accommodating to that element. Pubs, seafood... As a souvenir, if you go to the Elms as I suggested, there is a great book on Trumbauer there. Its $75 so it is dear but it's one of those reads that allows one to feel like they got to meet an old wise witness who had the inside perspective. Reading that book, visiting The Elms and what I already knew of Trumbauer gave me a perspective of this great nation during its infancy of realizing the blessings of freedom and "what it hath wrought." (to use the words of Alexander Graham Bell of that ambitious, romantic time." I hope you enjoy the port.

This is a tender port. It was a little bit far from the ship and depending on the weather it could be a bit of a challenge for some. Long lines coming back getting on the tender boat.