The world's third-largest cruise ship is headed to Maine's largest city.

The 1,020-foot Explorer of the Seas docked at the Portland Ocean Terminal at 7 a.m. today and will remain in port Thursday.

The ship, which is part of the Royal Caribbean fleet, holds more than 3,100 passengers and a crew of nearly 1,200. Its visit to Portland is part of a four-week itinerary that includes stops in New England and Atlantic Canada.

The Explorer of the Seas has an onboard Oceanic and Atmospheric Lab run by the University of Miami. The lab conducts research similar to that collected by the Gulf of Maine Research Institute.

Posted by: Matt Curren, Producer

Last update: 09/06/2007 at 07:52:19 (9)