Town of Baltimore won’t appear to be a typical location for a cruise port, however the Baltimore Cruise Port handles over half 1,000,000 cruise passengers per 12 months.
It’s an essential departure level for cruises headed for the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Caribbean, New England, and the Atlantic coast of Canada. Study all about downtown Baltimore’s cruise port with this information.
Baltimore Cruise Port Location and Tackle
Baltimore Cruise Port is located alongside the Patapsco River in Winans Cove. Not solely does this enable cruise ships to simply make their technique to and from the North Atlantic Ocean, nevertheless it additionally implies that visiting cruise passengers are simply 3 miles from Baltimore, Maryland’s downtown core.
The placement is good for these hoping to go to town’s essential sights earlier than boarding. Its proximity to a global airport and main highways additionally makes the cruise port accessible for these touring from out of state.
In case you are planning on driving to the port, you may merely put the next handle into your most popular navigation app:
Baltimore Cruise Port Tackle:
Cruise Maryland Terminal, 2001 East McComas Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21230, United States
Historical past of the Cruise Port
Whereas the Port of Baltimore dates again to 1706, the historical past of the Baltimore Cruise Port is way youthful. Within the early 2000s, town of Baltimore and the state of Maryland recognized the potential financial advantages that cruise tourism would deliver to the cash-strapped metropolis.
Beginning within the late Nineteen Fifties and intensifying by the Eighties and ‘90s, Baltimore suffered critical financial penalties from deindustrialization.
Within the early 2000s, town started in search of methods to revitalize the realm and inject cash and jobs into town. With the Port of Baltimore being a nationally essential delivery hub and one of many metropolis’s employment mainstays, it solely made sense that the waterways may additionally cater to the wants of cruise ships.
Not solely would internet hosting cruise ships assist create jobs and inject cash into the realm, however it will additionally create a serious tourism growth in a metropolis that had turn out to be seen as a reasonably undesirable vacation spot.
Development of a devoted cruise port started shortly after, with the port starting cruise operations in early 2004. Because of town’s strategic location alongside the Atlantic Coast and the deep waters of the Patapsco River.
It’s doable for cruise ships to make their technique to town, and it has since grown to turn out to be a well-liked departure level for cruises sure for the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Caribbean, and even Canada and New England.
Baltimore Cruise Port Piers and Terminal
As talked about, Baltimore Cruise Port incorporates a single terminal referred to as the Cruise Maryland Terminal. It was designed to offer all visiting cruise passengers with a snug and hassle-free expertise.
The cruise terminal is definitely a transformed 65,000 sq. ft. former paper warehouse, additional demonstrating how the port revitalized an space that jobs had left.
Whereas the Baltimore Cruise Port started operations in 2004, the terminal constructing was opened in 2006, with main modernization efforts happening in 2014.
Presently, there aren’t any plans to broaden the port or the terminal constructing, however it’s nonetheless able to dealing with almost 500,000 cruise passengers per 12 months, serving to to inject greater than $65 million into Baltimore’s economic system. The port additionally employs over 400 individuals, offering full-time jobs in a metropolis the place financial stability is way wanted.
Relatively than being constructed round a pier, the cruise port has a single cruise ship berth, which permits a full-sized cruise ship to tug alongside the terminal constructing.
Whereas a pier sits instantly in entrance of the cruise ship berth, this pier shouldn’t be used for docking cruise ships. As an alternative, it’s used to deal with provides for visiting cruise ships and docking the port’s tugboats and different smaller vessels.
Listed here are simply a few of the options and amenities the terminal is outfitted with:
Verify-in and Safety Counters
The Cruise Maryland Terminal Constructing options a number of check-in counters, making certain a fast and environment friendly boarding course of. There’s a tented space simply outdoors the terminal marked “Cruise Baggage Tags” the place passengers can weigh and tag their baggage, additional serving to to make sure the check-in line strikes rapidly.
Ready Areas and Restrooms
Though the terminal constructing is pretty fundamental, there’s a spacious and air-conditioned ready space outfitted with comfy seating, so passengers can move the time till their embarkation time. Absolutely accessible restroom amenities are additionally obtainable all through the terminal constructing.
Data Desk
A fundamental info desk staffed by representatives of the cruise ship that’s presently docked sits contained in the terminal constructing, and the useful workers can help you when you have questions in regards to the boarding course of or the rest associated to your cruise.
Baggage Dealing with
Tagged baggage could be dropped at the bags dealing with service desk. Whereas tipping is extremely advisable, they’ll present complimentary baggage dealing with for cruise visitors who arrive in time.
Wi-Fi
Complimentary Wi-Fi is offered all through the constructing, however visitors have a 30-minute time restrict earlier than they need to sign up once more. Sadly, it may be fairly gradual, particularly if the terminal is crowded whenever you attempt to join.
2014 Terminal Upgrades
Despite the fact that the terminal constructing was solely accomplished in 2006, it was topic to a serious renovation venture in October and November 2014. The development venture targeted on bettering passenger circulate administration with higher safety screening and baggage dealing with providers and increasing the seating space.
Whereas the venture was a little bit of a disturbance, it was a testomony to the truth that demand for cruises departing from Baltimore was excessive and the choice to introduce a cruise port to town was a serious success.
Cruise Traces that Go to Baltimore Cruise Port and The place They Dock
A number of main cruise traces frequent Baltimore Cruise Port and supply a variety of itineraries alongside the Atlantic Seaboard and past.
Because the port solely has a single berth, all cruise ships, whatever the cruise line they belong to, dock on the similar spot.
Simply be sure to rigorously verify your embarkation time and recurrently verify for updates along with your cruise line earlier than departure, because the port solely permits touring cruise passengers to enter two hours earlier than their embarkation time.
Listed here are the cruise traces that function out of Baltimore Cruise Port and a few of the itineraries they provide:
- Royal Caribbean Worldwide: Often sails from Baltimore Cruise Port to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, and New England
- Norwegian Cruise Line: They provide New England and Canada itineraries from Baltimore
- Carnival Cruise Line: Presents cruises to the Bahamas, Bermuda, and several other Caribbean itineraries
- American Cruise Line: Smaller cruise ship excursions alongside the East Coast to Chesapeake Bay
Parking at Baltimore Cruise Port
When the cruise port was within the design part, parking was a precedence. Realizing that the overwhelming majority of cruise passengers can be touring to the port from outdoors of Baltimore, the design staff wished to make sure that guests may simply discover in a single day parking. For that reason, the comparatively small cruise port options two on-site parking heaps.
Right here’s a breakdown of parking amenities and what you may count on when you use one of many two official heaps that sit to both facet of the Cruise Maryland Terminal Constructing:
- Reservations: Not required, merely arrive on the terminal and you’ll be allowed to park
- Safety: 24/7 on-site safety and patrols for each parking heaps
- Parking Charges: $20 per night time for normal passenger autos. $40 per night time for RVs beneath 30’ and $50 per night time for RVs over 30’
- Cost Choices: Main bank cards (Visa, MasterCard, Uncover and American Specific)
- Disabled Parking Choices: There are quite a few disabled parking spots for these with legitimate permits or disabled parking tags
Off-Web site Parking Tons
Till August 1st, 2024, parking was solely $15 per night time for normal passenger autos, however the worth was elevated to assist handle demand. As a consequence of rising prices, some close by off-site parking amenities have begun providing extra aggressive charges and complimentary shuttles to the port.
In case you are trying to economize, otherwise you require parking for an extended length, we advocate the next close by personal parking heaps and garages:
On Air Parking
With charges beginning at simply $3.50 per day and free cancellations as much as the day earlier than your cruise, On Air Parking gives a much more budget-friendly different to the port’s official parking heaps.
Regardless of these low costs, they even present a free shuttle service to the port. They’ll even refund you when you discover cheaper parking after reserving a spot.
Since that is probably the most reasonably priced possibility within the space, it would be best to reserve your spot early, because the lot fills up quick, particularly throughout peak journey season.
Premium Parking P2345
Positioned 0.6 miles from port, Premium Parking is an effective possibility if the cruise port heaps are full. Whereas this hardly ever happens outdoors peak journey season, it’s all the time good to have a backup possibility.
In a single day 24-hour charges are $20, so the identical as you’d pay on the port, however it’s a lined parking storage. You may as well reserve your spot forward of time, which could be useful to keep away from any confusion on the day of your cruise.
Touring from Close by Airports
Baltimore Cruise Port is accessible from two main airports. In case you are planning on flying in from elsewhere, you need to use the next instructions to get to the port:
Baltimore/Washington Worldwide Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
Since Baltimore’s essential airport is simply 10.6 miles southwest of the port, that is the place the overwhelming majority of cruise passengers will fly into. Fortunately, it’s very easy and reasonably priced to journey between the 2.
Taxis are available on the airport and don’t should be booked forward of time. Journey by taxi takes roughly 20 minutes, however depart further time when you arrive round rush hour.
Taxis additionally supply a $30 flat price from BWI to the Cruise Terminal and vice versa. The flat price applies whatever the variety of passengers, so it is vitally reasonably priced.
Uber and Lyft function in Baltimore, so you too can verify charges whenever you arrive. Simply watch out about surge charges when you arrive round rush hour, or throughout peak journey season.
For those who desire to take public transit and save a bit of cash, the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) supplies a lightweight rail service from BWI to downtown Baltimore.
With a number of stations within the downtown core, you may then stroll or cab to the port. Amtrak BWI additionally operates a practice between the airport and Baltimore’s Penn Station, lower than 5 miles from the port.
When you have rented a automobile and like to drive your self, you may observe these instructions:
- Get on the I-195 West from Stoney Run Highway. Proceed for two.2 miles
- Take exit 2A for MD-295 North and proceed for 8.7 miles
- Take exit 55 in direction of Key Freeway. Search for indicators for the Ft McHenry Nationwide Monument and Baltimore Cruise Port
- Merge onto East McComas Avenue and arrive at your vacation spot
Ronald Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport (DCA)
DCA is positioned roughly 42.7 miles southwest of the port. Whereas it appears a bit far-off, touring between the 2 is definitely pretty easy, with loads of choices for cruise passengers arriving at DCA.
Whereas taxis are available on the airport, journey time will take roughly an hour, relying on site visitors. Sadly, there isn’t any flat price for taxis, so you’ll have to negotiate along with your driver or pay the meter price.
With that mentioned, most taxi drivers will present one-way journey to the port for about $75, so it isn’t overly costly when you can break up prices.
For those who use Uber or Lyft, you too can verify prices forward of time, as DCA has a delegated pickup zone for rideshare autos close to the arrivals space.
You may as well take the Metrorail from DCA to Union Station in downtown Washington, D.C., then switch to the Amtrak practice to Baltimore’s Penn Station.
Whereas it seems like a trouble getting there, it provides you the choice to take a low-cost taxi to the port from the station. Fares are solely $2 for a one-way single journey on the Metrorail, so it’s an reasonably priced technique to get to Baltimore from Washington.
In case you are planning on driving from DCA to Baltimore Cruise Port, use the next instructions:
- From the DCA, get on the I-395 North and proceed for two miles
- Take exit 2B for State Freeway 295 North in direction of US-50 and proceed for 28 miles
- Take the exit for I-95 North in direction of New York and proceed for 1.2 miles
- Take exit 55 in direction of Key Freeway. Search for indicators for the Ft McHenry Nationwide Monument and Baltimore Cruise Port
- Merge onto East McComas Avenue and arrive at Baltimore Cruise Port
The right way to Get to Baltimore Cruise Port
Even in case you are not arriving at one of many airports that service Baltimore Cruise Port, touring to the port from different elements of town and past is extremely straightforward. The next are simply a few of the choices you could have at your disposal:
By Taxi
As talked about, taxis are extensively obtainable all through Baltimore, together with on the airport, in entrance of motels, and close to all the favored vacationer spots.
Charges are reasonably priced, and so they present cruise passengers with a extra direct technique to attain the port. Because the port has a delegated taxi drop-off space proper close to the entrance entrance, it couldn’t be simpler.
Utilizing Rideshare Providers
Each Lyft and Uber are very talked-about in Baltimore. They are often an reasonably priced different to taking a taxi. They’re additionally helpful whilst you discover town, as you may set your pickup and drop-off factors earlier than you get within the automobile.
Utilizing Public Transit
The Maryland Transit Administration operates a number of bus routes that join the port to a few of the main hubs all through Baltimore.
You may as well use the Gentle Rail and MARC Prepare providers to get to close by downtown Baltimore, permitting you to take a less expensive taxi journey to the cruise port than when you took one from town outskirts.
Driving
Driving to Baltimore Cruise Port is basically easy thanks to obviously marked directional indicators, loads of on-site parking, and close by main highways, just like the I-95 and I-395, offering easy accessibility to the port from outdoors town.
Eating Close to Baltimore Cruise Port
Not like some bigger cruise ports, Baltimore Cruise Port lacks eating choices. Except for a number of merchandising machines within the Cruise Maryland Terminal Constructing, there are restricted choices for meals and drinks on the port. With that mentioned, there are some nice choices inside proximity of the port, together with the next:
Samos Greek Island
Positioned lower than half a mile from the cruise port, Samos Greek Island is likely one of the closest choices for these in search of a fast chew earlier than they set sail. Not solely is it near the port, they’ve a full menu of scrumptious house-made Greek meals.
With contemporary substances, this Baltimore staple has been serving up hearty plates of genuine Greek meals in Baltimore since 1977. It’s an off-the-cuff spot, and so they additionally supply takeout, which is nice when you’re pressed for time.
Diamondback Brewing Firm
This rustic taproom and microbrewery is a superb possibility when you’re seeking to pattern a number of native beers earlier than you set sail. Not solely have they got a tremendous menu of distinctive beers, however in addition they have a dine-in menu that options stone-baked pizzas, burgers, and extra.
On condition that Diamondback Brewing Firm is simply half a mile and roughly an 11-minute stroll from the cruise port, it’s a good way to kill a while and set the tone to your cruise trip!
Don Tigre Mexican Delicacies Bar
Take pleasure in a scrumptious menu of tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and different genuine Mexican favorites at this fashionable restaurant and bar. The enjoyable inside will make you are feeling like you might be already in a tropical port of name, however you’ll simply be 0.6 miles from the cruise port.
Whether or not you simply wish to kill a while with a number of chilly drinks, otherwise you need a full meal, Don Tigre Mexican Delicacies Bar is a superb possibility.
Whereas the terminal constructing does have a really small present store, most individuals will look elsewhere for souvenirs, presents, and even last-minute gadgets they want for his or her cruise.
Sadly, the historic Harborplace Mall is altering possession, so a lot of its shops are closed however there are nonetheless nice choices within the metropolis for many who want to do some buying.
Listed here are the very best choices close to the port:
Lexington Market
Positioned roughly 2.9 miles from the port, Lexington Market runs on daily basis of the week aside from Sunday. This huge indoor market dates again to 1782 and options a wide range of meals stalls, produce stands, memento distributors, and extra. It’s an ideal place to choose up a memento and take within the historical past of town.
CityCenterDC
If you wish to do some critical buying and you’ve got a little bit of time earlier than your cruise units sail, taking a visit out to CityCenterDC is effectively value your time.
This huge buying and eating advanced spans greater than 5 metropolis blocks and is taken into account by many to be among the finest buying neighborhoods within the nation.
With luxurious shops, designer boutiques, outlet shops, high-end eating places, and far more, it’s a must-visit vacation spot for buying fans. Though it’s a 42-mile drive away in Washington, D.C., many individuals embarking from Baltimore Cruise Port will find time for a go to.
Fell’s Level
One of many metropolis’s oldest neighborhoods, Fell’s Level is filled with cozy boutiques, bookstores, eating places, diners, and cafés. Whether or not you’re searching for clothes, antiques, and even just a few studying materials to your cruise, you’ll discover it by strolling round Fell’s Level, simply over 2 miles from the port.
The Finest Time to Go to Baltimore
Like close by Washington, D.C., Baltimore experiences very totally different climate all through the 4 seasons. Whereas the summer time climate is heat and pretty nice, it may be a bit humid.
Fall brings cooler temperatures, which makes it a nicer time of 12 months to discover town. The winter can deliver snow and chilly temperatures, however that is additionally when the port is its busiest as a result of it’s peak cruise season for the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Bermuda.
Whereas they won’t be the very best months for strolling across the metropolis of Baltimore, the autumn and winter months between late October and early April are the busiest within the Baltimore Cruise Port. Count on cooler temperatures and occasional showers, in addition to snow within the mid-winter months.
Learn Additionally: Charleston Cruise Port – Terminal, Overview and What to Do
Irrespective of whenever you ebook your cruise, simply be sure to verify the climate in Baltimore earlier than and after your cruise, and pack at the very least one outfit appropriate for the time of 12 months.
As you’ll rapidly uncover, the climate in Baltimore could be very totally different from the tropical places most of the cruise ships that go to its cruise port sail to.
