Baltimore’s cruise scene faces a possible shake-up, with Royal Caribbean’s future in query.
There are rumblings that Royal Caribbean could now not be crusing from Baltimore after subsequent 12 months. The rumors stem from a easy technique of elimination. After seeing what ships are left to sail from the Maryland port after one ship is understood to be leaving is elevating questions.
A fast have a look at the deployment schedule for Imaginative and prescient of the Seas reveals that the Royal Caribbean vessel is scheduled to reposition from Baltimore to Port Everglades in October 2026.
The difficulty is that it takes a particular measurement ship to have the ability to sail out of the port. The vertical clearance of the Bay Bridge (Chesapeake Bay Bridge) limits the mega ships of immediately from even getting close to the dock.
This departure raises questions, particularly contemplating the port’s latest historical past with Royal Caribbean.
Earlier than Imaginative and prescient of the Seas got here to Baltimore in 2023, Enchantment of the Seas had been homeporting there since 2021.
Imaginative and prescient-class vessels with Royal Caribbean embrace Grandeur of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas, Enchantment of the Seas, and Imaginative and prescient of the Seas.
Enchantment of the Seas is presently deployed in Tampa and set to stay there via 2027, and Grandeur of the Seas is scheduled to sail from each Port Everglades and Tampa over the subsequent two years.
Rhapsody of the Seas is presently providing 7-day sailings from San Juan and is scheduled to maneuver to Tampa in November 2025.
The recognition of cruising remains to be very robust in Baltimore, with nearly half one million cruisers selecting the port yearly
A spokesperson for the Port of Baltimore lately made this assertion:
“We’re conscious of potential adjustments in deployment for Royal Caribbean on the Port of Baltimore. Royal Caribbean has been an excellent cruise companion for a few years on the Port of Baltimore. We’re persevering with to carry discussions with them. Cruise strains make selections on the place to position a ship on an annual foundation.”
It must be famous that whereas different Royal Caribbean ships that might fill the void in Baltimore have already got their assignments, it’s nonetheless attainable that the cruise line may make a change. These adjustments occur on a regular basis, generally even after a ship had been open for bookings at one other port.
On Friday, Royal Caribbean launched a press release about Baltimore and stated:
“We’re excited to proceed to supply holidays out of Baltimore all through 2026 for visitors to go to idyllic locations together with Bermuda, The Bahamas, Canada and New England. In late 2026, Imaginative and prescient of the Seas will shift to supply Caribbean sailings from Ft. Lauderdale via April 2027. We can not touch upon future deployment, however we sit up for reviewing alternatives to sail from Baltimore sooner or later.”
Whereas the longer term stays unsure, Baltimore’s cruise vacationers await Royal Caribbean’s remaining choice.
