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In 1706, Maryland's legislators designated Whetstone Point as an official Port of Entry. Five small ports eventually merged to become the Port of Baltimore. The port has grown to 45 miles of shoreline and more than 3,400 waterfront acres. We have a page about Baltimore cruise transportation, to and from your ship. With two popular cruise lines offering different itineraries from the same port, cruisers have plenty of choices to choose from. For those with larger luggage or mobility issues, there is a second drop-off area closer to the terminal entrance.
Public Transit from BWI to Port of Baltimore and Other Public Transit
Passengers using off-site parking options should take into account that shuttle services may not be as frequent as those operating from the designated lot. Therefore, it’s important for passengers using this option to plan accordingly and allow enough time before their scheduled departure. Passengers embarking on a cruise from the Baltimore Cruise Port have several parking options to choose from. The port has a designated parking lot with a capacity of over 1,500 vehicles, located within walking distance of the passenger terminal.
Read Next: Park & Cruise Hotels for Every Port in America
Port Baltimore cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Baltimore, Maryland. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is working hard to ensure maritime traffic can start coming in and out of the port again. However, while this is good news in general, it remains unclear whether cruise ships will be allowed to resume their scheduled sailings. Baltimore Cruise Port is the perfect destination for cruise lovers who want to experience a unique and exciting vacation.
Baltimore Cruise Port Terminal Information
Cruise enthusiasts in Maryland and neighboring states have a convenient departure point at the Baltimore Cruise Port. The port offers an array of cruise lines, but Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International are the most popular ones. In this section, we will discuss these two cruise lines’ offerings from Baltimore. The Maryland Cruise Terminal has a spacious parking area for passengers who wish to park their vehicles during their trip.
Top 10 Cruises to Baltimore, Maryland
Maryland Cruise Terminal was redesigned to serve the increasing number of roundtrip itineraries out of Baltimore. The terminal building offers restrooms, payphones, vending machines, ATMs, check-in counters, VIP room, huge parking space (advanced reservations not required). Ships must travel 8-10 hours from open water up the Chesapeake Bay and under two bridges to get in and out of Baltimore’s harbor. Because there is a maximum clearance under the bridges, only smaller cruise ships can sail in and out of Baltimore. More than 40 ships were inside the Baltimore port when the bridge collapsed, including small cargo ships, tug boats and pleasure crafts. You can drop your tagged luggage with porters before you park, or you can take your own luggage with you when you board.

Kings Wharf, Bermuda
To plan for your big cruise departing from the Baltimore Cruise Terminal, there are a lot of things you should know beforehand, which we covered in this guide. The Light Rail Service is a provision of the Maryland Department of Transit Administration and services passengers disembarking at BWI. You will then head to immigration to show your documents before heading outside for your pre-arranged transportation.
Taking the Light Rail to Baltimore Cruise Terminal
At this point, with the bridge in the water, access to the port is completely shut off. For example, Grandeur of the Seas’ five-night Bermuda cruise departs on Saturdays instead of Thursdays like Carnival Legend’s itinerary. Eight-night cruises are also available on select dates that offer more time in Bermuda compared to its five-night counterpart. See our list of hotels convenient to the Baltimore cruise port. You can sail year-round to points in the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Bermuda, and New England. You also have your choice of two cruise lines — Carnival and Royal Caribbean — which each have ships at the port.
The Baltimore cruise port suggests tagging carry-on luggage as well as checked bags. There is no direct public transit route from BWI to the Port of Baltimore. Port of Baltimore cruise guests may pre-arrange an airport transfer through their cruise line when arriving the same day the cruise embarks. Reservations should be made with your cruise line at least five days prior to sailing.

Central & South America
No advance reservations are required to park in the lot located on the South Locust Point Marine Terminal. Ample long-term parking is located within walking distance of the Passenger Building and courtesy/handicap shuttles are available. The Baltimore cruise terminal is a converted 65,000-square-foot warehouse.
In fact, in 2019, the port set a record with over 240,000 passengers passing through. This impressive feat is due in part to the variety of round-trip cruises that are offered from this port. Passengers can embark on voyages to destinations such as the Bahamas, Bermuda, and the Caribbean.
Alternatively, seven-night cruises to the Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean are available on different days of the week. Unfortunately, the location of the port doesn’t lend itself to public transportation. Given the relatively modest size of the port’s operations, there are also few third-party options like cruise shuttles available as you find in larger ports.
Baltimore bridge collapse impacts Port of Baltimore, cruises - WBAL TV Baltimore
Baltimore bridge collapse impacts Port of Baltimore, cruises.
Posted: Tue, 26 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Reach new heights on the rock-climbing wall 40 feet above deck. Indulge in gourmet globe-trotting with mouthwatering dishes from Italy to Japan. Whatever you choose, you should be able to find plenty to do if your goal is to enjoy Baltimore for a few days on either side of your cruise. Baltimore’s Inner Harbor is a waterfront park in the middle of many historic Baltimore museums and sites which are definitely worth a visit.
Today, the port is a busy commercial hub for automobiles and container cargo and is home to a major health services center. It has also developed as a convenient cruise departure point and home port for several major cruise lines. Baltimore's cruise port does not provide wheelchairs for passenger use. The cruise lines do, but you must enter the terminal to access them. Arrangements should be made with your cruise line in advance if you require wheelchair boarding assistance. If wheelchairs are needed for the duration of the sailing, passengers must provide their own.