Cruise Port of Baltimore Guide

Baltimore is a fun cruise port. It is very convenient for those in the northeast. It is also unique because it combines a historic city with a cruise port experience.

What is the parking situation like at the Port of Baltimore?

Parking is easy at the Port of Baltimore. It is an open lot. When you arrive you will follow directions on where to go to drop off your bags.

Top tip! Make sure you have your bags ready and know which ones you want the porters to take and which ones you want to carry on. Have your luggage tags already on your checked bags. The Port of Baltimore is specifically set up for you to drop your bags BEFORE you park your car!

Are there things to see and do within walking distance of the port?

Walking distance…not exactly. But there is plenty to see and do within easy driving distance.

There are plenty of shops and restaurants within a couple of minutes drive to the port.

Want to do something historical? Check out Fort McHenry! There is a cost to go into the fort, but there is no cost to park your car and walk around along the waterfront. This is a great thing to do in the morning before you cruise. You can even see the ship from the waterfront path!

There are also several hotels close to the port that offer a (usually) free shuttle to the cruise terminal. These are within walking distance of shops and restaurants and then you can just get the shuttle to the port!

What type of security do you have to go through at the Port of Baltimore to get on the cruise ship?

The drug dogs are new. There has always been a typical “airport” security to get onto a cruise ship. You know the drill – everything in the baskets, take off your belt, don’t forget to empty your pockets… But there are now drug dogs at the Port of Baltimore that will inspect all of your things before you go through the security. Everyone lines up, the dog sniffs, and then you are on your way assuming everyone is clean.

How long does it take to sail from the Port of Baltimore into the ocean?

It takes a very long time to sail from the Port of Baltimore to the ocean. There were a few things I noted on google maps that I thought would be interested to see as we sailed. Unfortunately, we passed by most of those things after dark.

But on the bright side, by the last night of the cruise we were already in the Chesapeake Bay and could see things on shore and bridges over / under the bay (yes, it’s both). We could even see a fireworks show going on!

Are there cool things to see as you sail towards the ocean?

There is still one set of bridges that you sail under a couple of hours after sail away. There is also a bridge that goes into a tunnel that is interesting. We were actually able to see it as we sailed back into Baltimore the last night of the cruise.

There are other interesting things to see, but most of the trip through the Chesapeake Bay is done in the dark. It is a long distance and there are many towns, cities, factories and homes along the way. If that is something you are interested in, there is definitely something to see. However, it’s not the most beautiful sail away and it does last for many hours.

What is it like to sail down the Chesapeake Bay?

I thought sailing down the Chesapeake Bay from the Port of Baltimore was cool. Often you don’t get these really large bays here in the United States and so it is interesting to sail through these historic areas, but also areas that people currently live and work in.