Baltimore (Maryland)

Baltimore cruise port is a part of Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore. It is located on Patapsco River banks in central Maryland (USA) and is operated by MPA (Maryland Port Administration). As homeport, Baltimore MD's cruise schedule includes roundtrip itineraries the whole year-round. Most popular destinations are Eastern Caribbean and Bahamas, as well as Bermuda (during summer) and New England (during fall). Most of the embarking passengers (up to 90%) arrive at Maryland Cruise Terminal by car. Of those, the largest numbers are residents of Pennsylvania, Washington DC, and NOVA (Northern Virginia).

In October 2016, the cruise port had a record number of ship calls and handled passengers due to homeported here large-sized liners of Carnival and RCI-Royal Caribbean International. The port was also visited by several luxury companies, among which Azamara, Silversea, Hapag-Lloyd. In 2016, the seaport signed a 5-year extension agreement with Carnival Corporation and a 3-year contract with RCCL (Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd).

The largest companies homeporting ships in Baltimore on a year-round basis are Carnival (with Carnival Pride), RCI Royal Caribbean (with Grandeur OTS/2013-2020, replaced by Enchantment OTS in 2021), and also ACL-American Cruise Lines (small-capacity boats). Most port calls here are on transition itineraries. In 2018, RCI added more summer voyages to Canada New England, while Carnival added 14-day "Carnival Journeys" itineraries (in January and December).

In 2023 (September) turnaround operation from Baltimore started also NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line with two ships - Norwegian Sky (to New England USA and Canada) and Norwegian Sun (to Bermuda and the Caribbean).

Port Baltimore

Baltimore Port (locode USBAL) annually contributes ~USD 3,3 billion (wages and salaries), ~USD 2,6 billion (business revenues) and ~USD 395 million (state and local taxes). Port’s average annual direct job salary is 9,5% higher than Maryland's average.

In 2018, the port reported a cargo shipping record of 43 million tons handled its state-owned and privately-owned terminals. The previous record (40,9 million tons) was in 1974. FY2018, port's cargo throughput was valued USD 59,7 billion (USD 53,9B in FY2017). Port’s state-owned cargo terminals handled 10,9 million tons. Also in 2018, were handled 1,023152 million TEU-containers and the record 850,147 mobile units (cars and light trucks).

Port Baltimore is currently ranked the USA's largest for Ro-Ro shipping (autos and light trucks, heavy farm, and construction machinery) and for imported sugar. It is ranked the USA's second in exported coal (after Norfolk VA). It is also ranked the USA's 9th (total cargo value) and 12th (foreign cargo tonnage).

The Port's businesses generate around 13,650 direct jobs, plus around 127,600 Maryland jobs (linked to its activities). The economic impact is nearly USD 3 billion (in wages and salaries) and USD 310 million (tax revenues).

In early-December 2018, Port Baltimore received USD 6,6 million in federal funding for building a second cargo berth with docking capacity two supersized boxships simultaneously. By the project will be deepened (to max draft 15 m / 50 ft) a second berth at Seagirt Marine Terminal. Additionally, the project (total cost USD 32,7 million) will be contributed to USD 7,8 million (by Maryland State) and USD 18,4 million (by Ports America Chesapeake, terminal's operator). Construction works were scheduled to start in 2019-H2 and completed in 2020-H2.

The second container berth project is via a public-private partnership signed in 2010 with Ports America Chesapeake. Dredging works (by US Army Corps of Engineers) started on December 12, 2018, and included 6 harbor channels. This project was budgeted USD 17,5 million and is part of the seaport's regular maintenance of shipping channels that go from Chesapeake Bay (Virginia) all the way to Baltimore. These waterways require periodic dredging (deepening) to ensure their max draft and safe navigation. Baltimore Harbor dredging involves removing material from Curtis Bay, Craighill (Entrance, Channel, Angle, Upper Range) and Cutoff Angle. Port's channels are dredged to max depth 15,5 m (51 ft).

In 2018, the port's largest container ship was Gunde Maersk (IMO 9359014, 11K-TEUs), surpassed in 2019 by Evergreen Triton (IMO 9728916, 15K-TEUs). In 2017, the port handled 596,972 TEUs (containers) Port's state-owned terminals have records for the Fiscal Year 2017-2018 (10,976 million cargo tons) and 1-month TEUs (90152 - in May 2018).

On March 26, 2024, at 1:28 am EDT (05:28 UTC), the main two spans and the three nearest spans of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed after MV Dali (2015-built, Singapore-flagged container ship) struck one of the support pillars. The maritime accident essentially blocked Baltimore Harbor from shipping traffic. Baltimore-homeported cruise ships were temporarily based in Norfolk VA. On May 13th, the USCG/Coast Guard reopened the Fort McHenry Channel (limited access waterway) for commercial vessels with max depth 45 ft (13,7 m) daily from 8 pm to 6 am EDT.

Baltimore cruise terminal

Baltimore tours, shore excursions, hotels

City Tours and Shore Excursions

Fort McHenry: the historic highlight is half-a-mile away from the Baltimore cruise port. The place is famous for the 1982 battle between the American soldiers and the British forces. This inspired the Star-Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key. He was a witness of the battle from an anchored boat.

Baltimore Museum of Industry: discover the 19th-century history of the commerce and industry in the region of Baltimore.

Federal Hill: take an amazing look over Inner Harbor from a beautiful green area with a narrow path and high trees.

American Visionary Art Museum: an interesting place to visit. The American Visionary Art Museum is dedicated to the untrained artist. Discover the surprisingly enjoyable exhibition of paintings and sculptures. Maryland Science Center: discover galleries like Chesapeake Bay’s blue crab, outer space, geology, dinosaurs, the human body, and Newtonian physics.

Harborplace shopping center: 100 shops and 15 dining places, the paradise for any shopaholic.

Historic Ships in Baltimore Museum: discover the USS Torsk, the Lightship Chesapeake, the Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse, USS Constellation, and USCGC Taney.

National Aquarium: the great underwater world with exhibits like a large shark tank, acrobatic dolphin, a stingray pool and animal planet Australia.

Fell’s Point: located a mile away from the Inner Harbor, direction East. It was a huge area for building privateer ships in the early years of the 19th century. Currently, you will find cobblestone streets, tall period houses, and narrow market places. You can have a coffee if you are tired of touring the city highlights.