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). Port's cruise schedule includes attractive roundtrip itineraries the whole year-round. Most popular destinations are Eastern Caribbean and Bahamas, as well as Bermuda (in the summer) and New England (during fall). Most of the embarking cruise passengers (up to 90%) arrive at Maryland Cruise Terminal by cars. 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 Royal Caribbean International. The port was also visited by several luxury cruise lines, 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) and RCI Royal Caribbean (with Grandeur Of The Seas). Most of the port calls here are on transition itineraries, in 2018, RCI addes in the summer more voyages to Canada New England, while Carnival added 14-day "Carnival Journeys" itineraries in January and December.

Port Baltimore

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, for the project (total cost USD 32,7 million) will be contributed 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 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 harbour channels. This project was budgeted USD 17,5 million and is part of 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).

As of 2018, port's largest container ship was Gunde Maersk (11K-TEUs). In 2017, the port handled 596,972 TEUs (containers) Port’s state-owned terminals have records for Fiscal Year 2017-2018 (10,976 million cargo tons) and 1-month TEUs (90152 - in May, 2018).

Port Baltimore is currently ranked USA's largest for Ro-Ro shipping (autos and light trucks, heavy farm and construction machinery) and for imported sugar. The port is ranked USA's second in exported coal (after Norfolk VA). The port is also ranked USA's 9th (total cargo value) and 12th (foreign cargo tonnage). Port'ss businesses generate around 13,650 direct jobs, plus around 127,600 Maryland jobs (linked to its activities). The econonomic impact is nearly USD 3 billion (in wages and salaries) and USD 310 million (taxe revenues).

Baltimore cruise terminal

Baltimore tours, shore excursions, hotels

City Tours and Shore Excursions

• Fort McHenry: the historic highlight is half-a-mile away from Baltimore cruise port. The place is famous with 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 narrow path and high trees.
• American Visionary Art Museum: interesting place to visit. The American Visionary Art museum is dedicated to the untrained artist. Discover 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 the 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.