All things Baltimore

[collinH45]

This thread is about anything about Baltimore including the port of Baltimore. Baltimore is my hometown and I had been here for a long time. We cruised out of Baltimore 2 times which was on the Carnival Pride in August 2010 and the RCCL Grandeur of the seas in August 2013. It was convenient to us. We live in Baltimore County. You can talk about anything but it has to be appropriate.

[LUVMYGSDOG]

We will be cruising out of Baltimore for the first time in September! I haven't visited Baltimore in a long time so I look forward to any/all information!

 

 

Kim

[collinH45]

We will be cruising out of Baltimore for the first time in September! I haven't visited Baltimore in a long time so I look forward to any/all information!

 

 

Kim

I am happy that you get to experience Baltimore. It is and okay city. They have the Inner Harbor where you can walk the day before the cruise. We even have Patterson Park which is like Central park but, different.

[Chesterpeake]

Happy New Year, Kim!

 

Yes, the Inner Harbor with the National Aquarium and Maryland Science Center is the best place to begin a tour of Baltimore, but there is no need to restrict yourself to that area. There are good museums such as the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Walters Art Gallery [Coen Collection], American Visionary Arts Museum, etc. There's the B&O Railroad Museum for train buffs, the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museu, the H.L. Mencken Museum, the Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards, Fort McHenry National Monument [just about walkable from the cruise terminal], etc. etc.

 

All of these sites have their own websites. Check them out. There is a free bus system called the Charm City Circulator that will get you to most if not all of them.

 

Why not begin with the Baltimore Visitor's Center:

 

http://baltimore.org/

 

PS I've cruised out of Baltimore three times on Celebrity Mercury and Carnival Pride. It is great:

http://www.cruise.maryland.gov/

[KnightsOfNi]

I am trying to figure out the most convenient place to stay in Baltimore.

We are cruising on the Grandeur to Bermuda

We want to do the Park Sleep Cruise

However we were thinking of arriving a few days earlier and traveling into Washington by train.(returning back to Baltimore each time not overnighting in Washington )

Is there an area that would be convenient to do both? I want to park the car and not use it once I get there.

Thank you

knights

Edited January 1, 2015 by KnightsOfNi

[Leelee47]

We just returned from the Christmas cruise on Grandeur.

We stayed at the Best Western Plus (newly renovated!)

6055 Belle Grove Road

 

Nice room at a great price. Family of 5 suite was $110.00 and included 8 days free parking and transportation to and from cruise port and free breakfast.

 

Van driver said it was 45 minute car ride to DC.

[KnightsOfNi]

@Leelee47

Thanks for the info, that is one of the places we were looking at.

 

Hoping to take the train into DC, it seems quite inexpensive

Regards

Knights

[Mommypieof3]

We cruise out of Baltimore on the Grandeur in February. I am concerned with how cold it will be and at what point in the cruise we can switch to warm weather clothes. Can anyone please fill me in? Thanks!

[rimom71]

Thinking about the Carnival Pride cruise leaving Baltimore on April 19, 2015. How early a flight from BWI do you think it's safe to book on the Sunday we arrive back in Baltimore? Thanks!

[bdisney]

What is it like driving and parking at the port? I am only a couple hours away, so i'm planning on driving in the day of my cruise. Is there a line to wait in if they're not ready to take cars yet? Or is there some place close by to the port that we could drive to and wait? I plan on being there early. Any suggestions on what time I should try to be there by?

Edited January 16, 2015 by bdisney

[hollygirl2004]

hi... we are looking for information on the best way to get from the port (carnival) to the airport BWI.

 

We will be bringing home the Pride and arriving Mar 29th.

 

thank you all for any info.. :)

[CaptainBrunch]

@leelee47

Looking at this best western hotel through trinity reservations but there is a four person limit per room. Did u book directly through hotel? :confused:

[Terpnut]

I see that the OP disappeared so I will do my best to answer some questions.

We cruise out of Baltimore on the Grandeur in February. I am concerned with how cold it will be and at what point in the cruise we can switch to warm weather clothes. Can anyone please fill me in? Thanks!

I'm not a meteorologist so I can't predict the exact temperature for you but you'd have to wait until at least your second full day at sea before you will experience the warmer temps of the south.

 

I am trying to figure out the most convenient place to stay in Baltimore.

We are cruising on the Grandeur to Bermuda

We want to do the Park Sleep Cruise

However we were thinking of arriving a few days earlier and traveling into Washington by train.(returning back to Baltimore each time not overnighting in Washington )

Is there an area that would be convenient to do both? I want to park the car and not use it once I get there.

Thank you

knights

To visit DC prior to your cruise, I'd drive further south to the DC suburbs (e.g. Greenbelt, Bethesda or Silver Spring), park at a hotel where parking is free and use that hotel as your base for visiting Washington using Metro. Then to board your cruise, either drive directly to Port of Baltimore, or to a park and cruise hotel nearby. It's simply impractical and a huge waste of time to try to stay in one place for both purposes.

 

What is it like driving and parking at the port? I am only a couple hours away, so i'm planning on driving in the day of my cruise. Is there a line to wait in if they're not ready to take cars yet? Or is there some place close by to the port that we could drive to and wait? I plan on being there early. Any suggestions on what time I should try to be there by?

The last time we cruised out of Baltimore, the port had plenty of long term parking available on site and it was very easy to access. And I'd personally shoot to arrive at the port by 11 am to board early.

 

 

hi... we are looking for information on the best way to get from the port (carnival) to the airport BWI.

 

We will be bringing home the Pride and arriving Mar 29th.

 

thank you all for any info.. :)

Taxi! Edited January 19, 2015 by Terpnut

[Leelee47]

@leelee47

 

Looking at this best western hotel through trinity reservations but there is a four person limit per room. Did u book directly through hotel? :confused:

 

 

I booked through Trinity. Call them they will get you a room. We had 5 people also.

 

 

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[CaptainBrunch]

Thanks leelee47. :)

[KnightsOfNi]

Thank you Terpnut

[pxy cda]

We just returned from the Christmas cruise on Grandeur.

We stayed at the Best Western Plus (newly renovated!)

6055 Belle Grove Road

 

Nice room at a great price. Family of 5 suite was $110.00 and included 8 days free parking and transportation to and from cruise port and free breakfast.

 

Van driver said it was 45 minute car ride to DC.

 

LEElee - how did you find the shuttle? Was it on time and not too cramped? How long was the drive to port? Hotel seems nice with good reviews so this may be a stay and cruise option for us. Tx

[Leelee47]

We had 5 people and a lot of luggage so we waited until the shuttle returned and then they took us. They made several trips, that day. We waited maybe 20-30 minutes. We were at the port by 11. Maybe it takes 15-20 minutes.

[pxy cda]

We had 5 people and a lot of luggage so we waited until the shuttle returned and then they took us. They made several trips, that day. We waited maybe 20-30 minutes. We were at the port by 11. Maybe it takes 15-20 minutes.

 

Thanks - how were they with pick up at the end of the trip? I find that to be the biggest hassle.

[Terpnut]

LEElee - how did you find the shuttle? Was it on time and not too cramped? How long was the drive to port? Hotel seems nice with good reviews so this may be a stay and cruise option for us. Tx

With no traffic, that's an under 10 minute ride to Locust Point. As for pickup/dropoff, if the shuttle is late or a no show, it's probably only an approx $25 taxi ride so that's an option for you. Edited January 30, 2015 by Terpnut

[trixiegal]

 

To visit DC prior to your cruise, I'd drive further south to the DC suburbs (e.g. Greenbelt, Bethesda or Silver Spring), park at a hotel where parking is free and use that hotel as your base for visiting Washington using Metro. Then to board your cruise, either drive directly to Port of Baltimore, or to a park and cruise hotel nearby. It's simply impractical and a huge waste of time to try to stay in one place for both purposes.

 

 

I don't agree with this. I live closer to Baltimore but if you stay in this area (Hanover, Elkridge or even further south in Laurel) you will only be 45 minutes away from downtown DC. Silver Spring and Bethesda hotels are much more expensive. Greenbelt hotels can be very sketchy.

 

It can be real hassle to drive and find parking in DC, other than very expensive parking garages. I'd recommend staying in the areas I suggested above as a home base and driving to the Greenbelt Metro station and taking the train into DC. Then you'd avoid traffic but not have to worry about changing hotels the night before your cruise. Greenbelt Metro is only 20 minutes from Elkridge/Hanover and 10-15 minutes from Laurel.

 

Laurel can also be a bit sketchy but if you stick to hotels closer to the Laurel Regional Hospital, they are nicer and newer. I'm not sure if they do park and cruises packages down there.

 

Hanover is home to Arundel Mills Mall, which houses a sprawling outlet mall, mega movie theatre, Medieval Times, Walmart and even a casino. Many hotels to choose from with park and cruise packages. It's only 15-20 minutes to the port from this area. Elkridge is the least expensive and five minutes from Hanover. It's mostly business parks and residential homes.

 

 

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[trixiegal]

Thinking about the Carnival Pride cruise leaving Baltimore on April 19, 2015. How early a flight from BWI do you think it's safe to book on the Sunday we arrive back in Baltimore? Thanks!

 

 

I wouldn't book a flight before 11am. I usually fly SWA out of BWI. And the security lines go pretty quickly in that part of the terminal. I'm not sure about the other airlines.

 

 

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[Psychobueller]

We're cruising on the Pride in August out of Baltimore. We live in central NJ, about a 2 ½ hour drive. Thinking we'll leave early in the morning and get there in plenty of time. Planning on parking at the cruise terminal. Anyone have any experience with that? Can you drop luggage before parking the car?

 

 

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[bowbiter]

I don't agree with this. I live closer to Baltimore but if you stay in this area (Hanover, Elkridge or even further south in Laurel) you will only be 45 minutes away from downtown DC. Silver Spring and Bethesda hotels are much more expensive. Greenbelt hotels can be very sketchy.

 

It can be real hassle to drive and find parking in DC, other than very expensive parking garages. I'd recommend staying in the areas I suggested above as a home base and driving to the Greenbelt Metro station and taking the train into DC. Then you'd avoid traffic but not have to worry about changing hotels the night before your cruise. Greenbelt Metro is only 20 minutes from Elkridge/Hanover and 10-15 minutes from Laurel.

 

Laurel can also be a bit sketchy but if you stick to hotels closer to the Laurel Regional Hospital, they are nicer and newer. I'm not sure if they do park and cruises packages down there.

 

Hanover is home to Arundel Mills Mall, which houses a sprawling outlet mall, mega movie theatre, Medieval Times, Walmart and even a casino. Many hotels to choose from with park and cruise packages. It's only 15-20 minutes to the port from this area. Elkridge is the least expensive and five minutes from Hanover. It's mostly business parks and residential homes.

 

 

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I agree with trixiegal. Take the metro into dc. I also live in the area.

 

I would suggest Hanover over the other areas just because of is more central. Easy access to highways to Baltimore and dc metro. But the mall, movie theatre, etc is good in case the weather stinks and you don't feel like going far. Lots of food options in the area too.

[AEPi71]

What is it like driving and parking at the port? I am only a couple hours away, so i'm planning on driving in the day of my cruise. Is there a line to wait in if they're not ready to take cars yet? Or is there some place close by to the port that we could drive to and wait? I plan on being there early. Any suggestions on what time I should try to be there by?

 

I'll be cruising out of baltimore in sept. And please someone tell me if any of the info I've found is off base. But a train for us, from Philly would be at least $80 each way. And I figure a taxi from the station would be another $20. We've called shuttle services and most are in the $300 range, one way. So we've determined our cheapest option is driving and parking. Figured $20-30 for gas roundtrip. And I believe the two tolls are the bridge and the MD/DE border. Both $4 each way for a total of 16. Parking at the pier I've heard is quite easy and close to the ship. It's $15 a day. So it would be around $140-150 total to drive down and park, including gas and tolls.