The future of RCCL in Baltimore

[Pumbaamd]

Part of the deal when MGM was awarded the casino license a few years ago for their casino on the Potomac, just outside of DC, was "no gambling on any vessels on waterways in Maryland". The state line between MD/VA on the Potomac was drawn down the VA side, with the entire waterways given to MD.

Rick and Deirdra

[Dennis#1]

I think eventually with the sale of the Vision Class ships, RCL will most likely not replace a ship in Baltimore due to the same reasons why there are no more ships leaving out of Philadelphia, loss in revenue from the casino and shops. For the casino and shops to be closed most of the day on Day 1 and closed early on the last day, financially it doesn't benefit the cruise line. Yes the ships are full out of Baltimore, but the cruise lines don't rely much on booking cabins, they make most of their money on what the passengers spend on the ship. I believe the casinos can now open at night in Bermuda. RCL was probably losing a lot of revenue with their 5 day cruises to Bermuda out of Baltimore since the casino was probably only open around 2.5 days while at sea.

To sum it up in my opinion, I think once the Grandeur is retired, there will be no RCL ship out of Baltimore.

 

I hope you are wrong. Looking forward to our next cruise from Balitmore on the Grandeur (Oct. 28th).

[coolcruiser777]

I hope you are wrong. Looking forward to our next cruise from Balitmore on the Grandeur (Oct. 28th).

 

They do, in fact, not open the first night and close around 8:00 the last night. Casinos are allowed to operate from 9PM-5AM in Bermuda, though.

[dctravel]

You may be right as Carnival is probably paying for fees and taxes to Louisiana so it can open while in local waters.

 

 

 

And, I think riverboat gambling is legal in LA.

 

 

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[NatsFanOnBoard]

Part of the deal when MGM was awarded the casino license a few years ago for their casino on the Potomac, just outside of DC, was "no gambling on any vessels on waterways in Maryland". The state line between MD/VA on the Potomac was drawn down the VA side, with the entire waterways given to MD.

Rick and Deirdra

Were you insinuating that the state line was redrawn when the MGM casino was built? Maryland has controlled the Potomac River since the 1700's.

[heatherpl]

I have cruised on Grandeur 2 times and I live outside of Baltimore about 15-20 minutes for 32 years. As years go by in certain parts of the city it is bad but where the port is it is safe. You literally have to go deep in the city as in East Side or West Side to see the crime. Where the Raven Stadium/Orioles Stadium and Under Armour brewery and new warehouse by the port it is safer in those parts no problem at all. I am saying this is cause a lot to people tend to say Baltimore is unsafe Yes it is if you don't know where you are going certain parts are and certain parts are fine. Inner Harbor/Power Plant live where the night clubs and museums are that is where the tourists go and A lot of Baltimore City Police patrol those parts of the neighborhood. I mean advise not to go deep down the city no tourist does.

During the day it is fine to walk around and sight see and go to museums, shopping and eating. I do advise be aware of the surroundings cause you do get sketchy people walking down the harbor all the time.

 

Now the Ship. The port of baltimore is considered on the out skirts of the city. it is right outside of M&T stadium so you basically don't have to cross into the city unless your going into the city to get to the port a different way. Under Armour is next to the port which bought huge major deal to build on the land next to the ship port. I also believe a restaurant will be opening soon that Kevin Plank is opening.

 

Parking is easy and self sufficient as well. And the ship is easy access off 895, 95 routes. the terminal to check in is easy to navigate.

[BrnBrok]

Have sailed on Grandeur many times. Yes it is an older ship, but sometimes the ease of no travel outweighs the newness of the ship. The itinerary continues to be of interest to me, and the service by the staff still is quite good. Having said all of that I would enjoy sailing on the Radiance Class as my experience on those ships was also really good too. I did not know that this class could fit under the bridges closest to the cruise port, but if the information about fitting under our bridges is correct that would be a nice short term change of pace.

 

In all my sailings from Baltimore we only ran into embarkation problems once and that was a weather related problem caused by the ship returning from the Caribbean. I can't comment about ease of parking as we use a private company to drop us off. Weather for me does dictate choosing an ocean-view cabin rather than a balcony in cold weather sailings. Of course once in the warm and sunny weather of the islands outside is more agreeable. In all of our sailings around December we only had one really cold cruise. We had cold weather on departure, 25 degrees in Charleston, and to cap it off 39 degrees in Key West...but that all was so far a once in a lifetime experience.

 

As far as safety goes Baltimore continues to experience crime at a high level, but generally these occur outside of tourist areas. Once has to be careful as you would in any large city. And if you are just coming to the cruise port I have never heard of any problems.

[Ocean Dancer]

Yes, the Radiance class will fit under the bridge.

[Dennis#1]

I agree with the below posts by BrnBrok and Healtherpl. We have sailed out of Baltimore 4 times so far on the Grandeur. We will be on the Grandeur again next month (departing Oct. 28th). The Port of Baltimore is very easy to get to from Virginia, and parking is quite close to the terminal. We have never had any problems with embarkation or debarkation.

 

If RCI does sell the Grandeur, we would welcome a Radiance class ship as a substitute. Even though I like the Grandeur, our favorite class is the Radiance class.

[Pumbaamd]

Were you insinuating that the state line was redrawn when the MGM casino was built? Maryland has controlled the Potomac River since the 1700's.

No, not at all. Maybe I could have worded it better.

GO NATS!!!

[bananawindnj]

Born and raised outside Baltimore and it is an unsafe area. Lots of crime. But the port is convenient for us so I hope they keep it. Though that is the slowest embarkation port we have ever dealt with...cruised 10 times out of 5 ports.

We just walked in the terminal at 11:30AM (Aug 24th) and got our pass cards immediately and then walked on the ship. The easiest time out of our 8 Baltimore trips. We are diamond, which helped a bit, but not in any suite or anything, Actually an inside cabin

[laumicmah]

My two cruises out of Baltimore, both on Carnival Pride, had long slow car line to get to porters. Then long slow line to park. Then long slow line through security. Then sat in rows and rows if chairs waiting for boarding. Both times we arrived around 11 and was close to 1 by the time we got on the ship. Boarding for zones 1 and 2 started around 12:30. My cruise last week on Royal, out of PC, we arrived at noon and was on the ship by 12:30 (3 other times we cruised out of PC was pretty good too). Cruised out of Miami, Jaxport twice and NY as well and all those were better than B- more. Just my experience only.

 

And debarkation off Pride, one of my cruises, was some hold up and we couldn't get off until like 10am. Sat in lounge waiting for our zone to be called for two hours or so. Only cruise, out of 10, we had such a delay in debarkation.

[cruzinlady1947]

My two cruises out of Baltimore, both on Carnival Pride, had long slow car line to get to porters. Then long slow line to park. Then long slow line through security. Then sat in rows and rows if chairs waiting for boarding. Both times we arrived around 11 and was close to 1 by the time we got on the ship. Boarding for zones 1 and 2 started around 12:30. My cruise last week on Royal, out of PC, we arrived at noon and was on the ship by 12:30 (3 other times we cruised out of PC was pretty good too). Cruised out of Miami, Jaxport twice and NY as well and all those were better than B- more. Just my experience only.

 

And debarkation off Pride, one of my cruises, was some hold up and we couldn't get off until like 10am. Sat in lounge waiting for our zone to be called for two hours or so. Only cruise, out of 10, we had such a delay in debarkation.

Then, it is Carnival's fault. I have cruise over close to 30 times from Baltimore with Royal and we have had trouble only 1 or 2 times with embarkation or debarkation. Maybe, Carnival doesn't run it as smoothly as Royal.

I hope they, meaning Royal, keeps a ship in Baltimore.

Gwen :D

[laumicmah]

Then, it is Carnival's fault. I have cruise over close to 30 times from Baltimore with Royal and we have had trouble only 1 or 2 times with embarkation or debarkation. Maybe, Carnival doesn't run it as smoothly as Royal.

I hope they, meaning Royal, keeps a ship in Baltimore.

Gwen :D

Very well could be. I was wondering if this was the case. So we shall see when we cruise Royal out of Baltimore in Jan 2019. Unless they sell the Grandeur and don't replace her:(

[Dennis#1]

Has RCI officially announced that the Grandeur of the Sea is up for sale? Have heard rumors of it, but nothing from a reliable source. Sure home the rumors are not true.

[Clarea]

Has RCI officially announced that the Grandeur of the Sea is up for sale? ... .

Nope.

[bay guy]

This is why RCI needs to base their ship out of Norfolk, VA. Into international waters within about 2 hours of leaving the pier at the cruise terminal.

[NatsFanOnBoard]

This is why RCI needs to base their ship out of Norfolk, VA. Into international waters within about 2 hours of leaving the pier at the cruise terminal.

Few direct flights into Norfolk and too far from any major population center.

[Beachammo]

Few direct flights into Norfolk and too far from any major population center.

Virginia Beach–Norfolk–Newport News, VA–NC MSA" is a U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). According to the 2010 Census, its population is 1,676,822 and the 2014 estimated population is*1,716,624.

 

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[bay guy]

Actually, there are many direct flights from PHL, ATL, LGA, JFK, CLT plus we are within a 3 hour drive of the huge metro DC population in Norfolk/Virginia Beach. Plus, we have hundreds of thousands of people who vacation in Vrginia Beach every year who could easily combine that with a cruise vacation.

 

Most every cruise that Carnival has done out of her over the past several years has been fully booked.

 

With proper promotion, it could be done well to the benefit of both the cruise line and our area.

[Rogueperson]

Baltimore MSA is almost double Norfolk's MSA population at almost 2.8 million. Right next door, is the Washington Metropolitan Area MSA which puts population at an additional 6.7 million. The next one over from Norfolk, is the Greater Richmond MSA, which is only an additional 1.2 million.

 

BWI (closest airport to the port of Baltimore) processed 25 million passengers vs. Norfolk International's 1,5 million. Reagan National, which is the next closest large airport, processes another 24 million vs. Richmond International's 3.8 million.

 

A choice between Norfolk and Baltimore, Baltimore would win easily with the higher population and airport volumes. Its a possibility that that Norfolk's airport can't handle the increased number of passengers if cruise ship were to leave more frequently from there.

[Beachammo]

Baltimore MSA is almost double Norfolk's MSA population at almost 2.8 million. Right next door, is the Washington Metropolitan Area MSA which puts population at an additional 6.7 million. The next one over from Norfolk, is the Greater Richmond MSA, which is only an additional 1.2 million.

 

BWI (closest airport to the port of Baltimore) processed 25 million passengers vs. Norfolk International's 1,5 million. Reagan National, which is the next closest large airport, processes another 24 million vs. Richmond International's 3.8 million.

 

A choice between Norfolk and Baltimore, Baltimore would win easily with the higher population and airport volumes. Its a possibility that that Norfolk's airport can't handle the increased number of passengers if cruise ship were to leave more frequently from there.

And New Orleans has half the population of the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area.....

 

Using your hypothesis....New York City, Los Angeles, and Houston would require all the cruise ships.

 

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[flag fan]

And New Orleans has half the population of the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area.....

 

Using your hypothesis....New York City, Los Angeles, and Houston would require all the cruise ships.

 

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But I think one difference is that New Orleans is a tourist attraction in its own right--much like southern Florida and New York. Baltimore and Norfolk--not as much--so cruises from those cities probably need to rely more on local people traveling rather than people flying in to catch a cruise.

[Beachammo]

But I think one difference is that New Orleans is a tourist attraction in its own right--much like southern Florida and New York. Baltimore and Norfolk--not as much--so cruises from those cities probably need to rely more on local people traveling rather than people flying in to catch a cruise.

In 2015, Virginia Beach*hosted*13.9 million visitors.

 

in 2015, New Orleans hosted 9.78 million visitors.

 

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[flag fan]

In 2015, Virginia Beach*hosted*13.9 million visitors.

 

in 2015, New Orleans hosted 9.78 million visitors.

 

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An very interesting statistic, thanks for providing it. I may be wrong. On the other hand, how many of those Virginia Beach visitors were from the local area--primarily the Washington, D.C. area--and how many came from outside the local area. Baltimore can attract locals from Washington, Baltimore, and Philadelphia.