Baltimore!!

[Lady Hudson]

Just got an email from a friend in MD.  Gov Hogan has announced that the cruise port will open on Saturday.  More details to follow, I am sure.  Katherine

[sandebeach]

That is great news for Baltimore cruising. 

[shipgeeks]

Wow!

[lovelife]

Yay -- I'm 90 minutes away!

[long4acruise]

An excerpt from his news conference and the local TV news report about 20 minutes ago.  Wasn't sure how long the news video was so just posted the pertinent info:

 

CRUISE TERMINAL: Effective Saturday, the cruise terminal in Baltimore City will reopen. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working directly with ports and cruise industry representatives to prepare for their safe return to business, the governor said.

Edited May 12, 2021 by long4acruise
added "long"

[voyager70]

Great news!

 

[Sunshine3601]

That is Awesome.   I love sailing out of Baltimore, little over 2 hr drive and we love to stay pre or post cruise at the inner harbor and enjoy fells points, etc etc etc.

I hope Cape Liberty, NJ announces their opening too!

[Straughn]

I used to live in Alexandria, VA. If all things traffic related, and my late husband was driving, it was a 45 minute drive!!!  When I drove, it was closer to an hour. I now live just south of  Jacksonville, FL. The closest port with a RCCL ship is about 2:15 hours from my home.  I miss the easy drive.

[long4acruise]

9 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

That is Awesome.   I love sailing out of Baltimore, little over 2 hr drive and we love to stay pre or post cruise at the inner harbor and enjoy fells points, etc etc etc.

I hope Cape Liberty, NJ announces their opening too!

Baltimore is a great port to depart from - probably the easiest!  We live about 35 minutes away and used to frequent the Inner Harbor area on weekends for good seafood, sports games, etc.

We also hope Cape Liberty opens later this summer.  It's a 2.5 hr Amtrak ride away for us and we still have a 9N sailing from there in the fall.

[retiredgram]

So happy.  Terminal about 30 minutes away.  Now the CDC has to get onboard.

[lenquixote66]

1 hour ago, Lady Hudson said:

Just got an email from a friend in MD.  Gov Hogan has announced that the cruise port will open on Saturday.  More details to follow, I am sure.  Katherine

Does this mean that there will be cruise ships docking there ?

[Lady Hudson]

13 minutes ago, lenquixote66 said:

Does this mean that there will be cruise ships docking there ?

I guess — if everything is worked out with the CDC.  At least it is a start. 😀

[lenquixote66]

20 minutes ago, Lady Hudson said:

I guess — if everything is worked out with the CDC.  At least it is a start. 😀

Baltimore was my favorite cruise port even though it is a 5 hour drive.

[poocher]

Is there a shuttle from the airport to the cruise terminal?  Baltimore is a puddle jump from CT and I’d be very happy to sale from there.

[boscobeans]

2 hours ago, poocher said:

Is there a shuttle from the airport to the cruise terminal?  Baltimore is a puddle jump from CT and I’d be very happy to sale from there.

15 - 20 minute cab or Uber ride.. 

[RCCL Fan]

Radiance class is the max they can handle, correct?

[long4acruise]

4 minutes ago, RCCL Fan said:

Radiance class is the max they can handle, correct?

To the best of my knowledge, the Vision class (Grandeur and Enchantment) are the only RC ships to have sailed from Port of Baltimore.

There's debate on the Radiance class.  At many Captain's Corner Talks, it has been mentioned that a Radiance class may fit, if they do xyz... A few Captains or Engineers have stated a Radiance will fit.  

 

Nonetheless, it is a nice sailing under the bridges and down the Chesapeake, the Norfolk tunnel...

[Lady Hudson]

Yes, there has always been a discussion as to whether the Radiance class ships would fit under the bridge.  
 

Grandeur was to be sold last March with Enchantment taking her spot.  Now Grandeur is staying with Royal and Enchantment will be sailing from Baltimore as planned — hopefully soon!

[Sunshine3601]

We love baltimore harbor.  We used to travel there for long weekends at least 2 or 3 times a year since the 90s.   We have been there for several new years eve celebrations/fireworks on waterfront.  Always have fun.   

The best crabcakes ever at ofaidleys in Lexington market.  

Yes, it is a bummer that casino doesnt open up the night of sail away.  

[NavArch64]

The important question now is .... will RCCL apply to the CDC for a CSC under the CSO for Enchantment OTS? Also, of course, can they recruit enough staff to properly crew the ship and can all (or 98%) of them be vaccinated. Maybe under Gov. Hogan's order, RCCL can bring the ship to Baltimore to vaccinate the crew.

[NavArch64]

One more thing .... under the CDC color code, Enchantment OTS is currently GREEN.

[ArthurUSCG]

7 minutes ago, dodgestang said:

 

Yes, a large part of Baltimore has deteriorated.  The cruise port is not really in the city though.  For example if you visit the inner harbor....you know not to stay more than 1 block away essentially at any time of the day, and once the sun goes down you go back to your hotel....however.....the port is not near the population centers, right off the interstate and easy to get in and out of.......exit 95, pull into port, park, sail, return, get it car, get right back on 95 and drive away.

I think that's a little over exaggerating, I've walked between Fells point, the Power Plant and the Marriott over on the other side of the Ball park and never felt unsafe. But in general, stay near the water and you will be in the tourist and upper class areas.

Yea, the cruise port is stupid easy to drive to. Although, I would be nice if it was moved out to Sparrows Point, then the big ships could dock.

[dodgestang]

Town has changed DRAMATICALLY in the last 14 months

[Arzeena]

16 hours ago, Lady Hudson said:

Just got an email from a friend in MD.  Gov Hogan has announced that the cruise port will open on Saturday.  More details to follow, I am sure.  Katherine

🥰😘🥰

[ArthurUSCG]

30 minutes ago, dodgestang said:

Town has changed DRAMATICALLY in the last 14 months

Yea, I guess it has been around 2 years since I last walked around down there since most places have been restricted or shut down.