bluegirlum Posted March 18, 2009 #1 Share Posted March 18, 2009 Does anyone know if any major cruise line sails to/stops in Washington, DC (Alexandria, VA)? My BF swears that he has seen a HAL ship docked at the pier on the Potomac in Old Town, but when we searched, we couldn't find anything. It would obviously have to be a smaller ship. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2Cruise4Ever Posted March 18, 2009 #2 Share Posted March 18, 2009 No major cruise line can get anywhere near DC. The only ships are the lunch and dinner cruises (Spirit and Odyssey). The water is way too shallow for a cruise ship (to my knowledge). Is your BF sure it wasn't Baltimore? Several ships have sailed from/to there over the years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluegirlum Posted March 18, 2009 Author #3 Share Posted March 18, 2009 No major cruise line can get anywhere near DC. The only ships are the lunch and dinner cruises (Spirit and Odyssey). The water is way too shallow for a cruise ship (to my knowledge). Is your BF sure it wasn't Baltimore? Several ships have sailed from/to there over the years. That's what I thought (that it was too shallow). Also, we were on the river last night, and I thought that there was no way that a big ship could get through the bridge, even when it is up. He insists that he did see a big ship and a bunch of people getting off of it; he's been on the Odyssey, and we've been on big ships, so he knows the difference. He said it was at least 5 years ago when he lived here, but it could have been Baltimore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2Cruise4Ever Posted March 18, 2009 #4 Share Posted March 18, 2009 Well, I've lived in the DC area my entire life (41 years) and have never heard of a cruise ship in DC. But, the Spirit ships are bigger than the Odyssey (and can't get underneath the memorial bridges). So, maybe that's what he saw? The Spirit ships can hold several hundred people. Now, Baltimore, different story. The NCL Majesty and Carnival Pride sail out of Baltimore right now (well, ok, this Spring). And, HAL and Celebrity have cruised out of Baltimore in the past. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluegirlum Posted March 19, 2009 Author #5 Share Posted March 19, 2009 Well, I've lived in the DC area my entire life (41 years) and have never heard of a cruise ship in DC. But, the Spirit ships are bigger than the Odyssey (and can't get underneath the memorial bridges). So, maybe that's what he saw? The Spirit ships can hold several hundred people. Now, Baltimore, different story. The NCL Majesty and Carnival Pride sail out of Baltimore right now (well, ok, this Spring). And, HAL and Celebrity have cruised out of Baltimore in the past. Yeah, I'm guessing it was a Spirit ship that he saw. We both have been itching to go on our next cruise, so he probably just had it on the brain :) It's great that you can cruise out of Baltimore. Since I have your attention, do you know anything about this National Harbor complex? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikedw Posted March 19, 2009 #6 Share Posted March 19, 2009 Some of the smaller cruise lines like American Cruise Line sometimes go to Alexandria. The now defunct Delta Queen Costal Cruises did. Some of the Tall Ships stop in DC sometimes. Anything larger then a cruiser or destroyer couldn't make it up that far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2Cruise4Ever Posted March 19, 2009 #7 Share Posted March 19, 2009 Yeah, I'm guessing it was a Spirit ship that he saw. We both have been itching to go on our next cruise, so he probably just had it on the brain :) It's great that you can cruise out of Baltimore. Since I have your attention, do you know anything about this National Harbor complex? No, I haven't been there since it was opened. But, I've heard it's an awesome place to visit. Me? I'd go to the Smithsonian museums first. My faves are the Air & Space, the American History, and the Museum of Natural History. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terpnut Posted March 19, 2009 #8 Share Posted March 19, 2009 (edited) That's what I thought (that it was too shallow). Also, we were on the river last night, and I thought that there was no way that a big ship could get through the bridge, even when it is up. He insists that he did see a big ship and a bunch of people getting off of it; he's been on the Odyssey, and we've been on big ships, so he knows the difference. He said it was at least 5 years ago when he lived here, but it could have been Baltimore.I don't think the Potomac is too shallow but rather there is insufficient clearance at some of the major bridges AND there is really no place to dock because I don't think DC has a port! Edited March 19, 2009 by Terpnut Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluegirlum Posted March 19, 2009 Author #9 Share Posted March 19, 2009 No, I haven't been there since it was opened. But, I've heard it's an awesome place to visit. Me? I'd go to the Smithsonian museums first. My faves are the Air & Space, the American History, and the Museum of Natural History. We are staying at the Gaylord National for a conference, and it's really nice, but so far from everything. We took the water taxi to Old Town, which was fun, but it's not close to a Metro or anything. They are doing a ton of construction, and have some nice restaurants and shops, but it just seems to be placed in the middle of nowhere. I definitely prefer the Mall and the Monuments and just wish we were closer! I could spend a day at Air & Space alone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G'ma Posted March 19, 2009 #10 Share Posted March 19, 2009 Does anyone know if any major cruise line sails to/stops in Washington, DC (Alexandria, VA)? My BF swears that he has seen a HAL ship docked at the pier on the Potomac in Old Town, but when we searched, we couldn't find anything. It would obviously have to be a smaller ship. Thanks! Check this out.... http://www.accl-smallships.com/ http://www.ewaterways.com/cruise/coastal-cruises/united-states Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
read52 Posted March 19, 2009 #11 Share Posted March 19, 2009 If there was a cruise line going out of DC, I would be on it. Right now Baltimore has 4 cruise lines going out of it. They are RCCL, Norwegian, Carnival, and Celebrity. Two years ago we went on RCCL. This summer we are booked on Norwegian. We are also looking at Carnival for this summer. But even in Baltimore, they have to be the smaller ships because they have to go under the Key Bridge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
candysmom Posted March 19, 2009 #12 Share Posted March 19, 2009 my neighbor had a friend recently widowed with 2 teenage daughters who took a cruise to Bermuda from Old Town Alexandria. I just found the brochure. It was a new ship the crown Monarch of a wonderful(IMO) size with 556 passengers registered in Panama . the brochure i got from my Baltimore TA was from Didion World cruises 211 North Union Street. Alexandria. they had sailings 7day to Bermuda and 7 & 14 day cruises to Montreal and listed them from July 1993 thru september 1993. this seemed to be moderate prices not like the current Seabourn and other small ships who are too expensive for me. I dont know what happened to this ship . I like smaller ships and really enjoyed the Princesdam but the the HAL ships (not Vista) are OK too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare rafinmd Posted March 27, 2009 #13 Share Posted March 27, 2009 Dideon World Cruises arranged and promoted summer cruises from Alexandria in the 1990's. They seemed to get a different ship each year. I was on the Norwegian Leeward from Alexandria to Bermuda in 1998, which I think is the last year they did that. There were no real problems with the Potomac, but with an 18-foot draft we stirred up a lot of sediment on the river bottom. One complication of cruising from Alexandria was we had to be very careful about an on-time early afternoon departure (I think 1pm) to arrange an opening of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. I found this link on their web site; amazing that it's still there after all these years. http://www.didioncruises.com/4328390_33705.htm This may or may not still be technically feasable; I'm not sure how diligent we've been lately in keeping the river dredged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PattyG12 Posted March 27, 2009 #14 Share Posted March 27, 2009 About 10 years ago there was a very small german ship that was docked in Old Towne. When I called the travel agent they quoted some crazy price and I told her to forget it. I believe they had 300 rooms. It was big for Alexandria, but small compared to the "mega ships" ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piggie1951 Posted September 6, 2017 #15 Share Posted September 6, 2017 The Crown Monarch which was leased by the owner of Didion Cruises, sailed from Alexandria, VA to Bermuda in August of 1992. It carried a little over 500 passengers. Minus the choppy waters created by "Andrew" the cruise was wonderful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biker@sea Posted September 6, 2017 #16 Share Posted September 6, 2017 2009 thread :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spookwife Posted September 6, 2017 #17 Share Posted September 6, 2017 Since I have your attention, do you know anything about this National Harbor complex? other than the Aquarium, which is totally worth the price of admission, its overpriced food and shopping and kitschy touristy crap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teknoge3k Posted September 6, 2017 #18 Share Posted September 6, 2017 other than the Aquarium, which is totally worth the price of admission, its overpriced food and shopping and kitschy touristy crap. I think you're thinking of Inner Harbor, Baltimore? That's where the aquarium is. :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teknoge3k Posted September 6, 2017 #19 Share Posted September 6, 2017 Yeah, I'm guessing it was a Spirit ship that he saw. We both have been itching to go on our next cruise, so he probably just had it on the brain :) It's great that you can cruise out of Baltimore. Since I have your attention, do you know anything about this National Harbor complex? I am going to a concert this weekend at MGM National Harbor. If I think about it, I'll come back and leave a review of the complex. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6rugrats Posted September 6, 2017 #20 Share Posted September 6, 2017 This thread is from 2009. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TruckerDave Posted September 7, 2017 #21 Share Posted September 7, 2017 2009 thread :cool: This has got to be a record. 8 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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