Departure port · Cruise Maryland Terminal · Maryland
Cruises from Baltimore
Cruises from Baltimore sail year-round with Carnival from the Cruise Maryland Terminal, just off I-95 near Fort McHenry: seven- and eight-night trips to the Bahamas and Florida, Bermuda round trips from spring to fall, longer Caribbean voyages in winter and Canada and New England in the foliage season. It’s the drive-to port for Maryland, Washington, DC, Virginia and Pennsylvania, about 20 minutes from BWI airport.
- Bahamas
- Bermuda
- Caribbean
- Eastern Caribbean
- Southern Caribbean
Photo: US department of agriculture, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Cruise port
- Cruise Maryland Terminal
- Location
- Baltimore, Maryland
- Main destinations
- Bahamas, Bermuda, Caribbean
- Cruise lines
- 3 lines sail from here
Sailing from Baltimore
The Cruise Maryland Terminal sits at South Locust Point on the Patapsco River, practically beside the I-95 interchange and a few minutes from Fort McHenry, where the defense of Baltimore in 1814 inspired the national anthem. It’s a straightforward, single-terminal port, and a ship departure here is a short drive for tens of millions of people in the Mid-Atlantic.
Carnival bases a ship here year-round and has announced a second for future seasons. Typical itineraries are seven-night Bahamas cruises with stops such as Port Canaveral, Nassau, Freeport, Half Moon Cay (RelaxAway) or Celebration Key, seven-night Bermuda trips, and longer Eastern and Southern Caribbean voyages in winter. Royal Caribbean has also based ships in Baltimore in past years, so watch for its return. Expect two sea days at each end of most trips.
Baltimore’s location is both its strength and its weakness. It’s easy to reach by car or train, but ships spend the first and last several hours sailing the length of the Chesapeake Bay, and the bridges over the bay limit ship size, so you won’t find the biggest megaships here. Winter departures start in cold weather, and the Atlantic off Cape Hatteras can be rough.
Where cruises from Baltimore go
Bahamas cruises
Year-round; warmest dry weather March to May. Cooler water December to February; hurricane season June 1 to November 30.
Bermuda cruises
Mainly April to early November; best May and June, with warm seas into October. Few or no sailings December to February.
Caribbean cruises
Year-round; driest and busiest December to April. Hurricane season June 1 to November 30, most active August to October.
Eastern Caribbean cruises
Year-round; best December to April. This route is the most exposed to Atlantic hurricanes, especially August to October.
Southern Caribbean cruises
Year-round; best December to April. The ABC islands stay a good bet even in hurricane season (June 1 to November 30).
Canada & New England cruises
May to October; fall foliage late September to mid-October, warmest July and August.
Cruise lines sailing from Baltimore
Cruise Maryland Terminal cruise terminals
There is one terminal, with a covered drop-off area, porters at the curb for checked luggage and a single check-in hall inside. Parking is on site, so most drivers walk to the entrance in a few minutes. Lines are usually manageable because only one ship turns around on most days. Arrive in your assigned window and plan to be on board at least an hour before departure; ships typically sail in the late afternoon and reach the mouth of the bay overnight.
Getting to the port
Flying in
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall (BWI) is about 10 miles (16 km) south, typically 15 to 20 minutes by car. Washington Reagan National (DCA) is roughly an hour away and Washington Dulles (IAD) about an hour and a quarter, more at rush hour. Taxis and rideshare serve all three, and some cruise lines sell transfers from BWI. Amtrak trains stop at Baltimore Penn Station and the BWI rail station, each a short taxi ride from the terminal.
Driving
From I-95, take the exit for Key Highway and McComas Street just north of the Fort McHenry Tunnel; the terminal is a few turns away and well signed. From Washington, DC, I-95 or the Baltimore-Washington Parkway takes about an hour. Allow extra time on Friday afternoons and summer weekends.
Parking
The terminal has secure on-site parking, charged per day and paid on arrival, which is the main reason so many cruisers drive here. Spaces close to the entrance fill first, so arrive early in your window on busy summer sailings. Several hotels near BWI sell park-and-cruise packages with a shuttle on sailing day.
Where to stay before a cruise from Baltimore
The Inner Harbor, Harbor East and Fells Point are 10 to 15 minutes from the terminal and put you among restaurants, bars and the National Aquarium. Federal Hill, just across the harbor, has row-house streets and a hilltop park with skyline views. Hotels near BWI are cheaper, many with free shuttles and cruise parking packages, and are handy for late arrivals by air or Amtrak.
Things to do in Baltimore before or after your cruise
- 1
Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
history
A few minutes from the cruise terminal, this star-shaped brick fort withstood a 25-hour British bombardment in September 1814, inspiring Francis Scott Key to write ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’. A visitor center film, the restored barracks and the ramparts with harbor views make a two-hour visit.
- 2
Inner Harbor and the National Aquarium
family
Baltimore’s redeveloped waterfront is lined with promenades, shops and historic ships. The National Aquarium there has a rainforest under a glass pyramid, a shark-filled reef and an Australian river-gorge exhibit with free-flying birds. Plan two to three hours for the aquarium alone.
- 3
Historic Ships in Baltimore
history
Moored around the Inner Harbor, this collection includes the USS Constellation, an 1854 sloop-of-war and the last all-sail warship built by the US Navy, plus a World War II submarine, a Coast Guard cutter and a lightship. One ticket covers several vessels.
- 4
Fells Point
culture
This 18th-century waterfront neighborhood of cobblestone streets and brick row houses is packed with pubs, oyster bars, live music and antique shops. Water taxis link it with the Inner Harbor, and it’s about 15 minutes from the terminal by car.
- 5
A Maryland crab feast
food
Steamed blue crabs dusted with Old Bay seasoning, cracked with wooden mallets on paper-covered tables, are Baltimore’s signature meal, best from late spring to early fall. Crab cakes, especially jumbo lump with little filler, are available year-round. Neighborhood crab houses across the city serve both.
- 6
American Visionary Art Museum
culture
At the foot of Federal Hill, this museum showcases self-taught and outsider artists in an exuberant mix of mosaics, sculptures and whimsical installations. It’s unlike any other museum in the country and a 10-minute drive from the port.
When cruises sail from Baltimore
Carnival sails from Baltimore all year. Bermuda trips run mainly from spring to fall, Canada and New England cruises in late summer and fall, and Bahamas, Florida and Caribbean itineraries throughout the year, with longer warm-weather voyages in winter. Summer and school holidays are busiest. From December to March, expect a cold sail-away and a chilly first day at sea before you reach the Gulf Stream. Hurricane season from June to November can change ports on southern itineraries.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F (°C) | 415 | 457 | 5312 | 6518 | 7423 | 8328 | 9032 | 8831 | 8228 | 7021 | 5614 | 468 |
| Low °F (°C) | 26-3 | 28-2 | 341 | 447 | 5513 | 6418 | 7121 | 6920 | 6217 | 5010 | 383 | 310 |
| Rain in (mm) | 3.179 | 2.974 | 3.282 | 3.385 | 4.3108 | 4.3109 | 4.9125 | 4.4112 | 4.4112 | 3.077 | 3.075 | 3.795 |
| Daylight (hrs) | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 |
Embarkation day tips
- Stay on deck for the first couple of hours. Ships pass Fort McHenry and the Francis Scott Key Bridge site, then sail under the twin spans of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge near Annapolis.
- Factor in the bay. It takes many hours to sail the Chesapeake to the Atlantic, so you return to Baltimore early in the morning after a long night run up the bay, and fog occasionally delays arrival.
- Take the train if you live along the Northeast Corridor. Amtrak to Baltimore Penn Station or BWI, then a short taxi, avoids parking and I-95 traffic.
- Pack a warm jacket from October to April, even on a Bahamas cruise. Baltimore sail-aways in winter can be near freezing, and the open decks stay cold until the second day.
- Check whether Royal Caribbean or another line has returned to Baltimore for your dates; deployments here have changed often, and more choice may appear for future seasons.
Cruises from Baltimore: FAQs
Where is the Baltimore cruise terminal?
At South Locust Point, just off I-95 near Fort McHenry and the Fort McHenry Tunnel. The Cruise Maryland Terminal is about 10 minutes from the Inner Harbor and 15 to 20 minutes from BWI airport.
Which cruise lines sail from Baltimore?
Carnival sails from Baltimore year-round and has announced plans to add a second ship. Royal Caribbean has based ships here in past years, and other lines occasionally start or end voyages in Baltimore, so check current schedules.
How far is BWI airport from the Baltimore cruise port?
About 10 miles, or 15 to 20 minutes by taxi or rideshare. Washington’s Reagan National and Dulles airports are about an hour or more away by car.
Is there parking at the Baltimore cruise terminal?
Yes. Secure on-site parking is available, charged per day and paid on arrival. You can walk from your car to the terminal entrance, which makes Baltimore one of the easiest drive-to ports on the East Coast.
How long does it take a cruise ship to get from Baltimore to the ocean?
Roughly eight to ten hours. Ships sail about 150 miles down the Chesapeake Bay before reaching the Atlantic near Virginia Beach, so most of the first evening and night are spent in the bay.
Where do cruises from Baltimore go?
To the Bahamas and Florida, Bermuda, the Eastern and Southern Caribbean and, in fall, Canada and New England. Most trips are seven or eight nights, with some longer winter voyages.
Updated November 2026 by the BookMyDreamCruise editorial team. How we research and fact-check.
Sources: Wikipedia, Wikidata, NASA POWER climate data.