First cruise from Baltimore: questions and answers

These are the questions people ask before their first cruise from Baltimore, answered from the port's and the lines' own pages. Each answer links to the guide that goes into more detail.

Which cruise lines sail from Baltimore?

Two: Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean. Carnival Pride sails from Baltimore all year. From November 2027, Carnival Miracle joins it for the winter, under a two-year deal the Maryland Port Administration announced in February 2026. Royal Caribbean's Vision of the Seas sails from Baltimore from late May to October 2027.

The cruise lines page has every sailing for each line.

Where do cruises leave from in Baltimore?

All of them leave the Cruise Maryland Terminal, 2001 East McComas Street, Baltimore, MD 21230. It is just off I-95 at Exit 55, Key Highway, inside the port's South Locust Point terminal, and not at the Inner Harbor. Our terminal guide has directions from every side.

What time should I get to the terminal?

At the time on your ticket. The port opens the terminal entrance at 8am, or two hours after the ship arrives if that is later, and asks passengers not to arrive before their embarkation time. Carnival and Royal Caribbean both give you an arrival slot when you check in online, and Carnival's online check-in closes at midnight Eastern time the night before you sail.

How much does it cost to park at the Baltimore cruise terminal?

$25 a day per car since 1 April 2026, in the port's own lots within walking distance of the terminal. You don't book ahead, and you pay by Visa, Mastercard or Discover when you arrive. The parking guide has the RV rates and the hotel options.

Which airport is closest to the Baltimore cruise port?

BWI Thurgood Marshall, about 10 miles away. Nothing on public transport goes to the terminal, so take a taxi or rideshare from the airport. The port says taxis going back from the terminal to BWI charge a flat $30. The airport guide covers the light rail and the Washington airports too.

How many days are at sea on a cruise from Baltimore?

On the current schedule, a 7-night Bahamas or Bermuda trip on Carnival spends two days at sea on the way out and one on the way back, with three days in port. The 14-night Southern Caribbean trips spend three days at sea on the way out and two or three on the way back. Royal Caribbean's 5-night Bermuda trip has one sea day each way.

Do I need a passport to cruise from Baltimore?

Not for a round trip, if you are a U.S. citizen. Both lines accept a birth certificate with a government photo ID on cruises that start and end in Baltimore. Both still recommend a passport, and Royal Caribbean's one-way trips to San Juan require a passport book. Our documents guide has the details, including Bermuda.

What do I do with my luggage?

Put the cruise line's luggage tags on every bag before you leave home. At the terminal the port directs you to its luggage boxes, where checked bags are screened and handled, and then on to parking. If you forgot the tags, there is a tent marked "Cruise Luggage Tags" on your left as you enter. Carnival takes checked bags only until two hours before the ship's published departure.

What happens on the last morning?

The port says nobody leaves the ship until customs clearance is done, about two to three hours after it arrives. Once you are off the ship you can't go back into the terminal's seated waiting area, so go straight to your car, a taxi or your ride. People collecting passengers wait in the port's "Pick Up" lot, whose gates open at 8:30am.

When is the cheapest time to cruise from Baltimore?

In the middle of winter. On 25 October 2026, January and February 2027 had the lowest typical fares for a 7-night cruise, and July the highest. Our season guide has the month-by-month figures and the weather.

What is the shortest cruise from Baltimore?

Five nights, on Royal Caribbean's Bermuda trips in summer 2027. There are no 3- or 4-night cruises from Baltimore on the schedule. Our guide to short cruises from Baltimore has the dates.