BWI
Airport loungesBaltimore/Washington International
To Baltimore · one way
Verified transfer prices from BWI have not been published yet. Check the transport operator before booking.
Cruise port guideUSBAL
Baltimore
Baltimore's Cruise Maryland terminal is a few minutes from the Inner Harbor, with sailings to Bermuda, the Bahamas and the Caribbean.
9 things to do1 airport connections1 ships
Your day ashore, at a glance
Peak season: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Make the most of your stop
Things to do in Baltimore
Choose an easy wander, a local highlight or a bigger day out. Compare practical details before you head ashore.
Photo: Chris6d — CC BY-SA 4.0 · License
Recommended ashore
Inner Harbor
The National Aquarium and historic ships, minutes from the terminal.
- Distance from port
- Not assessed
- Cost
- Free
- Tourist-trap risk
- Mixed
- Physical effort
- Low
- Accessibility
- Partly accessible
Photo: www.nps.gov
Recommended ashore
Fort McHenry
Where the Star-Spangled Banner was written, a short drive or water taxi away.
- Distance from port
- Not assessed
- Cost
- Low
- Tourist-trap risk
- Low
- Physical effort
- Low
- Accessibility
- Accessible
Photo: Matthew Binebrink — CC BY-SA 4.0 · License
Recommended ashore
Fells Point
Cobbled streets, pubs and crab cakes on the waterfront.
- Distance from port
- Not assessed
- Cost
- Free
- Tourist-trap risk
- Mixed
- Physical effort
- Moderate
- Accessibility
- Partly accessible
Photo: National Park Service / R. Mendoza
Recommended ashore
Washington, D.C.
The National Mall and Smithsonian museums, an hour away for a pre-cruise stay.
- Distance from port
- Not assessed
- Cost
- Free
- Tourist-trap risk
- Low
- Physical effort
- Moderate
- Accessibility
- Accessible
Photo: Dylan k; CC BY-SA 3.0; cropped · License
Recommended ashore
The Walters Art Museum
Explore art spanning centuries in Mount Vernon, with free admission and a manageable indoor alternative to a long waterfront walk.
- Distance from port
- Not assessed
- Cost
- Free
- Tourist-trap risk
- Low
- Physical effort
- Low
- Accessibility
- Partly accessible
Photo: National Aquarium
Recommended ashore
National Aquarium
See aquatic habitats and the tropical rainforest on the Inner Harbor. Book an entry time and allow time for the multi-level exhibits.
- Distance from port
- Not assessed
- Cost
- High
- Tourist-trap risk
- Low
- Physical effort
- Moderate
- Accessibility
- Accessible
Photo: American Visionary Art Museum
Recommended ashore
American Visionary Art Museum
Discover work by self-taught artists beside Federal Hill, including imaginative sculpture and changing exhibitions.
- Distance from port
- Not assessed
- Cost
- Moderate
- Tourist-trap risk
- Low
- Physical effort
- Low
- Accessibility
- Accessible
Photo: Eli Pousson / Baltimore Heritage; CC0; cropped · License
Recommended ashore
Baltimore Museum of Art
Visit the art collections and sculpture gardens near Johns Hopkins. General admission is free; special exhibitions may require separate tickets.
- Distance from port
- Not assessed
- Cost
- Free
- Tourist-trap risk
- Low
- Physical effort
- Low
- Accessibility
- Accessible
Photo: Maryland Science Center
Recommended ashore
Maryland Science Center
Explore hands-on science exhibits, demonstrations and the planetarium at the Inner Harbor; a useful family option in poor weather.
- Distance from port
- Not assessed
- Cost
- Moderate
- Tourist-trap risk
- Low
- Physical effort
- Moderate
- Accessibility
- Accessible
Getting to your ship
Airport to cruise port
The Cruise Maryland terminal is about 12 miles (19 km) from Baltimore/Washington International, 20 minutes by taxi or rideshare. Washington's Reagan and Dulles airports are about an hour away.
Rental cars: Plenty of choice at BWI's rental facility; the terminal has a parking garage.
Know before you go
Safety ashore
Women travelers
Routine precautionsEditorial baseline for a daytime port visit, based on country-level government advice rather than a women-specific local incident rate. Canada advises normal security precautions in the United States; theft occurs in tourist areas and violent crime varies by neighbourhood, particularly after dark. Check the route locally, keep valuables secure and arrange transport for unfamiliar areas at night. This rating does not establish that every terminal or neighbourhood is safe.
Reviewed 2026-10-25
LGBTQ+ travelers
Extra caution advisedGovernment advice highlights changing federal gender-marker processes and state or local rules affecting LGBTQ+ travelers. Check the relevant state and your travel documents; this is not a port-specific incident score. Assessment uses country-level government advice; port-specific conditions may differ.
Reviewed 2026-10-25
Editorial guidance reflects the cited advice and review date. Laws, attitudes and conditions can differ within a destination. No rating guarantees personal safety.
Pick your moment
When to go
- Jan: Low season
- Feb: Low season
- Mar: Shoulder season
- Apr: Shoulder season
- May: High season
- Jun: High season
- Jul: High season
- Aug: High season
- Sep: High season
- Oct: Shoulder season
- Nov: Shoulder season
- Dec: Shoulder season
● High season○ Shoulder season◌ Low season
Sailings run all year, with Bermuda trips filling the summer and Caribbean runs carrying through winter.
Who else is in port?
Port crowding index
100 is average. 150 means 50% more ship passenger capacity than this port’s observed hourly average over the past 30 days; 50 means half the average.
Checking ships in port…
Estimate for tracked catalog ships, based on published passenger capacity, not actual passengers ashore. Port areas are approximate circles around published port coordinates. Only positions reported within an hour at 1 knot or less are counted; ships at anchor may be included. Missing AIS reports and untracked ships can understate crowding. Quiet observed hours count toward the average; collection outages do not.
Set sail
Ships sailing from Baltimore
Related news about Baltimore
Nothing about Baltimore yet. The latest cruise news:
- Ambassador Adds 20 Caribbean Sailings Through 2029 as Storms Reroute Ambition's Northern Lights Cruise
The UK no-fly line extends its Renaissance fly-cruises, its French arm becomes Ambassador Croisières with 92% occupancy, and Norway storms force port swaps.
Cruise lines
- Royal Caribbean Reports Q3 Tuesday After Raising Its 2026 Outlook in July; Legend of the Seas Arrives Next
What the cruise giant promised investors, the geopolitical caveat it flagged, and the Veterans Day naming of its newest Icon Class ship in Fort Lauderdale.
Cruise lines
- Virgin Voyages Says It Had Its Biggest Revenue Day Ever in August. Here's How the Adults-Only Line Is Doing
A record sales day, two million sailors and a sold-out 2028 Northern Europe launch. What the privately owned cruise line has said, and what it hasn't.
Cruise lines
- Solo cabins across cruise fleets: our October catalog snapshot and updates
American Cruise Lines leads with 24 ships. Lindblad, Marella, Ambassador, Aurora Expeditions and Fred. Olsen complete the short list.
Cruise line ranking