Easily accessible.  Convenient.  Even in a challenging economy, taking a cruise is still a terrific value for the entire family.  Whether you are young or old, married or single, parent or grandparent, there is a cruise for you.  And if you live in the U.S. and thought all cruises left from New York or Miami, think again.  Cruises not only leave from Baltimore, but now leave year-round from Baltimore and from an award-winning cruise terminal with an unbeatable location.

The Cruise Maryland terminal at the Port of Baltimore opened in 2006 and has played to rave reviews ever since.  The facility is 60,000 square feet of well-lit, well-designed  space with room to allow passengers to move around without running into someone every time you turn around.  Ticket processing counters extend from one end of the building to the other with customer service representatives waiting to process boarding passengers in a timely and professional manner. 

But what really makes the Cruise Maryland terminal, is location, location, location.  Situated about 200 yards right off Interstate 95, the “main street” of the U.S. East Coast, the building is perfectly located just 2.5 miles from downtown Baltimore and its world-famous Inner Harbor, 10 miles from BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, and little more than one hour from three other major airports.  As the ultimate drive-to port, the Port of Baltimore is the closest East Coast port to the Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Indianapolis, and Chicago metro areas.  In fact, tens of millions of people live within only a three-hour drive of Baltimore. 

The unique location, easy accessibility and customer friendly staff are all reasons why the Port of Baltimore recently was awarded a “Best First-Turn” by Royal Caribbean.  This honor recognizes a customer’s pre-board experiences at a cruise port like accessibility, parking, security, processing… all things where Cruise Maryland excels! 

Speaking of parking, there is plenty of it at Cruise Maryland.  More than 1,500 onsite spaces are available, including 500 that just opened in June 2009 immediately adjacent to the terminal.  At Cruise Maryland, a traveler can be dropped off or picked up right at the terminal’s front door. 

Another great reason to cruise from Baltimore is the myriad of local attractions.  More and more cruisers are arriving a day early or staying a day or two late to enjoy the sights and sound of the local area.   Baltimore’s Inner Harbor includes wonderful shopping, excellent restaurants, exciting night life, top-of-the line hotel accommodations, as well as the highly-regarded Maryland Science Center and the National Aquarium.  Within a five-minute drive, some of the best museums in the country await. 

For sports enthusiasts, a 10-minute walk from the Inner Harbor will put you at M&T Bank Stadium and Oriole Park at Camden Yards, homes of the Baltimore Ravens and Baltimore Orioles.  Baltimore is also known for its historic landmarks, including Ft. McHenry, the gravesite of Edgar Allen Poe, and the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum. You can also hop on a water taxi and visit Fells Point and other quaint neighborhoods with 17th and 18th century homes nestled on narrow cobblestone streets. 

For a change of pace from Baltimore, beautiful and charming Annapolis is a short 30 minute ride away.  Historic Annapolis is home to the U.S. Naval Academy and is Maryland’s state capital. Located just to the south of Baltimore along Interstate 95 is Washington DC.  Visitors can enjoy our nation’s capital and its plethora of museums, monuments and general sightseeing.

Having so many attractions makes cruising from Baltimore a choice beyond compare. Plan a mini-vacation around your cruise and enjoy this area’s historic landmarks, exquisite restaurants, and professional sports teams.     

When it comes to customer service, we let our Cruise Maryland customers speak for themselves:

• “It’s a great location and easy drive to Baltimore.”
• “We arrived two days early so we could tour Washington and the Inner Harbor!”
• “Parking is so convenient.  I get to park my car right near the cruise terminal.”
• “Baltimore was effortless, easy and organized.”

All of this makes the Port of Baltimore the best choice for your next cruise vacation.  Call your local travel agents, visit us at www.cruisemaryland.com or call 1-866-ICRUZMD (1-866-427-8963) today!