Baltimore port-be aware

[Pattycruise]

I’m on my first cruise out of Baltimore.  Idk why I was surprised to be queued outside, as I’ve traveled out of Bayonne in the winter and it is somewhat similar.  They queued by check in time.  Many were complaining they were cold  -it was in the 50’s-I found it comfy.

second -they ask you to hold your seapass card snd passport to enter the terminal, which after waiting on the line outside in the “cold” you waited on a line inside to finally show it to staff to move onto the security check.  I’d much preferred to have a printed set sail paper rather than hold my phone ( I finally put it away and took it out when we got to the staff personnel

third, don’t try to get in with open liquid. I’ve been able to do so in Bayonne, I take along cider vinegar for sunburn-but Baltimore wanted no part of that.  
 

Finally  and most important….there are no elevators to bring you up to the embarkation on deck 4. Once you exit the terminal there are 2 “ways to go”,

my mother in law, close to 80, asked about an elevator and was told “there’s one o  the ship”.  So we walked up ramps that never ended. Lots of old folks stopping to get their breathe.  Meanwhile I had noticed a woman with a walker was directed to the second hallway and that one went directly onto the pier for a “no walk up hills” directly onto the ship.  (I could see her progress from the first ramp we were walking up) So I guess you might need to say “handicapped entrance” if you are unable to walk steep inclines.  

[Pattycruise]

Adding

casino is not open at all on Day 1 and it closes at 7pm on the last night.

the casino smoking section smoke does not seem to drift to the non smoking side!  

Im in an interior cabin deck 3 3635 and it is  a decent size cabin.  No coolers.  IDK how people get into the bed here.  (See pic) I pushed mine against one wall.  I tripped on that couch twice so turned it sideways later.  It could not be sideways if the beds were in the original position or someone would have to climb over the couch to get next to the bed!

my MIL Is further aft interior cabin 3657 and it has a feint smell of cigarette smoke and she hears “rolling noises”.  Turns out she’s below  work space  and there is a smoking area for crew above her (confirmed  a crew member)

[twangster]

6 hours ago, Pattycruise said:

Adding

casino is not open at all on Day 1 and it closes at 7pm on the last night.

the casino smoking section smoke does not seem to drift to the non smoking side!  

Im in an interior cabin deck 3 3635 and it is  a decent size cabin.  No coolers.  IDK how people get into the bed here.  (See pic) I pushed mine against one wall.  I tripped on that couch twice so turned it sideways later.  It could not be sideways if the beds were in the original position or someone would have to climb over the couch to get next to the bed!

my MIL Is further aft interior cabin 3657 and it has a feint smell of cigarette smoke and she hears “rolling noises”.  Turns out she’s below  work space  and there is a smoking area for crew above her (confirmed  a crew member)

I ask them to split the beds when I'm solo.  It makes the cabin much more functional.

The stores are also kept closed on day one.  Sailing down the Chesapeake you are still in Maryland and US water so the casino, stores and photo areas are closed.  Keep that in mind if you want a photo on the last night - go there on the second last day.   

[FireFishII]

On 12/6/2022 at 4:58 PM, Pattycruise said:

second -they ask you to hold your seapass card snd passport to enter the terminal, which after waiting on the line outside in the “cold” you waited on a line inside to finally show it to staff to move onto the security check.  I’d much preferred to have a printed set sail paper rather than hold my phone ( I finally put it away and took it out when we got to the staff personnel

Being in New England, I have experience my phone shutting down when it gets too cold.  So, I usually keep my phone inside my jacket when I know I need to use it soon. 

[ChessE4]

The plus side of sailing from Baltimore is that the last night of your cruise you can begin to see the lights as you navigate the Chesapeake Bay.  It's quite the sight, almost like river cruising.

As for the cold weather this time of year, the good news is the e-muster; when we lived in Bel Air and sailed in November/December we shivered through our life vests for the 30 minutes or so it took everyone to get into line.  It was sort of like penguins in the Antarctic - crammed together for warmth.  One doesn't need to do that anymore.

Vision class vessels are an acquired taste, to be sure, but any cruise you can sail is probably a good one.

[WAAAYTOOO]

We were on Grandeur out of Baltimore a few years ago on the 4th of July.  It was awesome to watch the fireworks all up and down the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac.  That's the good news.  The bad news is that as soon as the ship enters the Chesapeake Bay, the casino shuts down.  

[CruiseGus]

Haven't yet sailed from Maryland Cruise Terminal as the Baltimore terminal is called, but did some research, encouraged by this thread. 

It looks to be a whole lot longer than sailing out of Tampa, which is more like Galveston in clearing to International waters.

How would the time it takes compare to sailing down the Mississippi from NOLA? 

It is obviously a wider channel and not the turns of NOLA sailings.

[eaglesfaninfl]

On 12/6/2022 at 4:58 PM, Pattycruise said:

 

Finally  and most important….there are no elevators to bring you up to the embarkation on deck 4. Once you exit the terminal there are 2 “ways to go”,

my mother in law, close to 80, asked about an elevator and was told “there’s one o  the ship”.  So we walked up ramps that never ended. Lots of old folks stopping to get their breathe.  Meanwhile I had noticed a woman with a walker was directed to the second hallway and that one went directly onto the pier for a “no walk up hills” directly onto the ship.  (I could see her progress from the first ramp we were walking up) So I guess you might need to say “handicapped entrance” if you are unable to walk steep inclines.  

My wife has mobility problems also and we were directed to the Deck One entry a few weeks ago as you mentioned. The problem came about when we got on board and none of the elevators had been programmed to go to deck one, they all turned to "Up" at deck three. So we waited and waited, getting more and more crowded with walkers, scooters and wheelchairs until finally somebody woke up about 40 minutes later and the elevators started returning to deck one and we could proceed to our rooms.