BlaakLane.com books Baltimore cruise car service at a fixed fare. The Cruise Maryland Terminal is on East McComas Street in South Baltimore, right off I-95 and about 15 to 25 minutes from BWI Marshall. Washington's airports are an hour or more away. The chauffeur drops you at the terminal curb and, after the cruise, waits in the pre-arranged vehicle area.
Where Baltimore's cruise ships sail from
The Maryland Port Administration's Cruise Maryland Terminal sits at 2001 East McComas Street in the South Locust Point marine terminal, a few minutes south of the Inner Harbor and a short hop from I-95. It is a single terminal building with a large parking garage and lot. Lines that sail from Baltimore include Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line, with itineraries to the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Bermuda and New England; confirm the details on your documents.
Since the Francis Scott Key Bridge on I-695 collapsed in March 2024, cross-harbour traffic has moved to the Fort McHenry Tunnel on I-95 and the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel on I-895. The cruise terminal lies upstream of the old bridge site and is reached from I-95 without crossing the harbour for most trips from BWI and Washington.
How to book
Choose the airport and flight or your address, set "Cruise Maryland Terminal" as the destination and select a vehicle. The fare is fixed for the route, whether it runs through the harbour tunnels or up I-95. Terminal fees, parking and gratuity are charged at actual cost and added to the booking. Maryland trips are driven by a vetted affiliate from the LimousineWorldwide.Directory network, contracted to the BlaakLane.com written standard, with dispatch from our 24/7 Toronto desk. The confirmation names operator and chauffeur.
Drive times to the terminal
| From | Distance | Typical drive |
|---|---|---|
| BWI Thurgood Marshall (BWI) | about 12 miles | 15 to 25 minutes via I-295 or I-95 |
| Inner Harbor and Harbor East hotels | 3 to 4 miles | 10 to 15 minutes |
| Reagan National (DCA) | about 45 miles | 60 to 90 minutes via the Baltimore-Washington Parkway or I-95 |
| Washington Dulles (IAD) | about 65 miles | 75 to 110 minutes |
| Downtown Washington DC | about 40 miles | 55 to 85 minutes |
| Annapolis | about 30 miles | 35 to 50 minutes |
| Philadelphia | about 100 miles | 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours 15 minutes |
BWI Marshall is the obvious airport. Reagan National and Washington Dulles offer more flights, especially international ones, but the Washington-Baltimore corridor is one of the most congested in the country at rush hour. The chauffeur tracks your flight, waits 30 minutes free on domestic arrivals and 60 on international ones, and meets you at the airport's area for pre-arranged cars. A name-board greeting inside the terminal is an add-on, and add-ons are only available in selected locations.
Sailing-day drop-off
The chauffeur follows the port's signs from I-95 to the passenger drop-off lanes in front of the terminal. Porters tag your checked bags for the stateroom. Keep passports, medication and valuables in your carry-on and arrive at the start of your check-in time.
Debarkation and pickup
Ships dock early after coming up the Chesapeake Bay, and guests leave by group after customs. The chauffeur waits in the ground transportation or pre-arranged vehicle area at the terminal. Call or text when you have your bags and have cleared customs, and you will be sent the exact spot. At Baltimore, the booking includes 15 minutes of waiting from the pickup time, after which 15-minute blocks apply.
For flights, BWI's short drive makes a domestic departure from about 11:30 am realistic. For DCA or IAD, allow the full drive on a weekday morning and aim for mid-afternoon.
Staying in Baltimore before or after
Harbor East and Fells Point hotels, including the Four Seasons Baltimore and the Sagamore Pendry, are 10 to 15 minutes from the terminal, as are the Inner Harbor hotels. Hotels around BWI suit an early boarding time or a morning flight home. Travellers from Washington sometimes stay downtown in the capital and take the transfer on sailing morning; leave before 8 am or after 9:30 am to miss the worst traffic.
Private tours: Baltimore, Annapolis and Washington
An hourly booking, minimum 3 hours, lets you see the region with your luggage secured in the vehicle. In Baltimore: the Inner Harbor and National Aquarium, Fort McHenry, Federal Hill and Fells Point. Annapolis, with the US Naval Academy and the historic district, is 35 to 50 minutes away. A longer day can take in the monuments on the National Mall in Washington before an evening flight from DCA or IAD. For Baltimore day plans, read hourly chauffeur service and city tours and day trips.
Rail passengers
Guests travelling by Amtrak can be collected at Washington Union Station for the drive north, or at Baltimore Penn Station, about 15 minutes from the terminal.
Picking a vehicle
- Standard Sedan, Luxury Executive Sedan, Executive First Class Sedan (Maybach): 2 passengers and 2 bags.
- Standard Black SUV, Executive Black SUV: 6 passengers and 6 bags, a common Baltimore family choice.
- Sprinter Van: 12 passengers and 12 small bags, which suits families with luggage on the longer Washington runs.
- Luxury Stretch Limo (8), Party Bus (14): celebrations; little room for cases.
- Sprinter Luxury Jet Van: 7 passengers with carry-on only.
Vehicle photos for Baltimore transfers are on the fleet page, and planning ranges are on rates.
Groups, delegations and crew
Group sailings, government or corporate delegations and crew moves are planned by a coordinator and confirmed in writing. See cruise lines and ports and services.
Why the drive from Washington varies so much
I-95 between the Capital Beltway and Baltimore, and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway beside it, are among the busiest roads on the East Coast. A Saturday sailing morning is usually easier than a weekday, but Orioles and Ravens games at Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium, both close to I-95 in South Baltimore, can slow the last miles to the terminal. Summer beach traffic heading for the Chesapeake Bay Bridge adds to the Beltway on Friday afternoons. The fixed fare does not change; the chauffeur leaves earlier.
Cancellation
Free more than 72 hours before pickup; 10% within 72 hours; 50% within 48 hours; 100% within 24 hours or on a no-show.
Background on the port is on Wikipedia, tunnel and toll information from the Maryland Transportation Authority, airport updates on BWI Marshall, and visitor ideas from Visit Baltimore. More: Baltimore chauffeur service, Washington DC and Annapolis.
