Things to do in Baltimore

Baltimore Bridge Collapse

In the early morning hours of Tuesday, March 26, a container ship struck one of the support towers of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, collapsing it.

Royal Caribbean operates year-round from the Port of Baltimore. RC’s Vision of the Seas sailed out of Maryland and is currently on a 12-night Southern Caribbean sailing due back on April 4th.

Carnival Legend is due to return to Baltimore on March 31st after a 7-day cruise to the Bahamas.

At this point, with the bridge in the water, access to the port is completely shut off.  The Key bridge is just five miles from the cruise terminal.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge sits about five miles from the cruise port. Its collapse blocks entry to the area. Map data: Google. Image courtesy of Cruzely. 

The Key bridge carries Interstate 695 over the river. 31,000 vehicles a day use the bridge and the bay has five public and 12 private terminals.

More than 40 ships were inside the Baltimore port when the bridge collapsed, including small cargo ships, tug boats and pleasure crafts. Those vessels are currently trapped in the harbor.

At this early date, it is unclear when the Patapsco River will reopen.

 

Things To Do In Baltimore

Come for the cruise, stay for the experience.

Baltimore may not be on your top 10 list of places to visit in the USA, but maybe it should be! The city and surrounding areas are full of interesting history and attractions that you won’t want to miss.

Consider booking a hotel before your after your cruise in Baltimore and checking out some of the local attractions.

National Aquarium

Attracting over 1.5 million visitors every year, Baltimore’s National Aquarium has more than 16,000 aquatic animals of 750 species and its tanks hold over 2.2 million gallons of water. Among its popular attractions is the award winning Blacktip Reef exhibit which replicates an Indo-Pacific reef and houses blacktip sharks, zebra sharks and a 500 lb green sea turtle named Calypso. Another favorite is the Dolphin Discovery, home to 8 bottlenose dolphins. Guests can get up close and personal and watch the everyday life of a dolphin.

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Visiting baseball fans should definitely check out Oriole Park at Camden Yards. A historic baseball stadium that offers tours run by very knowledgeable guides, the home field of the local team the Orioles combines the best of modern architectural technology and classic American baseball parks.

The Walters Art Museum

This internationally renowned collection of art was once the private collection of the wealthy Walters family and showcases art from around the world from pre-dynastic Egypt to 20th-Century Europe, Greek sculpture and American icons. There is Asian art, Ancient American art, Islamic art, and even Russian Imperial Faberge eggs. The Walters Art Museum is fully accessible, with wheelchair lifts, lectures in sign language and touch tours for the visually impaired.

Fell’s Point Neighborhood

Fell’s Point is a lively Baltimore waterfront neighborhood was once home to America’s most important Colonial seaport. Explore the cobblestone streets and 18th and 19th Century homes and storefronts as you try and choose from its wide array of restaurants and bars. Try your hand at being a pirate upon a real pirate ship with Urban Pirates, or visit the Frederick Douglas-Isaac Myers Maritime Park Museum.

 

Maryland Science Center

 

The area surrounding the Baltimore port is steeped in history with numerous attractions. As you cruise out the port, you will see the majestic Maryland Science Center up close. Impressive from the water, the center is even more so up close, with IMAX shows and a planetarium rounding out the science, technology and math attractions.

 

 

See More: Baltimore Excursions