We did this cruise in late December one year. The cruise down south was pretty miserable as the water could get rough. You're mostly cooped up inside since it's cold and wet on deck. It just wasn't that great. I'd much rather fly down to a major port and embark from the Gulf.

I might do this for a spring/summer cruise to Bermuda but that’s different

Anonymous wrote:The general consensus is not to do this. Totally different from a newer RC ship out of FL.

+1. The ships out of Baltimore are smaller and older. Plus you can't enjoy the outside areas until you get south near Florida, so you lose almost 2 days of pool time.
Going in/out of Florida gets you the bigger, more active ships and the warm weather the whole time in the winter. If cost is an issue, you can always drive. There is a cruiseport near Cape Canaveral which saves at least an hour of driving over Ft. Lauderdale and Miami cruiseports.

The general consensus is not to do this. Totally different from a newer RC ship out of FL.

Anonymous wrote:NP but what about for a first time cruiser? With ES kids/tweens?

Definitely not. You want to fly down to Cape Canaveral or Miami/Fort Lauderdale for that. That's where the giant cruise ships with bumper cars and giant water slides are. Chose a Baltimore itinerary if you want to sour your kids to the idea of cruises, so you'll never have to take one again.

Here is some helpful info:
https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2023/07/winter-2023-24-baltimore-to-serve-as-homeport-for-three-cruise-lines/

NP but what about for a first time cruiser? With ES kids/tweens?

The major attraction is how convenient it is - no flights or long drives. That is definitely worth something, but as others have noted you have a more limited selection of ships and itineraries than you'd have if departing from other ports. Manage your expectations properly and it can work out very well. If you want/expect 6-star cruising, you'll need to depart on a different crusie line from a different port.

A colleague told me that the clientele wasn’t her cup of tea. So she warned me against a Baltimore cruise. We are both black women for reference.

Anonymous wrote:Do your research on the ship very carefully. The ships that leave from Baltimore are old and small. They do not have a lot of the bells and whistles you see on the commercials. I would consider leaving from NYC/NJ over Baltimore. You can still drive the day of departure but the ships are better.

+1

We were considering a cruise, and while we didn't book it, the ships out of NJ were way nicer for Royal Caribbean.

Do your research on the ship very carefully. The ships that leave from Baltimore are old and small. They do not have a lot of the bells and whistles you see on the commercials. I would consider leaving from NYC/NJ over Baltimore. You can still drive the day of departure but the ships are better.

We love this itinerary and have done it four times. We've never sailed over Christmas but would love to. Agree it likely will be cold in Baltimore on your sail day and cool the first full day which is at sea when you'll be off the southeast coast. But you'll be on a ship with plenty to do and enjoying the no-cook, no-clean lifestyle. The boat never seemed that old to us. And we love the smaller ship -- quicker on and off the boat at your ports of call.

My Dad has gone on this cruise several times.

There are a lot of families with young children.

There are also seniors.

Dad enjoyed it enough to do this several times.

Smaller/older ships; weather cold until you get closer to the Caribbean; water tends to be rocky. That being said, can still be a fun festive time on the ship.

We are considering taking a cruise from Baltimore to the Carribean the week before Christmas. It would be a lot easier than flying to FL to catch a cruise from there. ISO feedback for those who have taken a cruise from Baltimore.