Key Aspects:
- Parking rates at the Port of Baltimore Cruise Maryland Terminal will increase starting September 1, 2025.
- New nightly rates will range from $25 to $55, depending on vehicle type.
- Parking is payable by credit card only, and no reservations are required.
Cruisers sailing from the Port of Baltimore will soon be paying more to leave their vehicles at the terminal.
Cruise Maryland announced that starting September 1, 2025, parking rates at the Cruise Maryland Terminal will increase for all vehicle types.
The newly nightly rates will be $25 for passenger vehicles and SUVs, $45 for recreational vehicles under 30 feet, and $55 for recreational vehicles over 30 feet.
All parking fees are payable by credit card upon arrival, and the port accepts Visa, MasterCard, and Discover.
“We make it easy for you,” advertised Cruise Maryland Terminal in its notice. “No advanced reservations are required to park in our secured, long-term lots, which are located within walking distance to the terminal.”
The lots are specifically designed for long-term passenger use, with special needs accessible parking available on site.
The price increase is just an additional $5 per night, but for a week-long cruise, this means a passenger car will pay $175 in parking fees and those who arrive in RVs will spend $385.
While some passengers shared concern over the increase on social media, with one saying, “There is no more saving money by driving vs flying.”
Yet another pointed out that airfare from Florida to Baltimore for a family of four hovered near $3,500.
That said, most Florida families will most likely drive to its ports in Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, and Port Canaveral.
Baltimore is traditionally considered a drive-to cruise destination in the Mid-Atlantic, with Cruise Maryland Terminal located just off I-95.
The port saw more than 444,000 cruise passengers in 2023 but suffered a setback when the nearby Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed in March after being struck by a cargo ship.
Cruise ships were diverted from Baltimore until cleanup of the bridge was complete nearly two months later. Despite the setback, the port still welcomed 378,000 cruise passengers.
Popular Drive-to Port
The Port of Baltimore continues to thrive, with Carnival Cruise Line signing a 5-year contract with a 5-year renewal option at the end of 2024.
“The international cruise industry recognizes Baltimore as one of the top cruise markets in our nation,” said Governor Wes Moore during the signing.
“Carnival is a longtime partner and supporter of the Port of Baltimore and we are very happy to continue that relationship,” he continued.
Read Also: Baltimore Cruise Port Guide – Piers, Amenities, and Location
The cruise line is one of the biggest operators, offering 5- to 14-day cruises, including 7-night Bermuda and Bahamas voyages on Carnival Pride, which accommodates up to 2,134 passengers at double capacity.
They are not the only cruise operator homeporting in Baltimore. Royal Caribbean’s 2,050-guest Vision of the Seas has also been sailing to Bermuda, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean from the port.
However, the cruise line announced it will be relocating the 78,340-gross-ton ship to Fort Lauderdale in 2026, where she will stay until April 2027.
