All things Baltimore

[Crusin Karen]

Given your long B2B, you may want to consider another option--park and cruise WITHOUT the hotel stay. Econopark offers park and cruise from their BWI airport lot for under $10/day (http://econoparkexpress.com/cruise/default.asp?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=cruiseparking&gclid=Cj0KEQiA99qnBRDnrYCkt4ClzZABEiQAvqPaLLKmCILRLQ47ZygUHKbGL17gaPrf3E0ugtoN553s5wAaAsly8P8HAQ). Also, I'd call some of these hotels directly and ask about parking without any stay. I think most will probably only charge you about $5-$7/day to park and use their shuttle if you just ask. I think nearly anything is better than $15/day for the cruise terminal parking.

 

As for your luggage, I'm not aware of any hotel or parking shuttle that would object to that amount of luggage. It's alot but not excessive from my experience! :)

WOW...that's a big price difference! THANK YOU for the info! I just contacted econopark. Has anyone else used them?

[Terpnut]

WOW...that's a big price difference! THANK YOU for the info! I just contacted econopark. Has anyone else used them?

I have used them for airport parking and they provide good, reliable service, but have never used them for cruise port parking. Obviously they must do special runs just for cruise embarkation/debarkation time frames and as they are entirely predictable, I would assume it's just as reliable. The only small drawbacks to Econopark for you is that they are south and west of the cruise terminal (so you're driving past Locust Point to get there from NJ/NY), and it's almost 20 minutes away. For the $$$ savings however, I think the small additional cost in time and distance in using either Econopark or any hotel offering "park and cruise", is well worth it. Edited March 4, 2015 by Terpnut

[Crusin Karen]

I have used them for airport parking and they provide good, reliable service, but have never used them for cruise port parking. Obviously they must do special runs just for cruise embarkation/debarkation time frames and as they are entirely predictable, I would assume it's just as reliable. The only small drawbacks to Econopark for you is that they are south and west of the cruise terminal (so you're driving past Locust Point to get there from NJ/NY), and it's almost 20 minutes away. For the $$$ savings however, I think the small additional cost in time and distance in using either Econopark or any hotel offering "park and cruise", is well worth it.

We sail almost exclusively from Manhattan because the cruise terminal is about 20 minutes from our doorstep. So I'll just pretend we're on our way from here to there! :D Thank you SO MUCH for the head's up. For a 2 week cruise that's more than 1/2 price.

[Terpnut]

We sail almost exclusively from Manhattan because the cruise terminal is about 20 minutes from our doorstep. So I'll just pretend we're on our way from here to there! :D Thank you SO MUCH for the head's up. For a 2 week cruise that's more than 1/2 price.

I'm glad I could help! Enjoy your cruise! :)

[4gomez]

Can cabinmates bring 2 bottles of wine in separate carryons , especially if you bring them on at separate times? When you go through the scanner they do not know what cabin you are in nor will they ask. I recently read that they may have a table after you go through security where they check off your bottles for every cabin. If this is true, they just started this within the last couple months.

[Laney219]

Can cabinmates bring 2 bottles of wine in separate carryons , especially if you bring them on at separate times? When you go through the scanner they do not know what cabin you are in nor will they ask. I recently read that they may have a table after you go through security where they check off your bottles for every cabin. If this is true, they just started this within the last couple months.

 

I have heard mixed reports, port dependent. If you 'accidentally' bring more bottles, I believe it will be held until after your cruise. I have not sailed out of Baltimore for a quite a few years so I do not know if there is a table at that port. Cape Liberty did not have a table either time I sailed last year.

[Crusin Karen]

Can cabinmates bring 2 bottles of wine in separate carryons , especially if you bring them on at separate times? When you go through the scanner they do not know what cabin you are in nor will they ask. I recently read that they may have a table after you go through security where they check off your bottles for every cabin. If this is true, they just started this within the last couple months.

I am wondering about something similar and will probably ask closer to our cruise, but we are going on B2B cruise and wondered if anyone has ever done this and brought 2 bottles/pp for both the cruises at the beginning. So I don't have to debark the ship in between and go to a liquor store and get another bottle. We were originally going to park at the pier and I would have left another bottle in my car to "restock" but decided to stay at a park and cruise the night before instead.

[fer]

I am wondering about something similar and will probably ask closer to our cruise, but we are going on B2B cruise and wondered if anyone has ever done this and brought 2 bottles/pp for both the cruises at the beginning. So I don't have to debark the ship in between and go to a liquor store and get another bottle. We were originally going to park at the pier and I would have left another bottle in my car to "restock" but decided to stay at a park and cruise the night before instead.

I have no personal experience with this but according to Carnival's rules, if you bring unopened alcohol onboard, they will confiscate it and give it back to you before debarking. So maybe accidentally on purpose :) bring 2 extra bottles with the intention of getting sent to the "naughty room". Having to disembark before the 2nd leg of a B2B seems so unnecessary and takes the fun out of a B2B. Good luck!

[Crusin Karen]

I have no personal experience with this but according to Carnival's rules, if you bring unopened alcohol onboard, they will confiscate it and give it back to you before debarking. So maybe accidentally on purpose :) bring 2 extra bottles with the intention of getting sent to the "naughty room". Having to disembark before the 2nd leg of a B2B seems so unnecessary and takes the fun out of a B2B. Good luck!

Thanks! I will probably print out the 2nd cruise info to show them and hopefully they'll let me on with bottles for both cruises. A story from our B2B on Liberty. We went the lst cruise with friends who live a few blocks from cruise port in PC. They would get off the ship and we would stay on and continue for another 8 days. So the plan was they would go home, get their car, come back, pick us up and we would go shopping for allowable carry ons and a few other things we wanted to pick up. We had a card that said we were "in transit." (VERY COOL! :cool:) There were a bunch of us staying on the ship for the next cruise, so they brought us all off together, we waited maybe 5 minutes, then we all went back on the ship. We were given a glass of champagne and they took a group picture in the atrium. THEN we had to go to our cabin to get our carry on bags to transport things we picked up. Well, by this time, the next week's pax were coming on and the security had NO WHERE for us to get OFF. By the time we were cleared to get off, it was an hour before we had to be back on the ship and I was terrified of seeing the ship leave while we sat in traffic in PC! :eek: So we stayed on the ship and in retrospect realized we should not have gotten back on the ship, but left to go to "town" when we were off. So I complained nicely to Guest Services and they sent me a complimentary bottle of wine. Very pricey, but it was onlly ONE bottle and I needed soda too...but live and learn and at least I was able to sample an expensive wine and not the cheap stuff I usually buy lol. :o But I won't make that mistake again this cruise!

[Laney219]

Thanks! I will probably print out the 2nd cruise info to show them and hopefully they'll let me on with bottles for both cruises. A story from our B2B on Liberty. We went the lst cruise with friends who live a few blocks from cruise port in PC. They would get off the ship and we would stay on and continue for another 8 days. So the plan was they would go home, get their car, come back, pick us up and we would go shopping for allowable carry ons and a few other things we wanted to pick up. We had a card that said we were "in transit." (VERY COOL! :cool:) There were a bunch of us staying on the ship for the next cruise, so they brought us all off together, we waited maybe 5 minutes, then we all went back on the ship. We were given a glass of champagne and they took a group picture in the atrium. THEN we had to go to our cabin to get our carry on bags to transport things we picked up. Well, by this time, the next week's pax were coming on and the security had NO WHERE for us to get OFF. By the time we were cleared to get off, it was an hour before we had to be back on the ship and I was terrified of seeing the ship leave while we sat in traffic in PC! :eek: So we stayed on the ship and in retrospect realized we should not have gotten back on the ship, but left to go to "town" when we were off. So I complained nicely to Guest Services and they sent me a complimentary bottle of wine. Very pricey, but it was onlly ONE bottle and I needed soda too...but live and learn and at least I was able to sample an expensive wine and not the cheap stuff I usually buy lol. :o But I won't make that mistake again this cruise!

 

Have you called Carnival to see what their policy is on bringing the allowance while on a B2B?? I am sure there is one in place.

[Crusin Karen]

Have you called Carnival to see what their policy is on bringing the allowance while on a B2B?? I am sure there is one in place.

GOOD IDEA! Don't know why I didn't think of it! :confused::eek:

[roothy123]

I didn't read all 6 pages of this thread but wanted to add my two cents' worth:

 

1. If you stay in Hanover, MD, that's a long ride to DC, and then you'll still need to take a short Metro trip to go sightseeing. Make sure the MARC train that goes to DC runs during the day you'll be there, as some MARC trains (it's a commuter train, not the Metro) don't run during the day. I would pay more and stay in DC (Van Ness area, Connecticut Avenue for example) or nearby VA (Arlington or Ballston are examples) or MD (Silver Spring, Greenbelt (not bad, really) are examples) along a Metro or MARC line. Be aware there are several MARC lines between Baltimore and DC - might be possible to stay somewhere like Silver Spring and have both Metro (all day/evening - see WMATA site) AND MARC (rush hours only, for the most part) near by. No, downtown Silver Spring is not the absolute best place in terms of sexiness and safety, but it's really not bad. Neither is Greenbelt.

2. Buy a Metro day pass but only if you're willing to travel certain hours during the day - NOT during morning or evening rush hours M - F. If you can buy a MARC ticket in a machine, do it - cheaper than buying it on the train.

3. If you're here in the DC area in early to mid April, things may be busier than usual, as many tourists come for the Cherry Blossoms.

4. Baltimore is a pretty interesting and nice place. BWI is a good airport to fly out of.

5. Yes, tolls are high along I-95 in MD and Delaware. I do that route a lot and while the traffic is seldom bad (on a Sunday, mid-day) I hate the cost.

6. Yes, hotels in DC and suburbs are expensive. Good luck is all I can say. (Have you tried Priceline's Name Your Own Price feature? Hotwire hot deals?) You might want to look on Google Earth (or possibly Google Maps) to find hotels that look to be close to public transportation. Then again, it IS possible, though probably not preferable, to drive into DC, especially if you'll be here on a weekend. I don't think I'd recommend it. Metro is easier.

[Crusin Karen]

Then again, it IS possible, though probably not preferable, to drive into DC, especially if you'll be here on a weekend. I don't think I'd recommend it. Metro is easier.

A question: we will be arriving on a Saturday. Is it possible to do a "drive thru" in DC, not really stop...just go past White House, Capital, etc. by car? Maybe just pull over for a photo op?

[mapleleafvoyage]

Then again, it IS possible, though probably not preferable, to drive into DC, especially if you'll be here on a weekend. I don't think I'd recommend it. Metro is easier.

 

A question: we will be arriving on a Saturday. Is it possible to do a "drive thru" in DC, not really stop...just go past White House, Capital, etc. by car? Maybe just pull over for a photo op?

 

 

We did this, but due to the construction my pictures sucked.

So we parked on the street and walked over to the White House and took photos - we will be back April 9-18... Hope to see the blossoms!

[Crusin Karen]

A question: we will be arriving on a Saturday. Is it possible to do a "drive thru" in DC, not really stop...just go past White House, Capital, etc. by car? Maybe just pull over for a photo op?

 

 

We did this, but due to the construction my pictures sucked.

So we parked on the street and walked over to the White House and took photos - we will be back April 9-18... Hope to see the blossoms!

It's becoming more and more apparent that we are twins seperated at birth! :D

[mapleleafvoyage]

:D

 

no matter what you decide to do, your in for a great time, and a fab cruise, I am sure! Have you seen the construction? The dome is covered, at least it was in December

 

I forgot to add, that there are a few from my roll call staying at the Best Western hotel.. so, hopefully we all can come and give some reviews

Edited March 7, 2015 by mapleleafvoyage

[Crusin Karen]

Never been to DC! We've been to Baltimore a bunch of times, but never got to DC and I am super excited! Wish we had more time to really see everything, but just to drive past the buildings I will be in AWE. Did not know about the construction. Bummer. :(

[roothy123]

The Capitol dome is still covered with its drape, so it looks goofy.

 

I don't know how close you can get to the White House these days by driving due to security measures, but on a Saturday you could probably find a parking space not far away and walk to it. It's a lot nicer to photograph it if you put your camera right in between 2 of the bars of the fence. (No climbing, though, or reaching through a lot, unless you want to meet some polite but not amused Secret Service folks!) You can also walk to the back for a different view.

 

The anticipated Cherry Blossom peak time was recently announced, but now I forget when it is. I think it's mid April, but you might want to google.

 

Of course, the usual drive-bys of the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Memorial, Vietnam Veterans wall, MLK memorial, Smithsonian, etc. are doable, although you may have to park and walk a little for Vietnam and MLK memorials. In all places, you can probably pull over and take a quick picture, but of course, that depends upon how the traffic is, availability of anything resembling a parking space, etc. I'm not sure what's going on with "the Mall" (big green space) as they were trying to reseed it and keep people off part of it a while ago, but of course you can still get to the museums if you're in a car.

 

It would be helpful to have navigation on your phone or car and keep in mind that DC has four quadrants (NE, NW, SE, SW) and that they all come together by the Capitol, so things can be a bit confusing.

 

If you've never seen the Iwo Jima (Marine Corps) statue in Arlington at night, or the somewhat new National Harbor with its big wheel, those might be fun and doable with a car, even though they're a bit farther than the main sights in DC. (That's IF you have time, which doesn't sound likely. Also, if you have a couple hours, the Tourmobile is the DC equivalent of a Hop On Hop Off bus and goes on a pretty good route around the basic sights. Also, the DC Duck is running in April, but I don't know much about it. Just learned my husband knows one of the drivers, so I'm planning to check it out. He says April is quite busy for them, though...

 

Anyway, enjoy DC. It's a beautiful city with lots to see and do.

Edited March 8, 2015 by roothy123

[Crusin Karen]

This is GREAT information. Thank you! I am getting super excited! Printed out your instructions and will take with me. ;)

[roothy123]

This is GREAT information. Thank you! I am getting super excited! Printed out your instructions and will take with me. ;)

 

Assuming you're talking about mine, glad to be of help. I just went and made a couple changes, though - although nothing big. Mostly just to the paragraph about things that are farther out from downtown DC, I think....

 

Oh, and cherry blossoms are expected to peak mid April (later than usual due to snow and cold this winter). See http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/about/bloom-watch/

Edited March 8, 2015 by roothy123

[Crusin Karen]

Assuming you're talking about mine, glad to be of help. I just went and made a couple changes, though - although nothing big. Mostly just to the paragraph about things that are farther out from downtown DC, I think....

 

Oh, and cherry blossoms are expected to peak mid April (later than usual due to snow and cold this winter). See http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/about/bloom-watch/

Yes, I was talking about yours. Changes noted! We will be down in May so will miss the cherry blossoms. Maybe next year! ;)

[BruinsFan08]

We will be on foot. I'm looking at google earth. It seems to be located beside the freeway with only a "pub" there. Across the street and surrounding areas seem to have warehouse buildings or businesses that do not consist of any food or gas stations...unless this place is built up now since they did the last google earth. We can't walk too far (especially if it's on a busy street/highway/main road) with a small child pulling a suitcase of soda...just saying. So I don't think this will work for us.

 

 

 

Um, hmmm lol It's a "saying", as in nothing around...it stands for bum f*ck egypt. :p

 

Hey mitsugirly. I'm not going to claim that hte Best western is the best hotel in the world, but I will say that the pub adjacent to it has some pretty good food. Well, some of it at least. Their pizza in different (if your a Baltimore native it's like Ledo's) but pretty tasty. Their burgers and sliders are real good. The rest is what you would expect from a pub. Timbuktu, that Terpfan mentioned, is essentially on the same road (maybe 1.5 miles away). I'm not a huge fan of the place, but people seem to love their crab cakes.

 

You would be a mile from the MARC (train) if you want to take that right into DC. You are also maybe 2.5 miles from the Arundel Mills complex that someone else mentioned. It's essentially everything from a sprawling mall to a casino to more every type of food chain imaginable. My wife would kill me if I didn't mention that you are also about 3 miles from the best cupcakes that she has ever had, Kupcakes and Company. I am not a huge sweets fan, but I will admit that even I like their cupcakes and the flavor that they manage to put into them. All taste is subjective, but yes, i think even better than the much heralded Georgetown Cupcakes or Baked and Wired. I am way off path here.

 

Anyway, it looks like it's in the middle of nowhere, but you are 5-15 minutes from anything. it's just maddeningly suburbia spread out.

[Crusin Karen]

Hey mitsugirly. I'm not going to claim that hte Best western is the best hotel in the world, but I will say that the pub adjacent to it has some pretty good food. Well, some of it at least. Their pizza in different (if your a Baltimore native it's like Ledo's) but pretty tasty. Their burgers and sliders are real good. The rest is what you would expect from a pub. Timbuktu, that Terpfan mentioned, is essentially on the same road (maybe 1.5 miles away). I'm not a huge fan of the place, but people seem to love their crab cakes.

 

You would be a mile from the MARC (train) if you want to take that right into DC. You are also maybe 2.5 miles from the Arundel Mills complex that someone else mentioned. It's essentially everything from a sprawling mall to a casino to more every type of food chain imaginable. My wife would kill me if I didn't mention that you are also about 3 miles from the best cupcakes that she has ever had, Kupcakes and Company. I am not a huge sweets fan, but I will admit that even I like their cupcakes and the flavor that they manage to put into them. All taste is subjective, but yes, i think even better than the much heralded Georgetown Cupcakes or Baked and Wired. I am way off path here.

 

Anyway, it looks like it's in the middle of nowhere, but you are 5-15 minutes from anything. it's just maddeningly suburbia spread out.

What great info! I don't need it, but it was nice of you to share! The Pub you are talking about, is that the Stained Glass Pub? I went to their website and looks like a great place to have a burger and beer on Saturday night. Murphy's Law, the Orioles are playing my Yankees in NEW YORK during the day, so will miss the game on tv. We went on a Super Bowl cruise from SanDiego to MX Riviera years ago which happened to be the year the Giants were in it. Couldn't believe we were ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY when our team was playing the Super Bowl! :eek::rolleyes: Anyway, someone had mentioned a shopping center/grocery store near the ship. Do you know anything about that? That might be an option for anyone needing to pick up carry on allowables before boarding. :confused::confused:

[mitsugirly]

Hey mitsugirly. I'm not going to claim that hte Best western is the best hotel in the world, but I will say that the pub adjacent to it has some pretty good food. Well, some of it at least. Their pizza in different (if your a Baltimore native it's like Ledo's) but pretty tasty. Their burgers and sliders are real good. The rest is what you would expect from a pub. Timbuktu, that Terpfan mentioned, is essentially on the same road (maybe 1.5 miles away). I'm not a huge fan of the place, but people seem to love their crab cakes.

 

You would be a mile from the MARC (train) if you want to take that right into DC. You are also maybe 2.5 miles from the Arundel Mills complex that someone else mentioned. It's essentially everything from a sprawling mall to a casino to more every type of food chain imaginable. My wife would kill me if I didn't mention that you are also about 3 miles from the best cupcakes that she has ever had, Kupcakes and Company. I am not a huge sweets fan, but I will admit that even I like their cupcakes and the flavor that they manage to put into them. All taste is subjective, but yes, i think even better than the much heralded Georgetown Cupcakes or Baked and Wired. I am way off path here.

 

Anyway, it looks like it's in the middle of nowhere, but you are 5-15 minutes from anything. it's just maddeningly suburbia spread out.

 

Thanks for all the great info. But once again, we will be on foot and can't really travel 1-3 miles with a little one in tow. So we will be stuck with whatever they have there, which seems to be a pub, for food. :(

 

I am checking into whether or not they might offer a shuttle to the surrounding arounds from the hotel (like to the local mall) in hopes to be able to find a place to pick up some soda for the cruise. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

 

What great info! I don't need it, but it was nice of you to share! The Pub you are talking about, is that the Stained Glass Pub? I went to their website and looks like a great place to have a burger and beer on Saturday night.

 

 

I didn't think to look and see if they have a website. I will have to check that out.

 

I have nothing against a pub, but with a young daughter, I usually don't like to take her to something like that but, we will probably have no choice.

[Crusin Karen]

Thanks for all the great info. But once again, we will be on foot and can't really travel 1-3 miles with a little one in tow. So we will be stuck with whatever they have there, which seems to be a pub, for food. :(

 

I am checking into whether or not they might offer a shuttle to the surrounding arounds from the hotel (like to the local mall) in hopes to be able to find a place to pick up some soda for the cruise. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

 

 

 

 

I didn't think to look and see if they have a website. I will have to check that out.

 

I have nothing against a pub, but with a young daughter, I usually don't like to take her to something like that but, we will probably have no choice.

It looks very nice. Google Stained Glass Pub. There are tables AND they offer take out! And there's a coupon for $3 off a pizza! :p You could always order take out and just cross the street and find a nice spot for your pre cruise dinner! ;)