Baltimore

Baltimore has a new dedicated passenger cruise terminal at South Locust Point. The new Baltimore cruise terminal is located just minutes from the famous Inner Harbor and just off of I-95. It's just a ten minute ride from BWI Airport. Both Annapolis and Washington can be reached by car from the Baltimore cruise port in under an hour.

Cruise passengers will have easy access to the Port of Baltimore South Locust Point Marine Terminal by private car or taxi.

The port is 3 miles from downtown. Taxis are at the terminal. About $5 one way.

Parking ar the port is $15 a day. No advanced reservations are required to park in the secured, long-term lots which are located within walking distance of the Cruise Maryland Terminal.

BWI Airport is located 10 miles south of Baltimore City and it is just 10.5 miles from Maryland's cruise terminal at South Locust Point. The cab fare is 35$ per taxi set by the state.

With something around every corner to either see or do, Baltimore is certainly an exciting place to visit. While here you may want to explore a few of our famous Baltimore Museums such as the Baltimore Aquarium, the Maryland Science Center, B&O Railroad Museum, The National Great Blacks In Wax Museum, or The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History. Baltimore also has a very rich cultural history and by touring a historic site like Fort McHenry - home of the National Anthem - you will gain a new perspective of Baltimore.

Inner Harbor is home to many tasty restaurants, unique shopping, famous museums, live entertainment and local pubs and taverns.

When you're in Baltimore, you're two feet away from almost everything. Many of Baltimore's hotels, attractions, restaurants and nightlife are located within comfortable walking distance of each other. You can see just what's in walking distance from where you're staying by checking the walking radius feature on our Baltimore Map.

The Baltimore Water Taxi is an excursion on its own, stopping at places like Harborplace, the National Aquarium, the Maryland Science Center, Little Italy, Fell's Point, Canton Waterfront Park and Fort McHenry.

Fares to ride light rail, buses and subway are $1.80 each way, and $4.20 buys you a day pass that gets you unlimited rides on all three. You can buy the pass from any bus operator or vending machine at subway/light rail stations.

the Charm City Circulator is a city-run service. And unlike the above three options, the Circulator is free! Funded by parking taxes, several routes are now online:

The buses, while smaller and quieter than the MTA trains, are more stylish and fun to ride. And they're ideal for people staying downtown looking for a very economical way to get out towards Fells Point, Federal Hill, Mount Vernon and other areas underserved by the MTA.

• The Orange Route runs east-west between Harbor East and Hollins Market.
• The Purple Route runs north-south between Penn Station and Federal Hill.
• The Green Route runs mostly east of downtown, serving Power Plant Live, Fells Point, and the Johns Hopkins medical complex.
• The Banner Route runs from the Inner Harbor to Fort McHenry.

Just 45 minutes from Baltimore, the charming, historic city of Annapolis once served as America's capital. Just off the Chesapeake Bay, Annapolis is steeped in colonial history and ambiance; the Annapolis State House, built in 1772, is the oldest state capitol in continuous operation in the U.S. At the U.S. Naval Academy, established in 1845, visit the chapel to view the elaborate stained glass windows, including one designed by Tiffany, and see the crypt of naval hero John Paul Jones. And we don't mind admitting it's a fabulous place for noshing (in everything from seedy taverns to chic cafes) and boutique shopping. Note: You'll need a car…

Visit the nation's capital. Washington D.C. is about an hour away by train (Amtrak and MARC, Maryland's regional railroad, both offer service between the cities) or by car. The obvious attractions, of course, are the Washington Monument, the Smithsonian Institution, the White House, Georgetown and the U.S. Capitol.

The official U.S. currency is the United States dollar (symbol: $). ATM's everywhere.

Major credit cards such as Visa and MasterCard are widely used and accepted, even for transactions worth only a few dollars. In fact, in some cases, it may be the only way to make a transaction. Note to overseas visitors: Prices of goods and services always seem lower than they really are, as taxes and gratuities are seldom included.

Most states have a sales tax, ranging from 2.9% to nearly 10% of the retail price; 4-6% is typical. Sales tax is almost never included in posted prices (except for gasoline, and in most states, alcoholic beverages consumed on-premises), but instead will be calculated and added to the total when you pay.

Tipping in America is widely used and expected. While Americans themselves often debate correct levels and exactly who deserves to be tipped, generally accepted standard rates are:

• Full-service restaurants: 15-20% (Often this is the only income of the wait(ress). Tips are either left in cash or you can add it to the credit card slip) Note: Few restaurants add an automatic service charge, in which case it is up to you how much you tip extra. Check your bill!
• Taxi drivers, hairdressers, other personal services: 10-15%
• Bartenders: $1 per drink if inexpensive or 15% of total
• Bellhops: $1-2 per bag ($3-5 minimum regardless)
• Hotel doorman: $1 per bag (if they assist), $1 for calling a cab
• Tour guides: Depending on tour length, size, and overall quality of guided tours; for half day tours or less $5-10 per person, for longer tours $10-20 per person.
• Private car & limousine drivers: 15-20%
• Housekeeping in hotels: $1-2 per day for long stays or $5 minimum for very short stays (optional)
• Food delivery (pizza, etc.): $2-5, possibly more for very large orders

The U.S. has no official language at the federal level, but English is by far the standard for everyday use. Several states have declared their official state language as English. Spanish is also official in the state of New Mexico, where it is widely spoken; French is official in Louisiana and the Hawaiian language is official in Hawaii, but neither approaches the use of English and are official for primarily historical reasons.

Emergency 911

In major metropolitan areas like New York and Los Angeles, many drugstores and supermarkets are routinely open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, while department stores, shopping centers and most other large retailers are typically open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and often with shorter hours on Sundays - generally 11 a.m. or noon to 5 or 6 p.m. On holidays, the tendency is to remain open (with the exception of the most important holidays like Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day where stores are generally closed)