Baltimore Question

[patde44]

We will be cruiseing to/from Baltimore, and I have a question about our disembarkation day. Our flight home isn't until 5:30 p.m., and I was hoping we could take a ship excursion that would give us a local tour and leave us off at BWI. I've learned no such excursion will be offered. It would be a hassle to rent a car for just a few hours. Does anyone have any ideas as to what would be available to us to fill a few hours? And if it could be done without costing us a fortune, that would be a real plus!

 

I appreciate all suggested options.

[DanJ]

I'm not sure where the nearest car rental locations to the port are, and if they have free shuttles, but if you need to pay to get the airport anyway, might as well get a car which lets you have a place for your luggage while you tour around.

[fjb3cpa]

After disembarkation, get a ride to the airport, check your bags in there, and catch the shuttle from BWI to the Arundel Mills Mall, where you can spend most of the day wandering around there in air conditioning comfort. The new casino, "Maryland Live", just opened there and has been mobbed on a daily basis, should be plenty of entertainment to be found there. It is less than 10 minutes from the airport.

[Starry Eyes]

You could call downtown/ inner harbor hotels to see if they will give you a "day rate", so you'd have a room and hotel amenities for the day. failing that you could leave your bags with the bell hops, like early guests do, tipping well, then go explore inner harbor.

[Tony O]

I would check with your airline first on how soon you could check in your luggage,some have a 4 hour before flight time restriction.

If you are able to check luggage in I would go back to the Inner Harbor. There are many attractions there to visit. Also, you can take the water taxi from the Inner Harbor and visit other sites around the harbor as well.

But make sure you leave enough time to get back to airport as rush hour will be starting later in the after noon around 4ish or so.

[patde44]

I appreciate the great suggestions! They give good food for thought.

[read52]

Someone on another site said that they took a shuttle to the airport and were able to rent a car from the airport for the day. They kept their bags in the car and went exploring.

[Cruiseprotobe]

Working for an airline, that minimum time you can check your luggage is 4 hours prior to your departure time. Just keep that in mind. BWI also doesnt have any lockers so you will have to find a way to keep your luggage with you at all times