Baltimore to open sea?

[Ships R Great]

First time out of Baltimore. I have read something but did not seem definitive. How long will it take to reach open sea from Port of Baltimore? I figure we will see Ft. McHenry but what else can we look for until it gets dark? What time would we re-enter Cheasapeake Bay on return? anything to look for then? Thanks for any info.

[aquatot11]

We sailed out of Baltimore last fall. Unfortunately we left late -6 PM and dark (OCT 30 sailing). So we saw nothing. It takes about 8 hours to get to the Atlantic.

 

Charlie

[Ships R Great]

Oops! We will sail in Nov/Dec so I guess we will also see nothing. Shucks!

[scgirlatheart]

First time out of Baltimore. I have read something but did not seem definitive. How long will it take to reach open sea from Port of Baltimore? I figure we will see Ft. McHenry but what else can we look for until it gets dark? What time would we re-enter Cheasapeake Bay on return? anything to look for then? Thanks for any info.

 

Anybody else know what time you return to the Bay? We're sailing in August, and my husband wants to be on deck for both the trip out of the Bay and the return trip.

[dixieva]

What time are you supposed to dock the morning you return? We have sailed a few times out of Baltimore. We docked around 7 a.m. So your hubby will have to be up really early to be on deck for the return trip up the bay.

 

The best things to see are sailing under the Key Bridge and the Cheseapeake Bay Bridge. It's a sight to see if you still have some daylight. You can only see the lights of the Bay-Bridge tunnel since it's dark both coming and going. But it's kinda neat to see also.

[wraithe]

It's about 8 hours from the port to the open ocean. About the same back from open ocean to the port. So, if you leave port at 5:00, you will cross into open ocean about 01:00 the next morning.

[pjlee3333]

Assuming a normal departure time (and the October 30 cruise may have been late leaving since the ship was late getting back from Bermuda due to rough seas coming back) the ship goes under the key bridge at 4:45 and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge at about 5:45-6:00. It's about 2 hours from the Bay Bridge and 45 minutes from the Key bridge so just allow that amount of time from when the ship is suppose to dock (someitmes the Bermuda arrivals are later than the New England/Caribbean arrivals into Baltimore). About 10 minutes out on the port side is Fort McHenry. There is also some nice scenery going out. My mom and I may be different than most but just enjoy sitting in the centrum watching the scenry.

 

It is fun being up on deck when the ship goes under the bridges. It doesn't look like it will make it. The ship clears with something like 10-15 feet so the illusion of the ship hitting the bridge until you actually are under it is facinating (at least for me).

[scgirlatheart]

Thanks for the responses. We're back in Baltimore at 7am. My DH has already said he would be up most of that night to watch the ship come up the bay. At least now he has a time frame.

[Aoumd]

I have a related question: on the first evening on a cruise out of Baltimore, does the casino remain closed that whole time until entering open sea? I take it it's not "international" waters, but it seems like a long time for the casino to be closed after sail-away.

[Pumbaamd]

On our Grandeur cruise from Baltimore the casino opened about an hour after we left. Believe we heard that they obtained permission and/or struck deals with Maryland and Virginia. Have a great cruise!

Rick and Deirdra

[G'ma]

First time out of Baltimore. I have read something but did not seem definitive. How long will it take to reach open sea from Port of Baltimore? I figure we will see Ft. McHenry but what else can we look for until it gets dark? What time would we re-enter Cheasapeake Bay on return? anything to look for then? Thanks for any info.

 

It takes 8-10 hours...each way.

 

Ships going out of Philly have a 12-14 hour ride out the Delaware River into the bay and on out to open ocean.

[runningtide]

If you leave in the summer (we're leaving 7/16/2009) you'll be under the Bay Bridge around 6:00 PM. It takres about 10 hours to clear the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and enter the Atlantic.

 

Lot of things to look at as you sail south before darkness set's in.

[crookedhalo]

You should cross the Bridge-Tunnel around 11pm that night - it's a beautiful sight all lit up:) Returning, you'll enter the bay around 11pm the night before you dock:D