On September 1st, 2023, the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore MD welcomed NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line to Maryland, marking the commencement of their fall and winter sailing schedule.
In a historic move, Norwegian Cruise Line will, for the first time, have two ships serving as homeports in Maryland: Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Sun. These vessels are scheduled to offer cruises departing from Baltimore to destinations encompassing Canada, New England, Bermuda, and the Caribbean.
The Norwegian Sky commenced her journey with a 10-day Canada and New England cruise, featuring stops at Martha’s Vineyard, Boston, Bar Harbor (Maine), Halifax (Nova Scotia), Sydney (Cape Breton Island), Charlottetown (Prince Edward Island), Saguenay (Quebec), and Quebec City. On September 21st, the Norwegian Sky will embark on an 11-day Canada and New England voyage.
In parallel, the Norwegian Sun will provide opportunities for warm-weather escapes, commencing with a 5-day Bermuda cruise on November 22nd, followed by three 12-day Caribbean voyages departing on November 27th, December 9th, and December 21st. It's worth noting that the Norwegian Sky is set to return to the Port of Baltimore in September 2024.
The Port of Baltimore has been facilitating year-round cruising operations since 2009. Before the onset of the crisis in 2019, the Port consistently hosted more than 200,000 passengers annually. Despite the industry-wide pause during the pandemic, Baltimore has experienced a robust rebound in passenger counts, with its ships currently operating at full capacity. The port's strategic location, easily accessible from Interstate 95, provides ample onsite parking for travelers.
With a fleet of 19 ships serving 400 destinations worldwide, Norwegian Cruise Line has added Baltimore to its extensive list of over 50 convenient global homeport options.
The impact of the Port of Baltimore extends beyond the cruise industry, contributing significantly to the regional economy. It directly supports approximately 15,300 jobs, with an additional 140,000 jobs tied to port-related activities. The Port leads the nation in the handling of autos and light trucks, roll-on/roll-off farm and construction machinery, and imported gypsum. Annually, it contributes nearly $3.3 billion in personal wages and salaries, $2.6 billion in business revenue, and $395 million in state and local tax revenue.