Royal Caribbean offers year-round cruises from Baltimore, Maryland and for many on the east coast, this provides a convenient cruise port alternative to flying to Florida.  If you are planning on taking a Royal Caribbean cruise from Baltimore, here is what you need to know about the experience.

Before you go

Whether you are flying or driving to the port, here are some basic tips to consider before you leave your house.

First, be sure to bring your Set Sail Pass as well as passport/photo ID.  These are critical items that will prevent you from going on any Royal Caribbean cruise.

It is also important to have your luggage tags affixed to all of your luggage to ensure a speedy check-in process.  

If you are traveling during the winter months, it is a good idea to keep in your car gloves and coats as well as a shovel in case of a winter storm.

Arriving at Port of Baltimore

Driving to the Port of Baltimore is fairly simple, given its proximity to the major highway of Interstate 95. Use exit 55 to reach the port.

As you drive into the port area, several port staffers will greet you.  If you are driving your own vehicle, here are the steps you can expect to encounter

1. Staff will check if your luggage has luggage tags. If not, you will be directed to a building to get tags.
2. Staff will provide a parking paper for the dash of your vehicle if all parties are boarding the ship.
3. Direct you to luggage porters to check-in luggage.
4. Pay for parking (left for credit, right for cash).
5. Proceed left and in front of the terminal building to the adjacent parking lot. As of December 2015, parking was $15 per day and payable in advance.

This process can take around 25 minutes or so to complete, depending on how prepared you are and how busy the port is.

In the terminal

Once you enter the Port of Baltimore cruise terminal, you will be asked for your Set Sail Pas and Passport/Photo ID. 

You will be instructed to drop your luggage at the drive-through kiosk, where porters will instruct you to remove all alcohol - including your allowed 2 bottles of wine. When cruising from Baltimore, they specifically request you carry on your wine through the security checkpoint where they will ask to see each bottle (its not a problem, but they will likely make you take it out of your bag to show them). If you leave alcohol in your luggage, expect your luggage to be flagged for inspection and then you will be responsible to get your bag to your cabin.

Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Society members that are Diamond level or above can get priority check-in through security.  All other guests will be directed to form a line as security reviews your documentation.

After the security scanner, you will be asked to fill out the standard health form and then off to the check-in counters. Royal Caribbean Crown and Anchor members also have priority check-in here as well.

The check-in process usually does not take very long and the counters are well-staffed.  

Getting onboard

Be prepared, part of the walking distance from the check-in counter to the ship gangway is outside, albeit covered, inclement weather considerations should be evaluated.

Once you are able to board your Royal Caribbean cruise, there is an option on Grandeur of the Seas to check your carry-on luggage in the South Pacific Lounge on Deck 6 aft (the alternative location for this is Chops Grille, also on deck 6).

Royal Caribbean will hold your luggage until 12:45pm, so you can enjoy lunch and explore the ship before your stateroom is ready at 1pm.

Now that you are onboard, your cruise has begun and you can explore the ship and start enjoying the many amenities and options available to you.

A big thank you to Jodi Shoop for assisting in writing this blog post!

What are your recommendations for anyone taking a Royal Caribbean cruise from Baltimore? Share them in the comments!

Royal Caribbean has begun a brand new promotion today on spring and summer cruise bookings with up to $100 off your cruise, plus the value of BOGO Further, including 50% off second guest and up to $300 to spend at sea. 

The Caribbean Escape sale is valid on bookings made February 1 - 7, 2016 on sailings departing on or after March 2, 2016 excluding China departures.

Guests can save up to $100 off their cruise and is combinable with the current BOGO Further promotion.

• Inside
  • $25 off
• Ocean View
  • $25 off
• Balcony
  • $50 off
• Suite
  • $100 off

Offer includes 50% off cruise fare of second guest who must be booked in the same stateroom as a first guest who books at full fare (“BOGO”), 50% reduced deposit, and a total per stateroom onboard credit : $50 for interior, $100 for oceanview, $200 for balcony, and $300 for suite.

See terms and conditions of the BOGO Further for more details on deal rules.

Offer available to residents of United States and Canada.

Thanks to Jason Poole for alerting us to this new promotion!

Royal Caribbean has announced a new partnership with one of Australia’s most popular TV programs, Australia’s Got Talent. 

The popular television show premiers tonight (February 1) in Australia on Channel Nine and celebrates the unique and brilliant talents of Australians from all walks of life.

Royal Caribbean is the major sponsor of Australia’s Got Talent’s “Wildcard” entries. Contestants who are not taken through to the semi-final by the celebrity judges can be voted back into the finals by viewers as Wildcards.

The winning Wildcard entrant will receive a cruise on Explorer of the Seas – Australia’s biggest, newest and most technologically advanced megaliner – plus Royal Caribbean will also offer one lucky Wildcard voter playing from home the chance to win a cruise for two on the same voyage: an 11-night cruise to New Zealand in April 2016, sailing roundtrip from Sydney and including return economy airfares.

“Royal Caribbean is incredibly proud of its world-class onboard entertainment so we’re thrilled to partner with one of Australia’s favourite television programs and showcase the very best of Aussie talent,” said Adam Armstrong, commercial director, Royal Caribbean International.

“We can’t wait to support Australia’s best talent. Explorer of the Seas is Australia’s newest and biggest cruise ship, packed with entertainment for all the family, so it’s a fitting prize for such an incredible competition,” he continued.

Australia’s Got Talent will premiere at 7.30pm on Channel Nine from Monday 1 February 2016.

Royal Caribbean produces a lot of commercials, and one of its newer commercials features a gay couple getting married on a Royal Caribbean ship.

Royal Caribbean wants everyone to consider getting married on a Royal Caribbean ship, and uses couple "Gabriel and Blair" to show how fun and special a wedding at sea can be.

Royal Caribbean describes this advertisement simply as, "You’ve never settled for the ordinary. Your greatest adventure yet should be no different. Venture far from the beaten path with a Royal Caribbean wedding ceremony. Royal Weddings amenities include complimentary planning to ensure every moment becomes a cherished memory for you and your special someone. Discover the breathtaking possibilities onboard and across the world."

Tip of the hat to Instinct Magazine for alerting us to this commercial.

Happy last day of January! It’s time to sit back, relax, and enjoy our weekly round-up of the best Royal Caribbean news.

Royal Caribbean and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) announced earlier this week a five-year global partnership to help ensure the long-term health of the oceans.

The partners will set measurable and achievable sustainability targets that will reduce Royal Caribbean’s environmental footprint, raise awareness about ocean conservation among the company’s more than five million guests, and support WWF’s global oceans conservation work.

The targets announced focus on supply chain sustainability and emissions reductions through 2020.

We have a lot to share with you this week, so let’s jump right in…

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean ships were able to resume stops at Labadee.
• Royal Caribbean is offering new perks for neigborhood balcony staterooms on Oasis class ships.
• Harmony of the Seas will feature all-new family entertainment for guests.
• Four questions you need to ask yourself before buying an unlimited alcohol package.
• We had two stateroom photo tours: Loft Suite and Larger Panoramic Ocean View Stateroom.
• A look at a "secret" stateroom on Freedom of the Seas.
• Five things you will love about Giovanni's Table.
• Spotlight on the Royal Caribbean dining packages.

Royal Caribbean Blog Reader Finds

If you are on a Royal Caribbean cruise and spot something cool, new or just fun, share a photo with us on Facebook or Twitter so we can add it to our Royal Caribbean Blog Reader Finds each Sunday!

Royal Caribbean Cruise Director Jerome Sueur posted a photo with comedian Kathy Griffin on Navigator of the Seas.

Robin Rinkewich‎ shared this photo of her finding the Central Park gnome on Oasis of the Seas.

Jared Grauvogel posted this photo of the water slides being added to Liberty of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 130th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available and this week, we are reading our listener's emails

In this episode, Matt reads emails that listeners have sent in about all aspects of a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

Royal Caribbean Around the Internet

Royal Caribbean UK lists 15 reasons why you shouldn't go to Ajaccio this summer.

Cruise Radio has a review of Oasis of the Seas.

Beyond Ships has a conversation with Serenade of the Seas hotel director.

ShermansCruise has a guide to picking a cabin on Anthem of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean's Panoramic Ocean View Staterooms are relatively new to the fleet, but already many guests are reporting back just how impressive a space they are.

Royal Caribbean Blog reader Hunt Lewis shared with us his photos from his Category P1 stateroom on Freedom of the Seas.

Large Panoramic Oceanview staterooms feature floor-to-ceiling wrap-around windows and these category P1 rooms feature even more space than usual.

This photo tour was of stateroom 1864 on deck 12 of Freedom of the Seas.

The larger panoramic ocean view staterooms feature 283 square feet of space and can accomodate up to 3 guests.

They have two twin beds that convert to a Royal King-sized bed.

Each stateroom also has its own flat-screen television, thermostat controlled air-conditioning, internet access, direct-dial telephone, radio, mini bar, individual safe, and 24 hour room service.

​Royal Caribbean sends its more than 11,000 Filipino crew through safety training at its facility in Marongondong, Cavite, Philippines.

Friend of the blog, John Roberts, sent us these photos from his recent tour of the facility. The campus offers courses on Basic Safety Training, Advanced Firefighting, Survival Craft Operations, Water Rescue and other related courses designed to help build the competencies of cruise staff in a wide range of maritime skill sets.

The conditions created during the exercises simulate actual shipboard scenarios.

John Roberts writes about cruise and fitness-based travel on his website InTheLoopTravel.com.

Royal Caribbean's Giovanni's Table has spread to a number of ships across the fleet and serves up to guests some really tasty Italian food.  

Here are five things we think you will love about dining at Giovanni's Table.

5. Scallops

If you enjoy seafood, you will definitely want to order the scallops at Giovanni's Table, because they are truly wonderful dish.

Giant scallops are served individually on decorative clam shells.  A common mistake is scallops can be overcooked, but these are perfectly cooked and a real winner.

In short, the scallops are delectable and delicious. 

4. The filet

When we think of really good steaks on Royal Caribbean ships, one of the most underrated steaks is offered at Giovanni's Table.

The filet served up at Giovanni's Table is essentially Italian-style filet mignon and has an amazing flavor that is contrasted with the Gorgonzola cheese butter. And those steak fries!

An inside tip: there is a steak on the lunch and dinner menu, but the dinner steak option tends to be a better choice.

3. The decor on Oasis class ships

We mentioned earlier in this blog post that Giovanni's Table has spread to many Royal Caribbean ships, but the Giovanni Table locations on the Oasis class ships look and feel a little bit better than all the rest.

Giovanni's Table was originally introduced on Oasis of the Seas and there is just something about the Central Park setting that not only makes the restaurant look like a classy neighborhood restaurant, but it also just looks really nice inside.

Dining at Giovanni's Table on an Oasis class ship offers that perfect mix of great food set in a beautiful setting.  You can dine inside or opt for a table "outdoors" with a view of Central Park all around you.

2. Dessert cart

A trend among the newer Royal Caribbean specialty restaurants is to offer a dessert cart or tray of desserts and the dessert cart at Giovanni's Table is worth saving some room for.

Canolis, flourless chocolate cake, tiramisu are just a few of the options you can expect and they are truly devine.

These desserts are rich, decadent ways to top off a really good meal.

1. Lasagna

At the heart of Giovanni's Table is some fan-favorite Italian dishes that are tried-and-true winners, and this includes the lasagna.

The lasagna at Giovanni's Table is topped in a fabulous meat sauce and has just the right amount of cheese that accentuates the taste of the layers of pasta, sauce and meat.

If you are looking for a great traditional Italian pasta dish, the lasagna is for you.

Welcome to this week's edition of Friday Photos, where we share our readers' Royal Caribbean photos with all of you.  You can send us your Royal Caribbean photos by using this form.

To me, this weekly feature is an opportunity to enjoy a quick "mental escape" to a Royal Caribbean cruise vacation.  Let's get started with this week's batch!

Our first photo is from G.Spindler and it is of a beautiful sunset while at sea.  Looks perfect to me!

Speaking of beautiful, is this shot of Independence of the Seas by Shannon F in St. Maarten.  The water color and sky really look great!

Dave Rimington shared this photo of the Dubai skyline, as seen from Splendour of the Seas.  Love the contrast.

Denny sent us this photo from his stingray encounter from Grand Cayman.  Beautiful water color and that certainly looks like a close encounter to me!

Lastly this week, we have sister ships Serenade of the Seas and Brilliance of the Seas by Frederic.  Two beautiful ships that look like mirror images of each other.

Thank you to everyone who sent in their photos this week. Have a great weekend and be sure to send us your photos so we can post them next week by using this form.

Royal Caribbean offers its guests that are fans of specialty dining the opportunity to purchase dining packages that promise to save guests money on the total cost of the restaurant experience.

Photo by Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean offers a variety of dining packages based on the number of nights you want to take advantage of the offer.  These packages can save guests up to 40% off the price if they were purchased individually.

There are dining packages for

• 1 night (referred to as First Night Done Right)
  • Only available on first night of the cruise
• 2 nights (referred to as BOGO package)
  • Only available on first two nights of the cruise
• 3 nights
• 4 nights
• 5 nights
• Ultimate dining package (good for the duration of the sailing)
  • The ultimate dining package includes lunch on sea days

Photo by Royal Caribbean International

Via Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner, guests may select their dining party and preferred dining time and a courtesy dinner reservation will be made on your behalf in a pre-selected restaurant on day 1 or day 2.

On Day 1, guests will receive a reservation confirmation in their stateroom. If you would like to amend or to complete your additional dinner reservations, simply visit a Hospitality Desk or any specialty restaurant.

Guests then can make additional reservations on your first day onboard to guarantee preferred dining time and restaurants.

Kids ages 6-12 now dine at our specialty restaurants for only $10. Ages 5 and under eat free.  Royal Caribbean's staff can add children to your existing reservation at kid's prices once onboard.

For restaurants with a la carte pricing, package includes a $30 credit towards the food portion of your bill.

The main advantage of the dining packages are the cost savings compared to booking the individual specialty restaurants individually. 

Will you book one of these dining packages for your next Royal Caribbean cruise? Tell us in the comments below!