USS Constellation at Inner Harbor. Credit: Wikimedia Creative Commons license

Baltimore has a wide variety of shore excursions for cruise visitors who embark or disembark there on New England, Bermuda and Caribbean cruises.

More than many others, the Baltimore cruise port offers many shore excursions that take people on land, at sea and in the air.

Land Excursions

Walking tours with a guide cost anywhere between $15 and $70 per person depending on the length, time of year and other factors. These tours emphasize the city’s lengthy history.

Otherwise, Baltimore’s well developed Inner Harbor is the site of many major attractions. Visitors can see them easily on their own on the long boardwalk without a guide. Some of the attractions include the USS Constellation, Harborplace, National Aquarium and Maryland Science Center. We especially recommend the National Aquarium, known as one of the best in the country.

Another popular land excursion is the nearby historical city of Annapolis and the U.S. Naval Academy. Tours last up to two hours plus transportation time. Visitors usually have to get to Annapolis on their own. Costs range from $35 to $80 or more per person depending on the length of time and other factors.

Water Excursions

The Inner Harbor also is the location of dinner, sailing and sightseeing cruises.

A three-hour, all-you-can-eat dinner cruise on the Spirit of Baltimore costs about $100 per person. The cruise sails past local attractions including the Maryland Science Center, Pride Mast Memorial and the Francis Scott Key Bridge. It also has a DJ and live entertainment.

The 90-minute sailing cruise will tour both the Inner Harbor and Chesapeake Bay. This one costs about $50 per person.

A one-hour sightseeing cruise is the least expensive water excursion at about $25 per person. The tours include a history of Baltimore plus a tour near the major attractions such as the USS Constellation, Fells Point and the National Aquarium.

An Inner Harbor sailing cruise lasts about 90 minutes and costs $65 to $75.

Air Excursions

Anyone short on time and easy with a budget may want to try a helicopter tour. These tours usually last 30 to 60 minutes minutes and fly over major sights in the city. They include Oriole Park, Fell’s Point, Inner Harbor and M&T Bank Stadium. Costs begin at $150 per person.

Visitors with even larger budgets can buy a combination of a helicopter tour with dinner at some of the city’s premier restaurants. Note that some of these helicopter tours may cost up to $500 or more, so shop online carefully.