Getaway Guide: Inner Harbor Cruisin'
There is an oasis of waterborne fun and adventure right in the heart of downtown Baltimore. Come by boat or direct from I-95 to the calm waters of the storied Inner Harbor and spend a day cruising on everything from muscle boats to paddle sea-serpents for the kids. The hours will be packed with eye-filling sights and "selfie" moments. So where do you find a cruise that fits your lifestyle? Welcome aboard.– Jay Lloyd
SPIRIT OF BALTIMORE
571 S. Charles St.
baltimore.org/listings/american/baltimore-spirit-cruises
Arriving by boat, we passed close alongside the Spirit of Baltimore. She was off on her daily luncheon cruise along the Patapsco River. Our crew tossed the customary wave to the Spirit's crew and watched as they passed Fort McHenry on the way to a river ramble with lunch in a cool dining room behind a picture window or in a comfortable plush chair on the stern deck. Luncheon cruises with a menu of fin, fur and garden food has a mid-week fare of $44. Dinner cruises with a more expansive menu, sails off at $62. Weekend pricing is a bit higher. If you're familiar with the Spirit of Philadelphia, you'll be no stranger to the Baltimore version.
WATERMARK CRUISES
401 Light St.
cruisesonthebay.com
Watermark cruises cast off from the Inner Harbor finger piers on a frequent schedule and set a course around the harbor to open a narrated page into the architecture and history that makes up a unique waterway. The boats are comfortable with inside and on-deck seating and a cash bar. The cruises take you past Fort McHenry, the inspiration for the Star Spangled Banner and along the modern Baltimore harbor shoreline. They offer a waterside perspective on the historic ships that are part of the maritime museum collection. Adults pay $18, children 3 to 11 ride for $6.
WATER TAXI
Various Stops
www.baltimorewatertaxi.com
The Best way, by far to get around the Baltimore waterfront sites and attractions is by water taxi. No need to walk or drive city streets, just pick up a convenient water taxi anywhere along the Inner Harbor including the Aquarium, Rusty Scupper and Science Center. Then cruise to Fells Point and Fort McHenry. Take in the sights along the way. Use the water taxi for restaurant and bar trips. Get on and off where and when the whim strikes. An adult all-day ticket is $14, kids 3 to 10 cast off for $7
PADDLE BOATS
301 E. Pratt Street
www.baltimorepaddleboats.org/
And speaking of kids. One of their favorite cruises is a colorful craft that they can power themselves. The dragon-headed paddle boats that circle in front of the National Aquarium are easy to maneuver and are kept in a secure section of the harbor. They can be rented for $20 per half-hour. They carry 4, so there's plenty of room for mom and dad.
SEADOG
561 S. Light St.
www.seadogcruises.com/baltimore
Want the thrill of seeing the harbor with the wind blowing through your hair and being close to the water while moving at higher than sightseeing speed? Take a cruise on the Inner Harbor muscle boat, "Seadog". The tariff on this open go-fast boat is $22 for a 50 minute cruise that covers the harbor and it's approach, past stately naval merchant ships and scores of arriving yachts.
Notes: You can also book sailing lessons, a pirate cruise for the kids and Baltimore by night cruises that let you dance past the bright lights of a dynamic waterfront.
Bon Voyage!
