Chesapeake Bay Cruises
Small Cruise Ship Cruises
American Cruise Lines offers a full season of Chesapeake Bay cruises on their line of small cruise ships. These ships are designed to cruise the inland waterways of the East Coast, and their ships can pull right up to the dock in many of the smaller ports.
The Chesapeake Bay cruise itinerary includes Baltimore, Annapolis, St. Michaels, Oxford, Cambridge, Crisfield, Tangier Island, and Yorktown/Williamsburg.
American Cruise Lines ships feature spacious staterooms and opening picture windows. Many staterooms even have private verandas.
Small ship cruising is well-suited to the Chesapeake Bay region, where smaller vessels can get closer access. These cruises are a great way to explore the region by water.
Meals are included, along with a complimentary cocktail party each evening where guests can recap the day’s excitement.
Contact American Cruise Lines at 1-800-814-6800 for details, or visit the American Cruise Lines website.
River Cruises
Tangier Rappahannock Cruises offers daily cruises to Tangier Island from Reedville onboard the Chesapeake Breeze. They also have Rappahannock River cruises on The Capt. Thomas, which depart from Tappahannock and travel upriver to the Ingleside Plantation Winery. And they operate a paddle wheel boat cruise of the Rappahannock that departs from Fredericksburg, VA.
On Maryland’s Eastern Shore, you can cruise the Chester River with the Chester River Packet Company. They operate out of Chestertown, Maryland and offer a variety of daytime and evening cruises aboard their 65-foot classic yacht, the River Packet.
Sailing Cruises
Selina II offers romantic sails on the Chesapeake Bay. You’ll sail on beautiful vintage catboat. They have two hour day sails and sunset champagne cruises. There are also special trips available, such as wine tasting cruises. The Selina II sails out of St. Michaels, MD.
The Schooners Woodwind and Woodwind II sail from Annapolis. You can take one of their two hour cruises or perhaps a specialty cruise, such as a lighthouse cruise, dinner cruise, or wine tasting cruise. Visit their website for a cruise schedule.
Chesapeake Bay Harbor Cruises
Spend a few hours exploring protected harbors at Baltimore and Norfolk. These short cruises, which often include food and entertainment, are a great way to see the city.
You’ll also find harbor cruises in Annapolis and St. Michaels, Maryland.
In Hampton, Virginia, the Miss Hampton II offers 2.5 and 3 hour cruises of the Hampton Roads area, including the Hampton waterfront, historic Fort Monroe and Fort Wool, and the Norfolk Naval Base.
Tangier Island and Smith Island Ferries
Take a day trip to visit one of the Chesapeake’s island communities. Passenger ferries travel to Tangier and Smith Islands from Reedville and Onancock Virginia and Crisfield Maryland.
Ferries from Reedville – Ferry from Onancock – Ferries from Crisfield
Large Cruise Ship Cruises from Baltimore and Norfolk
Baltimore, Maryland and Norfolk, Virginia both have commercial cruise terminals that serve as starting points for cruises south to Bermuda, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean, and north to Canada.
The two cruise lines that sail out of Baltimore are Carnival Cruises and Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. The cruises from Baltimore range from 7 to 14 nights in length and sail to the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Bermuda, and Canada. See cruises scheduled to depart from Baltimore.
Carnival Cruises sails from Norfolk to the Bahamas. The cruises from Norfolk are shorter than the cruises from Baltimore and there’s less variety. The Carnival cruises from Norfolk are all five-night cruises to the Bahamas. See a schedule of cruises from Norfolk, Virginia.