Welcome Aboard Your Chesapeake Bay Cruise Round trip from Baltimore, MD Small Ship Cruising Done Perfectly™
Table of Contents
Welcome................................................................... 3 Ports of Call............................................................ 4 Getting to Baltimore and Your Ship........... 6 Boarding Your Ship............................................8 What to Bring.........................................................9 Meals & Cocktails............................................. 10 Shore Tour General Information................11 General Onboard Information....................12 Concluding Your Cruise & End of Cruise Transportation Services.13 Port by Port Shore Tour Information...... 14
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Welcome Aboard Thank you for choosing American Cruise Lines. From your reservation to your experience aboard your ship, American Cruise Lines is with you every step of the way. Your cruise specialist is always just a phone call away and will be happy to assist you with everything from celebrating a special occasion to ensuring that your stateroom is just the way you like it.
The following pages will answer many of your questions about the cruise and your onboard experience. Your cruise specialist is available and can be reached at (800) 894-8570. www.americancruiselines.com
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Baltimore Annapolis MARYLAND
Washington Solomons Is.
St. Michaels Oxford
DELAWARE
N Cambridge Salisbury Crisfield
VIRGINIA
Tangier Island
Ports of Call Baltimore, MD Williamsburg, VA/Yorktown, VA/ Jamestown, VA Tangier Island, VA/Crisfield, MD/ Solomons Island, MD Cambridge, MD Oxford, MD St. Michaels, MD
Williamsburg/ Yorktown
NORTH CAROLINA
Cape May
ATLANTIC OCEAN
Annapolis, MD
Norfolk
Itineraries are subject to change. A detailed itinerary will be mailed with your boarding documents. Sunrise on the bay 4
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Getting to Baltimore and Your Ship Whether driving, flying, or taking the train, getting to the ship is easy.
Arrival Location: Baltimore Inner Harbor National Aquarium 501 East Pratt St. Baltimore, MD 21202 The ship will be docked at Constellation Pier and is easily accessed from the arrival location. Please tell taxi drivers to bring you to the National Aquarium at the Inner Harbor. Some taxi drivers may incorrectly assume that your ship will be docked at the Baltimore Mega Cruise Ship Terminal. As soon as you arrive at the aquarium, you will see American Cruise Lines deckhands in their signature red shirts.
Flying into Baltimore The best airport to fly into is Baltimore-Washington International Airport. It is only approximately 15 minutes to the ship by taxi. 6
Taking the Train to Baltimore Amtrak provides regular train service to Baltimore Penn Station. The station is approximately 10 minutes to the ship by taxi.
Driving to Baltimore The ship is docked at the National Aquarium at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore. Secure commercial parking is available at LAZ Parking Garage at 100 South Gay St., Baltimore, MD 21202. The garage is only one block from the ship. Please request a parking pass in advance from your cruise specialist to take advantage of the special American Cruise Lines rate. Upon arrival at the aquarium, you will see American Cruise Lines deckhands in their signature red shirts. You may drop your bags off at the pier before parking so that they can be brought to your stateroom in advance.
Staying in Baltimore These hotels are all located near the ship. Please ask for the special American Cruise Lines rate.
nt
de
i res
E Pratt St
t
ee Str
Pier 4
National Aquarium
Inner Harbor
(410) 962-0202 2
Baltimore
E Hughes St Hanover St
Subject to change.
USS Constellation
SP
Marriott Hotel Inner Harbor 110 South Eutaw Street Baltimore, MD 21202
(800) 468-3571 (410) 547-1200
Hyatt Regency Baltimore E. ay W Conway Conw St St
E Lombard St
P
Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace
Light St
Renaissance Harborplace Hotel 202 East Pratt Street Baltimore, MD 21202
S Gay St
S Charles St
This hotel offers a special American Cruise Lines parking rate with hotel stay.
PARKING LOCATION Landmark ParkingInner Harbor Garage 100 S Gay Street Baltimore, MD 21202
P
Commerce St
(800) 233-1234 (410) 528-1234
S Calvert St
Hyatt Regency 300 Light Street Baltimore, MD 21202
ARRIVAL/SHIP LOCATION Baltimore Inner Harbor National Aquarium 501 East Pratt Street Baltimore, MD 21202
E Montgomery St
Key Hwy 500 ft
Warren Ave
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Boarding Your Ship Boarding Time Please plan to arrive at the ship between 10:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The ship will leave at 1:30 p.m. or earlier if all passengers have arrived.
From the moment you arrive, everything will be handled for you. American Cruise Lines deckhands wear a distinctive red shirt and will unload your luggage from your car or taxi and bring it to your stateroom aboard the ship. Please keep your boarding passes with you, as it is not necessary for you to stay with your luggage. The Cruise Director will be awaiting your arrival at the gangway of the ship. Please present your boarding passes and photo ID at this time.
Luggage and Luggage Tags American Cruise Lines places no restrictions on luggage. However, it is recommended that you bring as few bags as necessary. Suitcases less than 10 inches high may be stowed under your bed. You will be receiving luggage tags with your boarding pass before your cruise. If you would like additional tags, your cruise specialist will be happy to send you more. If you have cruised with us before, please remove your old luggage tags. 8
Subject to change.
What to Bring Casual resort attire is recommended both on the ship and ashore. For dinner, men’s clothing might include a sport shirt and slacks, with sport coat or sweater. Women might find a sweater and slacks, or a dress appropriate.
American Cruise Lines also recommends that you bring the following: • • • • • • • •
Comfortable resort attire Comfortable walking shoes Sunscreen Hat Light rain wear Jacket for cool evenings Camera Photo identification
Please do not hesitate to ask your Hotel Manager for any item that you may have forgotten. Fife and drum corps at Williamsburg, VA 9
Meals and Cocktails American Cruise Lines offers open seating at every meal in the Dining Salon on the Main Deck. Dress is resort attire. At dinner, men often wear a sport coat and women often wear a dress.
Glasses, ice, mixers, and soft drinks are available at all times. For other liquor requests, your Hotel Manager will assist you.
Breakfast is prepared to order at your leisure between 7:30 and 9:00 a.m.
Special Diets and Medications American Cruise Lines will work to cater to any dietary needs. Please tell your cruise specialist approximately two weeks prior to your cruise so that we may plan accordingly.
Lunch is served at 12:30 p.m. Dinner service begins at 6:30 p.m., and you are welcome to join us at any time before 7:30 p.m. American Cruise Lines provides complimentary wine and beer during lunch and dinner service. A complimentary cocktail hour with full bar is hosted each evening at 5:30 p.m. before dinner. 10
Refrigeration is available to store insulin or other medications requiring protection. Subject to change.
Shore Tours Please note that all shore tours are subject to availability and change. Your onshore experience is as important as your onboard experience, so American Cruise Lines has taken special care to research and plan excursions at each port. With American Cruise Lines you will experience what makes each destination a special place. Each tour will take you to the finest local sites at each port and give you insight to the area’s culture, heritage and history. On each excursion, you’ll be joined by local experts, historians, or naturalists to further enhance your experience.
For additional information about the places you will visit or alternative activities available, your Cruise Director or onboard guest speaker will be happy to help. You may sign up for shore excursions onboard with the Cruise Director. Shore excursions typically cost $20 to $50 and can be paid onboard near the end of your cruise. American Cruise Lines is dedicated to making your onshore experience a true American adventure.
FOR MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF EACH TOUR, PLEASE SEE PAGES 14-19
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General Onboard Information American Cruise Lines will work to meet your onboard needs and cater to special requests. If at any point there is an item that you would like to see provided, please let your Hotel Manager or Cruise Director know.
Emergency Messages Emergency messages can be directed to the main office in Connecticut at (800) 894-8570. They will be relayed to the ship at the first opportunity. You are urged to provide American Cruise Lines with email addresses and cellular phone numbers, as well as an emergency contact prior to your departure date. Cell phones are generally available onboard the ship for emergency purposes.
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Tipping Tipping is entirely at your personal discretion. Tips are generally given to the Hotel Manager near the end of the cruise. They are then divided equally among the stewards and deckhands. Tips generally average about $125 per person on a 7-night cruise. Stewards and deckhands do not expect and cannot accept tips directly. Credit cards, personal or travelers checks, and cash are accepted. If you choose to pay by credit card, please contact the Hotel Manager at least one day before the end of your cruise.
Concluding Your Cruise On most cruises, the ship will return to the National Aquarium at the Inner Harbor on the evening prior to the last day of the cruise. On the last day of your cruise, breakfast is served from 7:00 a.m. until 8:30 a.m. and passengers may disembark until 8:30 a.m.
End of Cruise Transportation Services American Cruise Lines offers transportation from the ship to: Baltimore-Washington International Airport at 8:30 a.m. for passengers flying home. For more information, prices, or reservations, please call your cruise specialist at (800) 894-8570. Taxis are also available at the ship. During your cruise, the Hotel Manager will be happy to assist you with travel arrangements.
Subject to change. 13
Port by Port Shore Tour Information WILLIAMSBURG / YORKTOWN / JAMESTOWN, VA Yorktown Trolley & Colonial Williamsburg Williamsburg, Yorktown and Jamestown make up what is known as the “Historic Triangle.” Colonial Williamsburg, the world’s largest living history museum, is the restored 18th-century capital of Britain’s largest, wealthiest, and most populous outpost of its empire in the New World. The port of Yorktown was the site of the final battle of the American Revolution, where on October 19, 1781 Lord Cornwallis surrendered his British Army to the combined American-French forces under Washington and Rochambeau. Jamestown Settlement, a museum of 17th-century American history and culture, tells the story of America’s first permanent English colony settled in 1607. A complementary trolley stops at nine different locations throughout historic Yorktown, including battlefields, the Visitors Center, and the Watermen’s Museum. Transportation is also Governor’s Palace at Williamsburg 14
available to Colonial Williamsburg, with shuttles to the Jamestown settlement.
TANGIER ISLAND, VA / CRISFIELD, MD Tangier Island Tour From Crisfield, you can take a ferry to nearby Tangier Island. Tangier Island is home to men and women, known as watermen, who make their living from the Bay’s bounty. The charming island retains many customs and much of the appearance of an earlier era. Golf cart tours are available with local guides or stroll through the delightful village, abundant with crab shanties, and shops.
Crisfield Walking Tour Crisfield began as a small fishing village and grew to become the
“Crab Capital of the World.” The Crisfield Walking Tour takes you through the port area of the city, and includes a visit to the Tawes Historical Museum, which traces the history of the Lower Shore with exhibits on early Chesapeake Bay history, the influence of the Native Americans on the early colonists, seafood harvesting and processing, the history of Crisfield and the evolution of that truly American art form—decoy carving and painting. One of the highlights of the tour is a visit to a modern crab and oyster processing facility where you can see first-hand how the products of the Chesapeake are made ready for market.
Crisfield, MD—Crab Capital of the World 15
CAMBRIDGE, MD
Sweet Tea at LaGrange Plantation
Skipjack Nathan Since the 1880s, skipjacks—a type of sailboat developed for oyster dredging—have sailed the Chesapeake Bay. While there once were as many as 800 of these beautiful vessels, today fewer than two dozen of the original dredge boats remain. Only a
The LaGrange Plantation is the home of the Dorchester County Historical Society, which includes the Meredith House, a 1760s Georgian home and the Neild Museum, which features an extensive collection of agricultural, maritime, industrial, and Native American artifacts. Also onsite is an 18th century strong house, a combination wheelwright/blacksmith shop, and formal herbal gardens. Enjoy a special Sweet Tea Party on the porch served by costumed docents, which includes a variety of teas and refreshments, followed by a guided tour of the Meredith House.
Quest for Freedom Tour Skipjack Nathan
handful still dredge for oysters, the last remnant of America’s only surviving commercial sailing fleet. Visit the skipjack, Nathan, for a unique opportunity to experience the vanishing skipjack heritage of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Sail on the scenic Choptank River, help raise her sails or take a turn at the helm, and hear the stories of the working watermen. 16
Dorchester County is the birthplace of Harriet Tubman, the former slave, African-American abolitionist, humanitarian, and Union spy, and who made more than nineteen missions to rescue more than 300 slaves. This is a perfect place to learn about this incredible time in history. Your guided tour will commence with a short ride to the scenic Neck District of the county, outside of Cambridge. Stop at Spocott Windmill, where a miller’s cottage,
school, and the windmill have been refurbished, recreated, and furnished to illustrate life in the 1850s. Continue to the Town Point area, where more than 40 slaves escaped over a two week period in October of 1857. End your tour with a visit to the Harriet Tubman Museum in Cambridge where you learn in depth about Harriet Tubman’s life and times.
town declined for many years until oystering business began to flourish in the late 1800s. Today, Oxford is a quiet town that is enjoyed by visitors who appreciate its history and charm. On a guided walking tour, learn the history of Maryland’s oldest town and enjoy the charm of Oxford then and now, while touring this picturesque place.
OXFORD, MD
ST. MICHAELS, MD
Historic Walking Tour
Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
Founded in 1683, Oxford gained its prominence as a thriving seaport in colonial days by being mandated in 1694 as the first and only port of entry on the Eastern Shore for British trade. Oxford flourished in this capacity until the Revolutionary War brought an end to British trade. The
Experience St. Michaels’ rich maritime heritage at the renowned Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. The 18-acre waterfront museum, which is dedicated to furthering the understanding of the culture and maritime heritage of the Chesapeake Bay area, features 10 Historic Oxford, MD 17
fooled the British”, what it was like to live in St. Michaels in the early 1800s, and the Chesapeake Bay. The tour is about 1 hour and you will find out the gossip and goings on in this small town from a native of the area.
Eco Tour River Cruise
Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
exhibit buildings, a historic lighthouse, and a working boatyard. Docking right in the heart of the museum, you will have time to tour the museum at your leisure or take a guided tour.
Walking Tour of St. Michaels Take a walk back in time as ye olde tour guide enlightens you about the facts, fables, and mysteries of early St. Michaels. Learn about “the town that 18
Join this private eco tour and experience the serenity and natural beauty of the Chesapeake Bay tributaries. Onboard, a marine biologist/naturalist will help you spot, identify, and learn more about the wildlife around you and point out historical landmarks and other points of interest along the way. You will cruise the bay while watching the watermen harvesting the bay’s bounty and the osprey diving. This cruise includes a natural history narration and an onboard aquarium.
ANNAPOLIS, MD Trolley Tour of Annapolis Annapolis, the state capital of Maryland, was founded in 1649, served briefly as the nation’s capital in 1783 and is proud to boast more existing 18th century buildings than any other city in the country. Your one-hour trolley
tour will travel the charming streets laid out in the 1690s while your guide introduces you to 350 years of Annapolis’ living history, architecture and folklore. Along the way you will see and hear about three homes of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Naval Academy Tour Founded in 1845 by the Secretary of the Navy, George Bancroft, the U.S. Naval Academy is located in the heart of historic Annapolis. You can experience “life on the yard” as you tour the Academy’s grounds with a professional, certified guide. During this 1-hour and 15 minute walking tour, catch the noon meal formation as the Brigade of Midshipmen forms for uniform inspection or take in the breaktaking views of the campus. Passengers will need Photo ID in order to take the tour.
Annapolis Midshipmen 19
Thank you for cruising with us! (800) 894-8570 www.americancruiselines.com
741 Boston Post Rd., Suite 200 Guilford, CT 06437 (800) 894-8570 140314