Bahamas Cruise 8 netter • Baltimore, Maryland • Vision of the Seas

If you’re kicking off your vacation in Maryland, you have more to look forward to than your time in the tropics. Cruises from Baltimore offer the perfect mix of big-city bustle and vacation vibes. This northeast capital overflows with rich history, plenty of iconic sights, and a top-notch food scene you won’t want to miss out on. Spend the morning walking around Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, where stately tall ships offer a glimpse into this East Coast city’s rich maritime legacy. Check out the National Aquarium, home to more than 750 species, an open-ocean shark tank, and a multi-story coral reef exhibit. And be sure to visit the star-shaped Fort McHenry, birthplace of America’s “Star-Spangled Banner” anthem. In between city sights, make a pit stop at one of Baltimore’s many acclaimed restaurants, locally loved coffee and tea shops, or craft breweries. Add a day or two to your vacation to experience the best of Baltimore before or after you set sail — you’ll be glad you did.

Grand Bahama Island captures an authentic portrait of Bahamian life. Unwind on sand that shimmers like pearls, fronting waters in every hue of blue. Hike Rand Nature Center’s forest-lined trails. Discover waterfalls at the Garden of the Groves. Dive deep into underwater worlds offshore. Or gamble, golf and even join in a wildly festive junkanoo parade in Freeport and Lucaya.

Dangling on the western edges of The Bahamas' Out Islands, Bimini was once an escape route for Prohibition-era rumrunners— and today it’s a small-island paradise for sun-seekers and anglers. For such a tiny isle, Bimini certainly packs a huge adventure punch. The capital of Alice Town buzzes with a low-key vibe, while miles of sugary sands lead to scuba diving and snorkeling in bright-blue waters filled with sunken shipwrecks. Legend has it Bimini Road was once part of the Lost City of Atlantis, and several ghosts haunt Great Isaac Lighthouse. Here you can go sailing, Bimini Museum browsing or Bimini Nature Trail hiking— all amid the salty Bahamian air.

Baltimore’s nickname— Charm City— is well earned. This town’s charisma runs deep— from the tall ships floating in the Inner Harbor to the top-notch museums. It’s an East Coast slice of American history where you can visit Edgar Allan Poe’s grave, and tour the fort where America’s national anthem was penned. And for authentic Baltimorean neighborhood experiences, nothing beats sipping pints in the pubs of Fells Point, cracking open steamy crabs in Canton’s seaside shacks, and enjoying sweeping skyline views from the top of Federal Hill.