The Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore’s cruise terminal recently won two international customer service awards from Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, scoring 92 out of a possible 100 points for both awards. The awards were for: Best Check-in Experience and Best Departure Experience. The Royal Caribbean Ground Handler Awards included competition from cruise ports around the world that Royal Caribbean visits.
“This is wonderful news for everyone associated with cruise day operations at the Port of Baltimore,” said Maryland Port Administration (MPA) Executive Director James J. White. “Making sure that 2,500 people safely debark a ship and then later that same day, another 2,500 safely board their ship is no easy task. It takes a well-organized team made up of knowledgeable professionals that all do their jobs in concert. We are very fortunate to have these people at the Port of Baltimore.”
On days when a cruise ship visits Baltimore, the cruise operations team is comprised of different companies. Intercruises Shoreside & Port Services personnel run operations at the cruise terminal and assist passengers with check-in services. Ceres Terminals hires the longshore workers that handle luggage. Security is handled by McRoberts Protective Agency, Customs and Border Protection, and the Maryland Transportation Authority police, while MPA personnel oversee all aspects of cruise operations since the MPA owns the cruise terminal building.
“We are very proud to be recognized for our efforts, as are our Intercruises colleagues around the world that also received awards,” said Intercruises Vice President for East Coast Operations Alex Anderson. “While our operations team in Baltimore deserve a lot of credit, I would also like to highlight the support of all other teams involved at the Port of Baltimore and the onboard teams from Royal Caribbean – this collaboration and teamwork makes award winning service possible.”
The Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas is based at the Port of Baltimore and sails year-round with diverse sailings from Baltimore to the Caribbean, Bahamas and Bermuda.
In 2014, nearly 200,000 passengers sailed on 89 cruises from the Port of Baltimore. According to the port, it ranks 6th on the East Coast, 11th in the U.S. and 20th in the world for cruise passengers. It also stated that since beginning a year-round cruise schedule in 2009, nearly every cruise that has sailed from the Port of Baltimore has left at full passenger capacity.
