City of Annapolis – Commercial Docking
The Charter Dock occupies the front of City Dock at Susan Campbell Park and is assigned by the Harbormaster.
Cruise planning
Research Annapolis, Maryland cruise calls before you travel.
Use the timetable to see upcoming cruise ship calls, busy-day signals, ship counts, and port context alongside the guide, map, weather, and readiness tools.
Schedule note
Port schedules can change because of weather, berth availability, itinerary updates, and operational decisions. Verify important times with your cruise line or the port authority before travel.
At a glance
Port profile
Country, code, and on-shore essentials.
Country
United States
Port code
USANP
Coordinates
38.978, -76.492
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Your port day at a glance
Plan your time ashore in Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis small ships use City Dock in Ego Alley, while vessels too large for the Charter Dock may anchor and tender into the same downtown basin.
Before going ashore
Before going ashore, confirm the berth or tender point, local time, all-aboard deadline, and the meeting location for any independently booked transport or tour.
Arrival
Dock or tender
Town access
Walkable
Can you explore independently?
Walk Dock Street, Main Street, Maryland Avenue, and the Naval Academy, preserving extra time if a tender is assigned.
VoyagePro planning verdict
This port works best when you confirm the exact arrival point, choose one coherent plan, and protect the return to the ship with a comfortable time buffer.
Best for
- •Travelers who confirm the exact arrival point
- •A focused local plan
- •One well-timed longer outing
Needs extra planning when
- •Your transfer or pickup point has not been confirmed
- •Your itinerary depends on several tightly timed stops
- •Your plan assumes every attraction can be reached on foot
Source summary3 sources
This section draws on information from City of Annapolis – Commercial Docking, City of Annapolis – Charter Dock Application and Visit Annapolis – Official Visitor Site.
Step off the ship with a plan
Arrival, terminals and getting into town
Confirm the actual berth first—local access can change substantially between terminals.
Where your ship arrives
The Harbormaster assigns City Dock space and allows vessels over 125 feet that cannot fit the Charter Dock to tender ashore in smaller craft.
Getting into town
Susan Campbell Park, Dock Street, Main Street, and the U.S. Naval Academy meet at the head of the harbor.
Port shuttle
Central Annapolis needs no shuttle, but 2026–2028 City Dock construction can alter the pedestrian route around Susan Campbell Park.
Taxi and local transport
Use a booked ride for Baltimore/Washington International Airport or sites beyond the compact historic district.
Airport and hotel transfers
BWI Marshall Airport is the principal regional gateway and requires a road transfer from City Dock.
Source summary3 sources
This section draws on information from City of Annapolis – Commercial Docking, City of Annapolis – Charter Dock Application and Visit Annapolis – Official Visitor Site.
What official and local sources say
Local details from reviewed sources
A concise summary of useful details found in port, municipal, transport, terminal, and tourism material.
City of Annapolis – Charter Dock Application
A vessel over 125 feet that cannot use the Charter Dock may tender passengers in craft no longer than 60 feet.
Visit Annapolis – Official Visitor Site
The destination organization covers City Dock, the historic district, Naval Academy, and regional transportation planning.
Source summary3 sources
This section draws on information from City of Annapolis – Commercial Docking, City of Annapolis – Charter Dock Application and Visit Annapolis – Official Visitor Site.
Build a realistic day
Choose a plan by time in port
Start with the usable time you have ashore, then leave a comfortable return margin.
Quick call
2–3 hours
Keep the day close to the port and choose one or two reliable nearby stops.
Half day
4–6 hours
City Dock, Ego Alley, Susan Campbell Park, U.S. Naval Academy, and Maryland State House define central Annapolis. Susan Campbell Park, Dock Street, Main Street, and the U.S. Naval Academy meet at the head of the harbor.
Long call
7+ hours
City Dock, Ego Alley, Susan Campbell Park, U.S. Naval Academy, and Maryland State House define central Annapolis. Keep the ship's all-aboard time as a hard deadline and allow extra time for weather, traffic, queues, security, or tender operations.
Source summary3 sources
This section draws on information from City of Annapolis – Commercial Docking, City of Annapolis – Charter Dock Application and Visit Annapolis – Official Visitor Site.
Plan for comfort
Accessibility and mobility
Mobility overview
Brick walks, tidal flooding, active construction, and tender boarding can change the otherwise short downtown route.
Source summary3 sources
This section draws on information from City of Annapolis – Commercial Docking, City of Annapolis – Charter Dock Application and Visit Annapolis – Official Visitor Site.
Avoid the rushed version of this port
Common planning mistakes
1
Not checking the arrival point
2
Assuming everything is walkable
3
Leaving no return margin
Keep the ship's all-aboard time as a hard deadline and allow extra time for weather, traffic, queues, security, or tender operations.
Source summary3 sources
This section draws on information from City of Annapolis – Commercial Docking, City of Annapolis – Charter Dock Application and Visit Annapolis – Official Visitor Site.
Answers from reviewed guide sources
Annapolis, Maryland port questions
These answers use the reviewed operational fields above; check the linked source when a detail affects a booking or transfer.
Will the ship dock or tender?
The Harbormaster assigns City Dock space and allows vessels over 125 feet that cannot fit the Charter Dock to tender ashore in smaller craft.
How do I get from the ship into town?
Susan Campbell Park, Dock Street, Main Street, and the U.S. Naval Academy meet at the head of the harbor.
Should I plan a shuttle, taxi, or transfer?
Central Annapolis needs no shuttle, but 2026–2028 City Dock construction can alter the pedestrian route around Susan Campbell Park. Use a booked ride for Baltimore/Washington International Airport or sites beyond the compact historic district.
Can I explore independently?
Walk Dock Street, Main Street, Maryland Avenue, and the Naval Academy, preserving extra time if a tender is assigned.
What should I know about airport or hotel transfers?
BWI Marshall Airport is the principal regional gateway and requires a road transfer from City Dock.
Source summary3 sources
This section draws on information from City of Annapolis – Commercial Docking, City of Annapolis – Charter Dock Application and Visit Annapolis – Official Visitor Site.
Guide review and sources
Operational details can change by berth, weather, and ship call. Confirm important arrangements before travel.
Reviewed Jul 15, 2026
3 sources
Build a route you can actually use
Practical places around Annapolis, Maryland
Choose a few places that fit your time ashore, then check access and transport before setting out.
Transport starting point
Susan Campbell Park, Dock Street, Main Street, and the U.S. Naval Academy meet at the head of the harbor.
Arrival location reference
Annapolis, Maryland cruise destination reference· Cruise destination area
Local landmark
City Dock
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Annapolis, Maryland.
Read more
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Annapolis, Maryland. Check current access, opening hours, admission requirements, and reservations before setting out.
This is near the destination reference, but the practical walking route still depends on the assigned berth or tender landing.
Near the destination reference; confirm the walking route
Local landmark
Ego Alley
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Annapolis, Maryland.
Read more
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Annapolis, Maryland. Check current access, opening hours, admission requirements, and reservations before setting out.
This is near the destination reference, but the practical walking route still depends on the assigned berth or tender landing.
Near the destination reference; confirm the walking route
Nature and park
Susan Campbell Park
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Annapolis, Maryland.
Read more
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Annapolis, Maryland. Check current access, opening hours, admission requirements, and reservations before setting out.
This is near the destination reference, but the practical walking route still depends on the assigned berth or tender landing.
Near the destination reference; confirm the walking route
Historic landmark
United States Naval Academy
Confirm your eligibility for base entry before planning a Naval Academy visit.
Read more
Confirm your eligibility for base entry before planning a Naval Academy visit. General public visits normally enter on foot through Gate 1; campus access depends on current security and identification requirements.
Adults need an accepted REAL ID-compliant credential, U.S. passport or enhanced driver’s license for general entry. Foreign passports are not accepted for general access. Non-U.S. citizens must confirm qualifying official-event escort arrangements with the Academy before planning a visit. Security screening applies.
No verified map pinPlace information
Source summary5 sources
Reviewed 2026-07-25. Location placement, transport, and attraction information retain separate sources so each can be checked and updated independently.
Live port-day planner
Plan my port day in Annapolis, Maryland
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American Ranger
Arrival
Not published
Departure
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Scheduled window
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1 ship that day
Up to 130 passenger capacity
Return checkpoint unavailable
A departure time has not been published for this ship. Confirm the official all-aboard time onboard before making plans ashore.
Guide match for this window
Confirm your ship's times, then choose one coherent local plan with a comfortable return margin.
Schedule source summary
Dates, ships, and times come from the currently published cruise-call records. Schedules can change, and passenger totals represent available ship-capacity data rather than a forecast of people going ashore.
Destination guide
Plan a visit to Annapolis, Maryland
Use the live planning tools that are available for this port.
A written destination summary is not available for this port. The schedule, map, weather, news, and readiness sections can still help you plan with the data we have.
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Explore ashore
Shore excursions in Annapolis, Maryland
Explore tour options for your port day. Check the meeting point and return time against your ship’s schedule before booking.
Excursion listings are not connected for this port yet.
This does not mean Shore Excursions Group has no tours here. You can check their current options directly.
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