We live in Baltimore, so on our first cruise we chose to leave from Baltimore. When I first booked my cruise, I didn't really care where we went; I just wanted to take a cruise out of Baltimore, and the one chosen was Bermuda, purely for the time fram (before school started here in Baltimore). After booking my cruise, I joined Cruise Critic and started learning and researching what everyone had to say about both the Enchantment and a also Bermuda. It was mind boggling; good reviews, negative reviews, mixed reviews, etc., and since I had never been on a cruise or a ship before, I had made notes, comparisons, etc. I am one to research a lot before a big vacation/adventure. I also am on Facebook, and searched for friends in Bermuda, to get a local's perspective/suggestions, on what to see and do while in Bermuda. That turned out to be the best thing I did, as I have now become personal friends with my Facebook friend in Bermuda. Anyway -- here is what I/we experienced:

Check in at the Baltimore Port -- we got to the Port at 10:30, like the experienced cruisers say to do. No lines, very easy check in, pleasant staff to greet us, and no problems whatsoever. I felt comfortable sitting in the waiting area with the many other folks waiting to board the Enchantment. Free cookies and coffee were offered. I listened to some of the conversastions about Bermuda and/or the ship to learn what I could. Like everyone had told me, we boarded the ship around 11:00/11:15. We had no carry on bags, just my purse that held medicines, id., passports, etc.

Speaking of passsports -- one of my major major questions, was "do we need passports to go to Bermuda?" I had asked sooo many people, and got soo many answers (yes, no, birth certificate and drivers license are fine, etc.). When I checked in, I asked the customer service rep, and she clarified this for me. A passport is needed when flying, but I would have been fine with just my raised certificate of birth, and my drivers license. Had I known that, I would not have spent the $400 for my family to get the passports, but now that we have them, I realize it was definitely easier and faster than had we used teh birth certificates and drivers licenses. Read more