stephen@stoneyard.co.uk

We often requested a table in the Carnival app just after 7pm. About an hours wait. We were often called or out table at the same time as late sitting and sat in the area for late sitting. We did not mind but it is not really Your Time Dinning. it is join the queue at your time but eat but eat at Carnivals choice of time.

I did this in June. They did warn me it was a small part glass with each course. I had guessed that based on the price.

I got the same feeling about CPS on my cruise. It was much quieter than Southampton. I had free parking as part of my booking. It was booked with another company based near the Channel Tunnel Terminal in Folkestone. I thought a ten mile shared bus transfer was not a good idea with COVID about. I booked CPS and paid myself. I did unexpectedly get a refund from the including parking. CPS were well over twice the price. May explain why the are quiet.

Really good advice about Dover. We also have various rail strikes and closures. Hopefully weather disruption is over for a while. It is not much fun at the moment. If possible I would try to stay the night before a cruise in a hotel near the port in Dover. Planning flights after the cruise, and thinking what is the earliest time you could get to the airport seems impossible. Unfortunately it might mean another hotel near the airport.

That does not sound very good. It is very different from my experience of a well maintained ship, friendly service, good food and definitely no queues. Dover is a quite typical of European cruise ports. They are often converted or shared use with other types of ship. More ferry or cargo than cruise passenger. Some are even just big tents. I wonder if the fruit delivery was stuck in the Dover traffic. We can, on the whole, get the food we want in the UK at the moment. Soft fruits particularly, and also cheap, at this time of year. We have no bacon shortage here too. Facilities were open and properly crewed I thought. Some events did not happen but I believe this is accords the fleet. The weather in northern Europe even in the summer can be cold. For my cruise wet and windy also featured. Food served and eaten by the pool will go cold quickly. I wonder if they have closed the pool roof. Ships designed for the Caribbean may not ideal here. Having a closable roof and outside decks protected by glass does make Carnival pride better than many. I have read about tendering delays. That does need resolving. My cruise to Norway did not have any tender ports so I do not know how it would have gone. Pride was my first Carnival cruise and I was impressed by the ship, service and food. As good as many more expensive ships I have cruised on. For me it was just not formal enough.

P&O Cruises is you could say is the UK version of Carnival. Also owned by Carnival as a group. They have had adults only ship (in any otherwise family friendly line) for years. I believe often selling for a higher rate. So never say never. One difficulty would be which homeports. Wherever the adults only ships are based will not be great for many who would like them. For example, if I am from Texas I might like Galveston but the adults only ship is in Baltimore. Do go I from my local port with other peoples children, or fly across the country to avoid such children. What about families near Baltimore too? Can Baltimore support two ships? P&O only have one home port so no problem. Best wishes, Stephen.

Did not realise it was a feature of the Spirit Class. I would definitely do another Spirit Class ship cruise. I thought Pride was very spacious and everything was arranged well.

Thank you. I did enjoy my cruise. Weather and COVID were the only downsides. Best wishes, Stephen.

I agree. For research purposes only. Not for fun.

Good to know it is not just me. Perhaps we need to form a support group.

Thank you. Interesting to know. On other lines I have cruised on the cruise Director is the senior person and manager in that department. They have generally been older, less hands on and more management like. Best wishes, Stephen.

Carnival Pride did not meet my expectation. I had been told to expect queues/lines. I never had to queue for: Guest Services Bars Buffet Elevators Corridors Main Dining Room entrance Guys Burger Buritos or Tacos Coffee Shop Shops Gym Equipment Theatre Comedy Disembarking at port Embarking at port (perhaps a few seconds for a security scanner) Occasionally there might be one person being served but I would be next and that was it. Perhaps I was just lucky, or I do things at different times to everybody else. As I did not get the full Carnival experience do you think I should get a free cruise? Best wishes, Stephen. PS. Carnival Pride was nearly full with well over 2000 passengers

Please could I ask purely out of curiosity what an Entrainment Director does? We had one on Carnival Prides, in addition to the usual Cruise Director. I never met the Entertainment Director to ask? Thank you, Stephen.

Bacon as in short supply on the buffet on Carnival Pride out of Dover. Some days not available, or served by the staff. Not sure why, as there is no shortage in the UK that I know off. Best wishes, Stephen.

I did not see afternoon tea offered on my nine night Carnival Pride cruise. We had two sea days. I looked in the app and printed daily programmes. I would have like to try it. Best wishes, Stephen.

Just back off Carnival Pride. The ship was almost full. THe only queue I experienced was for dinner with anytime dining. It was often 60 minutes but we just joined the queue in the app before our pre dinner drinks. There was no real queue for embarkation, disembarkation, lifts, drinks, buffet food, burger, burritos, guest services, or coffee. Occasionally somebody might be being served before you but you were next. I did not try the pizza though. When returning back to ship from port you might have to queue a few minutes but hardly a wait at all. I have cruised on many ships with many lines from budget to luxury, and I have probably never queued for less time. Best wishes, Stephen.

I disembarked Carnival pride this morning about 8am. I picked a middle number for disembarkation but stayed slightly later to finish breakfast with a friend. As with every European and Norway cruise I have done there was no immigration or customs checks. The ship staff scan your cruise card as you leave, you pick up your luggage in the terminal, and then just walk out. It make it all very quick. I had my car at the port so cannot help regarding transfers. Best wishes, Stephen.

I try to do carry on only. Most of my cruises seem to depart from Barcelona, Marseille or Genoa. I always take the train from the UK so there are no real limits on carry on. I have a big wheeled duffle which I can do a fortnight with, and it fits down train carriages. The limiting factor is my strength and endurance for the rolling. It is always a relief to get to a hotel room or cabin, leave the luggage, and go out to explore without the impediment. My next cruise involves driving to the port. I will not have to handle my own luggage for once. I have not done this for many years. I have already selected 25 tshirts for the trip of only 11 nights. It will be nice to have a choice each day. To me a real luxury. Best wishes, Stephen.

Quite a few European ports sell alcohol in the terminal after security checking. Carnival could search for bottles themselves as you then board the ship, rely on your honesty in handing them over, or just not worry at all. Some ports do not have a terminal building to sell alcohol or do security check. In that case Carnival will do the security check as you step back on the ship. Again they may or may not be concerned about bottles. Alcohol prices in Europe in local shops are generally quite cheap. There are exceptions, like Norway, where the prices make me wince. Best wishes, Stephen.

Thank you for the information. It is just what I needed to know. It will be fine. The tub will be sealed when I board. I will take a shaker and scoop too. I will also get a good amount of protein from the steaks, chicken, fish and eggs served on the ship. My personal trainer has set me a high protein target which is hard to meet with just normal foods. Particularly as I watch fat and salt too. Thank you again, Stephen.

I am very much looking forward to my first cruise with Carnival. I am sailing on Carnival Pride from UK, and driving to the port. Please could I ask. I intend to use the gym each afternoon. I was hoping to take a tub of protein powder. I think that if it is sealed, then I will be fine to take on the ship. I would pack it in my checked baggage. Please could I ask if I am reading the prohibited items list correctly. Thank you in advance, Stephen.

Same for me. I am in the United Kingdom with more than six months between my last primary (AstraZenica) and booster (Moderna). Many of us in the UK had early primary vaccines as the UK was early with the primary vaccine programme. What a mess. Best wishes, Stephen.

Thank you. I shall definitely go for that. Best wishes, Stephen.

Please could I ask as I am new to Carnival. I am from the UK and cruising on Carnival Pride. People talk about ordering multiple portions of Lobster on the first Formal night. Would it be possible to order the beef and lobster? That way I can try both. I apologise if I am being too greedy. Thank you, Stephen. PS. I have nearly finished reading a book about the early Carnival Ships. It was written by Mr Farcus. I think it is going to be different from my usual cruise ship.

Thank you both that is very useful. Just what I needed to know. I will probably use iMed who did it for Virgin Voyages. It was included with them but is not expensive. I had wondered if it would be done at the port. Best wishes, Stephen.