cathyoo

Looking forward to hearing some more about the new dining menu/experience from you.

Not a fan of either the table setting or the menu.

Finally I get my son and his family to go on a cruise and all of these changes happen. My grandchildren are young (4,10 and 12) but the older two really enjoy fine dining experiences. I was looking forward to the old menu which is now the gone menu. My husband enjoys meatloaf and he loved the starters as appetizers.

I am hoping the changes do not get to the Splendor until after July 2014

thank you for sharing. All of you recent Splendor cruisers, please share your experiences. I have over two hundred days until I cruise and I need all the info I can get.

thanks

Very sorry to learn of your daughter no longer being with you. I hope your memories are of great comfort to you. I can certainly understand why it would be difficult for you to sail on the Pride again.

Thank you, I have always cherished memories and my daughter would always say every experience was a memory one you would laugh about when it happened or laugh about it in ten years. Her attitude was always laugh about it today why wait for ten years.

My heart goes out to you for your loss.

thank you for your kind words

Three time Pride cruisers. Also cruised the Miracle and the Legend all sister ships.

Baltimore is my favorite port (only 2 hours from home) In March 2010 my beautiful daughter was married on the Pride. Her first cruise and a little rocky the first few days.. changed that really rocky the first 2 days.

My beautiful daughter is no longer with us (passed away in Feb 2013) so the Pride will always hold a very special place in my heart. Not sure if I could cruise her again but I knew her so well it was like going home.

Hi! We are sailing on the Splendor in April during spring break. My DH says we can only get one cabana. What are some thoughts on weather we should get one at Half Moon Cay or Grand a Turk? Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

I think it depends on your needs. I have heard people say the cabana on Grand Turk is nice if you have young children and you want them to nap.

but the cabana on Half Moon Cay gives you fruit, drinks, snacks, mats and snorkling gear.

I'd love to get a cabana on Grand Turk. My mom has some health problems and it would be perfect for her but it looks like they are all sold out for my cruise.

Cathy I am so sorry for your heartbreaking loss! But what a fitting way to remember your daughter I'm sure there is no other place she would have wanted it.

Thank you for your sympathy. We canceled a cruise last year because things were starting to spiral out of control for her. She was so upset that we did. I told her we were just waiting until she could go with us. In the back of my heart I knew this was how it would be.

Casey always found joy in life and loved to make memories especially with her friends and family. I plan to carry that spirit with me and make sure my family is surrounded with that joy.

Having rented cabanas over a half a dozen times, I totally agree!!!

 

 

 

cathyoo, If I remember correctly, you are sailing on the Splendor. When we were on the Splendor last August, all those that booked the oasis, cabanas, and villas, were instructed to meet in the El Morocco Lounge, and from there were led down to the tender. No one asked to see our tour (cabana) ticket, or questioned how many were in our party. They pretty much assume that if you are there, you belong there, so bring everyone in your party with you.

Thanks, that's good to know. We rented two villas which should be for 16 but we are 22 right now. We have FTTF but if any others get added to our group I'll just tell to come along.

thanks again for your great review.

I agree!! I am in tears!! I too lost My Son, he was only 21 years old, but not to cancer!! I think this will be a very Special Day for you and all that loved her and will be sharing this day with you!!

Thank you and my deepest sympathy on the loss of your son. It is a heartache no parent should ever experience.

I've never been to HMC but having been planning and reading for stop there next year. From what I have read the cabana will be fine if you are using for 6 and only telling Carnival 4. I don't think they care since they will only provide mats, snorkel gear and food for 4. You will just need to share amongst 6.

The only issue I can see is cabanas get priority for the tenders on the way to the island. So unless you are some other priority list only 4 of your party can early tender. Not sure if this would be a problem or not.

When is your cruise?

Cathyoo - this was just posted on John Heald's fb page. I did not make the requst to him - but I didn't want you to miss his response!

 

John Heald

 

This was posted today

 

Name: Edna _____

Message: Dear John, I thought you must be the right person to help with this which is why I am writing to you. A lady posted this on www.cruisecritic.com message boards. “Next year we are having a memorial cruise for my beautiful daughter who passed away at the age of 33 from breast cancer. She was diagnosed 6 weeks before her wedding. She was married on the Carnival Pride 03/28/10.

...

We thought it would be fitting to have a memorial service onboard and scatter some of her ashes. Her husband could not do the Pride (too much heartache) and since we are from Philadelphia we chose to sail from NY. The cruise will also raise money for her passion Children's Literacy Initative (she was a teacher).

 

What should she do. Please help her John its so sad isn’t it.

 

Yes it is Edna, very sad and I am willing to help in any way I can. If there are any CC readers here please let this lady know she can contact me here, or my blog or via cclsupport@carnival.com and I will make sure we help accordingly. I send the family my sincere condolences

 

OMG.. thank you so much and whoever Edna is a heartfelt thank you to her also. I will contact John. Sometimes the kindness of others takes my breath away.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I can't even imagine the pain of losing your sweet daughter. I think you have a a great plan for a tribute to her. Best wishes.

thank you

This post has me in tears. I pray for your strength as you say goodbye to your daughter at sea.

Thank you. When grief is overwhelming kind words and thoughts mean so much.

A long time Maryland resident, I'm planning a transatlantic on the Wind Star next year which ends in Barbados. Looking at ways to get home from there, and not really wanting to fly, the best option seems to be picking up the Adventure of the Seas at it's first port of call returning to San Juan. That's just a couple of days before the Pride's second leg of her repo. It feels a bit strange being on the Pride as part of the move away from Baltimore, but it does help me get home in reasonable style.

 

Roy

That sounds like a totally awesome vacation.

Thanks everyone for all the information. Our funeral director had told Casey's husband to bring back his box with the ashes (it was made into a memorial box) and he will remove some ashes and but them in a biodegradeable container. Maybe I can ask for a few containers so we can each say a special goodbye to her.

I am hoping that I will be able to manage this. I am finding so many things so much harder than I thought. She suffered horribly and I thought I was ready for her to be a peace. But somehow that doesn't ease the pain.

I truly am thankful for the kind words and the information.

Just returned from Splendor's 8 Day Exotic/East Caribbean sailing and going to do a review with picture - we had 3 regular "8B" Balcony cabins - 6417 and 6419 both Midship and 6443 AFT almost next to the elevators & stairs. Posted pix under Cabin Selection Tips link - http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=40160520#post40160520

 

Also downloaded all 9 days worth of FunTimes - as I took advantage of free WiFi access to the (Fun Hub) ship's intranet site for pax while cruising - info for Sea Days should be the same, but Ports of Call info are specific to San Juan, St. Thomas/USVI and Grand Turk. Malcom, the CD keeps all updated with last minute changes & important info (i.e. postponed/cancelled final show, VROOM due to "rough" seas during our sailings ...) Access it via PC, iPad/tablet or smartphone.

 

.

Wow, can't wait until I get some free time to review. Thank you sooo much. We are on the Splendor in July next year.

Not filling the ship? That's hard to believe given the prices for the cruises out of Baltimore remain higher than most other ports.

I too find that hard to believe. Ship is always full. Not too fond of the PC, Nassau and Freeport ports but I love absolutely love sailing from Baltimore. I'm from Philadelphia and is a hop, skip and jump down 95. We always go the day before but love, love, love, walking off the ship and into my house in under 2 hrs.

Not a fan of the coffee at the buffet but found if I did 1/2 hot chocolate and 1/2 coffee I was able to get my morning fix.

Based on your first post I wasn't expecting much in the way of pictures. I've been pleasently suprised. You have beautiful pictures. thank you for sharing.

excited to read your review. I love the Pride. Can't wait to read some more.

15 drinks in 24 hours wouldn't be enough for me on vacation. RCI's is unlimited, and it's up to the bartenders to cut off those who have had too much (as it should be). Not everyone has the same tolerance, and not everyone drinks at the same pace. Putting a blanket 15 drink cap on the program is the wrong thing to do.

 

Luckily the yearly booze-cruise group I'm with has the old open-bar package so we will not have to worry about it. If CCl ever tries to bring us under the Cheers rules I will be heading to RCI for our annual bacchanalia. :D

My family usually does the open bar card and when they to book for 2014 they were told since the ship they were booking has Cheers they were not offering the open bar card.

I always decorate my door. Have a few instances where stuff is ripped off. Once a decoration was taken from my door and placed on someone else's door.

Question:

In July 2014 I am doing a family cruise with 23 of us. This will be a special cruise as we will be having a memorial cruise for my daughter who we lost to breast cancer at the age of 33. We will be having a ceremony and scatter some of her ashes. She was married on a cruise in 2010.

I would like to do a memory door with pictures of her. What do my fellow CCer's think. Just something that says " Missing you Casey" with some of my favorite pictures. Do you that is in poor taste. Just asking for opinions.

thanks much.

Loving your review and pictures. Hats off to Amanda I can't even imagine the patience it took to get a tattoo like that.