Carnival Pride 7/2-7/9: A First Cruise to Bermuda!

This year’s cruise story actually has its origin almost 80 years ago. Back in 2000, when we were sorting through things after MIL passed away, we found a folder labeled ”Bermuda Trip.” It seems that in 1938, DH’s grandfather –then working as the Cleveland branch manager for the Iron Fireman Manufacturing Company (boilers and furnaces) – was asked to escort the company’s top salesmen on a cruise from New York to Bermuda. Grandfather was only too happy to oblige. DH’s grandmother came along for the ride as well.

CT Burg-HHB by baxted, on Flickr

HHB Telegram by baxted, on Flickr

They took a Pullman car to NewYork, then met the ship, the Monarch of Bermuda (Furness Bermuda Line), the day of cruise. It was a 6-day cruise – leave NYC, day at sea, arrive Bermuda the following day at 9 a.m., transfer to the Hotel Bermudiana (back then you didn’t stay on the cruise ship), two nights in Bermuda, day at sea, then return to NYC.

Furness Bermuda Menu Cover005 by baxted, on Flickr

Menu cover

Bermuda Map003 by baxted, on Flickr

Cartoon map of Bermuda 1938

iron Fireman Monarch of Bermuda by baxted, on Flickr

Iron Fireman 1938 cruise

Monarch of Bermuda032 by baxted, on Flickr

Monarch of Bermuda, 1938. Three years earlier she was instrumental in rescuing passengers from the Morro Castle, burning off the coast of New Jersey.

 

They weren’t avid travelers – I don’t think they left the country after that – but DH says they spoke of this trip often. Still, DH’s family never had the cruise bug – at least outside the Great Lakes – and it would be another four years after finding the folder before DH and I would venture forth on a cruise ship. And back then it was my idea to cruise, not DH’s!

 

Fast forward to 2016. We had just completed our 22nd cruise with Carnival, a Mediterranean cruise on Carnival Vista, and were looking for our next cruise. After four straight years of flying for our cruise, we were interested in just driving to the port. Carnival was opening more options for Bermuda cruises, both from NYC and Baltimore. The Baltimore itinerary was much better,giving 2 ½ days in Bermuda and about 3 sea days. Sold.

 

About us: As noted, we’re veteran Carnival cruisers. DH and I are late 50’s and sail with our two younger sons, 21 and 17. The oldest son is a U.S. Navy officer, based in Bahrain. While we sailed to Bermuda, he sailed to Kuwait. I think we had the better cruise. We did have him with us for nine cruises, until he was 17. I like to take some credit for his sense of wanderlust.

 

 

Since we drove to the port, our plan was to drive down to South Jersey the night before the cruise and meet friends for dinner. We found a La Quinta minutes from friends’ house just off the NJ Turnpike that worked well for us. A suite with two bedrooms and a bath. We had a fairly active roll call and two social media sites before the cruise. They came in handy as we approached embarkation.

Friday 6/30 and Saturday 7/1: We saw on Cruise Critic that Pride was being diverted to Port Canaveral to disembark some ill passengers. This had happened the week before and completely changed embarkation for the next cruise, so we were fully prepared for a late embarkation. The next day, while we were en route to New Jersey, we got an e-mail telling us Pride would dock around 3 p.m. and to add six hours to our scheduled embarkation time– in our case, about 5:00 on Sunday. That meant a leisurely Sunday morning – no need to get up and check out early – and plan on time in Baltimore. Our plan? Fort McHenry, a short drive from the port. We had a great night out with our friends and took our time getting on the road Sunday morning –although I’ve experienced enough of traffic on I 95 that we didn’t want to tarry too long in South Jersey. We arrived at Fort McHenry around 12:30 and purchased tickets to enter the main fort ($10.00/adult). If you just want to walk the grounds and not visit the fort, there’s no charge. As we left the visitor center to tour the fort, we saw Pride approaching the dock – hopefully we would be able to park and board earlier than scheduled.

011 Fort McHenry by baxted, on Flickr

Boys, entrance to Forr McHenry

003 Fort McHenry by baxted, on Flickr

Entrance to Star Fort

004 Fort McHenry by baxted, on Flickr

Fort McHenry Flag

009 Boys, Fort McHenry by baxted, on Flickr

Outer walkway. You don't need a ticket to the Fort to walk here.

010 Fort McHenry by baxted, on Flickr

Outside the fort.

001 Pride Arriving Baltimore by baxted, on Flickr

Pride arriving Baltimore 7/2.

As the afternoon went on, we kept seeing messages from people being turned away from the parking lot, told that the lot would not open until 6 p.m. - well, since the ship arrived earlier than anticipated, that made no sense. Finally, we saw a message that the lots would start allowing cars in at 4:30. We drove the short distance to the pier (some people apparently camped out in a shopping center parking lot nearby), easily checked our bags and parked the car, and were through the terminal and on the ship in no time. I think it as a total of 20 minutes from getting out of the car to boarding the ship. A long day, but once aboard it all faded away into memory.

Welcome Aboard Photo by baxted, on Flickr

Welcome Aboard!

We were in Ocean Suite 7296 and the boys were in inside 7290.

034 Suite 7296 by baxted, on Flickr

Ocean Suite 7296.

035 Balcon 7296 by baxted, on Flickr

7296 Balcony. The great thing about this cabin is that while it's an Ocean Suite, the balcony is the size of one for a Grand Suite.

We met Anthony, our cabin steward, who was frazzled to be sure but greeted us warmly and asked whether we had anything special we would need during the week; our only request was ice, and we had a filled bucket all week. Dinner was open seating (no dress code). After dinner we watched the sunset, then saw a fair number of fireworks from neighborhoods celebrating Independence Day early. Muster drill was around 9:30, and we sailed at 10. I stayed awake until we sailed under the Key Bridge, then called it a night.

Monday7/3: A Fun Day at Sea.

By the time we awoke, we were past the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and out at sea. We settled into our usual sea day routine – breakfast on Lido followed by coffee and gin rummy on the Promenade. A nice feature of Spirit-class ships is a dedicated game room with full-size tables and shelves that are well stocked with board games – Scrabble,Parcheesi, Dominoes, Sorry, and Battleship among them. The room was well used all week.

171 Pride Card Room by baxted, on Flickr

Bonsai Sushi had a sushi-making demonstration at 11:15, after which they served samples.

017 Sushi Demonstration by baxted, on Flickr

016 Sushi Demonstration by baxted, on Flickr

014 Sushi Demonstration by baxted, on Flickr

In the afternoon we had our social media get-together; there were two separate groups but there was so much cross-over that they combined for one party in the Red Frog Pub. It was a lot of fun. Thanks, Cheryl and Isabel!

Very interesting report. I bet that sushi demonstration was very popular. Looks like you got pretty close to the sushi demonstrator. Did you have to arrive exceptionally early?

Very interesting report. I bet that sushi demonstration was very popular. Looks like you got pretty close to the sushi demonstrator. Did you have to arrive exceptionally early?

I was only slightly early. An advantage was the availability of different levels of seating - I was seated on a stool, while the people in front of me were on regular chairs. It did fill in, though.

Enjoying your review. Great that you were able to preserve those memorable cruising documents.

thanks for the review.

Really interesting story, thanks.:)

Enjoying your review. DW and I are going to Bermuda next year, so if you have any tips or recommendations, please pass them along.

Great start to your review!

Enjoying your review!

Neat back story. Having plenty of cash and a goal to stay out of jail is a vacation mantra that never goes out of style ;p

Loved the historical aspect. Thanks for a fun read.

What a wonderful story! Looking forward to the rest of your review.

Our lst cruise was to Bermuda on the old Celebrity Horizon. Cruised a few times on her and also the Zenith, back when you could dock in Hamilton and then cruise over to St. George. Looking forward to the rest of your review. Thanks for sharing!

Great start to your review! We'll be on the Pride going to Bermuda next year. :cool:

Great start to your review. As you know, we got on when you got off. Love the history aspect as well. I believe we are sailing together on the Horizon next year, correct?

Loved the historical aspect. Thanks for a fun read.

Had me too with the history lesson .

Always enjoy reading your cruise reports!

 

I found the information in your first post very interesting - thanks for sharing! Surprised that that cruise was in January - and they didn't give him much advance notice! Sounds like they wanted everyone to have a good time. :D

 

I look forward to reading more about your trip to Bermuda!

Always enjoy reading your cruise reports!

 

I found the information in your first post very interesting - thanks for sharing! Surprised that that cruise was in January - and they didn't give him much advance notice! Sounds like they wanted everyone to have a good time. :D

 

I look forward to reading more about your trip to Bermuda!

It was a far different type of cruise planning than we've done! Less than 3 weeks' notice, they picked up their tickets the day of the cruise - however, there was a travel agent who put together the whole package and probably just needed to fill in names.I'll add to the review later tonight. DH has to take me out to eat since he painted the dining room ceiling and there's no place to sit down to a meal.;)

Enjoying your review. DW and I are going to Bermuda next year, so if you have any tips or recommendations, please pass them along.

I do have recommendations. We did three great excursions and I'll incude them in the review.

What a wonderful story! Looking forward to the rest of your review.

 

Our lst cruise was to Bermuda on the old Celebrity Horizon. Cruised a few times on her and also the Zenith, back when you could dock in Hamilton and then cruise over to St. George. Looking forward to the rest of your review. Thanks for sharing!

DH's grandparents docked in Hamilton. Today the Veendam still does. Dockyard isn't bad, though, and there are regular ferries to both Hamilton and St. George.

Great start to your review! We'll be on the Pride going to Bermuda next year. :cool:

You will love this cruise! My joke is that with this cruise, we've completed all the ports in the chorus of the Beach Boys' "Kokomo": Aruba (Breeze 2015), Jamaica (Conquest 2005), Bermuda (Pride 2017), Bahama (too many times to count:D), Key Largo (Breeze pre-cruise 2015), Montego (Conquest 2010).

Great start to your review. As you know, we got on when you got off. Love the history aspect as well. I believe we are sailing together on the Horizon next year, correct?

We are indeed sailing together next year! Hope you had a great cruise - at least your boarding should have been smoother than ours was!