CHristmas Cruise on the PRIDE---WOW--we were dodging bullets!!!

[poshholly]

Whewww Happy we made it home safe and sound!!! What a week!!!

 

The snow in Baltimore slowed things down and it literally took more than an hour when we reached the port to make a circle to luggage drop off and then park---we arrived around 12noon and it was nearly 3pm before we made it to the ship:mad: Apparently, while we were on our way to the port they called to say we were delayed 3hrs due to weather

 

Overall, the food in the Dining room was amazing and in the Mermaid grill it was very difficult to find seating so the food was cold by the time you actually got to sit....Christmas Activities were amazing and very festive--I do think they advertised milk and cookies for Santa but we were turned away at the buffet when looking for cookies so Santa was left chocolates and lemonade

 

On day two we were near the Carolinas when we had to turn back and head up the Bay to Norfolk for an emergency drop off. A woman apparently fell in the shower and broke her back and/or legs. Norfolk was not scheduled but amazing to see all the battleships. We were there about an hour as we watched the ambulances and ship crew get this poor woman and her family off the ship.

 

Most excursions in Port Canaveral were cancelled so we stayed on the ship and weather was average.

 

In Nassau we spent the day at the public beach near Atlantis--the Harley Davidson excursion was cancelled.

It is cheaper to access Atlantis directly from the resort than from the ship and our taxi driver told us to check room rates at the Comfort Inn b/c we would get 4 passes to Atlantis with a room rental there...It was

Christmas Eve so the rates were over $300 but I bet on any other week it would be worth renting the room and just using the passes and check out again!!! While there, a girl on our shipo broke her arm.

 

It was very warm in Nassau so we spent the evening at Senor Frogs

 

AS we arrived the next day in Freeport we were told the Port Authority was delayed, so a 7am exit turned in to 10:15 am and had to be back on by 3pm instead of 1pm. Sand Dollar Tours was cancelled---they were fighting like animals to get taxis back from the Lucaya Resort......We later found out that sometime late Christmas Eve or Christmas morning, a boy on our floor who was there under the Make a Wish Foundation had passed away--Rest his Soul.

 

Leaving Freeport we had 8ft swells and people were dropping like flies....Sea sickness all around us---including my 5yr old. Many people were sick while trying to exit the formal dinner and didn't make it out of the restaurant--EWE!!!

 

According to the crew the week before ours were some terrible seas and the ship that left yesterday 12/28 will also have some really rough weather as another storm arrives late this week....I am thankful we picked a good weather week, though all the accidents and saddness on our ship was overwhelming.

 

I can say that the Carnival Pride ship much nicer and better quality than the RC Majesty of the Seas and my top ship thus far remains the Celebrity Millenium!!!!

[firefly333]

wow, that is the most amazing review. So many got sick and/or hurt themselves. Iv seen one here and there, but never in the numbers you mention.

 

Sounds like overall you still enjoyed your cruise.

 

Im sorry your little boy got seasick, hope you had some meds to help him out.

[LHP]

Glad you are home safe and sound from a good cruise.

 

Some interesting stories....and some sad ones.

 

thanks for the review!!

[Frecklezchick]

Most excursions in Port Canaveral were cancelled so we stayed on the ship and weather was average.

 

Why were the excursions in Canaveral cancelled?

 

Sounds like you guys did have an eventful trip!!!

 

We were on the X Mille in 2007 ... loved it! Glad to hear that Carnival didn't disappoint after that!!!

[jimbo5544]

I was scared to read on once I saw the "dodging bullets" line. :eek: Glad you enjoyed your cruise!

[Nunu]

OP would you cruise out of a northern port again at that time of the year or no?

[jimbo5544]

OP would you cruise out of a northern port again at that time of the year or no?

Actually a very good question. Would be interested in the answer also.

[Frecklezchick]

I'll butt in here, even though I wasn't asked, LOL, so disregard me if you choose to.;)

 

We're sailing from the B-more port in 13 days...

 

IMHO... I dont think the port you sail from has anything to do w/what happens on-board, and any of those things could've happened no matter where the ship sailed from.

Rough seas leading to seasickness, a fall in the shower, and a terminally ill child (my heart goes out to his family/friends) passing away are all awful things.

 

But the only thing that could've been different by sailing from another port or not in winter was the snowstorm/resulting delays. And this snowstorm was the worst in decades, literally, (We got 18-20" and were still out on local/county roads by noon Sunday) not a common occurrence.

[poshholly]

Actually a very good question. Would be interested in the answer also.

 

 

I am torn 50/50

 

I loved that we were so close to home and had we been scheduled to fly we would have been delayed or cancelled for that week b/c of snow

 

I did not like being in cold weather as long as we were. Many ships do not have heat so we were very cold in our cabins for the first 2-3 days.

I love arriving in a port in only a day or so and enjoying warm weather:)

 

Balt Port was soooo lengthy and time consuming compared to the others I have experienced. The port is controlled by Carnival and not locals--so they need to do some improving--for sure!!!

[MsTabbyKats]

I am torn 50/50

 

I loved that we were so close to home and had we been scheduled to fly we would have been delayed or cancelled for that week b/c of snow

 

I did not like being in cold weather as long as we were. Many ships do not have heat so we were very cold in our cabins for the first 2-3 days.

I love arriving in a port in only a day or so and enjoying warm weather:)

 

Balt Port was soooo lengthy and time consuming compared to the others I have experienced. The port is controlled by Carnival and not locals--so they need to do some improving--for sure!!!

 

I'm just a little north of you...in NYC.

 

I wouldn't cruise out of here in the winter because it would be too cold for "outdoor activities" on board. I never even thought about heat in the cabins.

[jayesouthworth]

We sailed on the Pride once out of Long Beach a few years back and to be honest, we hated the ship and was glad when it left for another port. It was at the height of the norovirus going on. Stuff happens when you sail on a ship, there's no guarantees that everything will be like you thought it would be. Still didn't stop us from cruising again.

[sanmarcosman]

If this is anyone's idea of a "good cruise" I'd sure like to know their thoughts on what a bad cruise would be. It reads to me more like "The Voyage of the Damned." To the OP I hope all your future sea travels will be smooth sailing :)

[janayt]

My BF and I are crusing on the Pride Feb 7th, and I'm a little nervous now with all these weather woes!! :rolleyes: It seems like the last 3 or 4 Pride cruises have canceled one or more ports due to weather, or simply have had a subpar cruise. I know you can't control the weather, but it's still scary!!

[Frecklezchick]

We leave in 13 days - I'll be there whether there is a foot of snow on the ground or its sunny and 45 degrees out.

 

There are bumps in any vacation... how you ride them out depends on your outlook/philosophy. I look at it as that I'm going to have a good time (if the others in my group don't drive me bonkers, LOL) no matter what.

 

DH and I had a rotten time on a walking tour in St Thomas on our last cruise. So what? We loved the port anyway, and had a wonderful time overall.

 

Yes, I do overpack b/c I want to make sure I have things 'just in case', but I try not to over-worry or over-dwell.

 

And go figure, I'm an overprotective mom, saying all that:D

[jimbo5544]

We leave in 13 days - I'll be there whether there is a foot of snow on the ground or its sunny and 45 degrees out.

 

There are bumps in any vacation... how you ride them out depends on your outlook/philosophy. I look at it as that I'm going to have a good time (if the others in my group don't drive me bonkers, LOL) no matter what.

 

DH and I had a rotten time on a walking tour in St Thomas on our last cruise. So what? We loved the port anyway, and had a wonderful time overall.

 

Yes, I do overpack b/c I want to make sure I have things 'just in case', but I try not to over-worry or over-dwell.

 

And go figure, I'm an overprotective mom, saying all that:D

That's the attitude to have!! Enjoy your cruise!

[Crusin6]

Actually a very good question. Would be interested in the answer also.

I know that we wouldn't even fly to a southern port to cruise over Christmas time!!

[jayesouthworth]

If this is anyone's idea of a "good cruise" I'd sure like to know their thoughts on what a bad cruise would be. It reads to me more like "The Voyage of the Damned." To the OP I hope all your future sea travels will be smooth sailing :)

 

These are just opinions. I would go and see if you have a good time. We thought the decor was not to our liking. The atmosphere just didn't seem right to us at all. People were sick, some were made to stay in their cabins due to illness, saw some vomit on the floor in a couple of places. Kids running running up and down the hall ways and knocking on doors then taking off. Kids playing on the elevators. This was during Thanksgiving break. Our mistake for booking a cruise at that time. It was just aggravation. Now we book in January when the kiddies are in school.

[poshholly]

These are just opinions. I would go and see if you have a good time. We thought the decor was not to our liking. The atmosphere just didn't seem right to us at all. People were sick, some were made to stay in their cabins due to illness, saw some vomit on the floor in a couple of places. Kids running running up and down the hall ways and knocking on doors then taking off. Kids playing on the elevators. This was during Thanksgiving break. Our mistake for booking a cruise at that time. It was just aggravation. Now we book in January when the kiddies are in school.

 

 

I agree that your attitude has a huge part in how the week goes--there were 800 kids on our cruise and we hardly saw any of them. I enjoyed the Pride regardless of all the issues because it was soooo much better than the RC Majesty of the Seas which was just an old and dirty looking ship with terrible service!!!! You are ona ship to enjoy the ship--you have to attend shows and Bingo and other activites to make your time fun--if you sit in a cbain and wait for the fun to come to you; you'll be miserable!!!

Take Run Runners and share a soda card--my tab all week was only $88 b/c we brought our own booze

DH made about $300 in the Casino and it was Christmas:)

[scarletfan]

I was on the 12/13 sailing of the Pride and we definitely had rough weather for two days on the way back, after missing Freeport.

 

Personally, I would not take another cruise from Baltimore (or the NYC area, where I'm from) in the winter months. While it is true that bad things can happen regardless of the time of year, I felt like it was such a letdown because it was winter. It's cold in the northeast and I was really looking forward to some warm weather but felt like we really missed out. It would be one thing to be stuck indoors for the last two days of a cruise where you are going back to 80 degree temps but it made it worse to be going back to cold weather.

 

This is just my opinion as a lover of summer and I expect that many would disagree. :)

[WhansaMi]

I was on the 12/13 sailing of the Pride and we definitely had rough weather for two days on the way back, after missing Freeport.

 

Personally, I would not take another cruise from Baltimore (or the NYC area, where I'm from) in the winter months. While it is true that bad things can happen regardless of the time of year, I felt like it was such a letdown because it was winter. It's cold in the northeast and I was really looking forward to some warm weather but felt like we really missed out. It would be one thing to be stuck indoors for the last two days of a cruise where you are going back to 80 degree temps but it made it worse to be going back to cold weather.

 

This is just my opinion as a lover of summer and I expect that many would disagree. :)

 

Isn't that always the way? One man's trash, another's treasure.

 

I love cooler weather. I loved my Alaska cruise so much, I wanted to move there! It was brisk in the Baltics when we went two summers ago, and I loved it.

 

OTOH, I have to say that the seasickness would have been a major problem for me, if the people didn't stay in their rooms. I'm a sympathetic vomiter..... having people vomit around me would NOT be good.

 

OP, I'm sorry you had glitches, but I'm glad that you could find the positive. That's what I always try to do!

[WineBoy]

Remember, one of the biggest reasons for cruising this time of year are the HUGE savings you get on the fares, yes there are nicer times to go, but you also pay for it. Whenever I go on these types of cruises, I do so with little expectations since I saved so much and am always pleasantly surprised.

[offroadjunkie]

We were on the christmas cruise too. we still did our shore exc. We did the airboat tour and Sis in law did nasa.

[tiyana4]

I'll admit that when I saw the title of the thread, my curiosity was instantly peaked. Talk about a glass half full perspective! OP you win the prize for seeing the positive side in all of the "adventure" you endured on your cruise. I'm sure there are others that were on your cruise who will have a totally different view (glass half empty), and we will no doubt hear about it in the ship reviews. Thank you for such a balanced (and positive) post given all that happened.

 

One thing I will say, I live on the East Coast and I am not as brave as you. No way would I attempt this sailing in winter simply because I love warmer itineraries, but as others have posted: 1) the pricing is cheaper; and 2) this snowstorm was very uncommon. Good luck in your future travels.

[Naomi John]

In February this year, I left out of New Orleans on Fantasy, (already miss her :(). Leaving the weather was typical for February, about 75 degress, fair skys, etc. The first day at sea was great. On the return sea day, a wonderful cold front came down, made the seas very ruff, (I think 20 feet), people were sick throughout the ship. I'm talking little bags posted at every elevator. I have a strong stomach and found the return trip quite fun, my DD said it sometimes felt like she was flying. Other's on the ship, not so much.

 

I guess I'm trying to say whether you leave from a north port or southern port, the weather can be ruff during the winter months, (and hurricane season). Of course, southern ports do not normally deal with snow delays, but, as seen in Galvestion, Mobile, and New Orleans, fog can be a big issue in the winter months.

[grandmato4]

I think the op had a great attitude about their cruise, thanks for writing the review.

 

When we did our Alaska cruise we expected cooler weather but chose the cruise for visiting Alaska and seeing the scenery and loved every minute no matter what the temps. But when we cruise to the caribbean in the winter we do so to enjoy as much warm weather and sun as possible on all our vacation days. NYC and Baltimore may be much closer to us than FLL or Miami but knowing that sailing in the winter we are going to have cold weather at the beginning and ending of our cruise they are not ports that we will even consider for a winter sailing. Yes, it can turn cool in FL in the winter but the odds are even if cooler than we would like, still much warmer than NYC or Baltimore. On the other hand, isn't it great that there are different options for different people!:)