Baltimore or New York or Bayonne?

[ShakyBeef]

9 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

favourite vs  favorite 

The Pride is my favourite Carnival ship and Baltimore is my favourite port 

 

Funny that you would point that out, but since you asked:  I use the British spelling on a lot of words, mostly "our" words.  I always have.  I realize it might seem silly coming from an American, but it's not an affectation.  I grew up reading so much classic English literature, that I just learned to think of the words as looking that way - so much so that the American spellings of theses and some other words just look wrong to me. 

 

I suppose I could force myself out of it, but I'm 44 years old, I've been spelling them this way (the correct way) all my life, and I don't care to change it.  As I see it, I'm spelling the words correctly and most fellow Americans are using a commonly accepted bastardization of the correct spelling.

 

Does that satisfy your curiosity about my u?

[jimbo5544]

Just now, ShakyBeef said:

 

Funny that you would point that out, but since you asked:  I use the British spelling on a lot of words, mostly "our" words.  I always have.  I realize it might seem silly coming from an American, but it's not an affectation.  I grew up reading so much classic English literature, that I just learned to think of the words as looking that way - so much so that the American spellings of theses and some other words just look wrong to me. 

 

I suppose I could force myself out of it, but I'm 44 years old, I've been spelling them this way (the correct way) all my life, and I don't care to change it.  As I see it, I'm spelling the words correctly and most fellow Americans are using a commonly accepted bastardization of the correct spelling.

 

Does that satisfy your curiosity about my u?

U got it, was just a little confused.  

[jimbo5544]

  Thought maybe you and John had a ‘thing’ going on....😀  Just a little humour

Edited October 19, 2019 by jimbo5544

[Charles4515]

15 hours ago, lenquixote66 said:

Even though we are about an hour from the Manhattan cruise port and similar distance to Bayonne for the past 4 years we have been cruising out of Baltimore.If we are going to the Caribbean we like that in a relatively short amount of time we are in the Carolinas where it can be very warm when we do a winter cruise.

 

I just fly to Florida for Carribean cruises. Then it is warm in two hours in the winter.........

[Charles4515]

12 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

favourite vs  favorite 

The Pride is my favourite Carnival ship and Baltimore is my favourite port 

 

I live 49 minutes from the Baltimore cruise port. I live in the DMV. ( DC area) The last time I sailed out of Baltimore was when Celebrity had sailings from Baltimore. They had fine ships from there and great 10 and 11 day itineraries. Carnival is my least favorite cruise line, and Grandeur of the Seas my least favorite Royal Caribbean ship so I won 't book those offerings. This year I have sailed out of Florida, Manhattan and Bayonne. I take Amtrak from here for Bayonne and Manhattan, a three hour trip. From Baltimore it would only be a two and a half hour trip. So my travel time flying to cruise ports or taking the train is about the same. No reason to book out of Baltimore for convience for lousy ships and mostly lousy itineraries. Or for cheap cruise prices. 

Edited October 19, 2019 by Charles4515

[shipgeeks]

Our vote would go to Baltimore.  Very easy port to use, and parking is $15 a day.

Grandeur (to be replaced by Enchantment in the spring) is one of our favorite ships, as well.

[mrpayroll]

Never left out of Baltimore. If flying in, what is approximate cost for transportation from airport to port ? How far is it ? Looking at the Pride to Bermuda next October.  Thanks

[boscobeans]

Cruised out of Bayonne (Cape Liberty NJ), New York City Cruise Port and Baltimore many times, on Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Holland and NCL.

 

Pretty much all three offer cruises for the same places mpost of the time so pick your time and Itinerary.

 

Ports:

Bayonne (Cape Liberty NJ) is one of the easiest ports to sail from. Secure parking (two minute walk from terminal), fast check-in and embarkation as well as easy return home. With online check-in boarding is almost as easy as just walking onto the ship. Port is right off a major highway.

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New York City for us is one of the worst. Out door secure parking (40$/day), on all of our cruises from there the process was almost always disorganized no matter the cruise line, port is not that convenient to get to except from the North, dingy and uncomfortable waiting area where we have almost always spent at least an hour waiting to board.

---------------------------------

Baltimore is also right off a major highway, parking is secure and close to the terminal and they seem to have the entire check-in and boarding process down to a science. On return normally not a bad process and right back on the road in minutes.

 

 

[Charles4515]

4 hours ago, boscobeans said:

 

 

4 hours ago, boscobeans said:

 

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New York City for us is one of the worst. Out door secure parking (40$/day), on all of our cruises from there the process was almost always disorganized no matter the cruise line, port is not that convenient to get to except from the North, dingy and uncomfortable waiting area where we have almost always spent at least an hour waiting to board.

---------------------------------

 

 

I agree but there is something unforgettable about sailing out of the Manhattan Cruise Terminal that makes it unforgettable to me and worthwhile. Sailing past the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and the Manhattan skyline. 

 

 

4 hours ago, boscobeans said:

 

 

 

[Charles4515]

4 hours ago, boscobeans said:

 

New York City for us is one of the worst. Out door secure parking (40$/day), on all of our cruises from there the process was almost always disorganized no matter the cruise line, port is not that convenient to get to except from the North, dingy and uncomfortable waiting area where we have almost always spent at least an hour waiting to board.

 

 

I agree but there is something about sailing out of the Manhattan Cruise Terminal that makes it worthwhile to me anyway despite that. Sailing past the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and the Manhattan skyline is unforgettable. 

Edited October 20, 2019 by Charles4515

[Turtles06]

1 hour ago, Charles4515 said:

I agree but there is something unforgettable about sailing out of the Manhattan Cruise Terminal that makes it unforgettable to me and worthwhile. Sailing past the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and the Manhattan skyline.

 

Same here.  Cape Liberty is very easy.  But the sailaway from, or sail-in to, the Manhattan Cruise Terminal is one of the most spectacular in the world. 

 

 

 

(photos by turtles06)

[JMAE]

We have been on the Pride 10 times and truly love the ship and staff. The terminal has easy access and parking ($105/wk) is very reasonable.  The Pride doesn't have all the amenities of the recent ship builds, but has the 2.0 upgrades and Dive-in Movies.  Also, the staff that we have dealt with were top notch, we have had past waitstaff and bar tenders come up to us and talk.  On one of our repeat Pride cruises we had the same head waiter, don't understand how.  The bottom line is, we always have a good time on the Pride and will continue to do so.

 

What ever you decide have a great cruise.        

[sgttami]

I've sailed from NY,  NJ and Baltimore and even though I'm closer to NY and NJ, I've come to prefer the Pride from Baltimore.

 

Easy to get to the port, great parking, and the size of the ship is perfect for me.  There's nothing about it I don't like and I tend to cruise for the ship more than the ports so the Bermuda and Bahama runs are OK for me.  I've been to them many times before.

 

OH yes, there are repeat cruisers on Pride.  LOL  I've gone 6X in the last 18 months and have met the same people over and over on more than one cruise.    One lady I met goes on the Pride once a month!   (We're casino  people...lol)

 

I'm going on the Journey's on 1/5/20 and already know a few people who are going that were on the 9/15 cruise this year.  It's nice to see the same faces and reunite on different trips!

[SRF]

On 10/19/2019 at 11:49 AM, shipgeeks said:

Our vote would go to Baltimore.  Very easy port to use, and parking is $15 a day.

Grandeur (to be replaced by Enchantment in the spring) is one of our favorite ships, as well.

 

Same here.  Love Grandeur.  Grandeur will still be there until spring of 2021. NOT next spring.

 

I live about 30 minutes from the port.  I use a car service.  Cost is about the same as parking (for longer cruises, break even is 10 nights), but the convenience is great.

[pacruise804]

On 10/18/2019 at 12:30 PM, Joe817 said:

It sure does. Why is that? And is it any different than the other 3 Spirit Class ships?

 

The Pride does have some difference at least to the Legend (dive in movies), but the biggest reason I think is the location being a drivable port for many without the traffic and expensive parking in NY.  I don't know where the other Spirit ships sail from, but at least one I thought was West Coast which would have more people flying (and likely taking fewer repeat cruises on the same ship).

[kaypendragon]

On 10/18/2019 at 2:16 PM, helene109 said:

Thanks as I know nothing about Bayonne not even what airport that Southwest would fly into. There is a 5 day out of there that I am researching vs the Pride. Thanks 

You'd have to fly in?  Go with Baltimore.  BWI airport is phenomenal.  

 

We sailed on the Grandeur out of Baltimore a few weeks ago and aside from some weather related complaints, found the cruise port there to be quite nice.  

[pacruise804]

If you are flying, there is a Best Western Elkridge that has good reviews and will shuttle to and from both the airport and cruise port.

[helene109]

1 hour ago, kaypendragon said:

You'd have to fly in?  Go with Baltimore.  BWI airport is phenomenal.  

 

We sailed on the Grandeur out of Baltimore a few weeks ago and aside from some weather related complaints, found the cruise port there to be quite nice.  

Thanks looking at that ship too!

[helene109]

59 minutes ago, pacruise804 said:

If you are flying, there is a Best Western Elkridge that has good reviews and will shuttle to and from both the airport and cruise port.

Thanks do you know the exact address of the hotel?

[pacruise804]

Best Western Plus BWI Airport Hotel - Arundel Mills

6755 Dorsey Rd, Elkridge, MD 21075

(410)796-3300

 

You probably would want to call the front desk directly to confirm any fly/stay/cruise type package.  I think Trinity reservations might use them too.

[helene109]

6 minutes ago, pacruise804 said:

Best Western Plus BWI Airport Hotel - Arundel Mills

6755 Dorsey Rd, Elkridge, MD 21075

(410)796-3300

 

You probably would want to call the front desk directly to confirm any fly/stay/cruise type package.  I think Trinity reservations might use them too.

Thanks again going to check it out on Trip Advisor 

[navybankerteacher]

On 10/18/2019 at 3:08 PM, Luke Saint Joe said:

...

Of all home ports, New York had the rudest group of people to deal with on a ship all week. ...

Perhaps because so many yahoos from the boondocks who do not know how to act think it is a good idea to link a trip to NY with a bargain  cruise that they fill up those bargain NCL ships.

[navybankerteacher]

On 10/19/2019 at 9:44 PM, Turtles06 said:

 

Same here.  Cape Liberty is very easy.  But the sailaway from, or sail-in to, the Manhattan Cruise Terminal is one of the most spectacular in the world. 

 

 

 

(photos by turtles06)

Agreed - sailing down the Hudson from midtown, then across the harbor to the Verrazano Bridge is probably the greatest start possible for a cruise.  Such a pity that most of the time now it can only be done on an NCL ship.

[Charles4515]

4 hours ago, navybankerteacher said:

Agreed - sailing down the Hudson from midtown, then across the harbor to the Verrazano Bridge is probably the greatest start possible for a cruise.  Such a pity that most of the time now it can only be done on an NCL ship.

  
We did it in August on Oceania. I guess that is sort of NCL....

 

This summer I sailed out of both Manhattan and Cape Liberty despite living 49 miles from the port of Baltimore. Amtrak makes doing that fairly easy. Besides not liking the current ships sailing out of Baltimore the five day Grandeur itinerary to Bermuda is useless to me. Arrive late in the day an leave early the next day. Also not a fan of the eight or so hours sailing  down the Chesapeake Bay before getting out to the Atlantic Ocean. 

Edited October 28, 2019 by Charles4515

[Charles4515]

12 hours ago, Charles4515 said:

  

 

This summer I sailed out of both Manhattan and Cape Liberty despite living 49 miles from the port of Baltimore. 

 Correction that would be 49 minutes from the port of Baltimore. If Royal Caribbean would home port  a Radiance Class ship  in Baltimore I would sail out of there on longer than 5 day itineraries. Carnival I have tried. Not a good fit.