Please help me figure out if I should book this cruise

[no1racefan1]

I received a players club offer today, for the first time ever. One of the included sailings is a 10 day Med cruise on Carnival Pride. Doing a Med cruise and visiting Italy are both bucket list items and it would be for my 40th birthday. However, we also would need to be on a tight budget. The least expensive balcony option is an obstructed view on the Upper deck. Anybody have any insight into this type of cabin on the Pride? I'm very wary of booking anything less than a balcony in case something crazy happens and we're quarantined on a ship or something....

 

I am feeling a little overwhelmed with even thinking about booking this trip. We've never been to Europe; I've never planned an international trip other than a Mexico cruise (doesn't really count) and a trip to an AI in Jamaica. I almost want to quit just because it seems like so much to think about.

 

I have until 2/28 to decide. We're already within the 90 day window so full payment would be required. If we don't do the Med cruise we may still choose one of the other options offered, but this just seems like such an incredible deal for a Europe cruise that I don't know if I'll ever see it again.

 

What all things should I even be thinking about? COVID protocols? I'm kind of hoping they eliminate the testing requirement to get back into the US because we are nervous about leaving our dogs in the care of a sitter and ending up testing positive and getting stuck across the world. 

 

Anyways just wondering if anybody can offer any insight or advice or where to start....

 

[nwcruiselover]

I can’t answer all your questions, but I do know about the obstructed view balconies on deck 5 of the Pride.  I have booked one of them for the Pride TA in April.  When you’re on the balcony, you can look out and have an unobstructed view of the ocean or whatever is out there.  When you look down, you see the lifeboats below on deck 4.  That’s the obstruction, just that you can’t see down to the ocean.  I have had one of those before and it didn’t bother me.  It was a fair trade-off for the price difference between that and a “normal” balcony.

[ZoeyVictoria]

I would be reluctant to take a bucket list cruise on a tight budget.  A Med cruise is one that I believe requires more spending at  ports than a Caribbean cruise.  I am not sure if it is possible to see many of the sights without spending quite a bit of money.  I would wait for that type of cruise until I could do it without restrictions.

[JT1962]

I would hold off booking anything International at this point. There are still too many unknowns with Covid - is there a new strain & restrictions coming? We had our first Mediterranean cruise canceled by Covid in May of 2020 and had a problem getting refunds for airfare, hotels and private excursions that all had a 24-48 hour cancellation policy, but changed the policy after Covid hit. We booked another Mediterranean cruise for Sep 2022 in Sep 2021 thinking things would be much better by then. We canceled last month because we don’t want to deal with canceling International Flights, hotels, etc. again. We will book the Mediterranean again once (if?) there is at least a year with no Covid restrictions.

 

If you have never been to Alaska, there are some great rates currently on the May 2, 2022 Splendor 8 night sailing from Seattle. Alaska is a bucket list trip for many and much easier to book (and cancel if needed) than most International trips. 

Edited February 23, 2022 by JT1962

[no1racefan1]

Thank you all for your feedback! You all make great points. I'm leaning towards not booking at this time. I think I can still take advantage of one of the other great rates.

[BlerkOne]

Cruising in Europe can have completely different COVID protocols from US cruising.

 

Also have to figure in airfare and fly in at least a day early.

 

Casino cabins aren't unlimited. You snooze you lose. 

 

Allegedly gamblers have to decide if they feel lucky.

 

If you test positive for COVID on the ship, they will probably move you to a different cabin anyway.

[firefly333]

Agree with blerk, the deals dont last and the best will be gone.

 

I personally wouldnt book international. I've been reading about departures from Barbados and I'm like no way I'm going to try and figure out the testing rules and get them lined up in another country. Too much trouble and risk. Even with great ports I'd love. I'm also a no sorry.

 

Pick something if you can drive until covid is gone. Someone missed a ship because they didnt allow for their flight not taking off as not enough flight crew. Choose something easy. Take the deal and be happy. Dont wait to book though or the deals will be gone. You dont have until feb 28th. ..balconys dry up.

[Indytraveler83]

Agree with the posters above: trying to dance with European COVID protocols is too much for me, and far too much of a risk of an expensive quarantine ina foreign country.

 

Carnival has some INSANE rates right now on most cruises before September.  Alaska and the Panama canal would be awesome trips to book on one of these rates (I just did that today).  

[dave_k58]

3 hours ago, ZoeyVictoria said:

I would be reluctant to take a bucket list cruise on a tight budget.  A Med cruise is one that I believe requires more spending at  ports than a Caribbean cruise.  I am not sure if it is possible to see many of the sights without spending quite a bit of money.  I would wait for that type of cruise until I could do it without restrictions.

JUst my opinion - but if Rome is on your bucket list - you won't see much on a cruise.  They are not in port long enough and you have to take a train from the port to Rome.  

[keels81]

From my experience, you can't go on any version of a Med cruise "on a budget" unless you've been multiple times.

 

I also think you're totally fine in a true interior cabin on a Med cruise. I only "need" a balcony if it's at a ridiculously cheap/free rate. I don't even need a window, if it means I get to get on the sailing I'd like.

[Oceansaway17]

On 2/22/2022 at 8:47 PM, no1racefan1 said:

I received a players club offer today, for the first time ever. One of the included sailings is a 10 day Med cruise on Carnival Pride. Doing a Med cruise and visiting Italy are both bucket list items and it would be for my 40th birthday. However, we also would need to be on a tight budget. The least expensive balcony option is an obstructed view on the Upper deck. Anybody have any insight into this type of cabin on the Pride? I'm very wary of booking anything less than a balcony in case something crazy happens and we're quarantined on a ship or something....

I am feeling a little overwhelmed with even thinking about booking this trip. We've never been to Europe; I've never planned an international trip other than a Mexico cruise (doesn't really count) and a trip to an AI in Jamaica. I almost want to quit just because it seems like so much to think about.

I have until 2/28 to decide. 

What all things should I even be thinking about? COVID protocols? I'm kind of hoping they eliminate the testing requirement to get back into the US because we are nervous about leaving our dogs in the care of a sitter and ending up testing positive and getting stuck across the world. 

Anyways just wondering if anybody can offer any insight or advice or where to start....

 

my thoughts are if you are stress and it sounds like you are, then give it a pass this year.

Select something else out of the USA.  A lot to consider trying to test to even get back into USA on a plane.   

[mumofsons]

I have stayed in the obstructed balcony many times as the spirit class ships are my favorite! - tbh if you book anything past the first four life boats it isn't a problem.  You just can't look down and look at the ocean but you can look out and see it.  The first four life boats are a different style I guess since they block the view entirely.  We did a 15 day Hawaii in this room and had no issues.  

As other's have said - for a port intensive cruise I wouldn't hesitate to do an inside on the floor that you desire since you probably wouldn't spend too much time on the balcony anyway.  We booked the transatlantic for October and I almost changed it to an inside since we could have gotten it for $100 each for an inside state room. - that is insane

Hope this helps

[kwokpot]

I'm on that particular cruise your looking at (also on a casino comp). If this is your 1st time in Europe it would be hard to do this trip economically without a huge amount of planning on traveling on your own using a combination of private tours and/or train travel on your own; neither is easy for the uninitiated. Otherwise you're talking to about ship tours which in total will be expensive.  If you're looking at the trip in May that's rt Barcelona, you're really not going to have enough time in Rome to see anything worthwhile. The ports of Naples for Pompeii and Livorno for Florence are ok to get a taste of those cities. But if it's Italy you're most interested in and you want to do it by cruiseship I would recommend a cruise that's rt Civitavecchia  so you can spend time in Rome pre-cruise.

[siestakeys04]

I say wait until you are comfortable. If the budget is tight you will be concerned with money the whole trip and not enjoy yourself. 

[Pyxie]

Chances of an entire ship being quarantined at this point is very rare (if that makes any difference in your decision). Positive cases get individually quarantined, but even if that happened to you, you'd be moved to a "quarantined cabin" and what you booked would make no difference.

[erinmarie424]

On 2/22/2022 at 8:47 PM, no1racefan1 said:

I received a players club offer today, for the first time ever. One of the included sailings is a 10 day Med cruise on Carnival Pride. Doing a Med cruise and visiting Italy are both bucket list items and it would be for my 40th birthday. However, we also would need to be on a tight budget. The least expensive balcony option is an obstructed view on the Upper deck. Anybody have any insight into this type of cabin on the Pride? I'm very wary of booking anything less than a balcony in case something crazy happens and we're quarantined on a ship or something....

 

I am feeling a little overwhelmed with even thinking about booking this trip. We've never been to Europe; I've never planned an international trip other than a Mexico cruise (doesn't really count) and a trip to an AI in Jamaica. I almost want to quit just because it seems like so much to think about.

 

I have until 2/28 to decide. We're already within the 90 day window so full payment would be required. If we don't do the Med cruise we may still choose one of the other options offered, but this just seems like such an incredible deal for a Europe cruise that I don't know if I'll ever see it again.

 

What all things should I even be thinking about? COVID protocols? I'm kind of hoping they eliminate the testing requirement to get back into the US because we are nervous about leaving our dogs in the care of a sitter and ending up testing positive and getting stuck across the world. 

 

Anyways just wondering if anybody can offer any insight or advice or where to start....

 

I just booked my first ever inside going to Norway for basically free except for port fees. I already had my big trip planned for later in the year so I have to do this one on a budget and the room was the biggest way to save some $.  I’m hoping the covid protocols are lifted by then but if they’re not I’ll figure it out. It’s a great itinerary with a couple of bucket list places for me so I figured why not. I’ll just get insurance to cover everything once I get my airfare squared away and hope for the best. 

[TrqoisWtrs]

On 2/22/2022 at 7:47 PM, no1racefan1 said:

We've never been to Europe;

 

On 2/22/2022 at 9:45 PM, BlerkOne said:

Also have to figure in airfare and fly in at least a day early.

 

Also be aware of the time difference; makes a huge difference in planning flights over the pond.  :)

[diamondlady1]

We are on the Carnival Pride May 19th to 29th out of Barcelona.
We are seasoned cruisers and wanted these exact dates as they line up with friends meeting us in Barcelona.
We are flying in 3 days early and also staying 3 days after.

 

Edited February 25, 2022 by diamondlady1

[kwokpot]

6 hours ago, erinmarie424 said:

I just booked my first ever inside going to Norway for basically free except for port fees. I already had my big trip planned for later in the year so I have to do this one on a budget and the room was the biggest way to save some $.  I’m hoping the covid protocols are lifted by then but if they’re not I’ll figure it out. It’s a great itinerary with a couple of bucket list places for me so I figured why not. I’ll just get insurance to cover everything once I get my airfare squared away and hope for the best. 

Norway has lifted all restrictions,as have the UK where the cruise embarks/disembarks.

 

https://www.visitnorway.com/plan-your-trip/coronavirus-and-travelling-to-norway/#:~:text=No testing%2C no quarantining%2C no,we have lots of space!

[erinmarie424]

2 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

Norway has lifted all restrictions,as have the UK where the cruise embarks/disembarks.

 

https://www.visitnorway.com/plan-your-trip/coronavirus-and-travelling-to-norway/#:~:text=No testing%2C no quarantining%2C no,we have lots of space!

Yes, that’s promising! Now just have to see what they do about testing, would be nice to not have to deal with that. 

[kwokpot]

1 minute ago, erinmarie424 said:

Yes, that’s promising! Now just have to see what they do about testing, would be nice to not have to deal with that. 

Well the two countries the cruise is visiting presently has no testing requirements,zero. Whether Carnival will require testing is another story, in addition to coming back home to the US. We shall see about those requirements.

[no1racefan1]

20 hours ago, kwokpot said:

I'm on that particular cruise your looking at (also on a casino comp). If this is your 1st time in Europe it would be hard to do this trip economically without a huge amount of planning on traveling on your own using a combination of private tours and/or train travel on your own; neither is easy for the uninitiated. Otherwise you're talking to about ship tours which in total will be expensive.  If you're looking at the trip in May that's rt Barcelona, you're really not going to have enough time in Rome to see anything worthwhile. The ports of Naples for Pompeii and Livorno for Florence are ok to get a taste of those cities. But if it's Italy you're most interested in and you want to do it by cruiseship I would recommend a cruise that's rt Civitavecchia  so you can spend time in Rome pre-cruise.

This is valuable advice, thank you!

[no1racefan1]

4 hours ago, diamondlady1 said:

We are on the Carnival Pride May 19th to 29th out of Barcelona.
We are seasoned cruisers and wanted these exact dates as they line up with friends meeting us in Barcelona.
We are flying in 3 days early and also staying 3 days after.

 

We've opted not to go. While the cruise rate is incredible, it would be another $1500pp for flights plus excursions and trains and all the other things people mentioned--it was feeling a little overwhelming for a first-time Europe trip. I think I want more time to plan.

 

Also as somebody else mentioned, there were only a couple of the ports that I was highly interested in; while I'm sure we would enjoy every place we visited, I think it's a better use of time and funds to find trips that are truly more of what we want. If I'm going to fly to Europe, I want to get the most out of it!

 

That being said, have a fabulous time! That's the one I was looking at and I'm hoping some CCers will be here sharing about their trip so I can see what I'm missing 😉

[cruising with the family]

On 2/25/2022 at 2:27 PM, diamondlady1 said:

We are on the Carnival Pride May 19th to 29th out of Barcelona.
We are seasoned cruisers and wanted these exact dates as they line up with friends meeting us in Barcelona.
We are flying in 3 days early and also staying 3 days after.

 

How are you getting the PCR test that is required 3 days before boarding the ship?  Can you get them in Barcelona somewhere?