Tk10

5 minutes ago, pacruise804 said:

We sailed the Pride in Feb/March and September (our other Nassau trip was April 2014 on Grandeur).  I preferred the cooler weather earlier in the year, but also don't mind 70's water temp for swimming.  September was 100+ temps (which was abnormally hot) and really too warm in both Freeport and HMC (except when in the water).  November would probably be ideal since the water shouldn't have cooled too much but you should also be out of the brunt of hurricane season.

 

I absolutely advise visiting the private islands and Grand Turk.  I think Freeport and Nassau also offer good opportunities if you look for them, despite the bad rap both ports get. 

 

We loved the Kayak excursion: there was light kayaking with built-in "marriage counseling" 😉 due to it being a 2 person kayak and the mangroves creating some very narrow spots, a short nature walk, light lunch at the beach (and after all the heavy ship food, a light lunch was wonderful), then a good amount of beach time at beautiful gold rock beach.  There were around 30 people on the excursion, but the split us into 3 groups of around 10 so it was never crowded.  If you aren't nature buffs, it sounds like Lucaya has nice shopping and gardens - you just need to watch the time.  There are a couple bars and some shopping right in the port too if you just want to get off the ship, it all depends on what interests you.

 

Nassau has so much in walking distance that you should be able to enjoy the port without an official excursion, still watch the time though.

the times i see going out is either november,december,january, and february was time frame i was planning on cruising. how was the weather and the water in your february/march trip? i did check out some of the excursions however i sometimes like to explore places on my own or get ideas online elsewhere so also possible ports you can mostly walk to stuff so i maybe don't have to take taxis at every port. i saw online the one port has dogs/animals just walking around but i can't remember which one that is do you by chance know or have heard this? Also with not doing excursions and experiencing things on our own i had planned to head back to the boat for a late lunch that way i didn't have to worry about overcrowding on shore or possible food sitting out for while and getting sick. i saw you mentioned watching the time, is the ship leaves the port at 5 what time do you recommend being back on the ship or heading back?

23 minutes ago, pacruise804 said:

We have done both the Bahamas (Princess Cay, Nassau, Freeport) and Eastern Caribbean (Grand Turk, Half Moon Cay, Freeport) on the Pride, and enjoyed both itineraries.  Please note that neither the itinerary is really Caribbean (Grand Turk is close), but rather Atlantic and weather will be more like Florida than the warmer Caribbean - if that matters to you.

 

You will probably get more information and feedback by looking at the Bahamas, Grand Turk, and Private Island threads.  Here are my thoughts though:

Nassau - it really depends on what you want to do.  There is a food tour that looks interesting to me, along with a few other walkable sites that might appeal.  We have been to Nassau twice: the first time we were going to try snorkeling but weather canceled the excursion so we just walked around the shops - it wasn't bad but not really a great way to spend the day for us; the second time we went we did a Snuba tour (cross between snorkel and SCUBA) - the concept is good, but the execution wasn't that great (I would stick with one or the other next time).  There are lots of beaches both pay and free, Atlantis resort, and even just staying on the ship.  Vendors tend to be aggressive.  Lots of suggestions on the Bahamas forum.

 

Freeport - very industrial area, with short port times on the Pride (I think 7am-1pm).  The first time we went we took the Kayak excursion which was great (several mentions and some video on the Bahamas forum).  The second time we stayed in port and looked at the little shops.  Vendors were much less aggressive, but it was a very hot day and I just wasn't in the mood to shop.  Many stay on the ship at Freeport, but there are also nice things to do if you take a cab or excursion.  Due to the hours in port, I would probably consider a ship excursion if there was something appealing and reasonably priced.

 

Grand Turk - nice beach day option, with some other activities.  If you enjoy the crowds and party scene, then Margaritaville or the beach area in front of the ship are close and easy.  Several people rent golf carts to explore the island.  There is great diving - steep drop off right by the ship.  We prefer quiet and walked to Jack's Shack (less than 1/2 mile walk on the beach) where we rented an umbrella with 2 chairs for $10.  Nice beach, food and drinks if you want (pricy, but no worse than Margaritaville), and we enjoyed snorkeling with our own equipment right from the beach.

 

Princess Cay - great beach for snorkeling, but very rocky at the water so bring water shoes.  There were a lot of flies at the buffet, so I would plan to eat on the ship after enjoying the beach.

 

Half Moon Cay - soft white sands and super clear water.  This is the beach most rave about and find the redeeming port to otherwise not favorite itineraries (I found it almost too perfect - manufactured feeling - but quickly got used to the beauty 😉).  Lots of chickens roaming the walkways and especially hanging around the picnic area, but we didn't have the fly issue here.

 

We appreciate being able to drive to Port of Baltimore and the prices for Pride are usually better than Grandeur.  I think both itineraries are worth doing at least once.  Enjoy whatever you decide 🙂 

Thank you for your feedback it was much appreciated! I did check the other forums areas and saw nothing specific about some ports so figured I’d start own thread to get some questions answered. The weather is fine by me I lived in Florida for some time so I get the weather haha and I planned on going maybe November anywhere to February so the weather is still nice but not blistering hot. My last resort if I did not want to get off at a port was to just stay on the ship however I did not want to pick a cruise and literally never getting off the ship haha so I do not oppose staying on ship howevwe I would like to get off at least one port preferably 2. I was drawn to grandeur because the cruises are tad longer and better ports however carnival is def cheaper and heard food is tad better however very limited in their itineraries so that’s the only bad thing about pride bc I wish they had a few different ports.

I am looking at booking a cruise though carnival out of baltimore however i can't decide on ports of call that i would like to visit/stop at. Most of the itineraries stop in nassau and freeport so i do not have much of a choice in those aspects if i travel those special dates however other choice i have are grand turks, princess cay, and half moon as the third stop. Was wondering personal pros and cons for fellow cruisers for each or why you stay away from certain ports and which ones did you like best. Thanks

5 hours ago, bbtbear said:

Are you sure you couldn't sail from somewhere else, like Bayonne, NJ? Longer drive, but might open up your range of possibilities. We live in NJ and are traveling to Baltimore to cruise on the Pride in August. Only a 3 hour drive for us.

I could be closer 5 hours for me and the price isn’t too drastic between the ports for me to choose to go outta there, because I’d have gas and tolls and I’d want to be there the night beforehand because anything could happen on the way haha so I’d have a room also extra so I could yes but to me would be more of a hassle and actually more money for myself.

3 hours ago, Bookish Angel said:

HI, Tk10,

 

My husband and I have been on Grandeur several times from Baltimore and we really like it.  In fact, we have booked a January 2020 12 night on Grandeur.  It has a wonderful, friendly to all crew and the ship is a perfect size - not too small or too big.  We have meet all kinds of people and couples on Grandeur and everyone - whether straight like us, gay, non-binary, etc. was just wonderful.  Long live diversity and acceptance!

 

The longer Grandeur cruises we prefer - 9 or more days, attracts an older, quieter crowd and very few kids which appeals to us. We are quiet, bookish people that enjoy our alone time and each other in equal measure but like meeting new folks, too.

 

I will be on Pride next month for the first time.  It is a gals-only cruise for me and one of my best friends.  I have been on one previous Carnival cruise, the Triumph in 2001, which was fine but rather more party-oriented but still enjoyable.

 

Wishing you both a grand time on your cruise!!!!

 

the only difference i feel is even though im younger compared to some cruise goers but im a bit more for the quiet side and not a lot of kids however from just people opinions i feel the grandeur is bit outdated ? but i may be wrong? But the grandeur peaks my interest because of the tad longer cruises out of baltimore so that is where im torn. Thats great to hear about your experience i know every cruise can have different crowds however but hope you enjoy your cruise next month! And thank you haha i have yet to jump the gun on a specific boat and book a deposit but i know the earlier the better so.

2 hours ago, Chrism740 said:

We were on Carnival Pride last fall.  We had a wonderful time!  I usually travel Celebrity, but this one worked out well for when we wanted to travel.  We loved having the balcony, but truthfully did not use it much.

It is obvious that we are a couple, and walk around holding hands & hold hands at dinner.  We never felt any animosity from staff and everyone was friendly.  I'm sure you will have a great time!

We are doing Celebrity Equinox in April and can't wait to get out of this snow!

Thats great to hear! im glad you enjoyed your cruise and happy cruising to your upcoming cruise! Thats great to hear that was one aspect of a cruise i was worried about was how everyone is, i know even thought its 2019 people are still close-minded but everyone has their own opinions i just did not want to have a bad time from anyone being rude or anything as such, so definitely good to hear!

5 hours ago, flag fan said:

I sailed on Carnival Pride a few years ago on a Baltimore to Bahamas (and Florida) cruise.  I enjoyed it a lot.  I have been on a lot of cruise lines but this is the only Carnival cruise I have been on and I found it about the same as the other main stream cruise lines.  I fun atmosphere; good food (particularly in the specialty restaurants), entertainment was enjoyable.  There were more kids/families on than some other cruises, but there was also a drag group on my cruise, so you never know what the passenger mix will be.  I have not been on the Grandeur of the Seas, so I can't compare the two ships, but I enjoyed the Carnival Pride and am thinking of sailing the ship again because it is so convenient to where I live.  

Baltimore port is only 2 hours from us so it’s definitely the go to port for us to depart from. We want to spring for balcony and I know carnival is def cheaper in that aspect that the grandeur was and have hurt a lot of good things from non gay travelers on their ship and they said they enjoy it! I was just reluctant to pick either or because my wife and I would def not be over the top or affectionate but you can def tell we are gay, so I did not want staff or such treating us differently or possibly rudely during the cruise. So thank you for your feedback!

So glad I read this! I know some parts are not very gay friendly however the only cruises that I can work out and times are parts of Bermuda and Carribean so I was wondering If there is any more ports to try and stay away from if possible? I mean it’s not like my wife and I would be overly affectionate esp different areas we would stop at but I would want to feel a bit at ease or safe at the ports if possible.

2 hours ago, Rogueperson said:

I got married on the Carnival Pride.  That was my best cruise ever, for obvious reasons.  But because it was such a special and unique cruise, I have pulled this cruise in comparison to all other cruises because of the uniqueness and inability to ever recreate such a cruise.

 

That being said, taking all of my other 19 cruises together, the best cruise that stands on top of this, was Grandeur.  It too was unique as it was a New Years Eve cruise, however, there was just something on that cruise that everything, crew, passengers, itinerary that came together and made this cruise top the rest.  I've been on Pride twice and Grandeur 4 times.

 

Both ships have good food.  They both have specialty restaurants.  They both have chef's table (which i recommend on either line).  Grandeur wins with itinerary.  Pride seems a bit stale with the Bahamas/Grand Turk run.  They  have a couple one offs that are longer than 7 nights and a couple to Bermuda, but that's it really.  Grandeur fluctuates between 5 night quick Bermuda runs to 12 night Caribbean runs as well as Canada.

 

Entertainment, I believe Carnival has better cruise directors so if you are looking for more of a active energetic cruise, Carnival edges out there.  Otherwise, both ships have similar amenities, though Carnival does have water slides (Green Thunder is pretty cool).  Both lines has quality shows, but Carnival edges out more if you're like live comedy shows.  They have a comedian pretty much every night. 

 

Bottom line, what do you want to do on vacation.  If you're more laid back, Grandeur is the better bet.  Do you want more exotic ports, Again, Grandeur.  If you're looking for a more upbeat atmosphere, Carnival beats out here.  Service, I feel Carnival is more consistently good, but Royal Caribbean has the potential for higher highs, but lower lows.

 

They are more alike than different, but it depends on what you want to do on your vacation and/or where you want to go.

That’s the thing I am not sure exactly where I want to go part of me wants to hit some of the Bahamas but some ppl say that was least favorite other part of me kinda wants to see southern Carribean so I do not know. I know once you go to a place you know if you like it or not I just am trying to figure out somewhat so I do not get back and say man I disliked every port but I know till I experience it for myself I do not know. Also I am a more laidback person however I’m torn because once I’m on the ship idk if I will tend to be More laidback in aspect of just relaxing more and just going with the flow or would I rather be on a ship and there be a lot going on and to choose from idk. Haha one of my bad traits I’m indecisive.

6 minutes ago, CoolOne56 said:

 

You will want rooms below & especially above you. Hearing tables & chairs dragged across the floor at 5 - 6 AM is not cool.

 

On the Conquest, our room (8269) was near elevator & atrium - no noise.

 

As other stated, you can take any food/drink to your room.  Fyi, there are no trays to carry food on nor covers for the food.

My original thought I figured near atrium would be noisy but I’m getting different feedback thankfully! I also appreciate the feedback about not being near any food venues onboard. I just want to have a balcony I’m leaning toward without crazy noise so with all the feedback feel have good idea areas I need and ones to stay away from. 

1 hour ago, CoolOne56 said:

 

So do I - hi neighbor! I love 7-8 day cruises.  I usually sail in Oct. - Nov. out of Florida.  In 2020, we'll be cruising in Feb.  We like cruising out of Florida because there are more itineraries.

   

No bad experience in the Bahamas, been there too many times - both land & cruise. 

 

If this is your first time to the Bahamas, you will have a good time. Take a water taxi to Paradise Island to the beach or take a tour. Just be prepared for people trying to sell you everything & anything.

 

Fellow posters can give you all the information you need, just ask.

 

Whatever you decide to do, you're on a cruise and will have a great time!

 

Howdy! I wanted to travel between that time frame as well bc I know it’s gonna be hot I lived in Florida for a short time haha but I don’t want it to be too miserable for everyone in my party. How was those months for you once you made it to the ports? I’m also worrying myself about what to do if I get off and have a small bag with me with water and few other smaller things and I want to get into the water I do not know what to do with them or thinking it may get taken?!

36 minutes ago, Battle Bots said:

Baltimore most hectic and unorganized embarkation port we have cruised.  Granted we have only sailed about a dozen times out of ½ dozen ports, but it was absolutely the worst.  The whole process was very unorganized to say the least and the agents (both CCL and security) were less than friendly.  It may have been that everyone was having a bad day I guess, but one CCL agent kept all but yelling at one member of our group "You HAVE TO SIT DOWN right now" when she has a lot of back issues and those terrible hard chairs were very painful to her after more tyhan a few minutes.  The agent did not care at all.

The ship itself (Pride) was not exactly up to standard.  It was in bad need of a lot of TLC.  There was a whole lot of rust and dirt in many places.  That was more of cosmetics though as the ship never did seem unsafe in any way what so ever.  The food (especially late night) left a WHOLE lot to be desired.  The only late night food is pizza that is ½ raw and dripping with so much grease that you had to soak it up with a large handful of napkins before you could eat it.  The steak house was adequate but well below the standards of other cruise line steak houses.

Personally I would avoid that port and that ship if at all possible.  I am sure others have exactly the opposite opinions. but that is what I honestly think of the port/ship inquired about.

No matter what you end up selecting, I hope you have a great time on your cruise!

I know some ppl will like a ship others dislike and vice versa but I want to pick something I don’t feel is a waste of a trip for first going. If I go cruising and realize it is not for me then I’ll know haha but thank you for your feedback! Sadly that’s the only port Id go out of bc the amount of money it would take elsewhere I’d rather save that money. I am looking into the grandeur of the sea but everyone is saying it is very expensive for a balcony like price hike and a lot older crowd. Was this since the remodel or before? 

1 hour ago, CoolOne56 said:

We live near Philly, so Baltimore is close.  We sailed out of Baltimore once in October.  Too cold to enjoy the balcony or the deck until we got to warmer weather.  Everything else was great.  I agree with grandmarnnurse, no desire to go to the Bahamas again.  I'm not too crazy of 7 days just to go to Bermuda either.

 

 

I live around 2 hours from Baltimore so that port is a no brained for when I do book. Was 7 days felt too long for you? Also why not Bahamas bad experience? 

4 hours ago, crookedhalo said:

Grandeur is a very nice ship - we've been on her 3 times, but since DH will no longer do anything other than a balcony on 5 days or longer, we have recently sailed on Carnival Pride out of Baltimore 2x.  It's also a very nice ship, but because it has so many more balconies, the price is much more reasonable than Grandeur (supply vs. demand you know).

 

Don't be afraid to look at other options - you may enjoy them just as much.

I’ve heard good things about grandeur however with it being our first cruise we wanted to treat ourselves with a balcony if possible. And carnival pride is actually the other one in the running due to the price and the balconies being much cheaper and not such a price hike than grandeur. How did the two cruise lines compare to each other for you personally? 

5 hours ago, sparks1093 said:

Here's a video I found that shows the obstructed balcony. If you are on the deck above you won't be able to see straight down to the water. 

 

Thank you so much for this!! Much appreciated!

1 minute ago, Holmie said:

Same here. I’m in my late 20s and my husband in his early 30s. I preferred the environment on Grandeur over Liberty (which were our last two cruises) Liberty was a younger crowd with more families, but also more drunk obnoxious adults. I love just being able to relax without being annoyed by loud obnoxious other cruisers and Grandeur provides lots of a lot of opportunities for that. The live music everywhere is great too

I’m torn between carnival pride because it’s cheaper but deciding against the grandeur so all the feedback helps! That was my biggest worry to have crazy cruisers that are ungodly obnoxious and loud. I definitely wanted a more relaxing atmosphere, so nice to hear someone around my age feedback.

1 hour ago, JMAE said:

The Pride is a  great ship and has a wonderful layout and an outstanding crew!  Our 10th cruise on the Pride is coming up in October.  We have had obstructed, unobstructed and extended balconies over our 9 cruises and all were good.  You just have to be mindful when selecting you cabin, there are some inside corners that when you on your balcony your sight line may be blocked by an adjacent cabin.  Also, if you select an unobstructed balcony that is over above the life boats you might as well save a few dollars and select an obstructed view balcony.  Because when you look down you are going to see the same lifeboat as the obstructed view cabin.  We have never had any problems with sound, other then people slamming their balcony doors on all our 17 cruises.  The ship is currently in dry dock and is scheduled to be completed this week.  No major addition are being added, just "maintenance and TLC for passenger areas" are being performed during the dry dock as we were told.  The staff is very friendly and if Ken is your maitre d you dining experience in the MDR should be wonderful.  If you decide to cruise on Carnival there are many things that can be shared to make your trip flow better.  Example, Faster to the Fun (FTTF) could be nice option, I think it cost $89 dollars now, when available it allows you to use the Priority line when getting on the ship.  It also entitles you to priority tendering, which is very nice.  There is a lot more info and once you decide if CCL is for you I would be happy to answer any questions.     

I was wondering about the rooms that are obstructed and unobstructed. How obstructed are they? Meaning you can still see or not at all? How would I exactly know if the lifeboats are around my room? Just trying to learn all I can before I book a cruise so I’m not blindsided by any fees or not knowing how something works. 

2 hours ago, bbtbear said:

This website might be a help. You can put in a cabin number on a wide array of different cruise ships and it will show you what is directly above and below that cabin: https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/mobile/cabincheck-ships.php

Good luck and happy cruising!

Thank you! I will definitely check out the site! 

1 hour ago, Holmie said:

Love Grandeur. Been on twice, with two more booked over the next two years. Generally attracts an older crowd, but plenty to do for all ages. We do exclusively interiors. Been on decks 2 and 3. Our next is on deck 8 and the one after that we booked a guarantee so we don’t have an assigned room yet. There’s live music going on at pretty much all times. Nightly shows vary. They don’t have big broadway productions like the huge ships, but I’ve been pleased with the shows we’ve seen

Thank you for the information. I’m fine with an older crowd honesty I’m not even 30 yet but I def get along with the older crowd and I’m old at heart so haha. I was just looking for a more laid back cruise and sounds like this may be the ship. 

How does the gratitudes work? Also how is entertainment and the food on the ship? Is this only cruise line you’ve used, and if not which cruise line did you prefer to the grandeur?

Hello fellow cruise goers! I am looking into possibly taking a cruise at the end of this year or beginning of next however I am limited to the grandeur of the seas due to my departure port and everything. Was wondering how everyone enjoyed said ship and pros or cons? Also where on the ship do you stay?(ocean view or Interior)?

5 minutes ago, VaTech8912 said:

 

Yes, we have stayed near the atrium (aft of center glass elevators many times with no issues and enjoy the quick access to the elevators, especially the center ones that have 4 glass and 4 regular ones.  I do avoid rooms with a blank space across from door  given I do not like guest laundry rooms nor crew work areas.

 

Okay thank you so much definitely puts my mind at ease if those rooms are what i choose from.

3 minutes ago, sgttami said:

I love the Pride and am going for the 5th time next month.  I went 4X last year and like Deck 5.  I've done the obstructed balcony and it was fine for me.

 

You can take food from the buffet area to enjoy on your balcony.  You can get sandwiches from the Deli and pizza is available 24-7.  You can also order room service.

 

You can pre-pay gratuities before you leave or they will be added to your sign and sail while on the cruise.  You can tip extra to those who provided great service but it's not mandatory.  I tip the room steward extra as well as the Maitre D because I request a specific table in the MDR and have always gotten it.  

 

Overall the ship is great and the size for me is perfect!

i was considering the obstructed view however i did not want to get on the ship and be upset for the money i paid even though i knew it would be obstructed so i was torn in choosing that or  a standard balcony. is the sign and sail added each day or at the end of the trip? What is difference from that to prepaid? sorry im just trying to understand best i can. im glad to hear i just don't want to overwhelm myself since I've never been on a cruise before.

3 minutes ago, VaTech8912 said:

I've been on Pride many times.  Usually stay on deck 6, 7 or 8, near center.  I do not like rooms towards back due to lots of vibration (unique to Pride it seems).  We have not had noise issues with being near center elevators. Enjoy

Thank you! I've read to not to have a room near certain areas it could be noisy however i thought maybe being more toward the front or back would not be good either. My original thought was being semi close to the elevators to go to different levels quickly if need be but not too close just incase of noise. By chance were you near the atrium as well?But thank you for the feedback!

Hello my other gay travelers! So i am a cruise newbie i plan on taking my first cruise at the end of this year possibly beginning of next with my wife however im trying to decide between these specific two ships due to my budget and also my departure port. Has anyone every traveled on either of these specific ships also if not atleast maybe the cruise line? Was it a good experience or a negative one? Also how did the atmosphere seem on the ship? Would be grateful for the help thanks!