Joanne G.

We are moving! Cheers and applause when the horn blew. 😃

Looks promising. 1:30 pm 👍🏻

I like this class of ship. I love the nearly full wraparound outdoor promenade deck 3 and the spacious walkway around deck 10. Walking the outdoor decks is one of my favorite shipboard activities. Plus there is a separate jogging track up on the sports deck, which is good as walkers and joggers don’t always play well together. I don’t know how full the ship was before people started to depart, but it never felt crowded. I am onboard as a B2B passenger, and this is a most strange experience! I’ve been on B2B cruises before, experiencing a nearly empty ship for a few hours. This will be for a few days. I’ve heard varying reports of how many of us are onboard, about a few hundred seems to be the consensus. Besides we B2B-ers, there are others who chose to stay onboard, such as UK passengers who drove to the port. Of course I am disappointed, but all the major cruise lines cancel and adjust itineraries for all kinds of reasons. If I absolutely positively wanted to visit Gothenburg, Sweden or Edinburgh, I would have flown to those places and stayed in a hotel, as all experienced cruisers would say. The compensation Carnival has offered seems fair to me. I believe our situation is better than those on the July 21 cruise who had already flown to Europe when they got the word of the cancellation. I feel for them. We at least could wait out the uncertainty on the ship, not incurring additional expenses for an unknown period of time and having to deal with submitting requests to Carnival for refunds. We are close to the scheduled noon sailing time. I will cheer - and hold my breath - as we depart Kiel!

But whatever the cruise line, being asked if you are willing to sit at a shared table only works if other people arriving at the same time are also willing. It seems the further away we get from “traditional” cruise dining, the more people prefer to dine with their own party. But if any line has passengers who like the old traditions, I can see that it would be Holland America.

After multiple covid cancellations and postponements, I am on my first solo cruise. (I’ve been on 20+ cruises with my sister or friends.) My trip was supposed to be a 3 week B2B extravaganza, 12 days in the Baltic and 9 days around Great Britain. But I am on the Carnival Pride, which developed a mechanical issue 3 days before the end of the first cruise. We missed the last port stop. We spent about a day stopped in the water while the captain determined the best course of action. Eventually we returned to the last port we visited, Kiel, Germany, for repairs to be made. Carnival soon sent out a message to everyone booked on the subsequent cruise that it was cancelled as scheduled, but they were hoping to come up with an altered itinerary. Ok, I get that they couldn’t be specific, not knowing how long the repairs would take. But the stress came from conflicting information for us B2B passengers. Long story short, initially I was given, and took, an option in writing to stay onboard until the return to Dover, whenever that might be. Later, I was told everyone had to disembark in Kiel and charter flights were being arranged to get everyone back to London. Then I was again told I could stay on board, no problem. In the meantime, we were told we would be in the Kiel shipyard for several days, so options for a new itinerary for the next cruise were diminishing. Then I was given a letter late last night telling me to set my bags out tonight and be ready for a 6:00 am disembarkation tomorrow and a bus to the Hamburg airport for a flight back to London and a hotel stay until my return flight. What triggered that?? My return flight is on July 31st! But then I thought maybe I should take the opportunity to get off and take the offered refund and FCC instead of staying on for who-knows-what type of cruise. Of course that would mean changing my post-cruise flight and hotel arrangements. I immediately went to guest services for clarification. They said I should get an email soon about the next cruise which had been officially shortened to 6 days with a new itinerary and some compensation. If after reading that email, if I still wanted to stay on board, just stop by in the morning and let them know I didn’t need the charter flight. One more visit to guest services this morning, and I think it’s settled. I’m staying onboard for the shortened itinerary. Ok, sorry, that wasn’t such a short story. My point on this board isn’t about all the uncertainties and frustrations (I put that on the Carnival board LOL ), but the fact that the last few days seemed harder to cope with for being solo, with no one to bounce ideas off of or to simply share the frustration with. I feel more alone than I did when things were going smoothly. I am in contact with friends and family, but no one is here to share the experience. Does anyone else feel this way? Maybe I just need more experience as a solo traveler. I recently had solo vacations in Ireland, London, and Paris, and thankfully nothing went wrong on them. I have a couple more solo cruises booked, and I have other solo trips in mind. As things can always go sideways when traveling, I better toughen up!

Thanks to all of you who have offered support and information. These are my first solo cruises, and stressful circumstances can seem more stressful when alone. Cruise Critic friends make me feel less alone. 😊 I am in touch with family and friends, but with the exception of my sister (many times my cabin mate), they don’t know anything about cruising and can’t offer the same support as fellow CC people. I’m up early and will take care of the charter flight situation. Then I will relax for the rest of the day - and hopefully the rest of the cruise.

I have insomnia, and I got up to put the “snoozin” tag on the door so I would be covered if I eventually fell asleep. In my mailbox was not the letter posted above about the shortened cruise, but information on my scheduled charter flight to London and hotel stay on Saturday, with luggage tags attached for my bags which were to be set out by 10:00 Friday night. I already told them I would be staying on board and my flight home was on July 31. But maybe this was my chance to end this apparent cruise to nowhere?? I knew I wouldn’t get any sleep until I tried to get an explanation, so I threw on some clothes and went to guest services. Another B2B person was ahead of me; one more came right after me. We were casually told that we would be getting an email “soon” regarding the next cruise. If we wanted to stay onboard, all we had to do was tell them that and let them know we wouldn’t need the charter flight we were assigned to. Simple, right?? Why were we worried? Just because they were apparently kicking us off? I didn’t have the email when I first checked after returning to my cabin, but now I do, and it is the information posted above. I will stay onboard due to the incentives and a reluctance to change my post-cruise flight and hotel plans - and exhaustion that makes me not want to deal with travel on Saturday. All I have to do is go to guest services again and inform them I am staying onboard for whatever the next cruise is (as I told them on the form we were issued when this all started) won’t be on the charter flight. It’s always fun to go to guest services LOL Hopefully this is the end of the saga! Besides my own stress, I really do feel for those scheduled on the July 21 cruise. We B2B passengers aboard now did get almost all our July 9 cruise, and we were already onboard, not in transit to London, when the issues hit. To jimbo5544, thank you for your comprehensive trip report, and I apologize for hijacking it. If there is any more drama about the next cruise, I will start a new thread.

You are basically right. But as for anticipating anything but a multi-day repair, Carnival led us to believe it would be a speedy repair by saying they were exploring options for us on other cruises on “sister ships” out of Southampton on the 22nd as well as a shortened itinerary on the Pride. We passengers had no way of knowing the problem required days and replacement parts from wherever. By the way, where in Southern Wisconsin are you? I live in xxxxxx

I thought about that, but I would have to coordinate changing my flight home from London with whether or not I could get on a charter. And I think I missed the window for “canceling” myself out of the cruise they cancelled. I just found out tonight before getting ready for bed about the several days in the cargo area, and to be honest, I am stressed and tired and not up to dealing with it at this time. Earlier this evening I told my travel agent, “Well, there is food that I don’t have to shop for, cook, or clean up after, my bed gets made every day, and my bathroom gets cleaned every day. It beats being at home.” I am trying make the best of it. So far, all they have offered us who are staying on board is free Wi-Fi. I had purchased Wi-Fi for the 2nd cruise, so that doesn’t impress me. I have no idea if I’ll get a credit for my purchase. I feel like something else should be offered as we are not likely to get much more than a few days of a cruise with maybe one port, if that much. Maybe more will be forthcoming after Carnival takes care of getting everyone else off, and after it’s known exactly what we are ending up with for our “cruise.”

That would be ok with me.

I haven’t seen free cheers, either, and I’m onboard. Where did that information come from??? For a reality check - the compensation for those B2B passengers who bailed on next (now cancelled) cruise is generous. Full refund and 100% FCC. For those of us who chose to stay onboard, with the expectation of a 2nd cruise, just a shorter one, and very little time to make up our minds to rebook our flight, cancel any post-cruise hotel reservation, and get on a list for a charter, the situation is currently not looking so rosy. Sure, the ship is becoming more empty. We could get off in Kiel this afternoon and evening, but I personally didn’t want to venture too far from the ship. There isn’t much to see within walking distance. Everyone has to be to be back on board by 10:00 tonight because we are moving to a different pier in a cargo area. Per a letter we got tonight, we won’t be able to leave the ship for “several days” as German immigration authorities only want to process passengers in the cargo area who are disembarking permanently, not those returning to the ship. The letter went onto say the necessary repair parts are “on the way” to the ship. It’s becoming harder to imagine what kind of shortened itinerary could be put together if we are here at least for several more days, then have to sail to Dover, and then be back in Dover for the July 30 cruise. To Le Havre and back? To Zeebrugge and back? I wouldn’t mind either or both of those, but Carnival can’t even make plans without knowing exactly when the repairs will be completed. I know I chose this option, and Carnival doesn’t owe me anything. But spending a chunk of the next “cruise” in a cargo shipyard was not something I anticipated. I will make the best of it, but in hindsight, I’m not sure it was the best choice. I agree that all indications are that Carnival is doing a fabulous job taking care of everyone who would have been disembarking tomorrow.

I don’t know about jimbo, but some people I met on board texted me that they would be on one of the flights to London today and that Carnival was putting them up at a hotel in London tonight. They’d be catching their previously scheduled flight home tomorrow. It is amazing what Carnival has arranged on such short notice. I’m still on board, and there is no word on when we will be sailing. My return flight is on the 31st, the day after the next - now canceled - cruise was due to end. If the repairs take a long time, then I assume Carnival will be making similar arrangements to get the rest of us back to London eventually. Besides my fellow B2B passengers, I spoke with a UK couple who drove to Dover, and they are also staying onboard. There will be more charter flights to London tomorrow and Saturday, per the cruise director. Still getting people off on Saturday likely means we’ll still be here then, though I suppose people could be put up in a hotel in Kiel if we are ready to sail tomorrow. But I am not holding my breath for that. We could leave the ship around noon today to explore Kiel if we wanted to. Back on board time is 10:00 pm - not because we are sailing but because we are moving to a different pier. The prospect of a shortened or alternate cruise is starting to feel less likely. Nothing for me to do but wait for word.

I just got a letter specifically for B2B passengers. We can stay onboard while the repairs are being made and until the return to Dover. The rest of the letter is what has already been posted - they may come up with a shortened itinerary or even an option on a different ship leaving on the 22nd. Or I could leave the ship now for a full refund and other compensation for of the now cancelled cruise Nope! I’m staying onboard. I feel much better now. More information to follow tomorrow. I am not overly demanding or entitled, and I know Carnival is dealing with a lot. But at the welcome aboard show, we were told there were over 200 B2B passengers, and it was disappointing that I was told that we couldn’t stay aboard when apparently we can - unless we had a misunderstanding due to a language barrier made worse by the blaring music.

I wonder that, too, as I am one. Initially we were told we B2B passengers would get specific information, but so far all I’ve gotten is the same form everyone else got. One option was staying on board until the return to Dover, time undetermined at this point. I marked yes and declined a charter flight at this time. But the representative at guest services said no one can stay aboard. It is chaos at guest services, and someone thought it would be a good idea to have an over-amplified singer at the atrium bar. So my communication with guest services was by yelling. I couldn’t understand what she was saying about how they would make sure I made my scheduled return flight on July 31 but couldn’t stay on board. Nor could she explain why staying on board wasn’t really an option even though it was an option on the form. Where will I be?? She took my form and said, “don’t worry.” I gave up and will hope for more information in the morning, or at least the opportunity to communicate without yelling over the singer. I am packing and preparing to fend for myself if kicked off the ship, but hopefully I will get some clarification and assistance from Carnival.

Yes, the captain just made that announcement. No further details

Thanks for the information - though it’s not very encouraging. I’ll just keep hoping the issue gets fixed soon.

I’m onboard now and staying onboard for the next cruise. I am disappointed about missing the port today, but 2 sea days in a row isn’t the worst thing. However, I am extremely worried about the next cruise. This morning it doesn’t feel like we are moving. Oh well, nothing I can do except hope it gets fixed. I’ll share any info I hear.

I was able to use OBC (received as a promotion for booking) towards excursions booked in advance of the cruise.

Interesting. Thanks. For me, 27,000 steps would be more than 10 miles. According to my phone, I did 12,300 steps on my walking tour, after the bus ride from the ship. Walking from the ship would have been exhausting and time consuming for me! Enjoy the the sea day today. 😃

Hi, jimbo, I’m on this cruise, too. As we sailed away yesterday from Stockholm and during our ride into the city, I thought the landscape looked liked Northern Wisconsin and Minnesota, not a surprise as many Scandinavian immigrants settled in my part of the country. I want to ask your opinion about something regarding Tallinn. I had originally planned to follow Rick Steves’ walking tour of Tallinn, including walking to the old town from the ship, which he describes as an easy 15 minute walk. Ultimately, I picked a Carnival walking tour excursion instead, and I’m glad I did. From where we docked, it sure looked like quite a hike into town, judging by our view of towers and steeples. I am terrible at judging distances. Would you consider that an “easy 15 minute” walk? I think it took about 15 minutes on a bus. I wonder if we docked somewhere further out than wherever Steves was on his cruise.

I’m on a Baltic cruise now, and yesterday in Stockholm we had lunch in a casual pub-style restaurant. We had no Swedish currency and paid with a card. The card reader showed options for a tip in percentages - 10%, 15%, 20% - just as we see in the U.S. Service was fine, not “exceptional” - we ordered food, the waiter brought food. But the expectation of a tip was obvious. Perhaps because we were in a busy tourist location rather than an area frequented by local residents?? I had no problem tipping as we are used to doing so, and I was glad the % options were offered so I didn’t have to do any mental math with unfamiliar currency. We have been taking Carnival excursions, and we have tipped a couple of the guides who were particularly good. They seemed appreciative, and others were tipping also. But I don’t feel the obligation to tip tour guides in Northern Europe as I do in the Caribbean. Our guide in Denmark was outstanding - informative and entertaining. I did not have any Danish currency, but he told us he frequently visits the U.S., so I tipped him in dollars.

I am curious how that flight works out for you. I often fly American, and they also have a daytime flight to London that arrives about 10:30 pm. So, arriving at bedtime seems like a good idea - except it won't feel like my bedtime. I pictured myself tossing and turning and losing a night's sleep anyway So, I booked a typical redeye tomorrow evening and am staying near Victoria Station, where I am getting on the Carnival transfer on Sunday.

I am on this cruise, my first since 2019, with several covid cancellations and postponements (and land vacations) in between. I booked it after St. Petersburg was dropped, because even before the current situation, Russia made me nervous. I am doing the next cruise also, 9 days around Great Britain. I have been on several Conquest class ships, the Sunrise, and the Splendor, but I have never been on the Pride. I have also never cruised solo before, so this will be an adventure. I am not so good at writing trip reports, so I’ll be following this one instead!😄

And the cruise my friend and I are booked on is/was scheduled to sail out of Southhampton and end in Copenhagen. With incredibly bad timing, we booked our flights the day before this thread was started. I haven't found any alternative on any cruise line that would fit into that schedule! And London and Copenhagen aren't particularly convenient combined as a land vacation. Thankfully, we'll be able to change flights without a change fee, but we will pay current fares. Nothing to do but wait. Very frustrating.

Excellent point. As frustrating as it is, my friend and I just going to wait for official word of cancelation or change of ship, or for our cruise to reappear as available for booking.