Pride 11/4/12 Review Grand Turk, HMC, Freeport

[crisperjr]

Really enjoying your review. Thanks for sharing. We will be in Freeport in Feb. Never been there. I figure we might just stay on the ship. Have also heard of Lucaya Beach. Have you ever been there? Gorgeous sunsets you had!

 

 

We've been to Port Lucaya many years ago. Some high end hotel's with casino's as well as more shopping. Remided me of Nassau. Nice beach there though, something you won't find at the Freeport pier.

 

Thanks for reading!

 

 

Oliver

[crisperjr]

Loved your review. We'll be doing the same itinerary on the Fantasy. Thanks for taking the time to post such a positive review and photos. I'd like to cruise out of Baltimore some time too. The port is about 4 hours from our house.

 

 

I'll tell ya, Baltimore port has their stuff together. I've sailed out of NY, FT Lauderdale, Tampa, Miami, Port Canaveral, and others, and think Baltimore does it best.

 

Thanks for reading!

 

Oliver

[laumicmah]

Thanks for the fantastic review. We got off the 2 day to nowhere the day you got on. We also did self-assist debark and left our cabins, went to the MDR for breakfast and got off and right to our cars at 10am...really easy. But, I will say that I was on a 7 day (same itin as you) in April with my mom. We put our bags out the night before debark and we sat in Rapheal's until around 11 before we were called and then had lines and disorganized craziness to get our bags and get to our car. I also experienced lines and slow grumpy port workers for both embarks. In April we got to port at 11 and were seated around 12:20 and then didn't get on the ship until 1:20 (they had some big customs clearance to do and embark was delayed). For the recent 2 day, we got to port at 2 and got on the ship around 3:20 (did not have to sit, could just walk right on the ship after we got our S&S cards from check in...but parking, security and check in lines were long and slow and the workers are less than enthused). For me, Port of Baltimore is the worst we've gone out of...we loved Port Canaveral and even port of NY.

 

I love your pics. Very nice...especially liked the HMC cabana shot with the ship in the background and that wicked sunset. The bar waiter you had a pic of, Igor, we had him on our 2 day. He was very good and friendly. We also were in a balcony on deck 6. We also had ATD with 10 of us and had to wait both nights to get a table, but we didn't mind. And we thought the food and service was good too.

 

I loved that itin you did and that we did in April...want to get my DH to agree to do that one of these days. Grand Turk and HMC are really nice and cheap beach days. My mom and I did the Margaritaville thing and had a great time. Freeport was a thumbs down...we didn't see a Senior Froggs or we may have gone there. We just shopped for a bit and then got back on the ship.

 

Thanks for posting. I love the Pride too and hopefully I'll get my DH to go back on her (he's not a fan of so many sea days or the fact that the price is higher than cruising out of FL).

[nybumpkin]

Oliver, really enjoyed your review. We've done this itinerary on Pride twice, and the only downside is the limited port time. I've enjoyed Freeport both times we visited; the first time we went to Paradise Cove for snorkeling (from the beach, and very easy) and the second time we did an excursion on the tall ship Alexander von Humboldt. I know a lot of people aren't crazy about Freeport, but as someone we met back in July said, there's shopping. There's music. There's food, but you can always just go back aboard the ship for lunch. And no one is bugging you for hair braiding or to buy drugs.

 

And I really appreciated your photo of Glory. Loved your review from last year, and we're looking forward to sailing on Glory again!

[crisperjr]

Thanks for the fantastic review. We got off the 2 day to nowhere the day you got on. We also did self-assist debark and left our cabins, went to the MDR for breakfast and got off and right to our cars at 10am...really easy. But, I will say that I was on a 7 day (same itin as you) in April with my mom. We put our bags out the night before debark and we sat in Rapheal's until around 11 before we were called and then had lines and disorganized craziness to get our bags and get to our car. I also experienced lines and slow grumpy port workers for both embarks. In April we got to port at 11 and were seated around 12:20 and then didn't get on the ship until 1:20 (they had some big customs clearance to do and embark was delayed). For the recent 2 day, we got to port at 2 and got on the ship around 3:20 (did not have to sit, could just walk right on the ship after we got our S&S cards from check in...but parking, security and check in lines were long and slow and the workers are less than enthused). For me, Port of Baltimore is the worst we've gone out of...we loved Port Canaveral and even port of NY.

 

I love your pics. Very nice...especially liked the HMC cabana shot with the ship in the background and that wicked sunset. The bar waiter you had a pic of, Igor, we had him on our 2 day. He was very good and friendly. We also were in a balcony on deck 6. We also had ATD with 10 of us and had to wait both nights to get a table, but we didn't mind. And we thought the food and service was good too.

 

I loved that itin you did and that we did in April...want to get my DH to agree to do that one of these days. Grand Turk and HMC are really nice and cheap beach days. My mom and I did the Margaritaville thing and had a great time. Freeport was a thumbs down...we didn't see a Senior Froggs or we may have gone there. We just shopped for a bit and then got back on the ship.

 

Thanks for posting. I love the Pride too and hopefully I'll get my DH to go back on her (he's not a fan of so many sea days or the fact that the price is higher than cruising out of FL).

 

 

I may have a somewhat slanted view of the port of Baltimore. I've never had to park there, or wait in lines to park. I've either been dropped off (several times) or dropped off people (twice). In each case, I was met by efficient "traffic people" who correctly directed me to the right locations.

 

However, I have heard from others who have experienced less than helpful port employees. But for us, we've been quite happy with Baltimore.

 

Oliver

[crisperjr]

Oliver, really enjoyed your review. We've done this itinerary on Pride twice, and the only downside is the limited port time. I've enjoyed Freeport both times we visited; the first time we went to Paradise Cove for snorkeling (from the beach, and very easy) and the second time we did an excursion on the tall ship Alexander von Humboldt. I know a lot of people aren't crazy about Freeport, but as someone we met back in July said, there's shopping. There's music. There's food, but you can always just go back aboard the ship for lunch. And no one is bugging you for hair braiding or to buy drugs.

 

And I really appreciated your photo of Glory. Loved your review from last year, and we're looking forward to sailing on Glory again!

 

 

Thanks Kathy.

 

When are you going on the Glory again? Wife and I were just talking about that tonight. That we'd love to go back to Canada again. Maybe in 2014, as we have a trip planned on Freedom next October.

 

 

Oliver

[laumicmah]

I may have a somewhat slanted view of the port of Baltimore. I've never had to park there, or wait in lines to park. I've either been dropped off (several times) or dropped off people (twice). In each case, I was met by efficient "traffic people" who correctly directed me to the right locations.

 

However, I have heard from others who have experienced less than helpful port employees. But for us, we've been quite happy with Baltimore.

 

Oliver

We live about 25 mins from port and may just have to get dropped off if we cruise the Pride again...which I hope we do.

[crisperjr]

I've created a short (11 1/2 min) video of our cruise on the Pride and posted it up on YouTube.

 

If anyone is interested in watching:

 

 

Oliver

[SMSACE6]

Thanks for posting your review! I enjoyed it very much, and always love the photos! :)

[hughsonb]

Really enjoying your review. Thanks for sharing. We will be in Freeport in Feb. Never been there. I figure we might just stay on the ship. Have also heard of Lucaya Beach. Have you ever been there? Gorgeous sunsets you had!

 

 

We had a great time last year in freeport, We will be back in 60 days lol

[chellebert]

Great video!! thanks for posting!!

[crisperjr]

Great video!! thanks for posting!!

 

 

Thanks!

 

 

 

 

 

Oliver

[KoalaLou]

Great review, Oliver! We have sailed on the Pride once, and will make our second voyage in March 2013. We had an awesome time and excited to get onboard again soon! I loved your pictures of Cabana #14 at Half Moon Cay... that was the one we had when we sailed on the Destiny July 2009. I thought this cabana was perfect and we soaked up every minute on this beautiful island! :) Happy Anniversary! I hope I can celebrate my 35th anniversary at sea!

[crisperjr]

Great review, Oliver! We have sailed on the Pride once, and will make our second voyage in March 2013. We had an awesome time and excited to get onboard again soon! I loved your pictures of Cabana #14 at Half Moon Cay... that was the one we had when we sailed on the Destiny July 2009. I thought this cabana was perfect and we soaked up every minute on this beautiful island! :) Happy Anniversary! I hope I can celebrate my 35th anniversary at sea!

 

 

 

Thank You!

 

 

 

Oliver

[roscoegirl]

I've created a short (11 1/2 min) video of our cruise on the Pride and posted it up on YouTube.

 

If anyone is interested in watching:

 

 

Oliver

 

Very much enjoyed your video...one of the best I've ever seen on this board! We did that same itin this past Aug and it (and the Pride) was fabulous! Going again in Aug 2013...can't wait! Loved your sunset shots!!:) Thanks for posting this.

[bigcraig]

Hi Neighbor, we loved your review and look fwd to our Pride cruise a week from tomorrow.

 

Nice pics

 

Your neighbor near the golf course.

[crisperjr]

Very much enjoyed your video...one of the best I've ever seen on this board! We did that same itin this past Aug and it (and the Pride) was fabulous! Going again in Aug 2013...can't wait! Loved your sunset shots!!:) Thanks for posting this.

 

 

Thank you very much!

 

 

Oliver

[crisperjr]

Hi Neighbor, we loved your review and look fwd to our Pride cruise a week from tomorrow.

 

Nice pics

 

Your neighbor near the golf course.

 

 

Back at ya neighbor! Wish I was going with you. I'm still suffering from PCW (Post Cruise With drawl)

 

 

Oliver

[seadrifter]

Oliver, great Pride review. Loved the pictures and the video - music was very nice. We sail on the Pride in 12 days. Really looking forward to driving to the port and can't wait to experience the Pride. Our itinerary is the other one; Port Canaveral, Nassau and Freeport.

 

Thanks for your review.

[crisperjr]

Oliver, great Pride review. Loved the pictures and the video - music was very nice. We sail on the Pride in 12 days. Really looking forward to driving to the port and can't wait to experience the Pride. Our itinerary is the other one; Port Canaveral, Nassau and Freeport.

 

Thanks for your review.

 

 

We did that itinerary on the Pride a few years ago. Love sailing down the Chesapeake!

 

Thanks!

 

 

Oliver