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"LIVE" from Carnival Pride - January 26, 2014


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Loved reading this! Can't wait to sail away in 44 days!! Glad to hear the coffee is good on Pride - and with the 2.0 upgrades being made at the end of the year, we might be rebooking for 2015!! Safe travel home!

 

 

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No one caved ~ Carnival was forced to leave Baltimore because their ships didn't comply with EPA regulations for all cargo and cruise ships which now require that they use low sulfur fuel or a "scrubber" system to clean their fuel, when they are within 200 miles of a shoreline ~ coming up the bay, all ships are within that 200 mile limitation. The EPA couldn't give Carnival approval for them to use their scrubber system when it was time for them to release their 2015 sailing dates so they decide to move the ship to Tampa ~ it was a $$$ thing. Once they got their approval for the scrubber system they decided to bring the ship back to Baltimore as it has been very successful for them.

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No one caved ~ Carnival was forced to leave Baltimore because their ships didn't comply with EPA regulations for all cargo and cruise ships which now require that they use low sulfur fuel or a "scrubber" system to clean their fuel, when they are within 200 miles of a shoreline ~ coming up the bay, all ships are within that 200 mile limitation. The EPA couldn't give Carnival approval for them to use their scrubber system when it was time for them to release their 2015 sailing dates so they decide to move the ship to Tampa ~ it was a $$$ thing. Once they got their approval for the scrubber system they decided to bring the ship back to Baltimore as it has been very successful for them.

 

Thanks

 

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Hello everyone . . . Good Morning and Welcome to DAY 7 of “LIVE” from Carnival Pride.

Today is my final day at sea before the Cruise is over. There are a ton of activities planned for today including Pool Games, Trivia, Fun Shop specials, and tournaments in the Winners Club Casino. I haven’t been to a brunch yet, so I may try it out today. I have a coupon good for a Free VIFP Drink that can only be used in the Normandie Dining Room.

 

 

This morning I woke up to dark skies, a heavy cold rain . . . at the time of this post the sun is out and it feels much warmer. Maybe the seas will calm down a little as they are a little heavy now. I have sailed in much worse, but there are a lot of first time cruisers on board who might be feeling a little queasy.

 

 

I really want to make it to the “Up Close and Personal” Q and A Talk with the Ship’s Officers. If I can I want to make it to the 3 Minute Makeover. I heard that the Carnival Legends show should not be missed, so I will try to head down there at 10:15PM

 

We are currently about 45nm SE of Bald Head, NC. . . We still have about 380nm to go until we arrive at Cruise Maryland at the Port of Baltimore.

 

I use my a Delorme Navigation Program on my Laptop, with a Bluetooth Delorme Earthmate BT-20 and my Garmin GPSmap 76CSx to connect to the laptop for the location pics shown below. There are sometimes when I can use an on-line Navigation site for maps.

 

 

Here are a few pics . . .

 

Radio

 

 

 

I think I burned 500 calories just by walking through the work out center . . . on DECK 9.

 

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There were dark skies and rain at 8AM this morning.

 

 

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The seas today are a few notches above moderate. . . The roll today of the

ship is significant.

 

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There are a lot of these FLIR Cams about (Night Vision)

 

 

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Ahhh. . .Sunshine again for my final day at sea.

 

 

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Here is our current Location.

 

 

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.

Edited by Radio
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I hate for your cruise to end -- for you -- but I'm getting on after you get off, so I'm excited! Thank you so much for your review and pictures!

 

We will be on there tomorrow also!

 

Thank you so much Radio. It was wonderful following your cruise. My son is autistic so through your information and pictures, I was able to tell him each day what would happen. It was so easy to say, "Next Monday, we will be here" and so on.

 

I'm sorry to see your cruise come to an end also but we can't wait to get on!

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Hello everyone. . .

 

The sun didn’t stay out too long today. It got cloudy and dark again but the temperature stayed mild. I decided to try out the sea day brunch which was wonderful. I was able to use my VIFP drink coupon there and I really enjoyed the Huevos Rancheros. I also made it to the “Up Close and Personal” talk. I expected to see the Captain and other officers there, but only Kirk, the CD was present fielding questions from the passengers. Kirk discussed about Carnival Pride coming back to Baltimore in 2015 and he also suggested that this will be his last contract with Carnival Pride, as his next contract will be with Carnival Triumph from Galveston, sailing 4 and 5 night cruises.

 

I really like the way Carnival has the Sail and Sign kiosks available for passenger use. You don’t have to wait at guest services or try to figure out your purchases from the TV. You simply slide your Sail & Sign card and you can easily print your statement. You can also use your credit card, Carnival Gift Cards or cash to offset your Sail & Sign balance. This is similar technology to what Royal Caribbean has been using on Oasis of the Seas (2009) and Allure of the Seas (2010)

 

We are scheduled to pick up the pilot at the Cape Henry pilot station at 1AM. The Captain suggested it will take 9 hours to travel up the Chesapeake Bay. Our scheduled arrival time will be 10AM. Carnival Pride is currently “steaming” ahead at 22 knots.

 

I had a great time on this ship and I will look forward to experiencing the Fun Ship 2.0 improvements when Carnival Pride returns to Baltimore in 2015. The crew on Carnival Pride is very friendly and the food and service has been above average.

 

Here are a few pics from today. My next post should be after we approach the pier slowly at Cruise Maryland. Thanks for tuning in.

 

 

 

Radio

 

 

 

Sea Day Brunch was in the Normandie Dining Room. . .

 

 

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The sun didn’t stay out for long . . . but the temps were still in the 60’s

 

 

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Cruise Director Kirk hosted the “Up Close & Personal” talk.

 

 

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The Starry Nights Lounge gets filled up for the Motown Concert with the Pride

Show Band

 

 

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I have to make one more stop at the Fun Shops. . .

 

 

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Here is our current Location.

 

 

MAP11.jpg

 

 

 

 

.

Edited by Radio
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Radio,

 

Thanks for taking me along on your journey! I enjoyed the trip. It was fun to see pics of Fascination from yesterday as I will be sailing her in 3.5 weeks. Can't wait!

 

It was really neat to see the cruise go from cold, to cool, to warm, and then back. Thanks so much for taking the time to post.

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Like many others, I am a big fan of your 'live' reviews.

I sailed from Baltimore once, but did not realize how long it took to get to the Atlantic from port, and vice versa!

 

I wanted to sail on the Pride out of Baltimore and was sad when I thought I missed my chance. Your review solidified my desire and now looking at a Spring 2015 trip. Thank goodness she will be back!!!

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Thanks for the picture of the boat to Balmoral Island. I am going on that excursion and wondered what the boat looked like.

 

Just a little bit of info about the Balmoral excursion :o...I had it booked for both legs of my B2B 12/27/2013 & 1/4/2014 on the Splendor. We were to meet on the pier at 12 noon (we had arrived in Nassau at 11AM). We walked to the excursion boat en mass & boarded it. Then it took a half hour to get to the resort ...time elapsed since meeting on the pier: 1 1/2 hours :eek:!

 

When we approached the dock at Balmoral at 1:30, it was apparent that there were no lounge chairs available on the beach...because 3 other excursions from other ships were already there :(.

 

Additionally, the ocean was so incredibly shallow...I had to walk out a couple of hundred feet...and still the ocean only came up to my thighs. No wave action whatsoever.

 

The "deluxe" lunch was a hamburger & fries :rolleyes:....can we say McDonald's?

 

It was a pretty place, but that's about it. I cancelled my Balmoral excursion for the 2nd leg of my B2B. Perhaps you'll be lucky & will be either the only ship in Nassau that day, or the 1st ship in Nassau that day...therefore early arrival at Balmoral. Good luck!

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Hi Radio, thanks for your review, it has been very valuable to me as I am on the pride in 20 days. Would you speculate on the reason for the varied arrival times weekly. The Pride is coming under the key bridge about an hour later this week than last week. Would you be able to give any indication as to why?

 

Thanks

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I look forward to reading your review once we get home - was a fun cruise really minus the bad weather in PC and rough seas while sailing to Nassau. I took so many pictures can't wait to go through them all :)

 

 

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Just a little bit of info about the Balmoral excursion :o...I had it booked for both legs of my B2B 12/27/2013 & 1/4/2014 on the Splendor. We were to meet on the pier at 12 noon (we had arrived in Nassau at 11AM). We walked to the excursion boat en mass & boarded it. Then it took a half hour to get to the resort ...time elapsed since meeting on the pier: 1 1/2 hours :eek:!

 

When we approached the dock at Balmoral at 1:30, it was apparent that there were no lounge chairs available on the beach...because 3 other excursions from other ships were already there :(.

 

Additionally, the ocean was so incredibly shallow...I had to walk out a couple of hundred feet...and still the ocean only came up to my thighs. No wave action whatsoever.

 

 

The "deluxe" lunch was a hamburger & fries :rolleyes:....can we say McDonald's?

 

It was a pretty place, but that's about it. I cancelled my Balmoral excursion for the 2nd leg of my B2B. Perhaps you'll be lucky & will be either the only ship in Nassau that day, or the 1st ship in Nassau that day...therefore early arrival at Balmoral. Good luck!

 

Thanks for the heads up! I was contemplating the dolphin encounter next week, but we will be one of 5 ships in port. I think I'll pass!

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My favorite part of the ship! This is the adults only Serenity area. There's a small pool and a hot tub. No fees unless you want to buy a drink at the bar:).

 

It is located all the way aft just past the buffet area.

Edited by dixieva
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My favorite part of the ship! This is the adults only Serenity area. There's a small pool and a hot tub. No fees unless you want to buy a drink at the bar:).

 

It is located all the way aft just past the buffet area.

 

It is the Serenity area, and yes it is adults only. 21 I believe. No fee.

There are also hammocks, our favorite. It fills up fast.

You have to keep an eye out for people vacating, and snatch the seat up.

 

Thank you both for the quick reply. I *assumed* that those cushions would not be out for the kiddies, but ya never know!!!

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