Review of our Spring Break '14 Cruise on Carnival Pride

[PaulMedik]

Certainly not my favorite reflection picture;

 

 

 

Spencer spent most of the day curled up in bed. He said he felt OK, but not when he stood up;

 

 

 

Debarkation info was delivered;

 

 

 

I stopped by the chocolate buffet and encountered no lines;

 

 

 

 

Just a handful of chocolate addicts and myself;

 

[PaulMedik]

We were definitely running with one azipod;

 

 

 

The loose corner of glass that sounded so loud;

 

 

 

I got enough chocolate for all of us;

 

 

 

 

 

Our location;

 

 

 

Forward camera view;

 

[PaulMedik]

While walking the ship I didn't encounter many people, but the halls were full of room service trays and an occasional maintenance panel that I closed as best I could;

 

 

 

Karen had been sick most of the day and had tossed her cookies a few times. I made her a super hot bath and soaked her ear drums well for about 20 minutes to numb her sense of motion. Afterwards she was good as new.

 

The sea motion changed dramatically when we went from 10,000+ feet to 98 feet;

 

 

 

 

Room service;

 

 

 

We made our way up on deck to discover serenity was tied down;

 

 

 

No chairs for the hogs to feed upon on this day;

 

[PaulMedik]

Even though nobody was out on the Serenity deck, they still had snacks available at the bar;

 

 

 

The towel desk was staffed as well;

 

 

 

 

 

The winds weren't as strong and the waves had died down, but it was still raining;

 

 

 

 

 

[PaulMedik]

 

 

The normally bustling gym was occupied only by Britt, myself, and Carnival Pride crew members;

 

 

 

 

 

The sauna was too inviting;

 

 

 

Britt was ready to try the sauna;

 

 

 

Safe hand gestures after a relaxing sauna and shower;

 

[PaulMedik]

When Britt and I returned from the gym / spa we found fresh laundry had been delivered;

 

 

 

Frozen yogurt swirl will awaken anyone from their slumber;

 

 

 

One week's worth of cigars enjoyed on our balcony;

 

 

 

It was nice to see that we were leaving the storm;

 

 

 

 

People were placing their luggage in the hallways to be picked up and I passed this piece of luggage which has to rank among the most unusual pieces of luggage I've seen left out;

 

[PaulMedik]

Britt packing his bag;

 

 

 

With everyone feeling better we walked up to lido for some pizza;

 

[YOUTUBE]0BmRm-mySu8[/YOUTUBE]

 

 

 

 

 

Our luggage out for pickup;

 

 

 

The BlackJack tables were very generous on the final evening;

 

 

Karen also cashed in over $300 and she cashed out $56 from her Slot bank.

 

After we crossed the tunnel / bridge back into the bay I noticed a ship following us

 

[PaulMedik]

Thirty three feet deep and we're running eighteen knots;

 

 

 

We passed under the bridges at 0650;

 

 

I missed getting pics on the way out and on the way back, but now I know what time to be watching;

 

 

 

 

 

 

The lifeblood of West Virginia is coal and it's nice to see it along the bay;

 

[PaulMedik]

 

 

 

Good morning Baltimore;

 

 

 

The cargo ship was back docked behind us;

 

 

 

 

[PaulMedik]

Passengers heading to their cars at 0911;

 

 

 

This full lot will soon be empty....and then full again;

 

 

 

Walking down to deck three, debarkation, then out to our vehicle;

 

[YOUTUBE]aMdbVee-hjs[/YOUTUBE]

 

 

 

 

 

Calvin coordinating debarkation;

 

 

 

Not many people waiting with us;

 

[PaulMedik]

The Platinum debarkation area was in the seating area adjacent to the gangway;

 

 

 

CD Kirk Benning;

 

 

 

Luggage doesn't always remain in the bins;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ceiling mounted heat units providing warmth on the chilly day;

 

[PaulMedik]

 

 

 

 

The porter retrieved out checked bags for us and carted them to the vehicle. He was a very friendly fella;

 

 

 

 

 

So long Carnival Pride. We look forward to sailing you again soon;

 

 

 

We have rail road tracks across the river from our house and across town from our house so this was a familiar site;

 

[PaulMedik]

 

 

Spencer has been looking at Ford F 250 Diesel trucks non stop since we returned. He sold his Explorer because it wasn't what he wanted and will be getting a truck similar to these in the next few weeks;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[PaulMedik]

 

 

West Virginia

 

 

 

 

 

Not the most scenic time of year for pics of The Greenbrier;

 

 

 

 

 

The sprawling Greenbrier Hotel;

 

[PaulMedik]

The Greenbrier overlook was our last stop on our way home and is about an hour and a half from our home. It's always nice to stop and stretch your legs when traveling.

 

 

 

Thank you all for coming along with us on our cruise!

 

 

If I get an opportunity to combine all of the videos, edit them down, and perhaps add some pictures and music I'll post a link here. Those of you who viewed the videos know that video editing is not my forte'.

Edited May 6, 2014 by PaulMedik

[sjn911]

If you don't live on east coast..it is all so exciting. Just love your captions...and family trips..thanks sooo much once again...Sarah

Edited May 6, 2014 by sjn911

[aaron3219]

Thanks for sharing. We were just on the ship 2 weeks before you guys. Awesome time.

[Steve8]

Awesome Review! Thanks again for sharing. I know this takes a huge amount of your time but I can tell you it is appreciated by many!

 

Steve

[jbhcw]

Thanks again for a great review with wonderful pictures....have you every stayed at the Greenbrier...would love to try it sometime:)

[soccersharon]

Thank you so much for yet another wonderful review. We are big Liberty fans, but the Pride looks like a lovely ship, too. We can't wait to meet her in August 2015.

 

I booked the cruise about a month ago, but haven't told my family yet. I was debating on making a video, containing out of context snippets of Pride area photos, ports, etc. (if you understand my meaning) to surprise them. I'm hoping it will turn out the way I envision. I'll post it on CC, if the video comes out well enough.

 

Sent from my mobile device. Typos are inevitable.

Edited May 6, 2014 by soccersharon

[mr&mrscruiselover]

Paul, thanks for another great review and allowing us all to come along on your family travels.....Sherri

[peacefrog]

Paul,

I gotta tell you-I never thought watching a 9 minute video on ordering pizza would be interesting, but I'm sitting here at my work desk and I'm riveted watching. You gotta stop. I'm wasting too much time watching these videos at work. I'm going to lose my job. Thanks for doing these. It really adds a cool element to the report, especially since I've been on the Pride before.

 

Tim

[PaulMedik]

Thank you all for your kind comments.

 

 

Thanks again for a great review with wonderful pictures....have you every stayed at the Greenbrier...would love to try it sometime:)

 

 

jbhcw,

 

Thank you.

 

Karen and I attended a wedding at The Greenbrier back in the '80s, but we didn't spend the night. Since then we've attended some conferences and events there, but no overnight stays. Hopefully they'll still be offering bunker tours by the time we get around to staying there.

 

The new owner has made quite a few changes to The Greenbrier over the past few years and invested heavily in marketing as well as upgrades. They frequently have WV resident sales and general public sales that are very hard to resist.

 

The new owner, Jim Justice, is also the Greenbrier East boys and girls high school basketball coach as well as the main force behind the PGA tour stop at The Greenbrier.

 

 

Thank you so much for yet another wonderful review. We are big Liberty fans, but the Pride looks like a lovely ship, too. We can't wait to meet her in August 2015.

 

I booked the cruise about a month ago, but haven't told my family yet. I was debating on making a video, containing out of context snippets of Pride area photos, ports, etc. (if you understand my meaning) to surprise them. I'm hoping it will turn out the way I envision. I'll post it on CC, if the video comes out well enough.

 

Sent from my mobile device. Typos are inevitable.

 

Sharon,

 

Thank you.

 

That's a great idea for a video and I believe your family will find she compares favorably to Liberty especially then since she'll have Guy's Burgers. :D Liberty is still our second favorite and will be our next ship that we sail, but Pride beat out all of our other past ships.

[PaulMedik]

Paul,

I gotta tell you-I never thought watching a 9 minute video on ordering pizza would be interesting, but I'm sitting here at my work desk and I'm riveted watching. You gotta stop. I'm wasting too much time watching these videos at work. I'm going to lose my job. Thanks for doing these. It really adds a cool element to the report, especially since I've been on the Pride before.

 

Tim

 

 

Tim,

 

Thank you.

 

I was surprised when I reviewed the length of that clip and realized that the time included our walk up to Lido, ordering the pizza, and the pizza being made in front of us and cooked in such a short time frame. Granted it never seems like a long time, but knowing how long it actually takes makes getting fresh pizza at any time all the more special.

 

If your boss catches you just tell him you are studying productivity and customer service. I'm sure he'll understand. :)

[CruiserJul]

What a great review! Thanks so much! We (DH, DS and I) went on the Pride a couple of years ago when DD was in college. It was such a fun cruise because we met so many nice people from our roll call and it was our first 7 day cruise. We will all be going on the Glory in a few days :D and will be going to some of the same ports that you did. We are planning on going to Jacks Shack and meeting Topher!