Review of our Spring Break '14 Cruise on Carnival Pride

[Eng23]

 

Although the fogging was an unintended consequence I think this really is an interesting picture. :)

[Eng23]

I'm really enjoying your review! :)

 

Seeing that you are from West Virginia have you ever considered a cruise out of Norfolk, Va.? Carnival returns to Norfolk next year. I'm already booked on the Splendor for May 11th 2015 which is the first cruise of Carnival's return. I know the itineraries are only 5 days out of Norfolk and only go to Nassau and Freeport, but hey it's still a cruise and gets me out of town for a week! :D

[Smiling Cruiser]

Really enjoying your review. Thank you.

 

If you enjoyed DC you might like your own flag flown over the Capitol. Easily purchased through your Congressman or Senator's office. Makes a great graduation or birthday gift, or any occasion.

 

We gave them to our DD's. Ordered in advance to be flown on their respective 18th birthdays and given to remind them of their greatest gift of that year-the freedom to vote.

[PaulMedik]

I'm really enjoying your review! :)

 

Seeing that you are from West Virginia have you ever considered a cruise out of Norfolk, Va.? Carnival returns to Norfolk next year. I'm already booked on the Splendor for May 11th 2015 which is the first cruise of Carnival's return. I know the itineraries are only 5 days out of Norfolk and only go to Nassau and Freeport, but hey it's still a cruise and gets me out of town for a week! :D

 

 

Eng 23,

 

Thank you.

 

Yes, we've watched for sailings out of Norfolk that would work for us, but the dates don't mesh with when we can sail. October would be good for a short cruise since it's our anniversary and the boys play football, but given that Friday and Thursday are game days..... May doesn't work also because of school. It sure would be nice if they'd open up Norfolk for year round cruises.

 

Really enjoying your review. Thank you.

 

If you enjoyed DC you might like your own flag flown over the Capitol. Easily purchased through your Congressman or Senator's office. Makes a great graduation or birthday gift, or any occasion.

 

We gave them to our DD's. Ordered in advance to be flown on their respective 18th birthdays and given to remind them of their greatest gift of that year-the freedom to vote.

 

 

Smiling Cruiser,

 

That's a very good idea.

 

I'm planning to build a patio / gazebo over our firepit above our river dock and a flag would fit there fine. A flag that flew over the capital would be perfect.

[nodogkisses]

 

Although the fogging was an unintended consequence I think this really is an interesting picture. :)

 

That picture is probably my favorite. So interesting.

[PaulMedik]

Near the end of dinner the CD announced that there was a medical emergency on board and that we would be using one of our lifeboats as a tender to transfer the patient to rescue personnel from New Providence where they would be going for more advanced care.

 

As we left the dining room the ship was smoothing the water by sweeping the aft around in a large circle. We stepped out on to deck 3 and saw some activity forward;

 

 

I only had my small camera with me so the pictures are a bit dark and out of focus;

 

 

The patient was wheeled out on a Ferno gurney and with one family member accompanying them they were transferred to Pride's lifeboat;

 

 

After transfer to the lifeboat they began lowering the lifeboat;

 

 

 

[PaulMedik]

The Police rescue boat from New Providence met the lifeboat some distance from the ship and transferred the patient;

 

 

Personally I think the transfer from Pride's liferaft to the rescue boat would have been easier accomplished alongside or closer to Pride, but they went out to rough seas and made the transfer there. I have trained for swiftwater rescue and have rescued quite a few people from the Gauley and New Rivers, as well as recovered several dozen bodies, but the option for choosing smoother water over rough has never been presented to me. I just assume that smooth water would have been easier and safer, but that may not be the case at sea. The lights from Pride or concerns about making incidental contact with Pride may have influenced their decision as well. The manner in which Pride smoothed the surface may have created unseen undertow currents as well.

 

After the transfer the lifeboat returned to Pride and was retrieved without incident;

 

 

 

Quite a few passengers were out on deck watching the events unfold and a fellow CC member commented that the pictures would soon be on Cruise Critic. It was then that we met each other and I assured him the pictures would be here eventually......and now they are.

 

After the rescue we found this fella on our bed;

 

 

There was a nearly full moon that evening and I got some pictures of the moon rise with my 5DIII that I should have had for better rescue pictures;

 

 

 

My lens has image stabilization so I was able to go a little longer on exposure to light the night up;

 

[PaulMedik]

 

 

It looked like they had cut the power back on the starboard azipod;

 

 

On most cruises we sail thru well travelled shipping lanes and pass cargo and cruise ships regularly, but on this cruise we rarely passed other ships;

 

 

 

On this wide shot you can barely make out that a ship is in the distance;

 

 

 

I switched to the SX50 HS for some moon shots;

 

[Taters]

Beautiful!

[PaulMedik]

 

 

This is about as close as I can get and still get the whole moon;

 

 

Going tighter I have to choose which slice of the moon;

 

 

The SX50 HS can get closer to the ship in the distance, but it does so at f5.6 which is way too dark for any detail;

 

 

 

The Captain announced that due to the lost time during the patient transfer we would be arriving at Half Moon Cay later than planned at 11, but that we would be staying until 7PM. Sleep in and leisurely get off the ship beats an early port any day.

 

Our location;

 

 

 

Karen and I again spent some time and earned some $$ in the casino.

[rdler]

Paul, can my son and I come on a cruise with you someday. You and your family always seem to have a good time, you have a great attitude and your enjoyment is palpable.

[PaulMedik]

I was up and about way before sunrise on our Half Moon Cay day, but we were a long way from HMC at 0820;

 

 

 

 

 

Chocolate cake from room service before breakfast;

 

 

 

Calm winds and smooth seas;

 

 

 

 

 

Our destination was nowhere in sight;

 

[PaulMedik]

Paul, can my son and I come on a cruise with you someday. You and your family always seem to have a good time, you have a great attitude and your enjoyment is palpable.

 

 

rdler,

 

Welcome anytime! When I get our next sailings booked, they'll be in my signature.

 

 

**********************************************

 

 

 

 

 

 

Land Ho! Not our land, but land indicates we're getting closer;

 

 

 

These are the right kind of clouds to see for fair weather;

 

 

 

 

 

Karen cleaning out her beach bag which was full of Conch shells;

 

[PaulMedik]

Another hearty breakfast;

 

 

More land off our starboard side;

 

 

 

 

Hmm. That's looking familiar;

 

 

 

We are slowing down and beginning to maneuver;

 

 

 

The shells that Karen determined would need some more cleaning;

 

[PaulMedik]

You can see in our wake where our speed dropped;

 

 

 

A flyby greeting;

 

 

 

Soon more flying critters were greeting the ship;

 

 

 

 

Another change in speed;

 

 

 

 

Passengers on Serenity were feeding the flock;

 

[PaulMedik]

 

 

Britt came out eating a chocolate chip cookie and the birds chased him back inside. After they thinned out he walked out and put pieces on the rail

 

 

 

From whatever reason they must have communicated with each other that we only had cookies;

 

 

 

He tried the cookie and left;

 

 

 

They were swarming until he put the cookie out and only two came in for a bite and none afterwards;

 

 

 

Maybe they're diabetic? For whatever reason they quit swarming us and started diving in the surf;

 

 

For the record I do NOT advocate feeding the birds from the balcony, but apparently they don't like chocolate chip cookies so if they swarm you give them a cookie and maybe they'll leave you alone too.

[PaulMedik]

 

 

 

 

Watching for the first tender to come out;

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not a tender;

 

[PaulMedik]

Karen relaxing before the bustle of getting off the ship;

 

 

 

After they announced that debarking had commenced we walked down to the Platinum desk and requested an escort. When we got to the lobby we could see the line already snaking back up the hall.

 

These two folks communicated with the boarding personnel to find out when the next tender was due.

 

 

Our escort from the lobby to the tender;

 

[YOUTUBE]wJe_ZnzHxGM[/YOUTUBE]

 

 

On board the tender;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[PaulMedik]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Captain Morgan's;

 

 

 

 

 

[PaulMedik]

 

 

 

 

I'm curious to see what they're going to build here. Another villa or ?

 

 

Obviously a lot of passengers were on the first tender (we were on the second tender);

 

 

 

Evidence of ongoing construction;

 

 

 

[PaulMedik]

 

 

 

 

 

Carnival Pic;

 

 

[PaulMedik]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walk from shops area to Cabana #15 with a few stops along the way;

 

[YOUTUBE]oSqS2QVQBq8[/YOUTUBE]

 

 

 

 

[PaulMedik]

 

 

 

 

 

 

I never did get a clear shot of this;

 

 

 

I don't know them, but here's their picture;

 

 

 

[PaulMedik]

 

 

My apologies to anyone with a slow connection, but these are my favorite pics so they're a little bigger;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[PaulMedik]

 

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