PHOTO REVIEW: H goes Solo Cruising on the Carnival Pride ( TONS of food porn )

[ProfCruise]

Dear H,

 

I know how you dream to cruise solo.

 

I will be cruising solo on Carnival Freedom Aug. 29 in a balcony cabin on your favorite Deck 7.

 

I love to cruise solo because I'm not a fan of "sharing". However, for you I would be delighted and honored to make an exception I'm a granny-type and like you know all the ins-and-outs of cruising. So, pack your bags and join me. This could be a real almost-solo cruise. Think of the fun. I will be your Thing 2. No naps unless you want one. Sugar! Cheese and Orange Sherbet. Foot races down the halls and up the stairs. Hide and Seek in the Atrium. YES!

 

Are you an angel who's come to take me to heaven?

[ProfCruise]

DADDY’S TOWEL ANIMAL TOWEL

Mommy, daddy, and I attended “towel-folding fun” which took place at 10am on our final sea day. This time, instead of doing this with my towels like I did on the Freedom...

 

 

...I decided to focus and learn something I can add to my resume. Mom wanted to be my “partner,” but she just got in the way, so I asked her to please sit quietly and watch.

Here’s my towel animal elephant:

 

 

It’s supposed to look like this:

 

 

 

 

But not bad for a first try.

Here’s what daddy made:

 

 

Although a little advanced for mommy, we all had fun and really have a new appreciation for our room stewards.

[crazecatlade]

Do you have copies of the kids activities for the 12-14 age group?

Thanks!

[ProfCruise]

Do you have copies of the kids activities for the 12-14 age group?

Thanks!

 

I'm so sorry, crazecatlade, this appears to be the only one I don't have. Bad H! Does anyone else reading have it?

[ProfCruise]

LOOSE ENDS

I can’t tie my shoes (that’s what Velcro was invented for), but I can tie up any loose ends in the “ship” section before I move on to ports and port activities. Any questions? Bueller? Bueller?

I was too busy trying to chase down mommy to take too many ship photos. So, while we wait for signs of life on this thread (anyone still out there?), let me refer you to three recent fabulous reviews of the Pride with detailed descriptions (and tons of photos) of the ship herself.

The first comes from Jamman54.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2196178&highlight=pride

Second is from mitsugirly.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2199226&highlight=pride

And the third is from a fabulous veteran cruiser, but newbie reviewer PinaCarada:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2229578&highlight=pride

Here's one photo I managed to snap looking up from the atrium bar. She's such a purdy ship!

 

 

 

No one has asked yet, but if any of you are wondering what dad’s equally ugly and indestructible pants look like, here they are:

 

 

Actually these pants were left in a drawer in our stateroom along with a matching shirt. Also, if you recognize the cute, white swim cover-up mom is wearing in all her photos – it’s probably yours. It was also left in the room. Mom will send it to you for a small S&H fee. Some might be slightly annoyed that a bunch of stuff was left in their room from the prior occupants, but mom was like, SCORE! Would have cost her $2.99 at Goodwill. Up next, beach bums (AKA ports and port activities). Here's a preview:

 

[Barbluvstocruz]

H...you write a fantastic review! I loved your towel animal elephant! Your dad's...not so much! Looking forward to reading about all the fun you had in port!

:)

[KPfromCT]

Oh, H!

You are outdoing yourself with this review.

And I just want to pinch those cute little cheeks of yours:D:D:D

 

If we cross paths on a future cruise, it's unlimited sherbert and cheese for YOU!

 

Keep up the great work.

 

I am patiently waiting to hear how Mommy got "poisoned":o

 

Thanks for taking your naptime to keep us entertained.;)

[ProfCruise]

BEACH BUMS: PORTS AND PORT ACTIVITIES

I love everything about the beach: the sand for building, throwing, eating, and burying (stay tuned), the waves for crashing and kicking, the shore for running and exploring, the rocks for climbing and hiding behind when I need to poop, the shells for collecting and making beautiful art work my mom will pretend she “lost,” and the sun for working on my farmer’s tan (hard to compete with daddy there, but I try).

Well, I love almost everything about it. What I DON’T like is mommy’s obsession with "toddler on the beach" photography (don’t look for that category at the county fair, she made it up). Number of photos mommy took of the ship: 1. Number of photos mommy took of me at the beach: 1 million (I know I'm cute, but dang, lady). I couldn’t take it anymore – I threw a chocolate square (NOT a Carnival one – not to reopen THAT wound) down the beach and, while she was distracted, buried myself in the sand.

If I'd known she was coming along originally, I NEVER would have booked this beach heavy itinerary. Anyway, we visited the following three ports:

 

I’d visited two of the three before (Half Moon Cay was the only new port for me), but we tried some different things this time.

So, let’s begin at our first port, Grand Turk, but this time, let’s turn RIGHT.

[pohlerbear]

Awesome review. Love the style. Looking forward to see what you do in Freeport. Well be there next month on Pride. Wish we were going to Grand Turk (my fav port ever) and the private island (never been) but we had to go with the date not the destination, so we're headed to Port Canaveral, Nassaua and Freeport.

[tawaik]

Awesome review!!! Thanks for sharing :)

 

My cruise for 2017 will be on the Pride. We want to depart from a home port for a change.

[ProfCruise]

TURNING RIGHT AT GRAND TURK

 

 

My first time at Grand Turk (on the Freedom in December) went like this:

I climbed down a mooring line attached to my balcony as the Captain was pulling into port, ran at H speed down the pier and through the shop, turned LEFT toward the beach, found the first lounger in the shade for my vampire (mom) and backpack, unloaded my bucket and shovel, plopped myself down near the water, and didn’t move more than three feet in any direction until it was time to get back on the “big boat” for a lunch of cheese and sherbet. It was awesome, albeit crowded with two ships in port and nearly everyone turning LEFT to try to get a photo with H.

This time I followed a similar sequence of events, only upon exiting the shop, I turned RIGHT. I expected a huge throng of fans to follow behind me, but they never came. While it was a bit of a blow to my ego, I enjoyed a brief reprieve from the celebrity life (even though I still had momparazzi trying to get a photo of me without makeup).

Anyway, turning RIGHT scores you a huge selection of vampire (mom) friendly loungers, a smaller, but nearly private beach area, a giant whale with a rope around it that you can swing on and then sneak under to ride Shamu, a chess board (I consider myself a genius who happens to play chess. Bobby Fisher said that originally, but it applies equally well to H), and a graveyard (we’ll get to that in a second).

 

 

We also hit Margaritaville to sit in their cool chairs and swim in their giant pool (no purchase necessary – like music to mom’s ears) and hit the LEFT side of the beach so mom could take photos of the 2 inches of sand she missed last time.

In closing:

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.” --Dr. Seuss

So why not choose to turn RIGHT at Grand Turk? Because every vacation should include a trip to a (conch) graveyard.

 

 

Next up: Disney's Half Moon Cay

Edited July 17, 2015 by ProfCruise

[Vitamin_Sea]

Next up: Disney's Half Moon Cay

 

Since when did Disney buy Half moon cay?

 

CCL corp still owns the place,, I thought :confused:

[ProfCruise]

Since when did Disney buy Half moon cay?

 

CCL corp still owns the place,, I thought :confused:

 

Stay tuned...all shall become clear. In the meantime, don't panic!

[bakersdozen12]

Love your reviews. Can't wait to read more! :)

[ProfCruise]

DISNEY’S HALF MOON CAY

 

 

Mom hates Disney (specifically land and world – go ahead and hold it against her) -- it’s too fake and sterile and hot and crowded. Mom and I disagree on almost everything, but especially this! Anyway, mom didn’t hate Half Moon Cay (and it’s still very much owned by CCL – don’t sell all your stock just yet), but did find it a little too “Disney.”

After waiting in line for a tender ticket to wait another hour for a spot on a tender, mom expected to hear “It’s a Small World After All” when we finally boarded the boat.

But it had everything an H could ever want.

Charmin soft sand and clear water…

 

 

Water slides…

 

 

A playground…

 

 

And free food (that ain't Disney!)…

 

 

In summary, I wish I could stay there forever.

Mom was looking forward to Freeport, or the opposite of Disney (as cruise ports go).

Next up, Freeport: The opposite of Disney.

Edited July 18, 2015 by ProfCruise

[Club Disney Chandler]

Sorry, but I'm a little confused on the Disney reference. Disney's private island where their ships dock is Castaway Cay, shown here

 

 

 

Which does have free food as well!

Edited July 18, 2015 by Club Disney Chandler

[ProfCruise]

Sorry, but I'm a little confused on the Disney reference. Disney's private island where their ships dock is Castaway Cay, shown here

 

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[ATTACH]356292[/ATTACH]

 

Which does have free food as well!

 

That reference was to Disneyland/World (and the high cost of everything). Mom's waaaaaay to cheap for a Disney cruise, so we can't comment on any comparisons there. It looks like you've been on quite a few. That's awesome --I'm jealous. Maybe take H along on your next one (since mom will never take me) so I can write a review discussing how much better Disney is than Carnival? :D

[Vitamin_Sea]

That reference was to Disneyland/World (and the high cost of everything). Mom's waaaaaay to cheap for a Disney cruise, so we can't comment on any comparisons there. It looks like you've been on quite a few. That's awesome --I'm jealous. Maybe take H along on your next one (since mom will never take me) so I can write a review discussing how much better Disney is than Carnival? :D

A Disney cruise is expensive because there is no gambling on board. I would rather take 2/3 cruises on CCL then 1 Disney cruise [emoji2]

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk

Edited July 18, 2015 by Vitamin_Sea

[ProfCruise]

A Disney cruise is expensive because there is no gambling on board. I would rather take 2/3 cruises on CCL then 1 Disney cruise [emoji2]

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk

 

From mom: Me too, Vitamin Sea, me too. I understand that some people love them some Disney though. Luckily there is something out there (in the cruise world) for everyone. :)

[ProfCruise]

FREEPORT: THE OPPOSITE OF DISNEY

Freeport is one of those ports where, when the captain pulls in, you might be thinking “Did we take a wrong turn?” and wondering if anyone signed up for excursions to the shipping yard and refinery. Not me, though, I was EXCITED to wake up to a pristine view of “lifters” loading up a giant container ship. And mommy was happy to be in a place where real people live and work, with a little taste (and smell) of “gritty” to help one appreciate the natural beauty of the place. I mean, I wouldn’t appreciate orange sherbet so much on vacation if I didn’t have to eat tofu and flax seeds at home (At least that’s what mom says, I think I’d appreciate it just fine. Let’s try sherbet everyday at home and see who’s right.).

 

Anyway, our plan was to take a van cab to Lucuya beach. Here’s a photo of where the van cabs pick you up (There’s a list of destinations and prices posted – Lucaya is $10 round trip per person. Lap kids are free.).

 

Our van driver, J.H. (the John Heald of the Bahamas, perhaps?), was no Mickey (if you’re into that kind of thing), but he was definitely a character. We lucked out (luckily we weren’t there to shop as many of the shops were closed) because it was Bahamas Independence Day, so we got a history lesson on the way to the beach (and the same one on the way back as we had the same driver). The Bahamas gained independence after 325 years of British rule on July 10, 1973 with NO BLOOD SHED. J.H. was very proud of that and mentioned it several hundred times. He also discussed many other interesting things about the island and answered questions. Mom really enjoyed it the first time around and, because her memory is so bad, the second time around too.

After getting dropped off at the Casino (where dad was never to be seen again – that joke never gets old), we made our way through the parking lot, behind the police station, down a narrow concrete path, to, seemingly nowhere, and across the sand to one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever seen (I’ve only seen, like, 4, but still, it’s really pretty).

 

Like Grand Turk, the last time we visited Lucaya we turned LEFT. This time we turned RIGHT. With a similar result.

If you turn LEFT at Lucaya you will pass a private resort beach (you can get day passes to this place, so that’s an option if you’re not cheap) and, after a bit of a long walk, will land at a very small, somewhat crowded, public section. If you turn RIGHT, on the other hand, you will walk mere steps to a much more secluded public section of beach (although there are some water activities/private excursions that launch from this area…another option) with perfect sand, water, views, and free lounge chairs (AKA giant rocks).

 

Some people stay on the ship at more popular ports to have the place to themselves. At Freeport, get off the ship (because many people choose to stay on) and have Lucaya beach almost totally to yourself. It’s no Disney and (at least according to mom) that’s pretty great.

 

Next up, the good, the bad, and the ugly. And you’ll finally find out the details of the infamous poisoning incident and if dad traded in his ugly pants for an orange jumpsuit.

Edited July 18, 2015 by ProfCruise

[ProfCruise]

THE GOOD

I met new friends...

 

 

danced my heart out...

 

 

took a load off...

 

 

and tried lots of new things...

 

 

That was my new favorite drink, a Twilight Zone, and also what life is like with mom.

And the goodest of all:

I finally learned to limb out of my crib (Me to daddy after opening the balcony door: Hi daddy! I climbed out of my crib! Daddy: It’s over.)!

THE BAD

The service on the Pride seemed a little “off” all week. In fairness, had we not received such phenomenal service on the Freedom and Sensation, we may not have even noticed. I guess instead of “bad” I should really call it, “slightly less than perfect.”

But this WAS the baddest of all:

Debarkation. We were off the ship and headed home WAY. TOO. FAST. 15 minutes from our stateroom to crying and waving goodbye to the Pride from our car (We did self-assist. It was SO easy -- we were off by 9:40am). Baltimore is the most efficient port we’ve sailed out of.

AND THE UGLY

Dun, dun, dun...the infamous poisoning incident. Daddy switched mommy’s beloved vegetarian breakfast burrito with his meat lovers breakfast burrito (he said by accident…we’ll see if that defense holds up) and mommy took a giant (overeager) bite. It’s good no one was on that public deck below us, because she hurled over our balcony about a dozen times (actually she hurled into the toilet, but that’s not as dramatic a visual).

Right after poisoning her, dad left mom with me in the room and hit the casino (sounds like something a GUILTY person would do, doesn’t it). All this went down right after I had learned to climb out of my crib. I was so pleased with my new skill I did it every time mom tried to stick me back in there so I would be contained while she barfed (and wouldn’t place a room service order for all the new PAY items…sorry people, I tried).

Alas, it was ruled accidental and daddy cured her with strawberry soft serve later that evening (although she’s not sure she can ever forgive him for causing her to miss “Bitter and Blanc” night at the MDR).

Mom’s going to buy him an orange jumpsuit anyway because, really, it would be more attractive than those pants.

It’s not over yet (sorry), stay tuned…

[ProfCruise]

IN CLOSING

You may be wondering about the lapel pin I wore on my sport coat for formal night.

Here’s a closer look:

 

 

If you read my Sensation review, you’re awesome! And you also know that my Poppi had been very ill with a genetic liver disease and desperately needed a transplant. He continued to get sicker for several months and we came very close to losing him. That was, until May 5, 2015, when our family received a gift beyond measure. The donor was a young man. We don’t know who he was (although we hope we can reach out to his family someday), but we know people loved him, that he was someone’s “H,” that he cared about others by choosing to be an organ donor, and that his life was over too soon. A moment of tragedy for one family was a new beginning for ours.

Poppi and I after his transplant:

 

He’s out of the hospital now, continuing to recover at home (and we just happen to be spending this weekend together), and we’re planning a big family cruise for next summer.

Shortly after Poppi’s transplant we started following the story of Lucas Goeller (he’s 2, like me). Due to a rare, life threatening condition, Lucas needed a liver transplant. During this same time, another family received the earth-shattering news that their 3 year-old, Olivia (little O), had an incurable brain tumor. After spending her final few days on a Make-a-Wish cruise to the Caribbean with her family, Olivia passed away.

After her daughter died, Olivia’s mom, Lauressa Swedberg, wrote on her Facebook page, “Olivia will be making her journey to organ donation. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do walking away from one of the loves of my life.”

Her liver went to Lucas.

There’s so much about life I don’t understand yet and more I’ll never be able explain or control (even when I’m old like mom), but this I know:

“A persons a person no matter how small.”

So…

“Step with care and great tact. And remember life’s a great balancing act.”

And know that…

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot. Nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

And…

“When you think things are bad,

when you feel sour and blue,

when you start to get mad...

you should do what I do!

Just tell yourself, Duckie [or H],

you're really quite lucky!

Some people are much more...

oh, ever so much more...

oh, muchly much-much more

unlucky than you!”

(all Dr. Seuss, of course)

Happy cruising or Disneying or eating orange foods or whatever makes you happy and I’ll see you again in December for my next installment: H turns GOLD on the Carnival Conquest.

[Club Disney Chandler]

That reference was to Disneyland/World (and the high cost of everything). Mom's waaaaaay to cheap for a Disney cruise, so we can't comment on any comparisons there. It looks like you've been on quite a few. That's awesome --I'm jealous. Maybe take H along on your next one (since mom will never take me) so I can write a review discussing how much better Disney is than Carnival? :D

 

 

We've got an extra bed on our upcoming DCL cruise in September if you want to join us! We're cruising CCL for the first time next June, I can hardly wait! DCL is wonderful but with only 4 ships the same itineraries get a little boring. I'm so excited to try the Vista. BTW, I'm loving your review, you're wise beyond your years!

[Selva]

I'm so sorry that your review is over but I'm so glad it ended with such happy news about your Poppi. I can't wait to see him on a cruise with you!

[boaterette]

I have enjoyed your review once again. I am happy to hear about your Poppi. Organ donation is such a wonderful gift. I look forward to your next cruise. Safe climbing H.