Pandot

This difference a word makes. Attempted to ask the question earlier but left out the word "service" - makes it a totally different question:

What time does room SERVICE open on embarkation day?

Thanks

Have you looked into Pat and Diane snorkeling tours? I am cruising on the same ship in September and found some great reviews on them. They rub a bus from the port (extra charge). Is boat snorkeling as opposed to the reef snorkeling Paradise Cove. I obviously haven't done it yet but it is another idea to look into, right?

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Can't find the answer to my very simple question : what time does room open on embarkation day?

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Tremendous review! So enjoyed your style, your pictures and your proposal. Going on the Pride in September and really enjoyed your insights.

Congratulations!

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Is the Funship Freddy still available during the "stuffing" bear activity for kiddos? Or should I order him from Bon Voyage?

Making him would be more fun - but if not available then a surprise would work too..

Thanks

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Great review so far - cruising the Pride in September - so excited!

Former Montrealer too - most of the family still lives in the West Island.

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To keep it short as possible.

Originally travelling (Sept 2015) with hubby and two youngest children (5 (autistic) and 2). Booked a cabana.

Next - older two children (24 and 20) decided that they are joining us. Glad to have cabana booked.

Most recently - my parents (mid 60s, early 70s) are joining us too.

With the 6 adults (and we are not "small" adults) and two children, I am tempted to reserve a villa - especially with my special needs son (bathroom runs will no longer be a problem) and my slightly lesser mobile father joining us. Since the Cabana is long paid for (booked the cruise 15 months out)- planning on booking the villa. Will cancel one or the other at final payment when I know for sure who is really joining us.

Please give me your opinions on Cabanas vs. Villas.

Note - getting two cabanas not really worth it - my parents would never spring for a cabana but I would love to surprise the family with the larger villa (my treat). We are not swimming in money, but we (hubby and I) travel very little nowadays, save for it for a LONG time, and when we do travel - I do enjoy the occasional splurge (i.e. balcony vs. inside). It is also very special to me to have the whole family together (rare with the older two kids at the stage they are and the fact that my parents don't live close by).

Thoughts? Comments? Opinions? (And yes - before posting I have read EVERYTHING on cabanas and villas).

Thanks

Edit - oops - didn't keep it short at all - sorry!

Loving your review! Thanks so much!

Thanks for the input. I did check out the cruisemaryland link before I posted. Will check out hotels in White Marsh again. See if I can find something that meets our needs and is affordable.

Andrea

So sailing on the Pride in September 2015 - travelling with two young children (one of them autistic - and often the reason for making decisions) and two of grown children, as well as my husband. We will be driving in two cars from 45 minutes north of NYC (on the 95).

I read great reviews of the Best Western in Elkridge. The price is hard to beat: 126 finished for each room through Trinity Reservations (we'll need two rooms because we will need to park two cars). It also has an indoor pool which is great for my younger children, especially to keep the autistic 5 year old occupied between arrival and departure for the cruise itself the next day. Breakfast and the available pub next door are great perks too.

My concern - it is 20 minutes (10 miles or so, if I read correctly) past the cruiseport, in the direction from which we came. Is it worth that extra 20-30 minutes going down, and probably an extra hour or so on the return trip home...?

Thanks for any input.

Brianna - just wanted to let you know how much I am enjoying your review, as usual.

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AQW - That line has been on all the deckplans I have seen since I booked that cabin in May 2014 for Sept 2015. I have never seen the "line"-free version for the Pride deck plans but am reasonably sure that the balcony has continued to be bowling alley length all along.

Thinking positively - happy cruising!

Andrea

Cruise, J.D.

Thanks for your reply.

I am aware of the rush to get to the excursions desk upon boarding - thankfully the FTTF should help with getting on the ship in a timely fashion.

While many people want to be close to the amenities, it was my impression from reading the posts, that the numbers higher than 6 tend to be more popular (at least with CC folk) because the beach "quiets" out a little, the further up you go. I guess I will just keep my fingers crossed.

Thankfully, I am able to go with the flow, despite my "rigid" son and we will take whatever happens in stride. However, I love to be armed with information to make any decision easier, hence my quest for the ideal cabin for "us".

Hope you get to HMC again too...

Hi.

So I have read EVERY post about HMC cabanas. I have booked my cabana. I know that most covet cabanas farther down the beach but that will not be appropriate in our case.

I will be travelling with my six year old, autistic, son and my two year old daughter (and the hubby). We booked a cabana to be able to stay on the island longer - we always need a place for DS to decompressed when overwhelmed and/or too hot. It will also provide us a place to safely and appropriately manage him should he have a meltdown, without disturbing too many people. Travelling with him and my DS and stuff, walking long distances is not ideal. The trolley is not really an option (unfamiliar vehicle - and yes, I know the tenders are going to be challenging!) All that considered and in order to be closer to the children's area, and the buffet and the bathrooms, I have narrowed down the cabanas to 1-5 for us.

Now, 5 looks way too close to the pirate bar and appears to have a walkway directly behind it for accessing the beach. 1 is obviously the first cabana and, my guess, is it will have the highest rate of people interloping, not realizing that it is not for public use...

So between 2, 3 and 4, is there anything I should know or consider? More shade, in direct path access to beach, etc?

Thanks for answering another Cabana questions, but as you can see my answers are not available in the other threads.

Our plans are as follows:

Day one: Ferry to St-Georges; trolley tour or horse and carriage for one hour (roughly the same cost 50 vs. 80). I will get some history and little boy will enjoy the movement. Then over to tobacco bay for a toddle/play/swim.

Back to the ferry early for the ferry back to dockyards.

Day two: ferry to Hamilton; walk to buses; bus 10 or 11 to BAMZ; after BAMZ, bus 10 or 11 (blue) the mile, mile and a half to Shelly Bay - swimming, playground etc. Bus back to Hamilton; ferry to the Dockyards

Day three: bus 7 from the dockyards to Warwick Long Bay; beach morning at Jobson's Cove. bus 7 back to the dockyards.

Yes we know that there is a lot of beach time and not much sightseeing but we are travelling with a toddler, and sight seeing won't be great for him.

We are travelling with my family, so we might change day 1 into a mommy/daddy day with the ferry to st georges, tour of the history in that area, public bus back to Hamilton with stops along the 1 or 3 route. Maybe the botanical gardens in the Hamilton area before heading back to the Ferry and the Dockyards.

We haven't scheduled the Dockyards since we figure we will be doing that at the end of the days, individually or when my family is baby sitting napping little boy.

FYI - There is also a playground in Dockyards area. (Place to run around :) )

Just our ideas... not too exciting but thought you might like to know from a toddler point of view.

Happy trip!

Andrea

My sister also has Celiac Disease and loves cruising, particularly RCCL and Celebrity because they take such good care of her. She has always let the special needs person know 60 days before her cruise, confirms it the week before and meets with the Maitre'D sometime before the first dinner. She has always had a lot of options (not as many as we do but more than in the mainstream), loves the bread on the ship (as much as you can love GF bread and can eat anywhere just by letting them know of her concerns.

Communicate and it will be great!