christie629

Just back and I did the carnival excursion kayaking through the man groves. I have done it before. It's such a great excursion we did it again! Where you're going in the national park the hurricane damage will not affect you. Gold rock Beach is just as gorgeous as ever. As another poster said, they need our tourist dollars. I enjoy Freeport much more than Nassau.

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Filet!

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What! They changed the chocolate sampler? I loved it! Sailing in 4 days and have been thinking about it. :-)

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Nodogkisses,

Thanks for that update. I was afraid of just that. Although i have never cruised before, i don't know what to expect at any port but i heard that Freeport was an industrial port. Which doesn't sound appealing.

But we will make the best of it anyway.

 

 

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Thank you for the update! I figured as much. Good to hear how it really is.

You mentioned you heard that Freeport is an industrial port. It is. You are right however; the island and the beaches really are beautiful if you get past the port area. Freeport is truly one of my more favorite port stops. The people are so nice. I highly recommend an excursion in Freeport!

The last time we sailed with 3 in a cabin was in 2014 - the bed was never put back to a couch throughout the 7 day sailing. I had several times - after the 3rd time I stopped asking.

I am sailing in a suite this time and we have other family sailing on the same cruise. We want to use the cabin as a gathering area so I will ask again for that happen. Since I know now on other ships folks do get this service I'll be more insistent.

The last time we sailed in a suite (Grand Suite) we were told we could access our room early and drop off our luggage (2 years ago). We have a Vista Suite this time. I guess we'll see... Won't be the biggest deal if we can't but I can understand since you had FTTF and then canceled it on Carnival's recommendation being a bit irritated!

On Sunday

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I was afraid too. I'm used to the bigger ships and frankly the Paradise seemed dinky. Especially when in Grand Cayman docked neck to the big ships. You literally couldn't see it behind the bigger ships. Hahaha

Turned out to be a GREAT trip. Easy to get around. Food was good. Price was right! I'd do it again!

Enjoy!

I live in the Baltimore area and I have seen nothing on the news about this.

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I'm in the Baltimore news area and didn't see anything last night....

I just canceled my Freeport Excursion on Monday. I didn't think we'd be going to Freeport. I'm glad it's reopened but Murphy's Law - Hahaha.

Actually looks like that executive order is out. I just read a memo from the US treasury department that says specifically that you can purchase Cuban origin merchandise from third party countries and bring into the United States without value limitations.

The ban was only lifted for cigars purchased in Cuba. You still cannot bring back Cuban cigars purchased outside of Cuba. The lifting was done to promote economic benefits to the Cuban island only.

I guess we'll have to wait and see. I just read an article in USA today that says under the order Tourists will probably be able to bring in a similar sized personal allotment of Cuban cigars from other countries other than Cuba. They're waiting to see the exact language of the executive order.

Now that the ban on Cuban cigars has been lifted was wondering where in Nassau to purchase. That is the one thing my husband wants to buy. :)

I leave on 11/20 - no word yet. Looks like a recent cruise from Baltimore headed to Freeport did an overnight in Nassau. That would not be my choice. Hoping for anything else but that!

I did Balmoral last year. Disliked it on so many levels...

I posted a review after the experience. It's the only shore excursion I've every really disliked!

Just got back from the Pride to Bermuda cruise. We had 4230 and my parents had 4232. As always there was some vibration in the back. This floor may have a little more with an open dining room just below.

 

As far as anything else, it was all normal. I was definitely never shaken awake by whatever could possibly shake you awake. We had a bit of a bumpy night Monday where we hit a couple large swells that shook the entire ship but aside from that, nothing to fear with these rooms.

Thank you so much for the follow up!! I'm so excited!

So very sorry! This exact thing happened to a friend of mine. Too late to add anyone else and if she canceled she would lose out. So she went solo. She said she hasn't spoken to the "friend" since.

Make lemonade - read lots of books and rest and relax.

You booked 8268 for your trip in September? Very interested to hear how you like it! Fingers crossed. I've looked at changing rooms and I'm just not sure. Dammed if I do, dammed if I don't. LOL.

Not on the Pride but we've had aft balconies below the Lido deck. There might be a little chair scraping noise but it was never bothersome. It's almost always empty at night and not much traffic in the morning.

 

With Serenity above you, you shouldn't have much if any chair noise and it's generally a quieter area on the ship so I would not be worried about it at all.

 

 

"I wrote extensively about my Pride aft (4232) 2 years ago. Never again. It was horrible. Yes, she had had propulsion issues shortly before our sailing. It wasn't too bad until the night returning to Baltimore when I was repeatedly shaken awake over and over and over. I mean, seriously shaken"

 

This is one of the 2 rooms I have booked and am hoping to have a more positive experience. I'll try to report once we get back in September.

Hi, The Vista Suite 8268 is an aft wrap on the Pride. The title of this thread was Pride Aft Balconies - I'm sorry I wasn't clear. I can see how that can be confusing now that there is a Carnival Vista.

Was in a cabin on Deck 2 on Vista almost all the way back and you couldn't tell we were moving even with some pretty rough seas the last couple of days. There was even very little vibration from the thrusters.

 

But Vista 8268 isn't an aft cabin. :confused:

 

And be aware that those aft cabins on Vista will overlook the private Havana pool area, not the sea. And that if you're located anywhere near the Havana Bar, you could have loud late-night music.

 

I wrote extensively about my Pride aft (4232) 2 years ago. Never again. It was horrible. Yes, she had had propulsion issues shortly before our sailing. It wasn't too bad until the night returning to Baltimore when I was repeatedly shaken awake over and over and over. I mean, seriously shaken. Like you're in a deep sleep and someone comes up and starts shaking you by the shoulder, telling you to WAKE UP! And I had a 6-hr drive home. I was very worried that I might fall asleep at the wheel and kill someone (or myself).

 

I'd had 4230 on Miracle a couple of years earlier and had no problems.

 

The views from the aft are wonderful and I love it back there but I have to able to sleep. I hope it's no longer an issue, but for the money, I just don't plan on ever risking it again.

Just booked my first Vista Aft Suite - 8268 for Thanksgiving. I'm a little concerned about vibration and noise from the Serenity Deck directly above. I would have chosen a lower deck but this was the the last Vista cabin... Anyone ever stayed in 8268 on the Pride?

Thanks!

I think it depends on the kid... My son was 14 when we sailed the Pride last, before the 2.0 upgrades. We sailed out in the winter so the water slides were mostly closed and at his age group there weren't many kids. I think he would have a better time if we had traveled with another kid his age. Since you say there were a couple grandkids I think they will have a good time. :) Have Fun!

Will you be on the 4 day sailing or 5 day? I have the funtimes from our 4 day in Feb that I'd be glad to scan!

Personally I'm on the 5 day. Not sure about OP.

Saw you are a Monarch of the Seas Fan. LOVE that ship. My first cruise and I was married during our cruise in St. Thomas in 1999. I was fortunate enough to be in Florida the week before she left for the ship breaking beach and got to watch her sail out of Port Canaveral one last time.

Following

This will be a very very different experience then Disney. Disney by far is my favorite cruise line although I can't do those as often as I can carnival due to the price. I guess my biggest piece of advice would be to toss away any expectations you may have. This way no room for disappointment. don't get me wrong I like carnival too but they are vastly different in many ways but most especially service. The paradise is a fantasy class so Decour will be quite different too.

I'm sure you'll have a great time regardless! I do miss on Carnival the free sodas and bringing all your own liquor on board. lol!