AllenF

I used Blackberry last summer and I am using them again in July. Excellent service provided last year. 

I had Blanton's in the Steak House on the Legend last years cant remember the exact price but  think it was under 20 also I did not have the cheers package. 

https://www.blackberrycars.com/

I choose a Blackberry cars to get to hotel from LHR not because any safety concerns but for convivence of not having to drag luggage around after flying all night. Something about a person standing with a sign with your name on it who takes your luggage and walks you to a nice car lets you just chill and relax after a long flight is nice. If you can afford it get a car service.

Last year we cruised on Carnival out of Dover but we stayed a few days in London before the cruise.

That being said I used Blackberry cars for all my transportation because I did not wish to drag luggage on the tube from LHR to Hotel after flying all night the cost for me was worth not having the hassle of navigating the walk and ride with 3 pieces of luggage. It was nice having a driver waiting for us after the flight and then picking us up at Hotel and dropping us off right by the cruise terminal door  especially after seeing people pulling there luggage on the way to the terminal which is also a long walk from any hotels in Dover if you don't get a taxi. It was the same when when disembarked driver waiting and off to LHR once again the cost for me was worth the convenience. After dealing with the crowds at airport flying in and then being on the ship dealing once again with people and crowds it was so nice having a private car and only having to deal with each other which is hard enough sometimes lol. Lets just say it was a nice and relaxing way to travel before and after dealing with the masses . Once again I will be using Blackberry in July for our cruise out of Dover to Iceland. I know Carnival also provided a transfer from  LHR  to Dover but the cost was was almost as much as Blackberry for 2 people so I choose to do it privately instead of riding in a coach/bus. So I have to say I agree with John Bull's assessment .

10 hours ago, StephPS79 said:

 

Vegas doesn't have a cruise ship.

Actually Vegas does not have an Ocean kind like a cruise ship does have las Vegas show or large casino. You say tomato I say 🍅 

Not that I am a big gambler but if I were I would be in Vegas. To me gambling in a carnival casino is like buying your groceries at a 7/11.

Jan Ackerman

The Rippintons

Any of the Rippintons  albums with Russ Freeman or Steve Morse album High Tension Wires Jan Ackerman for Jazz Fusion.  

Any Van Morrison or Steely Dan even Carol King perhaps throw in some Carpenters lots of good easy listening Music from early 70s. 

In my case I have never had any issues with platinum laundry service either. My clothes seem to shrink not because of hot water but I believe the buffet and ice cream could be the source for shrinkage. 

Just got off the Pride and if they had Texas Hold-em  I never found either version live or Pokerpro tables.

Sitting in AA lounge at LHR at 9am.

Sunday traffic was very light and we left before earliest cruise shuttle.

Check in at LHR was also quick as well as getting thru security so if you get to airport early on Sunday looks like the way to go. 
 

Our flight boards at 1125 for 1215 departure.

Got off boat by 620am with platinum perk carrying our own luggage. 

Pick time was for 7am blackberry texts you driver information so I texted him we were off boat and we were on our way to airport at 640am.

On 7/8/2023 at 3:05 AM, OneLuckyMom said:

So was that specifically your recent experience on the Pride? I've read different things lately - some say the app is working much better than before.  Others complain it still doesn't work well.  Seems to me it might be a ship thing - interested to hear specifically how its working on the Pride right now.

For most part it worked ok did use chat features 

Arriving at Port now will let you know how it goes. For embarking we arrived at 1pm and walked right on ship and rooms were ready. Years ago I like to get on as early as possible but then you just sat and waited for cabin to be ready.

On 7/7/2023 at 5:57 PM, OneLuckyMom said:

How was the embarkation process in Dover? Debarkation would be great to know about too once you've experienced - we have a car scheduled to pick us up at the pier at 8am on an August cruise, not sure if that's too early, too late or just right (our party won't have priority but we will carry our own bags off if needed - but we don't want to do so at 5:30am!)

 

Have you tried to bring any alcohol or soda back onboard at a port, and if so did you experience any issues?  (I'm more likely to try the soda thing but a bottle of wine might make it into my bag too....)

No problem bringing soda on board did not try with alcohol in ports but soda was not an issue at any port

Overall after not cruising on Carnival but 1 time in the last 10 years and being platinum I give the cruise a solid B.

My expectations were not to high as we cared more about ports than the ship as we do not cruise as much anymore just not into the crowds but it has been better than expected.

Drinks have  been very good along with service.

Chefs table was great as the steak house (3) times. 
Only ate in main dining twice (anytime dining).

Lido was good and pizza was still great.

Nice entertainment as far as singers and bands playing did not step in main show area as not are thing.

One thing I found puzzling was there are no urinals in any men’s bathrooms on the ship lol.

Gym and steam rooms were also on point.

The crew as always were top notch.

Sp while I am not as big of fan of cruising as I once was  I must say we have a nice relaxing time.

Only did one excursion with ship we mostly did self walking tours in ports very easy to do if you like to walk.

We are at last port and then a sea day back to Dover if possible I will try to answer any questions before we get back home Sunday night.

Used blackberry for transport to hotel in London and then to ship in Dover great service will use for return to Heathrow.

Thanks for the info will on Pride June 30th for Norway.

For those who have vacationed in Mexico  for my comparison I would say Carnival is Cancun and Celebrity is Cabo.

4 minutes ago, ray98 said:

I don't think you have enough time to discuss them all.  It is sort of like hotels, so if you equated a Carnival cruise with the Hilton before realize now you are at the Days Inn.

That's  a good observation there LOL. From 2003 thru 2009 cruised Carnival 14 times and then once again in 2016. Tried other cruise lines between 2009 and 2018. Last cruise was on Royal summer 2018 Europe. Will never do Caribbean cruises again on any cruise line to easy to fly down from SC. But once again we will be going on Carnival Pride out of Dover for Norway in 2023. Not cruising for food,entertainment or the ship itself but to see the fjords. As expected after reading on CC that service and amenities have gone down no big surprise to me there. All I need is clean room something to eat nice balcony decent weather and relaxation as I watch the scernary go by  with my wife. If I want 5 star I will vacation at 5 star resort and even those have there issues. Vacation for me is about spending time with my wife  and going to different places cruising has taken me to Australia and New Zealand. Europe, Alaska, Hawaii, and British Isles from us it is about the journey to somewhere different not how many times my room is cleaned or how much bacon is on the buffet 🙂

Let me start by saying I travel for work and from Dec. 2019 till today  ( Just flew back from Key Largo mini vacation) counting connections I have flown 72 times in 2020. It was great in April thru August did not miss the crowds. The last few times the planes have been full.  I traveled at the peak of the sweet and sour sniffles spring and fall of 2020. I work in the Nuclear Industry my travel has been from Taiwan to Chicago,  Miami and a few places in-between I was in Taiwan Dec 2019 when this 1st started and returned in Nov. 2020 where I had to do a 2 week quarantine Taiwan has had very little Covid but they did sound the alarm in late 2019. I have taken 9 Covid test all negative they were work required to have site access. Also at plant outages over a 1000 people come in from all over to work and we had to wear mask etc etc. Now a little about myself I am 57 and this past June 14th 2020 while playing Golf I had a heart attack only died for about a minute my buddy revived me. I spent 2 days in Hospital after having a stent put in. I went back to work on the 18th. I did not even know I had heart disease I walk 4 to 5 times a week was walking when I had the big one. Oh yeah borderline diabetic so with all my traveling Covid should have killed me according to the Debbie downers. While I am not down playing the loss of life from this outbreak of FLU alot of those who died were just like me had pre existing conditions except maybe a little older some who died were already in pretty bad shape. Most people survive (99%) when they have caught it unless they are very old the percentage goes down but then again just like me they have pre existing conditions some of them know about them some don't. Funny I have not heard of anyone dying of Cancer, Heart disease, diabetes etc but Covid is sure killing everybody well except in Chicago gun shots are still killing a few on week ends. Last week I did get my 1st vaccine shot I really did not want to cause I never get the regular flu shot but with my traveling for work and the fact I have to go back to Taiwan in June (that 2 week quarantine was worse than my heart attack) I am hoping by then with the vaccine I will not need to do that again cause I watched everything on Netflix twice during those 2 weeks. Bottom line at my age alot of stuff can kill me but I am not going to stop living cause I might die....hell were all gonna die. If you are worried and have concerns or pre existing conditions then by all means stay home cause it makes my traveling much easier 🙂 

Thanks....no issues with carrying our own luggage.

I tried to search this but had no luck and if it is in the 190 pages of this HAL for dummies once again I did not go thru 190 pages:

1. Does HAL offer the self assist debarkation where you carry your own luggage off so you can get off the ship as soon as allowed. This would be for the port of Amsterdam when we cruised Royal it was allowed and we were able to catch a 1055am flight out of AMS.

Looking at doing Midnight Sun for Norway in 2022.

2. Has anyone used the service where they take your luggage and you do not see it until you arrive at your home airport once again this will be for Amsterdam. Also I have status with my preferred airline and do not have to pay for baggage I understand I need to pay for the service so does HAL take that into account so you do not get charged for Baggage fees.

Thanks

5 hours ago, Cruising-along said:

I think the difference is you booked through the website, not a PCC. 

Yes but I did the thing is the person I talked to at HAL customer service said it normally takes about a week for transfer to get processed but that things were very slow now and chances are it would happen faster. I would say it did for sure since it was done in about an hour.