GleeFrog

Great, thank you both! I just wanted to make sure there wasn't a deadline for using the credit.

Has anyone booked something the day of at Harvest Caye and was able to use their Free At Sea excursion credit on that booking? Or does it need to be booked the day before?

Thanks for the warning! This is a roundtrip from Miami and the cruise before mine is from NY to Miami so that shouldn't be a problem. Good to know I can save some money on flights.

Flights out of FLL are cheaper for me, but also leave earlier. We arrive in port at 7am on Saturday and the flight leaves FLL at 12:35pm. I know normally anything after 12 should be safe but since I'm coming from the Miami port instead of the Ft. Lauderdale port I wasn't sure if that was still enough time. 

522 days for Pride Journey cruise and also our embarkation wedding!

The only danceable space would be the marble walkway in front of the bar. More space could be made by moving the chairs, but you can't move the tables because they are fastened to the floor. I gather those are the only venues on offer? EM

Yes, those were the only 3 venues mentioned when I called the wedding number earlier today. Thanks for the insight into the space!

I'm looking to have an embarkation wedding on the Pride and one of the reception options is the Ivory Piano Bar. I looked at some pictures and it looks like a great space, but is there anywhere for people to dance? Or at least a space for the first dance? The other options are the Taj Mahal, which seems like a lot of space for what will most likely be a small wedding, and the Beauties Night Club, which doesn't really fit our vibe.

The problem with outside shots is, that the ship will have already set sail, so it's windy and there are people out and about. My favorite shots came from the steakhouse and red frog pub. I can post a couple of those if you'd like.

 

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Thanks for the pictures, they look great! I'm wondering if maybe I can get a separate photo shoot later in the cruise since Baltimore's water doesn't make the prettiest backdrop ;p

First, thank you so much for this thread, it's been so helpful! We're looking to have an embarkation wedding on the Carnival Pride with no one sailing with us, so that information in particular has been very helpful. I didn't think about the fact that my fiance wouldn't have somewhere to get ready before the ceremony and will have to board in his tux.

Are the wedding packages still the same as when you got married? If so, do you still have the documents they provided with different options, and could you email them to jvanre at gmail?

I see you got married in December. We're also looking into a winter wedding (that's when the Journey cruises are for the Pride). Though Port Canaveral and Baltimore are quite a bit different in weather, did you get to do any outdoor photos? I know it'll be freezing but I love the idea of a picture with the whale tail.

My embarkation wedding is in June out of Baltimore. I’ll be looking forward to hear your experience! Congratulations!

 

 

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I'm looking to have an embarkation wedding on the Pride out of Baltimore. How was your experience?

Congratulations. On the Pride they are only able to do 1 wedding w/ reception on the ship on embarkation day. But I've heard of them doing 2 ceremonies without reception or when reception is on another day.

Another option I've heard of is paying for a private officiant (public or religious) to sail as a guest of yours (separate cabin of course) then perform the ceremony in a cabin before leaving the Chesapeake with your 2 witnesses. I'm personally not sure of the legality of this or if it is a token ceremony, but if state Maryland allows it could be a fall back plan if the wedding date slot for the cruise you want is booked already. But then all your wedding guests need be sailing as well, and fit in a cabin to view the ceremony. A private party later in the cruise can always be arranged to be your reception.

Any other weddings during a cruise will be done when at a port of call that allows it and has one of their officiants to preside, either as an on board wedding or at a venue in port. I'm not sure Bermuda is one of the ports that allow tourist weddings without an extended stay (1 week or more). Sometime in the future Carnival will offer Weddings at Sea but from what I've heard this keeps getting pushed back. So if embarkation day is the base plan start planning now as the Bermuda sailing are generally very popular.

Also to note, the Pride is notorious for being late to dock in Baltimore. Once your plans are set make sure you and your wedding guests (especially if there are non-sailing ones) are flexible about the day's schedule being suddenly delayed or altered to fit the possible "new" embarkation times.

 

 

First off your concerns about motion and vibration are not unfounded. Because you are sailing in what is the North Atlantic there is a greater chance of wave motion acting on the ship. Greater the movement and further from the stabilizers the more you will feel the ship "rock-n-roll". Engine vibration is something that tends to affect lower decks and is not just an aft problem.

Though I have not sailed completely aft on the Pride in a balcony, but we prefer the aft pool area, and I have not noticed soot though you can get a whiff or the smokey smell on occasions.

Here's a problem once docked in Bermuda and aft balconies... your view once in port can be spectacular - of the whole Great Sound and interior Parishes or of the Keep and Atlantic north of the docks. OR leave you feeling jipped because half of your view is of the other ship in port. It's a 50/50 chance on how the ships will dock and mostly up to the Harbour Master/Pilot not the ship's captain. Balconies and Suites on either the port or starboard sides also have an equal chance of facing the Great Sound or having views of the Royal Dockyard.

The great thing about Bermuda is almost all itineraries have you there overnight, with most being docked for 2.5 days. This allows greater freedom in choosing private and direct tours on your own without worries about the ship leaving in the early evening. Public transportation is safety, affordable and friendly to tourists so getting around the island is a snap. Most "must do" attractions and locations have a public bus stop or ferry dock 1/2 mile or less from their entrance. With the unlimited transport pass no worries about having exact change to board a bus or ferry. The US dollar is always accepted, amply available, and on par with the local currency, so no concerns about getting local change (unless you want it) or conversion rates.

As honeymooners you should research the island's "Honeymoon Gates" lore and which ones allow you to visit for a kiss under for wedded luck and picture opportunities. There is one right in the Royal Dockyard that is there for the public, but it was built as an iconic photo stop (kind of like the British red phone booths) by the Frog and Onion Pub.

Thank you for all of the amazing information! I will definitely be saving your post and referring back to it as I continue to plan out this wedding. I definitely want an embarkation wedding (we chose the Pride because family that wouldn't cruise live close by) but figured I may have to wait until the 2020 dates are posted (though I have my fingers crossed for late 2019). Very helpful to know they may squeeze in 2 if you don't do a reception, I'll keep that in mind if I need to bargain a bit :P Thanks also for the tips on the late arrival, I had seen a couple reviews where the ship was late. Hopefully the rest of the ship won't hate the wedding party for delaying embarkation for them even more!

I hadn't even really looked into what Bermuda has to offer yet, I just knew I wanted to go somewhere new for the wedding and we had already been to the Bahamas. The Honeymoon Gates look like amazing photo opportunities. Thanks again!

I would also choose a balcony midships somewhere. Vibrations back aft on Pride can get pretty bad...I've seen silverware rattled off tables in the MDR. It might not be as bad as you go higher up, but I've read reviews by folks who are light sleepers getting zero sleep in aft balconies. Here's another consideration...how's your significant other deal with motion? My wife uses a scopalomine patch when we cruise, but if the stateroom was shaking the whole time she would be unhappy (therefore I would be unhappy...happy wife=happy life).

 

I'll make a suggestion: if you're getting married on Pride, look into splurging on an Ocean Suite. We've sailed on her in OS's three times and love them. Plus, priority boarding and priority tendering (if you go to Half Moon Cay) is totally worth it. The OS's are roomy, they're on deck 6 so no danger of loud venues near you, and they're centrally located amidships, so it's an easy walk to anywhere on the ship. Take a look at my reviews listed below, or go on youtube and search for my channel (Swodog94) where I've posted video tours of our three Ocean Suites on Pride. Good luck!

Thanks for the tips! I will definitely look into your reviews and videos! Neither of us have felt motion sick on our 2 cruises, but I am a lighter sleeper so maybe aft isn't for us, at least not on a wedding/honeymoon cruise :)

Thanks everyone so far for the tips!

I'm thinking of getting married on embarkation day on the Pride on a cruise to Bermuda in the next year or two. I have only cruised twice before, once on the Carnival Valor where we got upgraded to a balcony and once on the Norwegian Breakaway also in a balcony (we're spoiled now :) ), both midship and 2-3 decks below Lido.

I was originally thinking of treating ourselves by getting the Vista Suite aft wrap around balcony or an extended aft balcony because I love the look of the wake, but I've never been aft and have read negative reviews about shaking and soot. I'd honestly be happy with any balcony room, so I'm looking for any input on the various balcony categories on the Pride as well as any tips for cruising to Bermuda or getting married on embarkation day (I know there's a wedding board as well, once I'm a bit more set in my plans I'll be posting there as well!).

Whoops double post :o

Thanks both of you! I thought it'd be safe but wanted to check with someone that has been there. It makes sense that the craziness is to sell you stuff, not steal. He does have a camera bag too so it would only be out when he was taking pictures.

My BF and I will be in Nassau March 2 and I was looking at things to do that aren't beachy since we aren't really beach people. I'm thinking we'll do the Tru Bahamian Food Tour since we both love to eat and it seems like a great way to see part of the island.

I'm worried about the posts saying how crazy it is when you first get off the ship and how it can be unsafe. My BF has a DSLR camera he usually bring with us to take pictures of the scenery. Would it be better to bring a smaller, less tempting camera or will we be fine since we will have a tour booked?

I would not take one on deck 15. There is a HUGE overhang above you, and you won't be able to see the sky from your balcony. In addition, I love the cabins near the elevators and stairs like the one on 11. We've had both forward and rear angled, and it's a toss up.

 

15270 is directly on top of the angled we sailed in for the Transatlantic.

I was looking to book an angled balcony next to the elevators and stairs on the Breakaway (13870) but was worried about noise. Did you notice any when you were booked there before?

So I called the upgrade fairy and they offered me a balcony upgrade for $250 and we took it! This the first cruise for 2 of us so we're getting spoiled already. Very excited! :D

How much are they asking? Balcony trumps inside even if there is a little chair noise....

I don't know how much they'll ask for just yet. I will be calling back at 10AM when their offices open. I know that if I booked a balcony on my own they would be $580 which is ~$150 more per person than my inside cabin which wouldn't be worth it for us. This cruise is very port intensive and we don't plan on being in the cabin a lot but the extra space would be nice when getting ready in the morning.

Thanks everyone for the responses so far, they've been very helpful!

I got a call and email from the upsell fairy late yesterday for my Valor cruise that leaves in 4 days to upgrade to a balcony. We currently have an inside 4E on the Upper deck above the casino. I fake-booked and it looks like the only balconies left for 3 people are all below the lido deck buffet (8D rooms from 8384 to 8423). How is the noise level in these rooms? I'm a fairly light sleeper and have read about 4am food carts being loud. On the other hand, since we are 3 adults it would be really nice to have the extra space.

Has anyone had a balcony under the lido buffet have an opinion if a switch would be a good idea? I'll be calling the fairy back in about 3 hours when their offices open.