Splendor - Just off the ship today - Jan 28, 2014 - Review

[Crusin Karen]

I would love the Breeze or the Sunshine, but someone on the Splendor told me that they heard that there is a good chance it will be the Pride since they are only scheduled to be in Tampa till April 2015.

Pride is the only spirit class ship I haven't sailed. We sail exclusively from NY because we live about 20 minutes from doorstep to port. In "these economic times" it is too hard for us to pay for air/hotel and other expenses. So we are lucky to be able to cruise from here, but OTOH our hands are kind of tied as to what ship and what itinerary. Plus we like to sail in the winter because the rates are so low and now CCL is pulling out of here for the winter. :mad::mad: Might have to "jump ship" to RCI or NCL but we get so many perks with CCL that I hate to do that....:(:( Sorry to highjack your thread again Pauly! :o

[paulypride]

Pride is the only spirit class ship I haven't sailed. We sail exclusively from NY because we live about 20 minutes from doorstep to port. In "these economic times" it is too hard for us to pay for air/hotel and other expenses. So we are lucky to be able to cruise from here, but OTOH our hands are kind of tied as to what ship and what itinerary. Plus we like to sail in the winter because the rates are so low and now CCL is pulling out of here for the winter. :mad::mad: Might have to "jump ship" to RCI or NCL but we get so many perks with CCL that I hate to do that....:(:( Sorry to highjack your thread again Pauly! :o

 

No problem, I am with you on liking to travel out of NY, I live in Staten Island so its literally an hour that I can get from my house to the pier. We always cruise the 3rd week of January so it looks like its either going to be Norwegian or Royal next year for us, unless I can find a riduclious deal that warrants airfare.

[paulypride]

Pride is the only spirit class ship I haven't sailed. We sail exclusively from NY because we live about 20 minutes from doorstep to port. In "these economic times" it is too hard for us to pay for air/hotel and other expenses. So we are lucky to be able to cruise from here, but OTOH our hands are kind of tied as to what ship and what itinerary. Plus we like to sail in the winter because the rates are so low and now CCL is pulling out of here for the winter. :mad::mad: Might have to "jump ship" to RCI or NCL but we get so many perks with CCL that I hate to do that....:(:( Sorry to highjack your thread again Pauly! :o

 

Just did a quick search - the cheapest cruise in January is 689.00 for a 8 night, from NYC/Bayonne. You can get a 7 night out of miami for 379.00 on the Conquest or Splendor and 409.00 on the Glory - so while flying can be a pain, it would be the same price to get better weather and stay on CCL.

[paulypride]

Thursday January 23, 2014 - Port Canaveral, Florida

 

We learned something else on this cruise, we both dislike buffet breakfast. The powered eggs, the undercooked or burnt to hell bacon, the watered down orange juice....blah, blah, blah! We will not be eating buffet breakfast again this week.

 

After breakfast we headed down for more trivia and we teamed up with a couple from Freeport, Long Island - both retired, seniors - but very nice and on the second trip of their back to back cruises. We ended up playing alot with them the rest of the cruise. We also played with a older Jewish grandmother from Staten Island as well, she was nice and we got to talking and she asked for my business card as well. We did great and we won Food & Drink trivia. We finished in 2nd in the next trivia, Cartoons. We won a "Solid Gold Ship on a Stick"

 

We decided to not go to Orlando or anywhere for that matter while in this port, but rather relax and enjoy the ship. We went to the Panorama Deck 10 aft hot tub and spent about 30 minutes in and then spent about an hour up on the adults only serenity deck reading and listening to music. Very relaxing and much needed to have even a few hours of nothing and just enjoying the sun, even if it was just about 50 degrees.

 

 

After hottub time we went back for Football trivia, I had no real expectation of doing well but I actually did respectably, didn't win, but my showing made me feel good.

 

One last trivia session before dinner, one I knew I would do terrible at, but Shawn cleaned up and won, Harry Potter trivia! Awesome work Dumbledore, horcruxes, basilisks and gryffendor.....I knew none of it.

[paulypride]

Dinner was very good in the Golden Pearl.....finished off our wine and Shawn had wilted spinach, bacon and gargonzola salad, spring rolls. He had the vegetarian Mexican enchiladas in a tangy red sauce. I had the same salad, which I thought was excellent, chilled peach creme soup, which as the same with the strawberry soup it was not the same to me, and I had a very tasty beef goulash. The gravy was superb, the meat tender, the linguine, yes linguine was cold and stuck together. We loved a few of the desserts, so we got the coconut cake, I had the bitter and Blanc, a bread pudding with dark chocolate and vanilla sauce. There was tiramisu on the menu as well and Dusko said it was his favorite, so we ordered that as well. My bitter and Blanc was ok, the tiramisu was very rich and excellent, Shawn enjoyed his coconut cake very much. The dining room team did their usual entertainment dancing to "Shake, Shake, Shake"

[paulypride]

Following dinner we went to Superstar Live Karaoke. Shawn as you know already LOVES karaoke and this is his favorite chance to sing. Superstar Live Karaoke gives you the opportunity to sing with the live band. We got there early enough that Shawn led off the show and even got another song in. He loved it! He was hysterical because there was an older Asian lady who sat down next to us and within 5 minutes was sound asleep, right under a speaker and slept for a good hour. After this we went to bed since we were exhausted and were up so early!

[paulypride]

Friday January 24, 2014 – Nassau, Bahamas

 

So we slept in late today, even missed the Morning Trivia (plus it was in the casino)!

 

We went into Nassau for a little while. We actually debated if were even going to do so. But we said we needed to get some souvenirs for people and Nassau is a good place as any. Our first spot to hit up was a drugstore as we were both battling colds most of the week. Tanya the Piano Bar Lounge player said it was going around, calling it the “Carni Croup.”

 

 

Nassau was packed as there were 6 ships in port that day; The Splendor, The Victory, The Sensation, The Norwegian Epic, The Disney Magic and The Oceania Riviera. I love getting off our ship and seeing the others. I am especially intrigued with the Victory, as I love the theme of it – Famous Bodies of Water. If you get a chance, Google a picture of “Victory Seven Seas Atrium” – it’s beautiful.

[paulypride]

So we walked around some, took some pictures and headed back to the ship. Nassau is our least favorite port – we have been offered drugs and have gotten dirty looks when people realized we were a couple, so we prefer to just stay out as much as possible.

[paulypride]

More from Nassau....

 

[paulypride]

Back on board we went and had some lunch and then headed back to you guessed it….more trivia!!

 

We won the next round of General Trivia and then followed that up with another win for Cartoons! At this point we have like 8 or 9 medals and two ships on a stick!!

 

Dinner was good as it was all week and then we headed to more karaoke. I didn’t mention it earlier, but Shawn decided to audition this year after all and since there was no Ricky Martin, he went with Michael Jackson. Alas he was the runner up again. I think he was more disappointed than he let on, but I was devastated. I so wanted this for him. But what made me very happy was that he wanted to go right back to Karaoke the next night and we did. When we got there, Antoinette waived him over and looked like she needed something. I stayed in my seat, when Shawn turned around he was smiling and looked happy. The person who beat him out decided to audition for Elvis instead and Shawn was now going to be Michael Jackson!! He was happy, I was ecstatic and he then became nervous as all hell! Lol

[paulypride]

Following karaoke we went to the El Morocco for “The Quest” – an adults only game show that all I can say is soooooo much fun! If you have never experienced it, do yourself the favor and go and participate if possible!

[PortSideCruzan]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi Paulypride :)

 

Ahhhhhhhhh..... The 'mocha chocolate getaway', YUM!!

 

:)

[DisneyNutMary]

I love your report so far!

We are looking at a itineraries on the Splendor for this summer, so I am taking in all your pictures and dreaming of a warm, sunny cruise.

My son and my nephew would get along well with you and Shawn, they spend all of their shipboard time at trivia and karaoke.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[maurinsky2]

Your husband is a cutie!

 

Can kids participate in karaoke? My daughter does a better Adele than Adele does!

[paulypride]

Saturday January 25, 2014 – Freeport, Bahamas

 

So we got up, went for breakfast and then did some trivia in the Splendor Lobby. The sky was a bit overcast and the weather was in the high 60’s at this point, so there was no rush. We again decided that we weren’t going to go do any shore excursion but rather see what the area around the ship was like since we had been here last, it looked as if there was quite a bit of construction and improvement in the area. Plus we love to go to Senor Frogs and that was the priority for the day!

 

[paulypride]

More from Freeport.....

 

[paulypride]

last of Freeport.....

 

for some reason the "Yards" at Senor Frogs said Nassau!

[paulypride]

Your husband is a cutie!

 

Can kids participate in karaoke? My daughter does a better Adele than Adele does!

YES!! someone 18 and older needs to be present with them. Quite a few youth participated!! Have fun! I am sure she will love it!

 

Thank You for the kind words on my husband. I know I am one lucky guy!

[paulypride]

I love your report so far!

We are looking at a itineraries on the Splendor for this summer, so I am taking in all your pictures and dreaming of a warm, sunny cruise.

My son and my nephew would get along well with you and Shawn, they spend all of their shipboard time at trivia and karaoke.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

 

Sounds like kids who know how to have a good time!! Trivia and Karaoke are relaxing and fun to us and we enjoy it alot. I hope you all have great sunny weather and wonderful time!

[cruisinbabs]

So I will be posting the review here over the next few days or so.

 

I hope that you will all enjoy and know that I plan on being completely fair and objective.

 

Paul

 

 

yay a fresh splendor review!! cant wait and subscribing to this review. something to hold me over for another 100 days... :D

[LynnB]

I'm loving this review. We'll be on The Splendor in 22 days! Can't wait! :)

Edited January 30, 2014 by LynnB

[TrqoisWtrs]

Great review and great pics too - some lol :D Also sailing on the Splendor November repositioning so looking forward to reading more! :)

[Crusin Karen]

I'm loving this review. We'll be on The Splendor in 22 days! Can't wait! :)

We'll be with you! :D Pauly, a question about Quest. If you go do you HAVE to participate or can you elect to be an "innocent bystander?" :o:p I LOVE the colors of the Victory too! Would love to go on her again especially since she had upgrades since our last cruise on her.

[paulypride]

We'll be with you! :D Pauly, a question about Quest. If you go do you HAVE to participate or can you elect to be an "innocent bystander?" :o:p I LOVE the colors of the Victory too! Would love to go on her again especially since she had upgrades since our last cruise on her.

 

You can be a bystander, I was on this last cruise. But I have participated as well.

[Giantfan13]

Once again, love your revue.

 

One question, how were the seas going down?. Any storms along the way?

 

Cheers

 

Len