Carnival Pride 10-day cruise to (Pompeii), (Mt. Etna), Mykonos, Santorini, Athens, Olympia, Turkey, plus train around Italy

[IntrepidFromDC]

Time to milk Matilda.  I like big butts and I cannot lie. 

[IntrepidFromDC]

[luv2trvlnow]

25 minutes ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

Zero wait. I was 10 minutes late,  they whisked me around the crowd to an elevator to A deck past the herd at the stairs. PLATINUM does still have its perks. Also, the water taxi left about 2 minutes after I boarded.  Lucky morning. 

Great to hear.  Happy PLATINUM still has its perks.  I thought I heard most people are Platinum or Diamond on these European cruises.

[NCTribeFan]

No plans in Mykonos or Santorini.  Both new ports for me.  Got my hiking poles today.  At my age, I figured having a little added stability to walk around Ephesus and Pompeii would be a good idea.

 

They're tenders.  Don't fall for Carnival's dumb-down use of Water Shuttle.

 

New(ish) menus will be nice on a long sailing.

 

So, this is a Premier sailing?  Is the casino packed?  With so many port days, I've been a little concerned that I won't be able to donate as much to the casino as I usually do.  Well, there are all those sea days on the TA, but I need to get my Roulette entertainment in nightly.

[IntrepidFromDC]

It is a Premier sailing,  but it seems there are more non-Premier than Premier in the casino,  at least at my table.  That said,  I think half the people I asked said this is a free cruise but not Premier for them,  just like me. The casino is moderately busy. Closed at 230am last night and still open now at 215am.

[jimbo5544]

I know I asked about your pre cruise test experience, but have you met people who had to test in Italy pre cruise?  We are flying in 3 days prior. 

[IntrepidFromDC]

I haven't asked others but when I found out about Italy's 14-day mandatory quarantine I changed my flight from the 7th to the 9th, 2 days before my cruise on the 11th.

[IntrepidFromDC]

Various shots of things around the ship. Bonsai has been empty most of its' open hours, it seems.  The violin trio is very good. They captured my attention playing atop the atrium bar and I was mesmerized with some of their playing,  enjoyed all of it. I haven't seen a comedy show yet because the casino has been unusually giving so far. I have little doubt things will change.

[ninjacat123]

10 minutes ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

I haven't asked others but when I found out about Italy's 14-day mandatory quarantine I changed my flight from the 7th to the 9th, 2 days before my cruise on the 11th.

Sorry if I missed it in your prior posts, what does the Italy 14-day mandatory quarantine entail?  Why did this cause you to move your flight from the 7th to the 9th?  TIA!

[IntrepidFromDC]

Kusadisi I walked around old town, checked out the fort, a couple mosques and the grand bazaar. Next time I will visit the ruins but usually my first visit to any place for just one day I like to do a long walking tour or if it's a big city a HOHO bus with narrative. 

[IntrepidFromDC]

Just now, ninjacat123 said:

Sorry if I missed it in your prior posts, what does the Italy 14-day mandatory quarantine entail?  Why did this cause you to move your flight from the 7th to the 9th?  TIA!

Greece requires a negative antigen 2 days prior,  or negative PCR 3 days prior to cruising. Cruise left Rome Sept. 11. If I flew to Rome Sept. 7 I would have had to get tested in Italy and if I test positive quarantine at my expense in Italy for 14 days. So I moved the flight so I could test at local CVS to avoid quarantine. 

[IntrepidFromDC]

Shopping at Grand Bazaar 

[IntrepidFromDC]

[ninjacat123]

1 minute ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

Looks delicious!  What is the exchange rate? TIA!

[IntrepidFromDC]

Just now, IntrepidFromDC said:

$5 including 2 chais and service for all the food on the table. I have never had Turkish bread pizza,  it was great. Rice and salad had good flavor especially the tomatoes. 

[IntrepidFromDC]

Just now, ninjacat123 said:

Looks delicious!  What is the exchange rate? TIA!

I didn't have to worry,  they did the math for me, even did the currency exchange with no charge. It was good quantity and quality food for $5, the tea was strong like I like too.

[IntrepidFromDC]

[IntrepidFromDC]

More shopping 

[IntrepidFromDC]

[IntrepidFromDC]

Food... last night we had a fun group at the Heads-up Hold 'em table and I missed my 815 MDR res, looking at the time it was 905pm. So I risked Buffet. I tried a little of everything and everything was pretty eh... less than ok but not inedible...ok the hangar steak was inedible and the carved pork was dry and lacking flavor... but even the branzino and chickpeas were not very good and I thought how do you mess up chickpeas?  Today's lunch in Kusadisi was a welcome break from Carnival food.

[Funsince1983]

2 hours ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

Shopping at Grand Bazaar 

 

 

 

 

“Genuine Fake Watches” 💀💀💀

[IntrepidFromDC]

Tonight's MDR dinner was much better than the buffet dinner last night.  "Michigan Pastry" which I don't remember seeing on the menu before and roast turkey with stuffing. 

[NCTribeFan]

Enjoyed the violin trio on Pride in January.  Different group but I imagine much the same.

 

I'm taking eMed tests with me.  I could maybe get a PCR test the morning before I fly (10/8, sailing 10/11) but I'll be too stress with all the other things involved in the travel.  And even if I got the test then, I wouldn't have the results until I'm in Rome.

 

Pastry?  Looks like a pasty to me.  I've had Cornish, but Michigan?  How odd.  May have to give it a try.  Hard no on the buffet.  I'd def go to Bonsai if I missed MDR.  It was excellent last time on Pride.

[kwokpot]

4 minutes ago, NCTribeFan said:

I'd def go to Bonsai if I missed MDR.

The Deli or Pizzeria is an excellent alternative on the Pride. The food in those two places were consistently better than the buffet food. The OP's experience was the same as ours in May and June on the Pride.

[TxTeach79]

2 hours ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

Tonight's MDR dinner was much better than the buffet dinner last night.  "Michigan Pastry" which I don't remember seeing on the menu before and roast turkey with stuffing. 

 

Looks great! The Michigan Pasty was one of my favorite dishes on the Miracle in June. First time I'd seen it too!