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

[IntrepidFromDC]

On 9/13/2022 at 12:59 AM, NCTribeFan said:

This is helping me get (even more) excited about my B2B2B coming up in just under a month.  I saw most of the sites in Rome while on a private tour on the Vista inaugural.  But didn't get to see the ruins.  That's my plan for 10/10 - to see the Colosseum and the Forum.

 

I believe I asked this of someone who sailed earlier this summer from Dover - do they have any loungers out on the Promenade deck?  I don't think I've ever seen a ship that had absolutely NO seating out there.  Although Carnival is all about FUN FUN FUN, sometimes I just want to sit somewhere quiet with a book and read and/or look at the water.  Being on the ship for 32 days, and having interior cabins, it would be nice to have somewhere to retreat with no crowds or blaring bad pop music.

 

Sure hope those roulette wheels are going to be nice to me this trip. 😁

I went back to double check for you in case they moved loungers and chairs there after the first day, but sorry...

[IntrepidFromDC]

[IntrepidFromDC]

I don't think I posted these pics of Kusadisi. Last pic is children in the schoolyard at recess. 

[IntrepidFromDC]

3 hours ago, NCTribeFan said:

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.

I double checked the menu and you are correct. I didn't know a pasty was something you could eat, I thought it was - well, you know.  Mea Culpa to everyone from Michigan and to all the pasties out there.

[Roscoe13]

2 hours ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

I double checked the menu and you are correct. I didn't know a pasty was something you could eat, I thought it was - well, you know.  Mea Culpa to everyone from Michigan and to all the pasties out there.

I have viewed, from very far, pastys. Never consumed them though...

From the state that brought you the Edsel. Who knew?

[NCTribeFan]

Well, my ex is English.  Have had pasties many times in England.  No idea why that one is a Michigan pasty but I'll try it.

 

So disappointing about no loungers on the Promenade deck. Seriously, have never seen cruise ships that didn't have them out there.  

 

I'm going to request a "sensory bag" to see if the noise-cancelling headphones make it so I can sit somewhere and block out the noise.  That's my issue with the other areas.  Background noise makes me anxious and that's not how I want to be on a cruise.

[IntrepidFromDC]

My first trip to breakfast buffet was a success because the bacon was not on bacation. I took the tram up and walked down after exploring Thira/Fira (the Greeks call it both, not Santorini). I would definitely do Santorini again from a cruise,  but I would take the speedboat to Oia and the bus back to Thira. Apparently Oia is larger and more beautiful.  At least that's what the guys selling the $30 round trip tickets said while we were waiting in the long, 40 minute line to board the tram. In the sun.

[IntrepidFromDC]

On the water taxi

[IntrepidFromDC]

Tram, in line,  getting ready to board, view, after getting off

[IntrepidFromDC]

Beautiful whitewashed buildings with many great views of the deep blue water,  and more of those pink flowering trees. I don't know what they are but they're everywhere and bloom several times a year.  Their bark is like Crape Myrtle..

[IntrepidFromDC]

I really wanted a genuine Greek lamb gyro. I tried 7 places,  they all had 3 kinds, chicken,  pork and chicken & bacon. Just no escaping the golden arches.

[IntrepidFromDC]

The homeless problem in Santorini is different than DC.

[IntrepidFromDC]

Pride

[IntrepidFromDC]

[IntrepidFromDC]

[IntrepidFromDC]

You can take the tram back down,or you can walk or ride a donkey down the fair-condition cobblestone switchbacks.  I walked. The donkey poop was everywhere but what really made my eyes water was the smell of ammoni from their pee.

[IntrepidFromDC]

The bottom of the switchbacks empties right to the Carnival tent so you know you are at the right place to catch the water taxi back to ship.  It was a fun day although I didn't find my lamb gyro, Oia next time. 

[ninjacat123]

1 hour ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

The bottom of the switchbacks empties right to the Carnival tent so you know you are at the right place to catch the water taxi back to ship.  It was a fun day although I didn't find my lamb gyro, Oia next time. 

If you took the $30 roundtrip speedboat to Oia, is there a tram there to get to Oia?

PS Great pics!!

PPS If the pic of Pride through the cafe tables (Iriana Cafe?) was open, I'd want to have lunch there!

Edited September 16, 2022 by ninjacat123

[kwokpot]

21 minutes ago, ninjacat123 said:

If you took the $30 roundtrip speedboat to Oia, is there a tram there to get to Oia?

There's a bus from Fira to Oia and the same bus back from Oia to Fira.

https://santorinisecrets.com/santorini-bus-schedule/

Edited September 16, 2022 by kwokpot

[kwokpot]

1 hour ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

Beautiful whitewashed buildings with many great views of the deep blue water,  and more of those pink flowering trees. I don't know what they are but they're everywhere and bloom several times a year.  Their bark is like Crape Myrtle..

It's Bougainvillea. You'll find it all over the world, Mexico is also famous for it.

https://insightsgreece.com/growing-bougainvillea-greece-cherished-flower/

[IntrepidFromDC]

1 hour ago, ninjacat123 said:

If you took the $30 roundtrip speedboat to Oia, is there a tram there to get to Oia?

PS Great pics!!

PPS If the pic of Pride through the cafe tables (Iriana Cafe?) was open, I'd want to have lunch there!

I went to Iriana because it's rated #1 in Santorini on TripAdvisor. After my rare disappointment with one top TA restaurant the other day,  I went to the host to ask to look at the menu but actually was more focused on looking at the food on the tables. What I mostly saw was doughy-looking pizza, and there was no fresh octopus or gyros on the menu despite the waterfront venue. So I opted for lobster roll back on the ship. The $30 ticket included speedboat to Oia, bus to top, then you walk the town at leisure,  then a "private van" takes you to the top of Thira where you have more time to explore/ shop before heading back down the switchbacks or tram. I will definitely do that next time Carnival drops me off at the port. Santorini is right up there with my favorite Caribbean islands,  St Maarten,  St. Kitts and Curacao. 

[IntrepidFromDC]

Sailaway

 

Edited September 16, 2022 by IntrepidFromDC

[IntrepidFromDC]

Pride 

 

 

Edited September 16, 2022 by IntrepidFromDC

[IntrepidFromDC]

I was surprised to encounter a line at Seafood Corner, and even more surprised that the line persisted the entire time I ate my disappointing lobster rolls and oily no-potato tasting fries. Even Old Bay couldn't rescue them.  The lobster rolls lacked lobster meat quantity and quality,  see pics...

[IntrepidFromDC]

Off to the casino to return some of the money they so generously lent me so far. Two of the regulars at our Hold'em table have hit quads twice and one is me.😁 🏴‍☠️

 

Then onto Love And Marriage  where I'll be cheering for Preston and Ashton, a fun newlywed couple on their honeymoon who I sat with on the train from Rome.  Sometimes you meet the nicest,  fun people while traveling!