Time for a 12 day Scandinavian cruise out of Dover om the Carnival Pride

[chengkp75]

10 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

As the ship just had a dry dock, perhaps they should skip the testing phase. Or put the old parts back in. Whatever it takes.

Doesn't work that way.  Any repair needs to be tested.  And, who knows if the failure happened to parts that were installed in the dry dock.  Everyone seems to think that "propulsion" or "azipod" is a single entity or part that can be plugged in.  Just like your car, it has thousands of parts, any one of which can fail at any time.

[chengkp75]

10 hours ago, jsglow said:

But we did hear in the evening letter to pax that 'parts were on the way'.  That's a heck of a lot better than 'parts are being manufactured'. Obviously none of us know.

 

In your professional judgement, do you think they have it fully diagnosed by now?  There is world-wide experience with these things 'breaking'.

Obviously, they have the main failure identified, but there could always be another problem hidden because the identified problem does not allow the system to use the next failed component.  Not saying that will happen, but it could.

[chengkp75]

10 hours ago, nybumpkin said:

I have to admit to a certain level of curiosity as to (a) what was done to the azipod in drydock and (b) if relevant after answering (a), what kind of warranty was given on the work done. Could have an impact as to who ultimately is on the hook for this mess. Oh, wait, this lawyer retired last year.🙄

And, again, I say that "azipod" is not one part.  No one out here will know what failed this time, and whether anything was done to this item or system in dry dock.  As the azimuthing system is internal to the ship, it would not normally fall within a dry dock plan, and would be on the ship's planned maintenance schedule, being maintained continually, according to the manufacturer's maintenance schedule.  What is typically done for azipods during a dry docking is to replace the sub-assembly that includes the propeller, shaft, seals, bearings, that bolts to the motor in the pod.  These come as rebuilt units from the manufacturer.  Maritime industry has very little in the way of warranties, but typically something like this, if it was the unit that was renewed that failed, there would be a one year warranty on it.

[chengkp75]

9 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

I don't know that anything was done to the azipods, but since the ship was in an extended dry dock, surely they were inspected. Or should have been.

Of course work was done (inspection, maintenance) on the azipods.  That is why the ship is in dry dock, not the hotel repairs.  Even a "not extended" dry dock requires this.  And, again, just like when your car goes in for manufacturer's recommended maintenance, they don't replace the entire engine every time, so there is no certainty that anything done or not done in dry dock led to this failure.

[jsglow]

5 hours ago, Joanne G. said:

Thanks to all of you who have offered support and information. These are my first solo cruises, and stressful circumstances can seem more stressful when alone.  Cruise Critic friends make me feel less alone. 😊 I am in touch with family and friends, but with the exception of my sister (many times my cabin mate), they don’t know anything about cruising and can’t offer the same support as fellow CC people.   
 

I’m up early and will take care of the charter flight situation.  Then I will relax for the rest of the day - and hopefully the rest of the cruise.  

So very happy for you Joanne! It'll be a great story to tell down the road. Enjoy these next couple days 'chillin', the modestly abbreviated cruise upcoming, and the $500 OBC they're giving everyone who makes it onboard. Think of that like Free Cheers! for the week. Enjoy, and Go Pack Go! 😁 

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

I'm guessing that most everything is closed onboard (shops, casino, most bars, etc)? 

 

 

 

[jimbo5544]

19 minutes ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

I'm guessing that most everything is closed onboard (shops, casino, most bars, etc)? 

 

 

 

Yes, I had thought that because no o e could get off or on, they would relax rhe rules but…..

[jimbo5544]

At Heathrow could not finagle the girls into the sky lounge.  The girls wore my friend out

[jimbo5544]

They are still going strong 

[BlerkOne]

4 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

Doesn't work that way.  Any repair needs to be tested.  And, who knows if the failure happened to parts that were installed in the dry dock.  Everyone seems to think that "propulsion" or "azipod" is a single entity or part that can be plugged in.  Just like your car, it has thousands of parts, any one of which can fail at any time.

Of course it doesn't.  But hopefully there will be inspectors inspecting the inspectors after the ship is repaired.

[BlerkOne]

4 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

Of course work was done (inspection, maintenance) on the azipods.  That is why the ship is in dry dock, not the hotel repairs.  Even a "not extended" dry dock requires this.  And, again, just like when your car goes in for manufacturer's recommended maintenance, they don't replace the entire engine every time, so there is no certainty that anything done or not done in dry dock led to this failure.

No certainty that the dry dock didn't in some way contribute. If that was the case, hopefully this time they will take the time to do it right.

[chengkp75]

19 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

No certainty that the dry dock didn't in some way contribute. If that was the case, hopefully this time they will take the time to do it right.

So, you think that during an "extended" dry dock period, they didn't take the time to do it right, but during a rushed emergency repair they will, and that "the time to do it right" is only a couple of days, not the weeks they had.  Guess they sat around playing cards during dry dock.

[chengkp75]

19 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

Of course it doesn't.  But hopefully there will be inspectors inspecting the inspectors after the ship is repaired.

This would be required only if the original maintenance in dry dock was to blame.  Does your mechanic ask two other guys to check his work on your car?  And, anyway, my response was to your post suggesting that they skip the inspection altogether after this repair, since they inspected it during dry dock.

Edited July 22, 2023 by chengkp75

[jimbo5544]

Made it back to my daughters house at around midnight (local time).  Just to kind of flow with the rest of things this trip, customs at JFK was a nightmare, two customs agents handling US Citizens in Terminal 4.  We have Global Entry, but two grand daughters do not.  Took 75 minutes to get thru and then 1 1/2 hour ride….    Will write a close out summary today.

[kdr69]

Happy that you made it home safe and sound.  Cant wait to follow your next adventure at sea.

[jimbo5544]

1 minute ago, kdr69 said:

Happy that you made it home safe and sound.  Cant wait to follow your next adventure at sea.

LOL, hopefully a little “less” adventure next time.  Legend is next up to Greenland.in September.  Sorry we did not get a chance to meet up.  Maybe in the future.

[paul914]

Good to see Pride has left Kiel and is making 19 knots on its way back to Dover.  Been watching this as I have a booking that departs on 20 August

[jimbo5544]

24 minutes ago, paul914 said:

Good to see Pride has left Kiel and is making 19 knots on its way back to Dover.  Been watching this as I have a booking that departs on 20 August

That is great news.

[kdr69]

6 hours ago, paul914 said:

Good to see Pride has left Kiel and is making 19 knots on its way back to Dover.  Been watching this as I have a booking that departs on 20 August

Well deja vu so do i...😁

[jimbo5544]

So I took a day off to re-sync back to local time.  That said, it is time to close this baby out.  We had a fantastic cruise.  Totally enjoyed the entire trip (sans breakdown).  Let’s start with the ship.  The Pride just came out of a 3 week refurb.  New livery looks great, minimal other features.  For an old gal, she looked pretty good to us.  This was our seventh time on her (the most of any Carnival ship for us) and we have sailed on her from Dover, Baltimore, Tampa, Port Canaveral and Long Beach.

 

This class of ship is perfect for this itinerary.  We were totally sold out, but to be honest, we never felt crowded.  Embark was easy peasey, and debark prob would have been as well…. Bu we will never know.

 

The crew was great, we have never been disappointed in the people who work for Carnival, and that is saying a lot.  This was our 52nd cruise on a Carnival ship and they did not disappoint.  Our cabin steward was Juan and he was there when we needed him and not when we did not.  

 

Our wait staff was outstanding, possibly the best we have ever had.  We had a table for 12 to the left when entering the dining room a little to center along the window.  Never had a issue and they over achieved, no other way to say it. 

[jimbo5544]

There was an interesting mix of clients, more Europeans than we have ever experienced in the past, which was fine and over 250+ kids which was also more than I thought would be on the ship.  

 

It was hard to estimate and I usually ask but never got the chance how many Diamonds and Plats there were, but the Diamond luncheon had more people than I expected.  We did have the new Diamond luncheon menu (meant to take a pic, but forgot) and I loved it, the filet was outstanding.

 

We have had Frankie before as a CD, he is def not your stereotypical CD, but he did a really good job, especially when the fish hit the crying pan the last two days (one for us…).  Whether by his choice or Carnival’s he has been on the Pride a while and I sensed the Legend as well, but really do not know.   

[jimbo5544]

Entertainment. The band that played Reg Frog was good, and interesting five member band.  Female lead singer had a good voice, nice ranger and the lead guitarist added additional vocals (forgot the name already…..sensed they were a brit band, but again not sure).  Bass player was just base as was drummer, both good but not standout.  The keyboard seemed to be the guy in charge, based upon his action of songs during the set, and he was the moist talented musician of the group, really good keyboard player.  They played a mix and this was probably an older crowd than they usually do, the female lead seemed to come alive when people got up and danced.

 

Main shows, average is the way I would describe them, the shows were good, typical for a Carnival cruise.  One member (the male lead vocalist was leaving at end of cruise to join the Jubilee team (not sure where) to start the process of that ships entertainment.  The rest were typical Carnival entertainment, good vocals and mix, we always enjoy the mix.

[jimbo5544]

The ports:  OUTSTANDING. I will be honest, we originally booked this for the ports, but ESPECIALLY for St Petersburg.  When that port was dropped, half of out group cancelled the cruise.  We were very disappointed as well.  All that said, I LOVED the ports.  I really do not have the desire to do b2b2b, but this would have been the time to do it.  The people we ran into getting off when we boarded LOVED the previous Norway cruise and we had seriously considered the following of the UK.  Here is the sales pitch, if ANY of these are in your wheel house of desired ports….. DO it.  I promise you would not be disappointed.

[jimbo5544]

It certainly did not end the way we wanted (who would want that), but we loved it.  Cannot say it enough.  Europe is hopping, lots of people EVERYWHERE.

 

Next up for us is the Legend out of Baltimore to Greenland in September.  Hope it can match this one.  Another bucket list cruise (and more to follow…).  

 

Adios for now….

[illinoisfive]

Thank you for your wonderful review! You always seem to take us followers along with you!