Pride 3/2008 Passage to Portugal Crossing Travelogue

[PeaSea8ch]

It is March where the hint of spring tells us the Pride White Castle will make her leisurely sail across the Atlantic Ocean to Lisbon, Portugal and her European and Scandinavian fun-in-the-sun summer season.

 

The journey to Fort Lauderdale was a simple, early morning, uneventful, non-stop flight. I spent two days at the Embassy Suites and was pleased they had repaired all the hurricane damage from two years ago and have done some remodeling by adding Tommy Bahama furniture, flat screen TVs and more comfy beds. I had requested a room on a high floor with a Port Everglades view; so when I entered my room, I made a beeline for the window and found my view consisted of about 7 behemoth megaships and large freighters. A lot of the disembarking and embarking passengers were at the Embassy Suites. It was pretty much the same on Sunday as well. Fortunately on Monday only the RCCL Enchantment of the Seas, a ship I did not recognize and the Pride were in port. I was expecting the temperature to be in the mid 80’s and the humidity to be in the mid 90’s. It was cloudy both days, not too hot and the humidity was barely noticeable.

 

Embarkation was a breeze as no one was waiting in the terminal and were immediately escorted onboard. There were plenty of smiling wait staff to assist passengers carrying hand luggage. I met our Ms J at the curb when we disembarked our seperate transportation to the pier and we chatted all the way through the embarkation process. The Check-in formalities are efficiently handled by the Purser’s Office. I thought I had broken the camera when she took my mug shot but was relieved when it was determined to be a malfunction of the card feeder system.

 

After going through my embarkation day rituals of unpacking and getting my suite ship-shape, I met Uenus, my stewardess who presented me a canapé, which I immediately consumed and selected my Hermes soap. Then it was off to the roll call that really counts, the lifeboat muster drill. After that was completed, the Captain announced that we would be about 15 minutes late leaving. Sailaways are always great on Seabourn as the attentive bar staff makes sure everyone is well hydrated. The only suggestion I have is to follow the lead from Lady Legend and have the band set upon the Jacuzzi platform and play sailaway music there. They were at the Sky Bar and played so loud that you could barely hear yourself think much less think. I met our reporter extraordinaire GrannyLorr and her Hubby John.

 

When I went to the front of the ship to take some photos, my camera stated acting weird. It said that there was no memory card, I checked and it was there, removed it and installed it. When I turned the camera back on, there was something terribly wrong as there was no picture in the viewfinder, just squiggly lines and blurry shades of black and gray. I am not happy about that at all!!! However, Ms J offered to loan me her camera for the “important events” of the crossing.

 

Before dinner was Welcome Aboard at the Club where Cruise Director (CD) Tony Markey introduced the staff to enhance our cruising experience. Monica is the shore excursion manager and Crina is the Cruise Sales specialist. Tony and Assistant Cruise Directors (ACD) Matt Brown and Christine Markey gave a short demonstration by singing one song each told me this will be good.

 

I had the pleasure of dining at ACD Matt Brown's hosted table. I was pleased to learn he is a fellow Californian that grew up in Newport Beach, near where I live, then resided in Florida for awhile and now calls Puerto Vallarta home.

 

This is the first time I have been on a Seabourn Yacht since the last drydock. The expansion of the Sky Bar to the aft and relocation of the companionway down to Deck 7 really make the area much nicer to accommodate more passengers. There is still plenty of room for walkers and joggers to do their laps around Deck 8. The new light brown carpeting on the stairs and some of the public areas is nice. However, as others have posted in other threads, because of the lighter color, it may be more work for the cleaning crews to keep it looking spiffy. The upgraded high thread count linens are soft and silky. I haven’t been to the Veranda yet to comment on it’s bistro-like conversion but will provide my assessment in my next report.

 

Today’s Freeze Frame:

 

 

The Pride Has Arrived !!

 

Oh those lazy, hazy, crazy crossing days. On a Seabourn Yacht, life is good.

[Iamboatman]

Enjoy yourself...and good luck with your camera. Smooth seas and clear skies!:)

[crystal808]

Paul:

 

Thanks for "getting us started"! The best part is that, by time you arrive in Lisboa, we'll be almost ready to follow you across the pond in the Legend! :D

 

Good luck, and smooth sailing to you and the Pride-full cast!

 

Paul ;)

(the other one)

[CruisinMatt]

I'm assuming Martita et al made it to the Pride safely?

 

Thanks for the update!

[PittsburghJack]

Paul,

 

Lovely report and nice picture. Enjoy yourself. Mrs. Jack & Jack

[Host Dan]

Have a great time Paul! Looking forward to your travelogue!

 

Host Dan

[Seabourn-nail]

Thanks for your report Paul! I wish you and all others a fantastic crossing.

I also hope your camera will be alright and look forward to some pictures of the changes around the Sky Bar and the Veranda Café.

My advice though: Don't spend too much time on your computer; the voyage will be over before you know it. Don't feel obliged to keep us informed while you could have a much better time spending time outside overlooking the ocean etc. But I also know that you enjoy to post here. Find a good balance. And I do like your writing style a lot!

Marja

[PeaSea8ch]

Ahoy from the White Pride Castle! King Neptune is not cutting us any slack with respect to the motion of the ocean! Less than an hour out of FLL, it became windy and up came the swells to the tune of about 15 feet (4.5 metres). This kept up for about 20 hours and I did not sleep well due to the pitching and occasional rolling of the ship. I did learn from this that the flat screen TV, mounted on a “mast,” can swivel for viewing from the bed or the couch in a standard suite (cannot comment on the specially configured suites 100 and 101).

 

There are two guest lecturers onboard for this crossing: Ambassador Hart, whose diplomatic service has included most of the South American countries, the Muslim countries of Southeast Asia and Israel and Michael Freedland, a journalist turned serial biographer of show business legends. Ambassador Hart’s first lecture yesterday was titled “Who is Winning the War on Terror” provided a balanced assessment of the situation. His talk was very interesting and informative. I look forward to the balance of his lectures.

 

By the time of the Captain’s Reception, the sea had calmed a bit and off I went to the Magellan Lounge to meet him. I liked Captain Erik Anderssen and he has a sense of humor. In his welcome aboard speech he referred to the passengers as friends — I really liked that. There are 188 passengers from, I believe, 13 countries onboard and 165 crewmembers taking excellent care of us. He also told us something interesting in that Seabourn works with a firm of meteorologists that keep tabs on all weather conditions and advise ships on course corrections to minimize the impact of the weather and King Neptune’s hissy fits. We started sailing on a northeast course directly to Funchal but northeast of us is a low pressure system that is slowly moving east so we changed our course to a more easterly course and the winds and swells have subsided.

 

For dinner last night I was seated at Staff Captain Sigurd’s hosted table for dinner. He is a real hoot. He told us a funny story on how he came to Seabourn. He applied at Seabourn’s Oslo, Norway office. He wore a suit to the interview but he had four studs in his left ear and two in his right ear and long hair in the back. He figured that if they saw something they liked, then he would like working at Seabourn. He was hired and his first duty assignment was on the Legend with Captain Anderssen (and commanding the Pride as I type this). When he reported to the bridge, Captain Anderssen crossed his arms and scrutinized his new Second Officer. After a few moments, the Captain replied, “Those things in your ears have to go.” Yes Sir, Sigurd replied. He removed the studs from his ears, reported to the bridge in uniform and got along fine with the Captain thereafter.

 

For the evening show in the Magellan Lounge was international Flautist Gary Arbuthnot from Ireland with musing form both stage and screen. He also played some Irish Jigs but my favorite song of the evening was “Danny boy.”

 

The motion of the ocean picked up during the show and pretty much continued till about 2:30 in the morning when it was calm for several hours and I was able to get some sleep. Having to atone for consuming the Crème Bruleé en Parade, I was able to do about two hours of brisk deck walking this morning. King Neptune has been moody today with relatively calm seas followed by 13-foot swells and rocking and rolling but not as bad as yesterday as the low pressure system to our northwest is slightly weakening. My legs got a great workout and leaning forward or backwards or from side to side to accommodate the 20-knot winds. The sun was obscured by the clouds and was quite chilly and I had to walk faster to keep warm. The wind was whipping around the ship in different patterns around the Sky Bar and aft at the funnels that the winds would blow my sunglasses’ “PeeperKeepers” (a small cord to keep my glasses from falling off) over my head and down to my neck. Seeing the Bahamanian flag and the Seabourn house flag “straight out” and crackling in the breeze due to the wind made me happy, glad to be at sea and inspired me to keep going.

 

Next was Michael Freelland’s first lecture “Confessions of a Serial Biographer” where he included video clips from Al Jolson, Irving Berlin and the best dance scene Hollywood ever filmed, IMHO, Fred Astaire’s solo dance routine from “Puttin on the Ritz.” Too bad Hollywood doesn’t make movies like that anymore. I have sailed with him several times befoe and again look forward to his lectures or stories as he calls them.

 

The Trivia tournament is slowly gaining steam, momentum and competitiveness with harder questions worth more points. The team I am playing on is called The Hooligans and, after seven brutal crossing Trivia tournaments, I am enjoying my new role as team member as opposed to Scribe / Team Captain and making those difficult “executive decisions.” ;) :p

 

After Trivia, I had lunch in the Veranda and this crossing’s inaugural cheeseburger and fries. I concur with GrannyLorr that the fries are the best ever! I really like the new layout for the Veranda / “2” Restaurant. First the raked aft railing to maintain the ship’s forward and aft superstructure lines was replaced with a railing 90 degrees from the deck thereby freeing up more floor space. The family-style “picnic tables” have been replaced by round tables for 2, 4 and 6 passengers both inside and out. The look is more inviting and intimate. On the companionway down from Deck 8 to the Veranda, at the landing the railing was changed to an arc-shaped railing which looks nice and just below that and aft, a permanent shelf was installed as an outdoor drink station to provide better beverage service outdoors.

 

I just looked out of my window and noticed that the sea is calm and the winds have significantly been reduced. Must go outside for some more deck walking and to thank King Neptune for his generosity towards Lady Pride this afternoon. Then it will be time to get cleaned up for the evening’s activities. Artichoke soup, rack of veal and Mandy Muden’s comedy / magic show, amongst other things, are on the menu for this evening. :)

 

No Freeze Frames due to camera out of commission. :mad: I better post this before King Neptune has another mood swing!

 

Oh those lazy, hazy, crazy crossing days. On a Seabourn Yacht, life is good.

[ame1993]

:) Thanks for the travelogue! I am living vicariously through your reports and taking good notes on what or how I might need to adjust my packing for the Legend Crossing in April. How exciting!

 

I hope the seas calm and the sun shines upon you the rest of the way!

 

Anne

[PittsburghJack]

Paul,

 

Pity your camera is out of commission as Mrs. Jack and I do enjoy the photos.

 

Continue to enjoy your voyage. Jack:)

[freddie]

Paul -

 

We are enjoying your posts enormously. Please give our best to Jini (Ms. J.) with whom we hope to be sailing on the Legend in January through the Panama Canal. Also, please thank Grannie Lorr for her wonderful posts.

 

Cheers, Fred

[PeaSea8ch]

Time to answer the sea mail:

 

Matt: Miss Pinkie arrived safe and sound and is up to her usual antics. :p

 

"Freddie" Fred: I will convey yoiur best wishes to Ms J and GrannyLorr when I see them tomorrow.

[sunnydaze]

Hi Paul -

 

I really have enjoyed reading your travelogue and look forward to hearing more.

 

Have the seas calmed down at all? Are many people sick?

 

I don't think you could pay me enough to get me out in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean for 10 days!

 

I hope you are having a great time, and soon find sunshine + calm waters.

[PeaSea8ch]

Before I get started — sunnydaze: yes the weather has changed and the dining room seems to have more empty chairs than normal. However, the alternate restaurant "2" is very popular and on Seabourn passengers can order from the restaurnant menu and have it delivered in courses to your suite duriung dining room hours. Some passengers I know think they may have had a "bug" when they embarked. If you knew how wonderful the Seabourn pampering experience really is, you would book a crossing. ;) Now on to my next installment ...

 

Ahoy from the White Pride Castle! King Neptune is giving all Pride-ite crossers a definite sea-legs workout with respect to the motion of the ocean! Yesterday we were rocking and rolling and it was overcast and cloudy and a bit on the cool side. Attendance to the various shipboard venues has been reduced due to vessel movement discomfort. The unexpected pitching up and down or rolling form side to side or both have made it a bit more difficult to get around the ship. Even something as simple as entering the code number on the keypad to lock / unlock the in-suite safe took 3 to 4 tries to get it right. (Since I do not drink, I was not alcohol impaired.)

 

However, King Neptune has smiled upon Lady Pride today and rewarded us with calm seas, virtually no wind and clear to partially cloudy but sunny skies today which meant several passengers were walking the decks with me and the bathing suits of the sun worshippers dotted the deck chairs on both Decks 7 and 8.

 

Ever since reading GrannyLorr’s corned beef hash review, I have been itching to get onboard and give it a try. I am no hash expert or aficionado but I love corned beef; however, corned beef hash was not a family staple while growing up. I debated having a poached egg on top of it but sine I was not all that hungry, I ordered it “plain.” It was Ok but it did not ring my bell or curl my toes under. A few hours later while deck walking, I compared notes with another passenger who always has a poached egg on it. I agree, the hash would taste better with a poached egg on it but I won’t be running to Maitré d Felipe and making a “standing order.”

 

Calm seas or the bad hair days of King Neptune has not affected the attendance of the Trivia Tournament! :eek: The competition is now really heating up as the point values of the questions, as well as the difficulty, are increasing. Today “The Hooligans” had a very good round and are firmly in third place. However, the Trivia standings are about as volatile as the stock market so we have to maintain our performance.

 

After the Trivia competition today, Pride-ite birthday crossers Queen A and Mr. D both received a rousing chorus of “Happy Birthday” from the applauding Trivia contingent.

 

Last night I dined at Ambassador Hart and his lovely wife’s hosted table. He shared that he studied economics and political science while pursuing a law degree and decided sometime later that he did not want to be a lawyer so he changed course and opted for a career in the Diplomatic Corps. It was a wonderful dinner and the mix of passengers made for a most enjoyable time. Because there sere so many empty seats and tables, the normal din in the Restaurant, aided by the low ceiling, was not present and the “west and east Berlin” sides of the table (as I often say) could have conversations with each other and that added to the pleasure of the evening.

 

Tonight I dined at the hosted table of flautist Gary Arbuthnot. He is an excellent table host and was able to draw conversation out of us in the awkward first few minutes. We had a great table and, after the introductions, the conversation flowed freely around the table and the almost 2.5 hour dinner went by like a flash. After dinner, Off to the Magellan Lounge for CD Tony Markey’s “All Dressed Up And Nowhere To Go” show and his vocal stylings. This was the first time I saw him perform and enjoyed the show.

 

Crossing clock advancement number 2 of 5 has been completed. :(

 

Oh those lazy, hazy, crazy crossing days. On a Seabourn Yacht, life is good. :)

[PeaSea8ch]

King Neptune has smiled upon Lady Pride and rewarded us with calm seas and hot, sunny skies the last two days! The cool breeze coupled with the sun and decks that are not pitching and rolling make deck walking a pleasure. The pride-ite sun worshippers are very happy as well as lunch and dinner in the Veranda / “2” restaurant and Sky Grill are in full swing. It appears that Captain Anderssen has turned the Pride into a time machine as I have felt, for the last two days, that it was November and I am on the Legend westbound Trans-Atlantic (based on sea conditions and weather).

 

Ambassador Hart’s lectures continue to be interesting and thought provoking; while Michael Freedland shared little-known facts about the Hollywood moguls and the mega stars they produced in his talks. The shows have been great in the Magellan Lounge.

 

The food and service have been exceptional! In the Veranda, for example, a waiter always opens the door for me and, the moment I turn around from the self-service buffet (you can also order from the menu at your table) with a saucer with a cookie, a waiter is there to carry it to my table for me. In the constellation Lounge during Trivia, our popcorn is replenished without asking (we eat a lot of popcorn) and with head down and thinking hard for answers, drink refills appear out of thin air. We also have had the privilege of having 2 executive chefs, Cheffys Markus and Lembrecht. Yum, yum!!

 

Two days ago, select Pride-ite crossers were invited to McGregor Black’s suite for a Glad in PLAID pajama morning social get-together. Queen A and her Lady in Waiting reigned over the festivities. Fun, frolic and phooey ensued and a grand time was had by all those who attended. McGregor Black graciously released us to change clothes and report to Trivia. Photos will be posted in due time.

 

Easter Sunday. All over the ship there were chocolate bunnies, colored hared-boiled eggs, chocolate eggs and, of course, jelly beans. When I returned from breakfast, an Easter “basket” on a service plate was on my coffee table right next to Helene, the swan made from a couple of towels by Venus my sweet suite stewardess. After dinner, we were treated to a wonderful variety show on the Magellan Lounge starring CD Tony and ACDs Christine and Matt. Magician Mandy was in the unusual role of Mistress of Ceremonies.

 

Every morning I have turned on my camera to see if it was working. The morning of the Glad in PLAID social, my camera seemed to have “fixed itself!”

 

Today’s Freeze Frames:

 

 

Helene the Swan and the Easter Bunny

 

 

Sky Bar Companionway Relocation

 

 

Sky Bar Expansion

 

 

Veranda Expansion

 

 

Veranda Outdoor Drink Station

 

Oh those lazy, hazy, crazy crossing days. On a Seabourn Yacht, life is good. :)

[CruisinMatt]

Thanks for the pics of the Sky Bar expansion and the Verandah changes. Looks great!

 

Glad to hear the weather is better!!

[crystal808]

Yes, thanks for the "upgrade" pictures! (It's a curious thing, having your camera "resurrected" on Easter Eve! :eek: ;) )

 

Here's hoping the weather remains mild, and the seas calm for the Pride Castle sojourners!

 

A happy Eastertide to all aboard!

 

Paul :)

[LaPaloma]

Enjoyed the pictures. Just a question..I had thought that one stairway would be closed and the other left as was..the new concept of the stairway coming down the center...seems to come out into the lounge area quite a bit. Does it cut down very much on the lounge area? Thanks..Lola

[Lefty Bob]

Paul,

Thanks for the pictures. I think it is an improvement. Anyone know when Legend is due to be changed?

 

LB

[CruisinMatt]

Paul,

Thanks for the pictures. I think it is an improvement. Anyone know when Legend is due to be changed?

 

LB

 

Right after the 4/6 crossing, which I am on! :D

[Seabourn-nail]

Thank you for the great pictures Paul! I can't wait to see it myself, but I have to, because first I will have to sail on the "old" Legend............ !!!

Marja

[tayl]

Enjoying your travelogue and pictures. Looking forward to your future installments. Thanks for letting me cruise along.;)

[Lefty Bob]

Marja,

Maybe you can save Seabourn some money and do some of the wrecking yourself while crossing. Just don't scuttle. Have a great trip.

 

LB

[Seabourn-nail]

Marja,

Maybe you can save Seabourn some money and do some of the wrecking yourself while crossing. Just don't scuttle. Have a great trip.

 

LB

 

I've already been paintng once, but I have to be careful with my "Seabourn nail", so I'm afraid that would be all I could do!

Marja

[GrannyLorr]

 

Two days ago, select Pride-ite crossers were invited to McGregor Black’s suite for a Glad in PLAID pajama morning social get-together. Queen A and her Lady in Waiting reigned over the festivities. Fun, frolic and phooey ensued and a grand time was had by all those who attended. McGregor Black graciously released us to change clothes and report to Trivia. Photos will be posted in due time.

 

Guess Granny aint in the "select" crowd!! :( Anyone need any unused specially made plaid outfits??:rolleyes: