--- CRUISE 2002 - Carnival Pride ---

Cruise the Eastern Caribbean - November 30 through December 7, 2002

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This cruise had been planned for a long time. It was originally suggested to us by Kathy and Jim, neighbors here in The Plantation.  We liked the plan and booked ourselves on along with four other couples from "The Plantation. " We ended up with 6 couples sitting at the same table for dinner.  They were Kathy and Jim, Jackie and Neil, Jane and Bill, Claudia and Omar, Doris and Don, and of course. Linda and me.

Saturday November 30, 2002 - Beginning the trip - Port Canaveral

We dropped Duncan off at Bonnie’s house at 11 AM and picked up Jackie and Neil at 11:30. We went to the Tara for lunch and then hit the road - headed for Port Canaveral. We arrived about 1:45 and processed through and onto the ship smooth as silk.  

We quickly took the elevator up to the Verandah Deck, room 7198 and started settling in. We met with Jackie and Neil topside on the Sun Deck, deck 10, and explored for a while. Soon it was time for muster and that went without a hitch. Next - some more wandering around the ship to get our bearings.  Linda headed down to a lecture in The Taj Mahal and I went aft to supervise our leaving the dock. We had a great view of Cape Canaveral as we left.  Soon we were out to sea and headed for the Bahamas. 

We puttered around in our room - Linda unpacked some and then it was time for our first dinner. All 12 that are traveling together from the Plantation gathered and got seated at the same table (Table 107, 1st level, Deck 2). Excellent coordination by our Cruise Brother’s Travel Agent. Our waiter is Cenk from Turkey and his Assistant is Sorin from Romania. The meal was excellent - all 5 courses and the service was excellent also. 

After dinner, we strolled around with Jackie and Neil and then headed back to our room. Linda finished unpacking while I supervised. The ship doesn’t give statistics on the TV - so all I can say is we are moving south at a good clip.

Sunday December 1, 2002 - The Bahamas

I was up and at'em at 5. I headed up to the Mermaid’s Grill - aft deck 9, for coffee and some reading.  There was lots of coffee available - very strong.  Only a few others up and about so early.  Soon the east started getting bright and I went on up a deck to watch the sunrise and supervise our docking in Nassau.  Jackie and Neil were up about walking on The Sun Deck 10.  I got more coffee and headed down to our room.  Linda was up and getting ready to go.  We were all docked and the gangplank down by 7:30. 

Next, we went down to The Normandie for breakfast.  We had a good one and then headed off The Pride.  Carnival has their own private island here (Salt Cay), but it’s a 40-minute ferry ride so we passed.  We went downtown and wandered around - including a stroll through the Straw Market.  We went with Jackie and Neil and had some fun and laughs along the way. 

Back to the ship and up to the Mermaid Grill on Deck 9 for lunch.  The buffet arrangement up there is very nice.  It’s a large area with several different stations that have various kinds of food.  It avoids long lines and congestion once you have it figured out.  Nice meal.  We all strolled around for a bit and then back to our room.  I spent the afternoon in the room, reading, watching football and maybe closed my eyes for a short time.  Linda puttered around and then went for a massage. 

Come 3:30and it was time to leave Nassau.  Kathy and Jim were in the room right beside us and we all helped supervise the departure from our balconies. 

The weather today was outstanding.  Clear and about 80 degrees.  Perfect. 

We got ready and headed down to The Normandie for dinner. Everyone was there and we had a great meal. The waiters and assistants sang an Italian song to us tonight. A nice touch. The Maitre’d said there are 54 countries represented by the wait staff. 

After dinner, we again strolled a bit, found some of our photos in the Photo Gallery and then went to the Taj Mahal to get seated for the show. Played a one game for $1000 Bingo (no winners from our group) and the show was on. An illusionist named “Justin Illusion” and a comedian - Anthony Acosta. They were both only OK. 

I headed back to 7198 and Linda went off with Jackie and Neil for the remainder of the evening. She won $50 on the slots.

Monday December 2, 2002, -- At Sea

I was up about 6 AM. Headed upstairs in time to catch the sunrise at 6:16. Coffee and read “Red Rabbit” until Linda came up about 7:45. We met with Jackie and Neil and went to The Normandie for breakfast, then - we all split up. Linda to check-out the ship's shops I went back to our room. Next scheduled meeting is 11:45 for lunch. 

Linda has come down with a bad head/chest cold. She is taking drugs - but they aren’t helping a lot. We went down for lunch in The Normandie (not open seating - sit at 107). There were only the four of us there. Great three course lunch. Linda and I went back to our cabin and relaxed for the afternoon. Watched the movie John Q on the ship’s movie channel.  

Soon it was time for the first formal night - meet the captain. We went with Jackie and Neil to the reception in the Taj Mahal. They served free drinks and had nice music - but no Captain. Next - off to dinner. A great menu with several entrees that looked good to me - so I went with the stuffed quail. A great meal and tonight the service staff did a little dance for us. Very nice dinner. 

Then - to the Taj Mahal for the show. The Captain and his staff did show up here. The show was a production number with many dancers, a gal and guy singer, special effects, lights and smoke and fireworks. An excellent show. 

We headed back to 7198 and made an early night of it. 

 

Tuesday December 3, 2002 -- St.  Thomas 

We arrived right on schedule and I assisted in the docking from Deck 10. The Celebrity Century, Princess Dawn and Holland America Zaandam are in also. Linda was up at 7:30 when I came to the cabin with coffee. Linda’s cold is still with her. We went to breakfast and then went through a new security screening. Every passenger had to show up at the Taj Mahal and verify that they were who they were supposed to be (a passport or birth certificate with photo ID).

Off the ship about 9:30 - Linda went to the Havensight Mall and I headed for the tram. I had a fun trip up to the top of Paradise Point. There were some great views and I took lots of photos. Back to the ship at 11 and Linda was back soon after. Weather is perfect. 

We went to lunch up in the Mermaid’s Cafe. Lots of choices and all very good. Finished with an ice cream out of an help yourself area. We spent the afternoon in the cabin - resting. 

Dinner at 5:45 in The Normandie. Another excellent meal. We wandered around with Jackie and Neil for a while and then tried several seats in the balcony until we found some we liked. The show tonight was Manuel Zuniga - The World’s Fastest Juggler. He was very good - a juggler and an entertainer. Then there was Tia Thompson - singer and comedian. She was OK - but not above average. 

To bed. . . .

Wednesday December 4, 2002 -- St Maarten (St.  Martin) -- I was up at 5 and saw the sunrise as we approached St.  Maarten. There were three ships in front of us, the Celebrity Century and Sea Princess were already at the dock and the Zaandam was tied out and ready to tender in. Later, another Carnival ship tied up behind us. A really busy day for St.  Maarten. 

I brought coffee down to Linda at 7:15 and watched us complete docking as she woke up. Jim next door and I chatted a little out on the balconies. He hit a slot machine last night for $$. Everyone seems to be winning. 

Went to The Normandie for a light breakfast with Jackie and Neil and then we all walked into the shopping area. Not far up the main shopping street, Linda found the linen shop she wanted and we stayed there. Jackie and Neil went on. I was out in the street waiting, when Evie and Joe (neighbors from Waterbridge Ct who are cruising on The Zaandam this week) showed up out of the crowd. It was like a grand reunion. Soon Jackie and Neil came back and we compared notes in the middle of the crowd. Linda finished up her linen shopping having bought three table cloths and matching napkins. 

Back to the boat, a little rest and up to The Mermaid Cafe for a light lunch at 11. Next - out to the dock for our See and Sea Tour. The bus was old, cramped and the AC didn’t work very well. It was a long drive but the driver was interesting and showed us the sights. We drove from the Dutch side to the French side, into Marigot. There we boarded a “semi-submerged boat” and went out and cruised around the reef. Very interesting views from under the water – while staying dry. Back to the ship with a couple of stops along the way. The bus was still very uncomfortable. 

Time to shower and then R&R for an hour or so - then down to The Normandie, Table 107, for dinner. Another great meal with the filet mignon being the top choice, I had veal parmigian - it was outstanding. We wandered around a little and then watched some big band in the Taj Mahal.  Soon it was time for “Game Shows,” I left Linda, Jackie and Neil to play. I went back to 7198 to update the journal and watch some TV. We now have 60 hours of cruising to get back to Port Canaveral on Saturday morning. 

Thursday December 5, 2002, At Sea -- I was up at 5 and on Deck 9 to read, watch the sunrise and have some coffee. I did all that until 7:15 when I took some coffee down to 7198 for Linda. We had coffee and then went to breakfast with Jackie and Neil in The Normandie. Took a stroll around the Promenade and then all retired to various places for quiet time - I read more of Tom Clancy’s Red Rabbit. 

Soon - time for lunch. Same plan, we met Jackie and Neil and went to The Normandie. Good lunch. Jackie and Neil went off to the art auction and we R&R’d again.

Dinner time was next. Tonight was a formal night and everyone arrived for dinner looking very dapper. A nice dinner - prime rib was the choice of the day. We went for a walk on the Promenade deck, the Casino and then into the Taj Mahal and waited for the show. Tonight was another production number called “Vroom.” The were lots of showgirls (some couldn't resist me) and it combined live singing, dancing and such with a movie on a translucent screen. Excellent. . . 

I headed for 7198 and the Ladies (Jackie and Linda) went off to watch Karaoke

Friday, December 6, 2002, At Sea --. I slept right till 6 and then went up to Deck 9 for the sunrise and coffee. Nice morning - but a little cloudy. I brought Linda coffee at 7:15 and we headed for breakfast with Jackie and Neil at 8. We wandered around a while admiring the Christmas decorations that are everywhere you look. Next - to the Taj Mahal for Bingo - winner gets a free cruise. This was a one game single card - $10, three for $20, one winner only. Two people called Bingo at the same time. They drew for the winner - highest number won the cruise.

Next was the debarkation talk. Nothing new here - just preparing everyone for tomorrow. 

Back to the cabin and Linda started the packing - Soon Linda was off for a regular Bingo game. I read and R&R’d. No luck at Bingo - all week. We all (Jackie and Neil) gathered in the Taj Mahal for the Christmas Show. It was very well done - it even included all the children on the ship singing Christmas songs. Very good show. Hung around a little and then it was time for our last supper. Another great meal and we said good-bye to Cheng and Sorin. 

Back to the room and Linda continued packing while I filled out the inevitable paperwork. Linda’s cold has not improved all week - she has a cough that won’t quit. Back down to the Taj Mahal for some big band music. I came back upstairs and worked on this tome and read. We are nearing the Florida Peninsular. 

Saturday, December 7, 2002, -- Coming Home, Up and at’em at 5:30. We were already entering Port Canaveral by the time I got on deck. The temperature is noticeably cooler. I read for a while and then met up with Linda, Jackie and Neil. We had our breakfast in the Mermaid Grill and then went and cleared out of the cabin. We went to The Taj Mahal to wait for our “color” to be called. It wasn’t too bad – the time went by quickly. We were in the van and headed out about 10:30 and home about noon. 

General Comments:

Driving to the port was great. They have it set up pretty simply and it took away a lot of stress. 

Distances:

Port Canaveral to Nassau – 279 NM

To St.  Thomas – 870 NM

To St.  Maarten – 114 NM

To Port Canaveral – 1157 NM

Total - 2420 NM, 2783 Miles