Just back from the Pride, so will review our trip while it's fresh in my mind. This was my 10th (?) cruise, and 7th with Carnival. We enjoy Carnival with the family because they offer a good product at a reasonable price. It is not luxury cruise, it is a family vacation. With that in mind we had a lovely family trip with my teen agers and 70something parents.

We started the week in Baltimore by checking into the Best Western for their Sail and Park special. There was a minor mix up that we did not book correctly through the BW main number and so our rate was the AA rate and not the cruise package rate. Once it was worked out, the staff did what they could to accommodate the change in room rate and still pay the shuttle company. The shuttle to the port could not have been easier; we were dropped at the gate, our luggage wisked away and into the terminal. Dad was traveling in a wheel chair and so the folks split off from the group to special processing. That worked out well for them and it was nice that the port had special needs accommodations. The ship was running a little late, so we did have to sit in the cattle holding area until we were able to board. All things considered, the port personnel were polite and efficient.

When we got into the main atrium, we waited about 5 minutes for my parents to catch up. Carnival provided a porter to push the wheel chair and my folks were taken directly to their cabin even though most cabins were not open for passengers yet. They had cabin 7303 handicapped and it was just perfect for them with an extra-large balcony and wheel-in shower. We were on the same level, but more mid-ship with me and hubby in a balcony and the teens in the interior across the hall. Read more